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Curriculum Development

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Full-Text Articles in Curriculum and Instruction

Proposal For An Elemenatry Science Curriculum Outline To Help K-4 Teachers Prepare Students To Take The 5th Grade Science Wasl, Cindy D. Williams Jan 2004

Proposal For An Elemenatry Science Curriculum Outline To Help K-4 Teachers Prepare Students To Take The 5th Grade Science Wasl, Cindy D. Williams

All Graduate Projects

With a statewide pilot of the 5th grade science Washington Assessment of Student Leaming (WASL) in the spring of 2003, all elementary schools were tiying to prepare their students to meet the standards. At this time, the only resources schools had for preparation was a glimpse of the first criterion-referenced assessment, the Essential Academic Learning Requirements (EALRs), Grade level Expectations (GLEs) and a "release booklet" of sample items distributed to 5th grade science teachers. Educators knew that the best curriculum built on the previous year's knowledge which spiraled throughout the curriculum. At this time there were no curriculums designed starting …

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The Periodic Table Of The Elements, Michael A. Bailey Jan 2004

The Periodic Table Of The Elements, Michael A. Bailey

All Graduate Projects

The blueprint to the world of chemistry is encoded in the periodic table of the elements. This fundamental chart can be found in virtually all science classrooms in the world. The purpose of this project was to design a professional development course focusing on the periodic table of the elements. The target audience is college students working towards teaching science as a career, current teachers looking to enhance their understanding of the table, and resident teachers working towards continuing certification. In order to accomplish this purpose extensive literary research, the Washington State Academic Learning Requirements for science, published science lessons, …

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A Web Design Curriculum For At-Risk Students, Aurelio Garcia Jr. Jan 2004

A Web Design Curriculum For At-Risk Students, Aurelio Garcia Jr.

All Graduate Projects

Students today deal emotionally, physically and socially with many negative influences in their lives. Too frequently they are besieged by violent images, the propagation of illegal drug usage among friends and family as well as other negative environmental influences. These influences create barriers that inhibit student learning and cause students to pull away from friends, teachers and school. The implementation of a web design curriculum will help provide struggling students an opportunity to reconnect with school through the use of technology. The web design curriculum lessons also provide activities that address bullying, harassment, drug and alcohol abuse, tobacco usage, suicide …

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A Model General Science Developmental Writing Skills Curriculum In Alignment With Washington State Essential Academic Learning Requirements, Troy L. Halfaday Jan 2004

A Model General Science Developmental Writing Skills Curriculum In Alignment With Washington State Essential Academic Learning Requirements, Troy L. Halfaday

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to design a model general science curriculum, for seventh grade students, for implementation at Ballou Junior 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 authorities was obtained and analyzed.

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Addressing The Washington State Health And Fitness Essential Academic Learning Requirements By Incorperating Yoga Into The Physical Education Curriculum, Nicola Joanne Stewart Jan 2004

Addressing The Washington State Health And Fitness Essential Academic Learning Requirements By Incorperating Yoga Into The Physical Education Curriculum, Nicola Joanne Stewart

All Graduate Projects

The benefits of balancing the physical, mental, and psychological well being of adolescents, was researched. The research suggests that yoga is a discipline that can greatly enhance the Washington State Health and Fitness Essential Academic Leaming Requirements, which are designed to give the student skills to Jive a healthy and active life. Lesson plans with illustrations have been created, which can assist educators in incorporating yoga into the existing physical education curriculum. Instructions are given on how to use the lesson plans, how to adapt them, and suggestions for educators to create their own lesson plans.

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"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.

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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.

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Teaching Children To Be Storytellers: A Handbook For Educators, April Nicole Cross Jan 2003

Teaching Children To Be Storytellers: A Handbook For Educators, April Nicole Cross

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to design a handbook for second grade teachers interested in teaching storytelling. By introducing children to the world of storytelling, teachers can bring the true nature of storytelling into the classroom and take full advantage of its educational benefits. Through the storytelling process, children's listening, reading, and oral language skills are enhanced. Although storytelling is only one part of a literacy program, it is the means to a very important literacy goal: the development of independent, lifelong readers. The handbook includes a five-week storytelling unit that gives an explanation of how to realize and …

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Incorporating Literature Circles Into A Fifth Grade Classroom, Kenneth Michael Kron Jan 2003

Incorporating Literature Circles Into A Fifth Grade Classroom, Kenneth Michael Kron

All Graduate Projects

The focus of this project was to review available literature on literature circles within the framework of a balanced literacy program, and create materials to be used by fifth grade teachers as they work toward improving their language arts curricula. The results of the research review show that students are motivated to read when they choose their own reading material and can comprehend the material after engaging in collaborative, meaningful discussion of the text with peers. The project includes instructional frameworks, lesson plans for after-reading activities, and book selections for three rounds ofliterature circles.

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A Brain-Based Pedagogy To Improve Student Achievement Of Middle School Aged Children, Marci Lynn Stadiem Jan 2003

A Brain-Based Pedagogy To Improve Student Achievement Of Middle School Aged Children, Marci Lynn Stadiem

All Graduate Projects

This project examined the role of a brain-based pedagogy to improve student achievement in middle school students. The review of current research found that orchestrated immersion, relaxed alertness and active processing were integral for an effective brain-based pedagogy that increased student achievement. Included is a curriculum that focused on a brain-based pedagogy. Written for teachers of middle school students. Lessons included support a brain-based pedagogy, were age appropriate, and encouraged teachers to use a curriculum based on a brain-based pedagogy that increased student achievement.

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Praxis: Do I Practice What I Believe? A Course In Research In The Language Classroom For The English Language Teacher Education Program At Universidad Centroamericana, Nicaragua, Sarah Renata Wright Jan 2003

Praxis: Do I Practice What I Believe? A Course In Research In The Language Classroom For The English Language Teacher Education Program At Universidad Centroamericana, Nicaragua, Sarah Renata Wright

MA TESOL Collection

I have asked myself to describe my teaching beliefs and analyze my teaching practice in order to see if the two are congruent and if in fact I do have a teaching praxis. This is a professional paper about course development based on a classroom research project. First, through a discussion of theories, experiences, and observations I describe my teaching beliefs. Second, I describe the Research in English Language Teaching course that I designed and taught to a group fourth year student teachers at the Universidad Centroamericana in Nicaragua. This description is based on a selection of student writings, lesson …

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Designing And Teaching A Culture Course In Korea: Developing Cultural Awareness In The Korean University Classroom, Melanie Van Den Hoven Jan 2003

Designing And Teaching A Culture Course In Korea: Developing Cultural Awareness In The Korean University Classroom, Melanie Van Den Hoven

MA TESOL Collection

This Independent Professional Project outlines my process of becoming aware of the interrelationship of language and culture in the Korean University language classroom and the issues surrounding teaching culture in Korea at the turn of the millenium. My decisions, reflections and realizations made as an expatriate EFL teacher based in Seoul, Korea, which helped to address these concerns, are fully presented. This paper reflects on the “culture bumps” inherent in my living and teaching context, and the cultural adjustments made both in the classroom and out. It also explores the major theoretical influences that have been helpful in designing a …

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Their Own Best Resources: Students And Real-World Interaction, Observation, And Reflection, Brenda Ferreira Jan 2003

Their Own Best Resources: Students And Real-World Interaction, Observation, And Reflection, Brenda Ferreira

MA TESOL Collection

Students can use their experiences outside the ESL classroom to facilitate their own learning of culture and communicative competency. In a course I continue to design, students prepare for real-world interactions and learning. They practice communication strategies and discuss topics largely of their own choosing in a multi-cultural context. They then go out into the community to make cultural and communicative observations, and interact with native- and non-native speakers of English. This IPP presents various definitions of culture and communicative competency and gives suggestions for in-class and real-world activities, including communication tasks, observations, and reflections through journal writing.

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A Resource Guide To Support Minority Students At The Elementary Grade In The Kent School District With Learning Difficulties In The Area Of Reading, Patricia L. Drobny Jan 2003

A Resource Guide To Support Minority Students At The Elementary Grade In The Kent School District With Learning Difficulties In The Area Of Reading, Patricia L. Drobny

All Graduate Projects

A literature review was conducted to illustrate that there is an achievement gap in education between minority and white students. Probable causes contributing to the achievement gap and possible solutions to the gap were studied. The knowledge that high standards, a challenging curriculum and good teachers (Haycock, 2001), increases student achievement of minority students, inspired a project geared toward providing teachers with strategies to support minority students with learning difficulties in the area of reading. A model reading strategy guide featuring reading strategies to meet the needs of diverse learners was developed for presentation to Springbrook Elementary School. The guide …

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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.

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Reading With Your Preadolescent Children At Home: A Workshop For Parents, Elizabeth Jane Keefe Jan 2003

Reading With Your Preadolescent Children At Home: A Workshop For Parents, Elizabeth Jane Keefe

All Graduate Projects

Reading comprehension is a continuous process of evolving thinking. When readers read, they carry on an inner conversation with the text. Readers respond with wonder, delight, and even outrage. They question the text, argue with the author, and nod their heads in agreement. They make connections, ask questions, and draw inferences to better understand and learn from what they read. Programs that involve parents in their children's education have been found to have a positive influence on a child's academic performance and cognitive development. Secondly, book-reading experiences have correlated strongly with success in reading, leading experts to conclude that preparing …

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Integrating Curriculum Using A Thematic Unit On Gardening, Mandi Marie Laurent Jan 2003

Integrating Curriculum Using A Thematic Unit On Gardening, Mandi Marie Laurent

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to design a thematic unit, using a central theme of gardening, for first grade teachers. This project is in alignment with the Washington State Essential Academic Learning Requirements. The lesson plans were developed after conducting a literature review that shows integrating curriculum can be beneficial for both teachers and students. The activities presented in this project have been implemented, thus enhancing the author's curriculum.

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Creating Motivation And Oral Reading Fluency Through Readers' Theatre, Kelly Leaverton Jan 2003

Creating Motivation And Oral Reading Fluency Through Readers' Theatre, Kelly Leaverton

All Graduate Projects

Readers' Theatre is a wonderful teaching tool in which students practice and rehearse scripts in order to put on plays in front of an audience. The focus is on word accuracy and expression in reading without having to memorize lines. Studies have shown that Readers' Theatre can strengthen oral reading fluency by repeated readings, and increase confidence and motivation to read as students learn to read their parts with fluency and precision. Unfortunately, due to lack of availability and training, Readers' Theatre is not used in the classroom to the extent it should be, and many educators are uncomfortable with …

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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.

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John Sedgwick Junior High School Physical Science Curriculum Alignment At The South Kitsap School District With The Essential Academic Learning Requirements And National Science Standards, Iva Scott Jan 2003

John Sedgwick Junior High School Physical Science Curriculum Alignment At The South Kitsap School District With The Essential Academic Learning Requirements And National Science Standards, Iva Scott

All Graduate Projects

Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) lists curriculum alignment as one of the Nine Characteristics of High Performing Schools. With an increased emphasis on educational accountability and assessment of student learning, school districts are placing heightened emphasis on state and national learning standards. Physical science curriculum alignment consisted of matching curricular standards with information and skills being taught in the classroom and assessed through utilization of various forms of testing, including Washington Assessment of Student Leaming in Science, which is currently being developed. This project provides a format for development and utilization of district curricula that is aligned with …

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Summer Enrichment Packets Of Resources And Activities For Primary Students, Karen Michele Smith Jan 2003

Summer Enrichment Packets Of Resources And Activities For Primary Students, Karen Michele Smith

All Graduate Projects

Literature pertaining to summer learning loss was reviewed, including summer learning programs and year-round education. Summer programs and year-round education were looked at as possible solutions to summer learning loss. The research indicated a significant loss of academic skills over the summer months while students are not in school. Summer enrichment programs proved to be successful in helping students retain academic knowledge and skills. The literature review revealed inconclusive results in the effectiveness ofyearround education on student achievement. A summer activity packet was created for students preparing to enter the second grade. The focus of this packet was on reading, …

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An Integrated Approach To Teaching Washington State History In A Seventh Grade Humanities Block, Erika Lee Martin Jan 2003

An Integrated Approach To Teaching Washington State History In A Seventh Grade Humanities Block, Erika Lee Martin

All Graduate Projects

For the 2002-2003 school year, Sultan School District (WA) made the decision to move the Washington State History course from the high school level to be taught at the middle school level, specifically in the seventh grade Humanities block for a semester. This decision was made to be in compliance with the future state Social Studies requirements. Since the Humanities course was already based on the theory of integrating Geography with Language Arts, a new curriculum needed to be developed to incorporate the new Washington State History material. A team of teachers decided to take this task on and develop …

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Creating A Balanced Literacy Program For Third, Fourth, And Fifth Grade Students, Shayne T. Wrzesinski Jan 2003

Creating A Balanced Literacy Program For Third, Fourth, And Fifth Grade Students, Shayne T. Wrzesinski

All Graduate Projects

Balanced literacy instruction can be defined in a variety of ways. The important characteristic about a balanced literacy program is that it is neither phonics nor whole language. Creating a balanced literacy program within a classroom encompasses both phonics and whole language in a literature rich environment. Students who participate in a balanced program have opportunities to read and write daily through a variety of meaningful approaches including shared, guided, independent and direct instruction. The literature rich environment provides growth for all students, by teaching skills and strategies through literacy in a natural setting not in isolation. Teachers in the …

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Emergent Writing Practices For A Kindergarten Classroom: A Handbook For Kidergarten Teachers, Tori Lyn Bennan Jan 2003

Emergent Writing Practices For A Kindergarten Classroom: A Handbook For Kidergarten Teachers, Tori Lyn Bennan

All Graduate Projects

A handbook has been developed to aid in the design of a kindergarten writing program and/or to be used as a supplement to any existing kindergarten writing curriculum. The handbook consists of four main content areas of discussion regarding current writing practices used in a kindergarten writing curriculum: Writer's Workshop, journals, partner writing, and parent involvement. Each section consists of a brief definition of the term and five distinctive lesson plans implementing the above practices. Current literature and research regarding the topic of young children's development in writing were explored.

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A Practical Guide Using A Variety Of Instructional Methods For Teaching Reading To Gifted Students, Melissa Caveness Jan 2003

A Practical Guide Using A Variety Of Instructional Methods For Teaching Reading To Gifted Students, Melissa Caveness

All Graduate Projects

Gifted students spend most of their school day, if not all, learning in the regular classroom. Often, this environment is not conducive to their learning needs, and there is a lack of readily available supplemental materials that teachers can use to meet the needs of the gifted students. Therefore, the purpose of this project is to create a handbook that provides different strategies for teachers to use when teaching gifted students in the regular classroom. The project contains five thematic units that incorporate and utilize literature and comprehension strategies. This project first focuses definitions and identifiers of gifted students academically …

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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.

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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.

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A Model Integrated Science Guide For Junior High General Education Classroom Teachers In The Tahoma School District, Angela M. Delgado Jan 2003

A Model Integrated Science Guide For Junior High General Education Classroom Teachers In The Tahoma School District, Angela M. Delgado

All Graduate Projects

Teaching concepts in science that incorporated different science disciplines were studied and placed into practice at Tahoma Junior High School, Maple Valley, Washington. This form of integrated teaching was displayed in an integrated science model unit. The integrated teaching was displayed in an integrated science model unit. The integrated science model unit detailed river systems and the many different sciences that play a role in creating the river environment we see daily. Research showed students learned as well if not better in integrated science classrooms when compared to students who fulfilled the traditional sequence of science classes. Moreover, brain research …

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A Handbook Of Strategies For Making Intertextual Connections During Read-Alouds To Build Schema For Elementary School Students, Andrea Kay Manion Jan 2003

A Handbook Of Strategies For Making Intertextual Connections During Read-Alouds To Build Schema For Elementary School Students, Andrea Kay Manion

All Graduate Projects

A handbook has been created to give primary teachers strategies for building valuable schema and an awareness of text connections during their read-aloud time. The handbook consists of an introduction, ten read-aloud lessons which include some student responses, reviews and classroom activities for twenty read-aloud books, as well as a critique of popular web sites for quality children's literature. Current literature and research regarding schema theory, intertextuality, and reading aloud were reviewed.

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An Integrated Solar System Unit For Third And Fourth Grade Students Using Nonfiction Children's Literature, Kelly Janee Mccann Jan 2002

An Integrated Solar System Unit For Third And Fourth Grade Students Using Nonfiction Children's Literature, Kelly Janee Mccann

Graduate Student Projects

This project was based on a review of literature in the areas of vocabulary development, curriculum integration, and using children's literature in the content areas. The purpose of this project was to provide third and fourth grade teachers with a handbook designed to increase the use of nonfiction, informational children's literature in the content area of science. The solar system-themed handbook consists of 10 comprehensive lessons containing vocabulary building activities, stories to be read aloud by the teacher, and hands-on science experiments. The handbook is intended for individual use, either as a compliment to the current curriculum or to be …

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