Curriculum and Instruction Commons^™

Literature-Based Social Studies Learning Activities For First Grade Students In The Selah School District, Selah, Washington, Bonnie D. Isom

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to develop literaturebased social studies learning activities to be used with first grade students in the Selah School District. To accomplish this purpose, literature-based social studies learning activities for first grade students were gathered and developed for inclusion in a teacher resource packet. Appropriately used, children's literature can enhance learning in social studies and lead to increased teacher effectiveness.

Developing In-Class Activities To Support First-Second Grade Literature Instruction, Trina Danette Miller

All Graduate Projects

Literature-based activities were developed in the curriculum areas of Social Studies and Mathematics to be used with the district's adopted literature book program. A district survey indicated a strong interest in these two curriculum areas. This project will provide teachers with activities that support literature instruction in a learning center environment. The activities also help students to self-select a book of interest and to become actively involved in learning center activities that support the books of choice, plus increase their interest and comprehension.

The Reading And Writing Connection, Leona G. Morton

All Graduate Projects

Many children are graduating from school lacking skills in writing. This project reviews the literature in order to establish a theoretical justification for improving writing through reading. Using materials from the classroom and library, activities are presented that emphasize writing as well as reading. Some writing activities will be presented before reading and some writing activities will be presented after reading. Thus each activity will reflect the reading/writing connection, and create a basis from which writing should improve.

Hispanic Cultural Activities In The Social Studies Curriculum For Grades 4-5, Janell Ann Ramos

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to integrate Hispanic cultural activities into a Social Studies curriculum using student learning objectives for grades four and five. Six cultural activities were designed and implemented. An informal evaluation of the activities as they related to areas of multicultural education was included. This project demonstrated that Hispanic cultural activities could be successfully integrated into an otherwise monocultural environment, and through this integration positive changes in attitudes and behaviors of all students could be achieved.

Using Manipulatives To Teach Beginning Reading Skills, Veronique F. Rush

All Graduate Projects

Based on a review of the literature, a reading curriculum for kindergarten children was created. The curriculum focuses on the learning of beginning reading skills through hands-on manipulative activities. The activities were arranged into ten centers. Each center related to beginning reading skills. Each activity is self-correcting and requires minimal verbal directions from the teacher.

Literature Strands For The Enhancement Of Language In The Early Childhood Classroom, Wendy Sue White

All Graduate Projects

Literature and activities which support and enhance language learning in the early childhood classroom were examined. Seventy-six pieces of literature were selected along with thirty-two supporting activities. These were all described and matched for easy reference by the classroom teacher. A discussion of the importance of literature for the early childhood classroom, particularly that in which Engli~h is taught as a second language, has been included.

Teaching Test-Taking Skills To Elementary Grades For Standardized Tests, Jessie S. Thompson

All Graduate Projects

This project is concerned with teaching test-taking skills to elementary grade students in grades one to five in preparation for standardized tests. Research was explored to discover if any benefits to students have been identified, and if scores on tests can be improved with test-taking skills instruction. A history of standardized tests provides a background on testing, and illustrates the reason for our present concern with students' abilities to demonstrate learned skills. The preparation of materials that may, or may not, be appropriate is at issue and referred to in the preparation of the test-taking skills project designed for Annie …

Increasing Reading Fluency In Students With Reading Difficulty, Kathryn Balabanis Peabody

All Graduate Projects

Four methods designed to increase reading fluency were employed in a primary level Special Education resource room. The methods were implemented in accordance with the theory and research regarding reading fluency. Each of the four methods effectively increased the students' ability to read fluently. However, the implementation of these methods varied in cost and time.

Supplimental Functional Reading Materials For Secondary Moderately Retarded Students, Kimberlie Ann Baglau

All Graduate Projects

Reading materials were compiled that would help secondary moderately retarded students develop reading skills needed to function at a more independent level than in the past. Materials were developed in the form of worksheets. These worksheets were designed to be supplemental materials to be used to reinforce the learning of functional sight words. Materials were produced for two types of functional reading: reading labels on medicine bottles and reading bus schedules.

Using Children's Literature To Teach Reading Comprehension And Written Language Skills To Elementary Students, Simona Sue Frank

All Graduate Projects

Literature-based instructional strategies for teaching reading comprehension and written language skills were studied. Evidence from the review of literature indicates that trade books motivate students to develop: critical thinking, comprehension, expanded vocabulary, knowledge of grammatical and literary devices along with enrichment of written language skills. Children's literature has proved to be an excellent vehicle for combining reading, writing and literature. Implications for literature-based instruction are discussed.

Activities For Teaching Letter Identification, A. Kristin Seibel

All Graduate Projects

The focus of this project was to compile and design research based letter identification activities. Emphasis was placed on the highly confusable letters "b-d", "p-q", and "n-u". The activities were for use in the first grade curriculum. Learning objectives were stated for each activity. The activities, utilizing a variety of materials, were chosen and designed for hands-on application. Needed materials were listed, directions and patterns for construction were included, directions for use were provided, and classroom management was suggested. Use of the activities was divided into three parts: whole group introduction, guided practice, and small group activities.

Teaching Comprehension By Incorporating Story Grammar Into A Drta Lesson Format, Sharon Kay Neal

All Graduate Projects

This project presents a teaching procedure which should improve primarylevel reading comprehension. This procedure combines a framework of story grammar as a guide for implementing the Directed Reading Thinking Activity (DRTA) lesson format. Literature is reviewed which illustrates the effectiveness of story grammar when used to teach comprehension, and describes the effectiveness of DRTA to promote active comprehension. By combining both story grammar and DRTA, a procedure is developed and ten example lessons are produced.

Improving Content Area Reading In A Middle School Core Classroom, Richard Têtu

All Graduate Projects

Many middle school students cannot adequately use content area textbooks. This project begins with a review of the research literature related to this concern. The literature review is followed by a content area reading program designed for an eighth grade core classroom. The program is composed of sequential directions and worksheets to teach diverse content area reading techniques. The relative values of different techniques are discussed, and suggestions for future studies are offered.

Seminar Papers, Philip C. Kissam

Journal of Legal Education

No abstract provided.

My Writing Source (Mí Fuent De Escritura), Guadalupe Segura Johnson

All Graduate Projects

The project provides a handbook of Spanish creative writing activities. It is to be used by third grade Spanish-speaking students to help inspire their creativity. The handbook consists of journal writing, sequence and write, draw and write, cartoons, story starters and shape stories. The review of literature helps to explain the importance of writing and discusses the role of the teacher. The activities are varied to allow the children to reach the essence of the creative writing process.

A Cooperative Approach To Writing A Curriculum Guide For Mathematics, Sara Nilson Bos

All Graduate Projects

This project involved writing a curriculum guide for grades kindergarten through six in the area of mathematics. This guide was developed using a cooperative approach including small groups of teachers representing several grade levels, as well as, the entire teaching staff. The process of developing the guide was important to this study as was the mathematics guide itself. Teachers were involved in selection of a mathematics curriculum, implementing the curriculum, evaluating and adapting the curriculum after one year of use, and writing the guide to accompany the program.

Implementing Curriculum Based Assessment: A Model To Identify Children Who Are Academically At Risk, Dan L. Tharp

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of the project was to develop a curriculum based assessment model using Custer Elementary School's prescribed curriculum that would identify academically at-risk students and provide intervention services. A curriculum based assessment model was developed based upon the major assumptions that measurement of pupil progress should: (1) be directly related to the curriculum the student is taught; (2) be repeated frequently; and (3) guide instructional planning for the student. A review of the related literature indicated curriculum based assessment offers an alternative approach for continuously measuring student achievement of proficiency in basic school skills. Implications for the implementation of …

A Student Handbook For The Environmental Education / Outdoor School Program In The Middle School, Robert Charles Kenck Jr.

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to develop a student handbook that can be used from the onset of an environmental study through the inter-active field study. Students will use the handbook as they begin to study environmental education in the classroom. The handbook will continue to be used as each student attends a three day outdoor school to study firsthand their environment through field activities. The handbook will remain the property of the students.

Adult Basic Education: An Instructional Program Plan, Nancy Helen Warnstadt

All Graduate Projects

The project provides a comprehensive instructional program guide for Adult Basic Education at Centralia College. The project plan will be utilized to help track activities and illustrate accountability, assist in program evaluation, to clarify individual program objectives, end to provide guidelines and assistance to other programs facing similar problems. The project provides the following information: the setting description, the program mission statement, the instructional model, the component plans, the organization and staffing, progrem evaluation and a program improvement plan.

Reading Comprehension Learning Center, Pamela Joy Krocker

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was the development of a reading comprehension learning center that reinforces comprehension skills at the literal, inferential, and evaluative levels, and which also provides practice with basic and sight vocabulary. The contents of this project included a review of the literature related to the topic, a description of objectives on which the cards were based, a description of the materials and methods used to construct the project, and an explanation of how to utilize the project in a primary classroom. Examples of the project including color photographs of the parts of the project that were …

The Integration Of Constructive Visualization, Self-Talk, And Relaxation In The Acquisition Of Social Skills, Karen Sue Campbell

All Graduate Projects

The need for teaching social skills, imagery, relaxation, and self-talk was studied and confirmed. Review and use of many of these curriculums revealed overlap among some curriculums, but none fully integrated skills from each of the diverse approaches to teaching social competence. The purpose of this project was to integrate a select body of information addressing social skills, self-talk, relaxation, and imagery into a developmental curriculum for use with children and adolescents.

Guide For A General Art Program For Secondary Students Of Kelso School District, Elana Talent Carpenter

All Graduate Projects

It is the purpose of this guide to offer a program of art studies suitable for all students of Kelso High School. Due to a lack of free elective time, students have not been able to schedule needed art courses. The activities and information in this guide are designed to re-establish some basic art knowledge into the required course curriculum.

Introducing Literature To Children Through Storytelling, Steven Robert Murphy

All Graduate Projects

Storytelling was presented with the view that it is of educational value. The purposes and values of storytelling were examined, along with literature for children that is appropriate for storytelling. Basic principles of selection, and techniques for learning and telling stories were presented. A listening audience was selected and appropriate stories were chosen, prepared and presented. The project included a videotaping of a storytelling setting with primary-level children.

Notification Of A Commercial Reading Program Presented As Learning Activity Packets For Learning Disabled Students, Edna M. Meyers

All Graduate Projects

This project represents a modification of a commercial reading program, with individual learning activity packets as the management tool for the program. The project plan provides for:

1. Program goals and objectives

2. An initial placement test

3. Unit criterion tests

4. Mastery level tests

5. Individual learning activity packets

Each learning activity packet includes:

1. Individual student record and assignment page

2. Individual story report forms

3. Vocabulary words

4. Detailed comprehension questions

5. Individual student/teacher reading contract

This project provides a reading program that meets the unique instructional needs of the learning disabled student in a financially feasible …

Multi-Curricular Units Based On Animal Life For The First Grade, Elaine Sanchez

All Graduate Projects

A booklet for teaching first grade science through multi-curricular units was developed and compiled. The booklet contains ten such units, which cover animal life. Each unit is a five-day plan for an approximate thirtyminute period, and was designed for total group instruction. Included in each unit are activities for language arts, math, art, and handwriting, all of which are based upon a particular animal. The materials were compiled from commercial and handmade sources.

Summer Enrichment Program For Elementary Students At The Intermediate Level, Robert John Reister

All Graduate Projects

A six-week summer enrichment program with curriculum was developed for Liberty Christian School in Walla Walla. It is activity based and is in conjunction with A Beka Book Christian school curriculum. The student chooses activities from six disciplines at various difficulty levels. The program includes plans for student incentives and informal evaluation. It will be open to parochial and nonparochial students. The purpose is to (a) enrich curriculum, (b) help students retain concepts over the summer months, (c) promote application of content.

Reading Instruction Activities For Trade Books For Use In Third-Grade Reading Curriculum, Laverne A. Schott

All Graduate Projects

Reading instruction activities were developed to be used with trade books in third grade to supplement the basal reading program. Activities developed included comprehension questions and a cloze unit for each selected trade book, as well as general creative and enrichment post-reading·assignments to provide students with reading and writing practice.

A Language Arts Based Curriculum Model For The Talented- Grade 6, Bruce Edward Holway

All Graduate Projects

An investigation into the cognitive and affective characteristics and needs of talented students has resulted in the creation of a working model for a language arts based curriculum for students in grade six. This project identifies the essential components of programs for the education of the academically talented and demonstrates how these ingredients interact in practice. The process for selecting concepts and related content in English, reading and social studies is explained. Suggestions for designing materials and for utilizing commercially prepared lessons are provided.

Developing A Guide To Implement A Program Through The Library Resource Center For Academically Talented At The Elementary Level, Linda Rash

All Graduate Projects

To provide for the unmet needs of the academically talented at Southgate Elementary School in Kennewick, Washington, a pull-out program was written and implemented through the library resource center. Research related to gifted/talented characteristics, identification and selection techniques, curriculum development, and teachers of the gifted was evaluated and applied to the program organization. Benefits of the program to students, parents, staff, and the cormnunity were numerous. Suggestions were made for application in other school settings using the developed guide as a resource.

Development Of A Handbook For Remediation Of Handwriting Disabilities, Judy A. Dagnon

All Graduate Projects

This study presents the process used in the development of a handbook for remediation of handwriting disabilities. The paper presents views on the remediation of handwriting over the last decade and the procedures used in the development of a handbook. The project designed a handbook for use with children in grade three and on who possess handwriting disabilities.