Curriculum and Instruction Commons^™

Teacher Perceptions Of Understaffed School Libraries, Amanda Bonjour

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this mixed methods study is to learn what classroom teachers perceive the effects of improper staffing of school libraries to be. It asks: What do classroom teachers perceive are the effects of improper staffing or the cutting of a school librarian? Through the qualitative analysis of survey responses, the study found that teachers perceived teacher librarians to have a positive impact on student achievement through collaboration and to be a valuable asset in providing resources for staff and students. Qualitatively, results from two school districts, one with and one without a certified librarian staffed in their middle …

Impact Of A Less Restrictive Circulation Policy In An Elementary Library, Kristen Reinhardt Downes, Karla Steege Krueger, Joan Bessman Taylor

Curriculum & Instruction Faculty Publications

School communities and educational standards clearly recognize that reading is a foundational skill for all learners. In light of this, the American Association of School Librarians (AASL, 2010) notes the critical position of teacher librarians to partner with other educators to promote literacy and provide opportunities for library use. Specifically, school libraries are charged with providing “open, non-restricted access to a varied high quality collection of reading materials in multiple formats that refl ect academic needs and personal interests” (para. 6). AASL (2011) supports open access through fl exible scheduling in the library to give students access to materials throughout …

Infant And Toddler Care, Maggie Trecker

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this review of recent research is to identify the quality of care that infants and toddlers are receiving in both home-based and center-based care settings. The review will also identify how infant and toddler caregivers perceive their work, and ways that professional development opportunities can positively impact the quality of care for infant and toddlers. The conclusion of this literature review includes recommendations for future action and education policies based on the research reviewed.

For Two Or Two Hundred: A Workbook For Making A Difference, C. A. Brimmer

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Designed for young people who want to develop a sense of active citizenship through social justice and community organizing; this workbook is founded on four main components: autoethnography/personal narrative, research based in critical pedagogy, social justice methodologies and literature. Activist profiles and exercises introduce the reader to a leadership style based in critical consciousness. The reader is part of the text as they complete exercises and fill in their own blanks, contributing ideas and carrying out practices related to various aspects of community organizing. This work book is designed for beginning activists who are new to concepts such as social …

Reading Promotion Events Recommended For Elementary Students, Nicole N. Guldager, Karla Steege Krueger, Joan Bessman Taylor

Curriculum & Instruction Faculty Publications

One of the major professional goals of teacher librarians is to teach students a love of reading, so that they will independently choose to read throughout their lives.

The Attitudes Of Typically Developing Young Children Toward Their Peers With Disabilities : A Review Of The Literature, Sara Elizabeth Kayser

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this paper is to review the literature on young children's attitudes toward their peers with disabilities and its impact on the social interactions between typically developing preschoolers and their peers with disabilities. A three-step search and selection process resulted in eleven studies to be reviewed. The findings in these studies are presented around the cognitive, affective, and behavioral dimensions of attitude formation. Results indicate that while typically developing young children have a simple understanding of disabilities and state their intention to play with and include peers with disabilities they are significantly less likely to play and be …

Using Sign Language In The Infant Room, Sara Paar

Graduate Research Papers

Trying to figure out what an infant needs can be frustrating for the child's parents and caregivers. Around eight months of age, infants can start pointing at things they want and start to mimic hand motions from simple finger plays like Pat-a-Cake. In this study, Early Head Start teachers in one classroom went from using four sign language signs in the classroom to using 12 signs for five weeks. The teachers recorded how many times they used each of the 12 signs during interactions with the infants. They also recorded whether an infant repeated the sign when the teacher showed …

An Annotated Bibliography Of Materials Recommended For Middle School Classrooms Regarding The Multiple Perspectives On The Causes Of The American Civil War, Emma Folland

Graduate Research Papers

The Civil War is a topic that is taught at the middle school level. However, teachers are not necessarily teaching from both the Northern and Southern perspectives. They are also not always looking at the causes of the Civil War beyond slavery. The purpose of this project was to create a selective annotated bibliography of recommended resources for middle school teachers to use when teaching about the causes of the Civil War from both the Northern and Southern perspectives. The researcher considered what resources were available for teaching middle school students about the different causes of the Civil War from …

Examining Variations In Technology Use For K-12 Students Of Different Gender And Socioeconomic Status, Nikki Lyons

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this paper is to review the literature currently published on how members of different genders and socioeconomic classes use technology to suit their needs in and out of the classroom learning environment. It will focus on the use of digital technologies by students in elementary, middle, and high schools. This was done by examining 30 research-based, peer-reviewed journal articles, books, published papers, documents, and observational analyses. The research indicates there are clear differences in how members of different subpopulations such as gender and socioeconomic groups choose to use technology to suit their communication, collaboration, instructional, and entertainment …

Professional Staffing Levels And Fourth-Grade Student Research In Rural Schools With High-Poverty Levels, Karla Steege Krueger, Jean Donham

Curriculum & Instruction Faculty Publications

Rural schools in high-poverty areas are often understaffed. This descriptive phenomenological study examined fourth-grade state research projects in high- poverty rural Iowa schools to reveal the influence of school librarians’ staffing levels on student learning of research skills. To determine evidence of students’ critical literacy, ethical use of information, content learning, and understanding of the inquiry process, researchers analyzed twenty-four student work samples from eight schools, along with students’ responses to questionnaires and school librarians’ responses to surveys. Six (66 percent) student work samples in higher-staffed schools showed higher critical-literacy scores than those in the five lower-staffed schools. Six (of …

The Status Of Statewide Subscription Databases, Karla Steege Krueger

Curriculum & Instruction Faculty Publications

This qualitative content analysis presents subscription databases available to school libraries through statewide purchases. The results may help school librarians evaluate grade and subject-area coverage, make comparisons to recommended databases, and note potential suggestions for their states to include in future contracts or for local purchase. All states had similar periodicals‘ indexing vendors; therefore, this study‘s focus was online subject reference databases. Results portrayed seventy-nine unique databases across thirty-three states analyzed. Most states studied (81 percent) had a wide variety of online reference subject content; twenty states (61 percent) included one or more general reference databases; seven states with no …

Using Positive Behavior Instructional Support (Pbis) In Early Childhood, Megan Merkel

Graduate Research Papers

Challenging behaviors in early childhood education are becoming recognized as a serious barrier to social-emotional development and an indication of severe maladjustment in school and adult life. Educational professionals have been seeking to define, elaborate, and improve on existing knowledge related to the prevention and resolution of young children's challenging behaviors. The current literature review was conducted to describe the relationship between children's challenging behavior and implementing Positive Behavior Instructional Support (PBIS) and Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) in early childhood classrooms and programs. In addition, this review presents conclusions, recommendations, suggested educational policies, and needed future research.

Teaching Perfectionism Through Cartoons Compared To Bibliotherapy For Primary Grade Students, Miranda L. Zousel

Graduate Research Papers

Many students, especially high achievers, develop perfectionist tendencies during early childhood. It is important to teach students early to manage their perfectionism to avoid many negative consequences of neurotic perfectionism such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders, procrastination , or underachievement, and to avoid entrenchment of behaviors. Traditionally, bibliotherapy and role-play have been used to help students recognize perfectionistic traits and learn strategies for ameliorating negative effects. But cartoon analysis is another potentially useful approach.

This pretest-posttest control group - experimental group design study of first, second and third graders (n = 46) compared concept acquisition and enjoyment of learning about …

School Uniforms, Nicole Waytenick Reuter

Graduate Research Papers

The need for education reform is evident in public schools across the nation. Researchers, school officials, parents, and teachers have been looking at different ways to promote a better learning environment that will allow students to feel safe, equal, and free to express themselves in different ways within the classroom. In recent years, many of these same people have contended that implementing school uniform policies within schools is the way to create that kind of learning environment.

Within this paper, a closer look at the issues surrounding school uniform policies will be examined. Both sides of the issues will be …

Student Motivation And No Child Left Behind, Tiffany Kleckner

Graduate Research Papers

The No Child Left Behind Act was developed in 2002 by the administration of George W. Bush. The purpose of this piece of legislation was to increase student achievement in America. Regulations and requirements have been put in place by the administration such as standardized testing. This paper discusses the history of NCLB, the current issues with the legislation, and how student motivation and achievement has been effected due to the NCLB law.

The Effects Of Parental Alcoholism On Child Development, Randi Burns

Graduate Research Papers

Alcohol has many functions for different people, for some it is an agent of socialization, while for others it is the cause of destruction in their lives. Many familes are affected by alcohol abuse and many children are exposed to its devastating effects. Children of alcoholics make up a large number of the population, and are at risk for several developmental problems throughout their lives. Several studies have been conducted on the negative effects an alcoholic parent has on their children. Many of these studies share the harmful side effects which plague children of alcoholics, including anxiety, depression, and the …

A Case Study Of A Rural Iowa School Preparing To Meet New State Guidelines For School Libraries, Karla Steege Krueger

Curriculum & Instruction Faculty Publications

A qualitative case study highlighting one rural Iowa elementary school provided insight into the issue of small schools without library programs as they are preparing to meet the Iowa reinstatement of the requirement for school library programs. The site was purposefully chosen because it has been operating without a school library program or professional teacher-librarian district-wide. All eight teachers and the nonendorsed library associate from one elementary school participated in either a focus group or semistructured interviews. The four district administrators were interviewed individually. Related documents were consulted. This study examined the status of the school library program, analyzed the …

Instructional Strategies Within Single-Gender Learning Environments, Rachelle Sarrah Grandon

Graduate Research Papers

Various instructional strategies can be beneficial in both gender-specific classrooms, as well as co-educational environments. When developing age-appropriate, individualized instruction, it is crucial to consider gender-specific needs that may assist according to certain learning styles. In order to better relate to students of each gender, these practices must be given thoughtful consideration. There are many methods, found in both types of classroom settings have been explored based on practical, research-based experiences from the real-world setting.

Creating An Accessible Child Development Resource For Family Home Child Care Providers Focusing On Child-Initiated Play, Paula Buck

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this project was to create a newsletter for family home child care providers that presented easy-to-read, research based information regarding child-initiated play and developmentally appropriate practices and their incorporation in a family child care setting. The newsletter also addressed the need for creating and maintaining a balance between offering child-initiated opportunities and providing structure in a family child care setting.

A review of the literature revealed that nearly half of family home child care providers have no specialized training in the field of child care, child development, or early childhood education. Caregiver education and training is a …

Understanding Gender Stereotypes And Their Impact On Clients, Stacey Hurt

Graduate Research Papers

Gender stereotyping has a complex and enduring history in our society, and it is an underlying factor in many issues – clients bring to counseling, including – among other things-women's and men's experience of depression (Nugent & Jones, 2005). A complicating aspect of gender stereotyping is that both males and females in our culture have been socially conditioned to fulfill many of the stereotypes imposed on them, and following stereotypical gender roles excessively can be harmful to their mental health, self-image, and interpersonal relationships (Nugent & Jones).

Counselors can use gender-role analysis and other interventions to help clients gain insight …

How Teacher-Librarians Can Effectively Support Technology Integration In 21st Century Schools, Holly L. Karlen

Graduate Research Papers

Schools and the role of the teacher-librarian are rapidly changing as we begin the twenty-first century. This review examines the historical and current role of teacher-librarians, concepts of information literacy and technology integration, and how teacher-librarians can integrate these skills in twenty-first century schools. New technologies and how teacher-librarians can gain support for their new role are also examined.

Through an extensive literature review and synthesis of information, a series of five research questions are evaluated. This review shows that the teacher-librarian's role has changed dramatically in the last twenty-five years. By emphasizing information literacy and technology integration into both …

Gaming Towards Academic And Physical Success, Eric Burt

Graduate Research Papers

This review addresses the potential of serious video games and the benefits that serious video games can have on a student academically as well as physically. Serious video games require strategic thinking, problem solving, planning and decision making. Serious video games enable learners to experience ~eal world situations without the real-life consequences. Exergaming provides potential for combining gaming and exercise, this type of video game has tremendous upside. This review of research.investigates how video games can be used to engage learners and help students learn. Research is needed to determine which features of games and simulation~ are important for learning …

Advisory Programs : Organization And Implementation, Angela Ruth Black

Graduate Research Papers

This literature review examined how to implement an advisory program into middle schools. This review looked at the pros and cons of advisory programs, and what needed to be considered before implementing an advisory program.

The topic of advisory programs was chosen after having discussions during my graduate program, as well as with work colleagues. During class discussions, advisory programs sounded like a wonderful concept. But when I went to work, my coworkers made advisory programs sound like a waste of time. I decided I needed to learn more about advisory programs, so I could make my own decision about …

Building Relationships To Support Self-Regulation, Sherice Hetrick-Ortman

Graduate Research Papers

Discouraged students come to school unable to learn. Emotional and social factors affect their intrapersonal and interpersonal awareness and place them at high risk for school failure. This paper discusses the application of strategies influenced by; sociomoral atmosphere, trust development, self regulation, emotional intelligence, attachment theory, and cultural awareness.

The research addresses the question: Will emotionally discouraged children be able to regulate their emotions through positive relationship building with the classroom teacher? The results contribute to our knowledge of how to support children's ability to regulate themselves in the absence of external devices.

The Factors Preventing The Successful Implementation Of A Middle Level Advisory Program At One Middle School, Gina Grasso Leonard

Graduate Research Papers

This study investigated the feelings and conceptualizations about Advisory Programs of the teachers at one middle school in Southeast Iowa. Interviews were conducted to uncover the teachers' thoughts and perceptions on Advisory Programs at their middle school. The collected data was then evaluated and recommendations were made.

Providing Appropriate Social Interventions For Preschool-Age Children With Mild Autism Spectrum Disorders, Angela M. Riesberg

Graduate Research Papers

This paper provides a variety of appropriate social interventions to use with preschool-age children with mild Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Regardless of his or her diagnostic label, each individual child requires an individualized approach to treatment. Typically, multiple interventions are necessary for a successful program.

The questions this project will address include: (a) What are some possible social interventions to use with preschool-age children who have mild autism spectrum disorders, (b) what research supports current successful social interventions, ( c) which social interventions could provide the most benefits and success, and (d) how can inclusion and interacting with typically developing …

Grandparents In Education Project, Kim Renee Freund

Graduate Research Papers

The research strongly suggests that family involvement in education is vital to a child's academic achievement (Epstein, 1987; Zill, 1996). The Grandparent in Education Project goes beyond the parents and into the previous generation of grandparents. In many families grandparents have played a key role in children's lives. Today the numbers of grandparents that help raise or are full-time guardians to children are on the rise (Bafile, 1999). It is a logical connection to include them in today's educational environment.

Another important component is technology and the current role it plays in society. Digital media is continuing to influence communication …

Shared Reading For Teaching English As A Foreign Language To Young Learners In Russia, Inna V. Kuznetsova

Graduate Research Papers

Shared Reading has proven to be very effective in developing language and literacy skills of children in the West. This project introduces Shared Reading as a curriculum component of English as a foreign language for young children in Russia. Review of the literature regarding the effectiveness of Shared Reading is described. The project includes two units of four lessons each that illustrate implementation of Shared Reading, oral language and other literacy activities. The project concludes with specific recommendations for dissemination of this work.

Developmental Process And Outcome Of Mckinley K-5 Elementary School "Portrait Of America 2001-2002" Multimedia Cd-Rom, Cheryl Edwards

Graduate Research Papers

McKinley K-5 Elementary School created and mass-produced a multi-media CDROM correlating with the Social Studies Standards and Benchmarks of Muscatine Community School District. Each grade level designed and developed lyrics and music about the related grade level curriculum. Some classes created a multimedia presentation while others gave a fine arts program. This was a student-centered, hands-on activity that was formed during the 2001-2002 school year.

The Effects Of A Mother's Incarceration On Her Children, Jane Elizabeth Mayer

Graduate Research Papers

This study examined the effects of a mother's incarceration on her children. Benefits, as well as problems, associated with facilitating a mother-child visitation program were discussed. Guidelines were presented for parents, caregivers, children, and prison staff on a successful mother-child visitation program. Conclusions were drawn from the literature and recommendations were made for the future facilitation of a mother-child visitation program.