Education Commons^™

Inclusionary Practices For Elementary Students With Disabilities, Caroline Brandau

M.Ed. Literature Reviews

This research explores inclusionary practices for elementary-aged students with individualized education plans (IEP) for special education. Three themes were identified: academic achievement through push-in services, secondary benefits of special education services in the general education setting, and power dynamics of stakeholders of inclusion. The paper goes on to examine how practices at Western Washington School District could be aligned with research and then explores implications for future research and transform practice. The paper concludes with a call to action and a positive outlook for the future of special education.

A Teaching Unit Plan For Introducing Engineering In 1st-2nd Grade Classrooms, Claudia Smith

Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

The field of engineering, and specifically chemical engineering, is projected to increase significantly over the next 10 years. Engineering programs require students to have a strong foundation of math and science. Students in the United States are often underprepared to enter these programs, and the majority of high school students are not interested in pursuing a career in the STEM field at all. For this project, a unit teaching plan was created to introduce students to the field of engineering, providing a foundation for their upper-level STEM classes, and encouraging them to consider engineering as a career in the future. …

The Impact Of Integrated Stem Education On Student Achievement In Magnet Schools, Holly Esquia Gerlach

Dissertations

In an ever-changing world, scientific advancement and innovation are critical in maintaining national security, economic competitiveness, and quality of life for our global society. Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education has been a priority within educational reforms for well over a decade. The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of integrated STEM education on student achievement results in English language arts, mathematics, and science. The single overarching question of this program evaluation is: Does integrated STEM education impact the achievement outcomes in reading, mathematics, and science for students in fourth and fifth grades? Related research questions …

Title I Schools And Strategies That Work, Michelle Manriquez

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify and describe the strategies principals of Title I schools perceived as most effective in improving English language arts (ELA) scores by at least 10 points, through the lens of WestEd’s Four Domains of Rapid School Improvement.

Methodology: This study utilized a qualitative methodology to gather data via the California Dashboard and semi-structured interviews of 11 principals from 11 different sites in northern California that showed at least 10-point growth on the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) standardized test. The interview questions were based on the Four Domains for Rapid School Improvement: …

The ‘ Dialogic’ Of Pedagogical Design: Elementary Teachers Who Consistently Integrate Digital Technologies, Aaron R. Gierhart

Theses and Dissertations

Despite the pervasiveness of digital technologies in society and educational settings, gaps in digital participation for elementary learners and means-end views of the benefits and effectiveness of digital innovations for teaching and learning persist. The focus on digital technologies at the elementary level must shift to critical pedagogy in order to promote effective teaching and learning and equitable student participation in an increasingly digital society. A teacher’s pedagogy continually evolves across their entire life journey and is never fully mastered; therefore, in order to better understand the development of pedagogical design with digital technologies by elementary teachers, it was vital …

Motivating The Unmotivated: How Are We Supporting Struggling Readers In Upper Elementary Classrooms?, Maci V. Wood

Honors College Theses

Motivating struggling students to read is a question considered by many general education reading teachers and special education teachers alike. Since student classroom experiences today differ greatly from classrooms of the past in terms of instructional practices and learning supports, scripted materials that seldom cater to student interest have often been promoted due to the pressure of standardized assessment. With little to no student engagement present in the classroom, it is up to the student to find the will to read or to the teacher to utilize alternative strategies in increasing student motivation (Cambria & Gunthrie, 2008). However, there is …

Elementary Teachers’ Perceptions Of Instructional Coaching, Factored By Experience And Levels Of Education, Tina Hicks Whitten

Education Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to investigate elementary teachers’ perceptions of instructional coaching compared to their years of experience and their levels of education. This researcher worked cooperatively with one rural school district in north, central North Carolina and used an online survey instrument with both open- and closed-ended questions to gather data. Two hundred sixty-three elementary classroom teachers were asked to complete the survey; 131 teachers did so with a response rate of 49.8%. Chi square statistical tests were run for the Likert responses on the quantitative portion, and open-ended coding was used for the qualitative piece. …

An Investigation Of Multimedia Instruction, The Modality Principle, And Reading Comprehension In Fourth-Grade Classrooms, Laura Angela Sandoval

Doctoral Dissertations

Elementary-school teachers are faced with the responsibility of finding the most effective ways to educate their students using multimedia approaches. The use of instruction with visuals and audio has resulted in positive learning outcomes on retention and transfer tasks for junior-high and high-school students. This approach that results in the modality principle has been tested less frequently in elementary-aged students.

The purpose of this study was to examine two different multimedia instructional approaches to investigate which condition offers beneficial learning outcomes through recall and transfer assessments during a lesson on different types of energy in fourth-grade classrooms using a Powerpoint® …

Computational Fluency: The Key To Multiplicative Success, Bethany Lloyd

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Strengthening Elementary Students' Understanding Of Factors, Jordan R. Frotz

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

Research on pre-service elementary school teachers’ understanding of the multiplicative structure of the natural numbers demonstrates an under-utilization of unique prime factorization in the identification of a number’s factors. For example, Zazkis and Campbell (1996b) found that a majority of teacher candidates employed trial division to analyze factor-candidates of a number, even when both were presented in prime-factored-form. Recent studies (i.e. Roscoe & Feldman, 2015) have shown that teachers’ understanding of factor can be strengthened by engaging in a sequence of instructional tasks that explore the relationship between a number’s prime factorization and its factors. This study seeks to extend …

Beyond Good Manners: Gratitude And Student Engagement In Lower Elementary, Vanessa Callaghan

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

No abstract provided.

Collaborative Teaching: A Delivery Model To Increase Responsiveness To The Needs Of All Learners Through Academic And Social Inclusion, Dayna Reilly

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

Students with special needs often miss out on classroom curricula for specialized instruction. While these services are valued for educational benefits, this instruction method often has negative impacts on social-emotional development and targets students for their differing needs.

Integrated collaborative teaching models include collaborative teaching among general and special educators in an inclusive environment. In this descriptive study, the author examined integrated collaborative teaching as a delivery model to increase responsiveness to the needs of all learners through academic and social inclusion.

This study involved students with a wide range of disabilities from two different grade leveled collaborative classrooms, who …

Brain-Based Learning: Implications For The Elementary Classroom, Brenda Van Roekel

Master of Education Program Theses

Recent developments in neuroscience have enabled scientists to understand and image brain activity. Brain researchers are now more able than ever before to understand how the brain works, what affects the brain, and what implications these discoveries have for education. Based upon these discoveries new methods of teaching have been devised using the term, brain-based strategies or brain-based learning. This thesis examines some of the brain-based strategies embraced by leaders in this field. It will pay particular attention to the enriched environment, the effect of emotion on learning, and the concept of sensitive or critical periods. It will examine research …

Strategies For Reaching At-Risk Elementary Students For Teachers Grades K-5, Lisa T. Boyd

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of the project was to design and develop a handbook to assist elementary teachers meeting the needs of at-risk students. The strategies and ideas included in the handbook were selected on the bases of current research and literature. In addition, input was solicited from teachers, parents, and administrators for the Clover Park School District in the State of Washington.

Introducing A Foreign Language Experience Into The Elementary Curriculum: A Flex Curriculum Handbook, Deborah Michelle Doherty

All Graduate Projects

A handbook has been created to assist elementary educators integrating Spanish into their curriculum. Lesson plans, activities, and supplemental materials are developed based on The Standards for Foreign Language Leaming, recommended and published by the National Association of Foreign Language Teachers and are aligned to meet the Essential Academic Leaming Requirements (EALRs) adopted by The Washington State Commission on Student Leaming. Current literature and research involving the benefits of teaching foreign language to elementary children are studied.

The Importance Of Phonemic Awareness: Developing Phonemic Awareness In First Grade Students Through A Backpacking Program, Shannon Kaye Sanger

All Graduate Projects

The role of phonemic awareness in beginning reading acquisition was researched. Studies suggested that the presence of phonemic awareness in young children facilitates learning to read. Research also suggested a positive relationship between parental involvement and reading acquisition. A handbook containing activities designed for use in a backpacking program was created. The activities involve parents in developing phonemic awareness in their children. These activities are to be sent home with students and completed with the assistance of their parents. The handbook also contains assessments and instructions for teachers regarding the implementation of this backpacking program.

The Importance Of Phonemic Awareness In Initial Reading Acquisition And How You Can Support It In Your First Grade Classroom: A Handbook For Educators, Jan Pearson Golob

All Graduate Projects

The significance of phonemic awareness in initial reading acquisition was researched. The research suggests that those children without phonemic awareness will struggle with learning to read. A handbook for educators was created to compliment existing curriculum. This handbook contains songs and activities either extracted from or modeled after those that had already been field tested in many classrooms.

A Model School Volunteer Program For Daniel Elementary School, Kent, Washington, School District, Scott Wells Abernathy

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to develop a volunteer work force model for an elementary school serving preschool through sixth grade students. To accomplish this purpose, a review of current literature and research regarding school volunteer programs was examined; information and materials from selected existing elementary school volunteer programs was obtained and analyzed; additionally school staff, administrators, parents, and community members were polled regarding volunteerism. The model was designed for implementation at George T. Daniel Elementary in the Kent, Washington, School District.

Prereading And Postreading Activities For Children's Multicultural Trade Books, Sandra Gail Beardsley

All Graduate Projects

A review of literature was completed to support the need for, and value of, using multicultural literature within the elementary classroom. The criteria for selecting multicultural literature was also reviewed. The project consisted of a booklist and prereading and postreading activities for twenty-five multicultural trade books. The purpose of the project was to heighten student's awareness of the multicultural community in which they live and appreciation of cultures throughout the world. The strategies and activities developed for these books were based on the whole language philosophy. The twenty-five trade books were divided into four themes: 1. Grandparents, 2. Folktales and …

Elementary Music Through Drama: A Sequential Resource Guide, Kelley Ann Bruce Bliss

All Graduate Projects

This project is a sequential resource guide of introductory music experiences that utilize drama techniques all of which culminate with performances. This particular resource guide is designed to be used in conjunction with the general music curriculum where musical ideas and concepts are the main focus for learning. Drama is introduced into the resource guide to augment the existing music program. The use of drama is used to reinforce these musical concepts and thus enhance the musical experience.

A Whole Language Approach Integrating Children's Songs In Spanish To Enhance Language Acquisition And Literacy In The Spanish Immersion Primary Grades, Homero R. Capetillo

All Graduate Projects

An alternative method for the development of second language acquisition and literacy in a second language program was explored. A collection of Spanish children's songs and lessons utilizing "whole language" teaching strategies were compiled to supplement the language arts cμrriculum. The premise for this study was that children's songs could be used to develop activities that would enhance second language acquisition and literacy skills. Implications for the integration of music to provide a cogent transitional vehicle from spoken to written language structures are discussed.

A Handbook For The Intervention Specialist At Meadows Elementary School: Four Program Components, Donald D. Garrick

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this study was to develop a handbook detailing four important components of the intervention specialist's program at Meadows Elementary School in the North Thurston School District, Lacey, Washington. The development of a handbook was useful due to the fact that since 1988, three different individuals had served as the intervention specialist. Such rapid turnover caused disruptions m services to Meadows students, especially those who were at-risk. The four components were Meadows' Hosts and Hostesses, Intramurals, Conflict Managers and Meadows' Helpers. Each program utilized students interacting positively with other students as a means to improve the whole school …

Student Motivation Augmentation Through Staff Development, Debra J. Lyons-Farley

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to design and develop an inservice trainers/ manual to guide the delivery of a teacher training session on student motivation theory and practical classroom application techniques for K-12 teachers in the West Valley School District, Yakima, WA. To accomplish this purpose, research and literature on student motivation, staff development and primarily the works of Dr. Madeline Hunter and Dr. William Glasser, in relation to student motivation, were reviewed. The manual was developed to become a part of the program of effective teaching strategies which positively affect student achievement currently offered ln the district.

Literature-Based Social Studies Learning Activities For First Grade Students In The Selah School District, Selah, Washington, Bonnie D. Isom

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to develop literaturebased social studies learning activities to be used with first grade students in the Selah School District. To accomplish this purpose, literature-based social studies learning activities for first grade students were gathered and developed for inclusion in a teacher resource packet. Appropriately used, children's literature can enhance learning in social studies and lead to increased teacher effectiveness.

A Handbook For Teaching Journal Writing, Kindergarten Through Third Grade, Linda Rae Donofrio

All Graduate Projects

This masters project provided a teachers' manual for use by teachers who want to establish a journal writing program. It was intended for teachers of grades kindergarten through third grade. In addition to the teachers' manual, this project also provided an overview of the literature of journal writing as part of a language arts program. Examples of students' journal entries were also included. The manual itself was prepared for use in a suburban, middle class school district and it contains a step-by-step approach to establishing a journal program.

Study Skills For School Success, Terry Mills Tanneberg

All Graduate Projects

"Study Skills for School Success" is a project study focusing on the skills characterized by effective study. The specific nature of study skills and the influence of the home environment are also examined. A major product of this project study is a handbook entitled "Study Skills for School Success." Focusing on the parents of elementary children, the step-by-step handbook is designed to serve as a resource guide for the effective implementation of a home study skills program.

Reading Comprehension Learning Center, Pamela Joy Krocker

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was the development of a reading comprehension learning center that reinforces comprehension skills at the literal, inferential, and evaluative levels, and which also provides practice with basic and sight vocabulary. The contents of this project included a review of the literature related to the topic, a description of objectives on which the cards were based, a description of the materials and methods used to construct the project, and an explanation of how to utilize the project in a primary classroom. Examples of the project including color photographs of the parts of the project that were …

The Fifth Grade Student As An Active Participant In The Selection Of School Library Books, Catherine Spada Mcleod

All Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine if fifth grade students could be consistent and productive participants in the process of selecting books for a school library. Forty-six students completed a Reading Interest Inventory and participated in a book selection activity.

Chi-square test results did not support the hypothesis that there would be no significant difference between the results of these two selection activities. Student perceptions of their involvement in this process were also included.

Teacher Performance In The Nongraded Elementary Schools Of Central Washington, Helen Kathryn Dickson

All Master's Theses

The purpose of this study is to determine the extent to which a non graded structure in the elementary schools "permits teachers to operate more freely with respect to instructional decisions."