Education Commons^™

Adult Esl Oral Reading Fluency And Silent Reading Comprehension, Kristin Lems

Dissertations

A descriptive study of second language adults studying ESL at the beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels in a post-secondary academic program revealed that their oral reading fluency had a significant, low-to-moderate correlation with scores on a measure of silent reading comprehension. The correlation was slightly stronger for measures of accuracy than speed, and strongest for miscue ratio. The correlation increased as proficiency level increased. Among different first language groups, the correlation was highest for Hispanic learners, and lowest for Chinese. Furthermore, all fluency measures correlated better with a listening measure than with the silent reading comprehension measure. When a system …

Reading Excellence Act: Professional Development And Teacher Practice First Year Implementation In East Tennessee., Sherry Ellen Shroyer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

When the National Assessment of Educational Progress reported in 1998 that 70 percent of fourth grade children in the United States were reading just at (31%) or below the basic grade level (39%), this astounding fact resulted in national attention and political intervention. At the same time, the National Research Council published their 25 years of researched findings in their book, Preventing Reading Difficulties in Young Children (Snow, Burns, & Griffin, 1998). The national reactions to these reports were strong and included new initiatives for overcoming this emerging national problem. One such initiative was the implementation of the national Reading …

Preparing Teachers To Use Technology: The Webquest In The Secondary English Language Arts Methods Classroom, Melinda C. Dobson

Dissertations

This study focuses on why and how English language arts methods instructors can integrate WebQuest development into their courses. Behavioral, cognitive, and constructive learning theory are established as a theoretical basis for introducing the WebQuest into the English language arts methods curriculum. Practicing teachers are surveyed about their WebQuest-use to identify positive and negative outcomes of the activity. National and international standards the WebQuest fulfills are identified. This study focuses on how to integrate technology in general into the methods course and then documents the development of the researcher's WebQuest and that of three different secondary English language arts methods …

Ability Of The Urban Teacher Selection Interview To Identify Teachers Who Are Likely To Be Retained In The Buffalo Public Schools, Patricia Frey

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The rate of teacher turnover appears to be higher than employee turnover in many other occupations. What is currently perceived as a teacher shortage may in reality be a problem of teacher retention. This study examined the use of the Urban Teacher Selection Interview, developed by Martin Haberman, Ph.D., as a tool for choosing teachers for urban districts. Almost 36% of those teachers eligible for employment in Buffalo refused employment. This compares favorably with a national average of 40% of teachers who choose not to teach. In general, the higher the interview scores the longer a teacher was retained in …

Social Studies And The Internet, Kristen Heider

Theses and Dissertations

This study sought to address two primary questions: (1) to determine if students' attitudes towards using the Internet as a resource changed as a result of their applying a web evaluation guide, and (2) to determine if the quality of students' research products improved as a result of web evaluation lessons. The ninth grade, world history students' familiarity and prior use of the Internet with research projects was assessed through a pre-survey as well as the review of their prior research papers and projects. Finally, taking into consideration progress and curriculum, research projects were assigned individually, allowing class time in …

Crystallizing Alex: A Qualitative Case Study Of What Influences One Second Grade Teacher's Literacy Instruction, Jill Ostrow

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

New teachers face enormous pressure- to understand and assess student learning, to work well with parents, and to ensure their curricula are aligned with state and national standards. Nowhere is this pressure more evident than in literacy instruction, where competing notions of best practice can be confusing and overwhelming. This qualitative case study of an early career teacher, Alex Christopher, explores in-depth what influences her second grade literacy program. Her decisionmaking process during reading and writing instruction is analyzed within the context of local, state and national literacy reform initiatives, university/school partnerships, and professional development opportunities. Alex was selected for …

From Challenge To Triumph: The Voices Of African American Male Students At Mid-Atlantic University, Ted Nicholas Ingram

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to determine the attitudes among African American men concerning issues of retention at a predominantly white college. This study explains issues attendant to the problem of the low numbers of African American males in higher education. Furthermore, this study seeks to identify factors that are successful with keeping African American males in college. The methodology consisted of quantitative (surveys) and qualitative analyses (focus group interviews) that focused on the factors associated with the experiences of African American male college students (N=123). From this exploratory investigation, students identified advisors and counselors, faculty instructors, mentors, and …

Reliability Of The Educational Technology Profiler Survey As A Method Of Gathering Information In Teacher Preparation Programs, Carmen A. Cornieles

Dissertations

Education is an important factor in the introduction of technology as tools to be used in the teaching process. Teacher preparation programs for general education and special education are working to ensure that technology is a common denominator method of instruction following standards from teaching accrediting agencies. Institutions in charge of teacher preparation programs are aware of the need to prepare their students effectively and efficiently in the use of technology to support teaching and learning. Students in teacher preparation programs should become knowledgeable on using educational technology in their everyday instruction when placed in a school. For this reason, …

An Exploratory Study Of Student Satisfaction Of The Rowan University Recreation Center, Joseph J. Dougherty Iii

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study is to explore the extent of student satisfaction with the Rowan University Recreation Center. A convenience sample of 151 students who frequented the recreation center was used to determine students' perceptions of the facility on a number of factors. The study showed that the recreation center rated higher than all other comparable student services both in importance to the student and satisfaction with the service provided. The recreation center was also very successful in terms of getting students involved, much more so than any other campus group or activity. The results showed that the recreation …

Spelling Attitudes And Abilities Of Secondary Students, Michael C. Porter

Theses and Dissertations

The purposes of this study were to a) gauge the attitudes of a group of high school seniors (n = 211) about the importance of spelling, which strategies they use to solve spelling problems, and the adequacy of spelling instruction at the high school level; b) assess the same group of seniors according to Ganske's developmental levels of spelling; and c) gauge the attitudes of high school language arts teachers in the same school (n = 16) about the importance of spelling and the adequacy of spelling instruction at the high school level, and to determine their spelling …

An Exploratory Study On The Impact Of Alternative Approaches To The Treatment Of Bullying At The Middle/High School Level In A Southern New Jersey Public School District, Lynda L. Hinkle

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this paper is to explore, in two separate studies, the impact of one comprehensive treatment and one curricular treatment on bullying behaviors within the context of a southern New Jersey school district. In the first study, 1280 middle school students were surveyed in the beginning of the school year and again at the end, after comprehensive treatment methods were applied. In the second study, a single high school writing class was observed both before and after the teaching of an anti-bullying curriculum. The first study showed an increase of students reporting that they were victims of bullying …

The Multiple Dimensions Of Negative Attitudes Toward School Among Students In An Urban High School Environment, Scott W. Revell

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify the sources of negative attitudes in a high school environment through interviews and journal writing as a basis for qualitative data. A sample of convenience was chosen that included six students with varied characteristics of interest for the study. Students were asked to respond to journal prompts at 3-day intervals and were interviewed for 25 minutes regarding their attitude toward school. Sources identified in this study to be contributors to a negative attitude toward school are incompatible teachers and teaching style, failure to have basic needs of the students met, and the …

Hands-On Manipulative Use In Science Instruction, Bianca Lee Domenico

Theses and Dissertations

This study tested the use of physical manipulatives during science instruction – in conjunction with the traditional, textbook-oriented approach – and determines whether manipulatives create more significant learning experiences than text generates alone. The subject sample consisted of 20 third-grade students from a suburban New Jersey elementary school classroom. All subjects functioned at least on a third-grade level in all subjects with the exception of three students, who participated in the Talented and Gifted Program. Subjects from the experimental group and the control group completed a science content pretest of thirteen open-ended cognition questions. Both groups completed assigned activities, and …

The Effects Of Grouping Fourth Grade Students Into Cooperative Learning Groups By Learning Patterns, Kelly A. Hamlet

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance of fourth grade students working in cooperative learning groups. Students worked in three cooperative learning groups in order to determine whether grouping students heterogeneously into cooperative learning groups based on individual students' learning pattern would have a positive correlation with group and individual success. First students were grouped randomly and then homogeneously by learning pattern, and lastly heterogeneously by learning pattern. During each cooperative learning experience groups were expected to complete in-class group work. Students were then given a quiz and a test on the material covered during their cooperative …

The Effect Of Student Journals On Achievement In And Attitudes Toward Science, Holly Cowell

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this action research project was to determine if: (a) writing in student journals affected the grades of my students, and (b) if student attitudes were affected by writing in journals and receiving teacher feedback. The research was conducted during the third semester at Triton Regional High School with a total of 49 tenth-grade students enrolled in two Laboratory Biology classes. Students in one class wrote in journals about teacher-posed topics for five minutes on average of once per week. The topics were written to encourage personalization of learning and further interaction with science. An attitude survey was …

The Effect Of Cooperative Learning And Traditional Instruction On The Spelling Performance Of Third Grade Students, Tracey Patella

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to determine the effect of cooperative learning and traditional instruction on the spelling test performance of twenty-six third grade students from a southern New Jersey school district. It was hypothesized that students who were taught using cooperative learning strategies during spelling instruction would score significantly higher on their weekly spelling post-tests than students who were taught using traditional spelling instruction.

A one group, pretest/posttest, pre-experimental design was utilized to determine whether students who are randomly grouped in cooperative learning pairs will have higher achievement levels in spelling than students who are taught using traditional …

The Effect Of Character Education On Student Behavior, Cindy Patella

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if character education addressed directly through lesson plans would have an effect on behavior of students when they are not under supervision of the classroom teacher. The researcher observed the students' social interactions in the experimental group and the control group in various settings in a pre and post observation period. Behavior was recorded on a behavior chart listing both positive and negative behaviors. There were 19 students in the experimental group and 22 students in the control group. The study found a slight positive change in behavior for those students in …

The Effect Of Rubrics On Second Grade Students' Abilities To Write A Personal Story, Ann Marie Germani

Theses and Dissertations

The purposes of this study were to (a) evaluate the effects of a student-generated instructional rubric on second grade students' (n = 21) abilities to write personal stories and their understanding of the qualities of good writing; and (b) assess student metacognitive behavior resulting from the use of a rubric. Student writing assignments prior to and after rubric instruction were assessed in order to determine the effects of rubrics in improving writing skills. Student interactions and behaviors were observed and noted in order to determine metacognitive performance. A questionnaire gauged student impressions, management, and application of a rubric while …

The Effect Of Manipulative Materials On Student Motivation, Deirdre Morrissey

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this project was to determine the effect of manipulative materials on student motivation in the subject area of social studies. The students who participated in the project were divided into control and experimental groups. Each group was comprised of twenty-one third grade students living in rural southern New Jersey. Both groups completed pre and post surveys that focused on student motivation towards social studies. The experimental group students were instructed using manipulative materials after the completion of the initial survey and in conjunction with a unit on "Community Government." The control group students received no such intervention. …

Cooperative Learning And Its Effects On Social Interactions In The Third Grade, Robin A. Keller-Vicino

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this action research project was to determine whether social interactions would improve when utilizing cooperative learning techniques. The social interactions observed included listening and speaking, courtesy, peaceful conflict resolution, leadership, and cooperative behaviors such as keeping one's hands to themselves.

The targeted population for this study was a class of fifteen third grade students. The researcher submitted pre- and post-treatment surveys to the students which measured the students' sense of classroom responsibility and their sense of personal responsibility within the class. The researcher also utilized journals and cooperative behavior checklists in order to compare student surveys with …

The Effect Of Cooperative Learning On The Mathematical Achievement Of Fifth Grade Students, Stefanie A. Anderson

Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of cooperative learning on mathematical academic achievement in fifth grade students. The design of this research also studied the extent cooperative learning has on reducing mathematics anxiety and generating mathematical interest. The sample involved one group of students (n = 21), which were drawn from a class of ten and eleven year old students. This study utilized a pretest - posttest, one group design. The subjects were exposed to two treatments, traditional instructional methods and cooperative learning instructional methods. A mean difference comparison found a significant difference in the …

The Effects Of Word Study: A Developmental And Discovery Based Approach To Spelling, Jessica Wright

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this academic investigation was to find the effect of Word Study on the spelling abilities of third grade students; and to determine if the change in spelling abilities is greater in those third graders who receive the treatment of guided on-level instruction and interactive word activities than those third grade students who participated in a traditional spelling program. Orthographic knowledge of the treatment and control groups were measured through a series of pretests and then posttested after treatment was received. The treatment involved a variety of interactive activities that were discovery based. The positive change in the …

Jack Of All Trades, Master Of None: A Teacher Research Inquiry Of Teachers' Perspectives Surrounding The Context Of Professional Development, Alicia Meno

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

This inquiry explored one group of teachers' experiences in an innovative professional development opportunity, known as Book Talk, and its implications for understanding and defining professional development. This study further examined professional development and its relationship with the school's organizational structure. A qualitative, teacher research methodology, with a phenomenological orientation framed this inquiry Book Talk was a site-based, teacher-directed initiative designed to break isolation and develop collegiality among teachers. The Book Talk model of professional development promoted a collaborative environment, in which teachers developed trust to share and work together to inquire about children's literature. The participating teachers recognized that …

A Study To Determine How Many Person Hours Are Expended By Learning Consultants And School Psychologists To Complete An Evaluation From Initial Referral To Final Placement, Maria Mercedes Styron

Theses and Dissertations

This study was conducted in order to determine the number of hours that are necessary to complete an initial evaluation by a Learning Consultant and a School Psychologist. Surveys were distributed to a random sample of Learning Consultants and School Psychologists in South Jersey. The survey consisted of eighteen areas which are a part of an initial evaluation. Participants were asked to report the amount of time spent on each area in minutes. Fifty questionnaires were mailed out and 33 were returned. Of the completed questionnaires 15 were from School Psychologists and 18 were from Learning Consultants . Twenty six …

The Comparison Of Two Rhythm Syllable Systems On The Meter Recognition Abilities Of Second And Third Grade Students, Richard D. Beckman Ii

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of rhythm syllable systems in developing students' aural discrimination abilities. The problem was to examine the effect of rhythm syllable systems on students' abilities to aurally identify the meter of rhythm patterns. A secondary problem was to examine the interaction effects of music aptitude and rhythm syllable systems.

The sample for this study included 107 students in second and third grade general music classes. Classes remained intact and were randomly assigned to the control group, the time-based syllable group, and the function-based syllable group.

Subjects were administered the Intermediate Measures …

A Comparison Of Students' Anxiety Levels While Taking Computer Versus Paper And Pencil Timed Math Tests, Angela S. Jungerman

McCabe Thesis Collection

The purpose of this research is to compare and contrast the anxiety levels of students before and after taking the computerized timed math test with the levels before and after taking the paper-and-pencil timed math test. Two second-grade classes were used in this research with each student taking each test once. The computer test, found at www .saxonpublishers.com/activities/basic fact_ sheets/, consisted of 50 addition questions to be completed in 30 seconds, and the paper-and-pencil version, adapted by the researcher from a Saxon created test, consisted of 100 addition questions to be completed in 60 seconds. The students' blood pressures and …

Lessons From Ellen: A Case Study Investigation Of Comprehension Strategy Instruction In Action, Suzanne Kaback

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In the past ten years, reading comprehension instruction has received significant attention from educational researchers. Drawing on studies from cognitive psychology, reader response theory, and language arts research, current best practice in reading comprehension instruction is characterized by a strategies approach in which students are taught to think like proficient readers who visualize, infer, activate schema, question, and summarize as they read. Studies investigating the impact of comprehension strategy instruction on student achievement in reading suggest that when implemented consistently the intervention has a positive effect on achievement. Research also shows, however, that few teachers embrace this approach to reading …

A Best Evidence Analysis And Synthesis Of Research On Teacher Mentoring Programs For The Entry Year Teacher In The Public Elementary And Secondary Schools, Linda Cernetic

Master of Education Research Theses

A best evidence analysis and synthesis of research on teacher mentoring programs culminating in an open ended survey to teachers that have received Pathwise training in preparation for mentoring of entry year teachers in a large city school in Ohio. The surveys asked whether the mentors felt that formal mentor training improved their skills as a mentor. The outcome determined by this research is that it is beneficial.

An Experimental Study Of Tonal Pattern Training And Learning Modalities On The Pitch Accuracy Of First Grade Students, Melissa C. Strong

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of the body scale in the tonal pattern training of first grade students. The problem of this study was to determine the comparative effects of tonal pattern instruction with and without the use of the body scale on the singing accuracy of first-grade students among auditory, visual, and kinesthetic learners.

Sixty-seven first grade students in four intact classes were used as the sample in this study. Two of the classes were randomly assigned to serve as the control group and two classes were assigned to serve as the experimental group. …

Measuring The Environmental Attitudes Of Children In Grade 4: A Study In Clark County, Amir Khawaja

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to examine whether there is an increased positive effect on children's attitude when they are taught about the environment in an outdoor/hands-on setting versus an indoor traditional classroom setting. The study focused on grade four students in the Clark County School District. Half of the group was comprised of students that were taught about the environment using traditional classroom learning materials while the other half consisted of students that were taught using the outdoor/hands-on approach. In order to test the results, the students were given a survey. The questionnaire created by Malkus and Musser …