Education Commons^™

Inclusion And Inclusive Classrooms At The Preschool Level, Michele Keefer

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this review of literature is to examine previous research concerning inclusive classrooms at the preschool level and to determine the most appropriate guidelines for inclusion. Benefits and problems of inclusion were discussed. Guidelines for developing and implementing inclusive programs were suggested. Also, a summary, conclusions, and recommendations are included in the last chapter.

The Benefits Of Using "Community" In The Elementary Classroom, Rodney Edgerton Lyons

Graduate Research Papers

The traditional teaching approach used in most American elementary schools, where the classroom teacher makes all the decisions and the conventional student is instructed to focus individual energies on assigned seatwork and ignore those who are around him or her, has become an ineffective model.

Researchers and certain educators believe that the use of "community" in the classroom will create environments where children care about one another and about learning, where students work harder, achieve more, where warm, supportive relationships are given birth -- enabling students to risk the new ideas and mistakes so critical to intellectual growth. As a …

Do Or Die : A Survival Guide For New Teachers, Peggy A. Martin

Graduate Research Papers

This article is written in an effort to help new middle school teachers with classroom management. Beginning teachers are well prepared in terms of curriculum, theology, and strategies, but until one actually experiences the myriad of personalities and situations in a classroom, there is little they can do except hang on for the ride. The author hopes to encourage new teachers to adopt attitudes which will foster a learning environment for students and create confidence in the teacher which will result in a classroom that is amicable and filled with students eager to learn.

Book Discussions : Guiding Students In Creating Their Own Questioning, Christine Matthew

Graduate Research Papers

Book discussions increase the understanding and personal meaning of books through the students' active participation during the reading process. Previous to book discussions the students would give a statement from the book or paraphrase the book. With the new format students are able to talk about the character's feelings, predict the happenings in the story, discuss the circumstances in the story and how the story could have been written differently.

The success of the book discussions makes it an easy decision to continue the program. This process is very enjoyable and can be adapted for any classroom and teacher. The …

Multiage Education, Wendy S. Matson

Graduate Research Papers

This paper is a review of the literature relative to multiage practices in education. The primary focus of this paper is to review the benefits and problems of multiage practices in today's elementary classroom. The intent of this paper is to present a balanced view of the pros and cons concerning the education of children in a multiage environment. This discussion focused on some of the problems educators face in trying to do so.

The conclusion of this study found the teacher, the parent, and the administration are vital as a cooperative unit in educating a child, as each teaching …

Providing A Rich Learning Environment Through A Literature-Based Unit Across The Curriculum : Gardens And Gardening, Glenda G. Moleski

Graduate Research Papers

A literature base with related expressive activities from the language arts and graphic and performing arts can support an integrated instructional study. As a result, personal-social and thinking-language abilities can be nurtured. This specific literature base on gardens and gardening was developed for at-risk children in a multi-age classroom (grades 2-3).

Technology, At-Risk Intervention & The Music Classroom, Kurt M.J. Devore

Graduate Research Papers

This research paper will provide an overview of the music technologies available for students, address how the National Standards for music education are fulfilled by utilizing technology in the music classroom, and discuss how technology applications can aid learning in the music classroom. There will also be a description of several technology based workstations for the music classroom.

Technology Staff Development : Key To Technology Integration, Joanne G. Dorhout

Graduate Research Papers

This research paper will examine six areas. First, it will review several successful technology staff programs to support the concept that staff development does make an impact on the students' learning. Next, the principles that comprise a good staff development program will be examined, followed by an examination of the needs of an adult as a learner. Fourth, after. the teacher has acquired new skills, what insures the transfer of those skills into the classroom integrating technology into the curriculum? The concepts that research has found to be successful in the knowledge transfer will be examined. Fifth, to ensure the …

The Writing Portfolio : An Authentic Assessment Tool, Sondra L. Nelson

Graduate Research Papers

Using writing portfolios as an ongoing assessment technique in the second grade classroom was a rewarding experience for my students and me. Our collaboration through conferences provided many connections between instruction and assessment. The students even though they represented a range of abilities were able to assess their own work and grow from their own reflections. Their writing abilities emerged and were captured in their portfolios. Authentic assessments were displayed with pride as each of the students shared their portfolios with their parents.

Providing A Print-Rich Environment For Young Writers, Rita S. Nierling

Graduate Research Papers

A print-rich environment can provide many experiences to nurture young children's writing abilities. Cambourne's instructional elements for promoting literacy have been related to a literature-based program. Literature experiences and related writing activities extended to the science area of an elementary instructional program, specially to the concept of air, are developed.

Inclusion Of An Autistic Child Into A Self-Contained Third Grade Classroom, Arlene M. Belt

Graduate Research Papers

This article describes the disorder of autism in the spectrum of pervasive developmental disorders, the challenges that the autistic child faces, and the inclusion of an autistic child, a nine-year old boy, into a self-contained third grade classroom. Through details of his life, the reader is given an intimate look at the personal and educational issues he faces as he struggles to cope with his disability. In addition to focusing on how the disorder affects an individual, the paper stresses the importance of parents and professionals working together to develop and implement teaching strategies that will assist such a child …

Assessing Culturally And Linguistically Diverse Stuents : A Discussion For Professionals In The Schools, Candace Kist-Tahmasian

Graduate Research Papers

This paper is intended for professional school psychologists, school social workers, consultants in special education and other professionals involved in assessment issues in the schools. It is necessary for school professionals to have an understanding of the general socio-political context which surrounds the issues involved in language and culture to better assess the mental/cognitive abilities of language minority students through the dominant language and culture.

It is beyond the scope of this paper to present such issues in their entirety. Therefore, the focus of this paper will center on "voluntary minorities", specifically those who are learning English as a second …

Reading Recovery In The Classroom : A Literacy Team Approach, Nancy Strunk Larsen

Graduate Research Papers

A recent remedy for the concern over continued progress and over communication between Reading Recovery and the classroom is to adapt Reading Recovery practices in the regular classroom. A Title I Reading Recovery program in a Midwestern school adopted this very remedy. The program initiated in this elementary school has two Reading Recovery teachers, three first-grade teachers, and two second-grade teachers who work collaboratively as a literacy team. The goal of the program is to use a teamwork approach to teach reading both with the idea of meeting the instructional needs of the student and also of teaching the classroom …

Retention In The Schools, Sandy Barry

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this paper is to examine grade retention. It looks at the advantages, disadvantages, and the alternatives to retention. This paper discusses factors that increases a child's chance of being retained. Aspects in education that have affected retention are also discussed. In addition, this paper looks at teachers' beliefs and why they hold these beliefs concerning_retention. Finally, the last chapter summarizes this study and draws conclusions from the literature and suggests recommendations for further study.

Integrated Humanities: A Content Model For Senior High School Gifted, Jolene Kay Teske

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this project was to develop an integrated humanities content model for senior high school gifted students. It began as a vision and has developed into a clear content model that will be piloted at the writer's school in the fall of 1999. Through the literature review and working revisions, the writer has become convinced that this type of model is one viable and defensible option for programming for intellectually gifted students at the senior high school level.

Quality Schools For The Next Century: A Reflective Essay, Pam J. Zeigler

Graduate Research Papers

My formal education began in 1967 in a small school in north central Iowa. The world was a lot different then. There were 13 students in my kindergarten class. We all lived with our biological mother and father. Our fathers were the "breadwinners;" our mothers were the "bread makers." We read books about Dick, Jane, and Sally and completed thousands of worksheets. We memorized facts and sat quietly while the teacher did all the talking. We thought that once we graduated from high school we were finished with school forever. Words, such as drugs, computers, and AIDS, were not a …

Breaking Tradition: One Special Educator's Journey Towards A Meaning-Based Instructional Program, Crystal L. Thurn

Graduate Research Papers

This article describes what one special educator has tried in teaching reading and found it to be successful for students with learning disabilities. It gives some helpful tips about making reading more meaningful by using authentic literature, addressing the higher order thinking skills, and letting go of time a barrier.

Collateral Positions In Student Affairs, Lisa L. Kidd

Graduate Research Papers

Staff members in student services argue that students have become their responsibility by the default of the faculty. Faculty members, insisting that they are the university, do not want budgets for student support to remain large or to continue growing. Students want both faculty members and support personnel to pay attention to them. Administrators, legislators, and the public want to see budgets cut. The tensions are palpable.

The constant tug of war between faculty and staff for larger budgets places more pressure on universities to allocate funds equitably. In doing so, the use of collaborative positions have increased. By increasing …

Home Response Journals : Parents As Informed Contributors In The Assessment Of Their Child's Reading Development, Julie Wilson Morningstar

Graduate Research Papers

When parents are welcomed as partners in their child's "educational team," a bridge connecting the child's home and school environments is created - empowering parents as active participants in their child's reading development.

The Internet And Education : Uses And Issues, Ronald William Fitch

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this paper is two-fold. First, to provide a short overview of how the Internet, especially e-mail and the World Wide Web (WWW), is used in education for all age groups, elementary school through university and corporate training. Second, to examine current issues surrounding the use of the Internet in education. This paper will answer the question "What is the current state of the Internet in education?" Educational uses of the Internet as supplemental tools to classroom learning will be defined and discussed.

Asperger's Syndrome : A Review Of Literature, Tracy L. Gappa

Graduate Research Papers

This paper contains a review of literature on Asperger's Syndrome (AS). This disorder is characterized by deficits in social interaction skills and communication skills (such as the absence of eye contact or facial expressions). Individuals with AS also insist on routines in behaviors, and pursue a relatively narrow range of interests and activities. Etiology is thought to be multifactoral. Studies have indicated that AS may be influenced by genetic factors as well as pre-, peri-, and postnatal trauma. The disorder is also more common among boys than girls.

In this paper, the general clinical features of AS are reviewed, with …