Digital Commons Network^™

Co-Teaching And Inclusion: A Model For Effective Implementation, Sara A. Straw

Graduate Research Papers

Teachers with training in special education are found in most schools. Why are some special education teachers teaching students in a 'pull-out'. model while others are teaching in a 'push-in' model? For those students who are "pushed in", are they supported in the classroom? And if so, how? If it is by a co-teaching model, what is the most beneficial way of teaching special education students in a general education classroom? What are some of the attitudes of special education students who are pushed into a co-teaching classroom?

Problem-Based Learning In The Middle School Science Classroom, Lesley Taylorson

Graduate Research Papers

In 1995, US 12th graders performed below the international average for 21 countries on a test of general knowledge in mathematics and science. (National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), 1998). In 2000, 93% of students in grades '5-9 were taught physical science by a teacher lacking a major or certification in the physical sciences (National Center for Education Statistics, 2002). U.S. 15-year-olds ranked 24th out of 40 countries that participated in a 2003 administration of the Program for International Student assessment (PISA) examination, which assessed students' ability to apply mathematical concepts to real world problems (National Center for Education Statistics, …

The Impact Of Instructional Materials On The Motivational Of Struggling Readers, Kimberly Weeks

Graduate Research Papers

This literature review examined the impact that instructional materials have on the motivation and literacy engagement of struggling readers. Its purpose was to determine the influence instructional materials have on struggling readers' engagement with text, which instructional materials have a positive effect on struggling readers, the influence that informational text has on students' reading motivation, the impact of gender on the selection of effective instructional materials, and what instructional materials have a positive impact on struggling male readers. Through this review, instructional materials were found to have a positive effect on literacy engagement when they are at an appropriate level, …

Shooting Under Pressure: How Pressure Affects The Shooting Percentage Of Men’S College Basketball Players, Brooks Joseph Mckowen

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this purposed study is to examine the effects of pressure on the shooting percentages of men's college basketball players in the Missouri Valley Conference. The correlation between the teams shooting percentage ( field goal percentage, three point percentage, and free throw percentage) and the following will be investigated: the score and time of game, game site (whether a team is home, away, or neutral), attendance, point in the season (first or second half of conference play), and conference standings (how far off the lead or close to the play in game in the conference tournament a team …

Are Paralympics Athletes Experiencing Serious Leisure?, Janet Thi Ho

Graduate Research Papers

According to Stebbins (2008), Serious leisure is the systematic pursuit of an amateur, hobbyist, or volunteer core activity that people find so substantial, interesting, and fulfilling that, in the typical case, they launch themselves on a (leisure) career centered on acquiring and expression a combination of its special skills, knowledge, and experience (p.5). Stebbins notes, serious leisure involves pursuing an amateur activity.

Amateurism involving sports is defined by Allison (2001), as "doing things for the love of them, doing them without reward or material gain or doing them unprofessionally" (p. 3). Allison also states "a human activity is amateur in …

Utility Of A Non-Exercise Method Of Estimating Aerobic Capacity, Meghan Phillips

Graduate Research Papers

No abstract provided.

Benefits Of Soccer Within Diverse Soccer Programs And Their Cultural Differences, Aldin Muhamedagic

Graduate Research Papers

Physical inactivity is one of the leading concerns in today's society. Current research shows that today's children are most definitely less fit than children 20 years ago. According to the research, today's children seem to be heavier and over weight. Plus there is more overall health concern for the children then ever before. The focus of this study is to examine the benefits of soccer in diverse soccer programs and their cultural differences and to examine how soccer can help the youth to live better and healthier lives.

In this study we examined a different aspect of youth development and …

The Effects Of Exercise-Induced Amenorrhea On The Fertility Of Female Athletes, Kara Johnson

Graduate Research Papers

It is well documented that a high number of female athletes experience detrimental health effects as a result of the "female athlete triad"-a set of conditions including osteoporosis, disordered eating, and amenorrhea. While the health effects of disordered eating and osteoporosis are heavily studied and well-known, even to the general population, the long-term consequences of amenorrhea are relatively unknown.

There is much evidence and documentation that women who engage in exercise and sport are likely to experience amenorrhea. Research has also shown that exerciseinduced amenorrhea can lead to a host of reproductive problems, including luteal phase defects, hormonal disruptions, and …

Postpartum Depression And Universal Screening: Consequences, Benefits, And Barriers, Jennifer Setzer Trumbull

Graduate Research Papers

In the United States our society has a perception that after a mother has given birth she should be overjoyed and the happiest she has ever been in her life as well as in love with her baby the instant the first breath is taken. As all parents know, having a child is a stressful, life-changing event (Brewer, 2001). No one wants to believe a mother is not happy or may be unable to care for the new baby much, less that she might be able to harm the child (Brewer, 2001). Unfortunately, the reality is many women suffer from …

Differentiated Instruction In The Secondary Social Studies Classroom, Chad A. Christopher

Graduate Research Papers

As an educator with fifteen years of experience, this author has experienced the frustrations of having to teach a wide range of student abilities at the secondary social studies level. There is a lot of support for differentiated instruction for special education, TAG, and elementary students, but there seems to be questions about the practicality and effectiveness of it in a secondary classroom.

The issues discussed in this paper will focus on the following questions: 1) Does Differentiated Instruction affect student learning? 2) Can Differentiated Instruction be implemented with secondary teachers in a practical way to help student learning and …

Phonemic Awareness : One Piece Of The "Learning To Read" Puzzle, Michelle S. Carradus

Graduate Research Papers

This research paper focuses on a review of current literature regarding the role of phonemic awareness within reading instruction for elementary students. Phonemic awareness studies and results will be shared. This paper will define phonemic awareness and relative terms, and contrast it with phonics instruction. Phonemic awareness instruction and intervention strategies will be discussed, including supplemental and intense instruction for at-risk readers. A possible sequence for teaching phonemic awareness, teaching applications, and professional book titles are offered as resources for educators of early elementary children.

Autism Spectrum Disorder : Characteristics Seen With Asd And Interventions Used In And Outside The Inclusion Classroom, Monica K. Dircks

Graduate Research Papers

The number of children in our country diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is sharply increasing and does not seem to be slowing down in the near future. It is becoming increasingly more common to see schools implementing inclusion classrooms. These programs range from partial inclusion, where children with special needs spend various numbers of hours in a general education classroom each day, to full-inclusion classrooms. Still others use reverse inclusion, which entails general education students coming into a more self-contained special education classroom for part of the school day.

It is critical that general education teachers learn how …

Graphic Practice : A Strategy For Developing Fine Motor Skills In The Early Childhood Setting, Kathleen A. Eichelberger

Graduate Research Papers

Graphic practice provides children with an opportunity to develop, not only fine motor skills, but also self-regulatory and alphabet knowledge skills. Research has indicated that a child's fine motor development can predict his or her educational achievement, specifically in the areas of reading, math, and attention. The purpose of this project is to organize thirty weekly lessons that will familiarize teachers with the components necessary to introduce, integrate, and extend graphic practice strategies within their early childhood classrooms. These lessons will be compiled into a step-by-step guide for teachers. An outline for professional development is included.

Approaches To Differentiated Instruction That Serve The Needs Of Struggling Readers, Dawn Even

Graduate Research Papers

Educators have long grappled with the dilemma of how to deal effectively with students who are not performing successfully in classrooms, in particular with students having difficulty learning to read. In elementary classrooms we group students according to their reading ability. We put low performing students together, thereby slowing down the pace of instruction; which in the long run pulls the students even further behind. We need to discover ways to meet the needs of all of our students without leaving behind or "boring" them.

Listening To Learn : The Academic Achievement Of Auditory Learners, Rae Ann Mclean-Dickinson

Graduate Research Papers

Teachers present lessons in a variety of modalities to engage students with different strengths in processing within the classroom. Using literature from a variety of educational specialists focused on how the brain processes oral and auditory information, this paper reviews how students translate learning while engaging in reading and writing tasks. It explores the different learning problems some children face, and gives suggestions about how teachers may recognize them and offer an environment where all learners become successful.

The Portrayal Of Teenage Sexuality In Young Adult Literature, Carolyn Marie Carr

Graduate Research Papers

The focus of this study was an investigation in to how teenage sexuality is portrayed in young adult literature. The purpose of this research was to investigate the portrayal of teenage sexuality within young adult literature in the United States. The methodology of this study was a quantitative content analysis of literature intended for young adult readers. Twenty young-adult books with teenage sexuality as a theme and a publication date within the last ten years were randomly selected from the following lists: 2009 Young Adult Library Services Association (Y ALSA): Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers, Best Books for Young Adults, …

A Portrayal Of The Modern Day Dairy Farm In Children's Literature, Bridget Donlon

Graduate Research Papers

Children's books may be the only views of farming urban students experience, yet books depicting farms with one or two cows are outdated. There is a lack of information available for children to learn about modem dairy farming practices. The dairy industry has experienced substantial changes in its history, including the introduction of many technologies. Modem dairy farms have incorporated technologies into everyday tasks, yet few children's books show farmers working at computers or even milking machines. At a time when most families are removed from farming, students create understanding of dairy farming through secondary sources such as children's literature. …

A Content Analysis Of Holocaust Fiction For Young People, Teresa Ann Evans-Winfield

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this research was to examine Holocaust literature for young adults to determine if the books in this sample are historically accurate, have themes of survival and resistance, and portray characters who model positive attributes of citizenship. This researcher read 24 books copyrighted between 1992-2008 that were selected from H. W. Wilson's Junior High and Middle School Core Collection and Senior High School Core Collection. Nineteen of the twenty-four books read by this researcher were copyrighted after the year 2000. The data gathered provided evidence that 15 (63%) of the books sampled were historically accurate and were fictionalized …

Study Abroad: Products, Practices, And Perspectives Of A New Culture, Molly Marie Juza

Honors Program Theses

How does one adapt him/herself to an environment that is so different in almost every way? Noticing exactly how one is forming their gestures and body movements so as not to offend anyone, modifying one’s point-of-view on issues that seem so straightforward like cutting in line, and realizing that even facial expressions are partially culturally determined are among countless other topics within the situations that sojourners voluntarily place themselves for months at a time. How do they adapt to these strange new situations? What are some of the difficulties in adapting? What aspects of their home culture do they maintain? …

Childhood Grief: The Resilience Of Loss, Brenda A. Haskin

Graduate Research Papers

Children who have lost a parent will benefit from reading a story that helps them cope with the loss of a parent and the emotions they feel during the grieving process. The focus of this research project is a child's resiliency to the loss of her father. It is during the grieving process that the book created as a part of this research project will help children understand that what they are feeling is normal and that life goes on after loss.

This research project is a realistic fiction, free-verse novel that captures the emotions, feelings, and thoughts of an …

Inclusion : Why? What Now?, Robert Michael Bolick

Graduate Research Papers

The delivery of education to special needs students has changed over the years. The majority of classroom teachers and special education teachers have worked in separate classrooms to deliver the educational needs of special needs students. Now they are being asked to share a classroom so the special needs students can be included in the regular education classrooms. The purpose of this paper is to present research on strategies that will change the delivery of education for special needs students.

This paper will explain why the change is occurring, how it affects teachers and students, and the best practices for …

The Effect Of Technology On Primary Students' Phonemic Awareness Achievement, Joy Marie Schirmer

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose for this project was to research current software programs focused on phonemic awareness and, through a process of evaluation of selected programs, determine a software program with phonemic awareness activities that would be suitable for teachers to integrate into K-2 reading instruction. Phonemic awareness is a strong indicator of future reading success (Stahl & Murrary, 1994 ). Students that used technology that incorporates phonemic awareness activities have shown an increase in reading achievement. Three software programs were picked for evaluation using Sherman, Kleiman, and Peterson's (2004) criteria. Through an evaluation process this project concludes with recommendations for the …

Measuring Youth Worker Efficacy Levels In A Not-For-Profit Youth Development Setting, Carly Jean Konecny

Graduate Research Papers

Albert Bandura's concept of self-efficacy has received much attention from researchers in a variety of fields and interests. Below is an analysis of the most prevalent research conducted using Bandura' s concept of self-efficacy. Discussed is a brief overview of the theoretical advances and various dimensions included in self-efficacy. Following this is a study based on an innovative aspect of self-efficacy in the youth development field, the concept of youth worker efficacy. This study analyzes youth workers in a not-for-profit youth development setting in Iowa. The study focuses on the variables of gender, age, experience, previous training in the field …

The Impact Of Homework On Academic Achievement Of Diverse Learners, Jed Batterson

Graduate Research Papers

Homework impacts the academic achievement of diverse learners. A student's learning disabilities, race, gender, socioeconomic status, and age affect the student and parents' perceptions of homework, as well as the efficacy of homework in improving student achievement. Politicians have placed great emphasis on the importance of the American education system staying competitive globally. This places pressure on both teachers and parents to ensure the success of students. Parents and educators struggle over the purpose of homework, what time commitment homework should require, and maintaining adequate communication between home and school. Because homework demonstrates a significant impact on student achievement, this …

Reading Instruction At The Secondary Level, Justified Or Unjustified? : Real Strategies For Content Area Reading Instruction With Applications For Social Studies, Bridgette Pohlman Andersen

Graduate Research Papers

Reading research conclusively asserts that reading is developmental in nature and requires explicit instruction beyond the elementary years. However, secondary education is dominated by content area curricula, leaving little instructional time for literacy. Standardized assessments reveal that middle and high school students' reading comprehension scores remain stagnant, yet society's literacy demands have increased. In order for students to become independent learners and productive citizens, reading comprehension strategies need to be embedded in existing classroom practices. Research-based practices for comprehension that can be used before, during and after reading are presented. A professional development session, covering two years, is included that …

Implementing Supplemental Course Material Websites For Higher Education Technology Courses, Mark W. Bromwich

Graduate Research Papers

Supplemental websites have the potential to assist students in gathering course materials, encouraging topic exploration, and increasing the ability for students to communicate in a traditional face-to-face technology college classroom. This project description presents the results of a supplemental website's development and deployment into a traditional face-to-face college technology course, and measures its success. The research focuses on successful Internet employment within traditional classrooms to ensure that the content of the supplemental website has value to the students. The methodology used to develop the website and select materials was based upon the Dick and Carey Instructional Design Method (Dick & …

Creating An Accessible Child Development Resource For Family Home Child Care Providers Focusing On Child-Initiated Play, Paula Buck

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this project was to create a newsletter for family home child care providers that presented easy-to-read, research based information regarding child-initiated play and developmentally appropriate practices and their incorporation in a family child care setting. The newsletter also addressed the need for creating and maintaining a balance between offering child-initiated opportunities and providing structure in a family child care setting.

A review of the literature revealed that nearly half of family home child care providers have no specialized training in the field of child care, child development, or early childhood education. Caregiver education and training is a …

Constructivist Practices That Positively Impact Literacy Development And Motivation In Young Children, Sara Pruss

Graduate Research Papers

Reading and writing achievement has been substantiated through the increased pressure on proficiency for both students and teachers as a result of the No Child Left Behind Act of 200l (United States Department of Education, 2004). Educators engage in practices that may increase literacy scores for young children; however, these same practices may have a detrimental effect on student engagement and motivation. This study examined the characteristics of instructional approaches that are developmentally appropriate and inappropriate for preschool, kindergarten, and first grade children as well as those that positively affect motivation and engagement. Research through a review of current literature …

The Iowa State Fair In Iowa's History, Leann Matlage

Graduate Research Papers

There are no Iowa history books for elementary students with a primary focus on the history and the significance of the Iowa State Fair. The purpose of this research is to provide an age-appropriate informational book to be used by teachers when teaching Iowa history to their elementary students. The book will include history of the Iowa State Fair, highlights of Iowa history and a few historical happenings of national and international note.

Counseling And Educating Deaf Individuals, Sarah Zollar

Graduate Research Papers

Counseling and educating deaf individuals involves unique and important skills that professionals need to have. This paper researches different areas of concern, including ethical dilemmas facing the deaf culture, the importance of clear communication, appropriate uses of interpreters, and the importance of confidentiality in counseling. A project was developed in conjunction with this paper, which includes flash cards with some basic signs. These flash cards could be used in a variety of settings, including a classroom. Future research areas are also discussed, including the use of new technologies and continued observation of the differences in diagnoses between hearing and deaf …