Educational Methods Commons^™

The Use Of Ability Grouping In Reading And Some Alternatives, Sherry Lynn Anderson

All Graduate Projects

This study was conducted to determine if attitudes toward and /or practices of ability grouping for reading instruction have changed over the last thirteen years. Current research was reported. A replication of a study by Wilson and Schmits (1978) was completed and analyzed. The results suggest a fairly dramatic change in both attitudes toward and practices of ability grouping. A collection of alternative methods were offered for teachers looking for options to the ability grouping method of teaching reading.

Metacognitive Prereading Activities To Enhance Reading Comprehension, Katherine Laws

All Graduate Projects

This study investigated metacognitive prereading strategies content area teachers might utilize for process emphasis reading comprehension. The literature review showed the shift in reading comprehension instruction from a word based emphasis to an interactive process emphasis, described content area reading instruction and metacognition. A selection of metacognitive prereading activities was included for use by teachers in content area classrooms. Implications of using the activities were discussed.

Attitudes Of Seventh Grade Students Toward Reading Using А Literature-Based Approach, Robin R. Coe

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to describe and analyze the effects of a literature-based approach to teaching reading on student attitudes toward reading. Relatively few studies have been conducted to describe students' attitudes toward reading in a literature-based approach which includes the following: the use of children's literature, silent reading by students and teachers, expressive reading by the teacher, and various book-sharing activities and projects. Four seventh-grade reading classes at Faith Middle School were randomly selected to participate as subjects. Students' attitudes toward reading were assessed in the fall using the Short Form Reading Attitude Survey. Students were taught …

Attitudes Toward Reading Held By Second Grade Students When Instructed In First And Second Grades Using The Basal Approach And The Whole Language Approach, Anne L. Kepner

All Graduate Projects

The attitudes toward reading held by second grade students when instructed using the basal approach and the whole language approach were studied. Forty surveys given to students at the end of their second grade year were analyzed. The results showed support for the hypothesis that students, taught reading by the whole language approach in first and second grades will have a more positive attitude toward reading than students taught reading by the traditional basal approach in the first and second grades.

Literature-Based Preschool Activities Using A Modified Whole Language Approach, Beverly M. Chandler

All Graduate Projects

A review of the literature revealed higher academic expectations by today's teachers of kindergarten children than in the past. To prepare students more completely to meet these expectations fourteen preschool activities related to children's literature and based on a modified whole language approach were developed. The varied activities were designed to be used by teachers or parents of preschool children in order to better prepare the children to enter kindergarten with an exposure to, basic understanding of, and appreciation of children's literature.

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.

Parental Involvement: Using Workshops To Promote Beginning Reading, Dana Krieger Clauson

All Graduate Projects

Four workshops are designed to help parents of young children facilitate beginning reading. These workshops focus on techniques for reading aloud, using predictable materials, using environmental print, and constructing games. The workshops are aimed at parents of kindergarten children. The project includes research which provides a definition, rationale, and practical application of each topic, specific workshop designs, parent handouts, and teacher materials. Implications of the benefits of parent education and recommendations for future workshops are discussed.

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.

Does Our Complex Writing Lower Test Scores On Mathematics Word Problems?, William (Bill) H. Williams, Sandra P. Clarkson

Publications and Research

ABSTRACT: In this paper, we describe one of a series of studies at Hunter College to determine whether students' reading proficiency affects their performance on mathematics "word" problems. Based on this study, we reached some specific conclusions:

1. Reading ability is a separate, quantifiable factor which impacts the performance of all students on mathematics word problems.

2. Less complex writing leads to better results on word problems for all students.

3. Less complex writing leads to even more improvement in test results for “weaker” readers [those needing reading remediation] than for “average” readers [those exempting reading remediation].

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 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 …

Using Children's Literature To Enrich The Social Studies Program In A Fifth Grade Study Of The United States, Judith S. Lemke

All Graduate Projects

Children's literature can enliven and enrich a social studies program. The role of children's literature in content subjects, especially social studies on the elementary level was studied. The types of children's literature which can be used in social studies, namely informational books, biographies, historical fiction, were also studied. In addition bibliographies were consulted for repeated mention of the best selections. Based upon the findings cited above a selected annotated bibliography of selections of poetry and children's books was produced for use in a fifth grade study of the United States.

Handbook For Parents: How To Improve Your Children's Reading (Ages 9-12), Janice De Cordova Beil Rudeen

All Graduate Projects

From this writer's classroom experience, children's reading achievement improves when there is cooperation between teachers and parents. This author felt that a handbook should be developed to help guide them in improving their children's reading. The purpose of this project is to create a handbook which develops comprehension and vocabulary skills. Increased parental involvement in home reading with children will help the children to read better to enjoy it. Parents have powerful influence on their children in developing reading interests. This paper deals with parental participation in improving children's reading from age pre-kindergarten to twelve. The handbook deals with the …

A Training Program For Use With Aides And Volunteers In A Middle School Remedial Reading And Language Arts Program, Jeanette Johnson

All Graduate Projects

This project consists of three parts. Chapter 1 establishes the need for more concentrated teaching of poor readers among school children and suggests volunteer tutors as a possible source of help. Chapter 2 examines the history of tutoring by non-professionals and concludes that volunteers can indeed be effective tutors, but that appropriate training is a crucial factor. Chapter 3, the main part of the project, presents a set of ten training modules each consisting of taped instructions and accompanying printed material. The script for each tape is included in this paper.

Reading Strategies For Content Teachers, Constance Dallman Luna

All Graduate Projects

This project, designed for content teachers wishing to improve their students' reading skills, includes lesson plans, procedures, and materials for learning modules in the following content field reading problem areas: readability, vocabulary, diagnosis, questioning, using the textbook, organizing for instruction, and notetaking and listening. The key recommendation was that the project be seen as an evolving process and not as an end product.

A Study Of The Neurological Impress Method With Remedial Secondary Students, Larry Charles Reynolds

All Master's Theses

This paper presents a study of the Neurological Impress Method, with junior high students two or more years behind their expected Reading Comprehension level. Thirty students were randomly selected and placed into control and experimental groups by a random number process. These S's received eighteen weeks of special treatment with either the N.I.M. or oral reading practice for the controls. Statistical analysis showed no significant difference between the Reading Comprehension gains of controls and experimentals. The gains of both controls and experimentals was, however, found to be of significance. Conclusions and recommendations included suggestions for additional research and a discussion …

A Diagnostic Procedure To Measure The Student's Ability To Use The Index Of A Textbook, William L. Miller

All Master's Theses

This thesis involved the construction of a 37-item true/false diagnostic test which measures the ability to use an index of a textbook. Sixteen separate indexing skills were identified and sequenced. The reading level of the test is third grade; however, it may be used through the high school level. The test was administered to 28 fifth grade students and statistically analyzed.

Recommendations include additional testing and refinement of test items and the construction of a larger sample index.

The Effect Of Project Read On The Reading Achievement Scores Of First Graders In Selected Schools, Kim Richardson Gates

Teaching & Learning Theses & Dissertations

No abstract.

Personalized Reading Program For Intermediate Grades, Pamela Kay Kelly

All Graduate Projects

As the reading specialist in an elementary school, it was my responsibility to assist the classroom teachers with their reading program; specifically, with those students who were having difficulty. It was not feasible for me to meet with all who needed help; at the most, I could help forty-three students per week. The pace at which I had to function to assess and meet their individual needs became too great. In view of this situation, the following program was designed to stimulate every intermediate student's desire to read and to do so at his own pace.

A Follow-Up Study On Reading Ability Of Junior High School Remedial Reading Students, Jerry Borgens

All Master's Theses

This paper presents the follow-up study of a remedial reading program for junior high school students. The purpose of the program was to improve the reading ability of these students using the "Modification of Reading Behavior" program. Using pre-test and post-test results, it was found that the majority of the students in the program made significant improvement in reading ability.

The follow-up study indicated that the gains made in reading ability in the original program were maintained approximately one year after termination of the program.

Comparison Of Effectiveness Of Basal Readers And Sullivan Programmed Materials, Joan E. Lorenz

All Master's Theses

The aim of this study is not to tear down or ridicule any method, Sullivan Programmed or Traditional Basal, but to evaluate as objectively as possible, the merits and limitations which exist in both and to show, through testing a group of 99 first graders and 64 second graders, the possible effectiveness of these methods.

A Study Of The Effectiveness Of Various Methods Of Teaching Reading In Special Education Classrooms, Mary Ann Fisher

All Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of two reading programs, Sullivan's Programmed Reading and the Psycholinguistic Color System, and to try to determine if one program did, in effect, have a particular value over the other when used with children in an intermediate special education program. A secondary purpose of the study was to determine if a teacher-centered program brought about different results than one which was student-centered.

A Study Of The Reading Background And Current Program Practices In Reading Used By Elementary Principals In Washington's Second Class School Districts, Kenneth William Anderson

All Master's Theses

The purpose of this study is to determine the degree to which the training and backgrounds possessed by elementary principals affect their actions as leaders of reading instruction with their buildings.

The Relationship Of Final Grade Achievement In Seventh Grade English And Social Studies With A Reading Achievement Test, Judith Mitchell Knox

Teaching & Learning Theses & Dissertations

No abstract.

Relationship Between Perceptual Mode And Reading Ability In College Students Enrolled In A Reading Improvement Program, Mildred Norene Higgins

All Master's Theses

It was the purpose of this study (1) to determine the relationship between mode of visual perceptual discrimination and the ability to benefit from a college program in reading improvement and (2) to determine the relationship between mode of visual perceptual discrimination and ability to read prior to participation in the reading improvement program.

An Evaluation Of The Kindergarten Program In Chelan, Lois M. Detering

Graduate Student Research Papers

Many significant studies of reading readiness were under way at the direction of private, public, or federal funds, thus focusing attention on kindergarten and pre-kindergarten readiness. Because of this, many parents, teachers, and administrators showed keen interest in the possibilities of educating youngsters at the kindergarten and pre-kindergarten age. It was therefore felt that a study of this kind would be pertinent. Specifically, many persons wanted their five-year-olds to attend kindergarten in Chelan, Washington. This attitude was reflected elsewhere and it was decided to make a study of kindergarten programs and their relationships to the program in Chelan. It was …

A Correlation Study Of The Sixth Grade Verbal School And College Ability Test With Eighth Grade Reading Achievement, Claude E. Yule

All Master's Theses

It was the purpose of this study to compare the test scores of one group of children who took the verbal ability section of the sixth grade School and College Ability Test (SCAT) with the test scores of the same group of children on the eighth grade reading Sequential Test of Educational Progress (STEP) and to determine the degree of relationship between the tests.

A Comparison Of Word Attack Skills Presented In S.R.A. Reading Laboratory With Word Attack Skills Presented In Two Basal Reading Programs, Ginn And Scott, Foresman, Rosemary C. Faust

All Master's Theses

This study was conducted in an effort to compare the word attack skills presented in S.R.A. Reading Laboratory I and S.R.A. Reading Laboratory Ib with word attack skills presented in two second grade basal reading programs, Ginn, grade 2, and Scott, Foresman. The purpose of the study was to determine whether S.R.A. Reading laboratories I and Ib would be of value as a supplement to either or both basal reading programs.

A Combination Approach To The Teaching Of Reading, Carroll B. Marchant

All Master's Theses

It was the intent of this study to verify the writer's hypothesis that significant progress in reading can be obtained through a combination of the individualized and the basic text approach to reading.

A Comparison Of The Interclass And Intraclass Procedures Of Grouping For Reading Instruction, Edward B. Faust

All Master's Theses

One purpose of this study is to compare two reading programs using the interclass procedures of grouping and the traditional intraclass plan of grouping. A second purpose is to compare the results of the reading achievement scores, of both groups, over a period of three years.