Digital Commons Network^™

An Intervention Reading Program To Increase Reading Skills In 18 Months From Cmt Proficient To Grade-Level Performance, Anthony J. Cordone

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This project addressed the creation of a reading intervention program at Bailey Middle School that improved the reading skills of the students identified by the Connecticut Master Test (CMT) as performing within the proficient level. Over the past 5 years, 60% of the Grade 6 and 49% of Grade 8 students consistently scored within the proficient level. This researcher created a program that, within 18 months, increased the reading skill needs of those students so that they improved or met the Grade 8 CMT goal levels.

This applied dissertation reviewed current programs, staffing requirements and skills, staff development, strategies, and …

Technological Remediation: Special Education High School Students And High-Stakes Testing, Yvonne Craycroft Kirk

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The purpose of the study was to investigate a skill-building program as a possible strategy for remediation. This study sought to help special education students pass the Graduate Qualifying Exam (GQE) in a large Indiana urban high school.

For 3 years, the researcher followed 2 groups of 10th-grade special education students who were taking the test for the first time. The scores were tracked each time the test was given to determine how many passed the test on the first attempt. The treatment group of students was assigned to a resource class by their teachers of record while in the …

The Design Of A Professional Development Program To Train Reading Teachers To Coach Content Area Teachers, Cara Richardson

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to investigate and provide middle school content-area teachers with ongoing support in an effort to foster reading across the curriculum. Mathematics, science, social studies, and language arts teachers participated in a mandatory content area literacy training where they were provided with research-based reading strategies to implement into their classrooms. The requirement to implement these new strategies into their daily instruction seemed overwhelming, which led to reluctance and frustration among many of the teachers.

The development methodology was used to develop the product utilizing a formative and a summative committee. The formative committee gathered data that …

Creating A New Reporting System For Effective Communication Between The School And The Home, Dennet John Sidell

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to create and use a new reporting system that would better communicate with parents how their child was performing in school. The system used before the implementation was fragmented (each grade used a different reporting system), outdated (not complementing what was happening in the classroom), used confusing codes (parents not receiving a clear message), and unreliable (teachers used the reporting systems for different purposes). The new reporting system would have a common purpose, be consistent in format between grades, and use vocabulary that was clear and easy to understand.

Three solution strategies were incorporated into …

Increasing Enrollment Sustainability: A Practical Model For A Community College’S Leadership, Dwight D. Dorman

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation describes an academic achievement program designed to keep 1st-year college students eligible for continued learning. At the onset of the program, results of the English department’s records indicated that approximately 60% of the students enrolled in English 101 were not eligible to continue to advance in a sequential manner. This study identified the problem areas that confronted 1st-year English 101 students who did not successfully complete the course.

A creative teaching model was developed that sought to improve the attendance and retention rate of students. The project also sought to empower the students to be responsible and …

Achieving School Literacy: The Davis Elementary School Reading Initiative, Emily Walker

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation focused on a schoolwide program of reading interventions that was implemented to increase the reading ability of elementary school students at Edward T. Davis Elementary School in Montgomery, Alabama. These interventions included (a) teacher training in research based reading instruction; (b) the implementation of Direct Instruction (Englemann, 1996); (c) the implementation of additional reading time, (d) a student reward program, and (e) a home-school literacy connection.

The school is a public school with a population of 697 students in Grades Kindergarten through 6. An analysis of formal and informal data such as the Stanford Achievement Test (American …

Improving Behavior And Academic Achievement For Students At Sandersville Elementary School, Fate R. Simmons

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to improve discipline and academic achievement at Sandersville Elementary School. This school, located in the Washington County School System, serves students in Grades 3-5. An analysis of data collected in the 2001-2002 school year revealed that 53% of the teachers were dissatisfied with student discipline, and 55% were dissatisfied with the academic climate at Sandersville Elementary School.

Planned solution strategies included a 2-part discipline and academic achievement improvement program. The program focused on helping teachers to understand and address the needs of Early Intervention Program students. The program included in-service training for teachers on specific …

The Negative Impact Of Middle School Mathematics Achievement On Classical High School, William G. Frost

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) is the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ version of high stakes assessment testing that has moved to the forefront of education reform over the past decade. True accountability for students and principals is present only at the high school level because students must pass the English language arts and mathematics sections of Grade 10 MCAS to qualify for a diploma.

Archival MCAS data over 4 years of testing reveals 2 inescapable conclusions. First, regardless of level (Grades 4, 8, and 10 are MCAS benchmark years), students have performed significantly better in English language arts than mathematics, …

Improving The Nclex Passage Rate And Lowering The Attrition Rate For A Texas Community College Nursing Program, Bonnie Higgins

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to seek ways to improve the NCLEX-RN passage rate and to lower the attrition rate in a community college nursing program. The program had a significant problem because of the decrease in passage rate of the NCLEX-RN by graduating students and an increase in student attrition. Expost facto data were collected from 213 former nursing student records to compare the independent variables of preadmission test scores, academic prerequisites grades, demographic traits, HESI exit exam scores, and grades in the Nursing Skills Course to the completion of the nursing program and passage of the NCLEX-RN. A …

Adolescent Participation In School Nutrition Meal Benefit Programs: A Case Study, Janice P. Maddox

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation is a historical case study targeted at the segment of a high school population who are eligible for free or reduced price meal benefits but do not take advantage of these benefits. The population to be studied is those students who take advantage of the free or reduced price benefits to which they are entitled less than 50% of the days that school is in session. Frequency of eating counts will be compared for the past 11 years in order to discern if the target population participation has changed over the years by programs designed to increase …

The Design And Implementation Of Staff Development To Improve Literacy At Gulfport Elementary School, Sharon D. Mckinon Jackson

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This study examined the impact of a staff development program designed to enhance teacher preparation in literacy and its effect on the Pinellas Instructional Assessment Plan (PIAP) test scores for fourth- and fifth graders at Gulfport Elementary School. A readiness, planning, training, implementation, and maintenance (RPTIM) staff development model was used (Zepeda, 1999). The staff development strategies of teacher collaboration, time for training, transfer of skills, and creation of a professional learning organization were used to improve student literacy. Problems, such as high mobility rates, low socioeconomic levels, lack of student readiness when entering kindergarten, high concentrations of exceptional education …

Development And Evaluation Of Evaluation Trends And Issues Course For Concord College, Kathy J. Hawks

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The purpose of this applied research project was to develop a quality graduate course entitled Education 525, Educational Trends and Issues, that would meet the needs of classroom teachers in southern West Virginia. The project also included the development of an implementation plan and an evaluation plan for Education 525.

The applied dissertation was guided by four research questions: (a) What does the literature indicate about educational trends and issues? (b) What are the main components of Educational Trends and Issues as a course at Concord College? (c) What is an implementation plan for Educational Trends and Issues as a …

Program Logic For Automatic Teaching Operations: The Effects Of Plato On High-Stakes Testing In Mathematics, Tammy A. Malich

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation describes the use of the Program Logic for Automatic Teaching Operations (PLATO) software to improve student scores on the mathematics high school exit examination in an urban comprehensive high school with a student population of approximately 2,400. Data were collected and analyzed for the same students’ mathematics exit examination scores from their junior year prior to using the PLATO lab and their senior year after using the PLATO lab. A correlation was performed and reported for the time spent in the PLATO laboratory for each student and the increase in his or her mathematics examination score. Student …

School Resource Officers: Effective Or Ineffective In Reducing Discipline Referrals And Increasing School Safety?, Cornelius B. Leach

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This report describes a program for reducing the number of discipline referrals for fighting, threats, and possession or use of weapons. The total school population was involved in this intervention program. All middle schools in the school district had 2 School Resource Officers (SRO) on campus to produce a safer school environment. The problem with the discipline referrals was documented through the archival data of discipline referrals from the 2000-2001 school year.

An analysis of probable cause data gathered indicated that low or moderate supervision, lack of parental involvement, and lack of knowledge about writing discipline referrals were factors leading …

Leap Forward: A Reading Extended Learning Program To Improve Reading Achievement, Donna Hinton

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

A group of students in 4th grade were identified as having difficulty obtaining the necessary skills to become good readers. Based on teacher observations and feedback, these students did not receive enough reading practice during the school day. The purpose of this applied dissertation was to study the effects of an extended learning program to improve reading achievement of 4th graders in an elementary school in rural Georgia. The school population was approximately 389.

The writer developed Project LEAP Forward to allow students the opportunity to improve reading skills through a structured, extended learning program. The program included a summer …

Developing Block Schedule Instructional Methods In A Learning Organization At Theodore High School, Tammy D. Dennis

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to provide a developmental model of staff development for Theodore High School. Currently, the school employs the block scheduling format, and has failed to provide teacher with training in instructional methods most appropriate for the restructured curriculum. It was initially discovered that several teachers did not know how to use various instructional methods better suited for block scheduling. This project explores using a teacher mentorship program as a part of staff development to increase the use of instructional methods in the block scheduling curriculum format. The teachers will be trained in various block scheduling methods …

A Comparison Of Learning Styles Among Seven Health Professions: Implications For Optometric Education, Patrick C. Hardigan, Stanley R. Cohen

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Educational research and development efforts are most often directed at the improvement of teaching while neglecting students’ learning styles. Besides being marginally effective, an exclusive focus on improving teaching methods may lead to reinforcement of inappropriate and nontransferable learning strategies. As such, this study is being undertaken to determine if differences in personality style exist among health profession students. This retrospective-descriptive study tested the null hypothesis “there is no difference in personality traits between osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, physician assistant, dental medicine, optometry and occupational therapy students.” Differences as well as similarities were discovered across all seven professions. Implications …

The Development And Implementation Of An Inclusion Model In Jackson Public Schools, Velma Smith

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This study sought to develop a model of training that facilitated inclusion using staff development as a primary intervention approach. The study was designed to decrease the achievement gap between students with disabilities and same grade level peers. Solution strategies will develop a model to provide training in inclusion strategies for special education teachers, general education teachers, and administrators.

An evaluation of possible cause data indicated that several significant factors contributed to the difference in the performance levels of students at Fairview Elementary School. Possible causes included: (a) a lack in Jackson Public School educators’ understanding of the extent and …

Bridging The Gap In Writing In High Poverty Schools, Alexis N. Gordon

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This report describes an intervention to improve writing scores of the 180 third and fifth grade students in six high poverty schools. These schools received Title I service in grades three and five. The Delaware State Testing Program (DSTP) identified these schools as schools in school improvement for 2000-2001, under review for 2001- 2002 or both. There was a 35% difference within these schools between the students described as high poverty and those who were not who met the writing standard.

The planned solution strategy was the development of a comprehensive writing program. Two Title I Itinerant Writing Teachers coordinated …

The Effects Of Parental Involvement On The Homework Of Fifth-Grade Students, Chiron White-Legree

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to help students achieve better homework grades. Previous attempts at getting students to return their homework assignments had been unsuccessful. Parents did not know what the homework assignments were. Parents needed more information on grade-level standards.

The writer developed a weekly report of student progress that was sent home each week with the students. The report was to be signed by a parent and returned to the school. Students used homework logbooks to record daily assignments to inform parents of their assignments. A homework rubric was developed for students to inform their parents of the …

Behavior Management Classes: A Study Of Control For Students With Conduct Disorders, John W. Vernon Jr

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to provide methods to control anger in students who had records of inappropriate behavior. This study was conducted at Temporary Intervention Program (TIP), which is a school for students with severe behavior problems. This study showed the significant effects that a planned program of anger management had on adolescent children despite socioeconomic status, lack of parent participation, conduct disorders, or other obstacles.

The writer developed specific lesson plans to introduce methods that had proven effective in other institutions. Specific skills, such as relaxation, assertiveness, anticipation, self-instruction, self-evaluation, role playing, and problem solving, were emphasized. Students …

Improving Reading Instruction Through Staff Development At Putnam County Elementary School, Kirk D. Mallette

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The problem addressed was low reading achievement for Grade 2 students at Putnam County Elementary School. Reading comprehension and vocabulary skills were not being demonstrated by Grade 2 students to a satisfactory level according to the test data. Teachers in the school expressed frustration about how to help students achieve higher levels. One variable that impacts reading achievement is teacher instruction. This study addresses that variable.

The intervention was a staff development training program to help Grade 2 teachers at Putnam County Elementary School learn to implement a balanced approach to literacy through guided reading and guided writing. The quasi-experimental …

Assessing The Kids’ Breakfast Club Nutrition Program At John Muir Elementary School, Marlena E. Uhrik

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to assess The Kids’ Breakfast Club nutrition program and how it has impacted the lives of participating families. The results of a parent survey were used to help guide The Kids’ Breakfast Club in evaluating the effectiveness of the program and to assist the organization in providing the most appropriate educational experiences for the participants.

The Kids’ Breakfast Club is a nonprofit organization designed to improve the quality of life for children and their families. The organization is dedicated to the empowerment of young children and their families through nutrition, education, positive educational and social …

Scaffolding Transfer Activities Through The Use Of Concept Maps To Enhance Adaptive Problem Solving, James Jay Houdeshell

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The use of concept mapping following the Schwartz and Bransford (1998) protocols were tested as a scaffolding intervention with ill- and moderately well-structured transfer activities to determine the impact on transferring those skills to the solution of new problems. This study included three faculty members, six course sections, and a total of 55 students conducted at a large midwestern community college. All students completed well-structured pretest and posttests that measured their declarative, structural, and procedural knowledge skills in basic statistics and problem solving tools. Half the students completed a summary page describing the problem solving approaches for two contrasting cases. …

Development Of A Comprehensive Mathematics Anxiety Intervention Program For Missouri Southern State College With A Plan For Implementation And Evaluation, Laura Schooler Adkins

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to develop a comprehensive mathematics anxiety intervention program for the preservice elementary education teachers at Missouri Southern State College (MSSC). The problem addressed was the need at MSSC for a mathematics anxiety intervention program to help hundreds of students experience increased academic and career success as a direct outcome of the intervention program.

The purpose of the project was to develop a comprehensive intervention program to prevent, reduce, or eliminate mathematics anxiety among the preservice elementary education teachers at MSSC. Three research questions provided the focus for the study: (1) How can mathematics anxiety be …

Rekindling The Flame: Avoiding Teacher Burnout And Stress, John White

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation describes a program that targeted the teachers at Carver Elementary School. Teachers have indicated through informal interviews and a formal survey that they are burned out. Attendance and sick leave records show that teacher absenteeism reached 319 days in 2002.

The school is a public school with a population of 680 students in Grades Kindergarten through 6. Implemented solution strategies included (a) a beginning teacher program, (b) a teacher incentive and rewards program, (c) a teacher resource plan, (d) a professional development plan, (e) a time management course, and (f) a leadership training for the researcher.

The …

Charting The Effects Of Brain Compatible Learning Strategies On Students With Specific Learning And Emotional Behavioral Disabilities, Mary Ann Slaughter

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to provide data on the usage of brain compatible strategies in the classroom and how it compounds academic achievement and the number of behavioral incidences. Students with specific learning disabilities were scoring below grade level in areas of reading on standardized tests and those with emotional and behavioral disabilities had a high incidence of discipline referrals along with poor academic performance. Students with specific learning disabilities have been identified with cognitive processing deficits that affect the reading and comprehension of the written word. Students with emotional and behavioral disabilities have been identified with behaviors that …

Increasing The Likelihood Of Reading Success In Kindergarten Students Through Early Literacy Intervention, Cindy R. Williams

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to increase the likelihood of literacy success in kindergartners through early intervention services provided by the primary level reading teacher. There had been no early literacy intervention services offered in the writer’s school district prior to the time that the dissertation project was implemented. The goals of the dissertation were to decrease the likelihood that a kindergartner would repeat kindergarten or require remedial reading services in first grade due to the intervention services they received in kindergarten.

The writer designed an intervention program through which 15 kindergarten children were targeted for daily small group instruction …

Is Enrollment In Algebra An Effective Strategy For Helping African American Students Pass The Mathematics Section Of The California High School Exit Exam?, Deborah Bradshaw

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

Beginning with the class of 2004, all students in the state of California must pass the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) to graduate from high school with a diploma. This study sought to determine if a statistically significant difference existed between the mean score of 10th-grade African American students who took an algebra class prior to taking the CAHSEE and the mean score of a matched group of their peers who did not take algebra prior to taking the exam.

Results provided by the California Department of Education showed that at both the state and district level, passing the …

Improving The Academic Achievement Of Sixth-Grade Students Who Do Not Perform At Grade Level In Mathematics, Eileen M. Bond

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to assist 6th-grade students who were not performing at grade level in mathematics. Students entered the 6th grade with a great disparity of skills and abilities in mathematics and then progressed through the middle school grades unable to complete tasks appropriate to their grade level as outlined by the state-mandated mathematics curriculum. These findings were documented both by report card grades and by standardized test scores.

The writer developed a cross-age tutoring program that paired 6th-grade students with 8th-grade students who were trained as tutors. The program was executed as an extra-subject period to provide …