Teacher Education and Professional Development Commons^™

Explicitly Teaching Multiple Modes Of Representation In Science Discourse: The Impact On Middle School Science Student Learning, Ryan Nixon

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of explicitly teaching multiple modes of representation (MMR) on middle school students' understanding of science content and their use of MMR on a science unit test. Participants in this quasi-experimental study were seventh- and eighth-grade students enrolled in science courses taught by three different middle school science teachers. Half of the students received explicit instruction in MMR in addition to their regular science instruction; the other half received only regular science instruction. Ordinary least squares multiple regression analysis was used to determine the relationship between gain scores on unit assessments, …

Balancing Support And Challenge Within The Mentoring Relationship, Tiffanie Joy Miley

Theses and Dissertations

Mentoring is a common element of new teacher induction aimed at easing beginning teachers' entry into the profession and assisting beginning teacher growth and development. Previous research has shown that mentors are comfortable supporting beginning teachers but are reluctant to provide challenge-activities that will help beginning teachers improve their practice. For optimal growth to occur, mentors should balance support and challenge in their work with beginning teachers. This descriptive study employed multiple cases to examine the relationship of two junior high school mentors with their mentees. The mentors in this study work in a school district with an established and …

Effects Of Specific Instructional Practices On Independent Writing Of Learning-Disabled Students, Astrid Monforte

Theses and Dissertations

This mixed methods case study explored the effects of conferring, mentor text, and guided practice on independence in writing, increased time on task, and improved written output for fifth grade learning-disabled students serviced in a replacement language arts special education setting. Qualitative data was collected through pre and post interviews with teacher and student participants. Student writing samples were also assessed for sentence structure and support using the Educational Records Bureau (ERB) scoring rubric. Student avoidance behaviors were recorded during independent writing while each instructional practice was presented. This quantitative data was analyzed along with the ERB scores through cross-case …

A Content Analysis Of Inquiry In Third Grade Science Textbooks, Rebecca Adams Lewis

Theses and Dissertations

Since the publication of the National Science Education Standards in 1996 efforts have been made to include inquiry into school science programs. An addendum on inquiry to these standards was published in 2000 presenting five essential features of classroom inquiry as indicators of the active use of inquiry in a science lesson. The purpose of this content analysis was to examine and identify the presence of these five essential features of classroom inquiry within publisher-identified inquiry activities found in the 2000 and 2010 teacher's editions of the third grade science textbooks published by Scott Foresman. The textbooks were read and …

Navigating The Changing Face Of Beginning Reading Instruction: Am I Right Back Where I Started?, Deanna M. Perry

Theses and Dissertations

This self-study explores my experience as a beginning reading teacher over a span of more than 30 years. It includes a brief look at theoretical models of reading and philosophical movements that impacted my experience as a classroom teacher and then lays my classroom experience and practice against the literature and historical background related to beginning reading instruction. The question studied is "How did the district-mandated curriculum in each era shape me as a literacy teacher and literacy instruction in my school context?" The purpose of the study is to unearth the impact of educational policies on my classroom practice. …

Using A Professional Learning Community To Include Emotionally And Behaviorally Disordered Students And Their Teachers In Inclusion Programs, Melody Alegria

Theses and Dissertations

Students with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders (EBD) are considered the most difficult to include within school inclusion programs, and therefore, are often excluded from inclusion programs (Yell, 2004). One of the main challenges with implementing successful inclusion programs is that teachers are not equipped with the skills to work with all students. The purpose of this mixed methods action research study is to evaluate and improve an inclusion program that is not only successful for student achievement, but one that also relies heavily on teachers' voice and input and that will encourage teachers to improve their attitudes towards emotionally behaviorally …

Higher-Order Thinking Question Affecting Economically Disadvantaged Students’ Reading Achievement, Ruth Ann Bennett

Theses and Dissertations

Reading proficiency continues to elude a large number of school children, in particular, our economically disadvantaged students (Clark & Akerman, 2006). In a continued effort to decrease the gap between the high-poverty and low-poverty students’ reading scores, this study examined the effect of third-grade and fifth-grade teachers’ use of higher-order thinking (HOT) question levels and student context (whole group, small group, and one-one-one) during reading workshop on economically disadvantaged students’ reading achievement. Teacher questionnaires and researcher observations were analyzed to determine the effect on reading CRCT scores and the two domains within the reading CRCT scores of Literary Comprehension and …

Teacher Retention: What Motivates Highly Qualified Urban Teachers To Stay?, Orlando B. Milligan

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to provide insight into what motivates highly qualified teachers to remain in urban schools. Research has shown that the single most important factor in a child’s education is the teacher. Consequently, the issues related to teacher recruitment and retention rank as serious problems facing urban schools and the achievement of their children.

The purpose of this study was to examine what motivates highly qualified teachers to remain in urban schools and to identify factors that may contribute to the retention and recruitment of an urban teaching corps. This study also sought to determine if there …

The Effect Of Choice On The Behavior Of Off Task High School Students In An Alternative School Setting, Laura Campbell

Theses and Dissertations

This study was done to examine the effect of choice on off task behaviors in high school students attending an alternative school. The participants were from various backgrounds, ability levels, and presence of disabilities. The students were observed performing three target behaviors; specifically talking off topic, being out of a seat needlessly, and being out of the classroom. This was initiated during a baseline observation period, and again over a five day period after being introduced to the choice process. The alternative activities from which they chose were lesson extensions, educational puzzles or reading material, or classroom jobs. This was …

Reciprocal Teaching And Its Effect On Inference Skills To Enhance Reading Comprehension, Amber Rosenberger

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to determine how the use of reciprocal teaching affects the learning of inference skills in four, 4th grade excel readers. By utilizing reciprocal teaching as the instructional component and incorporating engaging read alouds, this study seeks to determine how these effect the development of inference skills. The students in this study received explicit instruction about inference skills and the reciprocal teaching model. Students participated in daily read alouds and reciprocal teaching for twenty minutes over the period of four weeks. Through teacher observations, focus group discussions, excerpts from teacher research journal, and video clips …

Using Dialogue Journals To Foster A Student-Teacher Relationship In The Elementary Classroom, Jamie Horton

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to implement dialogue journals into a fourth grade classroom to find out if they fostered a relationship between the teacher and students. Over the course of five weeks, students were each given a journal in which he/she would correspond with me. As a class, topics to write about were brainstormed. However, students were welcomed to write about any topic of their choice. Students were asked to write one journal entry per week. Journals were returned the following Monday morning with my response. Data collection consisted of pre-dialogue journal survey, anecdotal teacher notes, the dialogue …

Creating The Environment For Inclusion: Ways For Teachers To Encourage Positive Interactions Between Typical And Special Needs Children, Lauren Stevens

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this conceptual thesis is to create an outline of a professional development workshop model to be implemented at a later date and time. This professional development model is designed to teach fifteen to twenty inclusion teachers how to create a safe and accepting learning environment where students are accepted regardless of ability levels. The five two-hour workshops focus on discovering teachers' own biases about people with special needs, working with and incorporating parents as important members of the learning community, understanding the formations of children's perceptions and creating the learning community by listening to students.

The Effects Of Implementing Heterogeneous Writing Groups In A Fifth Grade Classroom, Jennifer Cady

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine how heterogeneous grouping, particularly in writing, would impact the learning and social community in a fifth grade inclusion classroom. The students were given writing prompts that enforced the use of collaborative writing. Qualitative data was collected through the use of student artifacts, student surveys, student interviews, and a teacher researcher journal. After analyzing this data, it was revealed that heterogeneous writing groups can lead to improved writing amongst all students. It was also revealed that working collaboratively with peers led to a correlation with positive social interactions and constructive revelations from the …

A Workshop On Foreign Language Methods For Chinese English Language Teachers, Jennifer Crafton Parette

Theses and Dissertations

Currently in China, the demand for proficient English speakers in the work place continues to grow exponentially. In both China and America the need for educating students in foreign languages is a complicated, monumental undertaking. Both countries must find ways to work within their present governing systems to bring students to proficiency in foreign languages. This study was done to ask the question, "Can the American emphasis on communicative language competence in foreign language study be helpful to the Chinese system of foreign language instruction?" This thesis provides an overview of the historical as well as the current philosophy of …

An Inquisitive Investigation Into The Effects Of Self-Regulated Learning, Jaclynne Nimon

Theses and Dissertations

The purposes of this inquisitive investigation were to (a) gain an insight into the self-regulation strategies that third grade students naturally engage in, (b) to teach specific self-regulation strategies to these students, and to (c) explore the effects of utilizing such strategies on different aspects of academic performance. Throughout the study students demonstrated a wide range of strategy use, before and after teaching about self-regulation. The majority of the data collected illustrates several positive impacts on both test grades and homework completion for the 14 participants in the study, who are in the third grade, when multiple self-regulation strategies are …

The Importance Of Establishing Positive Behavior Supports And Classroom Community To Foster Successful Transitions Throughout Diverse School Settings, Bailey Tormollan

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore how positive behavior supports and a classroom community would foster positive learning experiences throughout many diverse school settings. To promote classroom community, pillars of character education were addressed were introduced within the classroom, while multiple behavior support systems were introduced simultaneously. This study was conducted over a sixteen week period in a regular education kindergarten classroom and second and third grade resource room. The idea was to provide students, both in a regular and special education setting with means of positive behavior supports in order to aid in transition periods in the …

Examining A Differentiated Science Unit Through A Listening Stance, Daniel Cohen

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative research was to investigate the relationship between differentiated instruction and Schultz's (2003) Framework for Listening. Based on Schultz's four types of listening, data were gathered on a class of fourth grade students through the use of a student survey, student-teacher journals, a student-adult interview, and a pretest. This data was continually examined in order to inform differentiated instruction on a daily basis. After a month of listening, a differentiated science unit was created based on the information learned about students through listening. The teaching of, and student responses to the differentiated unit became another source …

Using Multicultural Literature In The Classroom To Encourage Tolerance And Respect, Laurel Hartmann

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research study was to determine what happens when multicultural children's literature is used to supplement the kindergarten curriculum. Over the course of four weeks, students were read eight books about diverse cultures during centers and during circle time. Qualitative inquiry strategies such as parent questionnaires, audio recordings of small group and whole group discussions, student artifacts, and observations recorded in a teacher research journal were all used as a means of collecting data. Upon analyzing the data and searching for main ideas throughout the study, I found that multicultural picture books helped the children become more …

The Effects Of Using Instructional Games In The Elementary Classroom, Jennifer Campagnola

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to answer the question, "What happens when I use instructional games to teach or review math skills in a fourth grade classroom?" In this study, the students played five instructional games during a math unit on fractions. The instructional games ranged in type. The students completed a survey about the games at the beginning of the study, at the end of the study, and at the end of each instructional game. The data in this study suggests that instructional games are fun, help students to learn the material, and allow students opportunities to create …

How Can The Use Of The Morning Meeting Foster A Sense Of Community In The Fifth Grade Classroom?, Lindsey Giannantonio

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of incorporating the Morning Meeting as part of the daily routine in the fifth grade classroom. This study examines the effects of developing a classroom community and incorporating talk as a tool in the classroom through the use of the Morning Meeting. The Morning Meeting is part of the Responsive Classroom approach, and its purpose is to help foster a sense of community and spark student readiness for learning during the school day. This qualitative teacher research used student response journals, a teacher research journal, student surveys, audio recordings of …

Video Modeling To Enhance The Conversation Skills Of Preschool Children Who Are At-Risk For School Failure, Lorie Mick

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of the video-modeling method on language comprehension skills of preschoolers who are at-risk for school failure. The setting for this research was a preschool classroom in a low socioeconomic school district in southern New Jersey. Baseline data on the amount of comprehension questions the participants answer correctly after a typical storytelling session were compared to the results of the amount of questions they answer correctly after exposure to the intervention. In addition, the students' use of language, including mean length of utterance and vocabulary, was compared prior to and following …

Using Literature To Educate Students About Bullying, Rebecca Goldberg

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate how using literature to educate students about bullying would support their understandings about bullying and how to address it. This study was conducted at Osage Elementary School in Voorhees, New Jersey. Twenty-one third graders voluntarily participated in this study. An initial and final survey, four discussions and four surveys following the discussions along with a teacher research journal were used in this study to gather data. A qualitative approach was utilized to analyze and draw conclusions from the research. The data showed student understanding about bullying changed over the course of the …

Utilizing Music And Movement As A Means Of Transition, Lisa Cioffi

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this teacher research was to examine the effects of a transition infused with music and movement may have on the classroom environment and the students within the setting. This study was conducted within a first grade general education classroom with a total of eighteen student participants. The students were included in the production of the transition through interviews and questionnaires in which each student had the opportunity to express his or her opinions regarding specific songs and movements he or she identified with relaxation. The students were then provided the experience of executing the music and movement …

Authentic Literature's Effect On Student Attitudes Towards Individuals With Disabilities, Sara Alves

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect authentic literature had on student attitudes towards individuals with disabilities. This study was conducted by implementing a disabilities unit through read alouds in a second grade classroom. Eighteen students participated in the research model. Data collected included surveys, audio taped interviews, audio taped discussions, student response cards, and personal teacher research journal. The data was analyzed recursively across all data sets to determine patterns and themes. Data was coded according to three main patterns; if the pattern was found to be prevalent across all data sets it was found to …

What Happens When Fourth Graders Use Learning Profiles To Direct Their Learning?, Caley Spahn

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to see what happened when elements of a learner- centered classroom were implemented in a 4th grade classroom in social studies. Qualitative sources of data collected included teacher research journal, focus group discussions, student interest surveys, student talk, and a self esteem scale. Data was analyzed, triangulated, and informed by Katherine Schultz's (2003) listening framework. The students determined how they were going to learn about government in social studies and then how they were going to show what they learned. They assumed control of their learning experience, guided by the teacher researcher. Findings suggested …

Two Marginalized Adolescents Using The Internet To Complete An Inquiry Project, Jennifer Thomas

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study focused on the strategies that two marginalized seventh graders used as they completed an Internet inquiry project about survival. The participants spent time over a four-week period in three phases—selecting a topic, locating information, and presenting information. Participants completed journals and participated in interviews. The participants' online searches and how they organized their presentations were recorded. The researcher took field notes. These four data sources were used to determine subcategories in each phase to document the strategies they employed as they completed the project. Participants used phrases and questions as they decided on key words to locate …

An Examination Of The Effects Of Using Systematic And Engaging Early Literacy To Teach Tier 3 Students To Read Consonant-Vowel-Consonant (Cvc) Words, Esther Marshall

Theses and Dissertations

A single-subject-multiple-baseline-across-behaviors design was used to examine the effects of using Systematic and Engaging Early Literacy (SEEL) instruction to help Tier 3 kindergarten students learn to read CVC words. Four students designated as Tier 3 by their teachers participated in the study. They were grouped into two dyads and received SEEL instruction focusing on specific word reading targets for approximately 20 minutes four days per week over a seven-week time period. The instruction included meaningful, interactive activities and incorporated high levels of play, multiple exposures to the target, explicit instruction, and student-teacher conversational exchanges. Baseline assessment data were collected prior …

Using A Multi-Sensory Teaching Approach To Impact Learning And Community In A Second Grade Classroom, Melissa Stoffers

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine how multi-sensory education impacts learning and community in a second grade general education classroom. Lesson plans that targeted multiple senses - and oftentimes included team-building activities - were developed and implemented in the classroom. Qualitative data was collected through interviews, focus groups, student work, and a teacher research journal. After analyzing the data, it was revealed that multi-sensory education can lead to student motivation and engagement, as well as provide a generative space for the use of technology and making connections to the outside world. Multi-sensory education can also help teachers to …

The Keyword Method: A Study Of Vocabulary Acquisition In Fifth Grade, Danielle Aureli

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was based on the need for fifth grade students (n = 18) to expand vocabulary acquisition in short and long term memory. The Keyword Method is a useful mnemonic aid which can help broaden students' vocabulary by means of speech and language and ultimately with reading and writing. Understanding vocabulary words and how they relate to other ideas and concepts greatly impacts and influences reading comprehension. Extensive research has proven the Keyword Method to be an effective teaching tool. It increases concreteness and meaningfulness of newly obtained information, and the Keyword Method connects recently learned …

Classroom Management: A Study In Leadership, Theory, And Implementation, Brian Latwis

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to review the literature, identify components of a classroom management plan, and implement the research into practice to study the effects of implementing a classroom management plan. There will be three action research cycles that drive this case study. The case study starts by studying the effects of implementing a classroom management plan with 18 teachers in Generic Township High School. Utilizing the research, key components have been identified: procedures, rules, hierarchy of negative consequences, and the importance of positive reinforcement and communication home. This study is both qualitative and quantitative in nature. Qualitatively, …