Education Commons^™

Teacher Perceptions Of Gifted Middle School Students, Tom Wimsatt

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Middle school students who fall under the gifted and talented category are often perceived as being “self-sustaining, easy to handle” students. Research into the nature of gifted and talented students over the last 40+ years has proven otherwise, demonstrating a wide range of social and emotional issues as well as the need for advanced academic challenges. However, middle school teachers have shown mixed opinions about the specific needs of gifted and talented students, oftentimes seeing GT students at the middle school level to be less student and more “student helper”. This study was conducted to determine the current trends and …

An Examination Of Reading Assignments In The Secondary Classroom, Rachel Elizabeth Leer

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The purpose of this research study is to examine reading assignments given in the secondary classroom of a rural secondary school. The intention is to analyze student readiness to handle complex text found in post-secondary education and/or the workforce, based on current reading trends within the school. The research questions guiding this study focus on the average amount of reading students are expected to complete in a week, what strategic support is being provided to students to enhance comprehension of text, the methodology behind how teachers select both reading assignments and reading strategies, and finally the methodology behind how teachers …

Examining Teachers' Knowledge And Perceptions Of Response To Intervention, Ashley Elizabeth Moore Swigart

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Response to Intervention (RTI) is a multi-step approach to providing interventions to students within general and special education. This study investigated the relationship between elementary, middle, and high school teachers’ perceptions of RTI and (a) whether they taught general versus special education, (b) grade level taught, (c) knowledge level of RTI, and (d) presence in a school implementing RTI and participation in the process. Understanding teachers’ perceptions is of particular importance to school psychologists and can be used to ensure that teachers participate fully in the RTI process. Participants were given a questionnaire to complete that assessed their perceptions and …

A Comparison Of The Frequencies Of Selected Teaching Behaviors Of Trained And Untrained Teachers, Raymonde Antonia Frances Joseph

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The purpose of the study was to compare the frequencies of a selected set of teaching behaviors of trained and untrained teachers in elementary schools in St. Lucia. The dependent variables in the study were the frequencies of Structuring, Questioning, Feedback and Praise behaviors. The independent variables were training, grades awarded at teaching practice, and subject areas.

Records of the lessons were obtained through the use of audiotapes. The behaviors were coded using a low inference observation schedule. The data were analyzed using means and standard deviations. The significance and inferential statistic applied was the chi-square.

Significant differences were found …

Parental Perceptions Of School: An Analysis Of Contacts & Non-Contacts With Parents Of Sixth Graders At L.C. Curry Elementary School, Johnny Douglas

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Experimental and control groups were randomly selected in Johnny Douglas' sixth grade homeroom class to determine if contacts made to an experimental group of parents produced different perceptions of school as opposed to a control group of parents who received little or no contacts from the school. The experimental group of students' parents received a minimum of seven contacts from the school during the twenty day period of the study, while the control group received a minimum of three contacts in the same period.

A questionnaire sent to the parents at the conclusion of the experiment yielded three statements of …

A Survey Of Factors Affecting Enrollment In Mathematics Teacher Education Programs, Rebecca Miller

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Concern for an adequate supply of competent mathematics teachers prompted this research. The study was implemented to identify the factors believed to be of importance in a student's decision concerning whether or not to become a public school teacher.

A comparison was made between two groups of mathematics students at Western Kentucky University. Mathematics students were separated according to whether or not they were pursuing teacher certification.

A two-part questionnaire was administered. The first part asked students to rate the importance of 10 selected career factors in their career decision. The second part asked students to rate these same 10 …

A Study Of The Effects Of Writing Instruction Versus Writing And Reading Instruction On 10th Grade English Students, Patricia E.G. Craig

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The effects of writing instruction as opposed to writing and reading instruction were studied on 10^th grade English students’ reading comprehension and writing. Two groups (classes) completed pretests and pre-sample writing. Then, both groups were given writing instruction while only one group was given related reading skills instruction. Finally, both groups completed posttests and post-sample writings.

An analysis of covariance of the pre-and posttest data was done. It revealed no significant difference between the two groups related to reading comprehension. However, a significant difference existed between the two groups related to language expression (editing skills or writing sub-skills). The …

The Development And Construct Validation Of The Children’S Academic Motivation Inventory, Kevin Hughes

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The purpose of this study was to develop and provide construct validation evidence for the Children’s Academic Motivation Inventory (CAMI). The CAMI, the junior Index of Motivation Scale (JIM Scale), and the Children’s Social Desirability Scale (CSDS) were administered to 534 sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade students. Additionally, teacher assigned math grades; total math and total reading scores from the Kentucky Essential skills test (KEST); and the Cognitive Skills Index (CSI) from the Test of Cognitive Skills were obtained for each participant. Principal-components factor analysis with varimax rotation performed on the CAMI items produced essentially one factor, entitled academic achievement motivation. …

An Experimental Study Of The Effects Of Required Homework Review Versus Review On Request Upon Achievement, Dolores Dick

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

During the 1979-80 school year, two Algebra I classes were involved in a study to test the effects of two methods for reviewing homework problems on students' achievements and attitudes. One review procedure was to solve and explain each problem during the class period that followed the class period in which the homework assignment had been made. The other procedure involved solving and explaining only the problems that students requested to have reviewed. While one procedure was being used with one class, the other procedure was being used with the comparison class. One treatment procedure was used with a class …

Effects Of Diad Arrangement & Use Of Audio-Visual Materials On The Achievement Of Freshmen In Quantitative Physical Science Classes, Jim Duke

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The purposes of this study were to compare the mean achievement of students in a Quantitative Physical Science class in which the members were allowed to select their own partners with students in a Quantitative Physical Science class in which partners were assigned on the basis of high-low test scores and to compare mean achievement of students in a Quantitative Physical Science class that used audio-visual material with the mean achievement of students in a Quantitative Physical Science class that used no audio-visual material.

The population consisted of sixty-eight ninth grade boys and girls enrolled in Quantitative Physical Science classes …

A Course Of Study For General Chemistry, Paul E. Kerrick

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

1. This study should help the teacher create a greater interest among the students for chemistry. The study should enable the teacher to do better teaching.
2. The study was prompted by a felt need on the part of the writer and to satisfy the partial requirements for a Masters degree.
3. The study involves three main divisions:

1. A course of study in chemistry consisting of an introduction.
2. A course of study in chemistry consisting of nine developed units.
3. The means of evaluating a course of study.

1. The scope of the study includes an introduction to chemistry usually taught in high school.
2. Materials …

A Guide To Teaching Materials For Industrial Arts, Russell Blowers

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This study, "A Guide to Teaching Materials for Industrial Arts," was prompted by the fact that the writer is concerned with teaching aids available to the shop teacher in the field. Several years teaching has brought the writer face to face with the problem of supplementary teaching materials. Knowing that complete listings of teaching aids for the teacher are not available, the writer determined to make available such a listing which would be most beneficial to the shop teachers.

The problem is fourfold:

1. To catalogue industrial arts teaching aids.
2. To determine the extent of the educational departments in the industrial …

Reorganization Of Spencer County, Kentucky School System, C. L. Francis

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

To study present school system of Spencer County and to devise a plan of reorganization of present system in order to provide a well rounded educational opportunity for the boys and girls of Spencer County, Kentucky. The consideration of this problem are:

1. Comparison of teacher qualifications in the types of schools.
2. Computation of enrollment, average daily attendance of the various types of schools.
3. Determination cost per pupil and total cost of operation of present school system and reorganized school system as salary of teacher, maintenance, transportation and needed buildings.
4. Provision for free transportation of all high school pupils.

Educational Qualifications Of The Mathematics Teacher In The Public Secondary Schools Of Kentucky, William Reed

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The general purpose of this study is to investigate the status of the mathematics teachers in the secondary schools of Kentucky. It is in detail a study to ascertain (1) the educational qualifications of Kentucky mathematics teachers; (2) the salaries of these teachers; (3) the teaching experiences and tenure of the mathematics teachers; (4) the number and kind of mathematics courses being offered in our secondary schools.

The Reorganization Of Hopkins County Schools, John Adams

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Purpose of the study - Educators and lay citizens alike, in the main, want the schools to extend their services so as to meet all the educational needs of the youth. Surveys of the schools in the Hopkins County District in recent years have convincingly revealed that these services are not being rendered. At the suggestion of the Hopkins County School Superintendent H.W. Wilkey, and others this study is being made.

This is an intensive study of the schools of Hopkins County as they exist today, with suggestions for a plan of reorganization to bring them to the point of …

Safety In The School Shop, Hubert Dupin

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The purpose of this study is to locate some of the existing problems of safety in the shop and remedy them by furnishing some means that the teacher may use in presenting a safety program in the school shop. Too many shop teachers have not realized the importance of safety, therefore, they have not organized their program on a safe basis.

The Development And Growth Of Community Schools In Hopkins County, Compton C. Crowe

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

For several years many of the leading educators of the different states and the leading schools of higher education have been studying and advocating the community school idea. There have been many community schools established with various plans and ideas installed. Some are more advanced than others, but all are established with a long time plan in view. Many conferences have been held, and experts have been consultants and co-ordinators, and several visits have been made within the community to see at first hand the workability of school and its affect upon the lives of the children and citizens of …

A Study Of Majors & Minors In Western Kentucky State Teachers College, Bessie Beck

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This study has grown out of the desire of the writer to render some service to prospective high-school teachers in their selection of majors and teaching combinations, and to be of aid to the teacher-training institutions of the State - especially to Western Kentucky State Teachers College in directing prospective teachers to pursue courses that will fit them for the teaching demands of the high schools.

A number of studies of subject combinations in high-school teachers' programs have been made to determine in what fields and what subject combinations high school teachers actually teach. Clarence Nelvin Emrick¹ in his …

Absence, Its Causes, As Found In A Study Of The City Schools Of Biloxi, Mississippi, William Pearson

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This study of non-attendance of the pupils in the city schools of Biloxi, Mississippi, was undertaken to ascertain the reasons for their absence and to determine, if possible, the remedies to be applied.

Relative Scholastic Success Of College Students From High Schools Of Varying Sizes, Leonard Lee Hudson

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Education in America has made substantial growth in its various phases. No factor has been more marked than in the secondary field. The South was tardy in establishing a systematic scheme owing to the devastation of a Civil War and the misunderstandings natural to a reconstruction period. Many forces for the improvement of the secondary field in this section are now accomplishing wonderful results. Accrediting associations to investigate, recommend, and regulate certain practices, different divisions of the state department of education to supervise and inspect, research organizations, graduate schools, and school authorities are adding to the fund of knowledge regarding …