Graduation Date
5-2013
Document Type
Master's Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department or Program
Education
Department or Program Chair
Elizabeth Truesdell PhD
First Reader
Madalienne F. Peters, EdD
Abstract
In many elementary schools in low-income neighborhoods, students face many everyday challenges that prevent them from developing habits of successful achievement. Children often exhibit a lack of motivation regarding task completion. Positive behavior support enhances task completion in the elementary school setting. The purpose of this study is to find successful tools teachers can use to promote academic task completion. Students in an elementary school classroom received instruction on task completion and specific interventions to use. They were then evaluated in the math subject area for the number of tasks completed during a one month time period. Different groups of students were given various motivational tools to help develop self-efficacy. One successful tool was created and studied. Results indicated that providing students with positive behavior support can influence the completion of a variety of tasks in the academic setting.