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Full-Text Articles in Education

Using Literature Circles To Engage Students With Informational Texts, Theresa Marie Anderson Jan 2006

Using Literature Circles To Engage Students With Informational Texts, Theresa Marie Anderson

All Graduate Projects

The focus of this project was to review the available research on literature circles as a method of engaging students with informational texts and to create an implementation guide for teachers. The results of the research show that there is a need for effective nonfiction instruction and that including this instruction at the elementary level provides tremendous benefits for students. Literature circles are an effective way to engage students with these informational texts, because they offer an authentic literacy experience and provide students with the kinds of informational text interactions they will encounter in the real world. The project includes …


The Benefits Of Bibliotherapy: Textsets And Accompanying Guides For Students And Teachers, Angela Lee Maurina Jan 2005

The Benefits Of Bibliotherapy: Textsets And Accompanying Guides For Students And Teachers, Angela Lee Maurina

All Graduate Projects

In this project, bibliotherapy (the use of literature in helping children cope with emotional problems or change) was investigated. Its history, with a specific focus on past and current uses in professional clinical and educational practice, was researched and outlined. In addition, a review of the psychological social and emotional needs and development of fourth through eighth graders ( early adolescence) was conducted. A summative argument supporting the use of bibliotherapy as a tool to meet the specific needs of early adolescents in the classroom setting was put forward. Limitations were noted. Upon completion of the research, an implementation guide …


Approaching Equity: Strategies For Working With Hispanic Students In The Middle School Health Science Classroom, Heather L. Jones Jan 2004

Approaching Equity: Strategies For Working With Hispanic Students In The Middle School Health Science Classroom, Heather L. Jones

All Graduate Projects

This project provides middle school science teachers with practical classroom strategies for working with Hispanic students. The strategies are built upon national and state recommendations as well as other expert opinions which can be found in the Review of Literature. The strategies align with the Essential Academic Learning Requirements for Washington state. For each strategy, a rationale is provided based on the literature review. In addition, each strategy includes a detailed explanation, along with specific examples. The strategies themselves address environmental, communicative, pedagogical, as well as assessment considerations. Recommendations for implementation are also discussed.


Water Quality Assessment: A Hands-On Approach To Environmental Education, Tracy Lynn Royse Jan 2004

Water Quality Assessment: A Hands-On Approach To Environmental Education, Tracy Lynn Royse

All Graduate Projects

A water quality assessment lab manual has been created to assist secondary educators using the HACH water quality testing kits. It consists of ten chemical tests, a geological survey and a biological assessment largely based upon Washington State University's lab format and the Walla Walla County Conservation District's water study protocol. The lab manual also contains safety guidelines, a scoring rubric and an action plan research project. The environmental approach to science education used in the lab manual meets the Essential Academic Learning Requirements adopted by the Washington State Commission on Student Learning as well as the National Science Education …


Integrating Student Led Conferences Into An Elementary Classroom, Paul Robert Marquardt Jan 2003

Integrating Student Led Conferences Into An Elementary Classroom, Paul Robert Marquardt

All Graduate Projects

Improving student learning and responsibility using student led conferences was studied. A guide for implementing student led conferences in an elementary school was developed and has been implemented at Camelot Elementary School. The results of the guide support that student led conferences can be utilized by general education teachers to enhance their students ability to develop an understanding of their learning and its processes. Through student led conferences, students learn to effectively set personal academic goals, improve their communication skills and become more active in their learning. The use of student led conferences has also provided evidence that participation and …


A Media Literacy Curriculum For The Adolescent Learner, Chris Lopez Jan 2003

A Media Literacy Curriculum For The Adolescent Learner, Chris Lopez

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to develop a media literacy curriculum for teachers of young adolescents. Media literacy is a new, evolving field of study that teaches students to become critical consumers of today's media. Media have often been blamed for the ills of student learning, critical thinking, performance and/or behavior skills. In the review ofliterature, the author investigated media's impact on the adolescent learner, the need to teach media literacy, and recommended curriculum that would benefit the adolescent learner. The curriculum unit is designed to be a useful teaching tool for teachers of adolescent and preadolescent learners who …


Inservice Workships: Freshman Focus Curriculum Implementation, Rachel Elizabeth Rief Jan 2003

Inservice Workships: Freshman Focus Curriculum Implementation, Rachel Elizabeth Rief

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to create workshops to help teachers implement an existing Freshman Focus Curriculum. It was specifically intended for use at Eisenhower High School in Yakima, Washington. The workshops include ways to help teachers organize, prepare for and teach the curriculum which was written to help freshmen transition into high school. The workshops include lesson plans as well as supplemental materials needed to effectively teach the curriculum.


Integrating Expeditionary Learning Philosophy And Principles Into The Middle School Social Studies Curriculum, Paul Andrew George Jan 2002

Integrating Expeditionary Learning Philosophy And Principles Into The Middle School Social Studies Curriculum, Paul Andrew George

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to create a handbook of activities for eighth grade social studies teachers that are based on expeditionary principles, philosophy and pedagogical practices. A review of the literature focused on the academic and social implications of integrating expeditionary philosophy and practices into an academic enviornment. A model learning expedition was provided accompanied by various forms of assessment strategies and methods.


Increasing Third Grade Student Success By The Implementation Of Effective Writing Programs, Jill Evone Mansfield Jan 2002

Increasing Third Grade Student Success By The Implementation Of Effective Writing Programs, Jill Evone Mansfield

All Graduate Projects

To increase student success in writing, different writing curriculums were explored. The purpose was to find a writing curriculum that will benefit students and increase test scores to meet district requirements. Three writing curriculums were researched, Interactive Writing, Writer's Workshop, and Conferencing. Lesson plans were developed for all three areas to implement in a classroom setting.


Promoting Total Wellness In The Health Education Curriculum: A Holistic Approach, Alicia Marie Mciver Jan 2002

Promoting Total Wellness In The Health Education Curriculum: A Holistic Approach, Alicia Marie Mciver

All Graduate Projects

The benefits of exploring, understanding, and balancing the social, mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual dimensions in one's life were researched. The research suggests that providing students in health education classrooms with meaningful avenues to learn about these dimensions within themselves would lead to higher levels of wellness and an overall higher quality of life. A handbook for educators was created to supplement parts of the existing curriculum, as well as show readers that this type of supplemental health handbook can be created by anyone to be used with any type of health curriculum. This handbook contains three health units. Each …


Language Acquisition In A Natural Environment, Lisa Marie Muchlinski Jan 2002

Language Acquisition In A Natural Environment, Lisa Marie Muchlinski

All Graduate Projects

The search for early childhood curricula to prepare children from lowincome families for success in school began with the opening of Head Start in 1965 and Project Follow Through in 1967. Since then, interest in Early Childhood Curriculum Models has come and gone as the result of shifting trends in society. The nation is currently experiencing a renewed awareness in this area. The examination of the natural environment in relation to language acquisition is of increasing interest, as language acquisition is the precursor to pre-literacy skills. The natural environment is explored and an examination of several Early Childhood Curricula is …


Motivating Marginalized Youth Through Health Related Service-Learning, Jane Klara Miller Jan 2002

Motivating Marginalized Youth Through Health Related Service-Learning, Jane Klara Miller

All Graduate Projects

The project provides secondary health teachers who work with marginalized youth with a handbook of service-learning ideas in six units to incorporate into the curriculum. The handbook allows students to utilize the skills they have learned in the classroom by participating in service-learning activities in their community. Students involved in all stages of the service-learning process gain confidence to take ownership of the program allowing for success. By connecting the community and schools through learning, students are given the opportunity to explore their talents, get to know their communities, strengthen developmental assets and learn from one another.


Environmental Awareness Curriculum For First Grade, Dianna Lynn Whitley Jan 2002

Environmental Awareness Curriculum For First Grade, Dianna Lynn Whitley

All Graduate Projects

An environmental curriculum was created to increase student's awareness about their environment. The purpose was to provide students with knowledge and skills to participate in environmental issues. Three sub-topics were researched, Waste Management, Water Pollution and Water Conservation. Lessons were developed for all three areas to implement in a first grade classroom. The lessons are diverse and will meet the needs of all learning styles.


A Handbook For First Grade Children's Literature: A Teacher's Guide To Pre-Reading Comprehension Strategies For The Second Language Learner, Tiffany Lynn Wise Jan 2002

A Handbook For First Grade Children's Literature: A Teacher's Guide To Pre-Reading Comprehension Strategies For The Second Language Learner, Tiffany Lynn Wise

All Graduate Projects

Relevant literature pertaining to reading, reading comprehension, comprehension evaluation, characteristics of readers, findings regarding strategy instruction and its use on comprehension, and specific pre-reading strategies was studied. The need for second language learners to receive comprehension strategies in order to develop schemata, activate prior knowledge, and develop meaning for unknown vocabulary was noted. Teaching specific reading strategies to increase the second language learner's comprehension of a text was emphasized. A handbook of pre-reading strategies to be used with first grade learners was created for teacher use. The handbook outlines each pre-reading strategy, its purpose, and the procedure to follow when …


Conflict Resolution Skills For Elementary Teachers, Jenna K. Blythe Jan 2001

Conflict Resolution Skills For Elementary Teachers, Jenna K. Blythe

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to develop a conflict resolution resource for teachers to use with elementary school children. To accomplish this purpose, current research and literature related to classroom conflict, conflict resolution skills and school violence issues were reviewed. The research demonstrated that students who are taught to deal with conflict at an early age are more inclined to be peaceable problem solvers as they go through school. The goals of this project are to provide teachers with lesson plans that can integrate conflict resolution skills and concepts into their curriculum in the hope that they would prevent …


Wellness Curriculum In Relation To Eating Disorders, Lindzee Christina Perez Jan 2001

Wellness Curriculum In Relation To Eating Disorders, Lindzee Christina Perez

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to develop a handbook to assist secondary health teachers in providing a tool to develop healthy body image, through health promotion. Many health teachers are left with few resources to teach healthy body image. Through the review ofliterature, the writer presented the definition of healthy body image, the history behind eating disorders, the physiological/psychological effects of eating disorders, as well as the benefits of implementing a Healthy Body Image-Health Promotion handbook. This handbook should be a significant aid to secondary health teachers, and others who have an interest in helping adolescents understand eating disorders …


Integrating Technology Into A Seventh Grade Curriculum, Carrie Lynn Petersen Jan 2001

Integrating Technology Into A Seventh Grade Curriculum, Carrie Lynn Petersen

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to create a curriculum guide that served to integrate a seventh grade classroom with computer technology to enhance the existing block curriculum and facilitate student learning. This project takes place at Forks Middle School in Forks, Washington. Attention was placed on providing strategies for managing technology in the classroom. In order to incorporate technology into the classroom curriculum, the guide included the development of original technology based lessons and a modification of existing classroom assignments. Infusing technology into a standard curriculum required several adaptations. Those included using a scaffolding lesson planner to target essential …


Teaching Intermediate Students Research And Critical Thinking Skills: Integrating Technology Into The Curriculum, Michelle Stach Jan 2001

Teaching Intermediate Students Research And Critical Thinking Skills: Integrating Technology Into The Curriculum, Michelle Stach

All Graduate Projects

The focus of this project was to create specific activities that teach students how to research material and use their critical thinking skills to present a product. The project implements an integrated approach with an emphasis on the intermediate grades. Throughout this project the students will be exploring a variety of ways to acquire the knowledge ofresearching quality information. This project concentrates on integrating technology into the social studies and science curriculum. The final product encompasses research and critical thinking skills into an intermediate curriculum.


Increasing Parental Involvement Through Internet Instruction, David Allen Chaplin Jan 2000

Increasing Parental Involvement Through Internet Instruction, David Allen Chaplin

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of the project was to develop a curriculum of Internet instruction for parents of Washington Middle School students. Through a review of the current literature it was found that the recurring lack of communication between parents, students and educators was identified as a barrier for involving families in their students' education. To overcome this barrier four sessions of instruction and practice were developed to increase the families' ability to communicate with their children's educators. The sessions introduce the basic layout and function of computers, the Internet, using email for communication, skills vital for finding information on the internet, …


The Art Of Science: An Integrative Curriculum, Lisa Kay Dorsing Jan 2000

The Art Of Science: An Integrative Curriculum, Lisa Kay Dorsing

All Graduate Projects

This project shows the development of an integrated, interdisciplinary curriculum which combines the visual arts with the physical, life and health sciences at the sixth grade level. The integrated curriculum sample identifies and aligns with the Essential Academic Learning Requirements of Washington state. In addition, the sample lessons maintain the integrity of both art and science, the two subjects being integrated, demonstrating how integration can take place while allowing both subjects to maintain their value as individual disciplines. The review of literature gives background on issues revolving around integration in general, as well as integration involving the arts.


Educational Math Games For First Grade, Shelly Christine Harberts Jan 2000

Educational Math Games For First Grade, Shelly Christine Harberts

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of the project is to create appropriate educational math games for first grade. Thirty-six new games were generated to replace the math games used in the Everyday Math curriculum used in my classroom. The games were taught to twenty first graders. The results showed that using mathematical games relating to the concepts being taught, helped students better understand and master the concepts.


Leadership Curriculum For The High School Student, Ruth Elaine Miller Jan 2000

Leadership Curriculum For The High School Student, Ruth Elaine Miller

All Graduate Projects

The need for a high school leadership curriculum for a small rural school district was studied. The review of literature showed that students should be provided the opportunity to learn leadership skills that focus on the individual, family, school and community. By working with peers and adults, leadership students will have the opportunity to work in real-life situations which address service-learning, character education, and school-to-work in aligmnent with the national and state standards.


Standards-Based Education: Lessons For The Essential Academic Learning Requirements In The Seventh-Grade Social Studies, Karl Anton Schelbert Jan 2000

Standards-Based Education: Lessons For The Essential Academic Learning Requirements In The Seventh-Grade Social Studies, Karl Anton Schelbert

All Graduate Projects

This project focuses on aligning seventh-grade social studies with Washington State's Essential Academic Leaming Requirements, the state's curriculum guide. In the last decade standards-based education has swept across the United States and the results in Washington have changed the face of education. The project itself presents a variety of lessons that are aligned with the seventh-grade standards for social studies. Lessons are separated into the four disciplines in social studies: history, geography, civics, and economics. Each lesson teaches some aspect of a selected social studies requirement. The review of literature examines the standards-based reform and its resulting affects in Washington …


Comprehension Strategy Lesson Plans For Third Grade Teachers Incorporating Informational Science Trade Books, Trinidad M. Rivera Jan 2000

Comprehension Strategy Lesson Plans For Third Grade Teachers Incorporating Informational Science Trade Books, Trinidad M. Rivera

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project is to create a set of lesson plans for teachers useful in teaching comprehension strategies to monolingual third grade students. Research on comprehension strategies and the effects they have on children's reading comprehension was explored. Effective comprehension strategies were defined. Lesson plans were created to aid educators as they teach comprehension of informational material to third grade students.


Real World Mathematics Skills Within The Elementary Resource Classroom, Stacy Schilperoort Jan 2000

Real World Mathematics Skills Within The Elementary Resource Classroom, Stacy Schilperoort

All Graduate Projects

A project, including activities, to assist elementary special education teachers in incorporating real world mathematics skills within their own resource classrooms was developed. A literature review of current research on the topic of real world math skills in schools around the country is also included as part of this project. The literature indicates that students with learning disabilities might benefit and become better prepared for the future as adult citizens by receiving an education that includes math activities that relate to the real world outside the classroom walls.


Meeting The Academic And Social Needs Of Diverse Mainstreamed Students (K-4): A Series Of Workshops For Mainstream Teachers, Carren Renee Tallman Jan 2000

Meeting The Academic And Social Needs Of Diverse Mainstreamed Students (K-4): A Series Of Workshops For Mainstream Teachers, Carren Renee Tallman

All Graduate Projects

A series of workshop materials was developed to help educators meet the academic and social needs of students at Goldendale Primary School in Goldendale, Washington. The targeted students are those who make insufficient academic and social progress in mainstream classrooms. The materials included in the workshop series consist of assessment training, behavior management strategies, and curriculum adaptation and modification skills that can be used by rural primary mainstream teachers.


Honors Program For The 7th Grade Language Arts / Social Studies Block Classroom, Rachel Lewis Ulmer Jan 2000

Honors Program For The 7th Grade Language Arts / Social Studies Block Classroom, Rachel Lewis Ulmer

All Graduate Projects

The focus for this project is to establish a curriculum outline as well as develop appropriate supplementary projects for a seventh-grade Language Arts/Social Studies Honors program. The rationale behind such a program is discussed, as well as outlining the program structure. This includes student selection, entry, and expulsion from the program. There are seven units outlined, each of which has unit goals, activity descriptions, and project information and materials.


Incorporating Holistic Activities Into A First Grade Phonics-Based Basal Reading Program, Kristine Marie Williams Jan 2000

Incorporating Holistic Activities Into A First Grade Phonics-Based Basal Reading Program, Kristine Marie Williams

All Graduate Projects

This project reviews the literature on basal reading programs, the whole language approach, and phonics instruction. The related research was used to identify the need for a more balanced approach to elementary reading instruction. Holistic strategies, based on the whole language philosophy, were explained. These strategies were applied to a first grade phonics-based basal reading program. Lessons and activities were developed to integrate holistic strategies with the phonics-based basal reading program. Implications for further research and teacher training were discussed.


The Holocaust: A Text Set To Extend Beyond The World History Text, Stacie Lynn Deason Jan 1999

The Holocaust: A Text Set To Extend Beyond The World History Text, Stacie Lynn Deason

All Graduate Projects

This project examined the use of trade books, particularly historical fiction and nonfiction, in the social studies curriculum. Through the development of this project, a text set was designed to extend and enrich the students' knowledge of the holocaust beyond the world history textbook. The literature revealed strong support for the use of trade books as a vehicle to learn more than the names, dates and facts presented in the textbook. Trade books allow the students to learn about the human experience of historical events, specifically the Holocaust for the purpose of this project. Through historical fiction and nonfiction trade …


An Adaptive Curriculum Students With Special Needs, John E. Janke Jan 1999

An Adaptive Curriculum Students With Special Needs, John E. Janke

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to adapt existing social studies program materials for use with students with special needs in selected Washington State middle/junior high school. To accomplish this purpose, a comprehensive literature review of research related to social studies curricular and students with special needs was conducted. Existing curriculum was adapted, with special attention given to Washington State Essential Academic Learning Requirements (EALR) requirements. The project materials relate to European history from ancient to modern times, and may be a model for adapting other materials by other teachers.