Curriculum and Instruction Commons^™

Adult Learners : Who Are They, And What Do They Need To Succeed?, Antoinette Givens

Graduate Research Papers

The unique learning needs of adults are important. Adult education as identified by the literature is a change of knowledge, attitude, or skill of an individual that performs ,, social roles assigned to the adult population. This literature review addresses the question: (a) who is the adult learner? (b) What are the learning needs of adult learners? (c) What are effective strategies for teaching adult learners?

The adult learner is not fully understood without examining education, andragogy and pedagogy, instructional strategies, motivation, and barriers to learning in adults. This area of research is important to the development of effective adult …

Reading Aloud To Children : Is There A Relationship To Reading Achievement?, Stephanie Gierstorf

Graduate Research Papers

This qualitative participant research paper focuses on the importance of reading aloud to children at a young age. Results indicated that being read to at an early age was not enough, in and of itself, to predict reading achievement. However, the amount of parental interaction between the parent, child, and text can affect a child's reading achievement. Children who were exposed to dialogic read-alouds tended to become more independent readers, who chose to read on their own, later in elementary school. It is hoped that educators and parents will understand the importance of including children in a dialogic reading approach …

Effects Of Digital Storytelling In A Language Arts Classroom, Joseph J. Hegland

Graduate Research Papers

Digital storytelling is a process of writing a story using technology to create a movie of a personal story. The purpose of the review is to explore whether or not digital storytelling is an effective way for students in the language arts classroom to connect their writing with technology. The review begins with how technology is used with writing in the classroom·. Then the process of digital storytelling is reviewed to understand the multiple steps: (a) pre-production, (b) production, (c) post-production and (d) distribution. The use of digital storytelling in the classroom and how teachers have used digital storytelling is …

Inclusion Of Special Needs Students Into The Regular Education Classroom, Jennifer S. Hemann

Graduate Research Papers

Is inclusion really the best environment for students with disabilities? Inclusion remains a controversial topic of discussion in the world of education. Since the implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), discussing the idea of inclusion has become more acceptable as school personal become willing to create inclusive classroom settings. This paper will examine the ideas behind inclusion including the history and evolution of inclusion. Throughout this paper the focus will be placed on inclusion issues in the classroom, as well as present various perspectives from individuals involved in the inclusion process. Research cited in this review suggests …

Reading Comprehension : What Strategies Make A Difference?, Jill Helgerson

Graduate Research Papers

A literature review was conducted on comprehension strategies. The comprehension strategies that are being reviewed were chosen based on past research of reading comprehension.This literature review will explore six comprehension strategies that have been found to improve students' comprehension abilities.

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.

Investigating The Impact Of Data-Driven Decision Making On Elementary Curriculum And Its Implications For Teaching And Learning, Sara A. Hofer

Graduate Research Papers

Accountability is the new word of importance in the field of education. National attention to schools has caused states and districts to re-evaluate the business of educating children. This review will investigate the many facets that support data-driven decision making in current educational practices. The research will describe the relatively short history of nationally mandated legislation for the use of data to drive instruction and entitlement of services. Then, this paper will report the implications of implementing data collecting and synthesis systems in individual buildings to maintain both student successes in the classroom while fulfilling demands of national reporting requirements. …

The Impact Of Grouping For Reading Instruction On Student Attitude And Self-Concept, Michelle Renee Keegan

Graduate Research Papers

Researchers have found a parallel between types of grouping and attitudes of students regarding reading. The majority of students placed in the "lower" reading group in their classrooms have had negative perceptions and overall attitudes about reading. Research has indicated that the curriculum taught in these lower reading groups has differed from those in medium and higher groups due to different skills and practice that teachers have felt were required for students to succeed. Teachers' overall expectations have been found to be lower for those in lower academic groups in school. Students who have had motivation, self-efficacy, self worth, competence, …

Using Powerpoint Created Talking Books For Reading Fluency Instruction, Gretchen R. Lawyer

Graduate Research Papers

This paper describes action research integrating Microsoft PowerPoint with reading fluency instruction in a group of 6 first grade students. Included is a literature review examining multimedia, hypermedia and reading fluency. Students used CD-ROM storybooks as models for reading fluency, received direct fluency instruction, and wrote stories they developed into "talking storybooks" with Microsoft PowerPoint. Results showed students improved overall reading fluency, except reading rate. Expression and prosody were most positively affected.

A rating scale measured student attitudes towards the instruction. Results showed a positive reaction. In addition, it was found that students might have been indirectly motivated by the …

How Does Home Literacy Help Children?, Katie Pick

Graduate Research Papers

This review of literature paper focuses on the importance of home literacy programs. The literature shows the importance of parental involvement in their children's formal and informal educational process. Children who are exposed to home literacy have learned literacy better than children who are not. Many literacy activities for home are described. Many schools offer home literacy programs to assist parents within the home. This review of literature has implications for parents and teachers who try to implement home literacy.

The Importance Of Building Classroom Community, Sara A. Retallick

Graduate Research Papers

This paper will examine the importance of building community within the classroom. Information will relate classroom community with student needs and classroom management. It will provide a written visual on what community looks like in a classroom and explore different strategies important to community building within the classroom. A review of the No Child Left Behind Act and policymakers' views on community in the classroom will be discussed along with various community building programs.

The Effects Of Using Music And Movement To Enhance Learning, Lisa L. Snitker

Graduate Research Papers

This paper reviews the effects of using music and movement to enhance learning in early childhood years and in the elementary classroom. Information includes Howard Gardner's musical and bodily-kinesthetic intelligences, the effects of music on brain development in infants and children, studies in the effects of music on spatial-temporal reasoning, how music affects learning in the early childhood and primary years, and the effects of music on special learners. Appropriate for parents, caregivers, and educators, this review provides the basis for incorporating music into everyday early childhood and classroom experiences.

Effective Technology Integration Strategies In An Elementary Classroom, Karen M. Worden

Graduate Research Papers

It is important for teachers to use technology to enrich and enhance their curriculums and to adequately prepare their students for the world of tomorrow. There are many factors that inhibit this use, but these factors can be reduced or eliminated by providing resources, such as computers and software, technical and administrative support and professional development opportunities. Action research was conducted to investigate using the computer as a learning station and an assessment tool in a classroom with limited resources and a teacher with limited experiences. The participants in the study were nine students in a combined third and fourth …

From Isolation To Integration : An In-Class Writing Model For Literacy Specialists, Sarah Nadine Dorsey

Graduate Research Papers

The article describes descriptive research about one Reading Recovery teacher's design and implementation of a nine week in-class writing model in a first grade classroom. The instructional model was implemented for 45 minutes daily for nine weeks and included mini-lessons, shared writing, writing about a read-aloud, independent writing, and opportunities for students to share their writing. Discussed are the theory and rationale, design, implementation, and findings resulting from the additional instruction.

The benefits of the short-term model include improvements in all students' writing, stronger connections between pull-out and in-class writing for Reading Recovery students, improved self-perceptions of writers, increased collaboration …

The What, The Why, And The How Of Using Repeated Readings Of Poetry To Increase Reading Fluency, Melissa Feldmann

Graduate Research Papers

This literature review concludes that repeated readings of poetry will increase student reading fluency. The use of repeated readings to increase fluency is a common classroom practice; its effectiveness has been firmly established. The daily use of poems for rereading purposes can enhance several literacy skills including fluent reading. Although there are limitations of the study, it can be concluded that when poems are read repeatedly in a variety of ways, students are able to read fluently while comprehending the text. The research that does exist clearly suggests that classroom teachers might use repeated readings of poetry to help students …

Year Round Schooling, Rita Danielle Fiala

Graduate Research Papers

Research investigating the.effects of year-round schooling on student academic achievement is reviewed in this paper. Traditional, balanced and multi-track calendars are explored and compared. Benefits and drawbacks of a balanced calendar and multi-track calendars are discussed. It is recommended that more long-term research should be conducted on alternative calendars. However, the data that is present suggests that the benefits of a balanced calendar are more prevalent than the traditional calendar.

Using Picture Books To Enhance Content Area Reading, Tamra C. Foster

Graduate Research Papers

A child's academic success in the intermediate grades relies heavily on how well he or she can read and understand content area material (Abadiano & Turner, 2002; Allington, 2000; Harvey & Goudvis, 2000; Neufeld, 2005). This study examined the effect of using picture books as a pre-reading activity to enhance students' content area comprehension, vocabulary development, and interest level. Four students performing above grade level, one student performing at grade level, and three students performing below grade level participated in this study. Social studies curriculum was presented to the students via a textbook for two units. Picture books were added …

Roles And Reflections : Using Team Teaching To Improve Literacy Teaching, Jennifer L. Frett

Graduate Research Papers

This article describes the development of a team teaching model by a first grade team consisting of classroom and Title 1 teachers. This project grew out of a study group designed to look at best practice in literacy education and evolved in response to student achievement data. Four factors influenced the progress of the project including peer collaboration and demonstration, professional reading, reflection by teachers and the facilitator, and leadership roles. The role of the facilitator receives special attention, as – unlike most efforts at classroom change involving a grade level team – this effort began within the team, and …

Using A Balanced Literacy Approach In Elementary Schools, Jennifer Lynn Freeman

Graduate Research Papers

One of the most significant educational topics currently facing teachers and administrators is literacy education. Teaching children to read and write is fundamental to a student's success in school: School districts, administrators, and teachers are faced with a tough challenge when developing a literacy curriculum. What will their method of instruction be? The great debate among literacy scholars and professionals is whether to teach using a phonics approach, whole language, or balanced literacy. This paper will explore the concept and benefits of using a balanced approach in literacy education.

Reading Strategies For Struggling Readers In The Middle School, Kathleen Claeys

Graduate Research Papers

This literature review focuses on several strategies good readers use to understand and interpret different types of text, such as fiction, non-fiction, and expository. These strategies are ones that struggling readers are not aware of, or these readers do not have the knowledge and experience to utilize the strategies. Teachers need to provide direct instruction of these strategies, generate models of what they look like, demonstrate what the thought process is behind the strategies, and offer students practice in using them with the idea that students will add them to their repertoire of strategies and use them throughout the learning …

Guided Reading In Early Childhood Classrooms, Shyla Dawn Crosser

Graduate Research Papers

Guided Reading is a topic that has been discussed in great detail over the last few years. It has been discussed as "best practice" by Zemelman, Daniels, and Hyde (p.70) and is gaining popularity in classrooms across the nation. In teaching kindergarten during the last seven years, I have seen an enormous change in the curriculum at this level. I want my children to learn to read and want to keep up with the best practice in order to best fit the needs of my children; however, I do not want kindergarten to become first grade. This paper will explore …

The Importance Of Mentoring First Year Teachers, Julia Lynn Doyle

Graduate Research Papers

The importance of mentoring first year teachers is a subject that waxes and wanes according to the popularity of the subject at any given time. As a former teacher who was formally mentored, having a veteran teacher as a friend and confidant was the best experience a first year teacher could have. Not every teacher in every school district in every state is given the opportunity to have a mentor to assist him/her during the critical first year. With many differing opinions on the subject, not all states require first year teachers to be mentored as a condition of continued …

Fathers As Readers : A Program For African American Fathers And Their Children, Amber Nicole Boyd

Graduate Research Papers

The achievement of African American literacy learners has become a significant topic in education. How to best meet the needs of these learners through the study of the African American family will be the focus of this project. This project will consider, specifically, the father's momentous role in the literacy learning of the African American child. Trends in research will be identified in this paper, an overview of significant literature published on the subject of African American family literacy will be discussed, and findings that support the father's significant impact on learning in the African American family will be presented. …

Family Literacy Nights : Factors For Success, Crystal Betts

Graduate Research Papers

Family Literacy Nights were developed and held at a K-4 elementary building in a medium-sized town in eastern Iowa, demonstrating an example of part of a family literacy program. Family Literacy Nights involved parents and students from the two first grade classrooms at this elementary school. Parents completed surveys and participated in interviews to share their reactions and feelings towards family literacy programs.

The included literature review explores parental involvement and family literacy programs. It looks at the effects of parent involvement on student achievement. The difference between parent involvement programs and family literacy programs is explored. Family literacy programs …

Use Of Learning Styles In The Selection Of Instructional Strategies : Does Pedagogy Lead To Practice?, Roger E. Baker

Graduate Research Papers

Much has been written about the importance of learning styles in instructional design. Learning styles can be measured by the use of personality profiles such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). Learning styles can also be measured by Learning Style Inventories and defined by cognitive theory such as Gardner's multiple intelligences. This literature review explores the different approaches to the study of learning styles and the practical use of learning style indicators as a tool for selecting instructional strategies.

Many challenges exist in designing instruction to the personal level including costs, time, and instructor limits. Philosophical questions on the benefits …

Role Of Classroom Questioning Strategies As They Relate To Reading Comprehension, Catherine M. Metz

Graduate Research Papers

Instruction using comprehension strategies is important as students begin to construct meaning from text through a transactional process. This instruction can help prepare students to become better readers, as well as provide benefits for teachers and school-wide instruction. Questioning is important to comprehension for a variety of reasons and is used across all grade levels and throughout curricular areas.

Through the teaching of questioning, students are able to build backgrounds which they can utilize during their taking of high-stakes assessments, as well as school or district assessments. Questioning strategies, such as Question Answer Relationships, Questioning the Author, and Reciprocal Teaching, …

Understanding Children's Thinking At The Moment Of Writing, Steve Peterson

Graduate Research Papers

This action research project describes the thinking of five third grade students of varied writing achievement at the moment of writing. Using a theoretical model of writing (Sharples; 1999), student interviews, work samples, and a teacher journal, this study suggests that young writers' primary concern is getting new ideas for their text, whether while just beginning to draft, or after running out of ideas before the writing is completed. This study offers suggestions about how teachers can address this concern, and how teachers might extend the thinking of young writers in order to help scaffold more complex thinking about writing …

The Impact Of Readers' Workshop In A First Grade Classroom, Tara Lynn Seery

Graduate Research Papers

In this research I describe the Readers' Workshop approach, the impact that it has on a first graders' motivation, self-selection, and comprehension. This study was implemented during the 2006-2007 school year over a six week period. The observations at the beginning of the study indicated that the three focus students in this study lacked motivation, struggled with self-selection, and were in need of assistance to develop their comprehension skills. However, as Readers' Workshop was implemented, the students began to develop motivation to read on their own. They developed interests in books, and their comprehension strategies improved.

The Advantages And Challenge Of Fluency Instruction, Jennifer Schroeder-Van Cleve

Graduate Research Papers

This review examined the topic of fluency instruction as part of quality literacy instruction for children. Fluency is one of the five components of reading instruction recognized by the National Reading Panel, (2000). Fluency methods in reading curriculum should be given thoughtful attention. As the movement in education focuses on student assessment, meaningful literacy instruction is crucial to student success. This literature study focused on the benefits, and the challenges, associated with fluency instruction. Lastly, conclusions and recommendations were made for the implementation of fluency instruction in our schools.

Using Technology To Assist In The Teaching Of Reading Instruction, Hallie M. Wyatt

Graduate Research Papers

A professional literature review was conducted on the use of technology in assisting teaching of reading instruction. Technology reviewed was categorized according to the essential elements of reading as defined by the No Child Left Behind Act (i.e., phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension). Vygotskian and Piagetian theories were used to evaluate the technology reviewed. The review ends with a series of recommendations for teachers who may consider integrating technology into their curriculum.