Education Commons^™

Synthesizing Middle Grades Research On Cultural Responsiveness: The Importance Of A Shared Conceptual Framework, Brianna L. Kennedy, Kathleen Brinegar, Ellis Hurd, Lisa Harrison

Middle Grades Review

In conducting a literature review of 133 articles on cultural responsiveness in middle level education, we identified a lack of shared definitions, theoretical frameworks, methodological approaches, and foci, which made it impossible to synthesize across articles. Using a conceptual framework that required: 1) clear definitions of terms; 2) a critically conscious stance; and 3) inclusion of the middle school concept, we identified 14 articles that met these criteria. We then mapped differences and convergences across these studies, which allowed us to identify the conceptual gaps that the field must address in order to have common definitions and understandings that enable …

Multicultural Curriculum Designs In Counselor Education Programs: Enhancing Counselors-In-Training Openness To Diversity, Dorota Celinska, Roberto Swazo

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Multicultural competencies are critical elements in both counselor preparation and practice. In accordance with the standards of the Council of Accredited Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), counselor education programs must implement multicultural competencies as one of core curriculum areas. Although research evidences the positive impact of multicultural training, it remains a challenge to establish which curriculum designs and pedagogical approaches are most effective. This study compares self-reported openness and comfort in interactions with diverse populations of 87 counselors-in-training across two distinct multicultural curriculum designs (i.e., single multicultural course vs. infusion through the curriculum) in a CACREP accredited counselor education …

Level Of Democratic Educational Practices Among Health Faculty From Students Perspective In Northern Border University, Saud R. Alrwaili

International Journal for Research in Education

This study examined level of democratic practices among Health Faculty from students’ perspective in Northern Border University. In addition, the study aimed at uncovering the significant statistical differences in level of democratic educational among Health Faculty from students’ perspective in Northern Border University based on the gender variable, the faculty and grade. The study used the descriptive analytical methodology. A questionnaire has been conducted on (226) students (males and females), and its validity and reliability have been assured. The study concluded with the following results:

- Level of democratic practices among Health Faculty from students’ perspective in Northern Border University …

Suggested Educational Content To Merge Values And Work Ethics In Islamic Culture Curriculum At Taibah University, Awad Zuriban Al-Johani

International Journal for Research in Education

The current study aims to investigate the opinions of Taibah University faculty members who teach the Islamic Culture curriculum about the importance of merging values and work ethics. It also aims to explore the viability of including values and work ethics in the curricula content of the Islamic Culture. The target opualtion is all faculty members of Taibah University that teach Islamic culture curricula. The sample of the study consists of (53) faculty members with different degrees (Professor – Associate Professor – Teacher Assistant), who teach Islamic culture curricula. Two tools were used: the first tool is (qualitative) a questionnaire …

The Elements Of Environment Incubator For Competitive Research Projects In Egyptian Universities: A Prospective Study, Mohamed Ibrahim Khater, Amira Khairy Ali

International Journal for Research in Education

The study aimed to reach elements of the environment incubator for university research projects, and identify the nature of the research projects at universities. To achieve this, a Delphi research method was used to identify the views of experts in the elements of the environment incubator for research projects at Egyptian universities, in three successive rounds. The study ended to provide future vision for the elements of the environment incubator for research projects in Egyptian universities in the light of the views of experts.

The Extent To Which Directors Of Special Education Centers Practice Transformational Leadership As Viewed By Teachers, Jihad Soliman Al-Quran

International Journal for Research in Education

This study investigates teachers’ viewpoints about the transformational leadership adoption by directors of special education centers in Karak Governorate. The sample included all special education teachers (180) working in 29 private and public special education centers. To achieve the objectives of this study, a descriptive statistical analysis of data obtained by a transformational leadership scale prepared by the researcher was used. Means and standard deviations were calculated, followed by a two-way analysis of variance and Chafe test for post comparisons analysis. Results of the study revealed that the level of practicing transformational leadership by directors of special education centers was …

The Effectiveness Of A Training Program In Developing The Auditory Perception Skills And Its Effect In Improvement Reading Skills Of Students With Learning Disabilities., Hussein Abdullah Al Smadi, Abd Al-Razaq Al-Hassan, Emad M. Alghazo

International Journal for Research in Education

The study aimed at investigating the effectiveness of a training program in developing the auditory perception skills and its effect in improving reading skills of students with learning disabilities (LD). The sample of the study were 40 students who were chosen purposively from students who have learning disabilities and who were attending 4^th grade resource rooms. These participants were divided into two groups: the first group was an experimental group while the other was a control group. Each group consisted of 20 male students with LD. Moreover, the study used the auditory perception scale prepared by Al-Kailani and Al-Waqfi …

The Capability Of Teachers In Identifying Students With Speech And Language Disorders, Yaser Natour, Omar Bani Mustafa, Ahmed Abu Shariha, Fatma Al Kaabi

International Journal for Research in Education

Spoken language is considered one of the most important means of communication among human beings. Language acquisition is preconditioned by a number of cognitive, perceptual and motor integrity of hearing and speech. Also, language acquisition is governed by the availability of environmental factors that nourish such and acquisition (Owens, Metz and Haas, 2011). Amayreh and Natour (2012) stated that acquiring language and speech is accomplished through active listening of the child to the adult form of language. Any breakdown in that process may entail subjecting the child to a language and speech habilitation program tailored to his/her individual needs.

The …

Islamic Teacher’S Awareness To Their Teaching Roles In The Light Of Economy Knowledge At The Sultanate Of Oman, Maimuna D. Alzedgalia

International Journal for Research in Education

The aim of this study was to know the extent of awareness of Islamic education teachers in the Sultanate of Oman of their roles in light of the teaching of Knowledge Economy. The researcher used the descriptive approach forth suitability of the nature of this research, which has prepared a measure to be from 35. An indication of the performance was distributed among the five axes, and after making sure of the sincerity and persistence has been applied to a random sample consisted of 300 teachers of them (138) male and (162) parameter. Study indicated that the overall average of …

Implementation Reality Of Mathematics Teachers Of Higher-Order Problems Thinking Skills At Primary School, Abdulaziz M. Alrwais, Sammar A. Alshalhoub, Abdulnasser M. Abdulhameed, Ahmad H. Albdour

International Journal for Research in Education

This study aimed to identify the reality of mathematics teacher’s use of higher-order thinking skills at primary school. To investigate this, the researchers recruited a random sample of 197 teachers and used an observation card on a random sample of 92 primary school mathematics. The credibility of the investigator and the observation card was checked. Results of the study showed that the implementation of mathematics teachers in primary school to issues of higher-order thinking skills varied in responses between medium and high, from their point of view. While it became clear by observing their teaching in the classroom that the …

Introduction-Preface, Editor-In-Chief - Ijre

International Journal for Research in Education

No abstract provided.

Metacognitive Skills, Perfectionism, And Academic Self-Efficacy As Predicators Of Achievement Goal Orientations Among Sample Of Graduate Students In Education College, Khaled N. Alotaibi

International Journal for Research in Education

This study aimed toinvestigate the possibility of predicting achievement goal orientations from metacognitive skills, perfectionism, and academic self-efficacy among graduate students. The study sample consisted of 182 graduate students from the College of Education at King Saud University. In this study, four types of scales were used, namely the 2x2 Achievement Goal Orientation Scale developed by Elliot andMcGregor (2001) the Metacognitive Skills Scale developed by Al-Watban (2006), the Adaptive and Maladaptive Scale developed byFrostetet. al (1993) and the Academic Self-Efficacy Scale developed by Wood and Locke (1987). The results of the study revealed that there were significant impacts of metacognitive …

Using Dif To Monitor Equivalence Of Translated Tests In Large Scale Assessments: A Comparison Of Native Speakers In Their Primary And The Test’S Source Language, Jorge Carvajal Espinoza

TAPESTRY

This study utilized a Differential Item Functioning (DIF) methodology for examining translated tests wherein all the examinees have the same native language -the target language of the translation- in order to provide information about the psychometric equivalence of the original and translated versions of the tests at item level. This study has also found possible explanations for translation DIF in certain types of items.

Language Policy And The Preparedness Of Mainstream Teachers For Serving Els In K-12 Classrooms, Laureen A. Fregeau, Robert D. Leier

TAPESTRY

English language learners (ELs) numbers are increasing steadily in classrooms across the United States. Some southeastern states have seen more than a 200% EL student increase in recent years (Migration Policy Institute, 2010). Since the inception of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and especially since Title I “flexibility” revisions, responsibility for educating ELs has shifted from ESOL and bilingual teachers to primarily mainstream teachers. States that have opted out of NCLB under flexibility revisions are no longer as accountable to the U. S. Department of Education for the education of ELs. States and school districts are no longer required to …

Book Review, Nooshan Ashtari

TAPESTRY

Text: Nutta, J. W., Mokhtari, K., & Strebel, C. (2012). Preparing every teacher to reach English learners. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Education Press.

An Esol Curricular Model: Infuse Esol Standards In Teacher Education, Deborah L. Wheeler, Jane M. Govoni

TAPESTRY

Florida approved teacher preparation programs provide coursework in English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) based on a mandate that began for graduates in 2004; however, there are few studies on the effects of an ESOL integrated model. The data show that an ESOL-infused program effectively prepares teacher candidates in demonstrating ESOL standards. The data were applied to a Likert scale and the results revealed that the program ranked between the ranges of average and exceeds expectations. The results will foster further research on a larger scale on ways to effectively prepare teacher candidates to work with English learners (ELs).

Accommodations And English Learners: Inconsistencies In Policies And Practice, Florin M. Mihai, N. Eleni Pappamihiel

TAPESTRY

This article outlines the results of a survey of all the large-scale testing accommodations used with English learners across the United States, addressing the increasing challenge of integrating this population into a state’s accountability system in a valid and reliable manner. This examination of accommodation policies used in standardized content area assessments reveals that there is little consistency across states with regard to testing accommodations for ELs in providing accommodations when ELs are tested in academic content areas.

Editors' Note, Tapestry Staff

TAPESTRY

Editors' Note of the Special Issue, 2014

Acknowledgement Note, Tapestry Staff

TAPESTRY

A Thank You Note from the editorial team

Book Review, Joe Terantino, Susanne Kelley

TAPESTRY

Stanley, G. (2013). Language learning with technology: Ideas for integrating technology in the classroom. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Cambridge University Press.

Literacy In Our Lives, Past, Present And Future: Exploring Digital Stories By Uae Pre-Service Teachers, Patience A. Sowa

TAPESTRY

The purpose of this research study was to examine how pre-service teachers in a college of education in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) used multimodal digital storytelling to explore their language and literacy learning experiences in Arabic and English. Twenty-one pre-service teachers participated in this qualitative study. Drawing on the digital stories, reflection papers and open-ended surveys as data, the study explored the pre-service teachers’ bilingual literacy language experiences and how they created their digital stories. Emerging themes included early experiences in language and literacy learning at home and at school, and expanded notions of literacy. The memoirs offered a …

Toward Integrative Call: A Progressive Outlook On The History, Trends, And Issues Of Call, Kasumi Yamazaki

TAPESTRY

With the advancement of technology now allowing complex and intricate simulation gaming and virtual reality (VR), current trends and issues in language learning extend their research on the topic of digital literacy, aiming to find the ways in which the use of technology fosters, or perhaps hinders, overall performance of language learning. While there have been many published articles that claim the successful utilization of technology and digital media into the classroom, there are considerably few that deliver a successful integration of theory into practice. To address this issue, this paper provides a historical review of Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL), …

Problems And Possibilities: Emergent Bilinguals And Multimodalities, Kathy Marie Bussert-Webb

TAPESTRY

This commentary and review focuses on my teaching and research experiences with Mexican-heritage youths in the lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas, alongside Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico. Most of these youths were emergent bilinguals of poverty. I argue that high-stakes testing environments limited their experiences in diverse sign systems, including technology, in and out of school. These youths engaged in entertainment and friendship uses of technology outside of school, even though most had access to up-to-date digital tools at home for more higher-order technology use. They did not appear to have mentors or teachers who taught them to use …

Multiliteracy In Three English As A Second Language (Esl) Middle School Classrooms, Elena Andrei

TAPESTRY

This study investigated the teaching of multiliteracy in three middle school English as a Second Language Arts classrooms. The research question was: How are English learners (ELs) developing multiliteracy - defined as critical literacy, electronic literacy, and socio-cultural literacy, if at all, in middle school ESL Language Arts classrooms? Collected data consisted of classroom observations, transcribed teacher and focus student interviews; copies of teacher and student artifacts such as handouts and student notebooks. The findings of the study suggest that teachers did not teach all aspects of multiliteracy and the students seemed to be developing mostly electronic literacy, but not …

Microblogging: Using Digital Literacies To Engage Middle School English Learners, Carolyn J. Stufft, Susan Casey

TAPESTRY

As a result of the changing technologies associated with the 21st century, the definition of literacy has changed and expanded (Antonacci & O’Callaghan, 2011) to encompass e-books, text messages, blogs, and even videogames and the peripheral literacies associated with gaming. These new literacies have demonstrated promise for engaging students in literate practices (Gee, 2007; Gerber, 2009). One practice in particular, microblogging, provides a way to engage English learners in writing and responding to text. Microblogging is a participant web technology that allows users to interact and share information in succinct online posts (Hricko, 2010). For middle school English learners, microblogging …

Exploring New Paths To Academic Literacy For English Language Learners, Mayra C. Daniel, Dong-Shin Shin

TAPESTRY

This article discusses a revised paradigm for understanding the role of technology in learning in today’s 21st century’s digital world. We propose that the digital literacy that is an integral part of learners’ daily lives requires a concentrated examination. We argue that appropriate selection and incorporation of current technologies in instruction can improve today’s schoolhouse and raise the academic achievement of English language learners. This commentary addresses the ways teachers prepare to use technology effectively in literacy education for collaborative learning, for multi-modal authoring, and for the virtual classroom. Specific applications are considered and recommended for classrooms with English learners.

Editors' Note, Tapestry Staff

TAPESTRY

Editors' Note of the Special Issue, 2014

Announcing The Publication Of Educating English Learners, Tapestry Staff

TAPESTRY

The Editors of Tapestry are pleased to announce the publication of Educating English Learners: What Every Classroom Teacher Needs to Know by Joyce Nutta, Carine Strebel, Kouider Mokhtari, Florin Mihai, and Edwidge Crevecoeur-Bryant (Harvard University Press, 2014).

Tapping The Potential Of El Paraprofessionals Through Professional Development, Michaela Colombo, Qing Zhao, Heidi Perez

TAPESTRY

Many paraprofessionals provide instructional support to English Learners (ELs), yet little research exists regarding their preparedness. Research on paraprofessionals in special education suggests that paraprofessionals are often under-prepared for their responsibilities. This paper explores ongoing professional development (PD) for paraprofessionals using findings from a study of the first year of a 5-year PD initiative for 109 paraprofessionals who worked with ELs in a high-poverty, high-minority urban district. Study findings are derived from the analysis of 57 participant reflection journals, interviews with 12 paraprofessional participants, a focus group with six PD providers, and de-identified observation and focus group data provided by …

Bridging The Gap: Preparing Teachers To Meet The Needs Of Ells Through Service-Learning, Michele Regalla

TAPESTRY

Although the U.S. student population has become increasingly diverse, our teaching force does not reflect equal levels of diversity. Teacher education programs are charged with the task of preparing pre-service teachers to meet the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse students. This paper addresses one option for providing pre-service teachers with diversity experiences by offering a short term service-learning program abroad. Research has shown that pre-service teachers feel more prepared to meet the needs of English learners after their participation in international experiences with service-learning or study abroad. This paper presents practical guidance for teacher educators who wish to start …