Language and Literacy Education Commons^™

Motivating The Reluctant 9th Grade Reader In The English Classroom: An Educator's Guide, Christine Murphy

All Graduate Projects

Reluctant readers need support from all levels of government as well as from the community, parents and educators. Motivating reluctant readers and changing their attitude toward reading in order for students to be successful requires educators to discover the interests, dreams, and goals, of their students. Educators must invest the time and energy needed to view students as whole individuals in order to understand their reading needs, and to utilize best practices in an effort to improve student reading ability. ll1

Flarr Pages: Volume 1, Pages 1-43, Foreign Language Association Of The Red River

FLARR Pages

During Spring and Fall conferences of FLARR, since the Fall of 1994 (the organization holds joint meetings with MCTLC in the Spring), 159 presentations were were delivered. Of those talks, about one quarter were submitted to FLARR Pages and appear now in Volume #1. The journal articles are a sampling of the issues and concerns of the past decade. They represent, as do all the presentations (see Appendix A), the innovative ways in which faculty have responded to current demands and challenges of teaching, research, service, programming, and many other areas of professional life, both in the public schools and …

Second Language Acquisition Through Reading, Comprehensible Input, Limited Grammar, And Cultural Study: A Handbook For The Secondary Language Teacher, Judith A. Willis-Nicolai

All Graduate Projects

Second language practitioners share the goal that their students reach communicative competence in the target language. Recent research findings regarding learning, however, have spawned a debate that has driven teachers to rethink the efficacy of the traditional practice of direct instruction of language usage. The Standards for Foreign Language Learning, as well as research that examines second language acquisition, support content-based instructional strategies that employ sustained language use, cultural infusion, and contextual grammar instruction in a constructivist classroom. This project reviews that research, then synthesizes and applies the findings of the research through the development of units that implement strategies …

Curriculum Design To Teach High School Students: How To Pull Evidence From Text, Karen Marie Hughes Bray

All Graduate Projects

Inadequate pe1formance of Washington State's public school students on national exams motivated the state legislature to pass the Basic Education Act in 1993. Graduation requirements were changed and expectations increased to specific skill levels in reading, writing, and several other subjects. The problem is that48% of North Central High School IO'" graders have averaged below standard in reading and 56% have averaged below standard in writing for the last six years. The project is designed to increase reading and writing skills at the high school level in classes outside of the academic arena by direct instruction. Washington State's Commission on …

"Through The Looking Glass:" Teaching Literary Theory In The High School English Classroom, Alethea Young

All Graduate Projects

The project examines the historical context of Contemporary Literary Theories: Deconstruction, Marxist Literary Theory, Althusser's Theory ofldeology, and Feminist Literary Theory, through a review ofliterature. The project culminates in a 4-6 week unit on teaching Feminist Literary Theory, Marxist Literary Theory, and Deconstruction in connection with a unit on Rudolfo Anaya's award-winning novel, Bless Me, Wtima. The unit is designed for 10th grade Honors Language Arts classes.

Supporting Reading Instruction Of High School Students With Learning Disabilities By Using Wynn Software, Linda Kilgore

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to create a student/teacher handbook, which contained information for the successful integration of the WYNN computer software into the general and special education classroom. Students with learning disabilities struggle with the general education curriculum and new technology provides an individualized approach to the accommodation of their needs. Research concerning learning disabilities and how the use of computers can support these students in the classroom was included.

Identity Formation And Collaboration Inquiry In The Zone Of Proximal Development: Eighth Grade Esl Students Doing Research - A Teacher Research Study, Carol Irene Bearse

Educational Studies Dissertations

This study is an ethnographic investigation of a Grade Eight ESL IV class conducting research with topics of their own choosing from October, 2001 through May, 2002. This investigation is conceived as a qualitative teacher-research study: an ethnographic examination of collaborative inquiry in the ESL classroom setting where the majority of the students are Brazilian.

Critical Thinking In High School Literature Classes, Simona Sarbu

Graduate Research Papers

This study presents a review of literature regarding critical thinking. Several definitions of critical thinking are compared and contrasted. Critical thinking is presented as a subset of higher-order thinking and affinities between critical thinking and other forms of higher-order thinking are examined. Questioning as a means of promoting critical thinking in high school literature classes is discussed from the perspective of reader-response theories.

Several questioning strategies that have the potential to promote critical thinking in high school literature classes are identified. These strategies are Questioning Circles, Questioning the Author, Design Conversations, Hierarchical Models of Questioning, Socratic Seminars, and Literature Circles. …

A Model United States History Developmental Reading Skills Curriculum In Alignment With Washington State Essential Academic Learning Requirements, Mario R. Casello

All Graduate Projects

The purpose ofthis project was to develop a model, United States History developmental reading skills curriculum, for resource room students, at Governor John R. Rogers High School, Puyallup, Washington. The model curriculum was designed in alignment with the Washington State Essential Academic Learning Requirements (EALR'S). To accomplish this purpose, current research and literature was reviewed. Additionally, related information from selected sources was obtained and analyzed.

Multicultural Novels And Activities: An English And Language Arts Curriculum For Middle And High School Students In The Yakima Valley, Karen A. Jenner Gemeinhart

All Graduate Projects

Research in the area of education concludes that both white and underserved populations benefit from the use of multicultural education. The curriculum provided in this project is founded on the research findings of educational specialists who outline these benefits. The use of multicultural education as a way to connect students to the curriculum is crucial in providing all students with an equal opportunity to learn. The Yakima Valley in Washington State is home to a number of Hispanic and Native American students who reflect a lack of academic achievement on standardized tests that assess literacy. Theories and strategies for teaching …

A Writing Instruction Tool For Valley High School, West Des Moines, Iowa, Kristine Milburn

Graduate Research Papers

As computer-based communication becomes increasingly popular, so does the need for effective and efficient writing skills. Individuals must express themselves formally and informally to others through writing; thus, the importance of writing goes beyond scholarly pursuits and pervades every facet of society today.

The focus of this paper is to examine the usefulness of a common evaluative and instructive language, specifically the Six-Trait Analytical Scoring Guide (developed by the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory in Oregon), within a high school in order to encourage growth and success in student writing.

Inspire And Equip: The Needs And Wants Of Students In A High School English Curriculum, Jocelyn Hays

Presidential Scholars Theses (1990 – 2006)

A student walks into the classroom on the first day of school. He glances around to see if he knows anyone. Two of his friends wave him over, and he slides into a desk in close proximity to theirs. The bell rings and everyone turns to the front where the teacher starts talking about what you will be covering that semester. She points to a row of outdated anthologies full of short stories, poems, plays and mini-lessons designed to teach the intricacies of the English language. On the shelf below the anthologies is a class set of several different novels …

15-Up And Counting, Reading, Writing, Reasoning : How Literate Are Australian Students? : The Pisa 2000 Survey Of Students' Reading, Mathematical And Scientific Literacy Skills, Jan Lokan, Lisa Greenwood, John Cresswell

Indigenous Education Research

This report presents evidence on the performance in reading, mathematical and scientific literacy of 15 year old students, their schools and their countries, interpreted from an Australian perspective. It gives insights into factors that influence the development of these skills at home and at school, and discusses implications of the results for policy development. Chapter 5 focuses on results for the Australian states and territories and for other sub-national groups. Results achieved by Indigenous students and by students with language backgrounds other than English are included in this chapter. The sixth chapter describes the Australian PISA participants in some detail, …

An Investigation Of Cooperative Consciousness-Raising As An Innovative Teaching Practice, And Of Reactions To Its Introduction Into A High School, Sahoby Solo Raharinirina

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The language pedagogy literature stresses the importance of the quality of second/foreign language teaching/learning in learners' acquisition, development of communicative competence, or both. The change literature equally emphasizes the importance of the quality of innovation in change audience’s resolution to reconceptualize current practices and espouse the new practice being advocated. Both literatures underline the need to use multiple research strategies in order to depict the product and process of learning and/or shifting experiences. To contribute to the educational literature in these areas, the present research incorporated two different but interrelated studies.

Study One utilized both between- and within-method approaches (Denzin, …

A Comparison Of Reading Comprehension And Problem Solving Abilities, Darren A. Cooper

All Graduate Projects

Recommendations of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and the Washington State Commission on Student Learning Essential Academic Requirements are addressed. Reading comprehension and problem solving skills of 9th grade students at Zillah High School are compared to see if a correlation between these two abilities exists. Recommendations for creating and implementing a curriculum are given.

A Comparative Study Of Reading Habits And Interest Of Teenagers In An Urban And Rural School, Subashini K. Rajanthran

Student Works (2000-2009)

This study was carried out between two schools and the data collected was used to identify the problem areas in reading habits and interest among school going teenagers. This study was done on a comparative basis between an urban school, located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur and a rural school , located in Johor. This study was planned with the objectives of gathering data from both schools in order to identify problem areas and promote reading among Malaysian teenagers. The data indicated that the majority of urban students have acquired a habit and interest in reading. On the other …

Reading Problems Among Students In Urban Secondary Schools : A Teacher's Perspective, Santhi Palaniappan

Student Works (2000-2009)

As the sophistication of modem technologies continue to grow, reading has become a vital tool for keeping abreast with current development. As such, inability to read can severe the link to this modem world of knowledge. Bearing this in mind, the purpose of this study was to focus on the plight of struggling readers among secondary school students. This study is an investigation on the various types of reading problems of selected urban secondary school students in the Klang valley from a teacher's perspective. Deficiencies in reading ability, which prevents effective participation in classroom activities, were identified by ESL teachers. …

Comparative Effects Of Three Methods Of Staff Development In Content Area Reading Instruction On Urban High School Teachers, Mark Alan Forget

Theses and Dissertations in Urban Services - Urban Education

In researching the role of group interaction and constructivism in three different types of staff development in content area reading instruction with urban high school teachers, a self-report survey instrument was used to ascertain differences between four groups of respondents with regard to respondents' reported levels on four dependent variables. Univariate analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine the degree of statistical significance between mean scores that resulted. Results showed statistically significant differences with probabilities less than .05 for group differences based on the independent variables type of staff development received by respondents, reported support of school administrators for …

A Model Reading And Writing Curriculum For Low-Achieving Eleventh And Twelfth Grade Students, Jeri Goebel

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of the project was to develop a model reading and writing curriculum for low-achieving eleventh and twelfth grade students that would be named, English 11. To accomplish this purpose, a review of related literature and research was conducted. Additionally, related information and materials from selected secondary level English programs were obtained and analyzed.

A Model Curriculum Integrating Values/Morals Education Into Secondary Level Language Arts Instruction, Wilma J. Eads

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of the project was to develop a model curriculum integrating values/morals education with language arts instruction. To accomplish this purpose a current literature search regarding values/morals education and related language arts instruction was conducted. Additionally, related information from selected schools was obtained and analyzed.

Three High School Teachers' Conceptions Of The French They Teach, Patrick R. Moran

Educational Studies Dissertations

This study investigates secondary French teachers' conceptions of the French they teach.

Motivating The Reluctant Teen Reader To Use The High School Library, Mary Ellen Vartheuer

All Graduate Projects

Twenty reluctant teen readers were surveyed to determine their library needs and interests. Interviews with twelve high school librarians yielded suggestions for motivating high school students to read. Input from these two sources was used in developing a library program consisting of motivational activities, designed to encourage young adults to use their high school library and to read more. The resulting library program and a list of library materials ordered to meet the needs of these specific students are included.

Infusing Global Education Into The Foreign Language Classroom: A Look At The Iowa Global Education Standard, Darcie J. Novotny

Presidential Scholars Theses (1990 – 2006)

This study is designed to focus on the various aspects of infusing global education, as mandated by the Iowa Department of Education, into the high school foreign language classroom. Included in the study is an assessment of the approaches infusion of global education and a sample lesson plan meeting the guidelines as established by the mandate. A survey of 52 Iowa foreign language teachers was conducted to assess attitudes toward global education and to assess the implementation of global education. Further areas for research will also be discussed.

Experience-Based Dialogues In Secondary English-As-A-Second-Language Classrooms, Carlina V. Lobos

All Graduate Projects

An informal study was conducted to explore the effectiveness of experience-based dialogues in the promotion of oral language use in secondary-level English-As-A-Second-Language classrooms. The twenty-one dialogues field-tested in the project were developed interactively, by teacher and students, in the sociocognitive context of each of the learner's background knowledge, experience and immediate communication needs. Experience-based dialogues are a method of language teaching and learning that focuses on the communicative act rather than on isolated or discrete grammatical items. An overview of the results of the informal study was presented here. Strategies for teachers to develop and implement, using this approach, were …

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.

Supplimental Functional Reading Materials For Secondary Moderately Retarded Students, Kimberlie Ann Baglau

All Graduate Projects

Reading materials were compiled that would help secondary moderately retarded students develop reading skills needed to function at a more independent level than in the past. Materials were developed in the form of worksheets. These worksheets were designed to be supplemental materials to be used to reinforce the learning of functional sight words. Materials were produced for two types of functional reading: reading labels on medicine bottles and reading bus schedules.

Effect Of Journal Writing On Students' Writing Fluency, Helen Rodgers

Theses and Dissertations

his study was an investigation of journal writing and its potential effects on writing fluency among high school students. It was hypothesized that there would be a significant gain in fluency for students who wrote daily in a journal. For the purposes of this study, fluency was defined as the total number of words in a composition. Two classes of ninth grade "at risk" students were used as the subjects of this study. Both groups were assigned an impromptu essay, which provided a baseline measurement of fluency. Subjects in the experimental group were then instructed to maintain a writing journal. …

The Relationship Between Professed Student Reading Interest And Student Choice Of Reading Topics, Mary E. Smith

Theses and Dissertations

One hundred seventh- and eighth-grade students in an Inner-city Georgia school served as subjects for surveys of reading interests. The two surveys were designed to gather information from students for the book topics they professed to want to read, and the actual reported topics they read. Trends of Interest by subject and sex were generated. The survey revealed reading Interests of students according to gender. Further, teacher-assigned reading and student reading interests varied to such a substantial degree that a strong case may be made for changing assigned reading to make it more in line with student interest.

Success In Written Expression: A Case Study, Susan Flowers Hamby

Theses and Dissertations

In order to receive a high school diploma, a student in any Georgia high school must pass the Georgia Basic Skills Test in three areas: Reading, Mathematics, and Writing. The subject of this case study is an eighteen-year-old male student who after four attempts passed the Writing portion of this test. Because this is a case study, the findings are reported in a nontraditional manner using a narrative style with first person commentary.

Much of the data in this case study were collected through interviews with the subject referred to as Tim, his mother, a school examiner, and several of …

A Model Literature Curriculum Guide For The Secondary Learning Disabled Student, Peggy G. White

Theses and Dissertations

This Literature Curriculum Guide has been prepared for Learning Disabled Students enrolled in special English classes at Hardaway High School in Columbus, Georgia. It was motivated by the observation that curricular materials for secondary Learning Disabled pupils were limited to content in grammar and other aspects of written language. Literature as content for these pupils had been completely overlooked.

Secondary English instruction, when using grammar only as content, is restricted to productive aspects of English. This restriction would necessarily deprive the Learning Disabled pupil of experiences with the heritage of literature shared and enjoyed by their peers. And, Learning Disabled …