Curriculum and Instruction Commons^™

Learning Through Meaningful Work: The Post Office Job At City & Country School, Scott Moran

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This independent study is a description of the Post Office job at City & Country School. The school runs a jobs program for children ages eight to thirteen years old (third - eight grades). The eight year old group runs the school Post Office. Chapter 1 presents an introduction to City & Country School. Chapter 2 discusses the Post Office job and its development through the course of a school year. Chapter 3 discusses the developmental orientation of the jobs program. Finally, chapter 4 raises other topics for discussion, including the possible sociopolitical implications and subject integration issues involved in …

A Neighborhood Curriculum For Kindergarten And First Grades, Kathy L. Rubin

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This paper is a curriculum study of a school neighborhood designed for children ages 5 through 7. The goal of this study is to provide an opportunity for students, who at this age are beginning to expand outward from the roots of their homes and families, to understand their next immediate neighborhood (their school). They will have a chance to meet people who work in the neighborhood, learn about how we get around and from where things come. And then, from that vantage point the students can begin to broaden their perspective and view of their world.

This study is …

Using Children's Literature And Parental Involvement To Facilitate Reading With Primary-Age Children Through A Literacy Backpack Program, Tami Marie Scrivner

Graduate Student Projects

The purpose of this project was to create a home literacy backpack program to increase children's reading skills with parental help through the use ofliterature that is relevant and meaningful to the students. Research that was reviewed showed students learn how to read through a balanced form of instruction using children's literature. Reviewed research also indicated parental involvement to be positively related to children's success in school. Materials necessary to put together 35 take home backpacks are included in this project. Conclusions, recommendations and suggestions for implementation of the backpack program are also discussed.

Integrating Literature Into The Science And Social Studies Curricula: A Curriculum Guide For Grade Two, Jennifer M. Donald

All Graduate Projects

The adoption of the Open Court reading program in conjunction with the Washington Read's Grant was the initial idea for this project. The integration of science and social studies themes was researched, and found to be beneficial in the teaching of those content areas. A handbook for second grade educators was created to integrate the adopted science and social studies topics with the newly adopted reading curriculum at Vale Elementary in Cashmere, Washington. This handbook contains a scope and sequence, literature libraries for three reading achievement levels, the benchmarks and essential learning's for the designated topics, and suggested activities for …

A Curricular Design For Integrating Writing With Science: A Benchmark Handbook Approach, Marci Jayne Gano

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of the project was to create an integrated science and writing benchmark handbook. Review of the literature, Washington State Academic Learning Requirements for science and writing, published scie.nce lessons, and teacher's guides were utilized. Classroom teachers, district and school science and writing goals were consulted in the creation of this project. The activities presented in all five units were designed to provide hands-on experience in both science and writing. Possible assessment options are also provided.

Integrating Expeditionary Learning Philosophy And Principles Into The Middle School Social Studies Curriculum, Paul Andrew George

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to create a handbook of activities for eighth grade social studies teachers that are based on expeditionary principles, philosophy and pedagogical practices. A review of the literature focused on the academic and social implications of integrating expeditionary philosophy and practices into an academic enviornment. A model learning expedition was provided accompanied by various forms of assessment strategies and methods.

Centers For Promoting Emergent Literacy In The Primary Grades, Elizabeth Greaves

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to design classroom Literacy Centers incorporating the Washington State Essential Academic Learning Requirements that promote emergent literacy skills in primary level children. Using Literacy Centers to enhance a child's ability to read, write, listen, and communicate is the focus of this project. The centers are intended to be a hands-on and authentic method of learning for young children. The review of relevant literature shows that this option provides positive experiences in a primary level classroom. Adaptable center plans are included as well as management and assessment suggestions.

Multiple Intelligence Theory And Seventh Grade Mathematics: A Handbook Of Activities, Mechelle Lynn Devries Lalanne

All Graduate Projects

Multiple intelligence theory was investigated; a description and history of the theory, as proposed by Howard Gardner, is provided. The multiple intelligence theory as it relates to education, particularly mathematics education, was reviewed. A handbook of activities was created to provide a resource for seventh grade teachers that will assist in the application and integration of mathematics across the range of multiple intelligences in their classroom. Assessments that resemble the Washington Assessment of Students Leaming are included, in order to develop skills necessary to meet the Essential Academic Leaming Requirements of Washington.

Motivating Marginalized Youth Through Health Related Service-Learning, Jane Klara Miller

All Graduate Projects

The project provides secondary health teachers who work with marginalized youth with a handbook of service-learning ideas in six units to incorporate into the curriculum. The handbook allows students to utilize the skills they have learned in the classroom by participating in service-learning activities in their community. Students involved in all stages of the service-learning process gain confidence to take ownership of the program allowing for success. By connecting the community and schools through learning, students are given the opportunity to explore their talents, get to know their communities, strengthen developmental assets and learn from one another.

Teaching Students To Be Self-Directed Readers Through The Use Of Comprehension Strategies Instruction And Personal Response, Tamera L. Neveu

All Graduate Projects

The focus of this project was to review available literature on reader response and comprehension strategies instruction, and create materials to be used by teachers as they work toward improving comprehension instruction in their classrooms. Research shows that in order to help students become independent readers who are self-motivated and strategic, teachers need expertise in both reader response and comprehension strategies instruction. The project includes instructional frameworks, lessons, and techniques that can be used to implement reader response and comprehension strategies instruction in the classroom.

A Model Reading Skills Guide For Secondary Teachers To Support Classes Across The Curriculum, Keith Edward Swanson

All Graduate Projects

The need for students to learn reading skills in each of their core subject areas was studied. A skills guide, supported by research on effective reading strategies and assessment tools, was then developed to help promote successful reading by secondary students across the curriculum. The guide offers teachers various pre-reading, duringreading, and post-reading activities to enhance the reading done by students in their classes. It also provides assessment tools to enable teachers and students to measure their progress.

Brain-Based Learning: Implications For The Elementary Classroom, Brenda Van Roekel

Master of Education Program Theses

Recent developments in neuroscience have enabled scientists to understand and image brain activity. Brain researchers are now more able than ever before to understand how the brain works, what affects the brain, and what implications these discoveries have for education. Based upon these discoveries new methods of teaching have been devised using the term, brain-based strategies or brain-based learning. This thesis examines some of the brain-based strategies embraced by leaders in this field. It will pay particular attention to the enriched environment, the effect of emotion on learning, and the concept of sensitive or critical periods. It will examine research …

A Study Of The Reported Long-Term Attitudinal And Behavioral Effects Of An Eighth-Grade Environmental Education Project And The Development Of An Innovation Configuration To Promote Environmental Education, Jean Lomino

Dissertations

Problem. Increasing scientific evidence reveals that this planet is in serious environmental jeopardy. Since 1977, when an international group of K-12 educators met in the USSR and established goals for teaching environmental education worldwide, many schools have endeavored to fulfill these goals through the use of various curricula and teaching strategies. Although some progress has been made, most K-12 public schools have not done enough to meet the demands of environmental problems. In 1996, my co-teacher and I designed and implemented an environmental project, called Mission Environment, that we hoped would help our students develop long-term positive environmental attitudes …

Messages For Girls: Looking At The Representation Of Women's Short Fiction In American Literature High School Anthologies, Aurelia Ramage Tippett

Legacy ETDs

The purpose of this qualitative study was to answer the question "What messages about the image of womanhood are available to adolescent females in female-authored short fiction that appears in a variety of American literature textbooks used since 1965, a few years preceding racial integration and widespread coverage of the women's movement in rural Georgia, through 2000?"

Five American literature anthologies that were used in the Laurens County Georgia School System for instruction in the required American literature course since 1965 were collected. Short fiction written by women was identified and then the researcher identified those women writers whose short …