Chapter I:
Introduction
Kim Bordelon
Problem Statement
The problem is that students are not using analogy and symbolism in reading comprehension
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to find causes leading to the students' lack of understanding of figurative language. Moreover, the purpose is to give students strategies useful in recognizing figurative language.
Description of the Community
Gonzales Middle School is a large inner-city school with 1,400 students and 40 teachers. The school is located in the Southwest, city of Mountain View, AZ. The population of the city is 75,000. Gonzales Middle School was built in 1952. The school is 50 years old and not equipped to handle the technological advances that are required for a properly wired computer system. An evaporative cooling system, rather than air conditioning cool the school. The building has some structural damage due to a termite problem in the 1980’s.
Description of the work setting
The demographic information of the school is as follows: 45% of the student population is Hispanic, 35% Caucasian, 10% Native American, and 10% African American. The students that will be targeted in this study are eighth graders. They make up 1/3 of the total student population at Gonzales Middle School. 50% of the teachers are Caucasian, 41% of the teachers are Hispanic, 7% of the teachers are African American and 2% are Asian American. The principal has been at the school for two years and is a Caucasian female.
A depressed socioeconomic status is highlighted by the fact that 82% of the student population is eligible for free or reduced lunch. The average cost of a home within the school boundary is $75,000-$85,000 and 33% of the students live in a home owned by their family. 40% of the students live in apartments or homes that their families rent, 23% of the students and their families live in state subsidized housing, and 4% of the students are currently homeless. Furthermore, 35% of the student population are English language learners (ELL).
There tends to be a high teacher turnover at Gonzales Middle School. The average time that a teacher works at Gonzales is three years. For the most part, parent participation at the school is low, and 28% of the students belong to a gang. There is a problem with teen pregnancy, and drug and alcohol use by students. Academics are not a priority to the students or their families, and this is reflected by their general lack of interest in school. 48% of the students have or have had a parent that is incarcerated. An overwhelming majority of the students have also been in a juvenile detention center and have little respect for law enforcement. All of these factors contribute to teachers burning out and seeking employment elsewhere, or leaving the profession altogether.
Writer's Role
The writer's role in this study is as the primary language teacher to students. The writer has been employed by the school for two years. The writer serves on the Language Arts Curriculum Committee. Also, the writer consults with colleagues in order to assess student progress.
