Education Commons^™

A Correlational Study Examining The Relationship Between Invented Spelling And Beginning Reading, Jane Mcdaniel Grove

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This research study was designed to investigate correlations between invented spelling patterns and beginning reading for low-performing and on-level boys and girls in kindergarten. Two research questions were examined: (1) Is there a statistically significant relationship between invented spelling as displayed in task and reading skills as measured by DIBELS? and (2) Does the performance displayed in task and reading skills as measured by DIBELS differ significantly for boys and girls in kindergarten? Student performance data was gathered using extant school Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) benchmarks at collected at midyear of kindergarten. It was hypothesized that …

Moderator Notes, Patricia B. Humphrey, Senate Executive Committee

Faculty Senate: Index

No abstract provided.

Role Of The Senate Moderator, Patricia B. Humphrey, Senate Executive Committee

Faculty Senate: Index

No abstract provided.

An Investigation Of The Impact Of Visual Culture On Visual Arts Practice And Visual Arts Education, Robyn Roper

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This research project is based on the premise that school students have a right to an education that assists them to "develop a sense of personal meaning and identity, and be encouraged to reflect critically on the ways in which that occurs." (Curriculum Frameworks, 1998, Values, Statement 2.2 Personal meaning: 325). Not only should education offer students a sense of well being, it should make a difference to their lives and foster an appetite for life long learning. A key ingredient that makes for a rich, fulfilling and rewarding life, is an understanding of visual culture, that according to Freedman …

The Perceived Influence Of Some Trainee Characteristics And Conditions For Transfer On Training Outcomes, Jude E. Balm

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

While training is an important organisational development strategy, training transfer is increasingly being recognised as a key issue in ensuring the effectiveness of training and obtaining a return on investment. This study examines the transfer of training following on from a specific experiential learning program that was aimed at increasing the skills of a group of staff within a unique public sector organisation in Western Australia. The aim of this course was that staff would then be able to achieve a key performance indicator for the organisation at the identified target of 99.99% performance. The study is based on the …

Teacher Torque: A Research Project Investigating Student Cognitive Engagement Through Observations Of Non-Verbal Responses To Certain Forms Of Classroom Questions, Moya A. Lewis

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This research project investigates student cognitive engagement through observations of nonverbal responses to certain forms of classroom questions. The basic assumption of this thesis is that education is the intentional act of expanding or evolving each individual student's model of the world. This study explores the non-verbal responses that various forms of questions generate in order to assess the level of student thinking that occurs as a direct result of the question. It looks at responses to closed, open and schema accessing questions to discover the role that they play in the expansion of student schema. The expected readership of …

Cognitive, Emotive, And Behavioral Techniques For Depressed Children And Adolescents, Brianna G. Wilcox

Graduate Research Papers

Cognitive, emotive, and behavioral techniques for treating depression in children and adolescents are outlined. The importance of prevention and early intervention is stressed, with an emphasis on application to the school setting. Cognitive contributors to depression, disputation strategies, and behavioral interventions are explicated within the framework of Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT). The efficacy of REBT is cited in reference to numerous research studies.

English Language Learners In The Integrated Middle School Science Classroom, Julie A. Fee

Graduate Research Papers

This paper will answer three questions relating to limited English-proficiency students. First, what historical changes have occurred to improve education for the LEP student? Second, what information do teachers with adolescent LEP students, especially students who have recently immigrated, need in order to run a happy and successful class? Last, what strategies and philosophies should be used to help ESL students compete academically with their American born classmates?

Effectiveness Of Wilderness Therapy, Cody A. Williams

Graduate Research Papers

This paper examines the literature in the field of Wilderness Therapy in order to evaluate the current state of research, and the basic format of how Wilderness Therapy works. The theoretical base of Wilderness Therapy is discussed to provide conceptual framework and describe how the therapy could be launched into mainstream therapy. The techniques of Wilderness Therapy are explained for better understanding of how the therapy works. In conclusion, Wilderness Therapy appears to be a viable alternative for the treatment of emotional and behavioral problems amongst adolescents and adults. Recommendations for the future are for more research and better understanding …

The Implications Of Anger And School Violence, Ronda Hilbert

Graduate Research Papers

A series of highly publicized school shootings in the Untied States generated the misperception of an epidemic of school violence. Fears of school violence stimulated an ill-advised expansion of zero tolerance school discipline policies and the widespread distribution of profiles or warning signs of potentially dangerous students for use by school administrators. This paper presents that little is known about student threats of violence, although students in special education tend to commit disciplinary violations at a higher rate than regular education students according to some studies. Threats of violence pose a dilemma for educators, who must balance federal requirements, the …

Utilizing Geographic Education Research To Increase Learning In A Seventh Grade Geography Course, Eric Uwe Schulz

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this paper is to review the current condition of geography education, to examine current research in geographic education, and to create a plan to improve student learning in my classroom. It outlines the re-emergence of geography education in the secondary setting and considers the quality of the national geography standards. A descriptive narrative of current geographic education research is used to determine best instructional practice and is aligned with Colorado's Model Geography Standards to link the current research with curriculum. The results of the research are then used to evaluate and improve the curriculum, pedagogy, and assessment …

Effective Strategies For Reading Improvement, Susan Pelleymounter

Graduate Research Papers

Longfellow Elementary has had a history of poor results on the Iowa Test of Basic Skills. To address the problem, many innovations have been implemented such as Small Group Reading Instruction, vocabulary building, phonemic awareness, and sight word instruction.

This study was completed in an effort to determine if what teachers did on a daily basis to teach reading had an impact on students. This is important because teachers need their teaching to be efficient and effective. Test scores must increase at our school and we need data to prove that what we are doing is worthwhile. The question for …

English Language Learner Program At Irving Elementary : Finding A Life Preserver For Sink Or Swim Education, Pamela Argotsinger

Graduate Research Papers

Each year the United States becomes more ethnically and linguistically diverse and as a result, so do our schools. Students from non-English speaking backgrounds represent the fastest growing subset of the K-12 student population. In the 2003-2004 school year, 5.5 million school-age children were English language learners (Leos, 2004). As school districts across the country are faced with initiating and implementing programs for these learners, they must factor in the high stakes of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act and the possible impact of a new group of test scores on their adequate yearly progress.

The purpose of this …

Could Distributed Curriculum Improve The Itbs Scores Of Non-Proficient Students?, Lesli Lancey-Wensman

Graduate Research Papers

Will the use of a distributed math curriculum improve the outcomes of students who consistently score between the 20th and 30th percentile on ITBS tests? That question and others are addressed in this paper. The purpose of this study was to determine what strategies were being used for math instruction, if those strategies were working for all students, and whether a distributed curriculum would improve the math outcomes of students with disabilities who were not working at their current grade level.

Strategies To Improve Reading Fluency In The Elementary Classroom, Jill Marie Vorwald Sampson

Graduate Research Papers

This paper examines the importance of instructing students in strategies to improve reading fluency. Research shows that very little class time is currently spent on teaching reading fluency and this paper provides instructional strategies that teachers can employ in their classrooms. The strategies discussed are Reader's Theater, paired reading, buddy reading, modeling, repeated reading, and Read Naturally.

Research has proven all of these strategies to be effective, and this literature review describes the usefulness of these strategies. The importance of reading fluency instruction and technology integration has also become a key issue as new technologies are regularly introduced. The use …

Reading Motivation In The Elementary Classroom, Maria E. Youngblut

Graduate Research Papers

This literature review offers suggestions on how to increase reading motivation in the elementary classroom. This review will look at ways to influence students to read. Reading motivation can affect a students' ability to learn how to read. Also, it will examine different aspects and techniques, and discuss how these components affect reading motivation in the elementary classroom setting. Overall, examples of ways to increase reading motivation will be investigated.

Reciprocal Teaching As An Instructional Strategy To Increase Reading Comprehension, Paula Thome

Graduate Research Papers

The primary focus of this study has been to evaluate the implementation of a new instructional strategy called Reciprocal Teaching. Reciprocal Teaching was designed to improve reading comprehension by teaching students strategies needed to monitor comprehension and construct meaning (Palincsar, 1986). Central Middle School was identified as a School In Need of Assistance (SINA) in 2002 after failing to meet proficiency guidelines established by No Child Left Behind (NCLB) regulations. After being identified as a School in Need of Assistance, Central was required to develop a plan to address curricular areas in which students were not proficient. One area Central …

Inside The Stress Of A Police Officer's Job : What Mental Health Counselors Should Know, Molly J. Wertz

Graduate Research Papers

Police officers have a unique responsibility within the job. They must learn to cope with stress, adrenaline, and fear during working hours while protecting themselves as they are protecting society. Becoming burdened and overwhelmed by the stress of the job can have many consequences, including suicide attempts and the development of post-traumatic stress disorder. This paper will examine primary stressors a police officer encounters on and off the job, suicide, posttraumatic stress disorder, peer support, as well as implications for counselors.

The Impact Of Parental Involvement On Children's Literacy Development, Annette L. Wohlers

Graduate Research Papers

Reading is a growing concern in the United States. Many students are leaving the educational system not ready to deal with the literary demands of everyday life and/or higher education. Factors that support students' growth in reading were reviewed. One specific factor that has a significant impact on literacy, which was a focus, was involvement of parents. What parents can do to assist their children's literacy development and attainment were also reviewed. A parent pamphlet design on reading at home came about from obtained information from the reviews.

The Many Faces Of Distance Education, Albert Dantoni Wiggins Iii

Graduate Research Papers

This literature review discusses the educational applications of distance education by examining its historical foundations, its presence and effects on educational curriculums, and its future. The purpose of this literature review is examines research on the topics of how distance education operates and what role distance education plays in the field of education. The conclusions formed within this document are based upon literature reviewed about the topic of distance education and a personal interview. This review has led to a conclusion that distance education offers non-traditional students opportunities to educate and re-educate themselves while simultaneously allowing traditional students a chance …

Peer Tutoring And Technology Integration : You Too Can Make It Happen!, Brandy Smith

Graduate Research Papers

Technology is motivating to students and brings with it a sense of empowerment. This article looks at a successful model of technology integration. This model comes in the form of an after-school club called the "Tech Club" built upon a peer tutoring model. A lead teacher trained third grade student leaders, or the "Tech Kids" to facilitate technology "how-to" sessions in their classrooms. After learning technology basics, this core group of Tech Kids visited different third grade classrooms to teach their peers this magic. This article explains how this peer tutoring model greatly empowered these third grade students and allowed …

Community Building In The College Classroom: Understanding The Facilitator's Role In Encouraging Community Formation, Joanne Marie Peterson

Honors Program Theses

For more than thirty years, educators have been pushing for the development of community within schools. In 1974, Gene Stanford and Albert E. Roarke wrote about the destructive potential of the then current attitudes about education. Teachers and students had specific roles to fill, and education was seen as competition between peers. Stanford and Roarke suggested that the best educational practice should rely on collaboration among students and teachers. Twenty-five years later, Mara Sapon-Shevin reiterated the view that classrooms must support cooperation and eliminate discomfort and fear from the classroom environment to maximize student learning. Today, teachers and administrators speak …

A Critical Analysis Of No Child Left Behind, Kelli Brooke Dostal

Honors Program Theses

The purpose of this thesis is multifaceted. First, I will provide an overview of the main provisions of the NCLB Act. For each provision, I will review a range of criticisms of the new legislation expressed by prominent scholars in the field of education. These criticisms include problems with: underfunding, accountability of testing requirements, expanded parental options, local control and flexibility, the validity of evidence-based practices, and the assessment of teacher quality. Finally, I will examine how these concerns have been addressed by the legislators and offer some thoughts on the on the appropriateness of NCLB.

His Story/Her Story: A Dialogue About Including Men And Masculinities In The Women’S Studies Curriculum, B. Berila, J. Keller, C. Krone, Jason A. Laker, O. Mayers

Faculty Publications

The article discusses the issue of inclusion of men and masculinities in the Women's Studies curriculum. Women's Studies programs were started to compensate for the male domination in the academics. Women's Studies presented a platform where scholarship for women was produced and taken seriously, female students and faculty could find their say or voice, and theoretical investigations required for the advancement of the aims of the women's movement could take place. If the academy as a whole does not sufficiently integrate Women's Studies into the curriculum, integrating Men's Studies into Women's Studies might end up further marginalizing Women's Studies by …

Seeing Fluency First Through The Kaleidoscope Of Grammaring, Martha Iancu

Faculty Publications - Department of Sociology

Fluency First inspires second language students to become readers, a major step forward in their language and academic development. By providing meaningful content and practices that nurture all language skills in accord with the grammaring principles and practices proposed by Larsen-Freeman, Fluency First offers great promise in the struggle to overcome the inert knowledge problem.

Effectiveness Of Instructional Strategies To Enhance The Reading Achievement Of At-Risk Students, Leila Christenbury

MERC Publications

Certainly researchers and teachers are in agreement regarding the components that are needed to read successfully and have a good idea of the skills that proficient readers consistently use. When children or older students are not able to read well or fluently or to comprehend their reading, the specific intervention strategies – and their duration and intensity – to bring those readers up to skill level remains an area of serious debate. This report will attempt to provide some background regarding that controversy and to look at selected recent research and its implications.

Restrictiveness And Race In Special Education: The Issue Of Cultural Reciprocity, Howard P. Parette

Faculty Publications - College of Education

The issue of segregation of students with disabilities across cultural groups
is a function of cultural values demonstrated by charter schools and the
resulting dissonance between these values and those demonstrated by
families. Lack of understanding about school culture and diverse family
value systems can lead to varying family responses to the school culture,
including assimilation, integration, separation, and marginalization.
Assuming a posture of cultural reciprocity is suggested as a means for education professionals in charter schools to more effectively understand families of children with disabilities. This four-step process includes (a) identifying the education professional’s interpretation of family and child …

The Challenge Of Environmental Protection, Jennifer Mattei

Biology Faculty Publications

Connecticut is in the midst of a demographic transition to a period of lower population growth. These demographic changes will help check the pressures exerted on the state's natural resources by population growth. Water, air, soil, energy sources, food, fisheries, forests, and biodiversity are common pool resources upon which we depend in ways that transcend political boundaries. Those governing Connecticut should help turn the state into a model of how to manage natural resources by halting forest fragmentation, reducing pollution, and promoting environmental science education.

Ab Initio : A New Concept In Engineering Education, A History Of The Design, Creation And Implementation Of A New School Of Engineering In Richmond, Virginia (1990-2000), Henry A. Mcgee Jr.

VCU University History Books

Dr. Henry A. McGee, Jr., Founding Dean Emeritus of the School of Engineering at Virginia Commonwealth University, chronicles the history of the School of Engineering through his term as Founding Dean, 1994–1999. McGee details the process of creating a program aimed to balance innovation and entrepreneurship.

Wen Hua Ding Wei Yu Gao Zhong Sheng Yin Jiu Xing Wei Zhi Jian De Guan Xi [Cultural Orientation And Chinese Adolescent Drinking], Jianping Xue, Ian Newman, Duane F. Shell, Xiaoyi Fang

Department of Educational Psychology: Faculty Publications

Objective: To explore a relationship between culture and alcohol drinking
Methods: Questionnaires on western cultural influence and drinking practices were administered to 1,091 tenth, eleventh, and twelfth grade students in five senior high schools in Beijing in January 2002.
Results: The mean cultural orientation scores for the three drinking groups were statistically different, F = 30.64, p=.03. A post hoc test indicated that significant differences in cultural orientation existed between non-drinkers (X=2.98, SD=.28, N=388) and occasional drinkers (X=3.08, SD=.27, N=418) and between non-drinkers and regular drinkers (X =3.13, SD=.26, N=149)
Conclusions: The more westem-oriented the students were the more likely …