Language and Literacy Education Commons^™

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 …

An Analysis Of Historical Studies Of Literacy Standards From Three Epochs In American Elementary Education, Karen Elizabeth Stinson Hanus

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The task of determining the standards of literacy in an historical epoch, the accurate assessment of children's ability to read, and the achievement of universal literacy are like the impossible endeavor of Tantalus in Greek mythology. As one comes closer to achieving one's goal, it changes and moves further away, forever just out of reach. So it is in trying to ascertain absolutes in the field of literacy. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to demonstrate that one definition of literacy is not possible because literacy standards depend upon historical context.

Prominent selected historians' studies of literacy were examined …

The Effects Of Storytelling Experiences On Vocabulary Skills Of Second Grade Students, Gail E. Froyen

Graduate Research Papers

Subjects were 40 second grade students from Lowell School, Waterloo, IA. The students met for 14 weekly forty minute sessions where they heard folktales, learned folktales to tell, and told or listened to each other tell folktales. All second grade students were tested with the ITBS Primary Battery in October 1986 (pre-test) and the subjects took the post-test in April, 1987.

The null hypothesis stated there would be no significant difference in standard scores at p<.05 using as pre-and post-tests ITBS Primary Test V-Vocabulary when compared using NCE's to the national norms of that test. Statistical analysis showed a significant difference at the p<.005 level. Therefore, the hypothesis was rejected

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 …

Picture Books And The Literary Connection: A Bibliography, Susan Hall

Graduate Research Papers

Both elementary and secondary aged school students are required to recognize and understand various common literary devices that are employed in the fictional literature they read. In order to facilitate this learning process, using appropriate trade picture storybooks combined with traditional textbook literature may better serve to enhance student comprehension of literary devices. An examination of the past five (1980-1985) years of picture storybook reviews from The Horn Book Magazine has revealed that the picture book genre does exhibit a broad spectrum of common literary devices such as satire, analogy, flashback, and metaphor. During a single class session carefully selected …

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 …

The Relationship Of Leisure Reading And Television Viewing Time To Reading And General Achievement Among Fourth Grade Students, Diane Goodrich

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship that exists between the amount of time spent reading in the home and achievement scores; and, the relationship that exists between the amount of time spent viewing television and achievement scores among fourth grade pupils in an Iowa community. More precisely, the questions that were asked are: Is there a significant relationship between the amount of time spent on reading in the home and the reading and comprehensive scores as measured by the Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS) among fourth grade boys and girls? Likewise, is there a significant …

The Effects Of Language Variables On The Reading Comprehension Of Hearing-Impaired Children, Nancy L. Robbins

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Hearing-impaired children rarely learn to read well. They suffer no apparent deficit in perceptual skill or basic intelligence. Their difficulty appears to be linguistic in origin. But research on the reading ability of the deaf is inadequate to specify the precise nature of their linguistic disability.

The deaf lack knowledge of English phonology. Current reading instruction programs for them a.re based on the assumption that this is the cause of their reading problems. Recent research indicates, however, that phoneme-grapheme correspondences contribute little to the reading process and that phonics instruction may actually impede learning to read. It is unlikely that …

A Comparison Of The Reading Levels Of Children’S Books And The Age/Grade Levels Assigned To Them By Reviewers, Gail G. Graham

Graduate Research Papers

Media specialists of today face the challenging task of obtaining appropriate materials to meet the particular needs of the school. Numerous reviewing media are available for guidance in the selection of children's books. Along with evaluative comments, age or grade level ranges are provided for specific books. In an attempt to determine whether reading levels are included in the age/grade level ranges, the readability estimates of forty selected primary books were obtained using the Spache Readability Formula and compared to the age/grade levels assigned to them by Booklist and School Library Journal. Thirty-one or 77.7 percent of the books …

Comic Book Reading Interests Of Primary Iv And Intermediate Iii Grade Students In Ames, Iowa Schools, Beverly Ann Baum

Graduate Research Papers

This research examines the reading interest in comic books of a Primary IV (term used in Ames, Iowa for Third Grade) and Intermediate III ( term used in Ames, Iowa for Sixth Grade) students. The study considered whether the sex, grade level, as well as reading ability of the students influenced the quantity and types of comics being read.

In the study three main hypotheses were tested. These hypotheses are listed as follows: 1) During a one week period, male students in the Primary IV and Intermediate III grades will read 25% more comic books than female students, 2) Students …

An Annotated Bibliography Of High Interest - Low Vocabulary Multimedia Materials For Junior High Students, Nancy Grimes

Graduate Research Papers

Two major areas of concern to the adolescent are behavior and emotions. They are interested in learning about genuine emotions and how people feel when they behave in certain ways. They also are concerned about the real world and seek to understand their own emotions, behaviors and life. Materials that provide for these particular interests will be appealing to the adolescent reader. Again, media specialists should be aware of any existing materials that deal with these concerns for possible purchase.

A Selected Bibliography Of Methods And Materials For Teaching Creative Writing, Linda R. Groen

Graduate Research Papers

Creative writing can be seen, then, as an integral part of the curriculum, and the need to investigate it is readily apparent. The nature of the material available on creative writing necessitated that the investigation be handled in a somewhat different manner from that of the usual research project. Although a great deal has been written about creative writing, the emphasis has been on techniques, rationalities, and ideas. Few research studies have been conducted on the need for or design of creative writing programs. For this reason, and from comments made by authors such as Ms. Mueller, the author has …

Picture Books For Creative Thinking: A Bibliography. Educational Service Publication No. 36., Joan Diamond

Faculty Publications

The picture books briefly annotated in this bibliography are intended for use in the primary grades. It is suggested that they be used to augment the creative potential in children in the following ways: by serving as examples of creativity to children; by initiating discussion; and by fostering individual projects for children. The main bibliographic citations are according to an alphabetical list of authors. A title index and addresses of publishers from whom books may be obtained are also included. (LL)

A Survey Of Reading Programs In Selected Junior High Schools In Six Iowa Counties, Daniel Charles Manning

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this survey was to assess the current status of junior high reading programs. Fifteen schools were randomly selected from the schools within the counties surrounding Blackhawk County. Criteria which indicated aspects of successful reading programs were selected and were subsequently used in the assessments. Particular emphasis was placed upon individualization, diagnosis, language arts integration, reading in the content areas, and on organizational structure. Visitation requests were sent, and acceptances were received from thirteen schools. During the spring term of the 1971- 1972 academic year, visitations were made. Data was obtained through teacher interview and classroom observation.

The …

The Effectiveness Of A Sustained Silent Reading Program In The Elementary Learning Center, Phyllis M. Gowans

Graduate Research Papers

This study is designed to determine whether nine, ten, eleven and twelve year old students in a selected school Learning Center environment will improve their reading skills after a required sustained silent reading program.

Recreational Reading In The Elementary School, Doris Fistler

Graduate Research Papers

A school librarian is often called upon to talk with groups of teachers and parents, as well as to present the library program to the administration, the school board, and the community. For these talks, more concrete material than, "I think . . . ," is needed. The purpose of this project was to gain from wide and varied reading a background that would serve as source material in presenting recreational reading to the above-mentioned groups.

Literally volumes of material have been written on the subject of recreational reading, numerous research studies have been made, and general concern by the …

A Comparative Study Of Three Different Approaches To Beginning Reading Comprehension: Ita, Programmed Reader, And Basal Reader, Helen Ferrier Ristau

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purposes of this study were to compare the effectiveness of three specific approaches to beginning reading for teaching reading comprehension in the schools of a midwestern community: ITA, Programmed Reader, and Basal Reader. The Reading: Stories or reading comprehension scores on the Metropolitan Achievement Tests were used to compare: (1) the overall effectiveness of teaching reading comprehension under the three approaches, and (2) the effectiveness of the three approaches for particular types of learners. The data was analyzed according to the following factors: sex, M.A., socioeconomic status, and maturity level to determine which approach is best for any of …

A Comparison Of Results Of Two Methods Of Teaching Reading In The First Grade, Melvin Wayne Thurston

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

An examination of the grade-equivalent scores attained in vocabulary and reading comprehension by third-grade pupils at Hudson Community School on the Iowa Test of Basic Skills over the preceding four-year period revealed that many of the pupils were seriously retarded in reading. During this period a total of 210 third-grade pupils were tested. Thirty-one per cent of these pupils scored one or more years below the norm for Iowa third-grade pupils in vocabulary, and the same level of retardation was true in reading comprehension for twenty-seven per cent of these pupils.

Most of these pupils had been taught beginning reading …