Education Commons^™

Las Tertulias Pedagógicas Y Los Grupos Interactivos Como Estrategias Para Promover Prácticas De Lectura Dialógica E Inclusiva Con Docentes De Las Instituciones Educativas Carlos Lleras Restrepo Y Centro Social De Yopal, Casanare, Deisy Caicedo, Jose Armando Simbaqueba Gutiérrez, Marta Ligia Vaca Guatavita

Maestría en Docencia (Yopal)

Este proyecto de investigación se inscribe en el Macroproyecto: “Estrategias pedagógicas para una educación dialógica e inclusiva”, corresponde a la línea Educación, Lenguaje y Comunicación de la Facultad de Ciencias de la Educación de la Universidad de La Salle y se desarrolla entre 2015 y 2016. Propone una ruta de acción pedagógica para favorecer la incorporación del diálogo en las prácticas de lectura cotidiana de docentes de las instituciones Educativas Carlos Lleras Restrepo y Centro Social de Yopal. Las técnicas empleadas en la fase diagnóstica fueron: observación participante, análisis documental y encuesta aplicadas a 60 docentes; en la fase de …

The Effects Of Explicit And Systematic Phonemic Awareness Instruction On Reading For English Language Learners, Annette Freeman

Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation was to find effective phonological instruction for improving reading comprehension and oral language proficiency of ELLs. In addition, this study was conducted to inform school administrators without ESL certification about best practices in ELL education so they could make informed, school-wide decisions for better serving ELLs before entry into secondary schools.

The sample included first and second-grade students identified as ELLs in two Northwest Arkansas elementary schools. The two schools were selected based on their similar student demographics of grade configuration, ethnicity, and poverty rate. All students selected for the study were identified as ELLs …

Effects Of 1:1 Computing By Ses On Student Motivation, Engagement, And Literacy Achievement, Bryan Appleton

Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation was to investigate the effectiveness of the combination of 1:1 computing with collaborative instructional strategies. In the first and second hypotheses, exposure to a 1:1 computing environment in a literacy classroom (participation versus no participation) and SES (participating versus not participating) were the independent variables. The dependent variable for Hypothesis 1 was positive student motivation. The dependent variable for Hypothesis 2 was positive student engagement. Hypothesis 1 revealed that the interaction between the independent variables was significant. In the two groups participating in the 1:1 Program, the students not participating in the free and reduced …

An Examination Of The Key Factors That Impact The Gender Gap In Reading, Phyllis Pegram

Education Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation was designed to provide information on the factors that impact the male gender gap in reading. Disparities between the reading achievement of boys and girls have long been a concern for educators. There are many reasons boys are lagging behind in reading such as the lack of male role models, stereotyping, lack of interest in reading material, and differences in brain development in boys and girls. Peer pressure also plays a role in the reading success of boys and reading may be considered a feminine activity. Another reason boys do not perform well in reading is their great …

The Effects Of Canine Therapy On Academics, Behavior, And Motivation Of Students, Maria Rector

Education Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine whether canine therapy provided by the B.A.R.K.S. program was effective in increasing reading achievement, impacting the motivation of students while participating in therapy, and decreasing off-task behaviors in the classroom. This study focused on academic or behavioral difficulties that have been exhibited in the general education classroom.

This study utilized a mixed-methods approach, with pre and postassessments for academics, behavior, and motivation. Parents were also given a questionnaire to fill out that addressed the qualitative component of the study. A combination of t tests and ANCOVA were used to analyze the data …

Constructive-Developmental Theory As A Framework For Understanding Coaches' Conceptualizations Of The Literacy Coach-Teacher Relationship, Nicole Fensel

Education Dissertations and Projects

Literacy coaching as a professional development model provides teachers with job-embedded support while learning about research-based instructional strategies. Teacher learning occurs in the context of this relationship. Literature revealed coaches’ difficulty navigating this aspect of their role. This study was designed to add foundational understanding of the literacy coach-teacher relationship using Kegan’s (1982, 1994) Constructive-Developmental Theory to conceptualize the teacher-coach relationship and determine how it impacted coaching activities. The theory examines how individuals’ developmental capacities influence how they make meaning of their experiences. Given the complexity of the literacy-coaching role, it is critical to have a clear picture of how …

Examining The Effects Of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt's Read 180 Program On Reading Achievement And Self-Efficacy In Middle Schools, Amanda Michelle Cox

Education Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine if improving reading achievement through Houghton Mifflin Harcourt’s (HMH) READ 180 program impacted a student’s reading self-efficacy. Of the students participating in this study, particular attention was placed on the factors of gender, ethnicity, and the length of time students were exposed to HMH’s READ 180 program.

The setting for this research was three middle schools in upstate South Carolina. The schools sampled were from a combination of urban, suburban, and rural populations. The study’s methodology was quantitative and correlational.

When reviewing the results of the study, the research indicated that there …

Perceptions Of Educator Preparation In The Field Of English Language Learners, Vivian R. Fry

Selected Honors Theses

This study investigated how well pre-service teachers felt prepared to teach English Language Learners in the areas of second language (L2) acquisition and culture. 62 preservice teachers responded to a survey sent out to education majors at Southeastern University. Majority of the participants in the study indicated that they had less than adequate knowledge in the area of L2 acquisition and were less than adequately prepared to educate ELLs in the area of L2 acquisition. The participants indicated that they wanted professional development opportunities that focused on pedagogy for the specific stages of L2 acquisition. Regarding culture, a little more …

Once More With Feeling: Elementary Classroom Teachers’ Perceptions Of The Effectiveness Of Reader’S Theater, Alissa Marie Allen

Selected Honors Theses

Due to the No Child Left Behind policy of 2001, school systems are held to a higher standard with more advanced curricular aims. The resulting intense focus on content leaves little time for extracurricular activities such as the arts. Yet, educators may still include the arts in their classrooms by integrating the arts into curricular content. For example, the use of an arts integrated reader’s theater gives teachers the opportunity to integrate all four strands of the arts and teach oral reading fluency.

This study was guided by the enquiry of how reader’s theater integrates the arts and influences student …

The Disconnect Between General Classroom Teaching Techniques And English Language Learner Needs, Marliese Belt

Honors College Theses

This project will seek to identify gaps in pre-service teacher education as it relates to appropriate instructional strategies for English Language Learners (ELLs). First, public and private liberal arts schools of higher education in Kentucky will be analyzed for relevant programs and courses addressing the needs of ELLs and research-driven instructional techniques used to educate them. It will be determined that many of the schools offer undergraduate or graduate level endorsements and certificate programs, but only one, Murray State University, offers an undergraduate degree-bearing program. Next, ELLs, their characteristics, and unique needs will be defined to ensure that all stakeholders …

A Study Of The Intelligibility, Comprehensibility And Interpretability Of Standard Marine Communication Phrases As Perceived By Chinese Mariners, Lillian Christine Holland

Dissertations and Theses

Worldwide, mariners use a variety of English as an International Language known as Maritime English regardless of the first language spoken by the crew or port in which they enter. English knowledge and ability is therefore critical to a mariner's livelihood at sea and is also mandated by the International Maritime Organization. The ability to understand and be understood is paramount to safety at sea. This study investigated which accents of English a subset of Chinese mariners found easy or difficult to understand. The data from 39 Chinese mariners who listened to 8 Standard Marine Communications phrases was analyzed. The …

Improving Reading: A Case Study Of The Accelerated Reader Program, Tammy K. Waters

Education Dissertations and Projects

Fidelity of program implementation of the Accelerated Reader (AR) program in relation to fourth-grade students’ achievement in reading was investigated. The relationship among students’ motivation to read, the role of parental support, and the reading success of students as measured by the fourth-grade end-of-grade reading test was also examined. Implementation fidelity of the AR program was determined through researcher observations and completion of an AR Implementation Checklist by participating teachers. Motivation to read was determined by administration of the ERAS to fourth-grade students. Parental support was measured through use of a parent survey and a teacher perceptions survey. Principals and …

Response To Intervention: A Program Evaluation Of Implementation In A Rural School District, Angela Garrison Rodgers

Education Dissertations and Projects

The acquisition of reading skills is a key component to a student’s academic progress and success in life. Effectively implemented early intervention programs have been shown to improve reading performance of struggling readers. The purpose of this study was to conduct a CIPP program evaluation of the implementation of a Response to Intervention (RTI) Program in a rural school district. The focus of this study was an RTI program in its second year of full implementation in kindergarten and first grade in 15 elementary schools. This mixed-method study utilized data gathered from reading achievement and special education referral data, district-level …

"All The Trappings Of Racism Are Here, And I Live In Them": Resistance, Counterspace, And Identity Socialization As Afro-Caribbean Women Raise Second Generation Immigrant Sons And Grandsons In A Racialized U.S. Southeastern State, Michelle D. Grace-Williams

Theses and Dissertations

This nine-month narrative inquiry explored the experiences of four Jamaican immigrant women (two mothers and two grandmothers) living in a southeastern U.S. state to gain insights about how they ethnic-racially socialize their second generation immigrant sons or grandsons in this racialized context. Research questions guiding the study were: (a) How do the women perceive racism in the U.S.? How do they choose to self-identify? What connection, if at all, exists between their perceptions of racism and how they choose to raise their children or grandchildren? (b) What ethnic-racial messages do they transmit to them and what purposes do they serve? …

Discursive Intersections: Tracing The Becoming Of Pre-Service Teachers - An Action Research Study, Elizabeth Mccall Bemiss

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to construct knowledge about the intersections between a teacher educator’s discourses and pre-service teacher identity performances in a university classroom. The researcher used Mills’ (2011) action research design to examine the ways she intersected with the identity performances of 24 pre-service teachers in a literacy methods course. Data collection included audio recordings and transcriptions of class sessions, a teacher journal, written communication between teacher and students, and course assignments. Thematic analysis and methods of discourse analysis were used to identify patterns across pre-service teachers’ performances in the classroom. Findings revealed multiple, fluid, dynamically evolving, …

Learning To Become Culturally Responsive Critical Inquirers: A Never Ending Journey, Susana Priscila Alvarado Cordova

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores the nuances of becoming a culturally responsive critical inquirer. A postcritical ethnographic case study offered the frame to describe my attempts to produce and implement culturally responsive curriculum with two teachers in a bilingual second grade classroom. Data included participant observations over a six–month period, field notes from classroom observations, interviews to different stake holders, and documents and artifacts analysis. I used narrative to provide an ethnographic description of the site, and to describe the research participants and our interactions. I did so in order to describe the ways in which personal histories, school, and district structures, …

Investigating The Relationship Between Arabic-Speaking Iraqi Refugee Families And The Schools Their Children Attend, Saad K. Bushaala

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the relationships between Arabic speaking Iraqi refugees and teachers in the schools their children attended as perceived by parents and teachers. Specifically, this study explored the communication processes utilized by the Iraqi refugees, their children’s teachers, and their schools. Using a qualitative methods approach, this study also examined the multiple literacy forms and “funds of knowledge” that these families exhibited and utilized in support of their children’s learning. I also looked at the methods and practices that Arab refugee families living in the South used to preserve their heritage language and culture. I read and analyzed the …

From Communities Of Practice To Classroom Communities Of Inquiry: Engaging Students In Meaning Construction, Scott Gregory Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

Gordon Wells (2001) stated that policy makers and educational planners believe there is a crisis in public education. These individuals talk about improving the “delivery of a standardized education” (p. 172) and creating nation-wide assessments that ensure particular outcomes. On the other hand, Wells (2001) discussed academic researchers who are interested in students achieving “depth of understanding” by emphasizing the importance of inquiry, construction of knowledge, and collaboration. Unfortunately, Wells (2001) also believed that the daily practice of classroom teachers lies somewhere between these two perspectives, meaning their teaching practices may not always align with their teaching philosophy. This research …

Effects Of Traditional High School Versus Career Academy High School On Literacy And Mathematics Achievement, Dana Brown

Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation was to determine the effects by gender and by socioeconomic status between students in career academy high schools versus students in traditional high schools on literacy and mathematics achievement for 8th-11th grade students in 6A and 7A high schools in the state of Arkansas. In the context of this study, relevance has to do with the connection or link established between something learned and an opportunity to apply that learning. Critics of the traditional learning structure argue that because information is learned in isolation, a difficulty arises in how that learning is readily applicable to …

Using Wordless Picture Books With The Language Experience Approach: A Method For Teaching Pre-Emergent And At-Risk Readers, Rachel Luczkowski

Graduate Student Independent Studies

Proposes using wordless picture books in conjunction with Roach Van Allen's Language Experience Approach as a method for teaching pre-emergent and at-risk readers. The original work that comprises the bulk of this study is a wordless picture book of Aesop's fable, The Ant and the Grasshopper. The author describes the developmental and artistic considerations taken during the creation of the book as well as potential classroom applications for its use.

An Examination Of Elementary Preservice Teachers' Self-Efficacy Beliefs For Teaching Reading, Michele Miller Schaich

Education Dissertations and Projects

In the United States, an alarming number of students cannot read proficiently, though there is best-practice research on how to effectively teach readers at all levels. This study examined the impact teacher preparation courses as well as the student teaching experience had on preservice teachers’ self-efficacy for literacy instruction. An extensive review of the literature revealed there is not a large body of research that is literacy content-specific and focused on the preservice teacher efficacy. This study is significant in that the process of teacher preparation in universities is one of continuous improvement. Professors of teacher preparation courses must rely …

Program Evaluation Of The Direct Instruction Reading Interventions: Reading Mastery And Corrective Reading, Nita M. Jarvis

Education Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this program evaluation was to evaluate the Direct Instruction programs, Reading Mastery and Corrective Reading, from SRA McGraw-Hill Publishing Company, which were being used as a school-wide reading intervention. These programs were implemented at a small elementary school in the piedmont area of North Carolina beginning in the 2012–2013 school year. This elementary school had not been able to meet state-mandated reading proficiency requirements for more than 10 years and hoped the Direct Instruction reading program intervention would improve student reading proficiency scores as evidenced by end-of-grade test scores in reading and Diagnostic Reading Assessments.

The CIPP …

A Mixed-Methods Study Of The Influence Of Accelerated Reader On High School Students' Motivation To Read For Pleasure, Cindy D. Hogston

Education Dissertations and Projects

The Accelerated Reader (AR) program is a computerized reading management system developed in the early 1990s by Judi and Terry Paul. The AR program was developed as an extrinsic motivational tool to encourage children to read. Judi developed comprehension quizzes to accompany popular children’s books, while her husband created a computer program that would assign point values to each comprehension quiz. Students read a book, took the computerized comprehension quiz, and were awarded a certain number of points depending on the number of correct answers. During a national teacher conference, Judi Paul introduced her program to teachers. The demand for …

Best Practices In Second Language Teaching: A Holistic Doctrine Based On Research And Experience, Tarin Christopher Griswold

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

This portfolio is an amalgam of the author’s teaching philosophy which is deeply rooted in the theoretical foundations of second language teaching pedagogy, and further honed through firsthand teaching and observation experiences garnered during the course of his MSLT program. The target languages focused on in this portfolio are English and Japanese.

The primary components of this portfolio are: 1) the author’s teaching philosophy statement (TPS), 2) language, literacy, cultural, and research strand artifacts, 3) annotated bibliographies, and 4) target language lesson plans developed and taught by the author which bring key concepts in the TPS and artifacts to fruition …

The Taiwanese-American Perspective On Discrimination In English Language Teaching, Kuan Cheng Song

Master's Theses

This is a qualitative study examining the perspectives of five Taiwanese-American English teachers on their experiences of discrimination in the English language-teaching field of Taiwan. An extensive amount of literature has been written about the nativeness paradigm and its effect on the English language-teaching field, but the Taiwanese-American experience concerning those issues has yet to be explored. The study used Asian Critical Race Theory, Social Identity Theory and Asian American Racial Identity Theory to analyze the history of English language teaching in Taiwan, the critical studies on native and non-native English language teachers and the social issues affecting Asian Americans …

A Hermeneutic Study Of Secondary English Language Arts Teacher Candidates' Writing Instruction Experiences In Esol Methods Courses, Paula Bello

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this hermeneutic study was to understand, describe and interpret secondary English Language Arts (ELA) teacher candidates'(TC) experiences with writing instruction while attending English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) methods courses. The study included a purposeful convenience sample of 15 (fifteen) secondary ELA teacher candidates' (TC) attending 4 (four) different sections in 2 (two) ESOL methods courses. TCs were invited to participate in inquiry driven activities including written reflections in response to a literacy questionnaire, oral interviews responding to open-ended questions and focus/work groups' discussions, which allowed them to reflect about their past and present literacy and …

The Frequency Of The Passive Voice In Freshman Academic Books, Basma Moreb

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The use of passive voice has long been an area of difficulty for English learners. Celce-Murcia & Larsen-Freeman (2015) noted that it is learning when to use the English passive that presents the greatest long-term challenge to ESL/EFL students (p. 352). Because textbooks are a source of language input for English learners, this study investigated the frequency of passive voice verbs in samples from four academic textbooks in courses commonly taken by freshmen. The study also examined whether there are significant differences between the frequencies by textbook. The data was collected from four General Education Plan (GEP) subject textbooks used …

Reciprocal Teaching In Secondary Classrooms: Preparing Students For College And Career Reading Demands, Kelly Romo

Theses and Graduate Projects

This paper investigates comprehension strategy instruction in secondary classrooms. National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) 2015 report indicates many high school students are not prepared for the reading demands of college and career texts. Research suggests explicit teaching of comprehension strategies increases reading achievement, yet few high school teachers incorporate strategy instruction with current teaching practices due to perceived time constraints, quantity of standards to be covered, and lack of training. The author of this paper proposes Reciprocal Teaching (RT) created by Palincsar and Brown (1984) can be implemented in traditional high school English language arts classrooms as a way …

English Language Learners And Using Technology In The Classroom For Language Arts And Reading Instruction, Lindsay Block

Theses and Graduate Projects

This paper focuses on using technology with English language learners (ELLs), specifically in grades 4-8. Research supports that there are many benefits to using technology with ELLs in the general education classroom. The technology resources that this paper focuses on blogs, WebQuests, handheld devices, and websites. One hundred and nine teachers participated in the study by completing a survey. The survey results indicate that teachers have technology available, but that many do not know how to use it with ELLs. The author provides resources, including a manual and a website, for those teachers to use with their ELLs. The author …

Understanding Students' Chosen Literacy Practices During Non-Academic Times: An Ethnographic Teacher-Research Inquiry, Justin Robert Moyer

Educational Studies Dissertations

This dissertation aims to illuminate the literacy practices that a group of “struggling” students undertake during unstructured times of the school day. The study aims to extend prior theoretical work on literacy (Street, 1984; Weil, 1993; Luttrell & Parker, 2001; Kinloch, 2010; among others) to identify the ways these students engage in literacy practices for deeply personal reasons. Further, this dissertation intends to dispel some of the many myths that surround students in special education settings and, in the case of the focal students in this study, alternative schools. Students reveal: (1) the literacy practices in which they participate, (2) …