Curriculum and Instruction Commons^™

Teachers’ Use Of Standardized Assessments To Monitor Learning And Its Impact On Student Reading Achievement, Eilyn Sanabria

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Reading instruction must be “intentional, systematic, and explicit” and “implemented by a knowledgeable teacher” (Ruetzel & Cooter, 2019, p. 87). The era of accountability has brought standardized assessments to the forefront of reading instruction. However, gaps about assessment-related and instructional practices and their impact on student achievement exist in the literature. The present study aims to provide needed insights on how these practices help or hinder, specifically, historically low-performing students.

Using student achievement and teacher survey data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study: Kindergarten 2011 (ECLS-K), and through the lens of data use theory (Hutchins, 1995; Spillane, 2012), hierarchical multiple …

An Evaluative Study Of The Rural Elementary Teachers’ Perspective On The Partnership Between Rural Public Elementary Schools And Nebraska Extension, Tammera Mittelstet

Department of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Science education reform is a new reality for Elementary Teachers who have found themselves in a paradigm shift as Nebraska implements its NCCRS-S standards. This reform and implementation process might benefit from the support of Nebraska Extension. The purpose of this evaluative study was twofold: (a) determine elementary teachers' awareness, current use, and future recommendations regarding extension resources in Nebraska’s rural elementary schools and (b) inform guidelines for future development of community partnerships and distribution of Nebraska Extension resources for elementary science instruction.

Data for this study was gathered using Qualtrics and was analyzed with SPSS version 27 software. The …

Poverty, Literacy, And Race: A Middle Scool Teacher's Iterative Investigaive Journey, Rebecca Tuttle

Department of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This study describes an iterative design process that helped me gain a better understanding of the problems (how motivation affects learning and gaining the trust of children that I worked with) I was inquiring about. The design process chronicles three iterations before reaching my final research question focused on building relationships with children of minoritized communities within their learning environment and integrating culturally relevant pedagogy into their learning. By combining these two strategies, the children in this study seemed to embrace being part of a culturally relevant experiment. The components of these iterations include pre-reading activities, read alouds, group discussions, …

Emergent To Fluent Literacy, Megan Blumenreich

Open Educational Resources

No abstract provided.

Effects Of The "Write Sounds" Program On Handwriting And Phonics Skills, Pam Bazis

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Reading and writing rely on related foundational literacy skills (e.g., phonological processing, phonological memory, phonemic awareness; Brooks et al., 2011; Graham & Hebert, 2010, 2011; Sanders et al., 2018). Therefore, students struggling with reading often have writing problems, including handwriting (Kandel et al., 2017; Sanders, Berninger, & Abbott, 2018). It is often difficult to determine the source of writing difficulties as they could come from uncertainty in how to form the graphemes, poor spelling skills, or organizational deficits (Berninger et al., 2008). This study aimed to determine the usability, feasibility, and promise of an integrated handwriting intervention on 33 students …

Patterns, An Approach To Learning Algebra And Developing Mathematical Thinking In Primary School In Honduras, Johana Elizabeth Thomas Zapata, Alejandra Cáceres

English Language Institute

No abstract provided.

Life Science - Animal Coats: Seasonal Change, Elizabeth Martinez

Model NGSS Lessons: Kindergarten - 3rd Grade

Animals and plants may be affected by winter. Many survival techniques enable the organisms to survive this season. Hibernation is a survival technique for some animals. Body systems, such as respiration and heart rate, are slowed and body temperature is lowered until conditions are supportive of coming out of hibernation. Other strategies for winter survival include dormancy, living at the bottom of a body of water, burrowing into the ground, migrating, and changing of body coloring to blend in with the snowy landscape. Other animals may change colors to better blend in with the winter landscapes.

Physical Science - Can You See It? Light And Its Properties, Elizabeth Martinez

Model NGSS Lessons: Kindergarten - 3rd Grade

Light is needed for humans to see. Light may also be used to communicate. As with sound, the type of medium used for passing the light through will be determined by the function of the communication. For example materials used in stoplights, stained glass windows, flashlights, and frosted glass all affect the output of light. When light strikes an object, many actions may occur. Two factors involved in this interaction are the type of light and the object itself. The light may bounce or reflect off of an object or pass through it. The quality of light transmission may determine …

Physical Science - Which Shovel? Engineering Challenge, Elizabeth Martinez

Model NGSS Lessons: Kindergarten - 3rd Grade

Shoveling snow and sledding often are winter activities in the Midwest. Both require a force to occur. Pushing or pulling on the item will have different effects on the movement of that item. In the case of sledding, a greater force may result in a faster speed or a greater distance covered by the sled. Applying a force in a different direction may result in a change of direction of the object. Shoveling is more successful when the shovel is pushed rather than pulled.

Earth And Space Science - Protecting From The Weather: Design Solutions, Brian Grublesky, Elizabeth Martinez

Model NGSS Lessons: Kindergarten - 3rd Grade

The Earth can be divided many different ways, one of which is by climate zones. Climate zones are classified by similar weather traits which have been observed for at least 30 years. Each climate zone has weather hazards. Extreme temperatures, cyclones, tornadoes, drought, and monsoons are just some of the hazards. Humans regularly build structures to reduce the impact of the climate, but extreme weather conditions can tax normal structures and new ones need to be constructed.

Engineering, Technology, And Applications Of Science - Build A Nest: Changing The Environment, Elizabeth Martinez

Model NGSS Lessons: Kindergarten - 3rd Grade

Both plants and animals are dependent upon their environments for survival. However, in order to get the sustenance, they need, organisms often must alter their environment to meet their needs. Some animals gather and store food for a season due to times of extreme temperatures, ground conditions, and availability. Many bury food in the ground, while others store food in plants. Usually, the limbs or hollowed out sections of the trunks of trees are used, though some animals do store their food in densely populated areas of low plants. http://www.discoverwildlife.com/british-wildlife/how-identify-animal- food-stores provides a detailed list of some animal actions, while …

Engineering, Technology, And Applications Of Science - Winter Clothing Challenge: Engineering, Elizabeth Martinez

Model NGSS Lessons: Kindergarten - 3rd Grade

Students in kindergarten develop the understandings of basic needs, weather patterns, the concepts of push and pull, engineering, and the applications of science. Through identification of patterns, determination of cause and effect, investigation of structure and function, as well as systems and system models students begin to make sense of the natural world. Developmentally appropriate use of science and engineering practices prepares students for more complex phenomenon. December through February comprise the winter season in the Northern hemisphere. Changes in temperatures, forms of precipitation, types of storms, and preparedness plans occur during winter. Average daily temperatures in the Chicago area …

Life Science - Look At That: Pollinators, Elizabeth Martinez

Model NGSS Lessons: Kindergarten - 3rd Grade

Pollinators are responsible for moving pollen from one flower to another flower of the same species or from one part of a flower to another part of the same flower. Moving the pollen from the stamen, male part of the flower, to the stigma, the female part of the flower, completes pollination, and results in the fertilization of a plant so that seeds may be produced to ensure reproduction.

Pollination involves animals such as butterflies, bees, wasps, insects, spiders, hummingbirds, and bats. These animals may deliberately visit a flower to gather pollen or accidently collect pollen while seeking …

Life Science - Time To Eat: Patterns In Survival, Elizabeth Martinez

Model NGSS Lessons: Kindergarten - 3rd Grade

Both plants and animals are dependent upon their environments for survival. However, in order to get the sustenance they need, organisms often must alter their environment to meet their needs. Some animals gather and store food for a season due to times of extreme temperatures, ground conditions, and availability. Many bury food in the ground, while others store food in plants. Usually, the limbs or hollowed out sections of the trunks of trees are used, though some animals do store their food in densely populated areas of low plants.

Earth And Space Science - Weather And Climate: Graphical Displays, Elizabeth Martinez

Model NGSS Lessons: Kindergarten - 3rd Grade

Weather and climate are related to one another. Current conditions and seasonal descriptions are considered weather, which include precipitation, temperature, wind speed and direction, cloud cover, and barometric pressure to name a few. Each season has its unique features based on weather and amount of daylight. Thirty years’ worth of weather pattern data are analyzed to determine climates.

Annual and monthly temperatures, as well as precipitation data are the basis for climate zones. Landforms, proximity to oceans, and sea level also contribute the traits of the zones.

Latitude is used to geographically delineate climate zones. The higher the latitude, the …

Physical Science - What's That Sound? How Sounds Are Generated, Elizabeth Martinez

Model NGSS Lessons: Kindergarten - 3rd Grade

Many organisms have the ability to communicate with sound. Sound allows organisms to learn more about their surroundings. Sirens, ringing of phones, musical instruments, animal sounds, and the human voice are a few examples of using sound to communicate. Sound is produced when an object vibrates. As demonstrated in the diagram below, the vibrations cause the medium’s particles, usually air, to move and allow the sound to travel in a singular direction. This longitudinal movement dictates the volume in which sound is heard; standing in the path of the longitudinal wave increases the probability, thus the volume, of hearing the …

Life Science - Plant And Animal Traits: Young And Old, Elizabeth Martinez

Model NGSS Lessons: Kindergarten - 3rd Grade

Living organisms reproduce offspring and go through life cycles. Some offspring may look similar to their parents, while others look very dissimilar to theirs. Immature organisms that look similar to their parents will share some, but not all traits with their parents. This may be observed in many types of plants and animals. Examining the similarities and differences assists in identification, grouping, and classification.

Earth And Space Science - What's The Weather?: Patterns, Elizabeth Martinez, Patrick Young

Model NGSS Lessons: Kindergarten - 3rd Grade

Students in kindergarten develop the understandings of basic needs, weather patterns and severe weather. Through identification of patterns, determination of cause and effect, investigation of structure and function, as well as systems and system models students begin to make sense of the natural world. Developmentally appropriate use of science and engineering practices prepares students for more complex phenomenon. December through February comprise the winter season in the Northern hemisphere. Changes in temperatures, forms of precipitation, types of storms, and preparedness plans occur during winter. Average daily temperatures in the Chicago area range from a high of 36°F to 18°F as …

Physical Science - Patterns And Predictions: Forces And Motion, Elizabeth Martinez

Model NGSS Lessons: Kindergarten - 3rd Grade

A push or a pull, a force, is needed to set an object in motion. This requires objects to interact with one another. Types of interactions may be grouped into two broad categories. Direct contact between and among objects, such as friction, is one group. Interactions may also occur across a distance. Magnetic and gravitational forces are included in this category. Results of these forces are observable. Careful observations can lead to prediction of future results of interactions. The use of qualitative and quantitative observations assists in the development of predictions.

Additional Documents, Elizabeth Martinez

Model NGSS Lessons: Kindergarten - 3rd Grade

No abstract provided.

Additional Documents, Elizabeth Martinez

Model NGSS Lessons: Kindergarten - 3rd Grade

No abstract provided.

Physical Science - Make It: Physical Properties, Elizabeth Martinez

Model NGSS Lessons: Kindergarten - 3rd Grade

Physical properties of matter are those that can be observed without changing the chemical composition of the matter. Size, shape, color, flexibility, texture, solubility, melting point, and odor are just a few physical properties. Using these observations is helpful in classifying matter and determining which materials would be ideal for various uses. For example, something that dissolves in water would not be useful in making beverage cups.

Physical Science - Magnetic Cars: Forces And Motion, Patrick Young

Model NGSS Lessons: Kindergarten - 3rd Grade

Any moving electrical charge surrounds itself with a magnetic field. The electrons moving around within atoms are no exception. In most materials, the electrons are spinning and moving in random directions and their individual fields cancel out, leaving the material with no overall magnetic field. In some materials, however, the electrons can be organized so they all spin and move alike. Now their individual magnetic fields add together to produce an object with an obvious overall magnetic field.

Such an object, called a magnet, has a field with two poles, north and south. Like polls repel each other and opposite …

Earth And Space Science - Map It!: Geographical Features, Elizabeth Martinez

Model NGSS Lessons: Kindergarten - 3rd Grade

There are many geographical features on the Earth, each with its own traits. These landforms may have been formed by plate tectonics. If tectonic plates move toward each other, and collide. The land is pushed upward resulting in hills and mountains. Sometimes plates move toward each other and one plate is forced downward into the earth creating deep trenches.

The formation of new crust and volcanoes are just two features caused by moving plates. As plates move away from one another, water may accumulate resulting in lakes, streams, and rivers. As these water shapes expand, they may change into features …

Physical Science - Heating, Cooling, And Reversibility: Changes, Patrick Young

Model NGSS Lessons: Kindergarten - 3rd Grade

Heating or cooling an object will always change its temperature and may alter other properties as well. The temperature change is reversible, but changes to other properties might be irreversible. Heating, in particular, often causes chemical changes in which atoms alter their bonding to form new substances. Cooking an egg changes the egg in ways that cannot be undone. It cannot be “uncooked” into a raw egg.

Phase changes are generally reversible. Water can be frozen, melted back into liquid, boiled into vapor, and then condensed back into its original liquid form. When considering a manufactured object, however, phase changes …

Life Science - Life Cycle Modeling: Plant And Animal, Elizabeth Martinez

Model NGSS Lessons: Kindergarten - 3rd Grade

All living organisms go through life cycles, which consist of stages from birth to death. While these stages are similar, the appearance of organisms in different stages varies. An awareness of child development is important to consider while teaching life cycles. Some research indicates that when a student is in second grade, there is a shift in his or her understanding of organisms, from representations based on perceptual and behavioral features to representations that are more scientific. Children may begin to understand death as the cessation of life processes at about 9 or 10. People of all ages have a …

Additional Documents, Elizabeth Martinez

Model NGSS Lessons: Kindergarten - 3rd Grade

No abstract provided.

Additional Documents, Elizabeth Martinez

Model NGSS Lessons: Kindergarten - 3rd Grade

No abstract provided.

Physical Science - Under Pressure: Matter And Its Interactions, David Hernandez, Elizabeth Martinez

Model NGSS Lessons: 4th - 5th Grade

Air pressure, or atmospheric pressure, is the force exerted on objects by the atmosphere. Barometers are typically used to measure atmospheric pressure. Made of a liquid filled glass tube, the level of liquid will rise when the pressure increases and fall when the pressure drops. Lower barometric pressure tends to be associated with precipitation and cloudiness, while higher readings are related to sunshine and calmer weather. Air is made of invisible particles. The density of these particles is affected by atmospheric pressure. The greater the pressure, the more densely packed the particles are. In comparison, less pressure means a lower …

Physical Science - Gravity On Earth: Gravitational Force, Patrick Young

Model NGSS Lessons: 4th - 5th Grade

Gravity is a curious property of our universe. Gravity causes objects to attract each other with a force. The strength of this force depends on the masses of the objects and their distance apart. The direction of the force is from the center of one object toward the center of the other. Although the force is invisible, we can observe its direction by watching how objects move in response to the force.