Elementary Education Commons^™

No Child Left Behind: Perspectives And Knowledge Of Parental Involvement Component Section 1118 Among Administrators And Parents In Elementary Schools, Jill Yvette Brooks

Theses and Dissertations

No Child Left Behind (NCLB) requires states, districts, and schools develop and implement parental involvement policies, yet, the extent of implementation remains largely unmeasured (United States Department of Education, 2002). Thus, the researcher surveyed 142 elementary school administrators and 639 parents in a southern state to determine if a statistically significant difference existed between parent and administrator perceptions and practices and current knowledge of parental involvement as outlined in NCLB and whether parental responses differed by demographics. The survey utilized a four-point Likert-type Scale with 12 questions measuring perceptions and practices (Cronbach's alpha = .84) and 8 measuring current knowledge …

Boosting Michigan's Economy Through Educational Improvements, Timothy J. Bartik

Testimonies

No abstract provided.

Mathematics Achievement Of Regular Education Students By Placement In Inclusion And Non-Inclusion Classrooms And Their Principals' Perceptions Of Inclusion, Loretta Rodgers Hartfield

Dissertations

This study examined mathematics achievement of fourth and fifth grade students in Mississippi and principals' perceptions of inclusion.

A sample of 462 students from eight separate elementary schools was selected for this study. Fifteen principals completed the Principal and Inclusion Survey regarding inclusion education. Eight of the 15 principals were interviewed with 10 open-ended questions regarding their perceptions of inclusion.

Data were analyzed using an independent two-tailed t test and Pearson product moment correlation. The independent two-tailed / test was used to determine differences in mathematics achievement for fourth and fifth grade students in inclusion classrooms compared to non-inclusion classrooms …

The Impact Of Multicultural Trade Books And An Intervention On Fourth Graders' Cultural Attitudes, Susan Herberger Whitcomb

Dissertations

As the United States population has become more diverse and the civil rights movement of the 1960s increased attentiveness to the change in population, the need for multicultural awareness has grown (Perry & Fraser, 1993). This study examined if teacher read alouds of multicultural trade books and a scripted instructional intervention could impact 187 fourth graders' cultural attitudes. The 10-session, 5-week study involved six reading teacher volunteers participating in one of the three group levels (treatment one: multicultural trade book read alouds, treatment two: multicultural trade books and a scripted instructional intervention, and treatment three: a control group). The mixed …

Making Cereal Box Dioramas Of Native American Historic Homes And Culture, Audrey C. Rule, Lois A. Lindell

Open Educational Resources

Hands-on projects such as creating a three-dimensional diorama are among the most memorable of positive elementary school experiences, yet they are generally uncommon because these complex projects are daunting to undertake. Therefore, it is important to prepare preservice teachers with the skills to lead children in creating these types of projects. This document is a compilation of preservice teacher work completed during a social studies methods class that assists instructors in teaching students to create unique dioramas. After the preservice teachers had constructed dioramas and assisted elementary students in making their own, they reflected on previous social studies projects from …

Manipulatives In Mathematics Instruction, Jessica Strom

Mathematics Graduate Theses

This paper is a review of research pertaining to the use of manipulatives in middle and secondary school mathematics instruction. It covers the research on the rationale for using manipulatives, the psychology behind learning with manipulatives, the common mistakes when teaching with manipulatives, and the suggested process to follow when using manipulatives in the classroom. There is a large amount of research and information on manipulatives in the classroom. One of the most prevalent topics addresses that the concrete characteristics of manipulatives allow students to progress through a natural learning process on their way to an abstract understanding of mathematical …

A Place At The Blackboard: Including Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, & Queer/Questioning Issues In The Education Process, Todd A. Savage, Debra A. Harley

Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education Faculty Publications

We know from history that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people have always existed in society (Campos, 2003; Sullivan, 2003). Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersexed, and queer/questioning (LGBTIQ) individuals, collectively known as sexual minorities, represent approximately 10% of the population. As many as nine students in every classroom of 30 are in some measure affected by sexual minority issues (e.g., having a gay or lesbian relative or being gay oneself) (AFSC Gay/Lesbian Youth Program, 1991). “Yet even with this substantial number, the code of silence in our nation’s school systems concerning homosexuality remains” (Fontaine, 1997, pp. 101-102).

Lessons Of Place : A Critical Look At Place-Based Education, Karen L. Lew

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This thesis consists of: a rationale for place-based education; the developmental appropriateness of place-based education in elementary education; examples of place-based education; and a list of place-based education resources. Also included is an overview of the impact of standards based reform on education in the United States and the author's experience of the Bank Street Long Trip.

Early Childhood Public School Teacher Licensure For The Fifty States And Washington, D.C.: An Inquiry To Ascertain Student Age Ranges For Public School Teacher Licensure May 2009, R. Caudle Jones, S. Martin, M. Crandall

AAES Research Reports and Research Bulletins

There is a need for birth through kindergarten (B-K) public school licensure in the state of Arkansas. In Arkansas, licensure for teachers of young children is for pre-kindergarten through fourth grade (P-4). Teachers who receive P-4 licenses are often less prepared to work with children under age six than with older children. A more appropriate license would be a B-K license. A teacher with B-K licensure would be prepared to meet the emotional, social, physical, and cognitive needs of young children. This document is an inquiry to ascertain student age ranges for public school teacher licensure in the fifty states …

It's All Happening At The Zoo: Children's Environmental Learning After School, Jason A. Douglas, Cindi Katz

Publications and Research

Pairing dynamic out-of-school-time (OST) programs with zoos can encourage young people's relationships with and sense of responsibility for animals and the environment. The project presented in this article, Animal Rescuers, gave the authors the opportunity to examine how such a pairing can work. OST programs enable learning in settings that are generally unavailable during school time (Honig & McDonald, 2005). They provide space for collaboration among students, teachers, and others such as program visitors or outside educators. Taking advantage of the flexibility, location, and educational playfulness of an OST setting, the authors worked intensively with a small number of 10-12-year-old …

Martin, Anna Katherine (Flege), 1902-1976 (Sc 1841), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Manuscript Collection Finding Aids

Finding aid and full-text scan (Click on "Additional Files" below) for Manuscripts Small Collection 1841. Diary kept from 1 January 1923 to 14 August 1923 by Anna Katherine Flege, Grant County, Kentucky. She relates details of her life as a teacher in the one-room Round Top School. She also comments about the weather, her family and home life, and her participation in community social and religious activities.

Fay B. Kaigler Children's Book Festival, Karen Rowell, University Of Southern Mississippi, The University Of Southern Mississippi's School Of Library And Information Science

Fay B. Kaigler Children's Book Festival Programs

The program for the forty-second annual Fay B. Kaigler Children's Book Festival held on the campus of The University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Mississippi in 2009.

Exploring Classroom Management With Young Learners, Amin Ismail Abdullah

MA TESOL Collection

This paper explores the definition of classroom management and establishes the author’s definition of classroom management and the underlying principles behind it. Thereafter, it examines some aspects of the author’s system of classroom management, specifically, the classroom as a Safe Space, behavior management, the teacher as a facilitator and the classroom environment. Finally, the paper concludes with an appeal to educators to reflect on their own classroom management practices and offers resources for those wishing to further explore the subject.

Common Strategies Used By Kindergarten Teachers To Instruct Reading To English-As-A-Second-Language Students, Emma Kaye Penn

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research was designed to describe, analyze, and interpret what reading strategies experienced kindergarten teachers believe are essential to instruct English-as-a-Second-Language learners how to read. Through in-depth interviews, experienced kindergarten teachers were given a voice to describe what they consider essential reading strategies to instruct English-as-a-Second-Language learners to learn how to read.

The participants were four licensed, non-probationary kindergarten teachers instructing reading in English to a minimum of 51% English-as-a-Second-Language population. Selected kindergarten programs were consistent in program design. Processes were influenced by the gateway approach. The stories teachers told about their experiences in teaching ELLs how to read was …

Guidelines On Writing A Successful Grant Seeking Submission, Australian Council For Educational Research (Acer)

Tender Bridge

This document provides a brief set of guidelines on how to write a successful grant seeking submission to a philanthropic organisation. It includes preparing for submission, writing a submission and what to do after the proposal is submitted.

Reactive Attachment Disorder : Implications For Counselors, Kim Rogers

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this paper is to provide background on reactive attachment disorder. Reactive attachment disorder (RAD) is growing in diagnosis and yet it is one of the least researched disorders. This paper will discuss attachment theory, problems with the RAD diagnosis, interventions for mental health professionals, and future research ideas.

Student Atlas Of Oregon: A Classroom Atlas For Elementary And Middle Schools, Teresa L. Bulman, Gwenda H. Rice, Center For Spatial Analysis And Research. Portland State University, David Banis

Instructional Materials

Includes maps about Oregon's landscape, climate, culture, economics, historical geography, water resources, wildlife, vegetation, agriculture, population, transportation, and natural resources.

The Student Atlas of Oregon was created specifically for upper elementary and middle school students, so it is easy for kids to understand.

The Mobility Impact: Implications And Solutions For Families On The Move With An Original Book For Children., Sarah Willis

Graduate Student Independent Studies

Examines the relationship between student mobility and achievement. Contains a picture book for children four to six years designed to help with the transition from house or neighborhood into a new one. Includes recommendations for ways families and schools can help children with the moving process.

Becoming Literate Through Art: Benefits Of A Literacy Infused Art Curriculum, Amy Wagner

Theses and Graduate Projects

The decline of literacy skills continues to be a crisis and a concern. It is important to emphasize that being literate goes beyond reading and writing. The definition of literacy can and should also include the ability to listen and speak. With this inclusion literacy becomes well defined as a form of communication. While art and writing are both forms of expression and thereby a means of communication, it is only natural that, because the two share the same goal, they should be studied jointly. The study and practice of art can enhance student's fine motor skills, cognitive learning development …

The Learning Of Numeracy And Literacy In South Australian Primary Schools: An Investigation Into The Performance Of Students And Schools In Numeracy And Literacy In Rural And Regional South Australia., Carol Aldous

Shannon Research Press

Success in science and mathematics is predicted on successful literacy and numeracy learning. Yet schools and communities across the country struggle to negotiate factors that both impede and facilitate such learning - particularly factors over which they have no control. Working with data more comprehensive than that used previously and applying statistical methods only recently developed, researchers from the South Australian hub of the National Centre for Science, Information and Communication Technology and Mathematics Education for Rural and Regional Australia (SiMERR-SA) seek answers to three basic questions. What factors influence performance in literacy and numeracy? Does living in a rural …

To What Degree Will Differentiated Instruction Impact Student Grades In A Middle School Classroom?, Maureen K. Wilke

Mathematics Graduate Theses

The middle school student population encompasses one of the widest ranges of diversity in the educational system. Besides cultural, religious, educational, economical diversity, the middle school student copes with physical and psychological changes as well. It is important to understand that reaching students successfully is not teaching one way, but providing a learning experience based on students’ needs. The five key differentiated strategies in the classroom are: knowing the student, the environment, meaningful lessons, tiered assignments, and assessment. Gather as much information on the students, such as data from past standardize tests, conversation with students, student journals about success and …

2009 Price Laboratory Elementary School - Northern University Middle School Yearbook, Malcolm Price Laboratory School

Malcolm Price Laboratory School Yearbooks

The 2009 student yearbook of the middle & elementary schools of the Malcolm Price Laboratory School of the University of Northern Iowa.

The Benefits Of Family Literacy, Cassandra Cate

Graduate Research Papers

This paper examines the positive influence families can have on their child's literacy education and the development of a project to provide experiences to families that demonstrate ways they can extend the learning process with their children at home. This paper provides literature supporting the importance of family involvement and the specifics of how schools and families can work together to overcome common barriers to family involvement in a child's literacy development. The project for a family literacy night was developed from the literature, providing a school-based program for literacy support for families, highlighting effective practices and suggestions for enhancing …

Developing A Technology Committee For The Integration Of Technology At Edison Elementary In Waterloo, Iowa, Travis Elliott

Graduate Research Papers

Everywhere you look there are new technologies springing up! People are showing other people the new and latest electronic devices they have acquired to make their lives easier and get things done quicker. Most people would say that you must get on board with technology or get left behind.

Educators often say that when students start to fall behind it is very hard for them to get caught up without extra time and support. Most educators do not realize that they themselves are already falling behind. They are falling behind in the integration of technology into their classrooms. This is …

Forest City: The City On The Hill, Teresa Pietsch

Graduate Research Papers

Studying the local community helps students learn more about the place they live. It helps them comprehend the past, perform in the present, and predict the future. Understanding its history and people builds a sense of pride and belonging. Currently, the local community is studied by the third grade at Forest City Elementary. Teaching and learning about the community requires careful selection and presentation of materials. Students learn through narratives, primary sources, cultural universals, and the interaction between new sources of information and prior experiences. Unfortunately, information about the community of Forest City is lacking. Material is not easily accessible …

Effective Writing Strategies For Primary Grades, Rebecca Gardemann

Graduate Research Papers

Writing instruction has undergone changes throughout history to become what it is today; an integral part of a balanced literacy program. This project examines appropriate and effective writing strategies for primary grades. Four current writing strategies are examined in three professional development sessions for primary teachers, including: shared writing, interactive writing, writing workshop and journaling. Appropriate means of writing assessment are also examined. These professional development sessions are presented in a series of three Power Point presentations including implementation activities for teachers.

The Effectiveness Of Colored Overlays On Reading Achievement And Attitudes Toward Reading For Students With Scotopic Sensitive Syndrome, Hanan Ali Bagabas

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This study investigated the effects on students identified with Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome (SSS) or Irlen Syndrome (IS) when using colored overlays as an intervention (immediately and over time) to assess reading performance (rate, accuracy, and comprehension); to measure visual-motor integration; and to assess attitude toward reading. SSS/IS is a visual perceptual problem related to a collection of symptoms that affects an individual's performance when reading. Three participants, all males (one 3rd -grade student, one 4th -grade student, and one 5th -grade student), were identified as having SSS/IS and other learning disabilities.

The study involved five test instruments (Irlen Reading Perceptual …

Engaging And Motivating Young Readers, Alisha Briggs

Graduate Research Papers

It is well accepted in the teaching world that a student's success in reading is greatly influenced by the student's own motivation. A student needs to be engaged in a subject to be successful. An engaged and motivated reader chooses to read for a variety of purposes including reading for enjoyment and seeking information. A student may find this motivation within himself/herself or they may need the help of the teacher and learning environment to do so. This paper will look at the various aspects of motivation and engagement including self-determination theory, social contexts, and classroom strategies.

Literature Circles And Improved Comprehension In Struggling Readers, Christine Lynn Marxen

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this project was to examine Literature Circles for their effectiveness with struggling readers in upper elementary classrooms and reading rooms. Research questions include, what is the impact of Literature Circles on struggling readers in upper elementary grades? and, what scaffolds help struggling readers be successful in Literature Circles?

The literature review defines Literature Circles in their various forms, and details how to begin using this method in the classroom with groupings including struggling readers. Procedures and scaffolds are identified that have had proven results with struggling readers through various research methods. Ideas for teacher assessment, self-assessment and …

The Effect Of Learning Styles And Attitude On Preservice Elementary Teachers' Conceptual Understanding Of Chemistry And The Nature Of Matter In A Simulation-Based Learning Environment, Mo H. Al-Jaroudi

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This causal-comparative descriptive study investigated the achievement of pre-service elementary teachers taking an introductory physical science course that integrates inquiry-based instruction with computer simulations. The study was intended to explore if pre-service elementary teachers with different attitudes towards science as well as students with different learning styles would benefit differentially. Four research questions including four hypotheses were developed. The first major question consist of four specific hypothesis that addressed preservice elementary teachers' learning styles (Active/Reflective, Sensing/Intuitive, Visual/Verbal, and Sequential/Global) and their conceptual understanding of chemistry and the particulate nature of matter in a science class which use hands-on learning integrated …