Education Commons^™

The Effect Of Public Pre-Kindergarten Attendance On First Grade Reading And Social Achievement: A District Level Analysis, Michael James Haslip

Theses and Dissertations in Early Childhood Education

The purpose of this study was to test the relationship between attending a school district Pre-K program and children's later literacy and behavior outcomes in the beginning and middle of first grade. Children's text level, letter-sound identification, sight words, spelling and citizenship skills were measured. The study included 880 children who attended the division Pre-K program and 176 children who attended no formal or institutional preschool of any kind. Selection bias was addressed through propensity score matching, completed using optimal matching. Independent-samples t tests were run on literacy and behavior measures. Subgroup analysis was performed to test the effect of …

Addressing The Needs Of Students With Color Vision Deficiencies In The Elementary School Library, Karla Bame Collins

Teaching & Learning Theses & Dissertations

Color vision deficiencies affect approximately eight percent of the male population (Birch & Chisholm, 2008; Cole, 2007; Jenny & Kelso, 2007; Neitz & Neitz, 2000), yet the condition is often overlooked in the educational setting despite the pervasiveness of color in the school (Suero et al., 2004). The purpose of this study was to explore how elementary school librarians provide instruction and prepare the library environment to meet the needs of students with color vision deficiencies.

This mixed methods study consisted of two components. The first component was a questionnaire administered to elementary school librarians throughout Virginia to gather data …

Developing Resilience In The Elementary School Classroom, Ellen Ferrin

Graduate Student Independent Studies

Explores the ways in which elementary school teachers can help their students develop the skills associated with resilience. For this study, an extensive literature review was conducted and surveys were completed by twelve elementary school teachers in Washington, Oregon, California, and New York.

Connecting The Strands Of Wampum, Marissa Corwin

Graduate Student Independent Studies

Documents the development of the author's philosophies and strategies as she formed a methodology for teaching social studies content about Native Americans in New York State.

Addressing Invisibility Of Asian-American History And Cultural Heritage In North American School Curricula : A Curriculum Guide, Kathryn Eliza Harris

Graduate Student Independent Studies

Presents a curriculum guide for upper elementary students (5th grade) including rationale and background research on need for critically informed multicultural education, an overview of the history of Chinese immigrants in the United States, origin and prevalence of Asian-American stereotypes, and underrepresentation of Asian-Americans in curriculum.

Passion And Compassion : Teaching First Graders Reading Comprehension Through Kindness And The Works Of Kevin Henkes, Salvi Muzio

Graduate Student Independent Studies

A literature review in the field of reading comprehension combined with a research-based curriculum created based on the experts and the author's personal experiences both in the classroom as a teacher and a student.

After-School Cooking Curriculum : Fruits & Vegetables, Lauren Cooke

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This thesis is an after-school cooking curriculum for 2nd or 3rd graders focusing on fruits and vegetables. The curriculum's primary goal is to help students discover a love of food as opposed to studying the health benefits of eating well.

Supporting The Development Of Executive Functioning Skills In Sixth Grade Students, Anne Davidson Anderson

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This integrative master's project explores how teachers can support the development of executive functioning skills in sixth grade students at the particular school where the author is a learning specialist (though many of the findings and recommendations can be generalized to other settings).

"For The First Time, All Over Again" : Reading Classic Children's Literature With Contemporary Children, Julia Hope Martin

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This thesis explores a simple question: what happens when modern children are exposed to the "canon" of great children's literature for the very first time? How will contemporary children process and engage with texts that are over fifty years old? Using qualitative research with her own classroom of second graders, the author sets out to explore student reactions as they discovered a selected set of exemplary children's literature.

An Evaluative Study Of Family Guides And Subsequent Design Of A Multi-Museum Third Grade Explorer's Guide, Katherine Hillman

Graduate Student Independent Studies

The idea for this project began with the evaluative study of a cultural organization's family guide. The results of that study, garnered from interviews with and observations of families, serves as the inspiration for a newly designed family guide intended for third graders and their families. The guide incorporates several museum visits with NY State Social Studies Scope and Sequence criteria and is based on personal teaching experience, age-relevant developmental guidelines, theoretical influences, a literature review of family learning and current family guides, as well as the results of the evaluative study.

Immigration At The Core : A Curriculum For Fourth Grade, Ma'ayan Eckstein

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This curriculum provides educators with a framework for teaching fourth grade students about immigration in the United States between 1880 and 1924. It is designed to align with state-issued curricular guidelines for social studies as of 2012.

Roof Top Garden Play Space, Karolyn Crutchfield

Graduate Student Independent Studies

Throughout this unit, the author's kindergarten and first grade students had hands on experience with growing a variety of plants. As students were exposed to the variety of plants through the garden project, they were able to determine what plants needed to survive and flourish. Additionally, they focused on how plants help people, animals, and insects and explored what effect plants have on the ecological balance of the earth.

Steady Bodies Active Minds : A Resource For Using Yoga And Mindfulness In The Classroom, Clare Murchison

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This paper seeks to provide a resource for teachers to use the practices of yoga and mindfulness effectively in their elementary classrooms.

"Kids Create" : The Development Of An Out-Of-School Program For Creative, Empowered Exploration In Hudson, New York, Bonnie Scott Jones

Graduate Student Independent Studies

Describes the design and implementation of an out-of-school program that the author developed and facilitated in Hudson, New York. The program, "Kids Create," provides elementary school-aged children with opportunities for creative, empowered exploration through project-based "design and build" workshops.

Putting The Classroom To Work--A Classroom Blueprint : How Does A Classroom Environment Influence Teaching Styles And A Teacher's Well Being?, Maria L. Freda

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This empirical study is written to call attention to and define the role of the classroom environment as an influential teaching tool. Through observation, interviews, and extensive reference resources, this compilation of work will discuss and assess how the arrangement of a classroom, its furnishings, and its aesthetic climate can influence a teacher's sensibilities, well being, motivation, and teaching style. The result of this research is intended to lead to the development of the classeum blueprint, a workshop series and guide, created for educators kindergarten through fourth grade.

Natural Science In Our School Environment : Being Five And Being A Scientist, Danielle L'Heureaux

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This independent master's project is a proposal of an integrated science curriculum for five and six year olds. The curriculum is divided into four units: natural/manmade, living/non-living: animals, living/non-living: plants, and change.

A Study Of Bridges For Second Graders, Christopher Mera

Graduate Student Independent Studies

A curriculum designed to inform students on the science and uses of bridges and to stimulate investigation into these topics. It contains planned lessons, trips and trip sheets, worksheets, and discussion topics and focus questions that are necessary for teaching this topic.

Building Community In The Classroom Through Storytelling : Theoretical And Field-Based Perspectives, Yelena Kushnirova

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This study includes a discussion of the meaning and definition of story and storytelling from literary and socio-cultural perspectives with field-based examples in formal and informal educational settings (grades 1-5). A selection of Russian folktales with a presentation of folktale structure and morphology and their implications for classroom practice are included.

Sounds In The Neighborhood : A Curriculum For Six And Seven Year Olds, Rachel Rubinow

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This study of the sounds in the neighborhood comes from a larger neighborhood study within the first grade class. Students will have the opportunity to gain more information about the neighborhood by solely listening to the sounds and making sense of these sounds.

An Investigation Of The Common Characteristics Of High Poverty, High Performing Rural K-8 Schools, Beth Ann Pennington

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Differentiating Math Instruction In An Elementary Classroom: Teacher Perspectives, Amy Lynn Zagaros Hoff

Theses and Graduate Projects

Classroom teachers of a diverse group of learners are presented with a conundrum: how can math curriculum be effectively presented to students in order to ensure that all students are meeting required learning targets? Research shows that whole group instructional methods do not meet the needs of struggling and gifted students. So how can teachers change instruction to promote student learning for all? The purpose of this action research was to discover effective strategies to differentiate math instruction in an elementary classroom. In this qualitative research, data were collected through five structured interviews with classroom teachers. The teachers represented grades …

An Ibook For Elementary Students: The Great Wall Of China, Carrie L. Carlson

Theses and Graduate Projects

Digital texts may provide learners with a richer reading and leaming experience as compared with traditional paper texts. Research suggests learners enjoy reading interactive texts and may spend more time with interactive materials. For my Leadership Application Project, I developed an interactive text for third grade students focused on the Great Wall of China and then tested it in several classrooms. I found that students showed a significant increase in content knowledge after using this book. In addition, they were engaging in learning and wanted to spend more time with the material, even when their assigned task was complete. This …

An Investigation Of Attitudes And Perceptions Of Preservice Teachers Compared To First Year Teachers Toward Inclusion, Nancy Eugenia Douglas

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Abstract: over the last decade the mandated "push" for full inclusion has changed the dynamics of our general education classrooms to the extent that our general education teachers do not feel adequately prepared to teach. The lack of preparation may affect the pre-service teachers' attitude and perception of students with disabilities in a general education classroom. The limited research in this area prompted this study. The purpose of this quantitative, cross-sectional study was to investigate how the perceptions and attitudes of inclusion and teacher efficacy differ from preservice teacher candidates to first year teachers. Preservice teacher candidates (n=40) and first …

Comparing Sixth Grade Students' Creativity In Word Play To Spatial Construction With Integrated Academic Content Eliciting A Distal Or Proximal Perspective, Ksenia S. Zhbanova

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Pressing global problems require solutions from innovative ideas that depend upon educating a new generation to think creatively. The current study aimed at assisting 24 sixth grade students in a summer program develop their creativity skills in two different areas while integrating academic content. Student performance was examined for transfer of skills across domains and for support of Construal Level Theory, which holds that addressing topics distant in space, time, probability or experience leads to abstract thought supporting greater creativity.

The study was a counterbalanced, repeated measures, two-experimental condition study with students divided into two groups of 12 each. In …

Dispositions And Practices That Promote Teacher-Student Relationships With African-American Male Elementary Students, Karyn Mitchell Yeldell

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

This research study was focused on teacher dispositions and practices that create positive teacher-student relationships with African-American elementary male students. Robert Pianta's work on relationships between teachers and students, over the past decade, provided a conceptual framework for this specific study. A review of the literature on this topic evidenced practices that positively and negatively impact teacher-student relationships. Through classroom observations and interviews, the perceptions of elementary teachers were examined on how they actually create teacher-student relationships with their African-American male students. These perceptions were insightful and often supported in the research literature. Effective teachers understand the need for praise, …

Student Dropout From The Perspectives Of Junior High Counselors In Northeast Mississippi, Kelly Ann Bennett

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

I investigated fifteen junior high counselors' understandings about student dropout, particularly about identification of and interventions for students at risk for dropping out of school. As an educator, I desired to research the phenomenon of student dropout to understand how to better reach these types of students. Research is available concerning student dropout from the perspectives of teachers, principals, and student dropouts; however, little research on student dropout from the viewpoint of counselors exists. I utilized a qualitative design, in particular a descriptive case study, to develop understanding of the counselors' perspectives of student dropout. Data collection included individual and …

Attainable Arts Integration In The Elementary School Classroom, Anneliese Gentzsch

Honors Program Theses

Arts Integration is an education philosophy that advocates for educating the whole child in a way that will prepare him or her for life outside the classroom. Arts Integration can effectively do this because it makes art, which is seen everywhere in the world around people, an essential part of the classroom. In an Arts Integration classroom, the arts are integrated with mathematics, science, social studies, and reading. Arts Integration teachers strive to authentically incorporate music, drama, the visual arts, dance, and literature into their classrooms on a daily basis. When teachers authentically incorporate the arts into the classroom, the …

I Am A Teacher Walking A Mile In Her Shoes: A Narrative Study Of Teacher Identity, Amy Parmenter

Educational Studies Dissertations

Using an adapted life story interview process, narratives of six female mid-career elementary teachers were collected and analyzed. The stories describe the values and beliefs of these educators as they reflect on their experience being a teacher employed in one of three public elementary schools undergoing reform. Findings suggest professional development for teachers that cultivates a collaborative school culture and develops reflective dialogue and evaluative thinking is beneficial for schools in the midst of change. Author keywords: teacher identity; community of practice; learning community; life story; public school; professional development; reflective dialogue; evaluative thinking; change; elementary education; educational change; teachers--in-service …

An Evaluation Of The Implementation Fidelity And Outcomes Of The Olweus Bullying Prevention Program In Three Elementary Schools In Virginia, Barbara F. Wood

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

Bullying continues to be a major concern in schools today. Many schools have implemented some type of bullying prevention program. The Olweus Bullying Prevention Program is one of these programs. Evaluation of the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program is typically done through the administration of the Olweus Bullying Questionnaire to students and produces numerical data for its report. Results have been mixed, but often show some type of decrease in bullying activity.;This study evaluated the implementation fidelity and outcomes of the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program in three elementary schools in Virginia. These schools were recommended as having a successful Olweus Bullying …