Education Commons^™

Bibliotherapy : The Use Of Books As An Intervention With Children And Adolescents, Jennifer R. Schmidt

Graduate Research Papers

Bibliotherapy is defined as "the use of literature and poetry in the treatment of people with emotional problems or mental illness" (Pardeck, 1994, p.421). The purpose of this paper is to explore bibliotherapy and to identify the advantages of using it with children and adolescents. Readers will gain an understanding of the stages of bibliotherapy, the goals of bibliotherapy, how to implement bibliotherapy into a counseling program, and the benefits and limitations of bibliotherapy. In addition, suggestions for working with specific client populations are given.

A Study Of The Effects On Academic Achievement Of The Summer Orientation Program At The University Of Northern Iowa, John D. Rider

Graduate Research Papers

Most colleges and universities have some type of orientation program for new students. There are three general types of orientation programs: the semester-long course, the freshman week, and the pre-college clinic. While one purposes of these programs may be to enhance academic achievement, the literature suggests that the pre-college clinic is generally not effective in this area.

Commonalities Connecting Biraciality And Bisexuality : Building Integrated Support In The College Environment, Kelly R. Barrett

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this paper is threefold: (1) to develop a better understanding of biracial and bisexual identity development; (2) to determine developmental similarities between biracial and bisexual college students; and 3) to provide implications for student affairs practitioners.

Anger, Racism, And Anger Management Therapy With African American Adolescents, Rachel A. Dennis

Graduate Research Papers

Increasingly, much of the stress people in the United States experience is due to societal disorder and social pressures (Jenkins, 1982). Racial strife, violence, unemployment, hunger, and housing shortages among other problems, are examples of societal disorder" and are symptoms of the "sickness" of our society that contribute to the chronic anger that many people experience on a daily basis. The concept of social emotional process describes how a prolonged increase in social anxiety can result in a gradual lowering of the functional level of families (Nichols & Schwartz, 1995). Nichols & Schwartz (1995) cite the example of the high …

Secret Pain : Understanding And Treating Self-Injurious Behaviors In Women, Eva Schoen

Graduate Research Papers

This paper is an attempt to raise awareness of the presence of self-injury in Western societies. Causes, symptoms, related diagnoses, and treatment of self-injurious behaviors will be discussed. Most importantly, however, this paper is meant to challenge and, ultimately, decrease the stigma surrounding SD and increase empathy and compassion for the self-injuring person.

Due to constraints of this research paper, the author focuses on female self-injurers and excludes information on self-injury in mentally retarded individuals and prisoners.

Bullying In Schools : Students' Perspectives, Amy L. Schiltz

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this study was to investigate where and how often in the school bullying occurred, whether bullying consisted of physical and/or verbal characteristics, and whether incidents of bullying would decrease following an intervention consisting of 8 classroom guidance lessons. These lessons were taught to 35 sixth grade students over a period of 16 weeks. Overall, bullying incidents decreased for both males and females, most bullying incidents took place on the playground, and students reported school officials did a good job in preventing bullying and creating a safe environment for learning.

A Preferred Vision For Administering Secondary Schools: A Reflective Essay, Robert S. Weaton

Graduate Research Papers

Beginning the process of transformation from classroom teacher, to that of administrator, educational leaders are drawn to the reality that schools have undergone tremendous change, and with it a new set of challenges in an effort to meet the needs of students in the 21st century. The key to effective schooling does not solely rely on whether or not a school changes, but rather on how that change takes place, and to what extent students, staff, and community develop ownership of the process. As a beginning practitioner pursuing the goal of becoming an administrator in the secondary school, the focus …

Anger Management For Adolescents In The School Setting, Meri A. Edel

Graduate Research Papers

The first purpose of this research paper will be to discuss what might be some of the origins of adolescent anger, as well as what specifically might provoke it. The discussion will center on such topics as family systems and how they react to anger displays, as well as social contexts in relation to anger. Second, this paper will include descriptions of several anger management programs which could be used in a school setting with adolescents. Specifically, it will include an overview of some of the most widely used programs, such as Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy, small group counseling, active …

"Epidemic" Depression In School-Age Youth, Trudy L. Erickson

Graduate Research Papers

With the traditional image of children as happy and care-free, it has been troubling to think of them suffering the effects of major depression and dysthymia. Successful intervention for.depressive youth is complicated by failure to diagnose, limited referral or consuItation, and resolute parental denial.

The purpose of this paper is to inform the reader about depression in today's student population. Depression will be defined and described as it is manifested in youth. Typical symptoms and proposed etiologies will be discussed. Finally, suggested interventions will be addressed, although research concerning interventions for depressed youth, particularly children, has been sparse.

Dissociative Identity Disorder : Features, Etiology, And Treatment, Gretchen Elizabeth Honsell

Graduate Research Papers

Dissociative Identity Disorder appears to be diagnosed more frequently in the current clinical arena. This may be connected to increased awareness of how people respond and cope with traumatic events, both singular and prolonged or serial. This increase in diagnoses may also correspond with new associations between childhood abuse and trauma, as well as research into how trauma is coded in memory.

Dissociation can be viewed as a natural phenomena that, when overly utilized as a defense against trauma and its impact, may develop in some persons into DID. Treatment of DID tends to progress through four phases: initial, middle, …

The Developmental Implications Of Parental Loss During Adolescence, Dacni C. Jones

Graduate Research Papers

This paper provides a comprehensive review of the literature that relates to the death of a parent and how this experience influences an adolescent. This review will answer the question of how adolescent cognitive, emotional, and social development is affected when a parent dies. After a brief definition of the words "adolescence" and "loss," the focus of this paper will be on the areas of cognitive, emotional, and social development and the effects of grief on development after a parent dies. This information can help mental health professionals and school counselors understand the impact of living through the experience of …

Management And Leadership: Two Important Concepts That Together Make And Excellent Administrator, Stacey J. Ward

Graduate Research Papers

Throughout my high school years, I wanted to be a wealthy business woman. I dabbled in the stock market, read the Wall Street Journal, imagined owning a business one day, and even worked as in intern for a brokerage company. It was evident that I would study business, and become involved in business after college. There was just one problem. My past would reveal my true feelings of success.

Establishing Genuine Parent/Teacher Partnerships : A Home Visit Approach, Kimberly Jo Foy

Graduate Research Papers

This article is based on a teacher's personal experience with home visits and the feedback she received from parents. The home visits allowed the teacher to have a holistic view of students and their families. Quotes from an on-going journal convey a deepened relationship between the teacher and her parents. The goals of the home visits were to gain a deeper understanding of the children as readers, and communicate the child's developmental progress to the parents. Another goal was to understand parent perceptions toward home visitations, and build a parent/teacher partnership based on mutual respect. The results section of the …

Treatment Strategies Used To Teach Adults Diagnosed With Mental Retardation Appropriate Interpersonal Skills, Laurie S. Youngblood

Graduate Research Papers

Currently, the care of individuals diagnosed with mental retardation is moving toward meeting their needs in the least restrictive environment. Mildly retarded individuals are being guided away from the custodial care of institutions to normalized apartment settings. This integration into the mainstream of society, which allows the retarded individuals to lead as normal a life as possible, is the goal of normalization process. An expected outcome of community living is that these individuals will have increased opportunities to meet people and develop relationships. Living and working in a more free environment is a great challenge for the individual with mental …

A Thematic Unit For A Reading Program In Grade Two Oral History, Tracy M. Daugherty

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this paper is to present the benefits of a literature-based reading program. Included in this paper is an example of a literature-based unit presented to a second grade class. This instructional development unit included several components for student learning.

Examining How Presentation Technology Affects Communication Of Student Ideas, Barbara Besch

Graduate Research Papers

This research examines the impact of presentation technology and the effect it has on the way students communicate their ideas. Students have traditionally stood at the front of the room and talked about their research and findings. Technology offers new means in presenting student research. The class that will be participating in this study will have access to presentation software and the tools to use it effectively to create dynamic presentations. Before the process begins, students will be asked to evaluate their attitudes and feelings on presenting the results of research. They will then evaluate the overall quality of their …

Writing Portfolios In A Resource Room, Marcquelyn S. Allensworth

Graduate Research Papers

Much attention has been given to the issue of assessing students' writing. The trend to view writing as a process has prompted educators to use qualitative assessment techniques to describe children's writing progress and instructional needs. The writing portfolio, one qualitative technique, provides an ongoing assessment that can be used throughout the year and extended throughout the school career of the child. In portfolio development, students can be actively involved in reflecting on their approach to the writing process and can, in collaboration with the teacher, set goals for future learning. Therefore, this type of assessment closely connects instruction and …

Ethical Issues In Experiential Counselor Training Groups, Lisa Kramer Kukral

Graduate Research Papers

Of the ethical issues addressed in the professional literature regarding group counselor training, those most frequently addressed are confidentiality and dual relationships, and informed consent and involuntary participation. The purpose of this paper is to explore how these ethical guidelines apply to the personal growth/training groups utilized in counseling master's and doctoral programs and the ethical dilemmas that arise because of them. This paper will also explore suggestions that have been made to address these ethical dilemmas.

The Use Of Art Therapy In Counseling Children, Laura Longo

Graduate Research Papers

Art is being used more and more by counselors working with children, particularly within the school setting because it allows for children to communicate nonverbally in a timely manner. "Art therapy in a school setting can offer children the opportunity to work through obstacles that are impeding their educational progress. It can facilitate appropriate social behaviors and promote healthy affective development" (Bush, 1997, p. 16).

The purpose of this paper is to explore how art is used in counseling children and examine specific techniques. Also, the author will focus on the stages of artistic development of children, the use of …

A Vision For Administering Secondary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Roger W. Francis

Graduate Research Papers

Being a principal is a very demanding job. All of the hats that the principal is required to wear means that he is being looked at for leadership in a multitude of areas. Some of which are not a direct part of the education program. Areas other than academics have an effect on the overall educational process. Maintaining an orderly environment, with a good staff, in a safe setting that provides needed services to children, can have a huge effect on the education of our youth. Thus, the role of the principal. in this process is very powerful as the …

The Red Road Approach To Healing As Used In Native American Adolescent Addiction Treatment, Colleen M. Husak

Graduate Research Papers

Traditional treatment programs have not worked with Native Americans. Instead, programs designed to be culturally sensitive are needed (Burn, 1992). In this paper, the author will explore the specific theory of the Red Road approach as used in Native American adolescent substance abuse treatment facilities. The Red Road approach is practical in its psychological application at the same time that it incorporates and encourages the spiritual beliefs which are a major part of the philosophy of most Native Americans (Black Elk & Lyon, 1991). As Black Elk and Lyons (1991) noted, even Native Americans who no longer practice their ancestral …

Treatment And Intervention Strategies For Battered Women : Breaking The Cycle Of Violence, Hope L. Huff

Graduate Research Papers

Partner violence is now understood to affect at least 8.7 million women per year (Roberts, 1998). As a result of the chronic abuse, many women suffer from psychological disorders requiring professional help. A large percentage of battered women demonstrate symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), including depression, anxiety, stress, low self-esteem, and somatic complaints (Margolin & Burman, 1993; Yegidis, 1992). Treatment and intervention strategies will be introduced for both individual and group therapy, based primarily on cognitive approaches.

The Role Of A School Business Manager : A Reflective Essay, Carl D. Benning

Graduate Research Papers

The responsibilities of a school business manager are diverse, complex, dynamic, variable, and vast in scope. Although the role of an individual school business manager is determined and defined by local district policies and customs, the personal philosophies of the business manager, superintendent, and board of education have a tremendous impact on the actual responsibilities. Situations presented in this paper pertain to Iowa public K-12 schools. References made to federal actions, or other outside influences, are made only to gauge and assess the impacts on Iowa K-12 schools. The personal ideas and feelings expressed in this paper are the results …

A Narrative Poem Of Iowa’S Immigrants, Ann Gumz

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this research project was to create a narrative poem for children in kindergarten through fifth grade about the immigrants to Iowa. The author began with a literature review of children's poetry preferences, children's attitudes about poetry, and the integration of poetry into the classroom. A bibliography of source material was created using selections from Basic Iowa Materials and the web site, The Ultimate Collection of News Links. The author also used five classic narrative poems as models and the elements of good book design recommended by experts as guidelines. A narrative poem was produced using rhythm and …

Winter : A Literature-Based Unit For Kindergarten, Amy L. Murray

Graduate Research Papers

A literature-based program in a classroom can provide many opportunities for children to engage in the language 'process. As a result, children's thinking-language abilities are extended and their enthusiasm for involvement in classroom learning experiences is enhanced. Literature experiences representative of the different genres add dimensions to the study of themes and topics.

A literature base and related expressive activity for the topic of winter in kindergarten is presented in this article. The subtopics of the unit include seasonal changes, weather, outdoor activities, clothing and changes in animal behavior. Teacher-directed and student-initiated activities through learning centers are presented.

Value Of Self-Talk In An Early Childhood Setting, Althea Murphy

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this paper is to examine the self talk of the child and how it relates to the child's cognitive development. The views of Piaget and Vygotsky regarding self talk are compared. Development and varieties of self talk are examined. Factors that encourage and discourage self talk are discussed. The final chapter summarizes this study, draws conclusions from the literature, and this paper suggests guidelines for developing an effective program of self talk in the early childhood setting.

Integrated Science Unit : Ponds And Water, Evelyn K. Oliver

Graduate Research Papers

This instructional development project integrated the language arts and the science areas. The science content was ponds and water from the second grade curriculum. A rich learning environment was provided through a literature base, representing the different genres and related expressive activity. The unit was presented through teacher-directed activity and learning centers that offered many options from which children could select experiences.

The goals of the program were to give children more control over their learning and to extend children's thinking-language abilities by capitalizing on the common processes of the language arts and science areas and offering many opportunities to …

Creating A Registration Database Using Microsoft Access 97, Darren A. Otte

Graduate Research Papers

Every business or organization that conducts any type of training, whether on a small or large scale, must deal with logistical issues. There are several ways of keeping track of relevant and important information, including anything from paper based systems to off the shelf computer applications. Very often, these methods are cumbersome or not applicable to the needs of the organization. This research project focuses on the customization of training registration information and logistics for a specific company, for the purposes of this paper called XXXX, using a database.

Specifically, a Microsoft Access database was created to keep track of …

A History Of The Development And Implementation Of A Whole Language Curriculum In A Rural Iowa Middle School, Anthony M. Pieper

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this project was to examine the history of a whole language curriculum which was developed and implemented for grades five and six in a rural Iowa middle school and to discuss any insights gained from the process. This project presents a description of the whole language curriculum and a rationale for its development. It also explains the purpose of a whole language curriculum and its importance to students, teachers, administrators, and parents.

The project describes the procedures used by the middle school in the development and implementation of the curriculum. The project concludes with a description of …

Sexuality Education In The Schools : The Psycho-Social Development Of Relationships, Intimacy, And Sexuality In Children And Adolescents, Brian C. Poncy

Graduate Research Papers

This paper investigates the present state of sexuality education in the American school system. Within this examination, the paper looks to clarify several aspects of sexuality education in the United States. More specifically, the investigation seeks to identify current practices concerning the teaching of human sexuality, relationships, gender roles, and interpersonal communication. Further effort is given to understanding the roles played by the media, the community, the peer group, and the family within the intrapersonal, cognitive, and social-sexual development of the individual.