Education Commons^™

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 …

Integrating Spelling Instruction In A First-Grade Balanced Literacy Classroom, Michele Smith

Graduate Research Papers

This article describes how one teacher integrated some explicit spelling instruction in her first-grade balanced literacy classroom. The purpose for this article is to give an overview of the latest research concerning issues that affect spelling instruction and describe activities that can be used to teach children strategies for effective word study. The spelling program described in this article provided students with a purposeful way to study words and provided them with authentic writing experiences. The conclusion states a need for a balance between authentic reading and writing and purposeful word study.

An Extended Literature Base For An Integrated Unit: Forest Regions Of The United States, Barbara R. Wild

Graduate Research Papers

An example of extending literature-based language arts to an integrated social studies and science unit is presented in this paper. Justification for this type of learning environment is given by citing professional literature. Specific benefits to students are explained. The teacher and student roles in this unit are defined. Teacher-directed activities, literature groups, and student-selected center activities all work together to provide a learning environment in which students are engaged in learning, take responsibility for their learning, and find meaningful uses for language tasks--written and spoken.

Alcohol Education For Elementary School Children, Pam R. Stamper

Graduate Research Papers

In 1992, close to 90% of high school seniors reported past experience with alcohol, while 50% stated use in the last month and 3% reported daily use of alcohol (Adger & Werner, 1994). According to a report in 1993, 78% of high school seniors had used alcohol in the past year and one-third stated that they drank heavily (Feaster, 1996). The average age of children first using alcohol, outside of the family or religious functions, was twelve years (Bosworth & Cueto, 1994; Feaster, 1996; Mason & Hodge, 1995). National data showed that adolescents and preadolescents used alcohol at age eleven …

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 …

Expending The Content Of Curriculum : Implementation Of The World Wide Web Into Foreign Language Teaching, Ping Gao

Graduate Research Papers

This study investigated the factors that impact the decisions to integrate the World Wide Web into foreign language curriculum. This inquiry involved a combined approach -- including a survey and a case study. The current status of the technology application in foreign language instruction at a state university in the United States was assessed through the survey. It revealed that integrating the Web was the least immediate concern of most foreign language professors due to their limited knowledge, their inadequate training, and their ambiguous attitudes. A case study of an innovator's practice of integrating the Web in foreign language instruction …

The Future Of Educational Technology, Barbara F. Erlandson

Graduate Research Papers

Presents an overview of the role of educational technology. Inadequate teacher training, minimal technical support, limited money and time are seen as barriers to successful integration. The research involving each barrier is discussed, and suggestions are made for overcoming these barriers. The importance of classroom teacher is investigated. The current uses of educational technology are discussed as well as suggestions for the successful future use of educational technology. Concludes that technology will be partnered with education; the issue to be resolved by individual schools will be how to best use it to improve the educational process.

Integrating Technology Into The Science Curriculum : Environmental Studies Grade 5, Lois Diane Enger

Graduate Research Papers

The project was developed to illustrate a process for including hands-on use of technology in an environmental education activity. The requirements for an integrated curriculum identified by McRel are incorporated: science, technology, language arts, math, and life skills. Activities included are discussion of the topic, writing and editing a script, digital photography, computer usage including scanning, on-site visiting, and teacher and student evaluation. The on-site visit was conducted at a nature center.

Classroom activities involved planning, research, storyboarding, organizing visual materials, script writing, and creating a computer-generated presentation using mPOWER, a presentation software program. The completed computer presentation was converted …

Emergent Literacy : School To Home Connection, Barbara Grell

Graduate Research Papers

All homes have opportunities to influence young children's emerging literacy. Parents or other caregivers and teachers can work together to help children develop literacy abilities. Sharing this responsibility between the home.and school demonstrates to children the importance of learning. Establishing connections from home to school and from school to home will help children make sense of the world in which they live. The school can provide families with ideas to support literacy development in the home.

A project to support children's emerging literacy at home is provided through the use of literacy theme bags. This project is designed for first …

Parents And Schools : Making The Literacy Connection, Patricia A. Greguras

Graduate Research Papers

Families can offer children many opportunities to read and write in their home. By being role models, parents demonstrate to their children the genuine functions of language. Letting children know that reading and writing are meaningful activities and are used for practical and enjoyable reasons fosters literacy.

A home/school literacy project was developed in a fifth grade class to encourage the home/school connection and to provide more parental support for the school program. Students wrote a monthly newsletter to their parents, read and journaled nightly with their parents, and invited parents to share their job experience, favorite book, vacation or …

A Literature-Based Extension Of A Basal Reading Unit, Julie J. Holdsworth-Nagal

Graduate Research Papers

A unit on friendship in the basal reader was extended to include many literature experiences and teacher-directed and student-initiated activities for children in second grade. Quality pieces of literature from different genres served as the unit's basis. Many different expressive activities that extended the literature experiences were offered through learning centers, both sustaining and specific to the unit. Children worked in the centers individually, in pairs, and in small groups. Whole group sharing time at the end of daily center sessions was provided.

The print-rich environment with many opportunities for engaging in the language processes led to quality comprehension-composition connections. …

Integrating Literature-Based Language Arts And Mathematics, Lora L. Irvine

Graduate Research Papers

The National Counsel of Teachers in Mathematics in 1989 developed a list of 13 mathematical standards that would lead to a more effective way to teach mathematics. Before they began their list of standards, they made a list of goals. These goals stressed the importance of making learning relevant to the learner.

The goals that the NCTM developed are similar to the theoretical formulations that support instruction in the language arts. Many leading authorities in language arts advocate an instructional program that extends literature-based language arts across the curriculum. The content areas provide content and experiences with the functions of …

Literature-Based Language Arts Extended To Mathematics, Carrie L. Johnson

Graduate Research Papers

A literature-based language arts program provides opportunities for children to create meaning through quality literature experiences. Children's learning is integrated, and connections are made across the curriculum. The mathematics and language process are related and can be integrated into units of study through the genres of literature.

A unit of study on circles provided kindergarten children with quality literature and related expressive activities that facilitated the understanding of the concept of circle. As a result of this literature-based language arts program extended to mathematics, children's knowledge was integrated, peer interaction increased, and the reading-writing processes were connected. Children's enthusiasm for …

Parental And Community Involvement In Reading Education, Rhonda S. Johnstone

Graduate Research Papers

Research shows the effects of parental involvement in reading education to be beneficial to students, parents, teachers, and schools. Parental involvement can aid students in keeping up with (and possibly catching up with) grade level reading, learn to appreciate books, and about the various ways of communication in real life situations. Parent involvement helps parents gain the understanding of their children's strengths and weaknesses in literacy acquisition and the opportunity to assist in their development. Teachers may gain an insight into students, and their literate activities outside of school, which might help with curriculum development. At the same time, schools …

Children's Perceptions Of Older Adults : Past And Present, Mary Kathryn Hatcher Jones

Graduate Research Papers

This study compared more recent research findings, 1990s to present, with the results of earlier research studies, 1970s and 1980s, to determine whether children's perceptions of older adults have changed. Factors that contribute to and inhibit children's positive perceptions of older adults were identified. Guidelines for facilitating children's positive perceptions of older adults were suggested, and conclusions were drawn from the literature. Recommendations were made for further study of children's perceptions of older adults.

Creating A Web Page For The Professional And Scientific Council At The University Of Northern Iowa, Rochelle Lee Gehrke Loonan

Graduate Research Papers

A web site was created for the Professional and Scientific Council at the University of Northern Iowa. This site can be visited at www.uni.edu/ps_council. This site was created as a resource for the Professional and Scientific Staff. It includes links to payroll and benefits, along with background of the council, listing of the council members and information on meetings and monthly events.

The methodology used to create the site will be addressed which will include discussion of why to build a site, categories of sites, planning the site, the design process, design principles and the presentation of information on …

Literature Circles, Diane Maclennan

Graduate Research Papers

This paper is a review of the literature concerning the use of literature circles in elementary classrooms. The purpose of this paper is to present all aspects of literature circles, both the pros and cons, within the context of elementary classrooms. The content of the paper deals with the historical aspect of reading instruction, variations of literature circles, advantages of literature circles, and suggested guidelines for successful literature circles. This paper concludes that literature circles are a unique format for successful book discussions in which· students and teachers work collaboratively to enable optimal educational success.

Reading Recovery And Its Issues, Carole L. Neary

Graduate Research Papers

The Reading Recovery Program, an intervention program for young school children who are literacy delayed, and the in-service program for teachers who will deliver the program are described. Teachers' views of the in-service program, the cost of the program, and an analysis of the program's effectiveness are presented.

Nurturing At-Risk Students' Writing Abilities, Carol A. Schmidt

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this journal article was to review current professional literature on the writing process and the importance of voice in writing and then to design and implement a writing program for at-risk sixth grade students. The writing process is an effective means for children to create meaning, especially for at-risk students.

In the writing process, the writer's voice gives the best sense of a writer's potential. This driving force was the basis of the instructional project in writing developed for at-risk sixth grade students.

Writing Portfolios In A Second Grade Classroom, Cheryl R. Schwery

Graduate Research Papers

Assessment of a student's writing ability should entail descriptive qualitative techniques. One way to provide a qualitative assessment is through the use of portfolios. In using portfolios, students are actively immersed in their own learning and in establishing goals for future learning. In doing this, instruction is more closely related to assessment. The value of writing portfolios, implementation, and introduction of portfolios within a second grade classroom will be discussed. Focus will be on three second grade students, with varying abilities, as they progress in their writing and instructional needs.

Vida Dutton Scudder's Quest For Cultural Fellowship, Kristi Van Gorder

Graduate Research Papers

For about 45 years (c. 1885-1930) the settlement movement thrived in cities throughout the United States (Carson, 1990). Volunteers lived and worked in settlement houses, which were often converted residential buildings in poor urban neighborhoods. They taught immigrants and other neighborhood residents basic life skills ranging from hygiene to arts and crafts (Woods, 1970). "The settlement movement's virtual gender parity was unique among U.S. institutions during the Progressive Era. At least half of the prominent U.S. settlement houses were headed and staffed largely by women" (Carson, 1998, p. 528).

Spelling: A Review Of Literature, Tammy Uhlenhopp

Graduate Research Papers

This is a review of the literature on spelling. The purpose for this review is to give an overview of the latest research concerning issues that affect spelling instruction. The topics discussed are complexities of the English language, how children learn, differences between good and poor spellers, how to assess children's spelling knowledge, activities designed to teach children strategies for word ~solving, and ideas for organizing for instruction. This paper. indicates principles of effective spelling instruction. The conclusion makes a call for more research regarding visual memory and states the need for teacher in-service.

Impact Of Fatherlessness On A Child's Needs Based On Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy Of Needs, Ivy S. Thompkins

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this literature review is to provide readers with an insight into one of the things that impacts a child's needs. That one thing, unfortunately, is the absence of a father in his or her life. This paper reviews literature on the different needs (Physiological, Safety, Love and Belongingness, Esteem, and Self-Actualization) that a child has according to Abraham Maslow. After each need has been determined and defined, then the impact of fatherlessness on those needs are discussed. The role of the single mother and society are also mentioned. Guidelines of how fathers, mothers, and society can impact …

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 …

The Lifelong Learner And Technology, Dia L. Davis

Graduate Research Papers

The teaching strategies of the educator alter to suit the needs of the students and technology. The content integration process takes time. It has been stated that teachers' first technology projects generate excitement, but often little content learning. Often it takes a few years until teachers can use technology effectively in core subject areas.

Teachers learn to use computer technologies and learn how to bring content learning to the forefront with, in some cases, impressive results on the part of the students. Teachers eventually learn to view the learning process in concert with their new technologies and come to understand …

Predictable Text With Primary Age Children In A Title One Reading Program, Joanne H. Dearment

Graduate Research Papers

Readers create meaning in print through the process of prediction. Prediction and comprehension are intricately tied together. Reading predictable books helps young readers comprehend text because their expectations are repeatedly confirmed. Predictable text brings children naturally into the reading process and allows them to process print much as mature readers.

When predictable text is implemented into a Title One reading program, students can more successfully interact with text. This sense of achievement motivates them to become actively engaged in reading experiences. As a result, students became better readers because they are reading more. Also, they became improved writers because the …

Perspectives On Early Literacy : The Monroe School, Mona S. Rosdail

Graduate Research Papers

This article is based on two days of observations and interviews in an all- kindergarten school in a small midwest city. The purpose of my research was to look at how the steps taken by this school correlate with the steps of Erickson's Dance in addressing the needs and development of the school when becoming an all-kindergarten literacy center. I feel that the information in this article would benefit educators who would like to implement changes in their schools.

Cognitive-Behavior Therapy With Children, Debra L. Irvin

Graduate Research Papers

This paper will look at the use of cognitive-behavior therapy with children. Specifically, it will focus on the areas of depression and anxiety. First, there will be a look at applying cognitive-behavior therapy to children. This includes strategies for working with children, and developmental considerations with children. Next, there will be a focus on using cognitive-behavior therapy for children with depression. This section includes an examination of depression in children, and three cognitive-behavioral treatment strategies. The strategies to be discussed include affective education, cognitive restructuring, and social skills training. Finally, there will be an exploration of the use of cognitive-behavior …

Two Current Approaches To Science In Early Education : The Physical-Knowledge Approach By Kamii And Devries And The Science Education Approach By Diane Dodge, Seon Chun

Graduate Research Papers

The primary focus of this paper is to review the characteristics of two science approaches to teaching science to children: the physical-knowledge approach by Kamii and De Vries, and the science education approach by Diane Dodge. Similarities and differences between the two approaches are analyzed. The conclusion of this study found that both approaches emphasize children's active role in learning. However, Kamii and DeVries's physical-knowledge approach emphasizes children's logical reasoning development, while Dodge's science education approach places greater emphasis on content and scientific knowledge.

The Need For Technology In Homeschooling, Jonathan Luttenegger

Graduate Research Papers

Homeschooling is becoming a more popular option for parents who do not want their child to study in a public school. This literature review was developed to analyze the potential of technology for homeschooling. It does not focus on the positives or negatives of homeschooling. Instead, it focuses on the positives or negatives of technology in homeschooling. This literature review will analyze whether or not technology that is adopted by homeschooling families can make a big difference in the quality of a homeschooling program.