Education Commons^™

Integrating Technology Into The 2nd Grade Writing Curriculum, Jessica Mallon

Theses and Dissertations

This action research study was conducted to examine the effects of integrating technology into the second-grade writing curriculum. The second grade class was in a middle class suburban town and consisted of 23 children. Students composed a type written fairy tale, created I Am poems on the computer, wrote while listening to classical music, and wrote a story using a video prompt. Data collection included observations, student interviews, questionnaires, collections of student work, and informal interviews with staff and faculty. Students reported a preference to typing their stories, rather than hand writing. Students also said that listening to classical music …

Promotion Of Self-Esteem Through Character Education, Rebecca Ann Muller

Theses and Dissertations

This action research project is on the topic of self-esteem in the classroom done through character education activities and high levels of positive interaction with student and teacher. The study incorporated field notes, observations, and interviews with students through surveying which were done in a third grade classroom in New Jersey. It portrays the idea that self-esteem is vital and invaluable to students in elementary education, which can be achieved simply through interaction between teacher and student on a regular basis. It also brings forth the idea that in order for students to be successful, they must first understand the …

Implementing Literature Circles In A Fourth Grade Classroom, Melinda B. Egan

Theses and Dissertations

This action research project looked at the effects on twenty-one fourth grade students' levels of comprehension, engagement, and writing when literature circles were implemented while reading the novel Jacob's Rescue, by Malka Drucker and Michael Halperin. The participants, twelve female and nine male, live in a lower-middle class suburban community. While reading this novel about a Jewish boy growing up during the Holocaust, students performed literature circles in combination with a balanced literacy program.

The effects on students were examined through student work samples, including role sheets, comprehension questions, subject integration and writer's workshop worksheets, self-evaluations and observational notes …

An Exploratory Investigation Into The Outcomes Of The Integration Of Language Arts And Social Studies Lessons, Kathryn C. Hall

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this exploratory investigation was to find out what happens when the integration of language arts and social studies lessons takes place in a unit on the Underground Railroad in a fourth grade classroom. By applying a literature-based approach to teaching social studies concepts and using the theme of the Underground Railroad, I was able to integrate these two subjects in a way that was engaging to my students. This study involves 23 fourth grade students and took place over a one week period. The intervention involved replacing the students' social studies textbook with multiple pieces of literature. …

How Can Elementary Educators Use Multicultural Literature To Help Prepare Students For Life As A Global Citizen?, Kathryn Oleksy

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore ways in which elementary educators can use multicultural literature to help students learn about the world they live in. The study was based on the implementation of a unit in which students were introduced to four countries using multicultural literature. Students then learned about the culture, citizens, geography, history and so forth through multiple strategies and approaches to enhance the learning process. Upon completion of the unit, student writing samples and exit interviews when compared with pre-unit interviews, revealed students had made significant gains in relating to people in other countries as …

Building Background Knowledge In Science: English Language Learners, Sheltered Instruction, And First Graders, Laura B. Freitag

Theses and Dissertations

Sheltered Instruction, a strategy used in teaching English Language Learners (ELLs), can improve the educational experience of ELLs. In this action research project, one component of Sheltered Instruction, building background knowledge, was used to teach science in a first grade classroom to see if it could increase the science comprehension of ELLs. Many strategies were used to teach vocabulary during the first four days of each science unit. These strategies included setting aside a vocabulary only day, playing vocabulary games and activities, having a science word wall, reading informational storybooks, and using real objects for the students to connect with. …

How Can Giving Students Voice In A Third Through Sixth Learning Disabled Classroom Foster Active Engagement And Students Control Over Their Learning?, Sarah M. Furlong

Theses and Dissertations

This study looks at the impact on learning classroom where students are encouraged to share their voice. Student questions are used to create units of study that frame what students want to learn. The study takes place in a self-contained Learning Disabled classroom with fifteen students ranging in third through sixth grade. The study is completed during two separate instructional units, one in science and another in social studies using a Questions Curriculum. Student questions about specific topics are used to create subsequent lessons on the topic. During the study student artifacts including worksheets and pictures of bulletin boards are …

Helping Struggling Writers Through Self-Regulated Strategy Development, Rajvi Kamdar

Theses and Dissertations

The purposes of this action research was to determine the effectiveness of implementing a self-regulated strategy development model to teach a story writing strategy to three 3^rd grade students at a New Jersey Elementary School. This study involved a comparison of stories written by students before and after self-regulated strategy development instruction. Students chosen to participate in the study lacked proficiency in story writing and held negative beliefs towards writing in general. All participants completed a Pre-SRSD Story Writing task, which was holistically scored to determine student ability in story writing. The Pre-SRSD Story Writing task was submitted prior …

Connecting With Diverse Students Through Dialogue Journals, Jacqueline G. Mikkelson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this explorative study was to determine how a White, female, beginning teacher could attempt to build relationships with African American and Hispanic students in a third grade classroom. There were 5 participants: 3 female and 2 male, all of whom were from working class African American or Hispanic families. I implemented dialogue journals into my lessons so that my students and I could learn personal attributes of one another. I retained 8 dialogue journal conversations from all 5 students. Upon completion of dialogue journal implementation, students completed a written self-evaluation survey with open-ended questions pertaining to their …

Bullying In A Third Grade Classroom, Kristen Falco

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research study was to determine how teaching students about bullying affects a third grade classroom. Students in a third grade classroom were given a pre-unit survey to determine their knowledge and experience with bullying. A four week unit on bullying was then taught to all students. Each week students were given a separate survey to determine their experience with bullying throughout the week. By the last week of the study, the number of bullying incidents was reduced by 50% showing that educating students about bullying reduced the amount of bullying in the class and created a …

How Implementing Social Programs With First Grade Students To Improve Their Existing Emotional And Behavioral Issues Affects A New Teacher's Outlook On Her Classroom And Students, Rachel Trussler

Theses and Dissertations

What effects does a "one on one" developmental program done with first grade students that are struggling with behavioral and emotional issues have on me as a teacher and inform and influence my teaching? This action research study took place in a southern New Jersey school from January 24 until May 9, 2008. Students were observed both in and out of the classroom. A better understanding of the classroom community and interactions of the students were gleamed from this process. Two students were selected based on their unique emotional situations, which influenced their ability to behave appropriately according to teacher …

Peer Tutoring In A Fourth Grade Inclusion Classroom, Kathleen Weiss

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to discover what happens in a fourth grade inclusion classroom when peer tutoring is implemented. Peer tutoring was implemented as a test review strategy for five tests. Observations were recorded based on off task behavior, on task behavior, questions asked during the reviews, and students that finished in the allotted time. These results were compared to previous observations that were taken during typical test reviews. During the peer tutoring reviews, an average of 36.4 instances of on task behavior were observed, compared to an average of 23 instances during the typical test reviews. There …

The Impact Of Mentoring On Retention, Quality, Commitment Of Graduates From One School-University Partnership, Brenda Kraber

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the impact of mentoring on retention, quality and commitment of graduates from one school-university partnership. This project explored this issue through a review of relevant literature on effective teaching, components of quality teacher preparation programs, beginning teachers, mentoring and Professional Development Schools. How to best prepare teachers for the multi-faceted, challenging job that needs to be done has been a question that has faced universities and school districts for many years. With the growing numbers of veteran teachers now ready to retire and the increasing need for more teachers, the proportion between experienced and inexperienced teachers is …

Collaborative Partnerships : A Model For Science Teacher Education And Professional Development, Mellita M. Jones

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

This paper proposes a collaborative partnership between practicing and pre-service teachers as a model for implementing science teacher education and professional development. This model provides a structure within which partnerships will work collaboratively to plan, implement and reflect on a series of Science lessons in cycles of action-reflection adapted from Korthagen’s (2001) ALACT model. Issues within Science education, teacher professional development and teacher education are considered in the development of the model which attempts to deepen constructivist approaches to teachers’ professional learning. It attempts to address issues with teacher professional development in the science area and improve professional experience practice …

Best Start 2008 : Kindergarten Literacy Assessment, Department Of Education And Training, Nsw : Data Analysis Report, June 2008, Marion O. Meiers, Siek Toon Khoo

Marion Meiers

Ice Breaking Exercice: Group Resume For Faculty, Paul Savory

Industrial and Management Systems Engineering: Instructional Materials

Resumes typically describe an individual’s accomplishments. This ice breaking exercise for faculty asks that faculty explore their incredible array of talents and experiences and create a single group resume to allow you to become acquainted with your fellow faculty participants.

Teachers' Participation In Formal Induction Programs And Their Subsequent Level Of Professional Growth In Wisconsin Public Schools, Paul Edmund Blanford Sr.

Dissertations

This study investigated the relationship between teachers' participation in formal induction programs and their subsequent level of professional growth as measured by two variables (graduate level credits/graduate degrees attained) as reported by public school teachers in the State of Wisconsin. In addition, selected demographic variables (teachers' age; teachers grade level taught; teachers' school district size; training and support provided to teachers in their first years of teaching; participation by teachers in mentoring and induction programs; teachers' level of education) were examined for their predictive relationships with teacher induction and professional development.

This study was conducted during the spring of 2007. …

A Story Well Told: Rich Narrative Engages California Fifth Grade Students In American History, Julie Alice Huson

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

The educational publisher Pearson/Scott-Foresman in 2006 introduced curriculum to address California History/Social Studies standards. Fifth grade students have difficulty comprehending non-fiction text that is informative enough to have historical accuracy. The publisher promotes a program that features a standard in every lesson, and promises no extraneous content. An examination is conducted as to how this program approaches the required California History/Social Studies elements of providing "A Story Well Told" which should include, according to specifications by the California State Department of Education, "forceful personalities, controversies, issues of the time, and primary sources."(CDE, 2003) Literature on the topic of history education …

It's All About The Teachers: Bank Street's Math For Teachers As Professional Development, Robin Hummel

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This work describes a professional development initiative that was based on the graduate course, Mathematics for Teachers in Diverse and Inclusive Educational Settings (K-6), taught by Linda Metnetsky at Bank Street College of Education. The author wrote and implemented this professional development initiative for teachers in her former district: a large, middle class, suburban school district outside of Philadelphia. It consisted of six full day sessions, held from October through April during the 2004-05 school year. Eleven teachers from third, fourth, and fifth grades participated, and the impact of this professional development on two participants is the focus of this …

Benefits Of Leed Designs In Arkansas K-12 Schools, Philip Thrift

Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

This paper provides and evaluation of an existing LEED certified sustainable green building for energy-efficiency, environmental impact, economic value, and occupant health. The new Bethel Middle School located in Bryant, Arkansas was the first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified public school building in the state. Based on actual building specifications and validated with the first year's utility bills, a simulation model was used to evaluate various design aspects of the school building. The building's baseline energy usage was compared with numerous energy and environmental scenarios. Results include both environmental and economic assessments. Overall, the study found that …

Troy Vanderlaan Interview 2008, Richard Cooley

Video Interviews for 28 Teachers, Thousands of Lives

No abstract provided.

Critical Components To Improve Literacy Learning For All Students, Marcia Harriet Kaye

Dissertations

The purpose of this multiple case study was to understand the critical components to improve literacy learning for all students. The central focus of the study involved looking at principles for classroom instruction in reading and writing that are essential for students to become good readers and writers. According to Allington and Cunningham, the following principles are critical: (a) the amount of time students spend on reading and writing each day, (b) the explicit teaching of comprehension strategies, (c) modeling writing and reading daily, (d) student engagement in thoughtful literacy learning, and (e) literate rich classroom environments.

Six classrooms were …

Multicultural Social Studies Curriculum: A Content Analysis, Bryan Throckmorton, James Carver

Leah A. Nillas

The increasing diversity of society is affecting schools across the nation, as each student who enters the classroom brings his or her own background and experiences. Given this vast variety of backgrounds, it is becoming increasingly important to ensure that teachers are able to employ a curriculum which affirms students’ cultural identities and prepares them to understand and interact with the many cultures within our global community. Social Studies has traditionally been the content area that handles the historical and social issues, which promote students’ sense of cultural identity and social preparation. Yet, with the diversity of our country’s populace, …

Music To Their Ears: How Playing Music In The Elementary Classroom Affects Behavior And Motivation, Lauren Fischer

Leah A. Nillas

The purpose of this study is to find how music affects students’ behavior and motivation in an elementary school classroom. A fourth grade class that regularly uses music served as the study group. Interviews with the teacher were also conducted. It is expected that results will show that music has a positive impact on both behavior and motivation. According to a study done by Robin Lock in 2006, music played in the classroom can stimulate brain function and promote motivation. Also, Chalmers, Olson, and Zurkowski (1999) found that the number of behavior problems in an elementary school cafeteria decreased when …

Breaking Barriers: Elementary Teachers And Technology Integration, Jaimie Clapp, Katie Rojek

Leah A. Nillas

“The nation has spent over 38 billion dollars to bring technology and internet access to schools” (Benton Foundation qtd. in Franklin, 2007, p. 268). Growing availability of technologies in schools require teachers to be prepared for and accepting of technology integration. This research study investigates current elementary school teachers’ technological knowledge and beliefs to determine barriers inhibiting the most effective use of new resources. Using surveys distributed to two local study sites, participants were asked to reflect upon their competency and attitudes concerning technology. Responses analyzed for common themes and trends revealed that many teachers felt competent in their technological …

All “Homework” And No Play…, Shamsah Raheem Dhanani

Institute for Educational Development, Karachi

No abstract provided.

“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 …

Helping At-Risk Students Solve Mathematical Word Problems Through The Use Of Direct Instruction And Problem Solving Strategies, Lurdes Lopez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This action research study examined the influence mathematical strategies had on middle school students' mathematical ability. The purpose of this action research study was to observe students mathematical abilities and to investigate whether teaching students problem-solving strategies in mathematics will enhance student's mathematical thinking and their ability to comprehend and solve word problems. The study took place in an urban school in Orlando, Florida in the fall of 2004. The subjects will be 12 eighth grade students assigned to my intensive math class. Quantitative data was collected. Students' took a pre and post test designed to measure and give students …

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

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 …