About the Book
“Why are Students Not Learning on the School Bus?” provides alternative, non-traditional methods of teaching students. The author, Keshia L. Gaines, Ph.D. offers ground-breaking techniques to expand areas for learning opportunities. Research has shown that academic achievement is related to the amount of time a student is engaged in learning. Also, school schedules do not highlight the non-instructional times of a student’s school day. During the school day, missed learning opportunities often occur during transition times, bathroom breaks, intercom interruptions, lunch time, and many other unstructured and unplanned times. The author’s new “Bus-stop 2 Bus-stop™” method is designed to replace academic down-times with unique learning opportunities for outside the classroom. (When this book refers to “learning on the school bus” or “learning outside the classroom,” the author is referring to learning academic content).
Audience and Purpose
This book is designed for use in various education courses, educational leadership positions, and for general reading by anyone who is worried about the future of our children and educational systems. For entry-level students in education, this book provides insight to new ways to improve academic achievement in America. This book is also appropriate for various upper-level courses because of its research components, references, questions, and critical thinking areas. The purpose of this book is to explain the “Bus-stop 2 Bus-stop™” teaching method and to ultimately improve the current education system in America.
Goals and Features of the Book
There are three goals of this book.
1. To explain an alternative method for increasing student achievement
2. To increase school administration, teacher, and staff awareness of the new “Bus-stop 2 Bus-stop™” learning method
3. To emphasize the need for change in the unsuccessful practices of many schools in America
Also, this book can help schools improve cultural diversity, school management, and professional development. In order to meet the book’s goals, this book includes discussion questions, journal activities, informative graphics, chapter research focus topics, an appendix, and a list of references. With the exception of the introduction chapter, this book has one research focus area per chapter which provides literature review-type research and background. In addition to the research component, the author has made the chapters as clear and understandable as possible. Finally, this book is a great tool to initiate focus group discussions on beneficial professional development and faculty meeting projects.
Content and Organization
“Why are Students Not Learning on the School Bus?” consists of eight chapters. The following outline highlights the eight chapters in a brief summary:
1. Chapter 1: Introduction to the new “Bus-stop 2 Bus-stop™” Learning Method – This chapter introduces the new “Bus-stop 2 Bus-stop™” areas for learning outside the classroom. It also gives a general overview, the author’s beliefs, and a veteran teacher’s perspective on learning outside the classroom.
2. Chapter 2: The Bus-stop: The First Area for Learning- This chapter designates the bus stop as the first area for students to get exposure to academic content.
3. Chapter 3: The School Bus: A Yellow Classroom- Chapter 3 describes the learning opportunities which can take place on a school bus. Also, the author shares her invention “The Universal School Bus Seat Learning Pad” as one of the first devices to promote student learning on the school bus.
4. Chapter 4: The Cafeteria: Academics for Breakfast and Lunch- This chapter was inspired by the author’s 130 page dissertation titled “A Quantitative Study of Learning in the School Cafeteria Using Educational Placemats.” It offers learning opportunities for students during breakfast and lunch time. In this chapter, positive results are shown from an elementary cafeteria research study.
5. Chapter 5: The Bathroom: An Independent Study- and other controversial areas to learn. This chapter discusses how to turn the school’s bathroom, a commonly low-supervised area of the school, into a brief learning opportunity. Also, this chapter discusses other controversial and unique areas for students to learn.
6. Chapter 6: The Playground: A Fun Place to Learn- Even though, there are many hidden academic learning activities on the school playground, often times they are not maximized. The author explains incidental learning and fun ways for students to learn while playing.
7. Chapter 7: Bus-stop 2 Bus-stop™ Educational Clothing for Faculty, Staff, and Students- This chapter incorporates school culture, fashion, and academics on clothing as a visual aid.
8. Chapter 8: Bus-stop 2 Bus-stop™ by 2020: Political, Legal, and Ethical Concerns- This chapter describes the politics behind a failing American education system and the nation’s struggling economy. This chapter gives financial, legal, and ethical aspects behind administering the Bus-stop 2 Bus-stop™ method.