Education Commons^™

Using Pop Culture And Media Together With Effective Literacy Instruction: A Teacher's Tool Kit For Selah H.S. Read Write Class, Stephanie Marie Sevigny

All Graduate Projects

A toolkit has been created to assist secondary teachers in using popular culture and the media in conjunction with explicit comprehension strategy instruction in the classroom in an effort to improve struggling students' comprehension. The toolkit consists of an introduction, examples and suggestions for using popular culture and media in the classroom, examples and guidelines for strategic comprehension instruction. CutTent literature and research regarding the use of popular culture and media in the classroom and effective comprehension strategy instruction were reviewed.

Using Tv News To Integrate The Four Skills: A Guide For Efl Teachers, Christina Evans

MA TESOL Collection

These materials were developed to help guide an EFL teacher’s approach to incorporating TV news stories in an intermediate or advanced level course. An introduction and rationale are presented, the role of the instructor is explored and teaching suggestions are offered. An extensive checklist of four skill core activities and a demonstration on incorporating them into a lesson plan are also integrated into these materials.

Curriculum Design To Teach High School Students: How To Pull Evidence From Text, Karen Marie Hughes Bray

All Graduate Projects

Inadequate pe1formance of Washington State's public school students on national exams motivated the state legislature to pass the Basic Education Act in 1993. Graduation requirements were changed and expectations increased to specific skill levels in reading, writing, and several other subjects. The problem is that48% of North Central High School IO'" graders have averaged below standard in reading and 56% have averaged below standard in writing for the last six years. The project is designed to increase reading and writing skills at the high school level in classes outside of the academic arena by direct instruction. Washington State's Commission on …

Development Of An Implementation Guide For Literature Circles From Teacher Led To Student Led In An Upper Elementary Classroom, Brandon C. Debritz

All Graduate Projects

The focus of this project was to review the available literature on the topic of literature circles from the framework of a balanced literacy program and to create materials to be used by intem1ediate elementary teachers for implementing student led literature circles into their reading curriculum. The results of the research show that through specific teacher guidance, children are empowered with choices and are provided with opportunities to dialog with classmates in a context of creating connections. The project includes an instrnctional framework to establish literature circles, a progression of teacher led to student led applications, and intermediate literature book …

Effective Reading Strategies That Enhance Reading Comprehension For Students With Specific Learning Disabilities, Angela Erin Hinkle

All Graduate Projects

This curriculum project provides reading comprehension strategies for students with Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD). This project material can be used with either narrative texts or expository texts, that teach academic subjects. The use of graphic organizers, summarization techniques, strategic reading techniques, and vocabulary instruction techniques are described and examined. Lesson plans that may be used with current classroom curriculum guides and based on the researched reading comprehension strategies are described.

Flexible Reading Groups For Literacy In A First Grade Classroom, Sharon Ann Parker

All Graduate Projects

The professional literature on the configuration of flexible reading groups for reading instrnction in a regular first grade classroom was examined to determine if flexible grouping yields any benefit to students who have been assessed to be below grade level in reading. The research showed support for the idea that flexible, fluid grouping is an accelerant to producing higher levels of reading improvement. As a result, an instructional handbook was created to aid educators in the implementation of flexible reading group instruction.

Effective Reading Comprehension Strategies For Native American Adolescents With Reading Difficulties, Mary C. La Velle

All Graduate Projects

The need for culturally appropriate reading comprehension pedagogy for Native American Adolescents was studied in light of multicultural philosophies. The historical trend to assimilate this group of students rather than acknowledge their unique contributions was an area targeted for improvement in this project. A need was established to target reading comprehension since the evidence points to a lack of explicit instruction in this area for middle school students. Strategies for promoting reading comprehension were identified in a teacher's manual that will be used in conjunction with the novel, Walk Two Moons, by Sharon Creech. Colville Tribal Elders discussed the comprehension …

“O.Henry’S American Scenes” And The Accompanying Language Activities To Use In The Efl And Esl Classes, Tamila Mehtiyeva

MA TESOL Collection

“O.Henry’s American Scenes” is a Ladder Edition book at the 1,000-word level published by the English Language Programs Division in Washington D.C. The Ladder Series of books are specially prepared editions of well-known American books. They have been shortened and simplified to use for ESL and EFL students. Though the stories have been shortened, they remain enjoyable and engaging to read. The author uses these stories in her classes at Baki State University.

This thesis shows how the teachers of ESL and EFL can use these stories as an effective teaching tool in their classes. Included are 7 stories taken …

Using Literature Circles To Teach Comprehension Strategies To Low-Achieving Middle School Readers, Rachel Grace Gossett

All Graduate Projects

Discussion is an integral part of our society and a natural way for students to learn. When discussion is brought into the classroom, students are able to use their background knowledge to create their own meaning and take their thinking to a higher level. Because of these attributes, discussion of reading material in the classroom leads to a greater comprehension of what was read and opens more doors for learning more strategies to increase reading ability. The teacher's role changes from being the one with all of the answers to a member of the group looking for the meaning. Teachers …

Incorporating Literature Circles Into A Fifth Grade Classroom, Kenneth Michael Kron

All Graduate Projects

The focus of this project was to review available literature on literature circles within the framework of a balanced literacy program, and create materials to be used by fifth grade teachers as they work toward improving their language arts curricula. The results of the research review show that students are motivated to read when they choose their own reading material and can comprehend the material after engaging in collaborative, meaningful discussion of the text with peers. The project includes instructional frameworks, lesson plans for after-reading activities, and book selections for three rounds ofliterature circles.

A Model United States History Developmental Reading Skills Curriculum In Alignment With Washington State Essential Academic Learning Requirements, Mario R. Casello

All Graduate Projects

The purpose ofthis project was to develop a model, United States History developmental reading skills curriculum, for resource room students, at Governor John R. Rogers High School, Puyallup, Washington. The model curriculum was designed in alignment with the Washington State Essential Academic Learning Requirements (EALR'S). To accomplish this purpose, current research and literature was reviewed. Additionally, related information from selected sources was obtained and analyzed.

Teaching Students To Be Self-Directed Readers Through The Use Of Comprehension Strategies Instruction And Personal Response, Tamera L. Neveu

All Graduate Projects

The focus of this project was to review available literature on reader response and comprehension strategies instruction, and create materials to be used by teachers as they work toward improving comprehension instruction in their classrooms. Research shows that in order to help students become independent readers who are self-motivated and strategic, teachers need expertise in both reader response and comprehension strategies instruction. The project includes instructional frameworks, lessons, and techniques that can be used to implement reader response and comprehension strategies instruction in the classroom.

A Handbook Of Activities For Inclusion Of At Risk Middle School Language Arts Students, Deana M. York

All Graduate Projects

A handbook oflanguage arts activities for at risk middle school students was developed for preservice and experienced teachers to utilize in general education classrooms. A review of current educational research and literature addresses the need for inclusive instructional practices to meet academic needs of students who are at risk for drop out and failure. The literature review supports evidence that educators provide necessary accommodations for a culturally diverse adolescent student population by adapting classroom curriculum and pedagogy.

Making Meaning: A Teacher’S Journey, Joanne Griffin Yorks

MA TESOL Collection

This thesis shows how one teacher gained an increased understanding of the way she learns, discovered a theoretical support base for her learning style and found validation for her way of making meaning. Melding this new awareness with what was for her a new theoretical approach to teaching reading, reader-response theory, and then adapting the theory for the ESL classroom, she sought to offer her students opportunities similar to those she’d had to use reading to bring about new understandings of self and increased confidence in one’s ability to make meaning for oneself. The first chapter is an introduction to …

Ways To Promote Literacy, Heidi Lynn Desteunder

All Graduate Projects

The process by which literacy develops in children and ways to promote literacy development were studied. The review of related literature showed support that children's literacy development begins in infancy, that it develops through a set of stages, and that active involvement of parents and caregivers does promote literacy development. A handbook for parents of children from preschool through elementary school was created. The handbook includes a continuum of literacy development and activities to encourage its growth.

[Using Multimedia Technology In Elementary Student Presentations Of Literature Research And Reviews], Judy Ann Staples

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this study was to help third grade students develop multimedia presentations using current technology to improve the related background knowledge and literary awareness of students for six different literature books. A second purpose was to use the authoring system, HyperStudio, to develop an interactive compact disc which future students could access before reading specific literature books to enhance reading comprehension.

Using Read Aloud Literature To Motivate Resource Room Readers In The Seventh And Eighth Grades, Stephanie M. Cady

All Graduate Projects

This project provides a reading resource for teachers of seventh and eighth grade reading skills program students. A series of lessons were designed to accompany daily teacher oral reading from a novel selected to match students' reading interest and listening level. The lessons incorportated strategies to increase students' comprehension of readings emphasizing motivation to encourage future reading.

The Use Of Visual Arts For The Development Of Learning Activities For Teaching And As Model For Future Testing Of Four Areas Of Reading Comprehension, Thomas S. Wright

All Graduate Projects

The use of visual arts as a method for teaching vocabulary comprehension, literal comprehension, interpretive comprehension, and evaluative comprehension was investigated. Literature was cited on individuals and programs using visual arts as a method of teaching reading. Visual art related learning activities were developed from this information for use by classroom teachers and for future testing.

The Reading And Writing Connection: A Writer's Workshop Guide For Second Grade, Monica Louise Donovan

All Graduate Projects

The primary purpose of this project was to develop a writers' workshop curriculum guide for the second grade. The relationship between reading and writing was studied. Data was presented to support the reading and writing connection. By integrating reading and writing through the use of a directed guide, an effective educational curriculum for a writing workshop was developed. The research and results from writing samples received showed support that an integrated reading and writing program is advantageous. Implications for using a writers' workshop format are discussed.

In The Classroom: Reading And Writing In The Content Areas (Dec. '89), Michael P. French, Kathy Everts Danielson, Maureen Conn, Willa Gale, Charlene Lueck, Mona Manley

Teacher Education Faculty Publications

Students comprehend content material by reading, discussing, writing, questioning, investigating, exploring, and organizing. Reading and writing in the content areas relates prior knowledge, classroom interaction, cooperative learning, vocabulary instruction, and questioning techniques. Children practice research skills by organizing information in a meaningful and practical manner. This month's In the Classroom column presents ways in which teachers can enhance their students' comprehension of content area topics by involving them in various classroom activities. Additional resources for content area reading and writing activities follow :

Dupuis, M.M. (1983). Reading in the content areas: Research for teachers. Newark, DE: International Reading Association.

Graves, …

In The Classroom: Using Children's Literature (Oct. '89), Michael P. French, Kathy Everts Danielson, Maureen Conn, Willa Gale, Charlene Lueck, Mona Manley

Teacher Education Faculty Publications

Lists children's literature in reading instruction. "Children's Literature in the Reading Program"; "Literature-based Reading Programs at Work"; "Children's Choices: Teaching With Books Children Like"; "Transitions: From Literature to Literacy".

Reading, Understanding, Remembering And Using Information In Written Science Materials., Larry Yore, James Shymansky

Educator Preparation & Leadership Faculty Works

With traditional science textbooks still dominating the market, it is projected that the use of print material and related reading skills will persist as the prime method of science instruction. The need to research reading-science issues exists. This paper attempts to define the task or desired outcomes of research in reading-science dimensions. Areas developed in this paper include: (1) science reading and comprehension; (2) theories of the reading process (illustrated by models); (3) research in science reading (presented by grade level, subject matter, and curricular programs); (4) reading comprehension and science achievement (emphasizing text structure); and (5) research trends and …

Story Structure And Age Effects On Children's Ability To Sequence Stories, E. Mcclure, J. Mason, J. Barnitz

Curriculum and Instruction Faculty Publications

To investigate the strategies children use in comprehending written stories, third, sixth, and ninth grade students were given scrambled six-sentence stories and asked to reorder them. Three versions of each of six stories were created. The first version was the canonical form of the story predicted by story grammar rules; the second version began with a sentence which questioned the conclusion of the canonical form; and in the third this conclusion began the story. Significant effects of grade and structure indicated that the canonical form was more easily ordered than were the other structures, and also that third grade students …

Reading Comprehension Of Pronoun-Referent Structures By Children In Grades Two, Four, And Six., J G. Barnitz

Curriculum and Instruction Faculty Publications

A study of 191 native English speaking working class children in grades two, four, and six was undertaken to investigate the development of reading comprehension of selected pronoun-referent structures. Three linguistic comparisons were made: referent type, reference order, and referent distance. Target sentences were constructed with these features and were embedded into short passages, each followed by questions based on the target structure. It was found that noun phrase pronominal structures were easier to comprehend than sentential pronominals, structures with forward reference were easier to comprehend than those with backward reference, and there was no significant difference between inter-sentential structures …

Effectiveness Of The Edl Study Skills Library In A Seventh Grade Reading Program, Robert Winn Elfers

All Master's Theses

This paper presents an evaluation of a study skills program used in a seventh grade reading class. This program is designed to teach study skills on an individualized basis, allowing the student to work at his own pace and on his own level. Two groups of students were involved. The group using the program showed slightly higher improvement on the post-tests. Recommendations included using the program in a reading class and that the teacher closely follow the progress of each student.

Enrichment And Supplemental Materials In An Adequate Reading Program In Grades One Through Five, John C. Ayers

Graduate Student Research Papers

It was the purpose of this study to consider materials for enrichment and supplemental purposes to strengthen the present reading program as it now exists in the Castle Rock Elementary School. The writer has found, however, that while materials do have a prominent role in reading, materials alone can not support an adequate program unless a more complete picture of the reading process is established and operating. This study will therefore concern itself with supplemental and enrichment materials as an integral part of the complete program and not necessarily as entities in themselves.

A Comparative Study Of Basal Reading Practices And The Individualized Reading Program In The Intermediate Grades, John Charles Eglin

Graduate Student Research Papers

The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible uses of "individualized reading" as a means of strengthening and supplementing the basic intermediate reading program.