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Methods For Encouraging Economic Diversity In Academically Rigorous Courses, Karen Patricia Kraabel Jan 2010

Methods For Encouraging Economic Diversity In Academically Rigorous Courses, Karen Patricia Kraabel

All Graduate Projects

In International Baccalaureate (IB) classes at Thomas Jefferson High School, the economic status of students in honors classes does not reflect that of the school as a whole. The author sought ways to bring more students from impoverished backgrounds into rigorous courses. In this school, there is a strong coincidence between etlmic minority status and socioeconomic status. The author believed that in addressing the economic issue the ethnicity issue would also be addressed. This is a practical issue as well as a pedagogical one, because the school's scores on state-wide standardized tests are lower for economically disadvantaged students than for …


A Handbook For Developing And Implementing A High School At-Risk Reading Program, Tamara A. Deford Jan 2010

A Handbook For Developing And Implementing A High School At-Risk Reading Program, Tamara A. Deford

All Graduate Projects

This project is intended to serve as a guide and resource for the development of a reading intervention program for at-risk secondary students. The project consisted of the following three foci: 1) an initial review of the literature in the areas of adolescent literacy, the Washington State Three-Tier Reading Model, the reading intervention program Literacy First, and school environmental and cultural traits that foster success among adolescent students-specifically struggling adolescent readers, 2) a discussion of Othello High School's process of the selection of a secondary reading intervention program, and 3) a resource handbook, which included methods and processes that supported …


Differentiated Instruction, Tracy E. Winzer Jan 2010

Differentiated Instruction, Tracy E. Winzer

All Graduate Projects

The advantages of differentiated insh·uction compared to traditional direct instruction were contrasted aud compared in this study. The research examined the need for differentiation in public school classrooms with a wide range of student skill aud ability. The focus of the research was to determine whether or not differentiation is a sound and best teaching practice, and to what extent it should be incorporated into national curriculum instruction. The project centered on the creation of a differentiated unit for au eleventh grade U.S. Hist01y class. The unit is designed to accommodate a mixed-ability classroom by using differentiated instruction strategies. The …


Moving Past Oppression To Empowerment: A Framework For Infusion Of Positive Historical Attributes Of Diverse Populations In High School United States History Curriculum, Grifan Inglis Cayce Jan 2006

Moving Past Oppression To Empowerment: A Framework For Infusion Of Positive Historical Attributes Of Diverse Populations In High School United States History Curriculum, Grifan Inglis Cayce

All Graduate Projects

The relationship between student dispositions and content regarding historically marginalized cultures was studied. Research explored how the delivery by the teacher on challenging subjects would have a direct result on student dispositions and learning. The research supported the need to change the current approach of teaching United States history into a transformative model where students are challenged to think about history from different perspectives. Implications for curriculum delivery are discussed.


A Culturally And Linguistically Responsive Curriculum For Secondary Biology Teachers, Raquel Georgina Martinez Jan 2006

A Culturally And Linguistically Responsive Curriculum For Secondary Biology Teachers, Raquel Georgina Martinez

All Graduate Projects

Research was conducted in the following areas, which help support the need for a culturally and linguistically responsive curriculum for secondary biology teachers. The history of both bilingual education and science, the importance of bilingual education, a summarization of selected bilingual and ESL models, bilingual and science curriculum, supported bilingual research, standardized tests, science and ELL students, and in closing secondary bilingual research. Based on the conducted research, the curriculum was developed utilizing the late-exit bilingual model, preview/review, and the incorporation of the student's culture.


Motivating The Reluctant 9th Grade Reader In The English Classroom: An Educator's Guide, Christine Murphy Jan 2006

Motivating The Reluctant 9th Grade Reader In The English Classroom: An Educator's Guide, Christine Murphy

All Graduate Projects

Reluctant readers need support from all levels of government as well as from the community, parents and educators. Motivating reluctant readers and changing their attitude toward reading in order for students to be successful requires educators to discover the interests, dreams, and goals, of their students. Educators must invest the time and energy needed to view students as whole individuals in order to understand their reading needs, and to utilize best practices in an effort to improve student reading ability. ll1


Instructional Writing Strategies For The Secondary Teacher: A Handbook To Guide Content Area Teachers Implementing Writing Into Curriculum, Cathy S. Thompson Jan 2006

Instructional Writing Strategies For The Secondary Teacher: A Handbook To Guide Content Area Teachers Implementing Writing Into Curriculum, Cathy S. Thompson

All Graduate Projects

Secondary teachers are concerned that their students are having difficulties learning and retaining difficult concepts present in secondary curricula. Additionally, students may not be learning the content at a deep enough knowledge level to pass stringent high-stakes standardized tests required for graduation in the state of Washington. For students to succeed in the competitive global economy they must become self-monitoring critical thinkers. Research supports the use of writing-to-learn and content area writing strategies to facilitate metacognition and boost student learning. This project reviews the research in writing and metacognition, synthesizes the findings, and applies the results in a series of …


Using Pop Culture And Media Together With Effective Literacy Instruction: A Teacher's Tool Kit For Selah H.S. Read Write Class, Stephanie Marie Sevigny Jan 2006

Using Pop Culture And Media Together With Effective Literacy Instruction: A Teacher's Tool Kit For Selah H.S. Read Write Class, Stephanie Marie Sevigny

All Graduate Projects

A toolkit has been created to assist secondary teachers in using popular culture and the media in conjunction with explicit comprehension strategy instruction in the classroom in an effort to improve struggling students' comprehension. The toolkit consists of an introduction, examples and suggestions for using popular culture and media in the classroom, examples and guidelines for strategic comprehension instruction. CutTent literature and research regarding the use of popular culture and media in the classroom and effective comprehension strategy instruction were reviewed.


Curriculum Design To Teach High School Students: How To Pull Evidence From Text, Karen Marie Hughes Bray Jan 2005

Curriculum Design To Teach High School Students: How To Pull Evidence From Text, Karen Marie Hughes Bray

All Graduate Projects

Inadequate pe1formance of Washington State's public school students on national exams motivated the state legislature to pass the Basic Education Act in 1993. Graduation requirements were changed and expectations increased to specific skill levels in reading, writing, and several other subjects. The problem is that48% of North Central High School IO'" graders have averaged below standard in reading and 56% have averaged below standard in writing for the last six years. The project is designed to increase reading and writing skills at the high school level in classes outside of the academic arena by direct instruction. Washington State's Commission on …


A Model Service-Learning Curriculum For Rainier Beach High School, Seattle, Washington, M. Karen Harrington Jan 2005

A Model Service-Learning Curriculum For Rainier Beach High School, Seattle, Washington, M. Karen Harrington

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to develop a Service-Learning Curriculum for Rainier Beach High School, Seattle, Washington. To accomplish this purpose, a review ofrelated literature was conducted. Additionally, related information and materials from programs throughout the United States was obtained and analyzed, along with related materials from Seattle Public Schools.


Second Language Acquisition Through Reading, Comprehensible Input, Limited Grammar, And Cultural Study: A Handbook For The Secondary Language Teacher, Judith A. Willis-Nicolai Jan 2005

Second Language Acquisition Through Reading, Comprehensible Input, Limited Grammar, And Cultural Study: A Handbook For The Secondary Language Teacher, Judith A. Willis-Nicolai

All Graduate Projects

Second language practitioners share the goal that their students reach communicative competence in the target language. Recent research findings regarding learning, however, have spawned a debate that has driven teachers to rethink the efficacy of the traditional practice of direct instruction of language usage. The Standards for Foreign Language Learning, as well as research that examines second language acquisition, support content-based instructional strategies that employ sustained language use, cultural infusion, and contextual grammar instruction in a constructivist classroom. This project reviews that research, then synthesizes and applies the findings of the research through the development of units that implement strategies …


Preventing Plagiarism In The High School, Robin Brooke Rushing Jan 2005

Preventing Plagiarism In The High School, Robin Brooke Rushing

All Graduate Projects

The project provides high school teachers with a handbook to aid their effort in teaching summarization skills and MLA citation format. Because research articles have become easier to obtain over the internet, plagiarism among high school students has evolved and become a problem in American high schools. This handbook is not only a resource for teachers to utilize in their lesson plans, but provides various opportunities for students to practice key writing and research documentation skills.


Water Quality Assessment: A Hands-On Approach To Environmental Education, Tracy Lynn Royse Jan 2004

Water Quality Assessment: A Hands-On Approach To Environmental Education, Tracy Lynn Royse

All Graduate Projects

A water quality assessment lab manual has been created to assist secondary educators using the HACH water quality testing kits. It consists of ten chemical tests, a geological survey and a biological assessment largely based upon Washington State University's lab format and the Walla Walla County Conservation District's water study protocol. The lab manual also contains safety guidelines, a scoring rubric and an action plan research project. The environmental approach to science education used in the lab manual meets the Essential Academic Learning Requirements adopted by the Washington State Commission on Student Learning as well as the National Science Education …


"Through The Looking Glass:" Teaching Literary Theory In The High School English Classroom, Alethea Young Jan 2004

"Through The Looking Glass:" Teaching Literary Theory In The High School English Classroom, Alethea Young

All Graduate Projects

The project examines the historical context of Contemporary Literary Theories: Deconstruction, Marxist Literary Theory, Althusser's Theory ofldeology, and Feminist Literary Theory, through a review ofliterature. The project culminates in a 4-6 week unit on teaching Feminist Literary Theory, Marxist Literary Theory, and Deconstruction in connection with a unit on Rudolfo Anaya's award-winning novel, Bless Me, Wtima. The unit is designed for 10th grade Honors Language Arts classes.


An Interdisciplinary, Teaming Approach To History And English Instruction At The Secondary Level, Miles J. Caples Jan 2003

An Interdisciplinary, Teaming Approach To History And English Instruction At The Secondary Level, Miles J. Caples

All Graduate Projects

The relationship of integrating history and English objectives to enhance student achievement was studied. A model curriculum has been developed to connect U.S. History and American Literature content. Research has been obtained that indicates improved student learning when subjects are integrated in a relevant fashion. Secondary schools using interdisciplinary curriculum are showing improved GPA's, attendance and standardized test scores. Secondary teachers must align their daily lesson plans and assessments with the state essential learning's in both the history and language arts area.


William Blake: An Integrated Teaching Approach, Shawn C. Gaspaire Jan 2003

William Blake: An Integrated Teaching Approach, Shawn C. Gaspaire

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to explore the usefulness of providing integrated curricula in today's contemporary classroom. The literature review illustrates that integrated approaches to teaching improve classroom engagement rates, retention, and skill level across grade levels when compared to non-integrated environments. A tenweek model using William Blake as a catalyst is presented. The integrated approach using Blake incorporates history, English, the arts, vocational arts, communication, and the technologies. Implications of integrated curriculum and William Blake are discussed.


A Guide To Motion And Newton's Laws For General Science, Roger F. Hume Jan 2003

A Guide To Motion And Newton's Laws For General Science, Roger F. Hume

All Graduate Projects

This project provides activities in motion and Newton's Laws of motion. Besides instructions on how to perform the activity, a list of student selfassessment questions is provided to encourage further inquiry. The activities are also aligned with the Essential Academic Learning Requirements for the State of Washington. These activities are designed to supplement curriculum already being taught.


A Model Marketing Education/Store Management Program For Klahowya Secondary School, Karin K. Johannessen Jan 2003

A Model Marketing Education/Store Management Program For Klahowya Secondary School, Karin K. Johannessen

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to develop a model Marketing Education/Store Management program for Klahowya Secondary School. The model program was designed for implementation with second year (grades 11-12) marketing education students at Klahowya Secondary School, Central Kitsap School District, Silverdale, Washington. To accomplish this purpose a review of literature was conducted. Additionally, related information and materials from selected sources were obtained and analyzed, including a survey that was sent to marketing education teachers in the State of Washington.


Supporting Reading Instruction Of High School Students With Learning Disabilities By Using Wynn Software, Linda Kilgore Jan 2003

Supporting Reading Instruction Of High School Students With Learning Disabilities By Using Wynn Software, Linda Kilgore

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to create a student/teacher handbook, which contained information for the successful integration of the WYNN computer software into the general and special education classroom. Students with learning disabilities struggle with the general education curriculum and new technology provides an individualized approach to the accommodation of their needs. Research concerning learning disabilities and how the use of computers can support these students in the classroom was included.


Project-Based High School Science Activities, Raymond Lynn Harris Jan 2003

Project-Based High School Science Activities, Raymond Lynn Harris

All Graduate Projects

The development of project-based science activities and assessment rubrics are presented. A total of fifteen different science projects are presented for use in the high school science classroom. The activities are complete with lesson plans, design lessons, overviews of materials and follow up assessments. The activities are designed to combine essential academic learning requirements with real-world applications and can be applicable to a wide variety of concepts. The development of these activities is supported by the literature review as well as the use in the author's classroom.


Integration Of American History And American Literature, Diane Main Jan 2003

Integration Of American History And American Literature, Diane Main

All Graduate Projects

The development of an integrated curriculum for American History and American Literature is presented. The purpose of this project is to integrate concepts from American History with the concepts typically taught in an American Literature course. This project is intended for use at the secondary level, specifically for use at Eisenhower High School, Yakima, Washington. Many feel that it is important for students to have the ability to transfer information from one area to another. It has also been deemed important that students are capable of critical thinking. The project that has been developed will help students do both.


Inservice Workships: Freshman Focus Curriculum Implementation, Rachel Elizabeth Rief Jan 2003

Inservice Workships: Freshman Focus Curriculum Implementation, Rachel Elizabeth Rief

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to create workshops to help teachers implement an existing Freshman Focus Curriculum. It was specifically intended for use at Eisenhower High School in Yakima, Washington. The workshops include ways to help teachers organize, prepare for and teach the curriculum which was written to help freshmen transition into high school. The workshops include lesson plans as well as supplemental materials needed to effectively teach the curriculum.


A Model United States History Developmental Reading Skills Curriculum In Alignment With Washington State Essential Academic Learning Requirements, Mario R. Casello Jan 2002

A Model United States History Developmental Reading Skills Curriculum In Alignment With Washington State Essential Academic Learning Requirements, Mario R. Casello

All Graduate Projects

The purpose ofthis project was to develop a model, United States History developmental reading skills curriculum, for resource room students, at Governor John R. Rogers High School, Puyallup, Washington. The model curriculum was designed in alignment with the Washington State Essential Academic Learning Requirements (EALR'S). To accomplish this purpose, current research and literature was reviewed. Additionally, related information from selected sources was obtained and analyzed.


A Model Sex/Health Education Curriculum For Middle-Level Students In Taiwan, Shih-Wei Cheng Jan 2002

A Model Sex/Health Education Curriculum For Middle-Level Students In Taiwan, Shih-Wei Cheng

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to develop a model sex/health education curriculum for middle-level students in Taiwan. To accomplish the purpose, a review of related literature was conducted. Additionally, related information/materials from selected sources was obtained and analyzed.


A Secondary Multicultural Discipline Based Art Education General Art Education, Rex Randall Deloney Jan 2002

A Secondary Multicultural Discipline Based Art Education General Art Education, Rex Randall Deloney

All Graduate Projects

With the growing number of multicultural populations in Washington State schools, there is a need to provide all students with an understanding and appreciation of diverse cultures. The goal of the Discipline Based Art Education is to enhance understanding of other cultures through the study of art. This project was developed to foster multicultural awareness among students and to help them better understand themselves, their communities, and the world in which they live. Through a multicultural discipline based art education curriculum, students will be able to see themselves and the personal connections they have with what is being taught in …


Brain-Based Music Appreciation For Middle School Students, Robert Fauth Jan 2002

Brain-Based Music Appreciation For Middle School Students, Robert Fauth

All Graduate Projects

This project examined the human brain in relationship to understanding, teaching, and appreciating music. Included is a handbook that provides middle school teachers a brain based researched curriculum that emphasizes the listening aspects of music appreciation.


A U.S. History Model For Enhancing Essential Academic Learning Requirements In Reading, Christopher Matthew Jorgensen Jan 2002

A U.S. History Model For Enhancing Essential Academic Learning Requirements In Reading, Christopher Matthew Jorgensen

All Graduate Projects

The relationship between reading strategies that enhance essential learning in both · reading and history was studied. A U.S. History model has been developed to make connections between the teaching of history content and reading comprehension. Research has been obtained that indicates a direct correlation between student learning in a content area classroom and the integration ofreading strategies within daily lesson plans. Secondary teachers must be taught by teacher preparation programs and coached by administrators on how to develop lesson plans based on their students' need to use effective reading strategies. Secondary teachers must align their daily lessons and assessments …


Multicultural Novels And Activities: An English And Language Arts Curriculum For Middle And High School Students In The Yakima Valley, Karen A. Jenner Gemeinhart Jan 2002

Multicultural Novels And Activities: An English And Language Arts Curriculum For Middle And High School Students In The Yakima Valley, Karen A. Jenner Gemeinhart

All Graduate Projects

Research in the area of education concludes that both white and underserved populations benefit from the use of multicultural education. The curriculum provided in this project is founded on the research findings of educational specialists who outline these benefits. The use of multicultural education as a way to connect students to the curriculum is crucial in providing all students with an equal opportunity to learn. The Yakima Valley in Washington State is home to a number of Hispanic and Native American students who reflect a lack of academic achievement on standardized tests that assess literacy. Theories and strategies for teaching …


A Model Staff Development Program In Technology Skills For Selected Secondary Schools, Suzanne Keil Jan 2002

A Model Staff Development Program In Technology Skills For Selected Secondary Schools, Suzanne Keil

All Graduate Projects

The relationship between staff professional development in technology that enhanced staff efficiencies were studied. A model staff development program in technology has been developed to make connections between teacher's readiness and their mastery of technology skills. Research has been obtained that indicated a direct correction between teachers' readiness in technology and their implementation of technology into the classroom. Secondary teachers must be taught using inservices, practice skills and given opportunities to share their experiences with colleagues. Administrators must take leadership in developing and supporting a quality technology training program that recognizes the staffs' individualized needs.


Motivating Marginalized Youth Through Health Related Service-Learning, Jane Klara Miller Jan 2002

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.