Science and Mathematics Education Commons^™

Preparing Algebra Students For Washington State’S End Of Course Exam, Mallory Jane Neher

All Graduate Projects

This project was a response to the changes in the Washington State math assessments for high school students. Algebra was the focus of this curriculum alignment and resources were created to better help Washington State students pass their Algebra End of Course exam. A significant part of the project was the course-pacing guide, standards mapping, and integrated content and language objectives that were written for key lessons that specifically addressed state standards. Lastly, there was a tool designed for students to monitor and track their own progress with the Algebra state standards.

Using Technology To Increase Interest In The Learning Of Mathematics, Teresa May Anderson

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The purpose of this project was to develop unit openers in the form of PowerPoint presentations to introduce students to upcoming topics. Within the PowerPoint presentations, relevant visual images are used to pique the interest of the students. Also, within the presentations are opportunities for students to use a hand-held Student Response System to respond to questions. The questions the students answer are related to the upcoming material. After responses are entered, a visual display will show the responses and discussion will follow between the students and the teacher. The project will be used in geometry mathematics classrooms at the …

Chemistry Spanish Supplemental Resources For English Language Learners In A 9th Grade Bilingual Physical Science Class, Rebecca Minerva Guerrero

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Minority high school students in the state of Washington find themselves under a variety of intense pressures: the pressure to learn English quickly, the pressure to pass the High School Proficiency Exam (HSPE) in order to graduate, and lastly the pressure to be an academic leader for that minority. In 2013, the state will add the science portion to the HSPE. The challenges that teachers face when working with English language learners (ELL) is having the adequate training, necessary tools, and resources needed to increase student achievement. This project is designed to provide Spanish supplemental resources for ELL students in …

Spanish Science Resources For A Kindergarten Dual Language Classroom, Carmen Lorena Yanez

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The high population of English Language Learners (ELL) in the United States has impacted the educational system. Accountability for meeting high stakes tests and state standards has been a constant pressure for many schools that have a high concentration of ELL. School districts have adopted different programs to meet the needs of ELL. These programs focus on making academic content more relevant and comprehensible so students can meet state standards. One of the programs that has proven to be successful in meeting ELL needs is dual language. However, a challenge for many dual language programs that target English and Spanish …

Using Homework To Support Standards, Socorro Yanez-Garcia

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Historically, homework has been a controversial issue that has impacted teachers, students, and parents (Gill & Schlossman, 1996, 2004). Opponents of homework are quick to talk about the hours of meaningless homework that students are required to complete and how homework detracts from family time (Kralovec & Buell, 2000). However, this is no reason to completely do away with homework. Teachers may lack access to meaningful homework that is aligned with what students are expected to know. Homework is an important part of a student's education (Cooper, 1989). Homework that has a defined purpose before it is assigned has been …

Third Grade Hands On Science Curriculum, Douglas Ray Cornwell

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In 2009, Washington State issued a new set of science standards. These new standards focus on building scientific literacy. With the emphasis now on scientific literacy rather than the traditional emphasis on fact memorization, many teachers must now find new ways to teach their science programs that reinforce understanding in science concepts rather than simple fact recollection. A science program that focuses on the constructivist learning philosophy and that offers students "hands on" activities as well as teacher led demonstrations is offered here to fill the role as an example of one of these new programs.

Teaching Strategies For Increasing Computational Fluency In Middle School Students, Alejandra Rios Blakeslee

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In light of the new Washington State K-12 Mathematics Learning Standards, it has become a priority to help struggling students close the gap in academic achievement. Therefore, in an effort to remediate the lack of computation and rigor currently being taught in middle school mathematics using an investigational approach curriculum a complimentary curriculum has been evaluated, compiled, and aligned to supplement the curriculum. The purpose of this project is to compile a set of Groundworks mini-lessons, a series of tiered lessons that targets specific mathematical skills, to be used with correlating parts of the CMP2 curriculum with the aim of …

Creating A Math Wall In An Elementary School, Lindsey Moorhouse

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Creating a Math Data Wall in an elementary school is a way to track students' progress in mathematics, guide instruction and provide strategic interventions to students who are at risk. A Math Data Wall is a visual representation of the students' progress across grade levels. Assessments have been used in schools for many years. Assessments are used to provide a variety of information to the teacher, school and district. Using assessments in the classroom is a necessary step to track students' progress and guide teacher instruction. A Math Data Wall will give teachers a visual representation of their students' progress …

Integrating The Wasl Into The High School Algebra Curriculum, Kent Stafford Pearsons

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Most Algebra courses in Washington are supplemented with Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) material. However, in the last two years, little more than half of Washington sophomores passed the math portion of the WASL; for about half of tenth graders the extra worksheets did little to no good. Students need relevant WASL material that correlates with the current math they are studying. In this manner, even though questions may be phrased differently, the material is familiar and so answering questions are more possible. Also, since new worksheets have multiple choice, teachers can discuss how most wisely to answer this …

Enrichment Curriculum For Third Grade Mathematically Gifted Students, Brooke Anne Mcallister

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Research shows that mathematically gifted students learn differently from their same age group peers. They require curriculum to be differentiated to meet their specific learning styles (Johnson, 2006). Studies have shown that formal instruction in elementary school classrooms often lacks challenge for the gifted learner since courses in regular classrooms sometimes have a relatively narrow range of topics, minimal investigation of concepts, repeated drill and practice, and yearly repetition (Fello, 2004). This project consists of curriculum for third grade gifted math students which takes the regular classroom curriculum to a more contextual level. This unit provides inquiry-based, discovery learning approaches …

Standards Based Interactive Bilingual Math Centers For The Kindergarten Classroom, Laura Berge

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Statistical data from various research sources indicate a large discrepancy between mathematical achievement levels of Hispanic students. The project is significant in that it integrates current research on early learners, educational pedagogy, ELL teaching strategies, and mathematical learning to ensure success in mathematics for young Hispanic students. Toward this end, the purpose of this project was to develop bilingual math centers using a constructivist approach and the latest research on second language acquisition and teaching for the early childhood classroom. This project is also unique because it supplements current math curriculums used throughout the state while providing the necessary scaffolds …

Hands-On Activities To Be Implemented Within A Title I/Lap Math Program, Margaret Rae Hancock

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The project provides middle school math teachers who work with the lower quartile of the student population at the middle school level, a handbook of strategies, methods and activity ideas to implement into the classroom to enhance student learning. The handbook allows middle school math teachers the opportunity to explore alternative teaching practices. It contains student-centered activities, which will allow the lower quartile of the student population an opportunity to have a positive experience in math, as well as taking ownership of their learning. By connecting the students prior knowledge to situations in math that the students can make a …

Problem-Based Learning In A Fourth Grade Gifted And Honors Mathematics Class, Barbara J. Barr

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Problem-based learning was used to deliver math instruction on three different occasions. Thirty-two fourth-grade students were involved in the project. The purpose was to investigate students' attitudes towards word problems and the development of their confidence with problem-solving skills by providing differentiation through Problem-based learning. The results showed that the majority of the students perceived themselves as good problem solvers and that math in school was related to real life.

Linear Measurement: A Prevocational Skills Curriculum Based On The Brigance Inventory Of Essential Skills, Linda Jane Kittle

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Student progress toward an educational goal can be enhanced by the use of a curriculum containing both assessment and instruction. This project is such a curriculum based on the linear measurement items of the Brigance Inventory of Essential Skills. The careful sequencing and prevocational nature of this curriculum, along with its record-keeping forms, make it especially useful for special education. It is also available as a data disk for use with Apple microcomputers.

Concept And Scope Of Aerospace Education, Merridee L. Matson

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A teacher's guide, answering frequently asked questions about aerospace education, was developed to enhance a teacher's ability to study and describe the concept and scope of aerospace education. The questions determined the components of an aerospace education taxonomy. A major category of components included history, concept, reasons, resources·, methods, and people. Five additional categories were suggested. Major aerospace education publications from 1903 to 1983 were reviewed. A selection of documents best describing the concept component were included in the project.

The Cousteau Log Centering On Marine Animals For Elementary School Children, Annie Suffron

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"Centering on Marine Animals for Elementary School Children" was a multi-curricular learning center design in four parts. It consisted of an introduction on Bubbles the Whale, including a picture, a puppet, a song, a Sea Script, and task cards. Following the introduction were three units on Sea Monsters of the World, the Migration of the Grey Whale, and the Ecology of the Southern Sea Otter. Each unit contained a picture of the sea animal, a puppet, a song, a Sea Script, a Quiz, map(s), and task cards.

Computer Banking And Cross-Referencing Of Mathematical Materials For The Elementary Grades, Daniel Jordan Martin

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The specific area and focus of this project will be that of arranging District and program math learning objectives for eventual computer banking along with materials cross-referenced to those objectives. In addition, the cross-referenced materials will be labeled as to grade level, interest level, mode of learning, and time needed for their use. The computer banking will facilitate use and prescriptive accessibility to given objectives.

The justification for such a project can be broken down into several areas: (1) the need of the elementary math teachers to have a bank of supplementary materials cross-referenced to facilitate their instruction of math …

Development Of K-12 Science Handbook For The Thorp School District, Sim Egbert

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A handbook was created for the Thorp School District to provide teachers with science goals and objectives for each grade level. A science philosophy, a sample evaluation sheet, elementary science scope and sequence, a list of current textbooks, and the sequences of science classes were also presented in the handbook. Curriculum guides from several districts were studied before the goals and objectives were written for the handbook. The research on the needs of a curriculum and the past and current trends in science curriculum was reviewed. The literature regarding science curriculum supported the development of the handbook. Recommendations were proposed.

A Syllabus Of Enrichment Activities To Enhance Content Area Reading In Science, Lynn Carol Swanson

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A syllabus of 65 enrichment activities was developed to accompany the third grade Addison Wesley science text. The activities were designed to aid children in transferring study skills, context clues, comprehension and vocabulary from reading instruction to content material. Objectives and teaching strategies were developed to accompany each of 26 skills. Suggested vocabulary activities and materials were included. Each of the activities focused on helping students to transfer necessary study skills, context clues, and comprehension skills to the science text in order to improve their proficiency to read and use the text effectively.

Transformational Geometry Unit, Elizabeth Ann O'Neill

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The study included the development and writing of a unit on transformational geometry which involved a holistic approach including the cognitive, psychomotor, and affective domains. This unit was taught to the eighth grade class in the Oakville School District in Oakville, Washington. The results showed support that the teaching of this unit was effective.

The Development Of A Nongraded Mathematics Program For The Intermediate Grades In An Open Concept Middle School, Timothy D. Paschal

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During the spring of 1972 the teaching staff of Fairview Middle School, Central Kitsap School District, was engaged in re-examining its methods of instruction. The opportunity existed to facilitate this re-examination through applied administrative techniques. Beginning in the Spring of 1972, and continuing through the Spring of 1974, the teaching staff, with the aid of this writer, worked to reorganize and improve its methods of instruction

The purpose of the project was to apply those administrative techniques which would foster and sustain a motivational level, within the teaching staff, sufficient to reorganize and improve their methods of instruction. The thrust …

An Introduction To Model Rocketry For The Classroom Teacher, David Reese

All Graduate Projects

The writer of this project was in a fifth grade teaching position beginning Fall, 1974, in Lacey, Washington. The writer taught thirty students in a self-contained classroom situation. The purpose of this individualized study was to develop a general framework and assemble some specific materials which would aid others in starting and developing a program in model rocketry in an orderly and logical manner.