Elementary Education Commons^™

Diagnostic/Prescriptive Teaching Of Language Arts And Mathematics, Molly Montz Sato

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project is to provide a Language Arts and Mathematics curriculum for the elementary level special education classroom by correlating remedial materials and activities to objectives determined by the Brigance Inventory of Basic Skills. This project is limited to the areas of Language Arts and Mathematics; however, the areas of Readiness and Reading are also tested by the Brigance.

Handbook For Parents And Students: Sunnyside Christian School, Allen Lee Kosters

All Graduate Projects

This project presents the development of a parent and student handbook for Sunnyside Christian School. The handbook was designed to clearly define the philosophy, basis, admissions policy, rules, regulations, procedures, and general information important to the parents and students. This is the first comprehensive handbook in the thirty-three year history of the school. The handbook was developed with input from faculty, Board, parents, and supporting groups within the school community. Handbooks from other schools, private and public, were used to aid the development of the project. Recommendations included involvement of as many groups and individuals as possible, organizing the handbook …

Creative Arts Activities For Elementary Students, Linda Rozella Linn

All Graduate Projects

A study has been made to select arts activities that will help enhance creativity. All children possess some amount of creative ability. Children, if encouraged, can develop this potential; if they are discouraged they tend to draw inward and thus their creativity is stifled. Ways for teachers to help increase and encourage creativity are discussed. Activities in the areas of art, music, and drama are presented in the project portion of this paper and will be used as a handbook for elementary teachers.

An Instructional Packet Of Teacher Activities Designed To Teach Elementary Students K-3 About Exceptional Children, Lori J. Hanson

All Graduate Projects

The need for and delivery of programs in our public schools to educate elementary students K-3 about Exceptional children was studied. An Instructional packet of ideas, resources, and activities was presented that could be used in an elementary classroom K-3, to help children overcome negative attitudes toward the handicapped and to recognize the rights of the handicapped individual to pursue a normal life.

A Simulation Games Approach To Suppliment The Teaching Of Basic Economics Concepts In Elementary School, David L. Spies

All Graduate Projects

A year-long simulation game was created to facilitate the teaching of basic economics in a sixth and seventh grade middle school. The game could be adapted to implementation at lower grade levels. The students built two, table-top cities. They established a money system and were paid for positive behavior and effort. With their earned income and with loans from a bank, they purchased land, built homes, invested in business franchises, engaged in trade, and worked collectively to finance and build government projects and services. Discussion questions and evaluation tests were devloped, based upon the curriculum guidelines established by the Joint …

[Improving Instruction In Reading Comprehension Utilizing Basal Readers], Patsy Carol Cada

All Graduate Projects

The specific purposes of this project were to:

1. Analyze the instructional comprehension questions suggested by the Houghton Mifflin teachers' manual for the basal reading series grades 1, 2, and 3. This included oral questions used to guide silent reading and post-story discussion questions.

2. Develop additional instructional resources to correlate with the Houghton Mifflin basal reading series grades 1, 2, and 3. Specifically created were alternative questioning strategies to aid early readers in the development of a process for comprehending written passages as they are reading.

These resources will be submitted for use in the author's local school district.

A Participation Approach To Be Used With Disabled Readers At The Secondary Level, Shirley Kinsel

All Graduate Projects

The project resulted in the development of participation based reading selections and their accompanying teaching suggestions to be used with disabled secondary readers. The complete materials stressed hands-on applications and product-producing activities. The reading selections were written for several levels of reading difficulty. They incorporated the teaching of literary skills, study skills, and functional-living skills and provided practice in following directions. The approach produced materials meant to be a specific fit for disabled secondary readers who prefer to learn by doing.

Home Interaction Program: Hip, Georgia Sackman

All Graduate Projects

A Home Interaction Program (HIP) was designed and implemented for Title I parents and students. The components of the program included monthly newsletters, libraries, and workshops. It was found that parents of Title I students participated in HIP activities as long as they could be done in the home. The conclusion was reached that if schools want Title I parents to become involved in their child's education learning experiences, programs must be developed to reach into the home.

Games For Self-Directed Practice Of First-Grade Reading Skills, Betty Tester

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was twofold: (1) to develop a set of games which could be . used for self-directed practice of first-grade reading skills, the sequence of which correlated to the Ginn 720, 1979 Rainbow edition, reading series, and (2) to make available to other teachers, through development of a resource manual, the ideas for construction of the games developed. Literature on the use of games in education was reviewed.

The Fifth Grade Student As An Active Participant In The Selection Of School Library Books, Catherine Spada Mcleod

All Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine if fifth grade students could be consistent and productive participants in the process of selecting books for a school library. Forty-six students completed a Reading Interest Inventory and participated in a book selection activity.

Chi-square test results did not support the hypothesis that there would be no significant difference between the results of these two selection activities. Student perceptions of their involvement in this process were also included.

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 …

Inservice For Elementary Teachers: Activities And Techniques To Motivate Readers, Beverly R. Pontius

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this study is to provide an inservice course of study for teachers of children in grades one through six. The activities and techniques are designed to motivate children who are below grade level in reading and help them develop an interest in reading in the hope that reading may become a pleasure in their lives.

A Teaching Strategy Using Visual Literacy Skills In Grades Four Through Six, Mark Truman Collins

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of the project was to develop a brief curriculum which would provide classroom activities related to visual literacy. The project was focused on grades four, five, and six. Visual literacy activities were developed to be used as learning experiences to develop specific visual skills. Other activities were also developed to be used as teaching aids in the subject areas of language arts and reading. The lessons were then tested on a limited basis in classroom situations. The results of the tests showed the activities to be functional and motivational.

Reading Enrichment Activities For Gifted First, Second, And Third Grade Children, Beverly Staneart Doleac

All Graduate Projects

A teacher's manual of reading enrichment activities was developed for use by reading specialists. The manual contains activities geared towards primary-aged children reading at least two years above grade level. It is divided into four focal units, each based on a different area of children's literature. Bloom's Taxonomy at the higher levels is used to classify the specific learning activities suggested in the focal units. A children's bibliography is included for each unit. Teacher resources on the gifted are also listed.

Energy Education Materials For Elementary School, Marcia Keizer Fraser

All Master's Theses

The materials created introduce intermediate elementary level children to a selected basic energy vocabulary and to concepts of energy-environment inter-relations. The approach is multi-dimensional, employing a slide tape presentation, posters, charts, and vocabulary cards. Energy concepts and vocabulary are repeated through the various media forms as a means to reinforce learning. The content tone is deliberately positive so that in the process of gaining knowledge about energy issues, children will feel successful, encouraging further achievement in the area of energy education.

Enrichment Materials In Reading Designed For The Gifted First Grade Child, Virginia Ann Burke

All Graduate Projects

This project provides enrichment reading materials for the first grade child who is designated as gifted and is reading beyond the preprimer and primer levels at the beginning of the school year. The materials are divided into four areas; (1) word recognition, (2) comprehension, (3) vocabulary, and (4) study skills. In each of these areas, enrichment activities have been prepared with the most emphasis given to comprehension. Although originally designed to be used independently, the materials can be used as skill teaching devices. The difficulty of the materials varies; therefore, the materials have been sequenced according to difficulty.

Time Tunnel Of Art: An Art Curriculum Guide For The Teaching Of Art History/Art Appreciation With Related Art Activities, Valerie J. Malella

All Graduate Projects

The main purpose in the formation of this curriculum guide for the teaching of art in the elementary school is to offer the elementary teachers of Longview School District additional teaching ideas, suggestions and activities for the art program. The intention, too, is to interweave the art activity itself with historical development and origins of art along with the concept of the basic art elements. In presenting this guide, the writer hopes to foster opportunities for increasing aesthetic awareness among teachers and students as art relates to our environment.

Using Special Education Students As Cross-Age Tutors, Judith Pearl Graham

All Master's Theses

The topic of this study is the use of Special Education students as cross-age tutors. Ten students, third through sixth graders, were trained to be tutors. Ten first and second graders were proteges. The experiment was divided into three eight week session. The E tutored all Ss for Session I. During Session II the tutors tutored their proteges. The E continued to tutor the tutors. Session III was the same as Session I. This research indicates that children in Special Education classes can benefit academically from being a cross-age tutor.

An Experimental Study Of The Effects Of Perceptual-Motor Training On First Grade Achievement, Susan Paul

All Master's Theses

Two matched groups of first grade students, one of which received a perceptual-motor training program, were compared by a series of tests to determine whether those children having received such training had higher achievement than those with no training.

In overall achievement, non significant differences were found between the two groups. Significant differences were found as the I.Q., perceptual-motor ability, and rating on teacher rating scales with the experimental group making higher gains. The average and slow children of the experimental group did show significantly higher gains in overall achievement than the control group. No differences were found with the …

A Survey To Determine The Educational Needs Of Mexican American Students At The Mckinley Elementary School At Toppenish, Katherine Pfliger

All Master's Theses

This paper is a study, through research, of the findings and opinions of authors who have done intensive studies of migrants, specifically, the Mexican American migrants. It also entails a survey taken of the parents of Mexican American students in the McKinley Elementary School to gain knowledge relevant to educating these students. The knowledge gained from this study is to promote, through effective teaching practices, rather than retard or frustrate their educational growth.

No recommendations or specific conclusions are formulated.

A Study Of The Academic Effect Of Non-Promotion In Yakima Elementary Schools, James R. Seamons

All Master's Theses

The purpose of this study is to determine if there exists any statistical evidence that supports the commonly held belief that retaining students in grade school does not improve academic performance.

The cumulative records of all children retained, who met the criteria outlined in Chapter III, were examined. Their academic grades were recorded in nine subject areas. Improved performance during the retained year over the previous ones and during the years after retention over the years before retention, was very significant. This improve­ment was maintained in the years after retention.

An analysis of the data gives strong evidence supporting retention …

A Study Of The Effect Of Varied Amounts Of Oral Reading On Reading Comprehension In A First Grade Classroom, Melinda Anne Dickson

All Master's Theses

In this study an experimental group was compared with a control group to determine what effect, if any, varying amounts of oral reading would have on the comprehension scores of first grade pupils. The two groups received identical reading instruction with the expectation of oral reading. The control group read aloud twice as much as the experimental group during each oral reading session. Using standard statistical procedure no significant difference was found between the two groups. Therefore, a reduction of the amount of oral reading could be initiated into the reading program described while still maintaining an acceptable level of …

Effect Of Oral Reading Rate Improvement Program On Reading Rate, Comprehension, And Reading Level, Julianne Mickie Clise

All Master's Theses

This paper presents a control-experimental group study of a reading rate improvement program for a self-contained grade four classroom. The program was designed to improve oral reading rate and oral sound symbol rate using the principles of behavior modification. A t test of significance was used to compare statistically the progress of students in control and experimental groups in specific skills.

Recommendations include comparison of experimental program with other than the basal reading approach and suggestions for additional research.

Strategies For Achieving Every Pupil Response, Royal Lucendia Payton

All Master's Theses

This paper presents the identification, development and assessment of Every Pupil Response (EPR), a teaching technique devised to promote individual instruction-- diagnostic teaching within reading group situations. The study included the development of five reading lessons utilizing the EPR technique which were taught to five groups of first through fourth grade students at Garfield Elementary School in Toppenish, Washington. The technique was evaluated by three trained observers who rated the technique high in its effectiveness.

Recommendations included additional EPR target studies and suggestions for additional research.

An Educational Mathematics Game Called Allequator, Raymond Robert Beeson

All Graduate Projects

This paper contains a brief description of the procedures involved in making the game Allequator, an educational tool capable of reinforcing basic algebra concepts for students 7th through 12th grades. With the help of the Richland Public School District #400, Allequator has been published and is now available to teachers within the district.

Follow-Up Study Of Seventh Grade Students Attending Mcloughlin Junior High Who, In The Previous Year, Were Sixth Graders At King, Harney, Lieser, Or Marshall Elementary Schools, Bennet J. Acker

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this field study is actually two-fold. First, one must understand Martin Luther King Elementary School. King is an "open concept" school. The program is based upon different teaching techniques and philosophies than a more traditional type elementary school. After his years at King, a student then goes on to McLaughlin Junior High. McLaughlin is a typical junior high that is somewhat more regimented than the open environment at King. Parents have asked numerous times, "How do these students perform after they leave King and go to a more structured junior high?" Until now I have had no …

The Effects Of Contingent And Non-Contingent Reinforcers On Intelligence Quotients, Donald T. Edwards

All Master's Theses

Eighty Caucasian fourth and fifth grade boys and girls were matched according to grade, sex and Total IQ on the California Short-Form Test of Mental Maturity. The Wechsler Intelligence Scale of Children was then given under four randomly assigned incentive conditions: 1) Tokens contingent upon correct responses, 2) Praise contingent upon correct responses, 3) Non-Contingent Tokens and 4) Non-Contingent Praise.

An analysis of variance of the Verbal, Performance and Full Scall IQs showed no significant differences between incentives. Similarly, comparisons by grade and sex indicated no significant differences.

A Study Of Visual Perception In Reading, Michael Lee Hoffner

All Master's Theses

This paper presents an experimental study, using an experimental group and control group, of the effects of visual perception training on the reading ability of eighth grade students. The Michigan Tracking Program and MKM Hunting Trails were the perceptual training programs used in the experiment. A null hypothesis was assumed and retained based on the statistical results of a t test at the .05 level of significance.

Recommendations included further investigation of the relationship of perceptual training to reading on a longitudinal base and employment of a larger population sample.

The Effect Of Teacher Attention And Peer Approval Facilitated By Material Rewards Upon The Disruptive Classroom Behavior Of A Male Kindergarten Child, Brynne Flanagan Lane

All Master's Theses

The purpose of the present study was to operantly condition a kindergarten boy's classroom behavior. The study consisted of four stages: (1) baseline, (2) contingent teacher attention, (3) minimal contingent teacher attention, and (4) material reinforcement. During phase II, the subject's appropriate behavior was followed as immediately and frequently as possible with teacher positive attention. Disruptive behavior was ignored. During phase III, the teacher systematically decreased the level of positive attention until the "minimum level of reinforcement," i.e.. ten per cent teacher positive attention was reach. During phase IV, material rewards were delivered to all class members contingent upon co-operative …

A Study Of An Individualized Reading Program In An Intermediate Classroom, Stanley Christian Jangard

All Master's Theses

This paper presents a study of an individualized reading class in an intermediate classroom. The study investigated differences in skills and change in positive attitude toward reading. The individualized class was evaluated by the Gates-MacGinitie Reading Test as a pre-test and post-test. Attitude toward reading was tested using the "Scale of Reading Attitude Based on Behavior" developed by C. Glennon Rowell, with the experimental group.

Recommendations included some changes in evaluation and suggestions for future research.