Education Commons^™

The Use Of Volunteers In The Implementation Of A Primary Reading Program, Lynnaie Wright

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project is to supply activities and materials to classroom teachers in a practical and useful manner that will help in utilizing volunteers as reading tutors in the classroom. This project is a compilation of Information gathered from a review of literature based on volunteer tutoring. Programs that have utilized volunteers are studied. Sources for recruiting volunteers, management strategies for supervising volunteers, training of volunteers, and suggestions for retaining volunteers are included in this project.

The Recruitment, Training, And Retention Of Volunteer Tutors For Elementary Reading Programs, Emilee Kay Solomon

All Graduate Projects

This project consists of: a) an overview of four exemplary volunteer tutorial programs, b) a review of the literature regarding recruitment, training, and retention of volunteer tutors, c) a review of a questionnaire surveying reading teachers and volunteer coordinators about their recruitment, training, and retention methods, and d) a guide for the recruitment, training, and retention/recognition of volunteer tutors in elementary reading programs.

The Relationship Between Reading Comprehension And Self-Esteem In Low Level Reading Adults, Judy Rosen Heumann

Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine if a correlation existed between reading comprehension and self-esteem in adults with no reading ability to adults reading at the fifth grade level. Reading comprehension was measured by the comprehension section of the Brigance Diagnostic Comprehensive Inventory of Basic Skills in half year increments after primer level, from lower first to upper third grade. Full year increments were indicated from fourth through ninth grade. Self-esteem was self-reported through use of the Counseling form of the Tennessee Self Concept Scale. Data were collected during Fall term, 1989 (September through December) at Portland Community …

A Hands-On Approach To Literature: Designing A Grade 1-3 Whole Language Literature Unit, Bonnie L. Griffith

Theses Digitization Project

No abstract provided.

Adult Illiteracy: A Survey Of The Material And Teaching Preferences Of Local Tutors, Mary Margaret Byrom

Graduate Theses

An overview of adult illiteracy in the United States from an historical and current perspective is presented. Regarding current efforts at improving reading ability, a study was conducted of local tutors whose names were supplied by the Midland Need to Read program. A survey form was used to indicate 1) the experience level of the tutor, 2) the preference of tutors as to the ability of students they preferred to instruct, 3) the reading series they found most effective, and 4) interesting and effective supplemental materials. Findings indicate that tutors with prior teaching experience have more confidence in instructing students …

A Comparative Analysis Of Comprehension Questions In Three California State-Adopted Spanish And English Basal Readers, Ana Maria Bonilla

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

The primary purpose of this study was to determine if there was a variation in the number of questions within a given taxonomy level between parallel Spanish and English basal readers at primary grade levels. A secondary purpose was to determine if questions in parallel Spanish and English series, that extended to fourth grade, facilitated the transition from the Spanish to the English reader. Specifically, the tasks to be accomplished in the study were: (1) to classify reading questions contained in California state-adopted parallel Spanish and English basal readers utilizing Barrett's Taxonomy, (2) to determine the number of questions each …

Comprehension Of Extended Narrative Text: The Role Of Spontaneous Mental Imagery While Reading Or Listening, Marilyn Anne Winzenz

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

To investigate the cognitive processes involved in language comprehension, this research examined the role of naturally occurring mental imagery in facilitating college students' understanding of lengthy narrative prose. During hour-long individual interviews, 40 undergraduates read silently or listened to a 1700 word short story. Subjects were asked to free recall as much as they could of the story and to answer higher level comprehension questions which involved verbal reasoning strategies such as inference and drawing conclusions regarding character development and motivation, theme, plot, and personal relevance. Subjects were also asked to describe the mental images they experienced, if any, and …

"Night Writers": A Voluntary Creative Writing Program, Wendy Arline Alexander

All Graduate Projects

"Night Writers", a voluntary creative writing program that utilizes parent volunteers, was designed to encourage more writing in a positive way. Writing supports the aquisition of reading skills and enables one to communicate more effectively. As "Night Writers" encourages the students to write at home, with parent involvement encouraged, a close home-school relationship is being fostered to the benefit of all parties concerned.

A Content Analysis Of The Developmental Bibliotherapeutic Implications Of The Books Nominated For The California Young Reader Medal (1975--1986), Armin Richard Schulz

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to investigate the developmental bibliotherapeutic implications of the California Young Reader Medal nominated books from 1975-1986 in six different selected categories of thematic content. Emotional Health, Self-Awareness, and Identity Needs; Cultural Differences; Family Relationships and Dynamics; Peer Relationships and Dynamics; Physical Limitations and Handicaps; and Economic Situations and Factors. Findings. Primary Category books, largely modern fanciful fiction, demonstrated limited developmental bibliotherapeutic potential. However, story illustrations affected the over-all impact of the story. Intermediate Category books had greater levels of potential, especially stories dealing with family, peers, and emotional health. The greatest levels of …

Aliteracy: The Relationship Between The Electronic Culture And Voluntary Reading, Geraldine H. Aschenbeck

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Aliteracy, the term used to describe those who can read but choose not to do so, has become a grave concern in this country. A review of the literature indicates Americans are choosing to use their leisure time to interact with the electronic media to gather information instead of reading to gain knowledge. The skills of critical thinking and decision making are at stake. Schools and homes who have been successful in teaching the skill or reading must now instill the value of reading in order to preserve the democratic process upon which this country was founded.

Relationships Among Selected Reading, Linguistic, And Piagetian Tasks, Gertrude A. Terrell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to determine the relationships among Piagetian levels of cognitive development, linguistic skills, and reading achievement in elementary pupils. The subjects were 212 pupils in grades K-3 at a school in Sullivan County, Tennessee. The subjects were administered conservation tests of number, quantity of matter, and length and linguistic tests of syllabication, synthesis of phonemes into words, and analysis of words into phonemes by the researcher. Scores on pre-reading skills from the reading subtests of the Metropolitan Readiness Tests and scores on meaning vocabulary, reading comprehension, and word study skills from the Stanford Achievement Test …

A Program For Teaching Composition In The Elementary School, Sharon Maxine Mcconnell

All Graduate Projects

Methods and procedures for teaching composition in the elementary school were developed. Current methods of teaching writing were combined with classical rhetorical modes to provide integrated and comprehensive writing experiences for elementary students. Step-by-step directions are provided for the teacher, from prewriting activities to publication of student writing. Each procedure contains a writing experience in the narrative, descriptive, expository, or persuasive mode, each using the writing "process'' to reach a final product.

The Effectiveness Of Supplementary Computer-Assisted Instruction In Reading At The 4-6 Grade Level (Four-Six), Lois Nentwich Ortmann

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of supplementary computer-assisted instruction in raising the reading achievement of Chapter I pupils in grades 4, 5 and 6. There were 340 subjects in the sample, students in the Manteca Unified School District. Subjects were assigned to either the Experimental or Control Group based on their Reading Subtest scores on the Comprehensive Tests of Basic Skills.

Teaching Esl Literacy To The Functionally Illiterate Adult: Using Language Experience And Words In Color, Kimberly Gerould

MA TESOL Collection

This thesis attempts to arrive at a personal approach to teaching reading in English as a second language to functionally illiterate adults in a multilingual ESL classroom. There is a brief review of some of the research on teaching reading and on the reading process, as well as a review of the major teaching reading methodologies. Two approaches to teaching reading, the Language Experience Approach and Words in Color, are then focused on. The author suggests ways in which these two approaches can be adapted to the adult ESL classroom and integrated with other approaches. Finally, a series of concrete …

The Effects Of Chinese Character Recognition Instruction On The English Reading Readiness Skills Of Chinese- And Non-Chinese-Speaking Kindergarten Students, Victoria Wai Jew

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

The Problem. Presently Chinese bilingual educators are divided in their opinions on the desirability of introducing initial reading in Chinese in an American school setting. A review of research studies found that data on the effects of Chinese reading instruction in a bilingual program was lacking. The present study was designed to examine the effects of Chinese character recognition instruction on the English reading readiness of Chinese and non-Chinese speaking kindergarten students. The study attempted to provide baseline data, information and recommendations for further research for Chinese bilingual education programs. Procedures. A quasi-experimental design using control and experimental groups was …

An Esl Program With Laotian Refugees, Patricia A. Ryan-Croes

MA TESOL Collection

This project is a report on an ESL program developed for and taught to a Laotian couple who arrived in Brattleboro, Vermont in December 1979. The program took place from January to March 1980. The purpose of this report is to present and discuss issues, incidents, suggestions and conclusions regarding the teaching of ESL to Laotian refugees which may be helpful to program organizers and teachers.

The first part of the report details the refugee couple's background before their arrival in Brattleboro. Next is a description of the process of organizing the program and establishing the classroom procedure. This is …

Methods And Materials For Esl Literacy, Ann Ebersole Strauch

MA TESOL Collection

Literacy education for adolescents and adults has been a perplexing problem for ESL teachers, who are generally unprepared for this specific type of instruction. Materials designed for native-English speakers are not suitable for ESL literacy instruction, and teacher-training institutions are not providing preparation for ESL literacy for prospective ESL teachers. Furthemore, very little research has been done on ESL literacy. In spite of this dearth of information and lack of suitable didactic materials available, substantial numbers of nonliterate students are seeking ESL instruction. This thesis addresses the need for methods and materials specifically intended for ESL literacy instruction.

Library research …

A Language Arts Curriculum For The Seventh Grade At Morgan Junior High School, Lois A. Fisher, Marianne Mcafee

All Graduate Projects

The goal of this project is to develop a meaningful program for Seventh Grade Language Arts. The factors to consider are the following: (1) handling large numbers of students, (2) meeting varied interests and abilities, (3) using available materials profitably and efficiently, (4) selecting specific skills and determining the amount of emphasis given the skills, (5) utilizing the physical setting.

The Effect Of Oral Reading Rate Feedback On Reading Performance, Kristi M. Anderson

All Master's Theses

An attempt was made to determine the effects or oral reading rate feedback on reading performance of third grade children in a self-contained classroom, using self-selected materials. Two measuring devices were used. The Botel Reading Inventory (Word Opposites Test-Reading) showed a mean gain of 1.75 grade levels. The oral reading rate mean increase was 57 words per minute. All students achieved at third grade level or higher.

A Reading Study Skills Course For A Community College, La Ree C. Rasmussen

All Master's Theses

The ability to read is no longer limited to the literal meaning of the word, but is increasingly dependent upon the reader's ability to recognize the style of writing, so that he knows whether to apply denotative or connotative meanings to what he is reading. Because reading needs have changed and will continue to change as rapidly as our culture changes, it is necessary to continuously develop and improve reading skills. The purpose of this study is to: (1) enumerate the reading study skills needed by college students, (2) describe the details of a reading study skills program, (3) and …

An Evaluation Of The Kindergarten Program In Chelan, Lois M. Detering

Graduate Student Research Papers

Many significant studies of reading readiness were under way at the direction of private, public, or federal funds, thus focusing attention on kindergarten and pre-kindergarten readiness. Because of this, many parents, teachers, and administrators showed keen interest in the possibilities of educating youngsters at the kindergarten and pre-kindergarten age. It was therefore felt that a study of this kind would be pertinent. Specifically, many persons wanted their five-year-olds to attend kindergarten in Chelan, Washington. This attitude was reflected elsewhere and it was decided to make a study of kindergarten programs and their relationships to the program in Chelan. It was …

A Study In Methods For Helping The Disabled Reader, Margaret Meyer

Graduate Student Research Papers

The ability to read well constitutes one of the most important skills a person can acquire. Satisfactory adjustment to living in this complex modern world requires effective reading. It is difficult to discover any activity, whether in school, business or daily living that does not require reading. The importance of reading becomes even more obvious when we consider what happens to those who fail to learn to read. They are handicapped in practically all walks of life.

Organizing The Class For Reading Growth, Jack Richard Stapelton

Graduate Student Research Papers

The purposes of this study were (1) to determine and evaluate some of the reading skills that would prove most valuable in the intermediate reading program, (2) to outline the best ways of analyzing the individual child's ability to use these skills, and (3) to collect and develop in an appendix for classroom use various inventories, check lists, standardized tests, and informal tests of appraisal.

Teaching Spelling In Grades One Through Twelve, Robert Calvin Little

Graduate Student Research Papers

It was the purpose of this study to determine methods and procedures for successful teaching of spelling to pupils in the twelve grades of the public schools.

The Relationship Of Reading And Spelling Ability At Various School Levels, Robert C. Richards

Master's Theses

Current emphasis in spelling and reading appears to be on the unitary nature of the child's development especially in relation to the language arts. While the writer is interested in the analysis of reading abilities and spelling ability in order to determine the fundamental language abilities common to both skills, the specific problem of this investigation is to, "discover the consistency of the relationship of spelling and reading abilities of pupils from the fifth grade through the ninth grade inclusive". This relationship refers to the linear correlation relationship derived from the use of standardized tests. The particular phases of the …

The Development Of A Reading Readiness Program In The Kokomo Public Schools, Susan M. Baldwin

Graduate Thesis Collection

This study presents a plan of approach to the problems that arise in the development of a reading readiness program. It outlines some of the factors that influence reading readiness: it includes a program of procedure for dealing with children who are deficient in some of the factors of reading readiness; it enumerates some of the classroom, and some of the administrative problems that arise in planning a program of this type; and it attempts to eradicate the age old fallacy that a six year old child is ready for the reading process merely because he has passed his sixth …

Achievement In Spelling In The Elementary School With And Without The Use Of Textbooks In The Hands Of Pupils, Ernest R. Allbert

Master's Theses

The specific problem of this thesis is to determine the relative worth of two methods of instruction in spelling, namely: (1) achievement in spelling when pupils study the spelling lesson then the words are written on the blackboard, and (2) when the spelling words are studied in the orthodoxy way – from the textbook. In so far as the writer has been able to determine there is little in the literature of education concerning experimental investigations of the relative worth of these two methods.