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Full-Text Articles in Education

After-School Programs And Reading Achievement, Jamie M. Mack Dec 2008

After-School Programs And Reading Achievement, Jamie M. Mack

All Graduate Projects

The relationship between participating in an after-school program and accelerating reading levels was studied. Seventy-three fifth-grade students were pre- and posttested using the Gates-MacGinitie Reading Test to determine reading levels. Thirty-six of the 73 students participated in an on-going 21" Century Academic After-School Program. The other 37 did not. The results showed that there was no statistical difference between participating in an after-school program and accelerating reading levels. The study also broke down the data by gender. These results showed that there was no statistical difference between males who participated and males who did not; however, there was a significant …


Redefining The Apartheid Of American History: A Middle School History Curriculum, John Scott Sandberg Jul 2008

Redefining The Apartheid Of American History: A Middle School History Curriculum, John Scott Sandberg

All Graduate Projects

After more than half a century of efforts to address the historical educational chasm between marginalized groups it has become obvious that the need for culturally sensitive and inclusive curriculums need to be developed. This project is intended to assist educators take the first steps into the multicultural arena or provide a vehicle for curriculum incorporation. Sample curriculum is provided as an illustration of classroom practice and cultural inclusion. Student and educator roles are defined as well as activities, and assessment methods are described and outlined with links to curriculum content, Washington State's Essential Academic Learning Requirements and Classroom Based …


Unlocking The Power Of Multidimensional Literacy In A Language Arts Classroom: A Middle School Language Arts Curriculum, Andrew Raymond Kostelnik Jul 2008

Unlocking The Power Of Multidimensional Literacy In A Language Arts Classroom: A Middle School Language Arts Curriculum, Andrew Raymond Kostelnik

All Graduate Projects

A curriculum project that incorporates a multidimensional and multicultural point of view is created for a middle school language arts classroom in a rural community. Multiculturalism theories and underpinnings are examined and critically analyzed. Materials are identified and examined to determine the appropriateness in relation to the demographics and nature of the Kayman School District. Multiple sources and materials were established as a permanent curricular component to ensure an education that incorporates multiple perspectives and viewpoints.


A Structured Approach To Teacher Collaboration Within Professional Learning Communities, Laura Ann Davis Jul 2008

A Structured Approach To Teacher Collaboration Within Professional Learning Communities, Laura Ann Davis

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project is to develop a teacher handbook for a more structured approach to teacher collaboration within professional learning communities. Many groups of teachers have successfully participated in small teams, including focusing on such activities as team building, scheduling, parent communication, discussing lesson plans and curriculum, and sharing strategies to improve student behavior. Unfortunately, this is where most teams are stymied, unsure of how to take their collaboration to a higher level. The next step needed is to move forward and truly start looking at student learning and analyzing instruction practices as well as assessments, in order …


Benefits Of A Parent Involvement Plan For Second Grade Students, Mila Hart Jul 2008

Benefits Of A Parent Involvement Plan For Second Grade Students, Mila Hart

All Graduate Projects

The benefits of a parent involvement plan for second grade students were researched. Students, whose parents were actively involved in their education, did better in school (Henderson & Mapp, 2002). Most parents want what is best for their child and will provide the support needed when encouraged and shown how to be involved with their child in school. Active parent involvement can be facilitated by a parent handbook combined with an open house, follow-up workshops that provide helpful information to parents, and frequent and regular communication via phone, progress reports, e-mail, home visits, and formal or informal conferences (Epstein et …


Increasing Academic And Behavioral Success For Adhd Students In The Primary Classroom, Sandra Kay Munoz Jun 2008

Increasing Academic And Behavioral Success For Adhd Students In The Primary Classroom, Sandra Kay Munoz

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to develop a teacher's handbook that provides primary classroom teachers with effective classroom interventions and strategies that would improve behavioral and academic success in students who experience ADHD. To accomplish this purpose, a review of current and relevant resources was conducted on topics that included best practices, strategies, techniques and interventions concerning classroom management of ADHD students.


An Integrated Nutrition Unit For Half-Day Kindergarten, Erin Spencer May 2008

An Integrated Nutrition Unit For Half-Day Kindergarten, Erin Spencer

All Graduate Projects

The obesity rates among children in the United States have been rising rapidly over the past thirty years. Children are getting messages from the media to eat unhealthy foods. This epidemic is beginning to be addressed in schools. A nutrition curriculum was developed and implemented in a half day kindergarten program. Core academic subject were integrated using Washington State GLEs as a guide. Parent involvement was a component to strengthen student's understanding of cultural diversity as it pertained to food.


Using A Balanced Reading And Spelling Approach To Enhance The “Spell To Write To Read” Program For Preschool To Fifth Grade, Dawn A. Heer May 2008

Using A Balanced Reading And Spelling Approach To Enhance The “Spell To Write To Read” Program For Preschool To Fifth Grade, Dawn A. Heer

All Graduate Projects

Reading is the foundation of much that society aspires to, even now in the age of technology. The teacher plays a key role in facilitating the learning of reading in an elementary school. By using a balanced reading approach through the use of spelling, phonics, writing and language, teachers will be able to apply user-friendly principles of reading with the curriculum, Spell to Write to Read. A handbook will be used to present this information during a workshop for teachers and para-professionals of preschool to fifth grade students.


A Manual For Using Communication Strategies With Adolescents With Autism, Gayle J. Anderson May 2008

A Manual For Using Communication Strategies With Adolescents With Autism, Gayle J. Anderson

All Graduate Projects

Many students with autism lack the essential skills necessary to communicate effectively as adolescents and adults. They communicate in a nonproductive manner to get their "wants" or "needs" met. Some of these behaviors include crying, screaming, or having tantrums. Current research reviewed for this project indicates clearly the benefits of applied social skills such as social stories, augmentative strategies such as picture exchange systems, and alternative strategies such as gestures and sign language. These students need to communicate their wants and needs by using socially appropriate adaptive methods of communications. The purpose of the manual at the end of this …


Educational Games Increase Learning Effectiveness: A Case Study, Shonda R. Hoyt Apr 2008

Educational Games Increase Learning Effectiveness: A Case Study, Shonda R. Hoyt

All Graduate Projects

Educators of all age groups-whether they be elementary, secondary, or postsecondary- have long recognized and known that there is a strong connection between student engagement in the learning process and student success. Given the environment in which we teach in today, with its growing diversity, larger class sizes, increased focus on high-stakes testing, and ever- expanding poverty levels, it is essential that teachers incorporate new teaching techniques into their classrooms as a tool for better engaging students in their own learning. To that end, this paper reviews the purported benefits of educational games in the classroom setting as a tool …


What Funding Resources Are Available To School Libraries And How To Best Access Them, Yvonne Marie Hughes Apr 2008

What Funding Resources Are Available To School Libraries And How To Best Access Them, Yvonne Marie Hughes

All Graduate Projects

This project is intended to substantiate the need for school libraries. A great deal of research is presented which links the quality of school libraries to their students' academic success. The serious decline in the current level of funding for school libraries is discussed. The goal is to provide librarians with funding resource options to pursue, which can be used to supplement any district or other funding that they do receive.


Student Government: Developing A Student Government In An Urban Elementary School, Nicole Lenee Sykes Feb 2008

Student Government: Developing A Student Government In An Urban Elementary School, Nicole Lenee Sykes

All Graduate Projects

School community is critically important for healthy adolescent development. School connectedness has been found to be even more powerful than family connectedness in terms of protection against acting out behaviors in adolescence (Harrison & Narayan, 2003 ). Increasing student involvement in urban elementary settings through student government would unify students, communities, parents and staff. Establishing a student government in an urban school setting promotes student voice, student interest and helps tie community and staff together. The importance of belonging is essential in providing a safe and productive educational environment.


“Starting Off On The Right Foot” A Guide For Elementary Physical Education Teachers To Assist Them In Successfully Beginning The School Year, Carrie Boers Feb 2008

“Starting Off On The Right Foot” A Guide For Elementary Physical Education Teachers To Assist Them In Successfully Beginning The School Year, Carrie Boers

All Graduate Projects

This guide was created to assist new elementary physical education teachers in successfully beginning the school year. The Federal Way School District currently has no guide or established procedure readily available to assist with the transition of teachers into elementary physical education programs. This project examines the necessary components of a successfully managed elementary physical education program. The author chose to create this guide after the difficulties she encountered transitioning from the junior high school physical education (P.E.) program to an elementary level P.E. program. Physical education teachers are often placed in environments that are unfamiliar to them; therefore, this …


Motivating Students: Identifying And Motivating Reluctant Learners To Reach Their Academic Potential, Kim Yeager Feb 2008

Motivating Students: Identifying And Motivating Reluctant Learners To Reach Their Academic Potential, Kim Yeager

All Graduate Projects

Motivation plays an important role in determining how well a child will perform in school (Philips & Lindsay, 2006). Regardless of how intelligent or capable a student may be if the student is not motivated to do well then their academic performance will be less than it could have been with some motivation. Teachers need to understand why some students are motivated to try hard in school and why some students are not. This understanding will lead teachers to understand why their students are not reaching their academic potential. The purpose of this project was to design a guide that …


Promoting Higher Academic Achievement Among Culturally And Linguistically Diverse Students, Edna Morris Jan 2008

Promoting Higher Academic Achievement Among Culturally And Linguistically Diverse Students, Edna Morris

All Graduate Projects

Designing a multicultural literature based library for use in the classroom setting to promote higher academic achievement among culturally and linguistically diverse students was the purpose of this project. Studies supporting the connection between culturally relevant literature and its use in the classroom with academic achievement among culturally and linguistically diverse students were summarized. The result of this research analysis supports the use of culturally relevant literature and activities with young children. The project provides brochures, resources and guides for use of culturally relevant literature with young children.


Integrating Transformative Multicultural Practice Into The Traditional Physical Education Curriculum, Kari Lea Breeden Jan 2008

Integrating Transformative Multicultural Practice Into The Traditional Physical Education Curriculum, Kari Lea Breeden

All Graduate Projects

This study is intended to serve as a resource for upper elementary physical education teachers seeking supplemental materials to integrate diversity through multicultural education in their traditional physical education classroom. Two questions are the basis for this study: ( 1) Can multicultural education be integrated into the upper elementary physical education classroom? (2) How can teachers' use this study as an assessment tool in their upper elementary physical education program? This study is built upon the work of scholar James Banks. It will extend the work of James Banks by showing how his concept of changing the curriculum to integrate …


Teaching Washington State History Through The Arts: A Curricular Guide, Rebekah Norgard Jan 2008

Teaching Washington State History Through The Arts: A Curricular Guide, Rebekah Norgard

All Graduate Projects

Students benefit both academically and nonacademically when a core subject is taught through the arts. The arts allow students to develop cognitively, extend their research skills, define their ability to problem solve, and strengthen their self-image. Personal connections and student attentiveness is increased when classes incorporate the study of the arts. The purpose of this project was to encourage the integration of arts into core subjects and provide a framework and examples of effective arts content infusion as an instructional strategy for use by Washington State History teachers.


A Guide To Balanced Literacy—Pertaining To Reading—For The Intermediate Elementary Teacher, Meghann Finn Mcdonald Martin Jan 2008

A Guide To Balanced Literacy—Pertaining To Reading—For The Intermediate Elementary Teacher, Meghann Finn Mcdonald Martin

All Graduate Projects

This project is a resource that offers information on how to implement, plan, and assess reading using the instructional strategies of balanced literacy. A review of the literature on all four instructional strategies of balance literacy is included. This guide will aid intermediate elementary teachers in planning effective instruction. The intent of this project is to provide a realistic and useful source for classroom teachers to utilize when planning and assessing reading instruction. Finally in addition to the sample lesson plans are examples of texts used for each lesson.


National Board Certification: A Scholarly Endeavor, Kathryn Loveless Jan 2008

National Board Certification: A Scholarly Endeavor, Kathryn Loveless

All Graduate Projects

If today's students are going to succeed they need quality teachers. To atiract and retain those teachers, we need to have a system to recognize and reward those teachers. The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) was created to fill that need. This study presents the historical development of the Natio1ial Board Teacher Certification program, research on its effects on student learning, and the personal certification experience of a teacher practitioner. The high standards set by the NBPTS are commendable and worthy of being replicated in teacher training programs. These standards set the ground work for what teachers should …


Instructional Models And Strategies For Language Acquisition And Literacy, Sheri Ann Ruiz Jan 2008

Instructional Models And Strategies For Language Acquisition And Literacy, Sheri Ann Ruiz

All Graduate Projects

This study introduces research that shows the most effective teaching models and strategies for language acquisition for students whose primary language is not English in the United States; although most of the research and suggestions presented are also effective for teaching all students, regardless of the student's language level. First, a short background of the history of bilingual education is reviewed. Then, the language domains and various stages oflanguage acquisition are explained. Later, an overview of the research of the most effective teaching models and strategies are provided to inform preschool through 12th grade classroom teachers, Para educators (teaching assistants), …


A Model For The Integration Of Writing Across Fourth Reading Curriculum, Barbara Mae Truchon Jan 2008

A Model For The Integration Of Writing Across Fourth Reading Curriculum, Barbara Mae Truchon

All Graduate Projects

The evidence from the literature review points to the challenge students of Washington State face today. Reading and writing are the key components in all content areas students are required to learn in today's schools. The challenge for educators is to provide reading and writing instruction that will enable our students to become proficient in the skills they need to pass high stakes assessments like the WASL and become productive members of our ever changing global society. This project presents a model of integrating writing to learn strategies into the reading curriculum. A discussion of the rationale supporting this model …