Education Commons^™

Coweta Public Library Partners With University Of West Georgia

Georgia Library Quarterly

The article reports on the partnership formed by the Coweta Public Library--Central Library with the Carrollton-based University of West Georgia's Ingram Library and Newnan Campus to enhance educational services within the community. The objective of the Central Library is to reflect on the importance of educating children and of providing access to materials and programs to people of all ages in support of lifelong learning. Its Book Bundles are another aspect of the public library of allowing its customers to be independent but provide the library staff an avenue of virtual engagement. It also focuses on the key areas when …

From The Fair To The Laboratory: The Institutionalization Of Agricultural Science And Education In Maine, Thomas Reznick

Maine History

Up until the mid-nineteenth century, agricultural science and education in Maine were primarily local affairs. Meeting in farm clubs and attending agricultural fairs, the Maine farmer performed most research by trial and error and by meeting on common ground with other farmers to discuss what worked and what did not. By the mid-nineteenth century, however, the farm clubs and county fairs waned and succumbed to the growing political influence of the Grange, which supported burgeoning agricultural scientific and educational institutions, such as the College of Agriculture and the Experiment Station. Through the auspices of the Grange, such institutions took the …

Explaining The Relationship Between Resources And Student Achievement: A Methodological Comparison Of Production Functions And Canonical Analysis, Robert C. Knoeppel, James S. Rinehart

Educational Considerations

What is the relationship between inputs to education and student achievement? The elusive answer to this seemingly self-evident question has led some to characterize the question as the “holy grail” of school finance research for the past thirty years.

The Social Participation Of Young Children With Developmental Disabilities In Inclusive Early Childhood Programs, Sue Walker Ph.D., Donna Berthelsen

Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education

The study reports an analysis of the social integration of six focus children with developmental disabilities in four preschool programs and their relative competences in relation to the typically developing children in the early childhood programs. For the 85 children in the preschool programs, including the children with developmental disabilities, peer acceptance was measured with sociometric interviews; social competence was rated by teachers; and observations of play activities and social engagement were made during four free play periods. A social constructivist analysis focuses on how learning was supported in the settings and implications are drawn about how opportunities for learning …

Pre-Service Teachers' Confidence In Teaching Reading Acquisition Skills To Struggling Readers And Readers In General, Drue E. Narkon Ph.D., Rhonda S. Black

Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education

Thirty-one final semester undergraduate, dual preparation, pre-service students at a Pacific university completed a survey regarding their confidence in teaching reading acquisition skills to early elementary (Kindergarten through third grade) struggling readers and readers in general. The 36-item survey included open-ended and forced choice Likert-type rating scale items. We examined participants’ perceptions regarding their confidence in teaching reading and the degree to which numerous factors contributed to their levels of confidence. It appeared that this particular group of pre-service teachers was more confident in their ability to teach reading to all students, those who struggle and those who do not, …

Parental Attitudes Regarding Inclusion Of Children With Disabilities In Greek Education Settings, Kokaridas Dimitrios, Vlachaki Georgia, Zournatzi Eleni, Patsiaouras Asterios

Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education

The purpose of this study was to examine parents’ attitudes toward inclusion of their children with disabilities in general education and to associate their perspectives with parent variables (e.g. education) and child variables (e.g. age, severity of disability). The sample consisted of parents (51 mothers, 68 fathers) of children with disabilities, residing in Thessaly region. Each parent completed the Attitude Toward Inclusion/ Mainstreaming'' scale (Leyser and Kirk, 2004), composed of 18 items selected and adapted for parent respondents that assess scores for the factors of benefits, satisfaction, teacher ability and inclusion support, and child rights. The results of the study …

Incentives: The Effects On Reading Attitude And Reading Behaviors Of Third-Grade Students, Gayle M. Stanfield

The Corinthian

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether third grade literacy students who receive incentive rewards as part of their instruction will exhibit significantly higher reading habits and attitudes toward recreational reading than they did before the incentives were introduced. The study examined 19 third grade students with fairly high intellectual abilities. The students were given an Elementary Reading Attitude Survey (ERAS) as a pre- and postmeasure. Weekly data were kept on the number of Accelerated Reader (AR) books read as well as scores on the AR tests. Baseline was student AR performance during the first four weeks of …

Introduction To Codebusters, Richard Archer

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal

Spelling is an ignored wound in American education. It is so ignored that university teacher-preparation programs do not even include a single course on how to teach spelling. Lacking professional guidance, teachers concoct a variety of approaches. Some present a list of words and tell their students to memorize them for Friday’s test. Others have their students finger-paint the words. Others dwell on complex rules, such as: “In monosyllabic words ending in a terminal consonant, double the terminal consonant before adding –ed or -ing.” Spelling is so ignored that California’s entire content standards for eighth grade spelling instruction is four …

Physical And Verbal Strategies Peers Use To Facilitate The Social Inclusion Of Friends With Autism Spectrum Disorders, Kathleen Winterman Ed.D., Victoria Zascavage Ph.D.

Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education

The purpose of the this study was to examine the impact that Responsive Classroom methodology had on the social inclusion of two elementary students with ASD in a public school setting. Varieties of educational programs to support students with ASD are in vogue; however, few investigate the influence the peers have on students’ motivation and desire to interact within an inclusive environment. This study, conducted over the course of a school year within two public elementary schools in the Midwest, explored how peer supports shaped by Responsive Classroom methodology provide the scaffolding students with ASD required to become part of …

Welcome, Patricia R. Renick Ph.D.

Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education

Welcome to the Winter/Spring edition of The Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education. The journal continues to attract the voices of researchers from an international perspective. Within this edition we have research from around the globe as well as one article of exemplary graduate student work and a poem from a nurse finishing her training as a school nurse.

From the University of Hawaii Manoa, Dr. Drue E. Narkon and Rhonda Black address the question pre-service teachers’ confidence in teaching reading to struggling readers kindergarten through third grade.

From the University of Zimbabwe, Dr. Crispen Dirwai investigates the need for different …

It's A Matter Of Timing: Laying The Foundation For Successful Preschool To Kindergarten Transitions, Kathleen Winterman Ed.D.

Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education

Children with special needs receive a myriad of services within the early childhood preschool setting. For most children, the child’s parents coordinate this process. Under the IDEA, schools are charged with planning for and facilitating the transition of children with disabilities from one educational setting to the next. A smooth transition plan should be developed to maximize the benefits of an effective preschool program in kindergarten. This article addresses the procedures for a fluid transition from preschool to kindergarten for students with disabilities discussing parental roles and critical aspects of the transition timeline.

Hiv/Aids: Can We Get Any Lessons From Assessment In Zimbabwe Education?, Crispen Dirwai Ph.D.

Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education

HIV/AIDS is such a traumatizing experience not to be left to the medical fraternity alone, but to education as well. In the quest for a sustainable reduction in HIV prevalence rates in Less Developed Countries (LEDCs), a revisit on the role of inclusion of HIV in assessment is perceived crucial. There is no doubt HIV/AIDS is still claiming lives many in sub Saharan Africa, teachers and their students included hence the need for different platforms from which the issue can be talked about. Down playing the power of educational measurement in behavioral change is quite an unfortunate omission in itself. …

Effective Reading Instruction Strategies For Students With Significant Cognitive Disabilities, April Scruggs

Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education

Reading is the cornerstone of instruction for all students regardless of their ability level because it sets the foundation for future progress and success in virtually all other facets of life (Kliewer & Landis, 1999). Recent legislation and research has suggested that we should be more successful in teaching every student to read (Brower, Wakeman, Spooner, Ahlgrim-Delzell, & Algozzine, 2006).

There are various strategies that educators use to teach reading in a typical classroom setting. However, these strategies are not always the same in special education classrooms, especially in terms of teaching students with significant cognitive disabilities. Browder et al. …

A Treasured Gift, Christine A. Glasgo R.N.

Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education

A poem written by Christine A. Glasgo.

Does Looping Enhance Student Achievement?, Robyn G. Meeks

The Corinthian

The purpose of this study is to investigate the pros and cons of looping, while discovering its social and academic effects on student achievement. This was done by analyzing the standardized test scores in reading, language arts and math of a control group that did not loop and an experimental group that looped for one year. Results showed there was no significant difference in academic achievement between the group of students that looped and the students that did not loop in grades 4-5. There was statistical significance in the improvement of reading test scores from the students that looped. Although …

Do Students Who Have Greater Parental Involvement Perform Better Academically Than Students With Less Parental Involvement?, Christa L. Hall

The Corinthian

Parental involvement is a significant factor in increasing student achievement. The participants were twenty-one first grade students during the 2006-2007 school term at a Title I school located in middle Georgia. A parent survey using a Likert-type scale was used to measure parental involvement within the home setting. Student performance was measured by using the scores from graded homework as well as the results of reading, math, and sight word pretests and post tests. There was a moderate positive correlation between the results of the parent survey and the student performance scores. One hundred percent of the parents responded that …

Parent-Assisted Reading Using A Paired Reading Model, Angela Howell

The Corinthian

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of parentassisted reading on reading comprehension. The study involved the use of the paired-reading model. The teacher made a short video of herself and each child implementing the model. Parents were given the video and a short list of instructions along with a reading log. The study lasted for the first six weeks of the school year. The researcher analyzed data from the students’ selection tests that accompany the basal reader using an interrupted timeseries design. The scores showed considerable variation with marked improvement on test five of six weekly …

Effects Of Fluency Instruction On Literacy Skills In The First Grade Classroom, Susan A. Buchanan

The Corinthian

The effects of fluency intervention strategies on students’ fluency rate, comprehension, and word identification were the focus of this study. Both the experimental and control groups were first grade classes, taught by the same teacher, at a primary school in central Georgia. The study was conducted over a 15-week period. The results of the study were inconclusive. The Lexia Comprehensive Reading Test was used at the beginning and end of fall semester. While the experimental group showed expected progress in comprehension, fluency rate, and word identification, there was no statistical difference in the achievement of both groups. Both groups improved …

Towards A Futuristic Educational Development In Nigeria, Charles Ayo, A. Ayodele Adebiyi

Essays in Education

Majority of the nations of t e world were colonized and went through wars at various times, but had turned around their fo unes through economic and educational reforms. In Nigeria however, there had been series of ed􀀍cational reforms from: 7/6-5-4 to 6-3-3-4 and now 9-3-4 system. Similarly, the recent reform in the higher education sector which has resulted into the conversion of the nation's higher techtjical educational institutions to degree awarding universities, which arose largely from the disphrity between the graduates of the two institutions in the labor market and the fallen standard of education. This paper presents a …

The Silent Crisis: Redefining Theoretical Approaches In Early Childhood Intervention Research With American Indians, Michael D. Niles, Lisa Byers, Elizabeth Krueger

Essays in Education

This article discusses the theoretical context of the education of American Indian children. The unique needs of American Indian children and the lack of ECI provided, as well as the major theoretical approaches used by the dominant society in ECI program development are discussed. The linear model of time and human development – the view that the dominant society traditionally holds; and the nonlinear perspective of most American Indian communities is presented.