Education Commons^™

Discipline That Builds Student Self-Discipline, Lory O'Brien

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to explore the effectiveness of a discipline method that builds student self-discipline in the interaction of high school teachers and their students using an action research design. Implementing a discipline system that builds student self-discipline means increasing the effectiveness of teacher management of disruptive students and decreasing the number of disciplinary referrals that are sent to school administrators.

A strategy for training seventeen volunteer teachers in a new disciplinary technique was planned, implemented and evaluated. The teachers involved in the study participated in three workshop sessions designed to teach them a discipline strategy that …

A Quantitative Study Of The Relationship Between Academic Achievement And The Developmental Study Of Vocal And Instrumental Music, James R. Ponter

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine whether a quantitative relationship existed between academic achievement as measured by California Achievement Test scores and the involvement of high school students in the developmental study of vocal and instrumental music.

The California Achievement Test Level 20 (CAT-5) scores of a cohort of 170 students were evaluated from grades nine and ten. Students were grouped according to whether they were involved in developmental vocal music, instrumental music, vocal and instrumental music programs, or no music study.

Reading, Language, and Mathematics scores for students in music programs were compared to non-music students using …

The Multiage Classroom, Gertrude E. Ward

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to gain a thorough understanding of the multiage classroom and to compare the academic and social performance of students in the traditional type classroom to students in a multiage classroom.

The subject of this study were 24 students in the traditional fifth grade classroom at the Hurffville Elementary School and the 30 multiage students in the fourth and fifth grade multiage classroom at the Thomas Jefferson School.

The academic performance was evaluated through the use of curriculum based tests in the area of Reading and Math. Student surveys were used to compare the development …

A Study Of The Educational Climate Of A Suburban Middle School And The Effects Administrative Decisions Have On That Climate, Joseph C. Beierschmitt

Theses and Dissertations

Statement of Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to discover the organizational climate of Collingswood Middle School by using a survey of the students and the staff to evaluate the institutional climate. The data was used to target specific behaviors to make institutional changes that would hopefully improve the climate of the school. The result of these changes were then evaluated with a second survey to determine the effectiveness of the organizational changes.

Description of Methodology:

The study for the assessment of the organizational climate involved surveying the views of the school's administration, the staff, and the students of …

Transition Services For Students With Severe Disabilities, Valerie A. Gardner

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine transition services that schools provide students with severe disabilities and their parents prior and beyond the students' high school graduation. The researcher hypothesized that local educational agencies provide an adequate curriculum and instruction for transition from school to adult life, but once the students graduate, the funds and services diminish, therefore providing inadequate service to support transition planning. The research involved informal interviews and surveys with public and private schools and the parents of students with severe disabilities. A total of nine public and private schools, and four parents who had a …

Increasing The In-Seat Behavior Of A Third Grade Boy With Adhd Using Positive Reinforcement And Self-Reinforcement, Michael J. Miltenberger

Theses and Dissertations

An ongoing challenge for all teachers, especially special education teachers, is developing intervention programs to control the behavior of their students. The author of this research project attempted to improve the in-seat behavior of a third grade boy with ADHD by implementing a behavior modification program using positive reinforcement and self-reinforcement. The author used positive reinforcement for five weeks before moving on to the self-reinforcement portion for an additional twelve weeks. The purpose was to increase the subject's in-seat behavior while also having him become actively involved in his behavioral program. The results show that the subject's in-seat behavior did …

The Use Of Performance Assessment In The Middle School Resource Room, Kimberly Ann Powell

Theses and Dissertations

This study focused on the use of performance assessment in the middle school resource room. I hypothesized that formally stating criteria used for evaluation would increase student performance and positively affect students' finished products. The size of the subject sample was ten students, ranging in age from 10 to 15 years and enrolled in grades four through eight. The students were all designated as Eligible for Special Education. Methods included observation, creation of materials, data collection, and formal evaluation through the use of rubrics. There were two phases of research throughout this study with results compiled for each term. Students …

The Use Of Social Skills Training And Its Impact On The Behaviors Of Elementary Students With Multiple Handicaps, Stephanie L. Winkler

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the use of social skills training and its impact on the behaviors of elementary students with multiple handicaps. The two main areas of focus were to improve social conformity and ego strength. Deficits were discovered in these two areas after a pre-test was given to the eleven subjects using the Burk's Behavior Rating Scale and after reviewing the students' Individual Education Plans (lEP's). The students then underwent a ten lesson unit that attempted to increase their social and peer interactions and therefore their self-esteem. The students were taught through modeling, prompting, discussion, direct instruction, role-playing, and discovery. …

Technology: An Imperative In Schools Today, Maria Malanga

Theses and Dissertations

This study identified, prioritized, and fulfilled technological needs of faculty and staff at an elementary school. A list of technological skills in ascending hierarchical order was devised. From the list, a needs analysis was devised. Through the use of the survey, the intern was able to glean a holistic view of the needs of the faculty. Due to financial constraints, the intern provided workshops to fulfill the needs. A comparison of skills both before the workshops and again afterward, showed a significant increase in computer competency in five of the eight indicators-specifically the ability to recognize hardware components, power up …

Changing Destinies: An Overview Of The Human Genome Project, Jennifer Lynne Watson

Theses and Dissertations

The Human Genome Project was initiated in 1988. Its purpose being to sequence the entire human genome, including the noncoding regions by 2005. Through the research conducted, due to the project, several genes associated with specific diseases have been identified. This paper is a review of the Human Genome Project and genes that have been associated with the onset of specific diseases. Cystic Fibrosis, a disease affecting the respiratory system, has been isolated to a gene on chromosome 7. Alzheimer's Disease, the disease which is most responsible for dementia, has several genes associated with its onset. These genes lie on …

Retesting Parent Training: Does Parental Training Increase Parents' Self-Concept, Ronald G. Stockwell

Theses and Dissertations

Similar to studies by Gordon and others, the purpose of this study was to retest and reinvestigate whether parent training increased the self-esteem of participants. Two groups (sample (n = 15) and control (n = 10)) were pre- and posttested (at 10 and 9 weeks respectively), using the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale: 2. Both groups showed high educational achievement and were Caucasian/White; the sample was 13 women, 2 men, while the control was 9 men and 1 woman; and, most reported above average incomes. The scores were analyzed using a repeated measures t test and non-parametric analysis, which did not find …

Effects Of Support Group Participation On Teachers, Scott Flanegin

Theses and Dissertations

The study observed, analyzed and evaluated the effects of support group participation on the psychological, emotional, and professional needs of teachers. The study used a qualitative research design to gather data on seven female high school teachers participating in a professional development group. The research instruments used included a pre- and post-survey, a questionnaire, and journal entries. The survey recorded data concerning each teacher's pattern of contacts with colleagues, level of job satisfaction, resources for problem-solving used by the individual, and demographic information. Data analysis tabulated and compared survey response percentages before and after the study. The questionnaire and journal …

Junior High In-Class Support: A Program Evaluation, Louise Sullivan

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to explore the effectiveness of a junior high school in-class support program in meeting the educational needs of students enrolled in that program by using a school-based case study method of inquiry. Additional purposes of this study include demonstration of this intern's leadership skills by using decision-making techniques, communication skills, evaluation techniques, and organizational management techniques. Methodology used in program evaluation was a stratified proportional 5% random sampling of students enrolled in Social Studies class for the years under study. Student grades and standardized group administered achievement test results were also analyzed, as were …

Using Television & Video To Teach English For Bilingual Students, Thu N. Nguyen

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the visual program was to stimulate the learning ability in an interesting way. Twenty bilingual students were organized into three condition groups; group A read with videotapes, group B read along and group C read textbook only. Group A and B were students of mixing levels of limited to close mastering level of speaking. Group C mixed students of limited English to none. There were six units of twelve lessons. The students of three groups took the same pretest and posttest for each unit. A final test was given out to measure the reading skills of previous …

Peer Mediation: One Component Of Student Conflict Resolution, Alicia A. Erney

Theses and Dissertations

The study was designed to identify the effectiveness of the peer mediation program instituted at Edgewood Regional Junior High School. A quantitative analysis would establish the validity of the program and replace perceptions with statistical documentation. The action based research design compared the number of disciplinary referrals resulting in suspension for fighting or student assault to the number of cases referred to mediation. The student population was comprised of approximately one thousand students in grades seven, eight, and nine. The mediation statistics were compiled on a monthly basis from the information contained on student forms that were kept as part …

The Effectiveness Of The Use Of The Picture Exchange Communication System (Pecs) On The Development Of Functional Communication Skills In Preschool Children With Autism, Patricia M. Martin

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the use of the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) on the development of functional communication skills in four preschool children with autism. The students involved in this study were enrolled in two preschool disabilities-autism classrooms. The classrooms were very similar in the routine and schedule they followed in addition to the teaching and behavioral techniques that were used with each student. Three students were pretested in September 1998, the fourth student was pretested in November 1998. All four students were posttested in March 1999 to measure their individual growth …

The Development Of A Code Behavior For Holy Name Parish School, Patricia Coonelly Munyan

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to review the current discipline code in the school and to revise it if necessary. The study was carried out at Holy Name Parish School in Camden, New Jersey. The predominantly Hispanic school had a student population of 96 in the sample group, grades five through eight. A committee comprising the intern, one faculty member, five students, and four family representatives reviewed the current code and examined codes of other schools.

The intern examined school records for statistics on student disciplinary problems and found that no formal records existed in this area. For her …

Acquiring Automaticity Of Basic Math Facts And The Effect That This Has On Overall Mathematic Achievement, Sandra S. Robinson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to prove, through a systematic approach, that teaching addition facts to mastery would improve the mathematics scores of second grade students. This study attempted to demonstrate that if a desired level of automatic recall of basic facts was achieved students would show improved scores on a nationally standardized test.

Basic math facts were taught to a group of students over several months and they were tested daily on speed and accuracy. Standardized test scores were then compared from the end of first grade (prior to the intervention) and end of second grade scores (after …

What Effect Will Increased Parental Involvement In Science/Biology At Woodrow Wilson High School Have On The Improvement Of Students Academically?, Lasandra Watkins

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to discover whether or not student achievement could be improved through the increased participation of parents/guardians for students enrolled in science classes.

High academic achievement in science courses has been rapidly declining for the past twenty or more years. With this decline in science has come a decline in the overall academic achievement of students.

To turn the tide of students failing to students excelling academically in the sciences, I believe that increasing the level and quality of parental involvement is "the solution" to this problem.

Students in my biology classes will participate in …

Interventions For Increasing Substitute Teachers In Camden City Public Schools, Linnell N. Wright

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to discover and describe any methods or strategies, which could be utilized to reduce or eliminate the shortage of substitute teachers in Camden City Public Schools. The design of the study was based on an action research model. Two areas of intervention were selected for the action research: (1) District level intervention and (2) Substitute teacher preparation intervention. Two populations were surveyed for data collection and analysis: substitute teachers who were new to Camden City Public Schools as of September 1998 and school district principals.

The surveys designed for this study were constructed to …

A Study Of The Use Of Voice Messaging Technology To Maximize School And Community Relationships, Luis A. Pagan

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to implement a district-wide voice messaging service that will bridge the gap between our parents and teachers, as well as to provide teachers, parents, and community a communications tool to ensure access and awareness with continuous information and education to all members of the school community.

Surveys were issued before and after the implementation of the Hotline to assess how families felt about the type and quality of communications they have with teachers and administrators at their children's school. Families from elementary, middle and high school were randomly selected to participate. This approach is …

The Effects Of Positive Intervention Strategies On At-Risk Twelfth Grade Students, Barbara M. Castleberry

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of positive intervention strategies on the attendance rate and academic progress of fifteen identified at-risk twelfth grade students using an action research design. Additional purposes of this study included demonstration of the intern's leadership skills in problem analysis, organizational ability, decision-making techniques and motivational ability. Mathematical analysis was used to determine if the attendance rate and grade point averages of the identified at-risk twelfth grade students increased or decreased over their attendance rate and grade point averages in the eleventh grade as a result of positive intervention strategies. Also analyzed …

The Effects Of Professional Development On Student Performance Of At-Risk Students, Carol Mizrahi

Theses and Dissertations

The study focused on effective instructional strategies that could be used to improve student performance in the classroom and result in a classroom failure rate of less than 25%. The effects of a professional development workshop presented on instructional strategies were examined as they related to student performance.

The sample of this research consisted of eleven teachers who were required to attend a district-developed instructional strategies workshop based on a midterm failure rate more than 24% during the 1997-98 school year. Four methods of data collection were used: evaluation form, participant observations, interviews, and review of students' grades. The data …

A Title Ix Assessment For The Athletic Department At Salem High School, David W. Suiter

Theses and Dissertations

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 provides legislative relief for females who were being denied participation opportunities in intercollegiate and interscholastic athletics.

In recent years there has been a substantial increase in the number of Title IX lawsuits brought against secondary institutions.

The purpose of this study was to perform a Title IX "self-audit" of the Salem High School Athletic Department and its programs. It was designed to identify any problems and recommend solutions.

It also provides a method for continued self-examination for the Salem City School District and any other secondary institutions interested in determining their Title …

Analyzing And Improving Team Teaching Practices In Southampton Township Schools, Susan C. Schaal

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to analyze current practices of regular and special education teachers working in inclusive settings. The methodology of this study was based on a pre and post test design. The Inclusion Team Teaching Analysis Protocol (ITTAP), developed by Rick Welsh, was administered prior to a four day team teaching training session, and again after the training session. This protocol was administered individually and confidentially. The sample consisted of three teams of teachers who had been team teaching together for varying amounts of time. The ITTAP was analyzed for purposes of comparison on twenty team teaching …

Study Of The African American Male Adolescent In A Suburban School District, Jane Anne Macwright

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the academic and social status of the African American male adolescent in a suburban upper middle class school district and compared the findings with the literature at large. Since most of the literature dealing with the African American male adolescent is conducted in an urban setting, the intent of this investigation was to determine if the same problems that confront today's African American male adolescent in urban centers are prevalent in suburbia. Research was a combination of quantitative and qualitative investigation. The quantitative research compared discipline referrals, grade point average, classification, demographics and referrals to the Pupil …

The Relationship Between Learning Process And Students Who Play A Band Instrument, Tinamarie C. Stanfa

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the learning processes of students who play a band instrument. The problem was to see if all band students process learning in the same manner.

Prior to the study, the researcher sent a letter to the building Principal and Board Of Education to get permission to conduct the research. Next, the researcher sent a permission slip-letter home to all band parents explaining the purpose of the study and what the results of the study would be, if they chose to know.

Once all the responses were received, the researcher administered the Learning …

The Effect Of Parental Monitored Practice On The Musical Achievement Of Sixth Grade Instrumental Music Students, Deborah A. Baldasarre

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of parental involvement on the musical achievement of middle school band students. The problem of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a parental monitored practice program on sixth grade instrumental band students' music achievement.

All sixth grade band students were given a letter the first day of school which explained the investigation and asked the parents if they would be part of the study. The parents' participation involved attending an informational meeting, monitoring their students' practice, and commenting where appropriate. Students recorded their weekly practice, obtained their parents' …

College Students In Developmental Reading Classes: Influences Of Learning Styles And Previous Instructional Methods In Grades K-6, Lynda E. Cucco

Theses and Dissertations

The ability to read is the very foundation of education at any level. This is particularly true at the postsecondary level. When institutions of higher education have open door policies it is incumbent upon them to provide assistance to any student requiring or requesting it. This assistance may take many forms. A formal course in developmental reading was the focus of this study. The purpose of the study was to determine if there was a relationship between individual learning styles, teaching styles, and teaching methods where the students enrolled in the developmental reading class had experienced success in grades K-6. …

The Effect Of A Student Orientation Program Upon Transfer Student Retention, And An Investigation Into The Causation Of And Potential Remedies For Transfer Student Attrition, Rebecca Norton Helm

Theses and Dissertations

This study focuses on the effect of orientation upon the retention of transfer students at a metropolitan university in the mid-south. The study was longitudinal in nature and utilized both a chi-square test to evaluate the difference in retention between transfer students who did and did not attend a new student orientation program, and a logistic regression to control for the effects of other well known influences of retention. The predictive model developed accurately identified 81.69% of persisters and nonpersisters. New student orientation, age, previous college GPA, and declaring a major were found to be significant predictors of retention; however …