Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Commons^™

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 …

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.

Job Sharing Among Elementary School Teachers, Denise Ione Walsh

All Graduate Projects

The practice of job sharing, in which two teachers share the responsibilities of one teacher, is described. A comprehensive review of related literature is presented. Perceptions of those directly affected by the practice in one school district were gathered through 70 structured interviews with elementary principals, job sharing teachers, full-time teacher colleagues, students in job sharing classrooms, and parents. The study reveals predominantly positive reactions to the practice, and supports continuation of job sharing as an employment option for teachers.

Promoting Children's Writing For Publication, Minnie Mary Mckay Merrill

All Master's Theses

The main emphasis of this project was a description of a writing program "Promoting Children's Writing for Publication" as it evolved at Grass Lake Elementary School, Kent School District, Kent, Washington.

A Study Of Enrollment Trends In Accredited Vocational Programs In Small Schools In North Central Washington, Lyle D. Blackburn

All Graduate Projects

Vocational enrollment trends of small school districts in North Central Washington were studied. Seven school districts located in Okanogan, Douglas and Chelan counties were charted. The data provided by the Office of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction show individual program enrollment as well as total vocational enrollment compared to total high school enrollment. The results support the hypothesis that small schools' vocational enrollment remains constant with regard to high school enrollment. Recommendations were made for further studies, to include a more in-depth study of large schools as well as the smaller schools.

Study Skills For School Success, Terry Mills Tanneberg

All Graduate Projects

"Study Skills for School Success" is a project study focusing on the skills characterized by effective study. The specific nature of study skills and the influence of the home environment are also examined. A major product of this project study is a handbook entitled "Study Skills for School Success." Focusing on the parents of elementary children, the step-by-step handbook is designed to serve as a resource guide for the effective implementation of a home study skills program.

A Handbook For Orientation Of First Year Teachers In The Walla Walla School District, Robert C. Maib

All Graduate Projects

The transition from student teacher to becoming a professional teacher can be a very trying experience. Research, interviews and studies were done to point out problems beginning teachers have in their first year of employment. Due to these problems, beginning teachers need to know where to go for help. Administrators, secretarial services and custodial services can be very beneficial to aid the beginning teacher in the first year of employment. The aim of this project is to create a handbook for beginning teachers in the Walla Walla School District with the research discussed.

Chapter 1/Learning Assistance Program Handbook: Central Kitsap School District, Martha Fitzgerald Skinner

All Graduate Projects

A review and development process resulted in a the Chapter 1/Learning Assistance Program Handbook for use in the Central Kitsap School District in 1986 as a procedural reference for the coordinated efforts of the Federally-funded Chapter 1 Regular Program and the State-funded Learning Assistance Program. The handbook details procedures which allow the school district to comply with Washington State regulations which are designed to meet Federal guidelines. During the 1986-87 school year, the handbook was utilized by school district personnel and program staff. A revision incorporating modifications of procedures and clarifications of wording was completed prior to the beginning of …

A Comparative Study Of Student Directed Dialogue Journal Writing And Teacher Directed Dialogue Journal Writing, Yolanda Paez Bailey

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this study was to compare student directed dialogue journal writing with teacher directed dialogue journal writing. Eleven students in the student directed group wrote about self-generated topics while 12 students in the teacher directed group wrote on topics selected by the teacher. Data were analyzed in the areas of amount of writing generated, types of language functions, topics and the ability to stay on topic, level of technical improvement, types of questions posed by students and teacher, and attitudes towards writing. The results revealed that both student directed dialogue journal writing and teacher directed dialogue journal writing …

Computers And The School Principal, Paul Henry Nelson

All Master's Theses

The presence of the microcomputer in society and education is on the increase. This study compared the expertise and use of computers by elementary principals, to the availability and attitudes of its implementation by the teaching staff. A questionnaire elicited data from principals and revealed that they indirectly influenced the increase of computer use by teachers by providing inservice opportunities, workshops, and courses, and directly influenced them by providing personal encouragement. Several recommendations were made concerning administrative use of computers.

Pre-Academy Placement In The Washington State Patrol: Factors Associated With Academy And Job Performance, Richard Franklin Hamack

All Master's Theses

Washington State Patrol Trooper Cadets serve in a number of positions, a number of locations across the state and for varying lengths of time before they are selected to attend the academy. The purpose of the present research was to determine whether these factors were related to subsequent academy performance and job performance.

To that end, 255 cadets hired between 1979 and 1985 were studied. The results indicated that only pre-academy assignment duration was significantly correlated with academy completion and academy performance. Implications for further research and departmental policy are discussed.

Retention: The Fourth R, Retention Perception And Practices In The Kennewick School District, Steven G. Linn

All Graduate Projects

A descriptive study was conducted by means of a questionnaire to determine what the Kennewick School District teachers and principals perceived the official district policy to be regarding nonpromotion of a student. The results showed that principals had a clear understanding of the policy while half of the responding teachers did not. Retention practices were investigated and it was found that 74 students were retained for the year 1987 by teachers, with principals reporting 31 retentions district-wide. Criteria for nonpromotion decision making was identified and ranked in order of frequency used by both teachers and principals. Communication of the district …

The Homeschool Enrichment Center: A Handbook For Implementation, Linda Maude Anderson

All Master's Theses

A handbook was compiled, explaining how to implement an enrichment center for homeschooled children. The author coordinated an educational enrichment center in Bremerton, to meet certain needs of home educated children and their parents in the community. Research was also done on two other home school enrichment centers. The handbook, written to answer many inquiries on how to start up similar enrichment centers in other communities, covered what an enrichment center is, how to organize and begin one, costs, schedules, qualifications, descriptions, questions and answers.

The Pre-First Transition Room Program, Jeffrey Scott Peck

All Master's Theses

The pre-first transition room program was studied. Characteristics, philosophies, testing procedures, and reading programs were described. Twenty schools in Educational Service District 171 were surveyed to determine attitudes and the type of pre-first programs available in the Educational Service District. Twenty pre-first students were observed throughout the 1986-87 school year to determine social, emotional, and academic growth. Results indicated similar immature characteristics were displayed by developmentally young children. Pre-first programs are similar in philosophy, goals, and curriculum design. Pre-first programs can provide developmental activities which meet individual needs of pre-first children.

The Organization Of A Learning Resource Center At The Christian And Missionary Alliance Church In Ellensburg, Washington, Robert Neil Gordon

All Graduate Projects

This paper presents an investigation into providing a model and designing and organizing a learning resource center (LRC) for the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church. Including existing and potential resources and/or media used in teaching and general church ministries, the plan makes provision for systematically using these resources by evaluation. Recommendations for the learning resource center were based on the review of related literature, the philosophy, goals and objectives of the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church and input from church members.

A Comparison Of Teacher Creativity And Organized Demeanor As Measured By The Tuckman Teacher Feedback Form, Deborah Joanne Karas

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this study was to make a comparison of personality variables between four essential dimensions of classroom climate. Creativity, Dynamism, Organized Demeanor, and Warmth and Acceptance were examined, with specific attention given to the relationship between Creativity and Organized Demeanor. The Tuckman Teacher Feedback Form, an instrument designed to measure these variables, was selected and implemented in this study. One hundred and eighteen teachers teaching in grade level positions that ranged from Kindergarten through the twelfth grade, were administered the Tuckman instrument during their annual evaluation period by their building administrators. After computing and comparing mean percentages, it …

Development Of A Student Handbook For Odessa Junior-Senior High School, James R. Miller

All Graduate Projects

This project presents the development of a student handbook for Odessa Junior-Senior High School. The handbook was designed to define the rules, regulations, procedures, requirements, activities and services of Odessa Junior-Senior High School. This is the first comprehensive handbook in the history of the school. The handbook was developed from the handbooks of many other high schools and the school board policy manual of the Odessa School District. Many sections have been approved as to legality. Recommendations include an annual review and revision of the handbook by a committee made up of faculty, administration, parents, school board and students.

Adjustment Of South African Education Program Students And South African Higher Education Program Students In America, Ronald T. September

All Master's Theses

The self-perceived adjustment of black South African undergraduate and graduate students in two educational exchange programs in America was investigated by means of a questionnaire administered through the mail during Fall 1985. Sixty-one female and male students at various American institutions participated in the study. The results showed that students perceived themselves to have achieved a high level of personal, social and academic adjustment, and that the undergraduate females, graduate females, undergraduate males and graduate males do not differ significantly in their perceived adjustment. Recommendations for further adjustment strategies are put forward.

A Measure Of Student Attitude Toward Physical Activity At Central Washington University, Timothy D. Clark

All Master's Theses

The attitudes of students who were involved in service courses offered by the Physical Education Department of Central Washington University during the Winter Quarter of 1984 were given G. S. Kenyon's Attitude Toward Physical Activity inventory. The results showed that attitudes for male and female tested were similar within the six domains of the inventory, even though a wide variation of response was obtained in the individual domains by each sex group.

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.

Selection Procedure Utilized By Second-Class School Districts In Making Appointments To The Principalship In Washington State, Keith W. Morris

All Master's Theses

One hundred fifty-eight (158) superintendents of second-class school districts in Washington State were surveyed to determine the selection procedures utilized in the appointment to the principalship. A survey questionnaire was developed and divided into five steps of the selection procedure. The results of the survey questionnaire indicate that the selection procedure varies tremendously and no consistent procedures were found among the school district superintendents surveyed.

Analysis Of Some Variations In Method Of Performing The Push-Up Among College Women, Clifford T. Mito

All Master's Theses

This study utilized 90 college women from Central Washington University to determine if there are significant differences in strength scores between Rowney Knees-on Push-up Method and three body position variations and cadences. The main outcome of this research reflected two significant differences between Rowney's method and body position and cadences. No significant differences were found between experimental body position variations and cadences. The results of this study confirm the hypothesis that changes in push-up technique may produce significant differences in strength scores.

Absenteeism Trends In The North Franklin School District From 1974 To 1985, Gail A. Thompson

All Master's Theses

This study is concerned with the question: Is there a trend toward an annual increase in certificated absenteeism in the North Franklin School District, Connell, Washington, and does any such change parallel trends as identified in the literature?

Evaluating The Effect Of Project H.O.P.E.: An After-School Study Hall, Eugene Joseph Schmidt

All Graduate Projects

The effectiveness of Project HOPE, an acronym for Helping Our People Educationally, was tested to determine if improved academic achievement would result from an after-school study hall. Intended for ninth grade students that fall behind because of uncompleted daily work and missed assignments, Project HOPE was created to give students "a last chance." It was thought that daily work scores would rise and that students would realize an overall increase in their final course grades. The actual experiment was run from November 19, 1984 until January 17, 1985. The experimental group was the writer's tenth grade English class. Despite improvements …

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.

Group Lesson Training Packet(S) On The Selection And The Uses Of Personal Computers In Ther Home, Cora Gladys Vowell

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project report was to provide a group lesson training packet on the selection and the uses of personal computers in the home including information on their history, their basic components, the criteria to evaluate the need for one, and resource materials available on the topic. The instructional materials developed included: a leader's guide, visual aids, a videocassette tape, an activity sheet, information sheets, two evaluation tools, and a partial listing of existing Extension instructional materials on microcomputers.

An Analysis Of Parental Rights In The Education Of Their Children, Marylou Brain Mundy

All Master's Theses

This study presents an analysis of the parental rights involved in the selection and direction of the education of their children.

Six kinds of source materials are examined in the study: (1) legal citations, annotations, and digests; (2) constitutions, laws, codes, statutes, rules, regulations, policies, and proceedings; (3) law reports, reviews and analyses; (4) general reading lists, books and periodicals; and (5) related graduate degree dissertations.

There were two major reasons for analysis of parents' rights in the affairs of learning and education of their children. They include (1) that many of the controversies involving parental rights have their roots …

Student Rights: U.S. Supreme Court Cases-- Their Implications For And Implementation In Washington Schools, Angela Dawn Ramsey

All Master's Theses

The relationship between national litigation and state legislation was studied. Seven areas of student rights were used in categorizing Washington State's educational laws and policies, and twenty-three precedent-setting United States Supreme Court cases. The results showed support for the hypothesis that national litigation impacts state legislation in educational policy-making. Implications for and impact that this has upon the future are discussed.

Proficiency Appraisal: A Viable Alternative To Merit Pay, Kenneth T. Pietraniec

All Graduate Projects

An original design of an incentive plan to reward and encourage instructional proficiency was developed. The evaluative criteria is based on findings of current research in effective instruction. Students, colleagues, administrators, and a trained outside observer appraise behaviors in the domains of classroom climate, time on task, management of student conduct, and teacher expectations. A proficiency grid rates and maps the collected data. Proficiency point totals determine monetary reward and identify professional development needs.

School Organization Placement For The Ninth Grade Student, Karen D. Garrison

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this study was to obtain information regarding the best placement of the ninth grade student in the school organizational pattern. Thirty-six superintendents, seventy-seven high school principals and sixty-four high school teachers, in the state of Washington, responded to a questionnaire-opinionnaire regarding the physical, intellectual, emotional and social maturity level of the ninth grade student. The results showed support for the ninth grade student to be in a four-year high school grade configuration.