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Full-Text Articles in Education

Comprehensive Survival Guide For Substitute Teachers, Angela Jeanne Satterfield Jul 2009

Comprehensive Survival Guide For Substitute Teachers, Angela Jeanne Satterfield

All Graduate Projects

The struggles and challenges of substitute teaching were looked at as well as the rationale for supporting substitute teachers. Existing school district handbooks were examined and the limitations and advantages of these handbooks were given. As a result, a handbook was created with a list of suggestions, ideas, tips, and tools. These are all meant to support substitute teachers in their teaching and the students that they work with in experiencing an educationally productive school day.


A Manual For Improving The Working Relationship Of Teachers Through The Implementation Of A Peer Coaching Model, Mitchell Bennett Richards Jul 2009

A Manual For Improving The Working Relationship Of Teachers Through The Implementation Of A Peer Coaching Model, Mitchell Bennett Richards

All Graduate Projects

The challenges that teachers face today with educational standards are daunting. Many teaching practices have evolved over the last several years due to the constraints of standardized testing. These constraints require students and teachers to be held accountable for their performance. Teachers are now required to do more than simply educate students based on their beliefs of best practices. Teacher professional development is paramount to provide teachers with the tools needed to face the challenges in education today. This project presents a peer coaching model to foster teacher development, reviews the related research in the field of peer coaching, and …


A Guide To Teaching Writing In Kindergarten, Pamela Lynn Wangsness Jul 2009

A Guide To Teaching Writing In Kindergarten, Pamela Lynn Wangsness

All Graduate Projects

Research was conducted on the topic of writing in kindergarten. Many different forms of teaching writing were researched and summarized in the literature review of this project. Curriculum that is designed for kindergarten is mostly written for full day kindergarten, not taking into account the time constraints of half-day kindergarten. The results of the research were combined in the form of lesson plans that a half-day kindergarten teacher could use to begin teaching writing.


Increasing The Number Of Checkouts By Classroom Teachers Through Implementing A Levelized Class Set Library System, Beau Richard Hedrick Jul 2009

Increasing The Number Of Checkouts By Classroom Teachers Through Implementing A Levelized Class Set Library System, Beau Richard Hedrick

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to develop a levelized class set collection of books for second- and third-grade teachers. The project will summarize current research as to why teaching reading, while using appropriate leveled books, is one of the most successful ways of teaching. This project describes the steps taken to build and organize a checkout system of levelized books.


Shared Reading Lessons For Fourth, Fifth, And Sixth Grade English Language Learners, Erin Marie Goin Jul 2009

Shared Reading Lessons For Fourth, Fifth, And Sixth Grade English Language Learners, Erin Marie Goin

All Graduate Projects

This project explains what shared reading is and how it fits into balanced literacy. It explores the benefits of shared reading for English language learners and things the teacher should consider when teaching them. The project includes a collection of shared reading lesson plans for teachers of fourth, fifth and sixth grade ELL students. It explains what shared reading is, materials needed, possible texts, and skills and strategies that can be taught in a lesson. This guide is intended to help teachers of fourth, fifth and sixth grade ELL students teach shared reading lessons in their classrooms.


Writer’S Workshop: Promoting Peer Relationships On Early Literacy, Jim Labrie May 2009

Writer’S Workshop: Promoting Peer Relationships On Early Literacy, Jim Labrie

All Graduate Projects

Writer's Workshop and the influence of peer relationships and art on young children's literacy development were explored. There was found to be a direct correlation between children's art/drawings on their literacy development. Peer interactions during writing were also found to positively impact young writers. Peers and art do impact early literacy and have influences on Writer's Workshop and children's attitudes toward writing. Based on this research a handbook was developed to aid educators in planning a Writer's Workshop model, developing peer relationships during writing, and assessing student writing.


What’S Your Perspective A Secondary Staff Cultural Proficiency Training, Jeanne A. Cunningham May 2009

What’S Your Perspective A Secondary Staff Cultural Proficiency Training, Jeanne A. Cunningham

All Graduate Projects

A two-hour and forty-five minute staff cultural proficiency training was compiled for an urban high school. Nearly thirty percent of the school's population is make up of non-majority cultural groups yet approximately ninety-nine percent of the staff is white. A review of literature indicates that culture matters when educating students and schools cognizant of this information realize higher student performance. Using current data, the project demonstrates the need for cultural proficiency training and provides staff information and resources to increase awareness of the role of culture in teaching and learning.


Using Music With Read-Alouds, Michael James Bento May 2009

Using Music With Read-Alouds, Michael James Bento

All Graduate Projects

The primary purpose of this project is to explore and expand the connection between music and picture book read-alouds. The literature review looks at the established educational value of the read-aloud as well as the use of music and how it has been used to help teach reading. Also, literature looking at student music preferences and the use of music as a tool for increasing intelligence is reviewed. Additionally, critical thinking skills and the subject specific area of music listening is examined. The process of the picture book selection and recorded music selection is explained and the project suggests music …


A Questionnaire For Incoming High School Ell Students To Better Assist Them In Entering The American Educational System, Narine Balayan Apr 2009

A Questionnaire For Incoming High School Ell Students To Better Assist Them In Entering The American Educational System, Narine Balayan

All Graduate Projects

This project is designed to help teachers get a better understanding of the incoming ELL students' backgrounds to better assist these students in the education process and make the transition from their native educational system to the American educational system smoother. Teachers must be aware of ELL students' family situations, lives outside the school, diverse background knowledge and how these things affect reading and writing comprehension, and be able to choose the most appropriate assessment and instruction.


Professional Learning Communities: Perfect Pamphlet, Kathleen (Kc) Heywood Mar 2009

Professional Learning Communities: Perfect Pamphlet, Kathleen (Kc) Heywood

All Graduate Projects

The intent of this study is to demonstrate how teacher collaboration can improve student learning. Research supports the relationship between teacher collaboration and academic success for students (DuFour & DuFour, 2004). Studies also show that a correlation between high achieving students is a direct result of teachers collaborating and having common goals for learning improvement (DuFour & Eaker, 1998). Therefore, collaboration among intermediate school teachers was studied (DuFour & DuFour, 2004). As a result of extensive research regarding teacher collaboration and student success at the intermediate school level, the Perfect Pamphlet was developed. All learning targets in the Perfect Pamphlet …


Enumclaw School District Summer Reading Program, Lea Kai Tiger Feb 2009

Enumclaw School District Summer Reading Program, Lea Kai Tiger

All Graduate Projects

The aim of this project is to improve the elementary summer school program currently offered by the Enumclaw School District by developing a reading program to be used by the summer school instructors. Instruction outside of the school day, characteristics of successful extracurricular programs, why reading needs to be the focus of the summer school program, and what to teach and how to teach reading were researched. Taking the information found after studying the aforementioned topics, a program to be used for the Enumclaw School District summer school was developed. The program consists of lessons, games, and strategies that can …


Response To Intervention: Reading Project For Intermediate Level Educators, Kevin Wayne Newell Jan 2009

Response To Intervention: Reading Project For Intermediate Level Educators, Kevin Wayne Newell

All Graduate Projects

The author's project provides intermediate level reading teachers with a flowchart exemplifying a way to implement a Response to Intervention model. Research indicates that Response to Intervention models have greatly impacted student academic performance. The flowchart provides teachers with a blueprint which may be helpful in identifying and correcting student deficiencies. The flowchart clearly outlines instructional components of service delivery including duration of student sessions, the size of groups involved, length of intervention determined, and methods of assessment The specific detailed responsibilities outlined to staff are designed to improve not only the efficiency of service provided to students, but to …


Sitka School District Kindergarten Literacy Curriculum Handbook, Jacqueline Elizabeth Hedrick Jan 2009

Sitka School District Kindergarten Literacy Curriculum Handbook, Jacqueline Elizabeth Hedrick

All Graduate Projects

The intent of this handbook is to provide support to a teacher and be used as a resource. This document is intended to guide a Baranof Elementary Kindergarten teacher, through the year, with the use of a theme document. However, the scope and sequence contains the skills and content that must be addressed by the end of the year. The literacy curriculum handbook was developed based on Froebel's kindergarten philosophy and Bruner's educational philosophy that early childhood education should be hands-on and developmentally appropriate. The handbook includes programs available to kindergarten teachers in Sitka, Alaska while continuing to be content-based, …


Benefits Of Using Primary Sources In The High School United States History Classroom, Norene Lee Osborne Jan 2009

Benefits Of Using Primary Sources In The High School United States History Classroom, Norene Lee Osborne

All Graduate Projects

History textbooks have not traditionally included the perspectives of the whole of society. The contributions of non-whites, women, the poor and the illiterate are consistently forgotten or ignored in the history classroom. When the stories of these groups are present, the content is incomplete and minimal, due to the resources available to the teacher within the curriculum provided by the textbook manufacturers or the school districts. Primary sources, or first hand accounts of history, can be used to supplement gaps in the curriculum, allowing students to construct a more authentic and complete knowledge of history. This project includes practical supplemental …


After-School Programs And Reading Achievement, Jamie M. Mack Dec 2008

After-School Programs And Reading Achievement, Jamie M. Mack

All Graduate Projects

The relationship between participating in an after-school program and accelerating reading levels was studied. Seventy-three fifth-grade students were pre- and posttested using the Gates-MacGinitie Reading Test to determine reading levels. Thirty-six of the 73 students participated in an on-going 21" Century Academic After-School Program. The other 37 did not. The results showed that there was no statistical difference between participating in an after-school program and accelerating reading levels. The study also broke down the data by gender. These results showed that there was no statistical difference between males who participated and males who did not; however, there was a significant …


A Structured Approach To Teacher Collaboration Within Professional Learning Communities, Laura Ann Davis Jul 2008

A Structured Approach To Teacher Collaboration Within Professional Learning Communities, Laura Ann Davis

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project is to develop a teacher handbook for a more structured approach to teacher collaboration within professional learning communities. Many groups of teachers have successfully participated in small teams, including focusing on such activities as team building, scheduling, parent communication, discussing lesson plans and curriculum, and sharing strategies to improve student behavior. Unfortunately, this is where most teams are stymied, unsure of how to take their collaboration to a higher level. The next step needed is to move forward and truly start looking at student learning and analyzing instruction practices as well as assessments, in order …


Benefits Of A Parent Involvement Plan For Second Grade Students, Mila Hart Jul 2008

Benefits Of A Parent Involvement Plan For Second Grade Students, Mila Hart

All Graduate Projects

The benefits of a parent involvement plan for second grade students were researched. Students, whose parents were actively involved in their education, did better in school (Henderson & Mapp, 2002). Most parents want what is best for their child and will provide the support needed when encouraged and shown how to be involved with their child in school. Active parent involvement can be facilitated by a parent handbook combined with an open house, follow-up workshops that provide helpful information to parents, and frequent and regular communication via phone, progress reports, e-mail, home visits, and formal or informal conferences (Epstein et …


Increasing Academic And Behavioral Success For Adhd Students In The Primary Classroom, Sandra Kay Munoz Jun 2008

Increasing Academic And Behavioral Success For Adhd Students In The Primary Classroom, Sandra Kay Munoz

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to develop a teacher's handbook that provides primary classroom teachers with effective classroom interventions and strategies that would improve behavioral and academic success in students who experience ADHD. To accomplish this purpose, a review of current and relevant resources was conducted on topics that included best practices, strategies, techniques and interventions concerning classroom management of ADHD students.


An Integrated Nutrition Unit For Half-Day Kindergarten, Erin Spencer May 2008

An Integrated Nutrition Unit For Half-Day Kindergarten, Erin Spencer

All Graduate Projects

The obesity rates among children in the United States have been rising rapidly over the past thirty years. Children are getting messages from the media to eat unhealthy foods. This epidemic is beginning to be addressed in schools. A nutrition curriculum was developed and implemented in a half day kindergarten program. Core academic subject were integrated using Washington State GLEs as a guide. Parent involvement was a component to strengthen student's understanding of cultural diversity as it pertained to food.


Using A Balanced Reading And Spelling Approach To Enhance The “Spell To Write To Read” Program For Preschool To Fifth Grade, Dawn A. Heer May 2008

Using A Balanced Reading And Spelling Approach To Enhance The “Spell To Write To Read” Program For Preschool To Fifth Grade, Dawn A. Heer

All Graduate Projects

Reading is the foundation of much that society aspires to, even now in the age of technology. The teacher plays a key role in facilitating the learning of reading in an elementary school. By using a balanced reading approach through the use of spelling, phonics, writing and language, teachers will be able to apply user-friendly principles of reading with the curriculum, Spell to Write to Read. A handbook will be used to present this information during a workshop for teachers and para-professionals of preschool to fifth grade students.


“Starting Off On The Right Foot” A Guide For Elementary Physical Education Teachers To Assist Them In Successfully Beginning The School Year, Carrie Boers Feb 2008

“Starting Off On The Right Foot” A Guide For Elementary Physical Education Teachers To Assist Them In Successfully Beginning The School Year, Carrie Boers

All Graduate Projects

This guide was created to assist new elementary physical education teachers in successfully beginning the school year. The Federal Way School District currently has no guide or established procedure readily available to assist with the transition of teachers into elementary physical education programs. This project examines the necessary components of a successfully managed elementary physical education program. The author chose to create this guide after the difficulties she encountered transitioning from the junior high school physical education (P.E.) program to an elementary level P.E. program. Physical education teachers are often placed in environments that are unfamiliar to them; therefore, this …


Motivating Students: Identifying And Motivating Reluctant Learners To Reach Their Academic Potential, Kim Yeager Feb 2008

Motivating Students: Identifying And Motivating Reluctant Learners To Reach Their Academic Potential, Kim Yeager

All Graduate Projects

Motivation plays an important role in determining how well a child will perform in school (Philips & Lindsay, 2006). Regardless of how intelligent or capable a student may be if the student is not motivated to do well then their academic performance will be less than it could have been with some motivation. Teachers need to understand why some students are motivated to try hard in school and why some students are not. This understanding will lead teachers to understand why their students are not reaching their academic potential. The purpose of this project was to design a guide that …


Promoting Higher Academic Achievement Among Culturally And Linguistically Diverse Students, Edna Morris Jan 2008

Promoting Higher Academic Achievement Among Culturally And Linguistically Diverse Students, Edna Morris

All Graduate Projects

Designing a multicultural literature based library for use in the classroom setting to promote higher academic achievement among culturally and linguistically diverse students was the purpose of this project. Studies supporting the connection between culturally relevant literature and its use in the classroom with academic achievement among culturally and linguistically diverse students were summarized. The result of this research analysis supports the use of culturally relevant literature and activities with young children. The project provides brochures, resources and guides for use of culturally relevant literature with young children.


Integrating Transformative Multicultural Practice Into The Traditional Physical Education Curriculum, Kari Lea Breeden Jan 2008

Integrating Transformative Multicultural Practice Into The Traditional Physical Education Curriculum, Kari Lea Breeden

All Graduate Projects

This study is intended to serve as a resource for upper elementary physical education teachers seeking supplemental materials to integrate diversity through multicultural education in their traditional physical education classroom. Two questions are the basis for this study: ( 1) Can multicultural education be integrated into the upper elementary physical education classroom? (2) How can teachers' use this study as an assessment tool in their upper elementary physical education program? This study is built upon the work of scholar James Banks. It will extend the work of James Banks by showing how his concept of changing the curriculum to integrate …


National Board Certification: A Scholarly Endeavor, Kathryn Loveless Jan 2008

National Board Certification: A Scholarly Endeavor, Kathryn Loveless

All Graduate Projects

If today's students are going to succeed they need quality teachers. To atiract and retain those teachers, we need to have a system to recognize and reward those teachers. The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) was created to fill that need. This study presents the historical development of the Natio1ial Board Teacher Certification program, research on its effects on student learning, and the personal certification experience of a teacher practitioner. The high standards set by the NBPTS are commendable and worthy of being replicated in teacher training programs. These standards set the ground work for what teachers should …


The Design And Implementation Of An International Day Project To Foster Cultural Awareness And A Global Perspective In Tukwila Elementary School, Zakariya Salim Palsha Aug 2007

The Design And Implementation Of An International Day Project To Foster Cultural Awareness And A Global Perspective In Tukwila Elementary School, Zakariya Salim Palsha

All Graduate Projects

The primary purpose of this project was to successfully design and implement cultural awareness and a global perspective at Tukwila Elementary School utilizing an International Day project, as there are a large number of ethnic groups and various cultures represented in the school. This provided students and parents from different cultures with an avenue to celebrate their own cultural heritage while simultaneously they learned about and celebrated the diverse cultures of the entire school community. The project had five components, which included: 1) a flag ceremony that included forty-nine different flags; 2) cultural dances (performed by students, parents, and community …


A Poetry Unit For Middle School Students, Dana Louise Longmire Jul 2007

A Poetry Unit For Middle School Students, Dana Louise Longmire

All Graduate Projects

The focus of this project was to review the available research on using poetry as a method for teaching literary terms, enhancing comprehension, and developing creative writing skills. The results of the research show that there is a need for poetry instruction and that including this instruction in the middle school provides remarkable benefits for students. Poetry is suitable for the varying levels of ability found within the classroom. The project includes a guide providing teachers with activities to implement a poetry unit.


Phonemic Awareness: The Nature And Role In Reading Acquisition, Toni Michelle Paganelli Jul 2007

Phonemic Awareness: The Nature And Role In Reading Acquisition, Toni Michelle Paganelli

All Graduate Projects

Phonemic awareness and its link to reading are a current topic in education. Research has shown that the two are interrelated and those students lacking in phonemic awareness are at a higher risk for reading failure. The terms phonemic awareness and phonics tend to be used simultaneously, but phonemic awareness is not the same as phonics. Children can naturally acquire phonemic awareness through their environment. However, children who are lacking phonemic awareness can be taught using many different methods and materials in the classroom. Within phonemic awareness there are many different skills. These skills can be tested using commercially produced …


An Opportunity Gap: Focusing On The Issue Of Boys’ Underachievement In School Literacy, Whitney Ann Cromwell Jul 2007

An Opportunity Gap: Focusing On The Issue Of Boys’ Underachievement In School Literacy, Whitney Ann Cromwell

All Graduate Projects

Male students statistically have not been as successful as females on standardized test scores or literacy activities. The discrepancy between literacy achievement between boys and girls at the elementary level is cause for concern. This gap between the literacy achievement of girls and boys will continue unless we change the way we teach. "All educators share the common goal of providing equitable learning opportunities for every student in the classroom. Providing equitable opportunities for girls is a familiar topic; providing them for boys is a relatively recent issue, but one that is appearing with increasing urgency on education agendas around …


A Guidebook Of Resources And Interactive Literacy Activities For Use By Parents With Primary Students, Cheryl Ann Youngblood Jul 2007

A Guidebook Of Resources And Interactive Literacy Activities For Use By Parents With Primary Students, Cheryl Ann Youngblood

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to create a home Literacy Guidebook to increase children's reading and writing skills. By encouraging parental support at home through the use of children's literature and relevant activities, the lessons are intended to make learning fun and meaningful for children and their parents. Research reviewed supported the significance of the parents' role in literacy development at home and at school. Parents who read to their children and practice related activities contribute to their children's success in school. The guidebook includes children's literature selections, book lists for future readings, step-by-step instructions to guide parents through …