Education Commons^™

The Effects Of Trained Teachers’ Integration Of Dialogic Reading Discourse On Hispanic English Language Learners’ Literacy Skills In Kindergarten, Isela S. Rodriguez

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This quasi-experimental Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) study explored whether the vocabulary and reading comprehension mean scores of Hispanic Kindergarten ELs whose teachers were trained to utilize Dialogic Reading (DR) discourse were higher than the mean scores of Hispanic ELs in kindergarten whose teachers were not trained to utilize DR discourse strategies. Sixty-three self-identified Hispanic, English Language Kindergarten students and four teachers participated in the study. The teachers were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (DR trained) or control group by drawing names from a hat. Student assignment to experimental versus comparison group was based on the teacher’s assignment to …

Effects Of Sex, Third Grade Reading Achievement And Motivation As Predictors Of Fourth Grade Reading Achievement Of Hispanic Students: A Path Analysis, Vivian M. Del Rio

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study explored the topic of motivation for intermediate students combining both an objective criterion measure (i.e., standardized test scores) and the self-report of students on self-concept and value of reading. The purpose of this study was to examine how third grade reading achievement correlated with the motivation of fourth grade boys and girls, and, in turn, how motivation related to fourth grade reading achievement.

The participants were fourth grade students (n=207) attending two public, elementary schools in Miami-Dade County who were of primarily Hispanic origin or descent. Data were collected using the Reading Survey portion of the …

Statistical Models For Predicting College Success, Yelen Nunez

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Colleges base their admission decisions on a number of factors to determine which applicants have the potential to succeed. This study utilized data for students that graduated from Florida International University between 2006 and 2012. Two models were developed (one using SAT as the principal explanatory variable and the other using ACT as the principal explanatory variable) to predict college success, measured using the student’s college grade point average at graduation. Some of the other factors that were used to make these predictions were high school performance, socioeconomic status, major, gender, and ethnicity. The model using ACT had a higher …

The Effect Of Reciprocal Mapping On High-Risk Sixth-Grade Students' Social Studies Achievement, Tina Cash

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Reading deficits in students in Grades 4 to 12 are evident in American schools. Informational text is particularly difficult for students. This quasi-experimental study (N=138) investigated sixth-grade students' achievement in social studies using the Reciprocal Mapping instructional routine, compared to sixth-grade students' achievement taught with a traditional approach. The Reciprocal Mapping instructional routine incorporated explicit instruction in text structure using graphic organizers. Students created their own graphic organizers and used them to write about social studies content. The comparison group used a traditional approach, students' reading the textbook and answering questions.

Students for this study included sixth-graders in the seven …

The Use Of Visualization, Onset-And-Rime, Story Read-Alouds, And Discussion To Improve Diverse First Graders' Vocabulary And Comprehension, Virginia Lynn Shoup Holderness

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

It has long been known that vocabulary is essential in the development of reading. Because vocabulary leading to increased comprehension is important, it necessary to determine strategies for ensuring that the best methods of teaching vocabulary are used to help students make gains in vocabulary leading to reading comprehension. According to the National Reading Panel, multiple strategies that involve active engagement on the part of the student are more effective than the use of just one strategy.

The purpose of this study was to determine if students’ use of visualization, student-generated pictures of onset-and-rime-patterned vocabulary, and story read-alouds with discussion, …

The Relationship Between The Use Of Academic Text Talk And The Comprehension Of Scientific Academic Language For Diverse Second Graders, Peggy Lee Mandel

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Changing demographics impact our schools as children come from more linguistically and culturally diverse backgrounds. The various social, cultural, and economic backgrounds of the students affect their early language learning experiences which expose them to the academic language needed to succeed in school. Teachers can help students acquire academic language by introducing words that are within their Zone of Proximal Development and increasing exposure to and use of academic language. This study investigated the effects of increasing structured activities for students to orally interact with informational text on their scientific academic language development and comprehension of expository text.

The Academic …

The Relationship Between Scaffolding Metacognitive Strategies Identified Through Dialogue Journals And Second Graders’ Reading Comprehension, Science Achievement, And Metacognition Using Expository Text, Iliana Franco-Castillo

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Poor informational reading and writing skills in early grades and the need to provide students more experience with informational text have been identified by research as areas of concern. Wilkinson and Son (2011) support future research in dialogic approaches to investigate the impact dialogic teaching has on comprehension. This study (N = 39) examined the gains in reading comprehension, science achievement, and metacognitive functioning of individual second grade students interacting with instructors using dialogue journals alongside their textbook.

The 38 week study consisted of two instructional phases, and three assessment points. After a period of oral metacognitive strategies, …

A Q-Methodology Approach To Investigating The Relationship Between Level Of Reflection And Typologies Among Prospective Teachers In The Physics Learning Assistant Program At Florida International University, Geraldine L. Cochran

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this mixed methods study was to understand physics Learning Assistants’ (LAs) views on reflective teaching, expertise in teaching, and LA program teaching experience and to determine if views predicted level of reflection evident in writing. Interviews were conducted in Phase One, Q methodology was used in Phase Two, and level of reflection in participants’ writing was assessed using a rubric based on Hatton and Smith’s (1995) “Criteria for the Recognition of Evidence for Different Types of Reflective Writing” in Phase Three.

Interview analysis revealed varying perspectives on content knowledge, pedagogical knowledge, and experience in relation to expertise …

A Relationship Between The Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test 2.0 Mathematics Scores And Racial And Ethnic Concentrations When Considering Socio-Economic Status, Esol Student Population, Marilys Galindo

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

From the moment children are born, they begin a lifetime journey of learning about themselves and their surroundings. With the establishment of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, it mandates that all children receive a high-quality education in a positive school climate. Regardless of the school the child attends or the neighborhood in which the child lives, proper and quality education and resources must be provided and made available in order for the child to be academically successful.

The purpose of this ex post facto study was to investigate the relationship between the FCAT 2.0 mathematics scores of …

Factors That Affect The Physical Science Career Interest Of Female Students: Testing Five Common Hypotheses, Zahra Hazari, Geoff Potvin, Robynne M. Lock, Florin Lung, Gerhard Sonnert, Philip M. Sadler

Department of Teaching and Learning

There are many hypotheses regarding factors that may encourage female students to pursue careers in the physical sciences. Using multivariate matching methods on national data drawn from the Persistence Research in Science and Engineering (PRiSE) project (n=7505), we test the following five commonly held beliefs regarding what factors might impact females’ physical science career interest: (i) having a single-sex physics class, (ii) having a female physics teacher, (iii) having female scientist guest speakers in physics class, (iv) discussing the work of female scientists in physics class, and (v) discussing the underrepresentation of women in physics class. The effect of these …

Perceptions Of French And Creole Among First-Generation Adult Haitian English Language Learners, Ildiko Barsony

South Florida Education Research Conference

This basic interpretive study investigated the literacy experiences of seven first-generation Haitian English language learners. During interviews and focus groups, participants expressed ambivalent feelings toward Creole and French and explained how their knowledge of these languages supported their English language learning.

Effects Of Number-Way Curriculum On Pre-Schoolers’ Mathematical Learning For Low Socioeconomic Status Children, Zhizhen Chen, Charles Bleiker

South Florida Education Research Conference

The objective of this research is to test the effectiveness of a game-based mathematical curriculum Number-Way in preschools for low socioeconomic status (SES) children. This curriculum contains fifteen interesting number games representing four main principles. The result indicated that this curriculum promoted early mathematical competence for preschoolers significantly.

Prospective Teachers Serving As Physics Learning Assistants’ Perspectives On Reflective Practice, Geraldine L. Cochran, David T. Brookes

South Florida Education Research Conference

A physics Learning Assistant (LA) program was established at Florida International University (FIU) for recruiting and preparing pre-service physics teachers. One goal of this program is to help prospective teachers to develop reflective practice. The purpose of this study is to understand these prospective teachers’ perspectives on reflective practice.

Family Literacy Practices: Traditions And Transitions, Althea Duren, Cynthia Januszka

South Florida Education Research Conference

Family literacy practices are discussed from a historical perspective, highlighting the similarities and differences from ancient to modern times. The content of a family literacy workshop is discussed and scripted lessons for parents are presented.

Content Analysis Of Outcome Assessment Of Global Learning Foundations Courses: A Case Study, Iryna Dzhuryak

South Florida Education Research Conference

This study used content analysis to interpret and evaluate outcome evaluation matrices of undergraduate Global Learning foundations courses. The findings revealed a lack of uniformity in the faculty members’ interpretation and implementation of global learning components in the coursework. Successful teaching practices and challenges were identified and classified.

School Administration Self-Efficacy: Change-Agents In An Environment Of Turbulence, Joseph Eberhard

South Florida Education Research Conference

This paper looks at the relationship of self-efficacy and principal effectiveness. More specifically, it finds that principals who are more self-efficacious are more likely to foster positive change within their schools.

Making A Case For Global Education: Revisiting Pre-Service Teacher Lesson Planning Methods, Renita Ferreira

South Florida Education Research Conference

Globalization has tightened the bonds of interconnectedness and interdependence among nation-states. Students are destined for careers that are profoundly international in nature. They need to develop global literacy aided by a global education. This paper mandates the need for global education as part of the pre-service teacher-training programs.

Social Learning Capabilities In Broward’S Black Male Success Task Force: Informing Collective Impact Initiatives, Suzanne Gallagher

South Florida Education Research Conference

Broward Schools is addressing an achievement gap for Black males with a collective impact initiative. Collective impact initiatives address complex social problems. The social learning capability of the initiative can be enhanced by applying Wenger’s (2009) social learning spaces, learning as citizenship, and social artists concepts.

Increasing Informal Learning Opportunities For Teachers In The School Setting, Amanda Giust

South Florida Education Research Conference

This paper comprehensively defines how to implement informal learning strategies into the classroom setting using Marsick and Watkins’s Incidental Learning Model (2001). Existing barriers that stand between educators and informal learning in the school setting are explained. Implications for removing said inhibitors while increasing learning are explicated.

Development Of A Game-Based Mathematics Curriculum For Preschool, Giselle Hernandez

South Florida Education Research Conference

America’s deficiency in mathematics can be benefitted by an emphasis in mathematics from an early age. An effective math curriculum for preschool should consist of the most important aspects of early childhood mathematics, including number writing and identification, one-to-one correspondence, cardinality, number comparison, ordinality, number sequence, and number bonds.

Life, Social Studies, And The Pursuit Of Happiness: Using Classroom-Based Multicultural Democratic Education To Challenge Conservative Notions Of Civic Education, Eduardo Hernandez

South Florida Education Research Conference

Bok (2010) argues civic understanding could improve student happiness by improving perceptions of politics and government, but the state of civic education in public schools keeps this from happening. This study argues that this notion of civic education is conservative by exploring Bok’s premises, social studies, and civic education.

Promoting An Operation Cease Fire Approach In Classrooms, Eduardo Hernandez

South Florida Education Research Conference

This study explores the problem oriented and public health models of youth crime prevention and how to better promote it in the average classroom through strategies and interventions in order to reduce gun violence.

The Framing Of The Aftermath Of The Chicago Teacher’S Strike, Eduardo Hernandez

South Florida Education Research Conference

The study explores the framing of the Chicago teachers strike in the media. The study uses content analysis of text from major media sources to find major themes in frames, theorize their purpose, and explore the reaction to them of teachers as public intellectuals.

Using Latcrit, Autoethnography, And Counterstory To Teach About And Resist Latina/O Nihilism, Eduardo Hernandez

South Florida Education Research Conference

Nihilism caused by inequalities and injustices hurts students of color. Educators can help these students with Critical Race theory and storytelling. Latina/o students also face nihilism but there is no clear solution. This study explores a way to use LatCrit in the K-12 classroom to fight for justice and equality.

The Lived Experiences Of African American Males In An Urban University Setting, Casandra Holliday, Nicole Yvette Strange

South Florida Education Research Conference

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore lived experiences of African American males who have advanced into higher education. The goal of the study was to identify reasons African American males attend college so higher education institutions can work toward increasing the number of African American males in higher education.

Interrogating Place, Space, Power And Identity: An Examination Of Florida’S Geography Standards, Sarah A, Mathews, Victor M. Barrios Jr.

South Florida Education Research Conference

In this paper, we examine Florida’s sixth-eighth grade geography standards to determine the potential for teaching critical geography, a field that interrogates space, place, power, and identity. While 57% of the standards demonstrated evidence of critical thinking, only six standards foster higher levels of critique consistent with critical geography.

“Learning The Ropes”: An Exploration Of Bdsm Stigma, Identity Disclosure, And Workplace Socialization, Carolyn Meeker

South Florida Education Research Conference

Relationship development is a key factor for workplace socialization. People with stigmatized identities often choose to (not) disclose experiences or identities due to potential consequences. A perceived need to not disclose stigmatized, BDSM-related activities or identities can restrict relationship development at work, which should concern human resource development professionals.

Cultivating A Community Of Practice Among Student Teachers And Cooperating Teachers, Raquel Munarriz-Diaz, Magdalena Castañeda

South Florida Education Research Conference

This study examined the experience of four student teachers and their supervising teachers who participated in a Community of Practice (CoP) during their internship semester. Their experience can be separated into the four key components of a Community of Practice: (a) structure, (b) processes, (c) content, and (d) conditions.

Digital Literacy: A Demand For Nonlinear Thinking Styles, Mark Osterman, Thomas G. Reio Jr., Mandayam Thirunarayanan

South Florida Education Research Conference

This paper makes a case for a direct relationship between digital literacy and nonlinear thinking styles, articulates a demand for nonlinear thinking styles in education and the workplace, and states implications for a connection between nonlinear thinking styles visual literacy, and intuitive artistic practice.

Richard Rodriguez, Norman Podhoretz, And Arnold Schwarzenegger: Learning English By “Immersion.” Really?, Francisco Ramos

South Florida Education Research Conference

A close look at the English acquisition processes of Richard Rodriguez, Norman Podhoretz, and Arnold Schwarzenegger reveals that, far from their contentions that they learned English by immersion, which led them to dismiss bilingual education, they benefitted from numerous sources of help largely unavailable to English Language Learners nationwide.