Education Commons^™

The Effect Of An Inclusive Program On Teachers, Anne Grady

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine how critical collaborative teams of regular education and special education teachers operate, what strategies are presently in use and what can be done to foster success in the future in inclusive settings. The subjects of this study consisted of eight pairs of regular and special education teachers forming collaborative pairs. All participants volunteered to complete the survey instrument. The responses were analyzed by using content analysis. Many of the educators' responses were positive concerning inclusion and in-class support. However, there are some concerns reported for the implementation of this program in the …

Teaching And Assessing The Writing Process, Gail H. Biros

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to provide valuable information regarding the assessment and teaching of writing skills. Although students spend time writing stories, they do not write frequently enough to learn the basic skills of writing. Just as teachers learned that children needed direct instruction in reading skills to make "Whole Language" successful, similarly writing must be taught utilizing direct instruction of specific skills.

There are few reliable and valid assessment tools in the written language domain. A comprehensive assessment tool is needed at the beginning of the school year to help the teacher focus on the individual student …

Self-Reported Teacher Job Satisfaction And Perception Of Administrative Listening Skills, John David Tackett

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to determine the existence of a relationship between teacher self-reported job satisfaction and the perception of administrative listening skills. Thirty secondary schools were chosen from the three largest school districts in central Arkansas. Twenty-nine schools participated in the study. As defined by the Arkansas Department of Education, the term secondary includes grades seven through twelve; therefore, three levels of schools were included in the sample: high school, junior high school, and middle school. The predictor variable was administrative listening and the criterion variable was job satisfaction with supervision. Instrumentation included the Leadership Behavior Description …

The Effects Of Use Of A Metacognitive Strategy On The Language Anxiety Of Missionaries At The Missionary Training Center, Laura Millet Bichon

Theses and Dissertations

Language anxiety is a form of anxiety that can negatively affect language learners by disrupting their cognitive processing, by rendering their learning experience unpleasant, and by reducing the quantity and quality of their language production. The language anxiety research contains many suggestions for anxiety reduction, one of these being the use of metacognitive language learning strategies. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a self-monitoring, metacognitive strategy called ASWE on the language anxiety levels of young male and female missionaries in the intensive language learning program at the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah. The ASWE …

Implementing A Context-Based Teaching Curriculum For French Learners At The Mtc, Stephanie Wallace Olsen

Theses and Dissertations

Two control groups and two experimental groups of missionaries and teachers participated in a study comparing a grammar-based method of teaching to a context-based method. The study lasted for two weeks during June 1997. Each classroom was recorded using a timing-based observation system that captured 13 missionary and teacher language behaviors. The behaviors were recorded in real time and later evaluated to determine in which classroom setting the most real communication occurred. A second purpose was to determine the effectiveness of teacher training with respect to teachers in the experimental group. Findings revealed that missionaries in the context-based classroom received …

A Comparison Of Reading And Math Achievement Scores Between A Single-Track Year-Round Education School And A Traditional Calendar School; Implications For Administrators, Terri Hardy

Theses and Dissertations

With Arkansas ranking among the lowest in student achievement across the nation, the cry for reform and accountability in our public school system is growing. There is a vast array of reform efforts taking place in the 310 school districts across this state. One such effort is that of year-round education. At the onset o f the study, five school districts had implemented year-round education within their districts. That number is growing. To determine if year-round education provides a valid reform effort, the study was conducted. The study statistically compared year-round education students to their traditional calendar school counterparts. The …

A Descriptive Case Study Of A Single Innovation’S Effect On Multiple Literacy Initiatives In Arkansas, Deborah N. Williams

Theses and Dissertations

When schools implement high quality classroom instruction, research-based interventions, networks of support at multiple levels, and a strategic plan for monitoring change elements, students are provided a range of opportunities that promote successful learning. This descriptive case study examined Reading Recovery's effect on the acceleration of the change process in selected elementary schools in Arkansas. Two purposeful samplings were used to investigate, discover, understand, and gain insight. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected to develop the description. Data-driven decisions toward the building of a comprehensive early literacy school reform model for accelerating change were also examined in relation to reading …

The First Statewide Study Circles On Education In America: Participant Perceptions Of Study Circles In Two Arkansas Communities, Jo Sykes Chesser

Theses and Dissertations

Parents and other community citizens were empowered in educational change in two Arkansas communities through a process of participative decision making. The study circle, begun at Chautauqua in 1874, proved to be a new communication process for school-to-community relationships. Arkansas Friends for Better Schools, one of two state sponsors of the 1998 'Calling the Roll: Study Circles for Better Schools,' cooperated with Study Circles Resource Center and Southwest Educational Development Laboratory to implement the Study Circles program on education in five Arkansas communities in the fall of 1998. Superintendents and School Boards endorsed the program; community coordinators organized study circle …

Elaboration And Validation Of The Educational Material Used In Nutritional Education In The Communities Of Copalacaya, Choquenaira, Callisaya, And Muruamaya, Of The Providence Ingavi Of The Department Of La Paz 1998, Maria Isabel Mercado Miranda

Theses and Dissertations

This work had the objective to elaborate and validate educational, graphic material to give Nutritional Education in the communities of Copalapaya, Choquenaira, Callisaya, and Muruamaya belonging to the Ingavi province. With exclusive material for the rural area and with themes directed toward women, men, and children, such material was elaborated with the participation of all the community, where each one of them they put its abilities and gave ideas to improve the material and on all requested that the drawings be as close to reality as possible. The development of the study proceeded by the following: It started with a …

A Study Of High School Counselors Value Of Scans/Noicc Work Competencies Among Three Groups Of Students: At-Risk, Work-Bound And College-Bound, Alice Mitchell Rose

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the value high school counselors assign to the fourteen national work competencies identified by the Secretary’s Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (Author, 1991) and the National Career Development Guidelines (National Occupational Information Coordinating Committee, [NOICC] 1989) among different groups of students: at-risk, work-bound, and college bound. Rising national concern about economic competitiveness in the global marketplace has dictated the need to provide all students with the skills necessary to enter the workforce.

Two research questions were explored in this quantitative study. The data were acquired via a questionnaire adapted from a similar …

Middle School Reading Clubs: A First Step Toward Increasing Pleasure-Reading Time, James Fazzone

Theses and Dissertations

This report describes the plans for, implementation of, and results of a reading club program conducted at a middle school. This program was a modification of an unsuccessful one that was criticized by the staff and students for lack of structure and meaning. The literature supported the need for students taking time out of the school day for pleasure reading. Krashen (1993), Atwell (1998), and Irvin (1998) all have recommended that students should be permitted to read appropriate reading materials of their choice and that they should be provided with a wide range of materials from which to choose. Therefore, …

Relationships Between The Degree Of Restructuring In Western Washington Elementary Schools And The Results On Criterion Referenced 4th Grade Assessments For Reading, Mathematics, Writing, And Listening, Gary C. Newbill

Theses and Dissertations

The primary purpose of this study was to explore relationships between the degree of school restructuring in Western Washington elementary schools and results on criterion referenced tests for reading, writing, mathematics, and listening, administered to 4th grade students in 1997. The sample of convenience included 47 elementary schools from 4 Puget Sound counties.

The current study extended a larger project on educational reform conducted by 7 researchers under the direction of Professor J. T. Fouts. This research explored relationships between the degree of school restructuring, a construct developed through factor analysis of classroom teacher responses on the School Practices and …

The Impact Of Early Screening On Preschool Children Attending Camden City Head Start, Beverly M. Clement

Theses and Dissertations

Extensive published research supports comprehensive preschool programs for children and their families, especially for "At Risk" populations often found within inner cities. Programs such as Head Start prepare children for school entrance, provide them with a caring and nurturing environment and empower families with the skills and resources necessary for successful living. The Camden County Council On Economic Opportunity (CCCOEO, Inc.), grantee for the Camden County, New Jersey Head Start Program, provides comprehensive services for "At Risk" preschool children, ages three to five.

Starting in September 1998 to March 1999, sixty-seven preschoolers attending various CCCOEO Head Start Centers were given …

A Study Of The Effectiveness Of Peer Tutoring On Mathematics Achievement Of Fifth Grade Students, Kareem J. Thompson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the implementation of a peer tutoring program in mathematics on the academic achievement level of fifth grade students. It was hypothesized that there would be a significant difference in the mathematics achievement level of fifth grade students who participated in a peer tutoring program than in the mathematics achievement level of fifth grade students who do not participate in a peer tutoring program in mathematics.

The study was a quasi-experimental design consisting of students in two fifth grade classrooms. Twenty-three students from each classroom participated in the study. One …

A Correlation Study Of Learning Preferences And Attitudes Towards Computers In Fourth Grade Students, Laura C. Garofalo

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if specific learning style preferences were related to fourth grade elementary students' attitudes towards computers in the classroom. Subjects were twenty-six students in a fourth grade class in an affluent suburban district. Subjects were given two self-report instruments to measure their learning style preferences and attitudes towards computers. The Learning Combination Inventory (LCI), developed by Dr. Christine Johnston of Rowan University, was used to determine learning style preferences. The Technology Attitude Assessment Survey (TAAS), developed for the University of the State of New York, measured attitudes towards computer usage in the classroom. …

The Effect Of Cooperative Learning On The Spelling Achievement Of Fourth Grade Students, Elisabeth Henjes

Theses and Dissertations

This research was designed to study the effect of cooperative learning instructional strategies as compared to traditional spelling instruction on fourth grade achievement in spelling. Comparisons were made between the spelling achievement of thirteen fourth grade students when they were taught by cooperative learning strategies and the spelling achievement of these same fourth grade students when they were taught by traditional spelling instructional methods. The cooperative learning instructional methods used were a combination of Classwide Peer Tutoring and Student Teams-Achievement Division (STAD). To control for certain variables a second treatment of traditional spelling instructional methods was implemented after the cooperative …

Has Technology In The Elementary Classroom Caused Instruction To Improve?, Denise Mcdermott

Theses and Dissertations

This study described and evaluated the extent to which technology has improved instruction, and thus improved student learning, in elementary schools in Deptford Township, a K-12 district. The study included all K-6 grade teachers. A 31-item survey was completed by 85% of elementary school teachers. Percentages of answers were mathematically calculated and lists of software programs and student systems for computer use were compiled. The majority of elementary teachers described their level of expertise regarding technology as "able to manage as long as everything runs correctly". The results reveal a high dissatisfaction with the type and amount of technology training …

The Role Of A School Business Administrator: Perspectives Of A Role Incumbent And His Role Set, Stephen J. Lynch

Theses and Dissertations

This study compared the perceptions held by a school business administrator for his position with the perceptions of his principal role set.

Interviews were held with the school business administrator and 17 members of his role set to determine perceptions of the role expectations and actual role performance. For each question on the role set interview instrument, frequency distributions were constructed and then converted into relative frequency distributions expressed as percentages.

The interview data was used to compare role expectation and role performance as perceived by the role incumbent; to compare role expectations and role performance as perceived by the …

Character Education, Patricia S. Friend

Theses and Dissertations

The focus of this project was to develop and implement a character education program at the Upper Township Elementary School. This intern has endeavored to develop and implement a character education program at the Upper Township Elementary School in an attempt to improve interpersonal relations. This intern created a resource manual for teachers, assisted in the training necessary to implement this program, collected and analyzed data evaluating the effectiveness of the program.

During the duration of this research study, the intern developed and refined several leadership competencies in the area of school administration. This intern effectively applied human relations skills …

A Study And Intervention Of Excessive Absenteeism At Bridgeton High School, Sandra H. Myers

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate reasons that students were absent and to study policies or programs that could help decrease absenteeism for students. The intern used an action research design by surveying students and interviewing teachers. The sample cluster in this study consisted of the students attending the Summer Credit Completion Program at Bridgeton High School. The population in which inferences were made was the student body at Bridgeton High School. The information, however, can be generalized to any special needs high school or one that is comparable in socioeconomic status.

The intern looked at three areas …

Case Study On Mainland Regional High School's Pilot Program On Block Scheduling, Matthew A. Jamison

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this case study was to discover and evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of block scheduling at Mainland Regional High School. The major focal point of this case study was the perceptions on block scheduling of teachers, students, and parents.

This study blends the richness of qualitative research with the range of quantitative research. Approximately 180 sophomore students participated in the pilot program. Four teachers volunteered to teach the classes in the pilot program. The students completed a pre and post survey. At the conclusion of the first semester, random students were chosen to be interviewed. All the …

An Interdisciplinary Approach To Integrated Curriculum, Lynda Kozicz Leahey

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the effectiveness of the interdisciplinary approach to teaching mathematics and science, specifically Geometry and Biology. The study used an action research design in which two teachers participated in a planned interdisciplinary activity that involved 160 high school students. The site of this study was a high school located in a middle-class, rural-suburban community. Data was gathered using a concept map to measure the amount of conceptual understanding students have of the relationship between Geometry and Biology. Data of those students who were enrolled in both Geometry and Biology were compared to those …

Middle School Discipline: In Need Of Solutions, Robin L. Moore-Robinson

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract available.

Collaborative Teaching Relationships And The Inclusion Of Sixth Grade Students, Richard C. Panas

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to describe and evaluate the effectiveness of implementing inclusion within a collaborative teaching framework in the sixth grade using an action research design. Based on the parameters set forth in a student's Individualized Education Program (IEP), the schedule to determine if a student's goals and objectives are being met is measured quarterly by report card. Ultimately, whether or not a student achieves the minimum level of proficiency as outlined in the IEP for social studies, science, mathematics, and language arts serves as the benchmark for determining whether or not the student's placement is appropriate. …

Evaluating The Impact Of Block Scheduling, John Joseph Hourani

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate and describe the effectiveness of a 4x4 semester block schedule with respect to academic achievement, discipline, attendance and the school climate of Penns Grove High School. A longitudinal trend study design was utilized to compare statistics from the school's first two years under the block schedule to the school's final two years of the traditional schedule. Such statistics include the frequency of students obtaining A's, F's, and honor roll status, as well as monthly attendance rates, and discipline referral counts. Additionally, a modified action research design is used to examine the new …

A Risky Business: A Study Of Retention, Sue H. Kinsey

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to describe and evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention program of remediation and academic mentoring on the academic success of students failing grade seven who were placed in grade eight. The study was conducted in the Clearview Regional Middle School during the summer preceding and including the 1998-99 academic year.

Data was gathered from test scores, mid-marking period progress reports, marking period grade reports, summer session teacher reports and interviews, and weekly and monthly classroom teacher reports. Information was also provided through parent, teacher, and student questionnaires. The data was analyzed using percentiles to …

An Impact Study Of The Positive Benefits Of A Technology Course On Students' Critical Thinking Skills, Jerry J. Marinacci

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the positive benefits to students enrolled in the new Applied Technology course offered at Bridgeton High School. The intern wishes to determine if the course has enhanced students' ability in critical skills such as: communicating, teamwork, problem solving and critical thinking.

The study will focus on students' ability to define and solve real world problems as presented in a high school technology laboratory. The design of the study was based on qualitative research of students' ability to identify criteria, develop possible solutions and solve problems of a technical nature based on pre-test …

Developing And Implementing A Daily Schedule Which Promotes Professional Collaboration And Meets The Needs Of The Students At The Lakeside Middle School In Millvile, New Jersey, Scott M. Sheppard

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this report was to develop and plan a daily schedule which promotes professional collaboration and meets the needs of the students at the new Lakeside Middle School. A properly structured schedule contains the organizational elements for delivering the curriculum to meet the needs of the students.

This research program involved the students in grades 6, 7 and 8. The students and staff are housed in four different schools throughout the district. A commercial building has been converted into the first true middle school (grades 6-8) in the history of the district. The school opens in September of …

Reform: In Search Of A Rationale, Ada R. Barlatt

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the implementation of the Core Curriculum Content Standards at Pleasantville. The district, a special needs (Abbott district), receives 85% of its funding from the state, therefore, must provide all children with a "Thorough and Efficient" education.

Two separate groups of students were studied. One group represented the current students in grade 10 and the second group represented the current students in grade 9. Also included in the study were teachers, counselors, administrators and employers.

The overall approach in this study was to use several methods to investigate the effects on a local …

Combination Of Heterogeneous And Homogeneous Grouping To Achieve Better Reading And Math Scores, Diane R. Cioffi-Longo

Theses and Dissertations

This report described the process used, for an elementary school with a student population of approximately 587 students, to investigate the existing reading and math programs offered to students. The preliminary research indicated a need for an extended staff development program, and the implementation of advanced methodologies. The conclusions of the project, as a whole, provided data which emphasizes the need for growth in reading and math pedagogy awareness with the district of Glassboro.

Purposed preliminary investigation strategies included; (a) interviews with reading and math teachers, regular homeroom teachers, and teachers in other academic disciplines; (b) a review of documents …