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Tutoring As An Elementary Reading Intervention To Benefit Bilingual Learners In Mexico, Hannah Marie Paulson
Tutoring As An Elementary Reading Intervention To Benefit Bilingual Learners In Mexico, Hannah Marie Paulson
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research question addressed in this capstone project is, can peer tutoring be used as an effective elementary reading intervention to benefit bilingual learners in Mexico? Key influence for this capstone was the author’s observation of a lack of effective reading interventions in bilingual environments. The study is a qualitative study in which the author implemented a seven-week peer tutoring training with nineteen fifth grade tutors. These peer tutors each worked one on one with a fourth grade student to apply specific reading strategies. The goal of the capstone was to determine whether peer tutors could positively affect student outcomes …
Analysis Of Nominalization In Elementary And Middle School Science Textbooks, Breanna Marie Mueller
Analysis Of Nominalization In Elementary And Middle School Science Textbooks, Breanna Marie Mueller
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research in this capstone examines the existence and implications of nominalizations through a text analysis of first through fifth grade and middle school science textbooks. This study utilizes various tools based on Systemic Functional Linguistics to determine the quantity and types of nominalizations found in various text levels, to reveal how frequently nominalizations are modified by a prepositional phrase that shows agency or force, to uncover how nominalization might affect the syntax and semantics of a text, and to deduce how nominalization might contribute to lexical density. The author also compares the results to address what nominalizations look like …
Using Audiobooks To Promote Comprehension Of Cause-Effect Relationships In Social Studies Texts, Eric John Vernon
Using Audiobooks To Promote Comprehension Of Cause-Effect Relationships In Social Studies Texts, Eric John Vernon
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
There are many challenges for secondary ELs in their mainstream classes. Social studies texts in particular can be very difficult for students to comprehend. The cause-effect relationships play a key role in students understanding the connection of historical events. This study looks at the use of audiobooks as a scaffolding tool to improve students’ comprehension of the cause-effect relationships in social studies texts. Specifically the concurrent reading of the text along with listening to the audiobook. It was conducted in a high school intermediate ESL class, students read sections of a text without the use of the audiobook, then with …
Effective Conversations Around Tough Text Within Middle School Literature Circles, Gretchen Elizabeth Enselein
Effective Conversations Around Tough Text Within Middle School Literature Circles, Gretchen Elizabeth Enselein
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research question addressed in this project was, how can I ensure that effective conversations around tough text are occurring within middle school literature circles? It explores the role of literature circles within middle school classrooms. The capstone outlines the scaffolding provided for student success. Defined is the term “tough text” and how text can successfully be implemented with the use of discussion to promote effective conversations. The author documents the related research to identify and define best practice strategies to implement and support existing curriculums in a middle school. Created to be implemented school-wide as a supplement to existing …
The Effectiveness Of Direct Instruction In Increasing English Reading Fluency For Arabic Speaking English Language Learner Students In Qatar: A Research Case Study, Jared Andrew Lorence
The Effectiveness Of Direct Instruction In Increasing English Reading Fluency For Arabic Speaking English Language Learner Students In Qatar: A Research Case Study, Jared Andrew Lorence
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research question addressed in this project was, what effect does Direct Instruction reading curriculum have on improving the reading fluency of Arabic speaking, English language middle school students? It documents one teacher’s experience and results using Direct Instruction reading curricula to improve reading fluency and comprehension of Qatari English Learner students. The author provides a literature review of Direct Instruction research and documents the results of his own efforts to increase the reading fluency of his students using Direct Instruction curricula and methods. He concludes that Direct Instruction was ineffective for his students, as it did not significantly improve …
Strategies To Support Vocabulary Development In Middle School Content Area Classrooms, Caitlyn Bandy
Strategies To Support Vocabulary Development In Middle School Content Area Classrooms, Caitlyn Bandy
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research question addressed in this project was, what strategies are available to support content area vocabulary development in the middle school classroom? It explores the needs of a content area classroom as it relates to vocabulary development, then addresses those needs through a strategy map of best-practice vocabulary learning strategies. Created to be implemented school-wide as a supplement to existing curriculums in middle school classrooms, the map supports vocabulary development with two strategies detailed for each grade level six through eight. The strategy lessons follow the gradual release lesson plan model in order to best support student learning.
Encouraging Student-Generated Critical Questions Through Literature Circles In A Tenth-Grade Classroom, Damon Reuben Brook
Encouraging Student-Generated Critical Questions Through Literature Circles In A Tenth-Grade Classroom, Damon Reuben Brook
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
This study explored how literature circles were used to encourage 32 tenthgrade students enrolled in an English 10 class to generate critical questions about memoirs. The literature review overviewed the philosophy of studentcentered classrooms as well as the specific benefits of using literature circles and questionanswer relationship (QAR) reading strategies. This study covered a fourweek unit where teams of students were observed in interestbased literature circles. Students discussed the texts and recorded questions that they used for discussions. Other data included analysis of teachergenerated reflection journals. The results of the study revealed that the students overall responded positively to the …
Academic Language In Book Clubs, Tanya Marie Schuh-Modelli
Academic Language In Book Clubs, Tanya Marie Schuh-Modelli
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
Book clubs are increasingly used by teachers to help raise ELL literacy levels. Yet, there has been little research on whether this tool actually contributes to improved oral language proficiency. The research question is, after being taught the academic language needed to ask and answer higher order questions, how well are students able to ask and answer questions? This study examines to what extent students are able to engage in higher-order questioning after receiving direct instructional support through book clubs. The methods employ anecdotal notes, transcripts of student conversations, and student written work to assess how students can discuss text …
Literacy And Social Skill Development: A Technology-Focused Curriculum Design, Karissa Sue Wentzel
Literacy And Social Skill Development: A Technology-Focused Curriculum Design, Karissa Sue Wentzel
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The curriculum design created in this project was centered around the concept that the integration of technology into a 6th grade classroom can facilitate the advancement of both literacy and social skill development. It documents one teacher’s use of various technological applications and reading related activities to cultivate academic conversations and see growth amongst five pre-selected and targeted social skills. The author documents the details of the unit and provides researched literature to support the foundation for the curriculum design. The key influence for the study was the author’s personal experience at a one-to-one iPad school. The author concludes the …
Intertextual Connections In Text Sets: Creating Common Core Curriculum For Middle School Readers, Karissa Anne Finley
Intertextual Connections In Text Sets: Creating Common Core Curriculum For Middle School Readers, Karissa Anne Finley
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research question was, How can I design a curriculum unit that uses a text set to teach middle school English students to integrate knowledge and ideas as indicated by the Common Core State Standards? The capstone explores the challenges and steps to addressing the Common Core State Standards in reading, focusing especially on eighth grade standards of Integration of Knowledge and Ideas (standards seven through nine). Key influences for this capstone were Wiggins & McTighe (2005) and Cappiello & Dawes (2013). The author develops a multimedia text set unit for eighth grade students, using the short story “Flowers for …
Reading Success Stories: Case Studies Of Somali Elementary Students, Julie Marie Weiss
Reading Success Stories: Case Studies Of Somali Elementary Students, Julie Marie Weiss
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
A major challenge that elementary ESL teachers face is that of helping students achieve reading competency. There are many factors that play a part in learning to read in a first language. English Learners have additional challenges as they learn to read in a second language. These factors and challenges are investigated and reviewed within this study. The author was curious about a few Somali students in her school who achieve high levels of reading proficiency. The research question for this study was, what factors lead to reading success for Somali elementary students and how do we support these students? …