Elementary Education Commons^™

Science In A Constructivist Classroom: Progress In A Five-Year-Old Child's Reasoning About Water Dynamics, Hyang-Lim Kwak

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of the study is to understand changes in a target child’s reasoning about water dynamics, specifically, draining and movement of water in tubes. The study also focuses on development and evaluation of activities and teaching strategies. The activities were conducted with all children in the preschool at a public elementary school in Iowa as part of the regular classroom constructivist program inspired by Piaget’s work. Using Piaget’s theory to provide insights into the child’s reasoning and knowledge, analysis focused on the child’s construction of regularities between his actions and reactions of water, and on the construction of relationships …

Philosophies And Practices Regarding Youth Physical Fitness Testing In Iowa Schools, Amy Elizabeth Fuller

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of the study was to determine the current philosophies and practices of physical educators regarding physical fitness assessment of children and youth in public and private schools in Iowa. Specifically, the study was designed to investigate the physical fitness assessment preparational procedures, the actual testing procedures, the follow-up procedures to testing, and the professional opinions regarding physical fitness testing of children and youth.

The subjects included physical educators from 79 Iowa schools that participated in the Iowa Youth Fitness Project. These subjects were selected based on their prior involvement in the collection of data concerning the physical fitness …

The Incidence Of Elevated Total Cholesterol Levels In Elementary School Aged Children In The Absence Of Familial Cardiovascular Disease, Nancy C. Fauser

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence of elevated blood cholesterol levels of fourth, fifth, and sixth grade students in four schools in Cedar Falls, Iowa and to determine the relationship between total cholesterol level and family history of cardiovascular disease in this population. A total of 645 students were invited to participate in the blood cholesterol screening research project. Of this target population, 215 children whose parents gave consent for their participation became subjects for the research project. A cardiovascular family health questionnaire was sent home with each student which was completed by the parents of …

The Implementation Of Naturalistic Evaluation Of Reading Comprehension: A Descriptive Study Of First Graders In A Chapter 1 Reading Program, Beth Ann Hardy Nordmeyer

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to document the implementation of naturalistic evaluations of reading comprehension, specifically, the comprehension abilities of first-grade students in a Chapter 1 reading program. There were five major questions which guided the study: (a) How will naturalistic evaluations assess students' reading comprehension abilities in a Chapter 1 classroom? (b) What problems does a Chapter 1 teacher encounter when implementing naturalistic forms of evaluation? (c) Given special consideration to time and management, how can naturalistic devices be used in a Chapter 1 reading program? ( d) How will a Chapter 1 teacher be able to use …

Assessment Of The Process Of Reading Through The Use Of Think-Aloud Protocols With Elementary Students, Jacqueline F. Holdorf

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This study was undertaken to investigate the ability of elementary students to generate verbal reports during a reading task, and to determine whether differences in protocols produced exist between readers of differing ability and verbal activity.

The 20 experimental subjects were 5th and 6th grade students from one classroom in an Iowa school district. The subjects were classified as good and poor readers, and verbal and less verbal. Reading ability classifications were based on the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills. Verbal activity classifications were based on teacher judgment.

The subjects were asked to read a passage and then to verbalize …

Teacher-Initiated Whole Language Reading Instruction In A Skills-Based School District: A Self-Report Case Study, Vicky Mashek-Smith

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This study presents an insider's view of change as one teacher, the author of this report, attempted to implement reading instruction based on a whole language philosophy in a skills-based school district. Reform critics have made a substantial call for the improvement of students' literacy skills and for teachers to take charge of change efforts. This study is an attempt to describe what happened when one teacher attempted to implement these recommended reforms.

This investigation followed qualitative research guidelines for a self-report case study, similar to those used by McPherson (1972) in Small Town Teacher. The setting was a fourth-grade …

The Relationship Among Principal Power Tactic Usage, Leadership Style And School Climate In Selected Iowa Elementary Schools, Steven R. Decker

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

One purpose of this study was to determine primary principal power tactic usage in Iowa elementary schools. The study also investigated the associations among principal power tactic usage, leadership style, and organizational climate.

The study utilized the Leadership Effectiveness Adaptability Description (LEAD-Self) survey to determine primary leadership style. The Organizational Climate Description Questionnaire (OCDQ-RE) was utilized to identify teachers' perceptions of school climate. The Perception of Principal Power Tactics Survey (PPPTS) was utilized to assess teachers' perceptions of principal power tactic usage.

A total of 573 surveys were included in this study. Completed survey instruments were received from 80 principals …

The Characteristics Of Elementary Teachers Perceived And Identified As Curricular Leaders, Celia R. Burger

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to identify the characteristics of elementary teachers who were perceived and identified as being influential in curricular change by peers, principals, and district administrators. The study described characteristics which appeared to be shared by 16 elementary teachers selected from 20 elementary schools in one major school district in a Midwestern state.

Subjects were identified from responses by peers, building administrators, and district administrators to the Instructional Leadership Survey prepared by the researcher. Twenty teachers, identified as influential by all three of the surveyed groups, were considered teacher leaders in this study. Sixteen of the …

The Role Of The Iowa Elementary School Principal In The School's Reading Program, Roberta L. Bodensteiner

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This research investigated the level of involvement, both actual and desired, of Iowa elementary principals in their schools' reading programs. The purpose was to determine if there existed a difference between what Iowa elementary principals actually did and what they desired to do in their involvement with specific reading-related tasks. This study sought to answer the following questions:

(1) Do Iowa elementary principals view their actual knowledge of reading as different from a desired level of knowledge about reading?

(2) Do Iowa elementary principals view their actual level of interaction with teachers as different from a desired level of principal-teacher …

An Investigation Into The Behaviors Of Classroom Teachers During Scheduled Reading Instructional Periods, Judy Weseman Moser

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The specific purposes of this study were to identify and describe the frequency of teacher behaviors that occur during classroom reading instruction. The following problematic questions were addressed: (1) How much time is scheduled for formal reading instruction; (2) What proportion of teacher behavior during scheduled reading instructional periods is concerned with actual instruction in reading; (3) What proportion of teacher behavior during scheduled reading instructional periods is concerned with non-instructional activities; (4) What proportions of teacher behaviors during scheduled reading instructional periods are concerned with each of the major reading skill areas; (5) What proportions of teacher behaviors during …

A Survey Of Selected Iowa Colleges And Universities And Their Elementary Teacher Education Programs For Ige Training Of Preservice Teachers, Leotis D. Swopes

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of the study was to survey the Elementary Teacher Education Programs (ETEPs) of Iowa's three public institutions of higher learning and Iowa's three largest non-public institutions of higher learning. Using a questionnaire and interview method, the survey was to answer two questions: 1. Do (ETEPs) at Iowa's six sample institutions of higher learning prepare preservice teachers through an IGE Teacher Education Program for IGE elementary schools in the state? 2. Do ETEPs of Iowa's six sample institutions of higher learning prepare preservice teachers for IGE elementary school programs in the state?

A 10-item questionnaire with subdivisions was used …

Iowa Teacher Perceptions Of K-6 Articulation In Large School Districts Employing K-6 Or K-12 Curriculum Directors, Dorothy Kessler Engstrom

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This study was concerned with finding out what perceptions K-6 classroom teachers would express about K-6 articulation within their districts. The study was also concerned with finding out what difference, if any, existed between the perceptions of teachers from districts with fulltime K-6 curriculum directors and the perceptions of teachers in districts with full-time K-12 curriculum directors.

It was expected that teachers in both groups of school districts would express the need for more K-6 articulation awareness and activities within their districts, but that teachers in districts employing a K-6 curriculum director would indicate that their districts were doing more …

The Role Of The Science Supervisor As Perceived By Elementary And Secondary Science Teachers, Thomas Graika

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The problem that was considered in the study was whether the role of the science supervisor was perceived differently by secondary and elementary teachers of science.

A fifty-four item questionnaire was developed. The items on the questionnaire consisted of statements of tasks which a science supervisor could do, and the teachers were asked to respond on a scale of opinion if they considered this task a role of the science supervisor.

The sample represented five school systems in Iowa which employ a science supervisor. Questionnaires were sent to 156 secondary science teachers and 153 elementary teachers. Ninety-five of all the …

Teaching Beginning Concepts In Mathematics, Mildred Dick Pierce

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to investigate concept development as it relates to the teaching of mathematics in the kindergarten, and to propose a program of activities to be used in developing mathematical concepts with kindergarten children. Basic to determining the strategy to be used in teaching children is a consideration of the background of information the children possess when the teaching begins, and the background of information and the attitudes of the teachers who teach. Since any program which proposes that a different type of learning experience be used implies criticism of the methods now in use, it …

A Study Of Faculty Meetings In Selected Elementary Schools In Iowa And Their Implications For The Philippine Schools, Romeo Villar Carleta

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

It was the purpose of this study (1) to investigate current practices in conducting teachers' meetings in some selected elementary schools in Iowa and the United States and (2) to formulate some guidelines that can help Filipino elementary school administrators and supervisors improve their practices in conducting teachers' meetings.

The questionnaire was the major research tool used to investigate current practices in conducting faculty meetings in selected elementary schools in Iowa. In the construction of this device, the first step undertaken by the researcher was to make an intensive review of the available literature on the subject. The purpose in …

A Source Of Information About Air And Airplanes For Students With Limited Reading Ability In The Upper Elementary Grades, Bruce Q. Buerkens

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

None of the types of transportation conceived by man through the ages has produced greater change to his world than air transportation. The airmail letter is a common sight. Fruits and flowers are flown from semi-tropical climes as the recipients sleep in the Temperate Zone. News of air accidents is frequent. Most of the taxpayer's dollar is for defense, a lion's share of which is for air power. World leaders skip across the globe for discussions with others. Man made satellites circle the earth in less time than a commuter may spend getting to work. Yet our world stands at …