Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Commons^™

A Correlational Study Of Locus Of Control And Reading Achievement Among Gifted Middle School Students, Jerry A. Taylor

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the relationship between reading achievement and internal locus of control among eighth-grade gifted students attending a rural middle school in Georgia. The NowickiStrjckland Locus of Control Scale was used to determine a locus of i control score for each of the eighteen subjects involved. The Iowa Test of Basic Skills Form G was .used to obtain an achievement score for each subject. The study used a correlational research design. The Pearson product moment correlation coefficient was used to determine the relationship between test scores. Analysis of statistical data revealed a .0985 correlation. This correlation was not significant.

The Relationship Between Professed Student Reading Interest And Student Choice Of Reading Topics, Mary E. Smith

Theses and Dissertations

One hundred seventh- and eighth-grade students in an Inner-city Georgia school served as subjects for surveys of reading interests. The two surveys were designed to gather information from students for the book topics they professed to want to read, and the actual reported topics they read. Trends of Interest by subject and sex were generated. The survey revealed reading Interests of students according to gender. Further, teacher-assigned reading and student reading interests varied to such a substantial degree that a strong case may be made for changing assigned reading to make it more in line with student interest.

Teacher Attitude And Teaching The Black Dialect Student To Write Using Standard English, Julia Holmes-Williams

Theses and Dissertations

This descriptive study examined the relationship between low achievement in writing and teacher attitudes, both positive and negative, toward nonstandard language use. The study also examined teacher attitude toward strategies to improve those skills. Finally, this study compared the methods selected to teach Black-dialect speakers with those selected to teach whites.

Participants in this study were language arts teachers in four rural Southwest Georgia counties. The data gathering Instrument was a Likert-scale questionnaire. Comparisons were made based on participants' years experience and level of training. The results indicated that these teachers were positive concerning the Black-dialect speakers' ability to write …

Success In Written Expression: A Case Study, Susan Flowers Hamby

Theses and Dissertations

In order to receive a high school diploma, a student in any Georgia high school must pass the Georgia Basic Skills Test in three areas: Reading, Mathematics, and Writing. The subject of this case study is an eighteen-year-old male student who after four attempts passed the Writing portion of this test. Because this is a case study, the findings are reported in a nontraditional manner using a narrative style with first person commentary.

Much of the data in this case study were collected through interviews with the subject referred to as Tim, his mother, a school examiner, and several of …

Cinema As Literature: A Semester Course In Language Arts, Greg Westbrook

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this project was to prepare "Cinema as Literature," a curriculum guide for an elective course in high school English for the Muscogee County School System, to be implemented in school year 1992-93. The proposed elective course will utilize cinema material for the application of literary techniques and modes of criticism for a fuller understanding of the relationship between movies and printed matter as mediums of literary and artistic expression.

The project has produced this curriculum guide through a review of relevant current resources, and in cooperation with the local county school authorities, with the eventual aim of …

Easing Into The Whole Language Approach, Katrina Lynn Qualls

All Graduate Projects

Literature about the basal reader approach and the whole language approach to teach reading was reviewed. The reviewed literature for this project supports using the best of both teaching methods with the goal being to teach more whole language-like. This could be done by starting with the basal series required by the school district and then easing into a more whole language approach as the individual teacher feels comfortable with it. The goal of the teacher should be to make language learning whole, purposeful, and meaningful. Activities based on these assertions about language were compiled.

Incorporating Cooperative Learning Teams And Whole Language In The First Grade, Mary Elizabeth Berdine

All Graduate Projects

The first purpose of this project was to review current literature regarding whole language and cooperative learning. The second purpose of this project was the development of whole language, cooperative learning strategies and accompanying application lessons for use at the first grade level. Ten cooperative learning strategies and application lessons were developed utilizing a whole language approach. The lessons were centered around children's literature and focused on reading, writing, listening, and speaking activities that were whole, purposeful, and meaningful.

The Effects Of Computer Assisted Esl Instruction On Limited English Proficient Students, Raul M. Sanchez

All Graduate Projects

A study was conducted to determine whether computer assisted instruction or the traditional ESL teaching method was more effective in teaching Limited English Proficient (LEP) students, English language proficiency. Twenty-two second grade subjects were separated into two groups at one elementary school in Yakima, Washington. The experimental group received computer assisted ESL instruction, while the control group was instructed with the traditional ESL teaching method. Analysis of the results supported the research hypotheses for one of the three dependent variables. The null hypothesis could not be rejected for a second variable, while for a third variable, a significant difference was …

The Recruitment, Training, And Retention Of Volunteer Tutors For Elementary Reading Programs, Emilee Kay Solomon

All Graduate Projects

This project consists of: a) an overview of four exemplary volunteer tutorial programs, b) a review of the literature regarding recruitment, training, and retention of volunteer tutors, c) a review of a questionnaire surveying reading teachers and volunteer coordinators about their recruitment, training, and retention methods, and d) a guide for the recruitment, training, and retention/recognition of volunteer tutors in elementary reading programs.

The Relationship Between Student Attitudes Toward Reading And Student Test Scores, Frazier Sollars

Theses and Dissertations

One hundred and thirty-four seventh grade students served as subjects to determine if a correlation existed between reading achievement and attitude toward reading. Of these students, fifty were randomly selected for data presentation. The Intermediate Reading Attitude Index and Georgia Criterion Reference Test were used to obtain data.

The Georgia Criterion Reference Tests were designed to provide teachers with diagnostic information on each student's test performance. The GCRT is comprised of math and reading tests. Only the reading portion of the GCRT was used by this researcher. Values were assigned to the questions on the Intermediate Reading Attitude Index for …

Profiles Of Learning. The Basic Skills Testing Program In New South Wales 1989, Geoff N. Masters, Janice Lokan, Brian Doig, Siek Toon Khoo, John Lindsey, Lynette Robinson, Susan Zammit

Assessment and Reporting

The 1989 Basic Skills Testing Program in New South Wales provides the most comprehensive picture yet compiled of literacy and numeracy learning in Australian primary schools. In 1989, some 53,800 Year 6 students in NSW government schools were tested in five aspects of literacy and numeracy. Another 2,300 Year 3 students took part in a pilot study. This book discusses the writing of the tests, the analysis of results, and the reporting of results to parents, teachers and schools. The aim of the basic skills tests is to describe, in positive terms, the skills that students have mastered, to identify …

English As A Second Language: Evaluation Of A Language Program Designed For & Implemented In The Colombian Oil Company's Research Institute, Patience Nave

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

An incredible proliferation of knowledge has generated a critical need for professionals in all fields to have access to current information and research results. Costs for study and research are extremely high, particularly in science fields, and most professionals seek to minimize loss in time and funds by avoiding duplication of efforts. Language is often a handicap, preventing the voluntary sharing of valuable information between individuals and countries, and many recognize the establishment of a universal language as a means of eliminating this unnecessary barrier. English is rapidly becoming accepted as a universal means of communication, but those who seek …

An Evaluation Of Language And Articulation Assessment Instruments, Sara Gammage Betbeze

Theses and Dissertations

Seventy-nine articulation and language assessment instruments were reviewed. The following areas were addressed: title, author, publisher, date of publication, price, ages, administration time, • general type, description, scoring, standardization, validity, reliability, and comments. Information was compiled using Mental Measurements Yearbook, Test Critiques, test manuals, and journal articles. A matrix is included as a reference and table of contents. list of publishers and addresses is also included.

The Impact Of Recent Research Trends On The Teaching Of Writing In The Middle Grades, Marilu D. Goolsby

Theses and Dissertations

This was a descriptive study which measured the attitudes and practices of teachers in the middle grades concerning the teaching of writing. Subjects were 42 teachers of writing in grades five through eight in four small rural school systems. The data gathering instrument was a questionnaire devised by the researcher which employed a Likert scale format. One open-ended item was included as well as several background questions. Results indicated that the majority of these teachers do not teach writing as a process with extensive editing and revising with the teacher participating in the process. Rather, the teaching of grammar and …

Structural And Syntactical Differences Between Revised Writing And Impromptu Writing Of Award-Winning Eighth-Grade Students, Susan J. Smith

Theses and Dissertations

This study attempted to discover 1f there were any structural or syntactical differences between a revised, process writing composition and an impromptu composition from the same good writer. Eleven eighth grade students from schools across Georgia submitted both types of writing in the Promising Young Writers Program of 1988. For this study, the compositions were analyzed by computer over a list of criteria including readability level, number of words, sentences, and paragraphs, spelling, punctuation, capitalization, usage, sentence length and variety, and verb choice. Although data revealed significant differences between the two sets of writings (primarily counts of length), the two …

Differences In The. Reading And Mathematics Achievement Between Asian American And Non Asian American Children, Linda B. Price

Theses and Dissertations

Explanations for the achievement or overachievement of Asian Americans are often conflicting and subject to debate among researchers. Four major theories for this achievement are explored in the review of literature. One of these theories concerns the idea that Asian American's beliefs are the result of Confucianism and its influence on the lives of Asian Americans. Another theory examines the parent's positive attitude toward education and its influence on achievement. A third theory suggests that Asian American babies are more alert and sensitive at birth. The final theory examined proposes that the Asian American immigration to the United States is …

Thinking Skills In Young Adult Literature: An Annotated Bibliography Of Thirty Novels, Janis H. Eberhardt

Theses and Dissertations

This project provides teachers a method of teaching thinking skills to students through the use of specific adolescent novels. Thirty novels were selected with an attempt at an even distribution between male and female protagonists, first and third person point of view. A large number of novels were examined to determine the presence or absence of protagonists whose thinking abilities determined their actions .

Thirty novels were found to have protagonists who demonstrated good thinking abilities in several of the ways targeted by the NCTE publication "Essentials in English." Characters' demonstration of specific thinking skills was noted on an identification …

Survey Of Georgia's Public School Systems With Self-Contained Language Classrooms, Brenda J. Jones

Theses and Dissertations

Twenty-two teachers of self-contained language programs throughout the State of Georgia served as respondents for a survey of the operations of their programs in terms of students, teacher training, referral process, assessment process, entrance criteria, curriculum, and exit criteria. Results indicated that although the self-contained language programs are operating without standardized regulations, there is a great deal of similarity in their procedures, particularly in the areas of students, teacher training, referral process, entrance criteria, and exit criteria. The results of this study may be of benefit to state department personnel in developing regulations/procedures for self-contained language programs within the state.

The Influence Of Brain Hemisphericity On The Composing Process Of Twelfth Graders, Reinholdine Breien-Pierson

Theses and Dissertations in Urban Services - Urban Education

Despite the popularization of the concept of brain hemispheric dominance, little serious research has been done in the area of the role of brain hemisphericity in learning and thought. The purpose of this case study was to explore the role of hemisphericity in the area of student composition to test the theory that the composing process and writing of student papers differs relative to the students' hemispheric dominance. A second area of investigation was to test the theory that teachers value papers written by students who share their hemispheric dominance.

The subjects, eight twelfth graders and four (English) teacher evaluators, …

The Difference Between The Writing Achievement Of Below-Average Ninth-Grade Students And Above-Average Ninth-Grade Students As Revealed On Literature Tests Stressing Analysis Of Character, Alton Pitts

Theses and Dissertations

This study attempted to discover if there was any difference between the writing achievement of below-average ninth-grade students and above-average ninth-grade students as revealed on literature tests stressing analysis of character. Fifty individuals were randomly selected from a population of over three hundred students. Using the Analyzing Characters in Literature (ACL) exam, differences were drawn between the groups in the following areas: substantiation, form, content, and subjective reasoning. The independent samples were evaluated descriptively to determine whether a difference existed between ability groups. While the majority of the Individuals In both high and low ability groups were able to properly …

Sex Differences In Reading Achievement In Elementary School Students, Dianne Davis

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a difference in reading achievement in male and female students in the elementary school. The subjects were 600 selected students from elementary schools operating in a public schoo1 system in the Southeast. The Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS) scores For 1987 were collected for 600 third, fourth, and fifth grade students. This test was administered to all A elementary school students in the spring of the year by the regular classroom teacher. The children participated in the regular classroom curriculum and no treatment was administered to the subjects …

A Comparison Of Holistic And Analytic Scoring Scales For Evaluating Essays, Barbara B. Wilson

Theses and Dissertations

The focus of the study was to see if there was a significant difference among the final scores of essays written by eleventh and twelfth grade students as scored by teacher raters. In addition, the study addressed whether or not raters scored expressive essays higher than expository essays.

In order to demonstrate the efficacy of existing scoring scales, some 175 expressive essays and 158 expository essays were obtained from two area high schools located in the southeastern United States. From these essays, fifteen expressive and fifteen expository essays were randomly selected and scored using a Diederich holistic scoring scale, a …

The Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale : 4th Edition As A Predictor Of Reading Achievement, Deborah A. Houck

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This study Investigated the validity of the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale: Fourth Edition as a predictor of reading achievement. Forty non-referred rural children, ages 8 through 12, were Identified as good or poor readers, and were administered the complete Binet IV battery. Using the Comprehensive Tests of Basic Skills as a criterion measure, correlations and stepwise regressions were derived for the Binet IV Composite, Area, and subtest scores for the total sample and each group. The results indicated a strong correlation between Binet IV Composite SAS and reading achievement for the sample studied. Also, Verbal Reasoning and Short-term Memory SAS yielded …

Prevalence Of Articulation Errors In Stuttering School Age Children, Laura M. Sartin

Theses and Dissertations

Sixty speech-1anguage pathologists throughout the State of Georgia' served as respondents for a survey of school age stutterers exhibiting articulation errors. The questionnaire requested that children between the ages of five and 18 be reported, that dialectal and developmental errors should not be reported, and that stutterers should have been enrolled in a speech therapy program for a minimum of six months. Of those stutterers reported, the following variables were requested: race, age in months, severity of dysfluency, severity of articulation disorder, and length of time in treatment.

Results indicated that of 151 stutterers reported, 45 exhibited articulation errors. Twenty-seven …

Writing Apprehension: Can Sentence Combining Help?, Anne B. Trawick

Theses and Dissertations

This study tested the hypothesis that seventh-grade students who practiced a regimen of sentence-combining would have less apprehension about writing than students who were taught composition in the traditional mode. The subjects were four intact classes of seventh-grade students whose average IQ of 99, who were 12.2 years of age, and who were in classes for students who worked on or near grade level. Each teacher administered to the experimental group the sentence-combining treatment for two class periods a week over a nine week period and taught the control group composition by conventional methods the same amount of time. The …

The Use Of Oral Communications Courses In High School To Increase Skills In Language Arts, Sylvia C. Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to see if there is any difference between the reading and English test scores (TASK= Stanford Test of Academic Skills) between those high schoo1 students who take oral communications courses and those who do not take such courses.

This study used a sample of 40 students enrolled in oral communications courses from three randomly selected high schools. The comparison sample included 40 randomly selected students enrolled in Phase II English courses at the same schools.

The Stanford Test of Academic Skills served as both a pretest and a posttest for scores for all of …

Silent Reading Before Oral Reading On The Iri: Implication For Diagnosis And Instruction, Catherine P. Benedetti

All Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to test the effect of silent pre-reading on the number of oral reading errors a student makes on an IRI. Twenty children read passages silently and then orally read passages without pre-reading. The results supported the null hypothesis that there would be no statistically significant difference on oral reading performances for disabled second and fourth graders. Implications for diagnosis and instruction are discussed.

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.

An Evaluation For The Reading Program For Rome Community Consolidated School, James Edward Burnes

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the Houghton Mifflin reading program in the Rome Community Consolidated School District in Dix, Illinois. The Houghton Mifflin Reading Program was implemented in the Rome School District in the fall of 1980. This study was designed to evaluate the reading program to determine if it is meeting the purposes and objectives that the district personnel believed it would meet and to ascertain if it is as effective as the Houghton Mifflin Company purports it to be.

This study was divided into four chapters. Chapter I furnishes background information concerning the Rome School …

What Georgia's Middle Graders Are Reading: An Analysis Of Selected Georgia Book Award Recipients, Mary M. Bass

Theses and Dissertations

This project is a thematic analysis of thirty books nominated for the Georgia Children's Book Award Program. Books selected for analysis include the annual winners and one other book, randomly selected, from each year since the program began in 1969. A brief history of the program and the rules for the inclusion of a title are included in the report. A one-page review-analysis of each title includes a readability level, publication date, year nominated, brief sketch of the protagonist, and a synopsis of the book. The review of the literature focuses on similar studies along thematic lines and notes the …