Education Commons^™

The Evolution Of Distance Education: Bridging The Gap Between Teacher And Students, Theresa Zeigler

Graduate Research Papers

Distance learning has been present in our educational society for numerous years, but has evolved more rapidly and attention has been focused more intently during the past two decades. The advancements in technology have allowed for distance learning to reach beyond the traditional boundaries and deliver instruction to learners in diverse locations at time that are convenient to their needs. The recent trend in the increased number of courses available via television and the Internet demonstrates the need for asynchronous learning opportunities for students. However, historical studies in the area of distance education have not always focused on student learning …

A Vision For Administering An Elementary School, Karen L. Thorpe

Graduate Research Papers

My philosophy of educational leadership has developed from the experiences I have had over the course of my lifetime. It began with the values taught to me by my parents and has continued to build to the present. My parents provided a caring and secure family life for my four siblings and me. Neither my mother nor my father had the benefit of much formal education. Neither was able to graduate from high school because they had the obligation to contribute income to their families during the depression. Perhaps the hardships they lived through were the basis of the values …

Creating And Using Wordless Picture Books To Stimulate Fictional Writing In First Grade Students, Kathryn Nicol Thompson

Graduate Research Papers

Beginning a written composition is a difficult task. Anyone who has ever , attempted to create a piece of writing can identify with this statement. Whether it is a blank piece of paper or a blank computer screen, getting started on a piece of writing is often the hardest part. 1 The first sentence of this paper encompasses my own struggles as a writer, even with this composition. I tried to imagine how much greater this must be felt as I observed first graders wrestle with how to begin their own writing. Even for adults, thinking of the first sentence …

Students Who Self-Injure : How Can Counselors Help, Martha Watter

Graduate Research Papers

It is estimated that approximately two million Americans self-injure (Nadelson, 2000). Generally, females are most likely to self-injure and usually begin in their teens. Approximately 72 percent of those who self-injure use deliberate cutting (Ng, 1998). Although possibly new to many common civilians, self-injury has been called the addiction of the 90's according to many researchers (Nadelson, 2000). This paper describes what self-injury is, when it usually begins, and the many reasons why an adolescent chooses to self injure himself or herself. Each teen should be treated as an individual, although, most often, self-injurers come from similar family situations and/or …

Using A School-Wide Diversity Program To Promote Tolerance, Daniel J. Weichers

Graduate Research Papers

This paper synthesizes the existing literature on diversity programs that teach tolerance at the secondary school level. It presents a rational for school counselors to include a diversity program as part of their comprehensive guidance program. In short, schools and communities that were once homogenous are increasingly becoming more diverse. Through a successful diversity program, students will experience personal growth and learn to become citizens of changing local communities as well as the global community.

Measuring The Success Of Classworks Computer Instruction, Susan J. Boatwright

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this research was to test the effectiveness of the computer program, ClassWorks Gold (CW) in improving student reading and writing scores. ClassWorks Gold is a computer program that merges parts of 150 commercially available language arts program with a built-in assessment and internal e-mail system.

Garfield Elementary School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received a grant from the Iowa Department of Education for the purchase and implementation of CW as a supplement to regular language arts classroom instruction. The grant required action research for an assessment. This paper focuses on the effectiveness of CW with two third grade …

What I Believe About Leadership And Education : A Reflective Essay, Todd M. Coulter

Graduate Research Papers

The key to leadership is confidence: not only in yourself, but those around you to get the job done to your satisfaction. Good leaders surround themselves with good people to whom they can delegate responsibility to and trust that it will be done satisfactorily. Leaders must not only bask in the glow of success, but also bathe in the spotlight of failure, readily admitting fault when necessary.

A quality leader possesses good motivational skills and is adept at "handling" people. In my experiences, good leaders remain calm under pressure and are constantly striving to improve not only themselves, but also …

Reflections About My Second Year Of Teaching Reading, Molly Melloy Recker

Graduate Research Papers

On the second day of school, I realized that four students had entered my first grade classroom – reading. As that school day concluded, at the beginning of my second year of teaching, I remember sitting down at my desk, and thinking to myself, "Now what?" These were not the students I was expecting.

In this paper I explain how I adapted my reading beliefs and teaching practices to meet the challenge the four students posed to me. I describe each student, and their reading behaviors. Next, I discuss perspectives about early literacy, in order to examine my beliefs in …

Integrating Technology To Facilitate Math Instruction In The Elementary Classroom, Terri Schmidt

Graduate Research Papers

Integrating technology throughout the elementary curriculum is a topic that concerns educators. This paper informs educators as to why they should explore the implementation of technology into the math curriculum in the elementary classroom. This paper discusses brain-based learning, how to use brain-based learning techniques as well as the computer to integrate math and the benefits of using the computer in the math classroom throughout the day in the elementary classroom.

Writing As A New Component Of English As A Second Language Programs For Young Russian Children, Elena Voronina

Graduate Research Papers

This project is based on the fundamental idea that oral and written languages develop simultaneously and mutually support development of each other. Reading and writing are two language processes which are impossible to separate from each other, whether learning one's native language or a foreign language. However, in Russian English Foreign Language (EFL) programs this is not the case. The main focus for five and six year olds in these programs is oral communication, the ability to speak with your partner and comprehend what is being spoken. For young learners writing may facilitate language development. The language becomes not just …

Methamphetamine Use And Adolescents : Treatment Options And Implications For Counselors, James J. Wilwerding

Graduate Research Papers

Over the past decade, methamphetamine use as reported by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has increased by 250% nationally and 841 % among adolescents admitted to treatment in the state of Iowa (SAMHSA, 2003). The purpose of this paper is to give an overview of treatment modalities and models which are in use within substance abuse settings and to provide recommendations for professional counselors. With the rising number of methamphetamine using adolescents in Iowa, it is important that effective treatment for abuse of this substance be developed. Substance abuse, community mental health and school counselors each …

A Vision Of Elementary School Leadership : A Reflective Essay, Julia Lynne Zastrow

Graduate Research Papers

The smell of coffee and crayons has always warmed my heart. Coming home from kindergarten, I couldn't wait to join my mother and her perennial cup of coffee at our dining room table for a ritual of coloring and catching up. While I labored away with my Crayolas, my mother would ask me about my day at school, and we would talk together about the sound that a cardinal makes, or the color of our oak tree in the front yard. Through these conversations my mother fostered a joy of learning and sharing that would grow with me into adulthood, …

A Vision Of Leadership For Secondary School : A Reflective Essay, Bret A. Jones

Graduate Research Papers

Leadership requires a vision. A clear picture of what you want to accomplish. It's teaching those around you how they can better themselves as well as the people they are working with. It's developing, organizing, and monitoring a plan so the vision can be carried out. It's knowing that you cannot reach the vision alone and drawing from the people around you. Using all the resources your school and community have to offer. Leadership is modeling desired behaviors and showing others you care. Leadership is making tough decisions , and leading change when needed. Leadership is not what you think, …

The Transformation Of A Middle School Industrial Shop To A Modular Industrial Technology Lab And Communicating This Transformation To The Local Community, Lynn Figg

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this graduate project was to describe the transformation of a middle school industrial arts shop to a modular industrial technology lab and the subsequent public relations effort to communicate this transformation to the local community. This project facilitated a better understanding of what a modular industrial technology lab is, what it looks like, and how it meets the needs of the industrial technology curriculum.

A PowerPoint presentation was created to explain to the diverse audiences how the change from a traditional industrial arts "shop" class to a modular industrial technology lab at an intermediate school took place, …

A Vision Of Elementary School Leadership : A Reflective Research Paper, Dawn R. Embretson

Graduate Research Papers

I want to help children feel that sense of belonging, self-worth, and pride that comes from learning. My task as an administrator will be to put the necessary pieces in place to make sure that happens. One strand woven throughout all my experiences is the importance of building and sustaining relationships.

Two key beliefs I will discuss in the following pages include: 1. The keys to helping our students find success is in the effectiveness of our teachers. 2. An administrator is responsible for creating a nurturing school environment, which enables him/her to lead students, families and staff toward a …

The Effects Of Homogeneous Grouping Practices On Talented And Gifted Students, Angela Kurt-Sconsa

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this literature review was to examine research findings about the effects of homogeneous grouping practices on gifted students. As school budgets have been cut, many gifted programs across the country have been impacted. Also, as tracking has become a political faux pas, many gifted programs have been eliminated.

The following are recommendations for education policy makers: realize that one teacher cannot do it all in a classroom with a wide range of abilities; know that content, in addition to grouping, is a main factor in students' advancement; remain flexible with grouping and programming; and try to overcome …

Literature Response Journals And Students Entitled To Special Education Services, Andrea J. Safina

Graduate Research Papers

This article examined the types of responses students entitled to level 1 and level 2 special education services made in their journals when responding to books read aloud by a special education teacher. The books chosen to be read aloud were from different genres and about varying topics. The responses were also examined to see if the genre read had any impact on the students' responses.

The responses made by the students fell into eight categories and genre did not affect the response pattern when students were responding to books read aloud by the teacher. The students still made more …

Cooperative Learning And Reading Strategies On The Secondary Level, Kathryn Magner Panoch

Graduate Research Papers

In order for students to become skilled readers, they need to become effective readers, which means rereading, drawing inferences, and relating new knowledge to existing knowledge (Tovani, 2000). Skilled readers know the purpose for which they are reading, and they are directly involved in their reading. This project demonstrates how to successfully incorporate cooperative learning and reading strategies into the classroom at the secondary level.

A Case Study Of Organizational Change At Riverview Early Childhood Center, Jaclyn Yetmar

Graduate Research Papers

This study examined the need for change in an organization and the obstacles which must be overcome. The reasons for change were discussed in regard to Riverview Early Childhood Center of Webster City, Iowa. Guidelines were presented for change agents to use in accomplishing change within an organization. Conclusions were drawn from the literature and recommendations were made for organizations in facilitating change from within.

Using An African Centered Educational Model And Technology To Improve African American Children's Performance In School, Tehia Venise Starker

Graduate Research Papers

A literature review was performed to understand the ways that African Centered Education can be incorporated into technology integration for the improvement of African American children. With the five components of the Murrell model of African Centered Education, which are identity development process, community integrity practices, practices of inquiry and reappropriation, making meaning practices, and engagement and participation practices, technology integration can become an integral part of improving the education of African American children. Within the model, the focus of building on prior knowledge, reaffirming the positive aspects of African and African American history, and applying knowledge learned to real …

Counseling Couples In Domestic Violence, Krista L. Strauser

Graduate Research Papers

Domestic violence is a widespread problem that is being passed down from generation to generation. Counselors have been debating for years as to how to effectively treat couples with domestic violence issues. The nature of couples counseling is debated against the ethical issues, safety issues, and appropriateness of counseling domestically violent couples. Challenges for counselors are discussed along with rules of how and when to conduct couples counseling with domestically violent couples.

"Speling It Rite Eevn Aftr The Test" : What Students Can Tell Us, Jennifer L. Heckmann

Graduate Research Papers

This paper describes a teacher inservice designed to aid teachers in implementing a developmental spelling program in an elementary setting. Developmentally appropriate instruction in spelling takes into account a student's existing knowledge of words. Such a program consists of understanding each student's level of knowledge, selecting word lists to meet the students' needs; providing explicit instruction about spelling patterns, and continually assessing students' spelling progress through authentic, written work

The questions this project will address include: (a) Why should a developmental spelling program be implemented, (b) what research supports a developmental approach to spelling instruction, (c) what are the potential …

Developing State Guidelines For School Library Media Programs In Iowa: Plans For Progress Into The 21st Century, Becky Stover Johnson

Graduate Research Papers

This research project, designed for Iowa school library media specialists, principals, and state education and legislative decision-makers, provides quantitative guidelines for library media program budgets, collections, staffing and facilities in Iowa schools. Research repeatedly has shown a link between these elements of a quality school library program and higher student achievement scores. Historically, standards and guidelines have been used to improve school library media programs. Modeled after previous guidelines developed in Iowa, this project is entitled Plans for Progress into the 21st Century. The literature review of this research project also offers an extensive look at the impact of school …

School Counseling And Confidentiality, Amy R. Usher

Graduate Research Papers

School counselors are continually challenged with legal and ethical issues. According to Remley (2002), school counselors seem to face more legal and ethical issues than counselors who practice in other settings. Numerous situations or topics can be placed under the term legal issue or ethical issue, however, this author has chosen to concentrate on the legal and ethical issue of confidentiality in counseling. There seems to be much confusion among school counselors dealing with confidentiality issues. According to Mitchell, Disque, and Robertson (2002) "Research indicates that counselors struggle when faced with issues surrounding confidentiality rights of minors and rights of …

A Preferred Vision For Leading Elementary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Ellen M. Williams

Graduate Research Papers

This reflection paper affords the rare opportunity to sit back and think about this course of study and how I ended up at this particular juncture in life. I have completed many classes, and all I have taken away is a grade. This assignment has given rise to the discovery that there is a foundation and value system at the root of my professional life. That value system is mine, and I am building on an existing foundation that realizes the necessity of education and sound leadership.

Plans For Progress Into The 21st Century: A Guide To Planning For School Library Media Programs, Becky Stover Johnson

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this handbook is to provide guidance to school administrators, school boards, general faculty and library media staff in developing and maintaining strong library media programs in the state of Iowa.

"Changing Tradition: New Frontiers In Spelling Instruction" : A Developmental Spelling Word Study Workshop, Melissa A. Adams

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this project is to create a three day workshop focused on a word study curriculum that is based on the developmental theory of spelling. The audience for this workshop would be elementary teachers (first through fifth grade) who are interested in developing a spelling curriculum that is based on current research and individual student needs. The workshop would introduce current research and teach teachers how to analyze student spelling errors. It would also focus on three main questions for developing a word study curriculum: How do I assess and evaluate students?; How do I group and manage …

From Ltoj : The Effects Of An Assessment Approach On Student Achievement In Mathematics At The Middle School Level, Toni Andersen

Graduate Research Papers

This study investigated the effectiveness of the assessment approach From LtoJ as applied to the development of procedural skills and conceptual understandings in mathematics at the eighth grade level. The focal question of this study was: Does the literature support the assessment process used in the From LtoJ program? The information was gathered from approximately one hundred students taking pre-algebra in a three-year span. The curriculum database focused on the essential information a student must acquire in the areas of curriculum vocabulary and concepts, as well as their computational ability with fractions. Each week, random items were selected from the …

Suicide Risk Assessment And Implications For Counselors, Shannon L. Beelner

Graduate Research Papers

Beginning counselors may not be thoroughly knowledgeable in the art of suicide assessment. It is the purpose of this paper to review the current statistics of suicidality, known risk factors of attempting and completing suicide, crisis intervention techniques, how to carefully conduct a mental status exam, models of suicide assessment, and implications for counselors. The models surveyed in this paper were Leenaar's (1994) five step model which is considered the most common model in crisis intervention, the second model comes from Frierson, Melikian, and Wadman (2002), and the third model is the Chronological Assessment of Suicide Events (CASE approach) by …

The Sounds Of Silence : Music Education And Academic Achievement, Donny Brazile

Graduate Research Papers

This research began with the author's firsthand experience with regard to the value of music education. Very few deny the benefits of music education and its connection to academic achievement. In a recent poll administered by the Gallup Organization, 95 percent of Americans believe music to be a cornerstone of a quality education, and over 75 percent of those polled suggested that music education should be mandated by the schools. However, far too many music education programs are being cut, or are in grave danger of being cut, from the curriculum nationwide. Research clearly shows the importance of music education: …