Elementary Education Commons^™

"Night Writers": A Voluntary Creative Writing Program, Wendy Arline Alexander

All Graduate Projects

"Night Writers", a voluntary creative writing program that utilizes parent volunteers, was designed to encourage more writing in a positive way. Writing supports the aquisition of reading skills and enables one to communicate more effectively. As "Night Writers" encourages the students to write at home, with parent involvement encouraged, a close home-school relationship is being fostered to the benefit of all parties concerned.

Around The World Radio: A Teacher's Guide To Shortwave Radio In The Classroom, Myles M. Mustoe

All Graduate Projects

Shortwave radio is a viable teaching tool for teachers in geography, social science, languages, and other areas of secondary and elementary curriculum. However, in the United States, teachers are generally not familiar with what is available to them on the shortwave radio and how they can adapt the use of the radio for their classrooms. This deficiency was the problem that this project intended to address.

Reading Instruction Through Trade Books As A Supplement To A Sixth Grade Basal Reading Program, Corinne Ann Applegate

All Graduate Projects

Supplemental reading activities were developed for a basal reader program using trade books. The Raygor Readability Estimate was used to determine the reading level of the sixty-five trade books for grades three through eight. The books were categorized by grade level and activities for each book at each grade level were developed.

Games And Activities For The English As A Second Language Classroom, Mary T. Brunelle

All Graduate Projects

A study has been made to select activities and games that promote language use in the second language classroom. Low classroom and personal anxiety promote language learning; games and activities are a method of focusing the language on its message rather than its structural form. Ways for teachers to help decrease classroom pressure and encourage learning are discussed. Language games for beginning, intermediate, and advanced students are presented in the project portion of this paper and will be used as a handbook of games for English as a second language teachers.

A Parent Handbook For Primary Students With Learning Disabilities, Susan K. Busey

All Graduate Projects

Parents play an important role in the educational process, especially with Special Education students. When a child is identified as Learning Disabled, parents often ask, "What can we do at home to help?" When there is parent-school cooperation and coordination all will benefit, particularly the child. This project provides parents of the Selah School District in Washington State with information and activities in the academic areas of reading, mathematics, and written language, that will reinforce and strengthen those skills taught at school.

A Whole-Language Approach To Bilingual Language Arts Curriculum, Grades K-4, Martha M. Floyd

All Graduate Projects

Bilingual Language Arts objectives were established by grade level, K-4, in both Spanish and English. One hundred six limited English proficient students are participants in the bilingual program for which this curriculum was designed. This study suggests how selected objectives can be implemented using a whole language approach during a 1-week cultural unit. The intent of the curriculum design was that children learn language naturally when it is in a meaningful context. Implications for success in using a whole-language approach are discussed.

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 Program For Teaching Composition In The Elementary School, Sharon Maxine Mcconnell

All Graduate Projects

Methods and procedures for teaching composition in the elementary school were developed. Current methods of teaching writing were combined with classical rhetorical modes to provide integrated and comprehensive writing experiences for elementary students. Step-by-step directions are provided for the teacher, from prewriting activities to publication of student writing. Each procedure contains a writing experience in the narrative, descriptive, expository, or persuasive mode, each using the writing "process'' to reach a final product.

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.

Cooking… Organized Opportunities For Kids, Jennifer H. Quesnell

All Graduate Projects

The utilization of cooking experiences in the elementary school can increase student involvement and participation. In addition, when carefully planned cooking experiences are presented, a wide variety of learning opportunities is possible. This project is intended to assist teachers wishing to incorporate cooking experiences into the classroom. Cooking lessons, teaching suggestions, additional recipes, and enrichment ideas are included. A list of cooking terms and definitions and additional sources of information are also given.

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.

A Program For Teaching Reading Readiness Skills To Primary Spanish-Speaking Children, Mary Ofelia Smith

All Graduate Projects

Methods and procedures for teaching reading readiness skills to primary Spanish-speaking children were developed. The methods and procedures were developed to enrich the basic teaching of reading programs and to provide a means for development of specific skills that the standard program failed to develop for the limited English speakers. Each procedure contains step-by-step directions for the teacher to combine with current methods of the teaching of reading.

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.

A Curriculum Guide Based On Developmental Stages Of Kindergarten And First Grade Writing, Heidi E. Borrud

All Graduate Projects

The relationship between the developmental stages of a child and the acquisition of written language was studied. Through research, developmental stages were identified. The stages were used to develop objectives for a kindergarten and first grade writing curriculum guide. Activities that would aid in the achievement of the given objectives are suggested.

Remedial Spelling Book For Secondary Students, Rheta Faye Buoy

All Graduate Projects

A remedial spelling book for secondary students was developed for use in the Chapter I Jemedial Reading Class at Toppenish Middle School. This spelling book was designed to meet the needs and interests of secondary students who perform at the second and third grade level. The spelling book incorporates phonics, creative writing, reading and dictionary skills.

A Curriculum Guide Based On Developmental Stages Of Second And Third Grade Writing, Dana J. Persson-Zora

All Graduate Projects

The relationship between the developmental stages of a child's written language acquisition and the achievement of written language efficiency was studied. Through research, developmental stages were identified, and used to suggest objectives for a second and third grade writing curriculum guide. Activities that would aid in the achievement of the given objectives are suggested.

A Rainy Day Project For Noon Recesses, Helen A. Andrews

All Graduate Projects

The Rainy Day Project was designed to meet the needs of approximately 758 students, 35 certified teachers including specialists, and 10 classified staff members during days designated by administrative personnel as closed outdoor playground days. It was created as a result of inclement weather conditions in the Grays Harbor County region of Washington State. The primary purpose for the creation of this project was to give students an alternative to sitting in classroom modules or standing under eaves of the school building. The alternative activity was the showing of video tapes during two different lunch recesses. The alternative aided in …

A Model For Developing A Curriculum Database, Allan W. Pfiffner

All Graduate Projects

This paper presents a computer file of non-cataloged media for teaching Social Studies in the Franklin Pierce School District's elementary schools. The file is maintained by the use of a minicomputer database. Materials are drawn from the file by descriptors used to describe the contents of the item. The database file was used to enhance the teaching of Social Studies by first, saving the teachers time in locating materials, and second, helping point out other items they may not have known existed in the district.

Identifying The Readability Of The First Grade Books In The Vale School Library Using The Computerized Spache Formula, Doris Jean Byerley Rogers

All Graduate Projects

Books were identified with first grade readability in the Vale Elementary School library, Cashmere, Washington, utilizing the computerized Spache formula. Listing of supplementary books and ways the supplementary books could be used in the classroom were also studied. Forty-one books with first grade readability were found in the 8,000 voiume collection. ·Three bibliographies were included: (a) Vale books with first grade readabili_ty, (b) publishers with first grade supplementary materials, and (c) a list of book selection aids. The writer concludes that trade books with first grade readability were difficult to identify.

The Successful Substitute: A Practitioner's Handbook, Gail Winferd Still

All Graduate Projects

This project provides a notebook of useful information to be used by substitute teachers in Kennewick School District. The intent was to provide a notebook of routine activities, programs and procedures to improve conmiunication between substitutes and regular teachers. By standardizing the notebook's usage throughout the district and organizing the information exactly the same in each notebook, the substitute can quickly gain the information necessary to carry out the teacher's plans and maintain a smooth operating learning environment.

Computer Banking And Cross-Referencing Of Mathematical Materials For The Elementary Grades, Daniel Jordan Martin

All Graduate Projects

The specific area and focus of this project will be that of arranging District and program math learning objectives for eventual computer banking along with materials cross-referenced to those objectives. In addition, the cross-referenced materials will be labeled as to grade level, interest level, mode of learning, and time needed for their use. The computer banking will facilitate use and prescriptive accessibility to given objectives.

The justification for such a project can be broken down into several areas: (1) the need of the elementary math teachers to have a bank of supplementary materials cross-referenced to facilitate their instruction of math …

A Videotape Presentation Of The Positive Learning Environment At Peter G. Schmidt Elementary School, Donna Hass Mellander

All Graduate Projects

Schools have needed to keep constituents informed about the effectiveness of the formal learning environment. This videotape, entitled, "A Tour Through The Sunshine School", facilitated that communication. Candid scenes highlighted students and staff involved in basic and enrichment programs at Peter G. Schmidt Elementary School. Selected literature was reviewed. Videotape technicians were consulted and production procedures were listed. The Tumwater School Board of Directors, teachers, students and community members viewed the tape and made it available for future showings. A bibliography of selected literature was included.

The Cousteau Log Centering On Marine Animals For Elementary School Children, Annie Suffron

All Graduate Projects

"Centering on Marine Animals for Elementary School Children" was a multi-curricular learning center design in four parts. It consisted of an introduction on Bubbles the Whale, including a picture, a puppet, a song, a Sea Script, and task cards. Following the introduction were three units on Sea Monsters of the World, the Migration of the Grey Whale, and the Ecology of the Southern Sea Otter. Each unit contained a picture of the sea animal, a puppet, a song, a Sea Script, a Quiz, map(s), and task cards.

An Elementary Art Curriculum For Private/Parochial Schools, Linda Porter Allison

All Graduate Projects

This project is written with the hopes of offering assistance to the private/parochial schools that either have not committed themselves to an art program or that are floundering within stagnating commitments or those that need stimulus to think about the benefits of an art curriculum. The seed thoughts for this project were first planted when the author began teaching in a private school and observed first hand curriculum deficiences in local private/parochial schools. The author conducted a survey of similarly founded schools which led to suspicions that art curriculum of the private/parochial elementary schools in the State of Washington are …

Pattern And Mathematics: Math Enrichment Activities For Gifted Fourth, Fifth And Sixth Grade Children, Janet K. Zuber

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project is to provide assistance to the elementary math teacher in meeting the needs of the student gifted in the area of math. A collection of activities is provided to use with gifted intermediate students and should serve as an example of the type of activities appropriate for the gifted student. These activities would be most appropriately used with gifted students in grades four through six. The activities would be of greatest benefit if students were grouped in a homogeneous manner with one teacher taking responsibility for their math needs, Homogeneous grouping would allow for faster-paced …

Simulations For Teaching Concepts On Washington State, Cynthia Louise Buettgenbach

All Graduate Projects

Simulation lessons and materials were developed to teach concepts on Washington State to a classroom of fourth grade students. The activities in which the students participated were the following:

1) planned trips to the five geographic regions of Washington State;

2) became part of an Indian tribe and held a meeting with other tribes at Sacajawea Park;

3) played a board game, traveling with Lewis and Clark to the Pacific Ocean;

4) held mock state elections and one legislative session.

Students showed an increased interest in social studies through the simulations.