Education Commons^™

Meeting The Needs Of The Learning Disabled-Gifted Child : A Problem Of Non-Identification, Jill R. Nooren

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this study was to ascertain possible solutions to remedy the pervasive problem of the failure to identify and meet the needs of learning disabled-gifted children. Using a literature review, the writer sought to determine the characteristics of learning disabled-gifted children, perceived barriers to the identification of learning disabled-gifted children, and programming approaches that would best meet the needs of these unique learners.

The Efficacy Of Teacher Education Institutions As Providers Of Supportive Services To Beginning Teachers, Jennifer Cameron Paulsen

Graduate Research Papers

The induction phase of a beginning teacher's career is significant and fraught with difficulty. This review of the literature focuses on the influence and effectiveness of teacher education institutions as sources of support for beginning teachers in their initiation into the profession. Supportive services within the province of the teacher education institution are discussed including resource and research support, professional development opportunities, networking and communications support,·and on-site assistance. Benefits of collaborative induction efforts between teacher education institutions and local school districts are investigated, as well as obstacles to the effective implementation of such programs.

Geritol For Geriatric Computers, Robbin D. Poling

Graduate Research Papers

This paper looks at the recycling of older computers in an elementary school. With the budgetary cutbacks that most school districts are facing, reusing older equipment is one way to meet student needs and still exist within a tight budget. This paper reflects research done in the areas of keyboard curriculum, which keyboard is used the most, and at what point in a student's academic life should this topic be introduced. The project describes a current development in a local school trying to pool older resources to allow for a better use of these machines.

A Summary Of Assessment Strategies For A Multi-Age Classroom, Tamera Frost

Graduate Research Papers

Many schools are implementing multi-age programs. This non-traditional teaching approach calls for methods of assessing students' learning that are consistent with the ways in which they are taught. The traditional methods of assessment require teachers to use the same assessment tool with every child. This is not consistent with the individualized approach to pedagogy that is fundamental in multi-age classrooms. Furthermore standardized assessment does not challenge some students, it frustrates other students, and does not provide the kinds of information needed for formative evaluation.

The author of this project has developed a summary of assessment tools to implement in eight-to …

Moving Towards A Language Arts Program Extended Across The Curriculum, Amy M. Kortemeyer

Graduate Research Papers

A literature-based program;integrates oral and written language activity with other areas of the curriculum. Therefore, the curriculum is centered around real ideas, relevant issues, and problem solving. As a result; children have opportunities to experiment with language that can lead to higher levels of competencies (Goodman, 1986; Smith, 1994).

As teachers plan units in social studies and the sciences, they make note of relevant language activities. These activities can be teacher-directed or presented in learning centers (Harms & Lettow, 1992).

Privacy Issues Dealing With Technology : A Review Of The Literature, Kimberly S. Mccoy

Graduate Research Papers

The sophisticated applications of technology are expanding everyday. Unfortunately, so are the many concerns individuals in society are having about their right to privacy. The actual regulations dealing with one's right to privacy has not expand as rapidly as the applications of technology. Individuals using various types of technology are under the assumption their activities are private; however, this is not the case. It does not seem to matter if you are using a computer for communications work, school, or in the "privacy" of your own home, there is absolutely no privacy when dealing with this type of technology.

This …

Math Problem Solving In The Classroom, Mary Jane Conrad

Graduate Research Papers

This paper describes the important aspects for teaching problem solving in mathematics. Problem solving was used to introduce the concepts as well as to practice them. This research paper discusses mathematical concepts and skills in a student-centered environment of a multi-aged first and second grade classroom in a parochial school and investigates the effects of the approach on students, teacher, and curriculum.

In many primary classrooms mathematics is taught in ways that fail to connect with young children's prior knowledge and ways of learning. The cumulative effect is such that students tend to do math procedures, rather than apply math …

A Technology Survey Of Teachers In A Midwestern School District, Richard Vettraino

Graduate Research Papers

The number of computers in schools are growing daily. Today there are over 2.1 million computers in use in our nation's elementary, middle, and high schools, one computer for every thirty students (Henry, 1993). In 1988 $550 million was spent for computer hardware and $130 million for software in our nation's school systems (Schultz, Morrison, and Pruit, 1989). There is no longer a question of whether computers play an important role in our society; that is a known fact. The question now becomes how will educators react to the changing role of computers. What will they teach about technology and …

An Analysis Of Student Reaction To The Use Of Interactive Video And Hypermedia To Enhance Post-Secondary Biological Science Education, Paulette A. Church

Graduate Research Papers

The perceived effect on student learning provided by interactive technology in the biological sciences has been studied on a small, private, two-year college campus. The first portion of the study was the perceived effectiveness of interactive video when used for class presentations for biological science majors. The second portion of the study evaluated five campus-produced interactive laserdisc tutorials designed for individual and group use for students taking a general introductory biology lab course.

The Unit Letter : A Strategy For Reconciling Explicit Instruction And Whole Language, Lucy Butin Ashby

Graduate Research Papers

Though differences between whole language and explicit instruction theories and research may seem irreconcilable, a growing body of research advocates an integration of the two. Combining the meaning-filled and student-empowering environment of whole language with needs-based explicit instruction is the solution most highly recommended. The unit letter activity is a teaching strategy for elementary-aged students which blends explicit instruction and whole language approaches. The activity involves student interaction with a thematic-related letter. The activity's purposes are two-fold : to convey information related to a theme chosen by the students, and to provide an authentic context for learning and practicing reading …

Reading The Writing Of A Five-Year-Old Through Three Perspectives About Early Literacy, Deena M. Tauber

Graduate Research Papers

By evaluating a five-year-old's writing through three perspectives about early literacy, the researcher determined that examining and understanding one's own beliefs on how children learn to read and write offer insight on learning.

Literature Based Social Studies Versus Textbook Based Social Studies, Kathrine Jean Kellogg

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of literature based social studies versus textbook based social studies in mastery of information. Using a pre-test and a post-test, control group, experimental design, and a t-test for non-independent variables, it was found that the experimental group achieved higher test scores than the control group. Results of the t-test yield a t-value of 3.00 with 18 degrees of freedom with a .05 level of significance. This shows that the results are 95% certain that the differences between the two groups' performances on the post test are due to the variation …

Preparing For Web-Based Instruction: An Exercise In Planning And Design, Nicholle D. Stone

Graduate Research Papers

This paper reviews existing models and research developed for Web-based Instruction (WBI) and traditional instruction. It focuses on a close examination of the major elements of planning and designing for WBI for higher education including: design models, motivation, methods of creating WBI, graphical user interface design issues and evaluation methods. A comparison of traditional instructional design and Web-based models of instructional design is discussed which concludes with a list of commonalties. Planning and designing motivation for the learner is especially important in distance education. Thus, models of motivation design and methods of incorporating motivation into WBI are included. A "how-to" …

Photographs To Enhance The Exhibits In Writing Portfolios, Carol R. Winterboer

Graduate Research Papers

Writing portfolios in a third grade classroom were used to more closely relate assessment to students' instructional needs. Photographs of students' involvement in experiences across the curriculum were offered for students to use with their writing. The photographs served to enhance the students' pieces of writing or were used in place of an artifact that was impractical to include in a portfolio. Writing samples related to two thematic units, one in science and the other in social studies, are discussed. Descriptions of the children's writing experiences, photographs that accompany student selected pieces, and students' self-reflections are presented. This portfolio experience …

How To Build And Maintain A Strong Technology Program, Brian Horn

Graduate Research Papers

This paper will deal with the issues of developing and maintaining an educational technology program, and explain the creation of a technology program from its beginnings to a strong, but never final, state. This paper will also give ideas on the seldom-thought-about things all schools should know about technology and its implementation in the schools. We will attempt to answer the question: How do schools put together a good technology program, keep it strong and prepare for the future in educational technology?

Bridging The Cultural Gap Between Home And School, Anne Chanco Lewis

Graduate Research Papers

This journal article explores the significance of the early implementation of multicultural literature in young children's lives. As young children prepare for the transition from home culture to school culture, problems may occur, such as cultural conflict, if both minority and majority children are not prepared for the school's diverse population. By incorporating multicultural literature experiences, both educators and parents can help to raise the awareness and appreciation of cultural diversity.

In addition to becoming more aware of cultural diversity, children will also learn tolerance of children of another ethnic background. If young children are involved with multicultural literacy activities …

Promoting Literacy : The Parent Link, Joby L. Mcgowan

Graduate Research Papers

This article is written for beginning teachers of the primary grades to provide tools for empowering parents as co-educators in the reading curriculum. Parents play a crucial role in the development of their child's learning. By inviting them to take joint ownership in their child's education, a teacher can build a bridge of communication that will stimulate success for both parent and child.

An overview of how to begin to build the bridge with parents and empowering those parents to become involved is presented. Then, several strategies for decoding text and boosting a child's sight word vocabulary will be discussed. …

Backpacking To Reading Success : Parents And Teachers Working Together To Promote Literacy Development, Anita M. Ott

Graduate Research Papers

Literature has stressed the importance of reading at home to guide achievement in reading (Paul, 1996, Nichols, 1991, Anderson, Wilson & Fielding, 1988, Henderson, 1988, and Hewison and Tizard, 1980). However the pace of society in the United States today has made it difficult for families to make time for reading at home. In addition some families do not know the importance of reading at home, or have not made reading a priority.

This project provides a suggested home reading program to foster literacy development in elementary-aged students. Four major components are addressed: a) identifying a continuum of literacy development, …

How To Plan For Library Automation, Ann Petersen

Graduate Research Papers

An understanding of various library automation issues will help guide the media specialist to a successful automation effort. This paper is designed to offer basic guidelines for such an effort. It is not the aim of this paper to cover all the details and obligations for undertaking an automation project, nor to discuss specific automation systems. Its main purpose is to assist library media specialists in the decision making process concerning automation systems designed specifically for school libraries.

Creating Culturally Responsive Pedagogy, Sally M. Goodenbour

Graduate Research Papers

Many teachers enter teaching situations in which the culture of the students is very different from their own. Human relations classes help to make one aware of the different cultures that may exist, but the classes often do not provide instruction on how to link the cultural situation to instructional practices. This project was designed to help preservice and practicing teachers become aware that our nation is becoming more diverse, to build their knowledge about multicultural education (including becoming familiar with the cultural background of their students}, and to understand that there are many instructional strategies that can assist in …

Writing A Defensible Personal Education Plan : Rationale And Design, Mary Kay Desenberg Johnson

Graduate Research Papers

Iowa requires documentation of qualitatively differentiated curriculum for identified talented and gifted students by schools using allowable growth funding. In response to this directive, a local special education Individual Education Plan (IEP) documentation format was modified to a Personal Education Plan (PEP) format for gifted learners.

Construction and refinement of the format continued over a seven year period. The use of the familiar IEP process seemed to afford credibility and was readily accepted by staff, parents, and administration. The PEP format held the program for gifted and talented to a high standard of accountability, and a six step model evolved …

Talented And Gifted Programs In The Middle School : Critical Components, Patricia R. Kayser

Graduate Research Papers

As middle school educators and teachers of the gifted and talented continue to debate issues such as equity vs. excellence, homogeneous vs. heterogeneous grouping, and cognitive vs. affective education, the needs of gifted and talented middle school students in the general education classroom appear to be ignored. This paper reviewed current literature relating to the needs of gifted and talented pre-adolescents in the middle school setting in order to determine what were the critical components necessary for meeting their unique needs in the general education classroom. From the reviewed literature, critical components identified include content differentiation, teaching strategies, grouping for …

Qualitative Assessment Of The Writing Process, Laura L. Behrends

Graduate Research Papers

A strong trend in the language arts is the emphasis placed on the involvement of-students in the language processes to extend their thinking and language abilities. Thus, their involvement needs to be described by qualitative means. Qualitative assessment is necessary in writing because there is a great deal that cannot be measured (Field, 1992). Assessment needs to be continuous and inseparable from instruction, therefore authentic (Tierney, Carter, & Desai, 1991; Valencia, 1990; Barclay & Breheny, 1994; Stone, 1995). Assessment must be an integral part of each day in order for teachers to plan instruction and communicate with parents and the …

Proponents And Opponents For Rewarding Children, Shelly Bromwich

Graduate Research Papers

This paper is a review of the literature concerning the types and uses of rewards. The primary focus of this paper was to look at opposing sides of whether rewarding children has benefits or whether there are problems with using rewards. Also, I looked at how children can be given credit for their efforts to accomplish their goals with using encouragement and natural and logical consequences.

As stated by Alfie Kohn, "A reward .. .is a desired object or event made conditional on having fulfilled some criterion" (Kohn, 1993, p. 53). There is a controversy today concerning the use of …

Motivational Characteristics In Distance Education, Karis E. Collins

Graduate Research Papers

This review of literature is about motivational characteristics of the distance education learner. Provided is a brief overview of literature in the areas of distance education, the adult learner, and motivation of the adult learner in a distance education setting.

Early Interventions In Learning To Read, Kathleen Duax

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this literature review is to provide an insight into the world of creating readers; people who love to read and want to read. The review presents information about early interventions by parents and teachers that can increase a child's ability to learn to read. The intent is to help parents and teachers become more aware of the dimensions of literacy, to allow them to become more informed about literacy and the importance of early interventions, and to use this information in ways that can help children become readers.

Story Retelling In The Elementary Classroom, Kathy J. Struck

Graduate Research Papers

Story retelling is a natural approach to teaching language, for it centers on whole units of language. As an instructional strategy, story retelling can promote children's sense of story and oral and written language abilities. This paper describes procedures for fostering story retelling, accompanied by different means of story retelling and suggested pieces of quality literature.

Strategies For Sprinkling Spice On An Elementary Physical Education Program: Thematic Instruction Comes To The Gym!, Kristine Lee Whitcher

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this project was to identify curriculum design strategies that would assist elementary physical education teachers in producing thematic units for elementary physical education classes. Strategies for integrating curriculum were identified in the literature then used to create and implement a thematic physical education project. Specific strategies were explained in detail through examples associated with the project. The strategies demonstrate that thematic instruction can successfully meet the needs of many children, invite new learning, and will assist teachers in coordinating themes with elementary physical education classes. A school-wide Olympic Fest was the culminating event of this project. There …

Technology Training In Preservice Education Programs : A Review Of The Literature, Catherine A. Gersema

Graduate Research Papers

Education is radically changing with the dawn of the information age, where the ability to access, analyze, and manipulate information is a basic survival skill. To become more technologically adept, elementary and secondary schools must provide technical training to their students. However, trained students are the result of trained professionals. Recognizing the burgeoning need to provide skilled professionals, institutions of teacher education are integrating educational technology programs in preservice education.

This review of the literature reports on technology implementation at teacher training institutions where educational technology is being infused into the preservice curriculum through adherence to guidelines from ISTE and …

Meeting The Needs Of Gifted Students Through Teacher Inservicing, Amy M. Akers

Graduate Research Papers

Inservicing classroom teachers in compacting, independent study, and mentoring may help them become more effective in meeting the instructional needs of talented and gifted students. It is easier for teachers to apply learning if it is easily applicable to their own classroom instruction, and if the learning seems manageable for the teacher. This project includes an inservice model that contains applicable teaching strategies and an inservice plan for teachers. Teaching talented and gifted students through appropriate teaching strategies and becoming aware of these students' needs in the classroom can assure that students are challenged to realize their full learning potential. …