Education Commons^™

A Model Literature Curriculum Guide For The Secondary Learning Disabled Student, Peggy G. White

Theses and Dissertations

This Literature Curriculum Guide has been prepared for Learning Disabled Students enrolled in special English classes at Hardaway High School in Columbus, Georgia. It was motivated by the observation that curricular materials for secondary Learning Disabled pupils were limited to content in grammar and other aspects of written language. Literature as content for these pupils had been completely overlooked.

Secondary English instruction, when using grammar only as content, is restricted to productive aspects of English. This restriction would necessarily deprive the Learning Disabled pupil of experiences with the heritage of literature shared and enjoyed by their peers. And, Learning Disabled …

Assertiveness As A Characteristic Of Females In Male-Female Relationships In Selected Adolescent Novels From 1967-1976 And 1977-1986, Wanda Hagler

Theses and Dissertations

This descriptive study dealt with the subject of female assertiveness in male-female relationships as portrayed in adolescent novels. The hypotheses were that a more contemporary attitude toward women would be reflected in the past decade's literature for adolescents by featuring women who act more assertively in dating relationships, and that there would be a difference in the behavior of females in the novels published between 1967 - 1976 and those published between 1977 and 1986 with females of the former period assuming a more passive role in male-female relationships. Fifteen representative novels of each period were analyzed, and data were …

A Curriculum For The Moderately Mentally Handicapped For Recreational And Leisure Skills, Krista S. Lee

Theses and Dissertations

As a teacher of moderately mentally handicapped. students, I often ask myself, am I doing enough for my students? Am I giving them all I can? My answer at·3:45 p.m., as I walk out of my classroom on tired feet, is an emphatic yes. And I think, even in my rested moment, that I am giving much to my students. We all are. As we look back to where we've come from, we can see the great advances we have made in education for the handicapped. They are being given better education than ever in the ·history of education.

But …

Recruitment And Retention Of Special Educators For Rural School Systems, Margie Oliver-Hay

Theses and Dissertations

There is nothing new about teachers leaving their profession. Teacher turnover has always occurred. But when education loses its most experienced and mature teachers, there is cause for concern. When smaller rural districts lose their best teachers both in regular and special education teacher turnover may be a crises!

Recruitment and retention of special and regular educators is becoming an extremely serious problem for rural areas. Enrollments in college and in education departments are decreasing. Women, who once were the dominant force in the teaching ranks, are being attracted to other fields such as medicine, engineering, computer science, and law. …

An Investigation Of Multicultural Education In Public And Private Schools At The Primary Level, Karon K. Greyer

Theses and Dissertations

Thirty public school early childhood teachers and seventeen private school early childhood teachers were surveyed to compare 1) their attitudes toward multicultural education; 2) their access to multicultural materials and methods; and 3) the frequency with which they actually utilize multicultural materials and methods. The North Carolina Multicultural Education Survey was completed by both teacher groups. Four scale scores and a total score were compared using a t-test. The results of the study indicated no significant difference between public early childhood teachers and private early childhood teachers on either of the four scale scores or the total score. Both teacher …

Newberry Award Books Of 1950-1959 And 1970-1979; Do They Reflect The Characteristics, Attitudes, And Problems Of Families Of These Periods?, Willie M. Anderson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine whether Newbery Award books of 1950-59 and those of 1970-79 reflect the characteristics, attitudes, and problems of families of these periods.

Through a detailed analysis of each book, a compilation of data, and a comparison to actual, contemporary conditions, the researcher found that the books analyzed did reflect the society of those periods. The structure of society, and the characteristics, attitudes, and problems of the characters were accurately portrayed in the books of each period.

A Screening Test For Anomia In Children, Danni Odom-Winn

Theses and Dissertations

It is essential for success in American society that people speak, read, and write well. Educators are mandated with the early diagnosis and correct of problems that detract from these essential competencies. Inadequacies in the formative years, if not correct, become virtually irreversible in later years.

It is generally held that object-naming begins between 12-24 months of age (Bloom and Lahey, 1978). This is the corner stone of communication. A deficiency at this stage of development will severely limit a child's communicative skills throughout his or her entire life.

A Descriptive Survey Of Archaeological Sites Discovered During A 1984 Draw Down Of Lake Harding, Tom J. Meltzer

Theses and Dissertations

During the Fall of 1984, Lake Harding was drawn down thirty-three feet. A number of previously uninvestigated archaeological sites were exposed during this low water period.

Members of the Lower Chattahoochee Archaeological Society carried out a researcher designed survey of the exposed lake bottom. This survey revealed 131 distinct archaeological sites.

Identification of hundreds of artifacts recovered from the exposed sites has allowed this researcher to document evidence as to the presence of six Indian periods, Paleo, Paleotransitional, Archaic, Woodland, Mississippian, and Historic, during the past 10,000 years at Lake Harding.

Each site yielding identifiable artifacts, assignable to a period …

Piagetian Concrete And Formal Cognitive Development And Ninth-Grade Achievement In Physical Science, Dale H. Joiner

Theses and Dissertations

The Purpose of this investigation was to determine if differences in achievement among ninth-grade physical science students are a function of the cognitive level of the physical science curriculum and students' stages of cognitive development.

Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development proposes that all students progress through a series of development stages but not necessarily at the same rate. The final two stages of Piaget's developmental theory are termed concrete and formal respectively and were the focal point of this study.

A series of Piagetian tasks designed to reveal evidence of concrete and formal levels of development were administered to …

The Implementation Of Teacher Assistance Teams As A Prereferal, Cathy C. Webb

Theses and Dissertations

The increasing population of special education is a problem. The framework of PL 94-142 guarantees a free and appropriate education to all children in the least restrictive environment. The U.S. Department of Education figures show that from 1976-1977 the states provided special education and related services to 8.2 percent of children enrolled in public schools. The figure for 1970- 1980 grew to 9.5 percent (Algozzine, Ysseldyke, & Christenson, 1983) which was a three percent per year growth rate. Further analysis of Algozzine, Ysseldyke and Christenson's studies (1983) showed that approximately 92 percent of those students referred were tested and 73 …

Writing Apprehension: Can Sentence Combining Help?, Anne B. Trawick

Theses and Dissertations

This study tested the hypothesis that seventh-grade students who practiced a regimen of sentence-combining would have less apprehension about writing than students who were taught composition in the traditional mode. The subjects were four intact classes of seventh-grade students whose average IQ of 99, who were 12.2 years of age, and who were in classes for students who worked on or near grade level. Each teacher administered to the experimental group the sentence-combining treatment for two class periods a week over a nine week period and taught the control group composition by conventional methods the same amount of time. The …

An Analysis Of The Changing Roles Of Female Characters In Newbery Award-Winning Fiction Since 1964, Connie C. Smith

Theses and Dissertations

Twenty-four novels were selected from the list of Newbery Medal and Honor books because they dealt with contemporary themes and settings. These books have been .analyzed by categorizing each major or supporting adult female character into one of five categories of the "Occupational Prestige Rating Scale'' (Appendix A), based mainly on salary ranges. Major or supporting female characters were categorized by the "Leadership Potential Scale'' (Appendix B), based on leadership qualities described in each of the five groups. Both instruments were developed by the researcher. Two tables of frequency counts indicate the range of major and supporting female characters for …

The Use Of Oral Communications Courses In High School To Increase Skills In Language Arts, Sylvia C. Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to see if there is any difference between the reading and English test scores (TASK= Stanford Test of Academic Skills) between those high schoo1 students who take oral communications courses and those who do not take such courses.

This study used a sample of 40 students enrolled in oral communications courses from three randomly selected high schools. The comparison sample included 40 randomly selected students enrolled in Phase II English courses at the same schools.

The Stanford Test of Academic Skills served as both a pretest and a posttest for scores for all of …

An Investigation Of The Effects Of Teachers' Locus Of Control And Attribution Training Upon Risk-Taking And Locus Of Control Of Pre-School Children, Deborah Chamberly

Theses and Dissertations

he purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of teachers' locus of control upon the locus of control and risk-taking behavior of four- and five-year old preschool children. The scores on Rotter's Internal-External Locus of Control Scale were used to assess the teachers' locus of control. Scores on the Preschool and Primary Nowicki-Strickland Internal-External Control Scale were employed to determine locus of control of the students. A risk-taking situation was devised to evaluate this behavior in the subjects, and attribution training activities were selected. Control and experimental groups were identified and the treatment administered accordingly. Pretest and posttest …

Reasons American Indian Students Do Not Typically Choose Industrial Education As A Major At Byu, Sam Canyon

Theses and Dissertations

It was the purpose of this study to examine reasons why American Indian students do not typically choose Industrial Education as a major at BYU. To identify reasons American Indian students do not typically choose Industrial Education as a major, a questionnaire was developed. This questionnaire obtained data about personal information, reasons for not choosing Industrial Education as a major, reasons not included in the survey, Industrial Education background, and other general information related to the study. The questionnaire was administered on and off BYU campus to 122 identified American Indian students. Ninety- two students completed and returned the survey, …

Essay Writing In College Mathematics And Its Effect On Achievement, Gerald Lee Burton

Theses and Dissertations

This experiment was designed to determine the effect essay writing has on learning introductory level college mathematics, learning mathematical skills, problem-solving and mathematical applications, and the retention of new knowledge in mathematics. The independent variable was the writing of essays. Essay writing included responding to questions assigned as homework and addressing mathematical situations presented in in-class activities. The dependent variables were overall achievement, skills, applications, and retention in each of these areas. The sample consisted of five classes of introductory-level algebra at Virginia State University. The experimental group consisted of 50 students in two classes; the control group was made …

The Effects Of Vertical Acceleration In Mathematics, Amy Willis

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of vertical acceleration of students who had taken algebra in the eighth grade. A questionnaire was administered to seniors to determine the attrition rates and their perceived success level in subsequent mathematics courses. All seniors in four high schools in a large school district in Georgia completed the questionnaire. Responses of those seniors who had taken algebra in the eighth grade were analyzed by examining the percentages and frequency counts. The study revealed a high attrition rate for the senior year mathematics course and perceived success levels that were not …

A Survey Of Seventh And Eighth Grade Science Curricula In Georgia. Is There A Need For Specific Objectives?, Doris P. Lord

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the science curricula being used in Georgia in the seventh and eighth grades. This information was used to determine any inconsistencies and the need for more specific guidelines at the State level to improve any transfer problems of students. The survey responses showed no significant problem with students transferring within the state. Responses also showed that a majority of either the curriculum directors or science teachers preferred a more specific description of the State Basic Curriculum Content. The survey indicated that Life Science is taught the most often in the seventh grade …

The Relationship Between Environmental Awareness And Academic Achievement In Elementary School Children, Earl T. Leindecker

Theses and Dissertations

One hundred and seventy two sixth grade public school students were surveyed to investigate the possibility of a relationship between the children's perception of the cleanliness of the academic environment and the students' level of academic achievement. Utilizing a Pearson product-moment coefficient, student responses on a researcher-prepared Likert-type scale were correlated with the Normal Curve Equivalency Score for the reading portion of the Stanford Achievement Test. Analysis of the statistical data revealed a negative .139 correlation. The positive directional hypotheses cannot be accepted. However, the null hypothesis must be retained because of the negative .139 correlation at the .05 level …

Five Computer Programs Developed For Secondary Social Studies, Thomas W. Griffin

Theses and Dissertations

This project consists of five computer programs developed for secondary social studies classes. Two tutorials and three games make up the programs.

The tutorials present how the President is elected, with a computer title of "Election," and how a bill becomes a law, with a computer title of "Make-Law." The two programs are divided into an information section, based on the Muscogee County School District curriculum guide, a review section, and a test section. The objectives of the tutorial programs are to have the studentsidentify the sequential events that make up the Presidential electoral process and the legislative process, to …

The Ever Present Past: Thoreau's Perception And Use Of History In Walden, Kathleen Tracy Alonzo Fineran

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this project was to explore Thoreau's historical perspective and to examine how his perception of history is reflected in his major work Walden. Regarding the scope of the project, three dimensions of Thoreau's perception and use of history were treated: his belief in a historical continuity of experience; his belief in historical truth as myth; and his quest for the American past. Regarding the limitations of the project, Thoreau's thought and other works were only drawn upon as they served to provide a context for discussion and no effort was made to reconcile any ambiguities in Thoreau's …

An Analysis Of The Black Image In Children's Literature In Terms Of Characterizations, Illustrations, And Language, Joan Smith Dickson

Theses and Dissertations

This descriptive study analyzed two samples of children's literature to determine the frequency, if any, of negativism toward black people in terms of characterizations, illustrations, and/or language. One sample consisted of eighteen (18) books published prior to 1965 which had been removed from elementary school libraries because they were "outdated and portrayed black characters in a demeaning, stereotyped manner" (Lisby, Note 1). The second sample of twenty-five (25) books published since 1965, depicting at least one major black character, was randomly selected from elementary school libraries. The two samples of books were read and analyzed using a checklist instrument to …

The Image Of Southern Americans In Selected High School Anthologies, Betty Jenkins Aiken

Theses and Dissertations

This study was a descriptive investigation of the allocation of space to Southern writers and of the image of Southern Americans in selected high school anthologies. The materials analyzed were sixteen high school anthologies used in grades nine, ten, and eleven during the 1984-1985 school year by eight high schools operating in a system of approximately 25,000 students in the southern region of the United States. The instrument used to measure allocation of space was a simple mathematical procedure. To measure the directionality of content, frequency counts were used. The results revealed both positive and negative aspects of the textbooks …

The Effects Of Head Start On Cognitive Development, Gloria Toelle

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to compare Head Start students with non-Head Start students in first grade to see if there were significant differences in cognitive achievement. A posttest only design was used, and a factorial analysis of variance was used as the statistical analysis at the .05 level of significance. Both sex and Head Start comparisons were made, but no significant findings were found. However, it was noted that boys who went to Head Start were able to achieve as much as the girls who did not. Since boys are usually less ready for school, the conclusion from …

The Origins Of Shaw High School, Muscogee County, Georgia 1969-1978, Bob Scarbrough

Theses and Dissertations

Shaw High School is unique among the high schools Columbus. Shaw is the only high school in Columbus to utilize team teaching and open space education. The origins of Shaw High School are narrated within the context of a generation of national experimentation with open space education, and the contributions of key individuals to the school's development are described.

Georgia's Literary Heritage: An Illustrated Literary Map Of Georgia, Betty Ostrander

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this project was to design and produce a literary map of Georgia that would be of instructional use to English teachers in secondary schools. The illustrated map depicts the setting of major works which are placed in Georgia. Locations within the state relevant to the lives of various Georgia authors are also shown. Accompanying the map are biographical sketches of the authors. The map and the biographical information should provide teachers with support material for a study of Georgia's literature.

A Descriptive Study Of The Relationship Of Teaching Level And Subject Area Assignment To Teachers' Attitudes Toward Critical Thinking, Patricia Barnes Walker

Theses and Dissertations

This study describes teachers' attitudes toward critical thinking: their definitions of critical thinking, the importance of critical thinking in their daily lives, how important it is to them that their students use critical thinking in class, whose responsibility it is to teach critical thinking, and who or what has influenced their attitudes about critical thinking. Each of these aspects of critical thinking was analyzed by teaching level (elementary, middle, or high school) and by subject area assignment (English, social studies, mathematics, science, and "other") to determine if relationships exist between these attributes and attitudes toward critical thinking.

The population sample …

The Role Of Salicylates On Thermoregulation And Respiration On The Male Human During Exercise, Riad Mahayni

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) upon thermoregulation and respiration. Eight adult males whose ages ranged from 19 to 33 years were asked to engage in this study. The respiratory parameters included oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production, respiratory quotient, minute ventilation, and breathing frequency. The thermoregulatory parameters included rectal temperatures and total skin temperatures. Before experimentation commenced, each subject underwent a maximum oxygen consumption test (VO₂ max) to determine 60% of their VO₂ max. Each of the eight subjects walked at 60% of their VO₂ max up an appropriate …

An Adaption Of A Student Team Learning Technique To Selected Objectives Of The Muscogee County English Course Of Study For Grades Five And Six, Steve Olive

Theses and Dissertations

This project adapts selected objectives of the Muscogee County English Course of Study for grades five and six to a student team learning instructional method known as Teams-Games-Tournaments (TGT). This method uses a cooperative classroom reward structure and peer tutoring to build peer support for achievement. Extensive research has shown TGT to be very effective.

Included in the adaptation package are TGT implementation instructions for teachers, all materials necessary for using TGT for one six-weeks period in fifth and sixth grade English classes, and directions for developing materials to use with other objectives. The materials were field tested with one …

Labor Strikes In The Columbus Textile Mills During The Summer Of 1934, James H. Creek

Theses and Dissertations

One major and three minor textile strikes occurred in Columbus, Georgia, during the summer of 1934. Each minor strike centered around issues at separate mills -- the Muscogee Manufacturing Company, the Georgia Webbing and Tape Company, and the Eagle and Phenix Mills. On September 1, a nation-wide general strike began. Eight of the twelve mills in Columbus were inoperative due to the strike, and three of the remaining four mills were forced to shut down on the second day of the strike due to the high number of strike sympathizers among their employees. Approximately 12,000 workers struck for higher wages, …