Education Commons^™

The Effects Of Learning Groups On Student Achievement And Attitude In A Sixth Grade Mathematics Class, Jay Randall Mcguffin

All Graduate Projects

A handbook for implementing "Student Team Learning" as an alternative teaching strategy for middle level math teachers was developed after conducting extensive action research project within a sixth grade math classroom. A literature review on barriers to learning mathematics in middle schools and Student Team Learning as a teaching strategy was conducted. An action research project was conducted and from the pre to post-test data and best practices implementation regarding student team learning methods the handbook project was constructed. The handbook includes an introduction to Student Team Learning; guidelines for implementation; a student attitude survey; lesson practice questions, review sheets, …

Factors Of A Low-Ses Household: What Aids Academic Achievement, Allison Ann Milne

All Graduate Projects

The home factors oflow-SES primary students, having high academic achievement were investigated. Six second grade students were identified as qualifying for free and reduced lunch, while also having high academic achievement. Their primary caretakers were interviewed in order to investigate the factors within their homes that aid academic achievement. The results of this study showed that none of these high achieving second grade students had home factors that were typical for low-SES home environments. Four common themes were identified within the homes and attitudes of the participants' caretakers; (a) educational resources/influences, (b) the mother's education, ( c) relationships, and ( …

Physical Fitness And Student Academic Performance: A Handbook Of Fitness Activities For Elementary Teachers, Meghann Dunn-Gomez

All Graduate Projects

A handbook has been developed to aid in the integration of physical fitness and movement in an elementary classroom and/or to be used as a supplement to any existing elementary teaching cmTiculum. The handbook consists of eight content areas regarding the integration of physical fitness in the traditional elementary classroom setting: arts, communication, health, reading, language arts, math, science, and social studies. Each section of the project consists of a variety of lesson plans and activities to be implemented in elementary classrooms. Current literature and research surrounding the topic of integrating physical fitness and movement in the educational setting were …

A Schoolwide Discipline Plan For Gildo Rey Elementary School, Adam William Couch

All Graduate Projects

This project examined current related literature as well as discipline plans from six other elementary schools. Some basic tenants of quality discipline plans for elementary schools were found to be trne for most situations. The plan should be clear, have full staff buy-in, and stress prevention. Written for current and future staff members of Gil do Rey Elementary School in Auburn, Washington, the project outlines, defines, and provides appropriate tools for all elements of the plan. The plan was broken down into four main sections. The first section clearly explains universal rnles and expectations of Gildo Rey students. Next, in …

Summer Enrichment Packets Of Resources And Activities For Primary Students, Karen Michele Smith

All Graduate Projects

Literature pertaining to summer learning loss was reviewed, including summer learning programs and year-round education. Summer programs and year-round education were looked at as possible solutions to summer learning loss. The research indicated a significant loss of academic skills over the summer months while students are not in school. Summer enrichment programs proved to be successful in helping students retain academic knowledge and skills. The literature review revealed inconclusive results in the effectiveness ofyearround education on student achievement. A summer activity packet was created for students preparing to enter the second grade. The focus of this packet was on reading, …

Creating A Balanced Literacy Program For Third, Fourth, And Fifth Grade Students, Shayne T. Wrzesinski

All Graduate Projects

Balanced literacy instruction can be defined in a variety of ways. The important characteristic about a balanced literacy program is that it is neither phonics nor whole language. Creating a balanced literacy program within a classroom encompasses both phonics and whole language in a literature rich environment. Students who participate in a balanced program have opportunities to read and write daily through a variety of meaningful approaches including shared, guided, independent and direct instruction. The literature rich environment provides growth for all students, by teaching skills and strategies through literacy in a natural setting not in isolation. Teachers in the …

First Grade Literacy Portfolios: A Road Map To Success, Jennifer Lynn Simmons

Graduate Student Projects

The purpose of this project was to design an assessment portfolio process for first grade students. Through the portfolio process children will set goals, self-evaluate, self-reflect, review their peers, and hold a student-led conference. Current research and best practices on portfolios, goal-setting, self-evaluation, self-reflection, peer review, and student-led conferences were reviewed. Literacy portfolios were defined. Portfolios and how they were introduced into education were discussed. Purposes and benefits as well as concerns and challenges of using portfolios in the classroom were discussed and compared. Mini-lessons and black-line masters were also included for each content area.

Centers For Promoting Emergent Literacy In The Primary Grades, Elizabeth Greaves

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to design classroom Literacy Centers incorporating the Washington State Essential Academic Learning Requirements that promote emergent literacy skills in primary level children. Using Literacy Centers to enhance a child's ability to read, write, listen, and communicate is the focus of this project. The centers are intended to be a hands-on and authentic method of learning for young children. The review of relevant literature shows that this option provides positive experiences in a primary level classroom. Adaptable center plans are included as well as management and assessment suggestions.

The Conceptual Guidelines And Considerations For The Development Of Elementary Charter Schools In The State Of Washington, Janice Louise Mirro

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to design a conceptual set of guidelines and considerations for the development of Elementary Charter Schools in the State of Washington. To accomplish this purpose a review ofliterature related to charter schools and their development was conducted followed by a mail reply survey. A wide variety of sources, including journal articles, books, newspaper reports, interviews, and printed material (organizational by-laws, school pamphlets, etc.) from existing charter schools across the nation were studied and synthesized into the findings. As a result of this study a comprehensive conceptual set of guidelines were developed.

Beyond The Classroom: Study Skill Strategies For Parents And Teachers, Joni Coe

All Graduate Projects

An educator handbook containing tools and activities was designed to help elementary school students develop successful study skills strategies. This handbook may be used in part or as an integrated unit of study. Strategies and activities in this handbook were selected based on research findings, interest and developmental levels of students, as well as for the ease of use by parents, teachers, and students.

Infusing The Multiple Intelligences Into Fifth Grade Curriculum, Kelly Eugene Mattson

All Graduate Projects

Howard Gardner's theory of Multiple Intelligences involves eight different ways to learn (linguistic, logical-mathematical, visual-spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, musical, naturalistic, interpersonal and intrapersonal). These categories of intelligence, along with the guidelines of Washington State's Essential Academic Leaming Requirements, were applied to thirty lessons that were derived from the fifth grade curriculum at Tieton Middle School in Tieton, Washington. The lessons reflect the fields of reading, writing, mathematics, science, social studies and health/fitness.

A Balanced Reading Program For The Primary Grades, Hope Kranz Mcdonald

All Graduate Projects

The focus of this project was to create specific.activities that teach children various tools that assist in learning how to read. The project implements a balanced reading curriculum with an emphasis in kindergarten and first grade. Throughout this project the students will be exploring a variety of ways to acquire the knowledge of reading. The project concentrates on two philosophies of how to teach reading; phonemic awareness and whole language. The final product encompasses both philosophies and creates a curriculum that links the two into a balanced approach to reading.

A Third Grade Special Education Pre-Referral Assessment Tool For Inner City African American Students, Richard Dean Newton

All Graduate Projects

A disproportional high number of African Ametican students are referred by regular education teachers for placement in special education programs and services. Recent implications of state wide uniformed student testing has intensified special education placement trends. The purpose of this project was to develop an alternative third grade special education pre-referral intelligence assessment tool, which would be used to provide alternative placement other than special education programs and services.

Parent Perceptions Of The Value Of The Juanita Apartment School Program, Stanley B. Hughes

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to determine parent perceptions of the value of the Juanita Apartment School program. To accomplish this task interview questions were developed and family interviews conducted. Transcriptions of audio interview tapes were made and all data studied to determine response patterns. Families interviewed indicated the Juanita Apartment School program had either been "very helpful" or "helpful" in making their children feel more positive about and be more successful in elementary school.

A Process Model To Aid In The Development Of Integrated Thematic Curriculum Units, Jennifer Lynn Hamilton

All Graduate Projects

This project provides a detailed manual to assist elementary teachers in the design of successful integrated thematic curriculum units. The project reflects the most recent research related to learning theories of how the brain comprehends. The manual synthesizes current procedures for integrative thematic curriculum development into a manual which includes a rational for integrative curriculum, a step by step procedure for development of integrated thematic units, and an example of an integrated thematic unit.

A Resource Manual For Elementary School Administrators; Focusing On Programs And Activities For Parent And Community Involvement In Elementary Schools, Robert M. Chase

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to design a resource manual for elementary school administrators that focused on programs and activities for parent and community involvement in elementary schools. This was accomplished by reviewing current literature and programs which emphasized school activities for parents and community members.

A Model Playground Behavior Program For Primary Level Students In The Cashmere School District, Scott R. Griffith

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to design and develop a Model Playground Behavior Program for elementary-level students in the Cashmere School District, Cashmere, Washington. To accomplish this purpose, current research and literature on playground safety and programs were reviewed. Additionally, related information from selected school districts was obtained and analyzed for possible ideas or practices to be included in the model playground program.

Values Education: Using The Washington State Essential Academic Learning Requirements In Social Studies To Teach Values, Elizabeth Smith

All Graduate Projects

The development of a Values Education curriculum included with the Social Studies curriculum was studied. Related literature was reviewed. The review of literature showed that school systems that have tried a comprehensive values education plan are finding some pro-social results from their programs. Lessons were developed for West Valley (WA) fifth grade students using the Washington State Essential Learning requirements in Civics. A summary, conclusions and recommendations are included.

At-Risk Fourth Grade Students: Teaching Strategies For Developing Effective Interpersonal And Intrapersonal Skills, Robert Paul Griffith

All Graduate Projects

A representative sample of social skills and teaching strategies was developed for use by classroom teachers of students at-risk in the fourth grade. A literature search was conducted regarding characteristics of students at-risk, effective strategies for teaching social skills, and effective social skills programs. The strategies developed can be used by elementary classroom teachers to help improve prosocial skills of students at-risk.

The Master Parent: A Parent-Child Relationship Program For Parents Of Elementary School Students, Kimberly Ellen Miller

All Graduate Projects

This project presents a parent education program for parents of elementary school children. The project was created with an extensive literature review. Parent education coordinators from various schools, hospitals, and social service agencies were consulted in the development of this project. Systematic Training for Effective Parenting, a published program from American Guidance Services, was used as a conceptual framework for The Master Parent program. The program was developed to provide information and support to elementary school parents. A summary with conclusions and recommendations for future parent education programs is included.

The Effects Of Sustained Silent Reading On The Attitudes Of Fourth Grade Students, Bernice Mcqueen-Bruce

All Graduate Projects

This project was conducted to determine whether sustained silent reading had a positive effect on the attitudes of fourth grade students. The Kear and McKenna Elementary Reading Attitude Survey was administered in a pretest, posttest format to three classes with one class designated as a control group. The results indicated no difference in attitude as a result of implementing a silent reading program.

Whole Language Based Strategies For Teaching Reading In The Content Areas, Ingrid Annemarie Spencer

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to develop a thematic unit for use in a sixth grade classroom. The unit provides a whole language, integrated curriculum concentrating on ancient Greece. Fifteen lessons were developed for use with a social studies text to teach reading strategies to a class of sixth graders. The project includes a review of selected literature related to the topics of whole language instruction, thematic units, integration, and an explanation of how to utilize the project in a sixth grade classroom. A summary with conclusions and recommendations was included.

The Reading And Writing Connection: A Writer's Workshop Guide For Second Grade, Monica Louise Donovan

All Graduate Projects

The primary purpose of this project was to develop a writers' workshop curriculum guide for the second grade. The relationship between reading and writing was studied. Data was presented to support the reading and writing connection. By integrating reading and writing through the use of a directed guide, an effective educational curriculum for a writing workshop was developed. The research and results from writing samples received showed support that an integrated reading and writing program is advantageous. Implications for using a writers' workshop format are discussed.

Attitudes Toward Reading Held By Second Grade Students When Instructed In First And Second Grades Using The Basal Approach And The Whole Language Approach, Anne L. Kepner

All Graduate Projects

The attitudes toward reading held by second grade students when instructed using the basal approach and the whole language approach were studied. Forty surveys given to students at the end of their second grade year were analyzed. The results showed support for the hypothesis that students, taught reading by the whole language approach in first and second grades will have a more positive attitude toward reading than students taught reading by the traditional basal approach in the first and second grades.

A Teaching Strategy Using Visual Literacy Skills In Grades Four Through Six, Mark Truman Collins

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of the project was to develop a brief curriculum which would provide classroom activities related to visual literacy. The project was focused on grades four, five, and six. Visual literacy activities were developed to be used as learning experiences to develop specific visual skills. Other activities were also developed to be used as teaching aids in the subject areas of language arts and reading. The lessons were then tested on a limited basis in classroom situations. The results of the tests showed the activities to be functional and motivational.

The Effect On Reading Achievement Of A Special Grade-One Program In The Othello Schools, Ruth A. Danielson

All Master's Theses

Distar, Play Therapy, and Elemode, a perceptual-motor program, were used with small groups to increase reading achievement. Subjects scored 50 or below on the Metropolitan Readiness Test in 1970-71.

Evaluation of the treatments and their effect on the total first-grade class was based on each pupil's achievement score obtained from the Metropolitan Readiness Test and Stanford Achievement Test raw scores. The comparisons, using the 1968-69 class as a baseline group, showed no significant differences in reading achievement.

A Study Of The Interrelationship Between Physical, Mental And Scholastic Development And Reading Achievement, James Bruce Bruseth

All Master's Theses

This research made an attempt to find a correlation between variables of physical, mental and scholastic development and reading achievement of first grade children. The study was designed to analyze eight variables of physical, mental and scholastic development by computer factorial analysis. An evaluation of the data revealed that there were no significant correlations among the variables studied. Recommendations included the suggestion that future researchers should make a longitudinal investigation of a larger sample and use X-rays of various body parts in determining the carpal age.

The Effect Of Time-Threat On An Arithmetic Test Situation, Russell Dean Flaskerud

All Master's Theses

There has been a difference of opinion regarding whether or not timing tests of ability is advantageous or hinders performance. Much experimentation has been done in the area of intelligence testing, but little has been done on actual classroom-type testing. The results of timing intelligence tests have been varied with little agreement among the studies. The purpose of this study was (1) to test the effect of time-threat on the performance of eighty-two sixth grade students taking an arithmetic test, and (2) to investigate the effect of time-threat on students of different arithmetic abilities.

A Review Of Academic Gains Made By Non-Promoted Pupils In The Tenino Elementary School, John Milton Long

All Master's Theses

This study is designed to determine whether or not the pupil retention policies presently practiced by the Tenino Elementary School are justifiable in terms of benefiting the retained student academically. It was hypothesized that the academic gains of nonpromoted students will be considerably less than the gains made by promoted students when compared according to achievement tests results. To test this hypothesis, a list was compiled of students who had been retained during a three-year period, and an examination of their cumulative folders was conducted in order to determine academic gain during the year of retention. The same procedure was …

The Individualized Program In The Elementary School, Ernest D. Logan

Graduate Student Research Papers

It is the purpose of this paper to show how democratic processes can be incorporated into the school curriculum in the elementary school by use of the individualized program of instruction.