Digital Commons Network^™

The What, The Why, And The How Of Using Repeated Readings Of Poetry To Increase Reading Fluency, Melissa Feldmann

Graduate Research Papers

This literature review concludes that repeated readings of poetry will increase student reading fluency. The use of repeated readings to increase fluency is a common classroom practice; its effectiveness has been firmly established. The daily use of poems for rereading purposes can enhance several literacy skills including fluent reading. Although there are limitations of the study, it can be concluded that when poems are read repeatedly in a variety of ways, students are able to read fluently while comprehending the text. The research that does exist clearly suggests that classroom teachers might use repeated readings of poetry to help students …

Year Round Schooling, Rita Danielle Fiala

Graduate Research Papers

Research investigating the.effects of year-round schooling on student academic achievement is reviewed in this paper. Traditional, balanced and multi-track calendars are explored and compared. Benefits and drawbacks of a balanced calendar and multi-track calendars are discussed. It is recommended that more long-term research should be conducted on alternative calendars. However, the data that is present suggests that the benefits of a balanced calendar are more prevalent than the traditional calendar.

Using Picture Books To Enhance Content Area Reading, Tamra C. Foster

Graduate Research Papers

A child's academic success in the intermediate grades relies heavily on how well he or she can read and understand content area material (Abadiano & Turner, 2002; Allington, 2000; Harvey & Goudvis, 2000; Neufeld, 2005). This study examined the effect of using picture books as a pre-reading activity to enhance students' content area comprehension, vocabulary development, and interest level. Four students performing above grade level, one student performing at grade level, and three students performing below grade level participated in this study. Social studies curriculum was presented to the students via a textbook for two units. Picture books were added …

Roles And Reflections : Using Team Teaching To Improve Literacy Teaching, Jennifer L. Frett

Graduate Research Papers

This article describes the development of a team teaching model by a first grade team consisting of classroom and Title 1 teachers. This project grew out of a study group designed to look at best practice in literacy education and evolved in response to student achievement data. Four factors influenced the progress of the project including peer collaboration and demonstration, professional reading, reflection by teachers and the facilitator, and leadership roles. The role of the facilitator receives special attention, as – unlike most efforts at classroom change involving a grade level team – this effort began within the team, and …

Using A Balanced Literacy Approach In Elementary Schools, Jennifer Lynn Freeman

Graduate Research Papers

One of the most significant educational topics currently facing teachers and administrators is literacy education. Teaching children to read and write is fundamental to a student's success in school: School districts, administrators, and teachers are faced with a tough challenge when developing a literacy curriculum. What will their method of instruction be? The great debate among literacy scholars and professionals is whether to teach using a phonics approach, whole language, or balanced literacy. This paper will explore the concept and benefits of using a balanced approach in literacy education.

Producing A Short Film, John Wiedenheft

Honors Program Theses

One reason is that the project provides a creative outlet for all of the different skills and knowledge learned through my Electronic Media and Film Studies courses. Such learned skills include the process of adapting a previously written short story into a screenplay, directing actors and a production crew through the various stages of producing a short film, and researching various modes of film distribution. A large portion of my Film Studies minor incorporates theory on the aesthetics of filmmaking, i.e. how storytelling in film is different from poetry or novels. My project will elucidate some of those aesthetics, such …

Quartz Grain Surface Textures As Indicators Of Infilling Processes And Depositional Environments Associated With Ice-Wedge Casts In Northeast Iowa, Michael Loux

Honors Program Theses

Ice-wedge casts and polygonal patterned ground are common features of the Iowan Surface of Northeast Iowa. Paleoenvironmental studies in Iowa and adjacent states indicate that tundra conditions existed in Northeast Iowa between 21,000 and 16,500 years BP, the coldest part of late \\'.'isconsinan time. Degradation of permafrost and formation of ice-wedge casts must have occurred near the end of this cold climate episode, which also promoted extreme erosion of the landscape in Northeast Iowa. The sediment-filled wedges in Northeast Iowa occur in pre-Illinoian till with the infilling material consisting mostly of sand. The details of the infilling history of the …

The Effect Of Homocysteine On Neural Crest Cells, N-Cadherin, And Its Binding Partners, Kacie Rae Callaway

Honors Program Theses

At elevated levels the amino acid homocysteine has been linked to defects such as spina bifida and improper septation of the outflow tract of the heart. Neural crest cells (NCCs) originate from the neural tube (which forms from fusion of neural folds and will become the spinal cord), disassociate from their neighbors, and migrate throughout the body to form many essential structures. N-cadherin, a cell adhesion protein expressed on the surface of neural tube cells of the early embryo, plays a major role in cell shape change, long-range migration, and communication. α-catenin is a member of the cadherin adhesion complex …

Mathematics Education: An International Perspective, Lisa Roose

Honors Program Theses

The purpose of my thesis/project is to research mathematics education in the United States, Japan, and South Africa. Japan and South Africa were chosen as countries ranking significantly above and below the United States respectively on the Third International Mathematics and Science Study in recent years. The roles and value of education of each country's culture throughout history will be investigated. After gaining a historical perspective of each country, the current education systems, including the school organization, equity, curriculum, students, staff, and reasons for recent reform, will be explored. Finally, mathematics education will be studied along with each country's strengths …

Mathematics And Spanish: A Comparative Approach Of Teaching Methods, Emily R. Borcherding

Honors Program Theses

Teaching methods in various academic disciplines are all connected. Whether one looks at various content areas, grade levels, or ability levels, teaching methods all share important similarities, as well as sharp contrasts. The meta-analysis and case study address the comparisons between teaching mathematics and Spanish at the secondary education level. In the study, a review of literature is conducted and case studies are analyzed in order to see the role of written and oral communication in mathematics and Spanish education. Throughout the study, written and oral communication, through teacher-student and student-student communication methods, show a strong overlap and supporting role …

Post Holocaust Theodicies: Contemporary Solutions To The Problem Of Evil, Wei-Erh Chen

Honors Program Theses

Evil is a gruesome sight to behold. It can be found, among other places, in the Holocaust and its systematic slaughter of millions. It is the stench of death choking the air of Buchenwald and Auschwitz. It is God and the little boy gripped in their death throes upon the gallows. In a world following the holocaust, we are challenged, more than ever before, to reconcile the existence of the traditional Judeo-Christian God with the experience of sheer, incomprehensible evil. How could an omnipotent, omniscient, and wholly good God, if He exists, allow this cruelty to take place against his …

Instructional Recommendations For The Teaching Of Writing, Bridgette Wagoner

Graduate Research Papers

Clearly, writing is an essential life, work, and educational skill, and far too many students without essential writing skills are receiving high school diplomas. These realities put many recent high school graduates at a disadvantage in personal, professional, and educational arenas. Writing skills are simply too important to be ignored. This reality begs an important question: Which instructional approaches are likely to lead to improved student writing? For the purposes of this paper, research will center mainly on controlled studies, though much insight also stands to be gained from studies of what writers and teachers of writing have to say …

Partnering With Homeschoolers: Collaborations Between Homeschoolers And Public Schools, Sharon Gerst

Graduate Research Papers

This research paper focuses on the interactions between homeschoolers and public schools. A modified case study approach, the constant comparative method, was used to examine the rationale and interaction patterns of five different families. The families were interviewed as to their rationale for homeschooling, the impact homeschooling had on their families, current collaborations they had with their local public schools, the impact of these collaborations on the family and their children’s academic and social development, and interests these families may have had in additional collaborations with their local public school. The families were most interested in collaborations in which they …

Readers' Workshop: Giving Students Time, Choice, And Flexibility In The Classroom, Jennifer Lynn Shaffer

Graduate Research Papers

This literature review examines Readers’ Workshop and the impact it has on a primary classroom. The purpose of this review is to define Readers’ Workshop, discuss how it is structured, and learn the teacher’s role during Readers’ Workshop. Benefits and challenges of Readers’ Workshop are also presented in this review. Research for this review has been gathered from professional articles and books about literacy and Readers’ Workshop. Choice, time and flexibility have been found as key elements in an effective Readers’ Workshop. The benefits of Readers’ Workshop in a primary classroom outweigh the challenges of implementing such a strategy.

Promoting Resilience In Inner City Youth : Implications For Counselors, Anthony D. Lymus

Graduate Research Papers

The strain and difficulties that plague the inner city continue to mount. As a result, youth who grow up in this environment are exposed to violence, substance abuse, inadequate education, and poverty. Although some youth become a part of the cycle that produces these unfortunate events, some are able to make it out and become assets to society. This occurrence has been termed resilience. The study of resilience continues to grow as researchers attempt to provide information for school officials, communities, and mental health practitioners about how to promote resilience in inner city youth.

Coaching Styles And How They Relate To The Sport Of Men’S Basketball, Jonathan Bruce Nelson

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this paper is to describe the three main coaching styles utilized by basketball coaches. Coaches are constantly trying to find ways to improve their coaching style, and solidify that coaching personality which will produce the maximum results. Since the inception of basketball over one hundred years ago, the style of basketball coaching has paralleled teaching styles of the same era being somewhat authoritarian and dictatorial in nature. It appears that the trend over the last ten to fifteen years has witnessed modifications based on more cooperative techniques between coaches and athletes. Athletes have also appeared to have …

Reading Strategies For Struggling Readers In The Middle School, Kathleen Claeys

Graduate Research Papers

This literature review focuses on several strategies good readers use to understand and interpret different types of text, such as fiction, non-fiction, and expository. These strategies are ones that struggling readers are not aware of, or these readers do not have the knowledge and experience to utilize the strategies. Teachers need to provide direct instruction of these strategies, generate models of what they look like, demonstrate what the thought process is behind the strategies, and offer students practice in using them with the idea that students will add them to their repertoire of strategies and use them throughout the learning …

Guided Reading In Early Childhood Classrooms, Shyla Dawn Crosser

Graduate Research Papers

Guided Reading is a topic that has been discussed in great detail over the last few years. It has been discussed as "best practice" by Zemelman, Daniels, and Hyde (p.70) and is gaining popularity in classrooms across the nation. In teaching kindergarten during the last seven years, I have seen an enormous change in the curriculum at this level. I want my children to learn to read and want to keep up with the best practice in order to best fit the needs of my children; however, I do not want kindergarten to become first grade. This paper will explore …

The Importance Of Mentoring First Year Teachers, Julia Lynn Doyle

Graduate Research Papers

The importance of mentoring first year teachers is a subject that waxes and wanes according to the popularity of the subject at any given time. As a former teacher who was formally mentored, having a veteran teacher as a friend and confidant was the best experience a first year teacher could have. Not every teacher in every school district in every state is given the opportunity to have a mentor to assist him/her during the critical first year. With many differing opinions on the subject, not all states require first year teachers to be mentored as a condition of continued …

Fathers As Readers : A Program For African American Fathers And Their Children, Amber Nicole Boyd

Graduate Research Papers

The achievement of African American literacy learners has become a significant topic in education. How to best meet the needs of these learners through the study of the African American family will be the focus of this project. This project will consider, specifically, the father's momentous role in the literacy learning of the African American child. Trends in research will be identified in this paper, an overview of significant literature published on the subject of African American family literacy will be discussed, and findings that support the father's significant impact on learning in the African American family will be presented. …

Family Literacy Nights : Factors For Success, Crystal Betts

Graduate Research Papers

Family Literacy Nights were developed and held at a K-4 elementary building in a medium-sized town in eastern Iowa, demonstrating an example of part of a family literacy program. Family Literacy Nights involved parents and students from the two first grade classrooms at this elementary school. Parents completed surveys and participated in interviews to share their reactions and feelings towards family literacy programs.

The included literature review explores parental involvement and family literacy programs. It looks at the effects of parent involvement on student achievement. The difference between parent involvement programs and family literacy programs is explored. Family literacy programs …

Use Of Learning Styles In The Selection Of Instructional Strategies : Does Pedagogy Lead To Practice?, Roger E. Baker

Graduate Research Papers

Much has been written about the importance of learning styles in instructional design. Learning styles can be measured by the use of personality profiles such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). Learning styles can also be measured by Learning Style Inventories and defined by cognitive theory such as Gardner's multiple intelligences. This literature review explores the different approaches to the study of learning styles and the practical use of learning style indicators as a tool for selecting instructional strategies.

Many challenges exist in designing instruction to the personal level including costs, time, and instructor limits. Philosophical questions on the benefits …

Role Of Classroom Questioning Strategies As They Relate To Reading Comprehension, Catherine M. Metz

Graduate Research Papers

Instruction using comprehension strategies is important as students begin to construct meaning from text through a transactional process. This instruction can help prepare students to become better readers, as well as provide benefits for teachers and school-wide instruction. Questioning is important to comprehension for a variety of reasons and is used across all grade levels and throughout curricular areas.

Through the teaching of questioning, students are able to build backgrounds which they can utilize during their taking of high-stakes assessments, as well as school or district assessments. Questioning strategies, such as Question Answer Relationships, Questioning the Author, and Reciprocal Teaching, …

Understanding Children's Thinking At The Moment Of Writing, Steve Peterson

Graduate Research Papers

This action research project describes the thinking of five third grade students of varied writing achievement at the moment of writing. Using a theoretical model of writing (Sharples; 1999), student interviews, work samples, and a teacher journal, this study suggests that young writers' primary concern is getting new ideas for their text, whether while just beginning to draft, or after running out of ideas before the writing is completed. This study offers suggestions about how teachers can address this concern, and how teachers might extend the thinking of young writers in order to help scaffold more complex thinking about writing …

The Impact Of Readers' Workshop In A First Grade Classroom, Tara Lynn Seery

Graduate Research Papers

In this research I describe the Readers' Workshop approach, the impact that it has on a first graders' motivation, self-selection, and comprehension. This study was implemented during the 2006-2007 school year over a six week period. The observations at the beginning of the study indicated that the three focus students in this study lacked motivation, struggled with self-selection, and were in need of assistance to develop their comprehension skills. However, as Readers' Workshop was implemented, the students began to develop motivation to read on their own. They developed interests in books, and their comprehension strategies improved.

The Advantages And Challenge Of Fluency Instruction, Jennifer Schroeder-Van Cleve

Graduate Research Papers

This review examined the topic of fluency instruction as part of quality literacy instruction for children. Fluency is one of the five components of reading instruction recognized by the National Reading Panel, (2000). Fluency methods in reading curriculum should be given thoughtful attention. As the movement in education focuses on student assessment, meaningful literacy instruction is crucial to student success. This literature study focused on the benefits, and the challenges, associated with fluency instruction. Lastly, conclusions and recommendations were made for the implementation of fluency instruction in our schools.

Full Inclusion And Collaborative Teaching : The New Wave In Education, Mindy Underwood

Graduate Research Papers

Throughout the history of education, the pendulum of best practice continuously swings. In the beginning, special education programs were practically nonexistent in schools, whereas now full inclusion and collaborative teaching are the new wave. This paper will explore the history of special education, full inclusion, collaborative teaching, and what it means for the regular education teacher in the general education classroom.

Using Technology To Assist In The Teaching Of Reading Instruction, Hallie M. Wyatt

Graduate Research Papers

A professional literature review was conducted on the use of technology in assisting teaching of reading instruction. Technology reviewed was categorized according to the essential elements of reading as defined by the No Child Left Behind Act (i.e., phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension). Vygotskian and Piagetian theories were used to evaluate the technology reviewed. The review ends with a series of recommendations for teachers who may consider integrating technology into their curriculum.

Mental Imagery Use During Rehabilitation From Athletic Injuries, Kristin P. Williams

Graduate Research Papers

Injuries can affect athletes physically, emotionally, and psychologically. When the injuries are treated, the clinician needs to address all of these areas to holistically take care of the athlete. One way clinicians can address these aspects is by using mental imagery. This paper addresses the topic of mental imagery and how it applies to rehabilitation. Research that demonstrates the neurophysiological responses to imagery, and how the brain responds to imaged actions, is analyzed. Topics regarding imagery and rehabilitation also investigate the different types of imagery and how to use them within treatment programs. Individual case studies show success when treating …

Iowa German-Language Newspapers In Existence Five Or More Years, Barbara F. H. Allen

Library Documents & Reports (entire collection)

A listing of German-language newspapers published in Iowa for five years or longer.