Measuring Educational Needs of Low Achieving Regular Education Students: Learning Strategies for Gap Kids

Meeting the educational needs of all students requires educators who are persistent in capturing the abilities of their students. A student that is average to above average can soar academically with minimal assistance utilizing the current curriculum. Educators often miss a group of students because they are neither outspoken, nor failing but are not achieving either at their optimal potential. These students often defined as Gap students do not always receive education services at their capacity. Why are they not achieving at average or above average potential? What is it about such low academic achievement that is regarded as ok compared to peers? Are their goals low? Have we failed as educators to motivate them to exceed their learning potential? In my research, I want to show how these Gap students can increase achievement through motivation, self-regulation, and manipulating various learning strategies. The participants are 7th and 8th graders in a middle school within a semi-suburban area of town. The implications of this research are that through motivation, self-regulations, a sense of belonging and targeted instruction, students can excel academically.