Digital Commons Network^™

"Why We Do This Is Important": An Inner- City Girl's Attitudes Toward Reading And Writing In The Classroom, Carol Leroy Ph.D.

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

This qualitative case study explored an inner-city girl's views on school-based literacy activities in relation to several factors identified in the literature as important to children's attitudes toward reading and writing. They include: intrinsic satisfaction the child gains from the activities, the child's beliefs about the importance of schooling, and her relationship with her teacher. The author/researcher's purpose was to further understanding about ways to enhance children's attitudes toward reading and writing.

The Role Of Storytelling In Effective Family Literacy Programs, Barbara C. Palmer, Sara Marie Leiste, Kim D. James, Shirley M. Ellis

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

The family literacy movement, which emphasizes respect for diversity and the cultural heritage of participants, is gaining momentum. Acknowledging the importance of family-aseducator, researchers have searched for effective strategies to develop children's oral language and literacy more authentically. The art of storytelling provides an excellent vehicle for promoting and enhancing language and literacy development within families. A sampling of effective family literacy programs across the United States revealed that each included storytelling as a vital component.

Reading Horizons Vol. 41, No. 2

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

Complete issue of Reading Horizons volume 41, issue 2.

Membership At Risk: Representation Of Disability In Popular Counselor Education Textbooks, Nancy A. Rosenau

Dissertations

Representations of disability in American culture are saturated with negative images and meanings. Pervasive negativity threatens full societal membership and its related benefits of a sense of belonging, connectedness, and inclusion, and a source of identity, social networks and empowerment for people with disabilities.

Disability pride is a resistant movement that seeks to denaturalize assumptions about the negative experience of disability. The multicultural turn in counseling recognizes that competent practice requires awareness of diverse groups in society. Disability as the largest minority group in the U.S. requires counselor awareness. This study examined the representation of disability in a sample of …

Environment, Cultures, And Social Change On The Great Plains: A History Of Crow Creek Tribal School, Robert W. Galler Jr.

Dissertations

This study explores the socio-cultural history of a school for Native American students on the Crow Creek Sioux Reservation in central South Dakota. The case study places the school's history (1886-present) within the context of the historic interaction between environment, cultures, and social change on the Great Plains.

This work focuses on a Catholic school and the multi-dimensional students and staff who constitute its story. These individuals acted neither as perpetually passive students nor simplistically sinister administrators. Instead, this dissertation broadly explores the challenging nature of intercultural relations that led to the founding of the school and how tribal/Catholic interactions …

Teachers Role In Providing Culturally Responsive Literacy Instruction, William Dee Nichols, William H. Rupley, Gwendolyn Webb-Johnson, Gita Tlusty

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

Every elementary classroom has children of varying intellectual ability, social or cultural background, language facility, and physical attributes. Today, more than ever, all teachers must be prepared to meet the varying educational, social, and emotional needs of all children. The culture of many students, while different from that upon which much of the U.S. educational system is based, is neither inadequate nor deficient; rather, the problem lies in the educational system.

Reading Horizons Vol. 41, No. 1

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

Complete issue of Reading Horizons volume 41, issue 1.

Urban Violence Among African American Males: Integrating Family, Neighborhood, And Peer Perspectives, M. Daniel Bennett Jr., Mark W. Fraser

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Even though rates have declined in recent years, violence is a serious problem in many American cities. This paper reviews recent perspectives on violence among young, urban African American males. Special attention is afforded the "father absent" hypothesis, the effect of poverty, the character of neighborhoods, the roots of self-efficacy, and peer influence, particularly the influence of street codes. The latter are argued both to regulate some situational behavior and to promote the use of violence in disputes over social status, drugs, and money. The authors discuss implications for policy and community development.

Sovereignty And Salvation In The Vernacular, 1050-1150: Das Ezzolied, Das Annolied, Die Kaiserchronik, Vv. 247-667, Das Lob Salomons, Historia Judith, James A. Schultz

TEAMS Medieval German Texts in Bilingual Editions

These texts will be of interest because they represent a kind of writing - at the intersection of ecclesiastical and secular power, drawing on the whole range of medieval Latin learning, yet written in vernacular verse - that is not found elsewhere in the European Middle Ages. In addition, they may be of use in teaching since, although relatively short, they illustrate a great number of characteristic medieval ways of writing and can be linked to a number of quite remarkable historical figures.

Grades Four And Eight Students' And Teachers' Perceptions Of Girls' And Boys' Writing Competencies, Shelley Peterson

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

Addressing gender disparities in the results of large-scale tests of student writing, this study examined fourth- and eighth-grade teachers' and students' perspectives on boys' and girls' relative writing competence. Interview and questionnaire responses showed a privileging of girls' writing over boys' writing. Girls' writing was viewed as more detailed, descriptive, and showing greater conformity to writing conventions. To some extent, girls' relative success on large-scale writing assessment may be related to students' and teachers' expectations that girls are more competent than boys in the areas measured in the evaluation rubrics. The results of this study indicate a need for conversations …

A Socio-Cultural Comparative Study Of Freshmen Of Mexican Descent Attending Western Michigan University, Diane M. Ariza

Dissertations

Institutional racism, encouraged assimilation, and ignorance of Latino/a values are current barriers to the academic success and leadership development of students of Mexican descent in higher education. This study examined the lives and personal stories of 22 college freshmen of Mexican descent from Texas and Michigan and how they transitioned and adapted their first year at Western Michigan University. This study used interviews and participant observation to examine the individuals in each cohort in order to construct their life stories.

An additional purpose was to critically examine the role of the researcher who was highly involved in the recruitment and …

The Experience Of Interpersonal Forgiveness: An Empirical-Phenomenological Investigation, Halimatun Halaliah Mokhtar

Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate the lived experience of interpersonal forgiveness of individuals (known as co-researchers) by employing the empirical-phenomenological method. This study aimed at identifying, understanding, and describing the general psychological meaning (Tesch, 1990) or the essences/structures (Moustakas, 1994) of the experience of the phenomenon through the protocols of these individuals. It was also a goal of this study to develop a psychological theory of interpersonal forgiveness.

A two-interview structure was conducted with eight individuals (three males and five females) who had forgiven their significant offending others. The first interview focused on the meaning and …

Opening The Doors Of Communication And Guiding Parents Into Classrooms And Schools, Katy Anne Forsyth

Honors Theses

"A good parent is a national treasure and we need to make parents and families partners with their children's teacher and principals in the process of education," (Beyond the Classroom 308). This quote is the heart behind the contents of this book. For the love and concern that we as teachers have for the children in our lives, we owe it to them to help make their educational experience the most well rounded prosperous experience possible. To accomplish this, a partnership needs to be created by opening the doors of communication and guiding parents into classrooms and schools. As teachers, …

Rethinking The Concept Of "Minority": A Task For Social Scientists And Practitioners, Doris Wilkinson

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Although sociologists have articulated the components and scope of the "minority" concept, many of the characteristics are no longer germane. Originally those placed in the category were viewed as subordinate and as possessing cultural or physical qualities not approved or preferred by the larger population. There has been no systematic questioning of ingrained seductive words and value-based constructions like "minority". This brief critique offers an evaluation of the "minority" conception that is so pervasive in the social and behavioral sciences, the print and broadcast media, politics, and the entire language system.

The Invisibility Of Feminist Scholarship In Medieval Iberian Studies, Dawn Bratsch-Prince

Medieval Feminist Forum: A Journal of Gender and Sexuality

No abstract provided.

Bibliography, No.29 2000 , Chris Africa

Medieval Feminist Forum: A Journal of Gender and Sexuality

No abstract provided.

Karen J. Taylor, Ed., Gender Transgressions: Crossing The Normative Barrier In Old French Literature. Garland Publishing, 1998, Deborah Mcgrady

Medieval Feminist Forum: A Journal of Gender and Sexuality

No abstract provided.

Using Freewriting To Assess Reading Comprehension, William P. Bintz

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

Building on recent advances in holistic writing assessment, this article reports on an attempt to use freewriting as a tool to assess reading comprehension. It begins by situating this project within several recent efforts to reform reading comprehension assessment. Next, it discusses freewriting as a form of written retelling, a procedure used historically as an alternative form of reading assessment. Then, it presents a taxonomy that illustrates several patterns constructed from using freewriting with proficient readers (graduate students). Finally, implications of this project for thinking differently about reading theory and reading assessment are provided.

2000 University Employee Service Recognition Program, Western Michigan University

25 Year Club

25 Year Club

• New Inductees
• Members
• Retirees
• Forty Years of Service
• Thirty-Five Years of Service
• Thirty Years of Service
• Twenty Years of Service
• Fifteen Years of Service
• Ten Years of Service

European Integration And The Expansion Of The European Union: Identity Formation In Europe, Aaron P. Boesenecker

Honors Theses

The states of Europe and the European Union are facing one of the greatest challenges since the founding of the European Community in the 1950s. The collapse of the Soviet Union and end of the Cold War have served to strengthen the position of the European Union as a guarantor of democracy, peace, and fundamental human rights in Europe. However, crises such as the Balkan conflicts of recent years have also exposed inherent weaknesses in the Union's ability to respond to the changing international environment. As the Amsterdam Treaty entered into effect on 1 May 1999, the EU marked a …

Mothers' Prosodie Features: Strategies To Guide Young Children's Understanding Of Book Language, Linda E. Martin

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

Mothers use prosody to engage children during book reading. Thus, prosody may contribute to children's literacy. The purpose of this study was to describe how twenty-five mothers across children's age groups (6-month olds, 12-month-olds, 18-month-olds, 24-month-olds, and 4-year-olds) used prosody, specifically pitch and stress variations, while reading with their children. Common speech samples from the readings of two different texts (narrative and expository) were analyzed. In addition, the mothers were questioned about their use of expressive language while reading. Patterns from the data showed that the mothers of the 6-month-olds did not vary their speech as often. They used the …

Reader Response: Students Develop Text Understanding, Ruth R. Becker

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

Prompted by Rosenblatt's (1978) framework of the reader's transactional relationship to the text, this qualitative study examines four fifth-grade students' stances and their responses to a narrative text in three classroom activities, a peer-led discussion group, a story map activity, and written responses. This study primarily investigates issues regarding the accessibility of shifts in stance for the students. Additionally, it calls into question Rosenblatt's construct of the aesthetic-efferent continuum.

Multimedia Materials For Language And Literacy Learning, Terry L. Hallett

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

This article introduced educators to inexpensive, commercially-available CD-ROM software that may be incorporated into classroom activities for both normally developing and language learning disabled children. Computer disks read only memory (CDROM) combines speech, text, graphics, sound, video, animation, and special effects. Three types of multimedia CD-ROM products are discussed: a) virtual adventures; b) electronic storybooks; and c) desktop tools.

Review Of Cultural Awareness In The Human Services: A Multi-Cultural Approach. James Green. Reviewed By Yuhwa Eva Lu, New York University., Yuhwa Eva Lu

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Book review of J. W. Green. (1999). Cultural Awareness in the Human Services: A Multi-Cultural Approach (3rd ed). Needham Heights, MA: Allyn and Bacon. $33.95 papercover.

Japanese Students' Perceived Need For Communicative English And Their Perceived Proficiency Levels, Takanori Mita

Dissertations

Japanese students of English need to develop their proficiencies not only in oral aspects but in overall practical language aspects. English programs from junior high school to college levels need to be improved in consideration of current needs of students.

This study was conducted to assess college students’ perceived need for changes in the English curricula enhancing communicative competence and to seek their perceived levels of proficiency at graduation in the four skill areas (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) in relationship with students’ majors, academic experience in English-speaking countries, and lengths of such experience.

The research was conducted in Tokyo …

The Relationship Between Multicultural Counseling Competencies And Attitudes Toward African Americans Among White Female Graduate Students, Dianne T. Robinson

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between multicultural counseling competencies and attitudes toward African Americans among White female graduate students in counseling psychology. Participants were 67 White female students enrolled in either the master’s or doctoral level counseling psychology programs in a large Midwestern university. Subjects were administered four instruments. Participants’ self-perceived competencies in multicultural counseling were measured by the Multicultural Counseling Inventory (MCI, Sodowsky, Taffe, Gutkin, & Wise, 1994) and racial attitudes were measured by the Attitudes Toward Blacks Scale (ATB, Brigham, 1993). Demographic information as well as subjects’ level of participation in several activities …

Reading Horizons Vol. 40, No. 2

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

Complete issue of Reading Horizons volume 40, issue 2.

Site-Based Management And Student Achievement, Roxana Marie Hopkins

Dissertations

The question that this study seeks to answer is. Does site-based management increase student achievement? Researchers believe that when a school can function more like a closed system, involved in site-based decision making, the culture of the organization may be more conducive to higher student achievement. This study has attempted to determine if there is a basis for this belief.

Supporting the study are three organization theories. Bureaucracy Theory, Systems Theory, and Human Resource Development Theory. These three theories run like threads in a tapestry throughout the research and legislation upon which this research is developed.

Researchers, up to this …

Components Related To Occupational Stress Or Burnout Among Music Therapists Working In Hospice/Palliative Care Arenas, Dorothy Virginia Pienta

Masters Theses

Music therapists who work in hospice/palliative care settings are susceptible to burnout as well as others who work in health care settings. In this descriptive correlation study, the components of occupational stress or burnout among music therapists working in hospice/palliative care settings were studied. A mail survey was sent to 300 music therapists who worked in hospice/palliative care settings and were members of the American Music Therapy Association. Of the 181 surveys that were returned, 106 were acceptable for use in this study. Their responses to the Maslach Burnout Inventory, Work Environment Scale, as well as information from the demographic …

Young Chinese Esl Children's Home Literacy Experiences, Hong Xu

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

This article describes home literacy experiences of six Chinese ESL kindergartners. The experiences include the parents' provision of literate home environments as well as children's functional use of Chinese and English and engagement in Chinese and English literacy activities. The findings indicate the diverse and cultural nature of the home literacy experiences and the supportive roles of parents and other family members. Suggestions for teachers and parents to promote ESL children's literacy development are discussed.