Investigating Middle School Students’ Perceptions of their Learning Environments Through Drawings

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore through student drawings and corresponding narratives, middle grades students’ perceptions of their learning environment, which we defined to include pedagogy, interactions (teacher-student and student-student), and climate, and how these may differ based on service delivery model (i.e., gifted, special education, or general education settings). Although the use of drawing has been suggested as a compelling method to both inform and facilitate educational change (Haney, Russell, & Bebell, 2004), the extant literature rarely includes student-centered representations of classroom climate or perspectives, particularly as differentiated across common service delivery models. A total of 132 middle grades students participated in this investigation, representing each of the 3 sectors. Findings suggest that middle grade students perceive differential classroom experiences in terms of instructional methods, interactions, and behavior management based upon service delivery. Implications for P–12 practice, and future research are discussed.