Abstract

Much research has been conducted on reading levels of elementary school students. Teachers search for learning experiences that lend inclusion to all genders and levels. How does this all lay out for the students? The initial trial of the study looks into the impact and differences of gender and/or reading level on areas such as school enjoyment, self-perception, and academic practice in the lives of 59, fifth grade, suburban students. A subsequent study was done with identical goals in the following school year as well. This newer study (trial two) included 103 students from grades two through five in the same suburban area school. These students were given surveys that allowed scores to be ascertained in the aforementioned areas of concern. Surveys were given out and scored on a Likert-type scale ranging from 1-5 (1=most negative, 5=most positive). The data was entered into SPSS where various tests such as MANOVA, correlations, Levene’s, and t-tests were performed. While a great deal of the areas were not initially identified as statistically significant in trial one, the area of gender and its relationship with enjoyment did appear to be significant at the p<.05 level. The larger, more recent trial, found gender’s impact on school enjoyment, self-perception, and academic practice time. This study could give educators introspective into the way their students think about school.

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