Education Commons^™

Developing The 21st Century Skills Of Creativity, Collaboration And Information Fluency In A Kindergarten Classroom, Corrine Marie Schmidt

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The research question addressed in this project was, how can kindergarten students develop the 21st Century Skills of creativity, collaboration and information fluency through technology integration? It documents one teacher’s creation of a literacy based curriculum unit that gives kindergarten students opportunities to grow their 21st Century Skills, using the iPad as the learning tool. Key influences for this capstone include the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s new standards for technology integration in early education classrooms, as well as the International Literacy Association’s new standards for literacy education. Richardson’s research on the change in learning and teacher’s …

How Can Standards-Based Grading Be Implemented Into An English Language Arts Classroom In Order To Give More Accurate Feedback Of Student Achievement, Taunya Kolbinger

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

Properly and fairly assessing student work is an important and timely job. This paper will document the background of traditional grading, along with how standards-­‐based grading benefits teachers, students, and parents. Key pieces of learning around this pertinent topic of assessment come from the current work of Guskey, as well as Wormeli and Reeves. It will also address barriers to standards-­‐ based grading, and what professionals can do to implement this grading system into schools and classrooms, and cover how standards-­‐based grading can be implemented into an English Language Arts classroom in order to give more accurate feedback of student …

Adolescent Literacy In The Common Core Classroom, Kelsey Montgomery

Honors Projects

This project focuses on the advantages of utilizing reading fluency assessments and targeted reading instruction in adolescent language arts classrooms. Typically, as students progress beyond about sixth grade, many teachers do not continue to instruct and assess students specifically on their reading fluency; however, research shows that continuing to focus on these skills is beneficial to students, especially with the increased pressures for students to be "college and career ready" from forces such as the Common Core State Standards. Learning to read is a skill that grows as students grow - the data in this project shows that when students …

How Do Interactive Read-Alouds Promote Engagement And Oral Language Development In Kindergarten, Laura Leigh Mikul

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The research question addressed in this project was, how do interactive read-alouds promote engagement and oral language development in kindergarten? The motivating factor for this capstone was the high number of students coming to school with limited resources and lacking prior knowledge of literacy skills. The author developed an interactive read-aloud curriculum unit focused on characters to implement in kindergarten throughout the school year. Each lesson plan incorporates scaffolding, teacher modeling, student discussion, and engagement strategies. The capstone highlighted benefits and common practices for interactive read-alouds, theories such as Cambourne’s Conditions of Learning and Instructional Conversations, and implications of oral …

Mandarin Immersion School: A Case Study, Susan Jean Koehn

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The research questions addressed in this project were designed to explore the literacy development of a nine-year-old boy in an elementary Mandarin immersion program. The motivating factor for this research was to investigate his learning experience from his perspective, that of his teachers and that of his mother, the researcher. The approach chosen was a case study using ethnographic methodology consisting of classroom and home observations, teacher and student interviews, a survey, and formative and summative assessments. During the course of the study, it emerged that he has dyslexia. The issues in dealing with a dyslexic student were therefore also …

Increasing Special Education Students’ Literacy Through The Use Of Specific Assistive Technology, Elizabeth A. Davidson, Liana M. Lingofelt

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

The intent of this study was to see how specific online tools could be used to increase special education students’ literacy. The study took place in two public high schools in metropolitan areas. The students involved in the study included both general and special education students, males and females, and grade levels 9 through 12. Data was collected using pre- and post- assessment reading tests, student/teacher reflections, vocabulary practice, and annotated readings. The study demonstrated the importance of factors we had not fully considered in planning the action research project, including the learning curve students experience using new technology. Student …

"Keep Funding Or Else... It's Mustaches": Building A Community Of Literacy At Owl Creek, Ian Whitlow

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The following research report on literacy practices presents an analysis of the data collected over the course of four months at Owl Creek middle school in Northwest Arkansas. Following a qualitative research protocol, I interacted with middle school students who participated in the Razorback Writers after-school literacy outreach program sponsored by the University of Arkansas. This report details the two major literacy practices encouraged in this after school program - the collective read-aloud sessions focusing on the graphic novel I Kill Giants, and the students' creation of their own graphic novels, which were developed in group workshops. In the following …

A Study Of Prekindergarten Impact On Early Literacy Readiness, Lakeisha Shantae Stokes

Dissertations

The awareness of the positive impact of prekindergarten programs on the success of early literacy of students has heightened due to the research performed on the topic (Barnett et al., 2003; Cohen, 1996; Magnuson & Waldfogel, 2005). The purpose of this study was to evaluate prekindergarten student gains in the development of early literacy skills, depending on their prekindergarten program experience. The study further examined Head Start and public school prekindergarten teachers’ knowledge of early literacy skills.

Results from the prekindergarten teacher survey indicated that public school prekindergarten teachers had higher levels of education than Head Start prekindergarten teachers. The …

The Relationship Between Teacher Collaboration And Teachers' Level Of Knowledge, Implementation, And Confidence Related To Common Core State Standards For Literacy In History/Social Studies, Science And Technical Subject Areas, Talia Shaunte' Lock

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between elements of teacher collaboration and teachers’ level of knowledge, level of implementation, and level of confidence related to CCSS for Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subject Areas in grades 6-12. The study included an extensive literature that included an introduction, pertinent literature and research regarding literacy in the 21^st century, CCSS, cross curriculum, teacher collaboration, the role of leadership, and the theoretical framework. The study also included the methodology, research results, the conclusions, recommendations for policymakers and practitioners, and recommendations for further research.

It was discovered …

Literacy Intervention For Adolescents: A Review Of Spanish Language Heritage Instruction, Heidi Palms

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This study is a systematic review of current research regarding Spanish language heritage instruction with a focus on middle and high school. With substantial evidence in the field at the elementary level indicating that literacy development of L1 supports the literacy development of L2, this study seeks to determine what current research shows regarding Spanish heritage instruction in middle and high school. Is there evidence of literacy gains in L2 English due to L1 Spanish instruction during adolescence? The final selection of studies from the systematic review includes a broad range of methodology, and correspondingly produces a broad range of …

Boys, Writing, And The Literacy Gender Gap: What We Know, What We Think We Know, Nancy Disenhaus

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

The existence of a persistent gender gap in literacy achievement, and particularly in writing, is not in dispute: boys trail girls in every assessment at state, national, and international levels. Yet although this basic fact is not in dispute, nearly everything else concerning the gender gap in literacy achievement--its causes, consequences, and potential solutions--remains hotly contested, particularly in the public and professional discourse. Scholarly research offers insights that frequently challenge the prevailing public discourse, but this research has been conducted primarily in the U.K., Australia, and Canada, leaving the experiences of U.S. students largely unexplored. Herein lies the problem: an …

Literacy Instruction In High School: Examining The Perception Of Bilingual And Monolingual Students Of Middle Eastern Origin, Youssef Mosallam

Wayne State University Dissertations

With the growing need to close the gap in instruction for all students there needs to be more of an emphasis on instructional strategies that assist students to achieve in literacy and a focus on their perceptions of the instruction. There is a specific need to support English language learners as they are the fastest growing subgroup in U.S. schools. Moreover, there needs to be a focus on professional development for teachers to support English language learners, multicultural students and all other students that struggle with literacy.

The purpose of the research study was to examine the instructional practices used …

A Case Study Of The Impact Of Reading Intervention In Early Elementary School Grade Levels, Bonnie S. Smith

Education Dissertations and Projects

This case study examined the impact of small class size using small group instruction with ability grouping for early literacy intervention. In this study, data were analyzed to determine the impact small class size, paired with small group instruction for intervention, had on students in terms of attaining grade-level proficiency standards. DIBELS data and facilitator interviews were analyzed from first and second grade intervention and traditional classes to determine the effectiveness of small class size and ability grouping for students to achieve grade-level proficiency in literacy. Results show that using direct instruction in small groups with Title I inclusion helped …

A Program Evaluation Of The Impact Of A "Read To Learn" Model On Alternative High School Students' Lexile Levels And Reading Achievements, James D. Quinn

Education Dissertations and Projects

This study is a program evaluation of the effectiveness of a reading initiative in an alternative school utilizing the Stufflebeam CIPP evaluation model. In order to assess effectiveness, this evaluation explored the reading growth of high school students in an alternative school setting where the application being critiqued was a"read to learn" model.

The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of a "read to learn" model on students who were exposed to reading as the primary mode of learning in all content areas and who participated in daily silent reading with self-selected topics. Baseline data on LEXILE, …

Educators' Perceptions Of A 21st Century Digital Literacy Framework, Stephen Spengler

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The concept of literacy has expanded to include understanding and effective utilization of information, media, and technology. The Children's Internet Protection Act requires school districts to teach proper online use and behavior. The lack of a technology requirement in a rural, public school district in Northeastern Pennsylvania that meets the needs of 21st century learners and the conditions of the Children's Internet Protection Act was the rationale for the development of this project study. The study's conceptual framework stemmed from theories related to new literacies, multimodality, computer education practices, and millennial learners. The research questions examined educators' perceptions of topics …

Facilitating A Transdisciplinary Approach In Teacher Education Through Multimodal Literacy And Cognitive Neuroscience, Margaret Billings Krause

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation is a compilation of research and theoretical papers based on the affordances of multimodal literacies for marginalized learners and for pre-service teachers’ developing conceptualizations of literacy. Through a transdisciplinary lens, the author considers complex issues presented in traditional, print-based learning environments that potentially marginalize learners in their developing abilities to become successful participants in the multiple literacies in the real world.

Three studies focus on pre-service teachers and their developing understanding of effective literacy-related classroom practices. Chapter Three explores potential affordances of a multimodal learning environment for pre-service teachers with self-identified reading difficulties. The phenomenological study highlights differing …

Student-Teacher Interaction Through Online Reflective Journals In A High School Science Classroom: What Have We Learned?, Megan Elizabeth Ehlers

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Three challenges in current secondary school science classrooms are (a) meaningful integration of technology, (b) integration of reading and writing in content courses, and (c) differentiation of instruction to meet individual student needs in courses. This is an exploratory study of an urban, high school marine science course in which a teacher added communication with her students via asynchronous online journals. This intervention was intended to enable the teacher to understand how students were constructing knowledge and their understanding of marine science topics. Data included journal postings from all students and the teacher throughout the semester, as well as the …

Validity Testing Of A Preschool Reading Screening Device For Pediatricians, Erika Elaine Blue

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Despite efforts to improve access to early literacy intervention in the United States, there are still children entering kindergarten that are not adequately prepared for school and are unlikely to catch up to their peers (National Education Association, 2014). Preschool programs are actively involved in screening their students for potential literacy difficulties; however, there are children who do not attend preschool and may not have their literacy development assessed. One solution to this problem is to involve other individuals who routinely see preschool age children. Pediatricians are one such group as children come to them for their wellness visits and …

An Examination Of Teachers' Reading Instructional Challenges In An Alternative School Setting, Leslie Bowen Retchko

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In a suburban alternative school, educators of at-risk students reading below grade level often struggled to provide effective reading instruction. As a result, these students were likely to continue to experience academic difficulties, which could limit their career options and their opportunities to contribute to the betterment of society. This study addressed the gap between reading strategies teachers actually used in the classroom and the reading strategies they learned during professional development. The research questions focused on the instructional challenges teachers experienced while working with struggling readers in an alternative school setting. Mastery learning theory and the adult adragogical theory …

Partial Inclusion Effects On Students With Special Needs In English, Jayna Michelle Jensen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A special education population failed to meet the state target in English. This occurrence drove educational leaders to review their program options to address the problem. Their decision to offer a partial inclusion English program setting is important because it supports using data to provide students a Free and Appropriate Education (FAPE) in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE). The purpose of this study was to examine if the new setting was supported by an increase in student academic achievement scores. The theoretical framework included the social relationship model by Reindal and Gürgür and Uzuner's successful inclusion practices theory. The guiding …

K-5 Elementary Balanced Literacy Reading Program Implementation Evaluation, Suzanne Marie Anderson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Students who struggle with reading in their elementary years are likely to make poor academic progress, leave school before graduation, and struggle in the workplace. The district leaders at 24 K-5 elementary schools in a large Midwestern district were interested in a formative reading program evaluation to determine reading program effectiveness. This mixed methods study, approached from a cognitive and social theoretical framework, was a formative evaluation of the Balanced Literacy Reading Program implementation at these elementary schools. The purpose of this study was to capture the K-5 classroom teachers' (n = 113), instructional coaches' (n = 18), and principals' …

Literacy Strategies Successfully Implemented By Secondary Social Studies Teachers, Kelly Killorn

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine which literacy strategies were used by secondary social studies teachers who were identified by their principals as having strong literacy integration skills. In addition, teachers' beliefs and purposes for utilizing said literacy strategies were examined. It was hypothesized that participants would incorporate literacy strategies into their instruction, and would utilize explicit vocabulary instructional methods and graphic organizers most frequently. Using a mixed-methods approach, data were collected from five participants through three 50-minute behavioral observations apiece, followed by a 45-minute focus group discussion. Results indicated that these participants overwhelmingly utilized literacy strategies regularly …

Creative Writing Programs As Supplement To The Common Core Standards To Support Literacy Among Inner-City High School Students, Chelsi L. King

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The adoption of the Common Core State Standards by Ohio in 2010 created a path of tightly organized learning targets that educators would take to ensure that students graduated with the literacy skills necessary to succeed in college and the workforce. The focus of these standards rests largely on the use of informational and nonfiction texts to supplement critical thinking and analysis. What may be lacking is an emphasis on the arts and creative writing as valuable assets to strengthening complex literacy and emotional and social development. Since creative writing is not heavily present in the Common Core, schools may …

Prospective Secondary Teachers' Conceptualizations Of Literacy And Literacy In Their Content Areas, Jane Costello Bonacci

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Abstract

Teachers' Perceptions Of The Impact Of Education Policy On Their Teaching, Professional Development, And Sense Of Efficacy For Literacy Instruction, David Clickner

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

This study examined teachers’ (a) perceptions of the impact of policy on their teaching and professional development, (b) knowledge of policy initiatives and the protocols their schools have in place to support them, (c) perceptions of policy, and (d) self-efficacy for literacy instruction and professional development’s impact on it. The investigation focused on three policy initiatives: Response to Intervention, the Common Core State Standards, and the Annual Professional Performance Review program, New York State’s teacher evaluation system. The sample included K-4 classroom and special education teachers and literacy/reading specialists working in New York State. Results revealed that respondents’ perceptions of …

An Investigation Of Teacher Librarians' Use Of Interactive Whiteboard Technology For Literacy Instruction, Judith Carroll Stanton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although school systems have made investments in technology with the intention of raising student scores on state and national tests, improvements in student achievement have not always followed. The purpose of this study was to investigate teacher librarians' use of interactive whiteboards to improve student literacy. This qualitative case study was guided by the theory of social constructivism, wherein individuals learn through interaction with peers and knowledgeable others. The research questions were focused on how teacher librarians integrated multi-literacies and technological skills into pedagogical goals. Data were collected from a 4-member focus group interview, a questionnaire delivered to a subset …

Insights From Complexity: A Study Of The Implementation Of A District-Wide Literacy Initiative Through The Lens Of Complex Systems Theory, Mary Kathryn Hudson

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Complexity Theory provides unique insights into the implementation and operations of a district literacy initiative. The successful and unsuccessful structures of the literacy initiative are examined through a complexity lens in order to gain insight into the relationships between elements of a complex system and its processes operating within a “top-down” educational directive and the resulting “bottom-up” resistance. This qualitative study uses a phenomenological approach to advance complex systems theory. This allows a multi-dimensional exploration of the fundamental attributes of the district initiative, its processes and the relationships within those processes. The literacy initiative in a large urban school district …

First Year Teachers' Use Of Technology In Literacy Instruction: A Case Study, Emily Kearns Burke

Educational Studies Dissertations

The purpose of this case study is to determine how first year teachers describe their teacher preparation and use of technology to teach literacy. This is achieved by considering how teachers’ descriptions demonstrate self-efficacy, identify challenges and obstacles, and distinguish benefits of technology integration in literacy instruction. As the understanding of literacy broadens to include alternative forms of print and technology, school districts are investing significantly in technology and yet teachers are often not using technology in their practices. For these reasons it is necessary to examine first year teachers’ perceptions of their own prior training, their current technology use …