Digital Commons Network^™

Integrating Technology Into The Middle School Social Studies Curriculum, Dawn Stewart

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of integrating technology into the social studies curriculum on the delivery of instructional services to middle school students. The use of integrating technology for the middle school means providing teachers and staff with the opportunity to innovatively and creatively interact in the learning process and enhance learning opportunities for students as they strive to attain the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards in Social Studies. Training had been provided by the representative from the textbook publisher on how to use the supplemental curriculum materials as well as the building technology …

Evaluating The Implementation Of The Avid Program At Pemberton Township High School, Danielle T. Strother

Theses and Dissertations

Pemberton Township High School started AVID for the 2003-2004 school year. The AVID program is designed to prepare students for a college bound curriculum. The purpose of this study was to describe and evaluate the implementation of the AVID program at Pemberton Township High School. The population of the study consisted of the entire ninth grade class of 21 AVID students from Pemberton Township High School. The data was collected through the use of a six question, Likert-type survey and algebra first and second marking period grades. The survey was used to rate the AVID students' satisfaction of the five …

An Investigation On Implementing And Maintaining An Effective And Efficient School-Based Student Intervention Program, Derek Macchia

Theses and Dissertations

The purposes of this exploratory investigation were to (a) demonstrate how to properly develop an effective student intervention program (known at West Avenue as the Alternative Support Team - AST) and (b) how to maintain its effectiveness throughout the school year. The entire staff at West Avenue School was surveyed inquiring about what attributes are necessary for an effective student intervention program. They were also asked about past experiences with a student intervention program and what they believe makes an effective student intervention program work. Feedback forms were distributed to staff members and parents concerning their experience with the newly …

Good Citizens: How Student Council Impacts Socialization Norms At Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. School Complex, Darren W. Palmer

Theses and Dissertations

This study sought to learn how peer group behavior patterns among middle school students change for the better with the emergence of a student council. The setting was the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. School Complex in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The school had undergone several reconfigurations to the student body in prior years. Since then it has been difficult to maintain a student body culture that was both stable and suitable for substantial academic achievement. This study was organized along the continuum of the academic calendar and interwoven within the customs and routines of the school. It took advantage …

Identifying At-Risk Students And Providing Them With Leadership Opportunities To Create A Bullying Prevention Program, Jennifer R. Baldwin

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to develop a bullying prevention program within Oakcrest High School. The bullying prevention program was established in accordance with the New Jersey State laws on bullying in schools. It was also created to be in accordance with regulations that determine whether or not schools qualify as a safe school.

The program identified at-risk 10^th grade girls who have had a history of discipline issues and bullying type activity during their freshman year. The program provided these students with the opportunity to be leaders within their school community and in our sending districts. In …

Increasing Organization Capacity: A Systems Approach Utilizing Transformational And Distributed Leadership Practices, Patricia L. Reeves

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to test a transformational, systemic change framework designed by the researcher to assist school leaders who are attempting to incorporate the major elements of transformational leadership theory, systems theory, and organizational development theory into their school or school district operations. The study involved both the distillation and organization of the major theoretical elements from the literature into an operational framework for planning, conducting, and monitoring the systemic change process in K-12 school systems. This framework was, then, tested by the researcher for its descriptive power in a case study analysis of an actual school …

The Implementation Of A School-Wide Anti-Bullying Program, Toni Anne Conoshenti-Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

A safe and civil environment in school is necessary in order for students to learn and achieve high academic standards. Conversely, harassment, intimidation and/or bullying, disrupts both a student's ability to learn and a school's ability to educate its students in a safe environment. Students learn by example, therefore, school administrators, faculty, staff and volunteers are encouraged and commended for demonstrating appropriate behavior, treating others with civility and respect, and for refusing to tolerate harassment, intimidation or bullying. Through on-site research and review of current literature, I was interested in finding out students' perceptions about bullying. The thesis was designed …

What I Believe About Leadership And Education : A Reflective Essay, Katie J. Koble/Walsworth

Graduate Research Papers

Good leadership is critical for a successful school. The school revolves around the leadership at the top. It is important for administrators to have respect from teachers and students. I feel one of the best ways to gain respect is to be fair in the area of discipline. Organized structure and high expectations become achievable if there is fairness across the board. I feel it is important to make no exceptions and stand by the school policies in order for people to believe in the integrity of an administrator.

I feel good leaders must exemplify the characteristics of good, caring …

A Preferred Vision For Leading Elementary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Mark R. Sade

Graduate Research Papers

I have chosen education as my lifetime career because I believe education is, perhaps, the most important occupation within our culture. I believe teachers, individually and collectively, not only change the world, but also improve it. In the service to children, I find personal and professional renewal. I am proud to be part of this noble profession and want to be counted among those in whom future teachers can say they found inspiration.

An Analysis And Comparison Of School Culture With Academic Achievement, Joan Quiambao

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study was developed to generate data about the overall culture of selected central Florida middle schools in Osceola County. It was designed to enhance the existing body of knowledge on collaboration, collegiality and self-efficacy, as related to the academic achievement of students with specific learning disabilities. This study focused on two research questions: (a) to determine how well the three key areas of school culture (collaboration, collegiality and teacher efficacy) predict the placement of middle school students with specific learning disabilities in general education or special education (resource and separate class)settings and (b) to determine what relationships (if any) …

Teacher Performance Pay: The Perceptions Of Certified School-Based Pe, Gregory Adkins

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

To meet the continued demand for educational reform, the state of Florida enacted legislation in 1998 that required school boards to base a portion of the salary for school administrators and instructional personnel on performance. Although ahead of the required statutory timeline, the School District of Lee County implemented a teacher performance pay plan during the 1998–1999 school year as a result of Florida's legislative direction. The problem of this study was to determine the perceptions of Southwest Florida school-based certified staff regarding the implementation of teacher performance pay in a school district where performance pay had been in operation …

What I Believe About Educational Leadership: A Reflective Essay, Janet Young

Graduate Research Papers

Education, in my opinion, is one of the most honorable professions a person can experience. Each teacher or principal involved with educating children is someone that makes a difference in the lives of children and influences them as they become adults. It is amazing to think about the profound impact each educator has on others. No other occupation has such a responsibility. I believe that all children can learn, and I have had a passion for making that a reality since my childhood. I know that I can help children reach their potential. Parents must know that we cherish their …

Designing, Implementing, And Determining The Effectiveness Of A Peer Coaching Program, Catherine Russo

Theses and Dissertations

Professional development is an important part of teaching, and there are a multitude of opportunities for teachers to attend workshops and seminars on a host of topics. The purpose of this project was to determine the effectiveness of peer coaching as a valuable professional development activity for teachers. A group of twelve volunteer participants visited their partners' classrooms and provided feedback on aspects of teaching pre-determined by the teachers themselves. Participants received guidelines for deciding on a focus area during a pre-conference, recording data, and providing feedback at a post-conference. Each participant provided feedback concerning each visit and responded to …

Designing, Implementing, And Evaluating A Homework Policy And Its Effects On Discipline At The George L. Hess Educational Complex, C. David Evangelist

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the impact a new homework policy would have on discipline among sixth grade students. Over the five months of the study there were an average of 346 students involved in the project. It was determined that a new homework policy would be incorporated into the already successful behavior point system, as a means to help students grow into accountable individuals. This policy would enhance our Character Education Program by promoting student responsibility and signify to the student that his/her work is similar to an employee in their work place. Without a homework …

Seizing The Moment: Creating A Changed Society And University Through Outreach, Judith A. Ramaley

Public Administration Faculty Publications and Presentations

This conference is built on two very interesting premises; first, that university outreach can change society and second, that outreach can also change the university. What is the mechanism by which this mutual influence can occur? What does the university offer the community, and what does the community offer the university? The short answer is--the opportunity to learn in the company of others in a situation where learning has consequences.

Understanding The Need To Transition High School Students From School To Work, Christopher Armstrong

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine what employers were looking for in recent high school graduates. The study also tried to determine if high schools were currently meeting the needs of employers. A survey was sent to one hundred employers in the Southern New Jersey area asking about the importance of skills taught in high schools. Southern New Jersey is comprised of rural and suburban communities. The most widespread industries in Southern New Jersey are construction and hospitality/gaming. The survey asked questions about the importance of academic skills, social skills, work readiness skills, and higher level thinking skills. …

Academic Achievement Team - A School Within A School Program: Does Specialized Remediation Increase Test Scores?, Donald F. Mills

Theses and Dissertations

This research is being done to assess the tenets of the Academic Achievement Program. Those tenets being that a school within a school program devoted to those students who did not successfully complete any of the three parts of the Grade Eight Proficiency Assessment will help them to catch up and successfully pass the High School Proficiency Assessment. This program will also reduce behavior problems and absenteeism while simultaneously increasing the students' feelings of success and accomplishment. To test these tenets a set of surveys will be utilized along with report card grades for two sets of students. The students …

Comprehensive School Reform Influence On Teacher Practice: Listening In The Classroom, An Examination Of Powerful Learning Labs Within The Accelerated Schools Project, Amy Daggett Petti

Dissertations and Theses

Focusing on teacher learning, this study follows fifteen teachers in the crux of comprehensive school reform. These "regular" classroom teachers are the ubiquitous players of this theatre of school reform. "Regular" teacher is defined as a typical classroom teacher who is not actively involved in the district's school reform project or one who hasn't taken an active leadership role. The teachers in this study work in the challenging environment of a poor, diverse urban school district that was in its third year of a comprehensive school reform program, the Accelerated Schools Project. Fifteen teachers volunteered to take part in a …

Enhancing Teacher Education Through The Use Of Technology, Tracey Reed

Theses and Dissertations

With the need for teachers in this decade well documented, state policymakers have directed much attention to programs aimed at retaining new teachers. States, school districts, and schools can ill afford to lose good teachers at a time when pressure to improve student achievement is increasing. Some states are using induction programs to help new teachers from both traditional and alternative preparation programs, make a successful transition to the classroom and stay in the profession.

The New Teacher mentoring program at Powell School offers support and guidance to new teachers through mentoring, workshops, additional training, and on-the-job assessments. The New …

Teacher Efficacy And Student Achievement Quantitative Research Study, Norma Jean Weatherly

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of high teacher self-efficacy, both teaching and personal, had upon student achievement. First, the 7th grade academic math teachers at the XYZ Middle School were asked to complete the 30-item Teacher Efficacy Scale (Gibson 1983), in order to obtain both a teacher with high efficacy (teacher-A), and a teacher with low efficacy (teacher-B). Second, ten pairs of students (ten from both teacher-A and teacher-B) of equal caliber/academic ability (based upon their Stanford 9 math score, and average in math, for 6th grade) were chosen from the two academic math classes. …

Personal Professional Vision For Administrative Practice : A Reflective Essay, Lisa Lueken

Graduate Research Papers

It is important for every future administrator to think about and reflect upon their values and beliefs regarding educational leadership. By identifying these ideas early in their education, one can better learn how to put them into administrative practice. Without this set of beliefs, a future administrator may find it difficult to evolve into an effective leader.

In order to attain this growth, I will utilize the six Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium (ISLLC) and the Iowa Standards for School Leaders (ISSL) and their respective indicators for knowledge, disposition, and performance. The standards for visionary, instructional, organizational, collaborative, ethical, and …

A Study Of The Multiple Perspective Approach To Leadership Used By Elementary And Secondary Public School Principals In Urban Iowa, Tracy E. Johns

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Based on the writings and research of Dr. L. G. Bolman and Dr. T. E. Deal, this study sought to assess the leadership practices, preferences, preparedness, and performance of public school principals in urban Iowa. Specifically, were the principals in Iowa's eight largest districts making use of a multiple perspective approach to leadership? In what areas did they appear to feel most competent? And, in what areas did the principals in this study appear to feel most inadequate?

Bolman and Deal's Leadership Orientations ( Self ) Survey (1990) was distributed to 240 elementary and secondary principals working within the Urban …

Mentoring As A Method For Increasing The Graduation Rate Of "At Risk" Students, Thomas Anthony Lombardo

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this project was to improve high school graduation rates for "at-risk" students by providing every "at-risk" 7th, 8th, and 9th grade student a mentor. By matching students who have been identified as "at-risk" of failing to graduate with an adult mentor from within Woodbury High School, this intern hypothesized that the students' grades would improve and that they would begin to feel as though they were an important part of the school community.

This study attempted to measure the overall effectiveness of the mentoring program by examining Math and Language Arts grades of the mentees prior to …

An Analysis Of Key Leadership Behaviors Of The Principal In A High -Performing Elementary School Serving Mexican American Children In South Texas, Alda T. Benavides

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This study is based on the theoretical framework that defines leadership as an influence process, one that depends on the extent to which people eventually perceive leadership as a quality someone possesses and as a result of that perception, consent to be led (Greenfield, 1998). Leadership is the process of being perceived as a leader (Lord and Maher, 1993). Doing good work at one's school and being seen to do such work is likely to be the most powerful strategy for positively influencing teachers' perceptions of one's leadership. This study expands on the theory that it is what you do …

The Effects Of The Arkansas Leadership Academy's Strategic Leadership Institute For Teams On The Creation Of Learning Communities, Paula Griffith Cummins

Theses and Dissertations

The problem of this comparative study was to determine whether school districts that participated in the Arkansas Leadership Academy Strategic Leadership Institute for Teams exhibited more characteristics of a learning community, as identified by Hord (1997), than they did prior to participation. A secondary problem was to determine if districts that had significant participation in the Leadership Institute for Teams exhibited greater growth in the learning community characteristics than districts with no participation. The sample was drawn from Arkansas public school districts that had participated in any Leadership Institute for Teams during the identified time, with an equal number of …

A Study Of The Impact Of Teacher Perceptions On The Implementation Of The Success For All Program In An Urban School District In New Jersey, Joseph Sinatra Fulmore Sr.

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

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Not More Important – Just Different: Concerns Of Middle School Female And Male Students, Marianne W. Gaffney

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify the specific needs of middle school females in order to develop a curriculum for an after school female program. This program would enhance the growth of female students ages eleven to fourteen.

After school meetings were held weekly for three months with female students in Orchard Valley Middle School. Attendance at these meetings ranged from eight to twenty girls. From these meetings, concerns pertinent to female students were identified. A survey was developed to determine the focus of middle school student concerns. The hypothesis being that males and females in middle school …

An Action Plan For Improving The Continuum Of Services That Are Offered To The Classified Student At The Lower Cape May Regional High School, Gene Sole

Theses and Dissertations

Though there are many success stories in the Lower Cape May Regional High School, for a myriad of reasons many of the classified students are not achieving their potential. In this thesis, the intern will evaluate the continuum of services offered to the classified student, with the overall intent of advancing the learning of those in special education. In his role as the acting Assistant Principal, the intern was able to get staff members to work towards the goal of improving the services that we offer our students. In addition, the intern's role as a member of the special education …

Will The Adoption Of A More Stringent Attendance Policy Improve The Attendance Of Students At Nehaunsey Middle School?, Suzanne F. Gibson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this quasi-experimental research design was to discover whether, after implementing a more stringent attendance policy, would the attendance of students improve? A pattern of poor attendance was observed in an increasing number of students who were absent more than 10% of the school year, and this alarming trend prompted this study. The entire student body of 200 students was included in this study, in which attendance records were studied before and after the adoption of the new Attendance Policy. Although the intention was to compare data for the ten month school year period before and after the …

A Preferred Vision For Administering Secondary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Marla Marie Padget

Graduate Research Papers

The education system in the United States is changing rapidly. The role of teachers, administrators, parents and the community within this system should also change. This paper will examine my philosophy, experiences, preparation for leadership, and vision for creating a positive future for this nation through better education for our children.