Elementary Education and Teaching Commons^™

Using Reinforcement And Self Management In Classrooms To Increase Motivation, Sherri Aitken

Theses and Dissertations

The purposes of this study is to investigate the implementation of classroom management strategies in a Team Approach to Mastery (TAM) classroom which will include both regular and special education students. This research study will identify the most effective strategies in terms of ease of implementation, time, effort, generalization, reliance upon the system, and personal ratings. Small focus groups will also be conducted with the students in order to have a clearer view of student motivation and their likes or dislikes of the current system. A successful plan must be motivating and enjoyed by both students and teachers within the …

Characteristics Of An Existing Third Grade Social Studies Curriculum And Students' Views On An Alternative Instructional Strategy, Stefanie R. Whitefield

Theses and Dissertations

The purposes of this study were to (a) explore Social Studies as it takes place in a third grade classroom at an elementary school in Southern New Jersey and (b) to implement a Social Studies unit using an alternative instructional strategy and determine whether this method is more favorable among students as compared to the traditional teaching method. The researcher observed the cooperating teacher delivering Social Studies lessons, took field notes, recorded her thoughts in a teacher research journal, interviewed four teachers, interviewed students in the cooperating classroom, and implemented a Social Studies unit using scripted plays as an alternative …

How Does Being Placed In A Special Education Setting Affect A Student's Self-Concept?, Kristin Fastiggi

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to compare the self-concept of classified and non-classified students. Twenty-four students, twelve classified and twelve non-classified, all from Gloucester County, were given the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. The test consisted of ten statements related to overall feelings of self-worth or self-acceptance. The students were tested away from their peers and the test was administered by the researcher. Once the study had been carried out the scores were analyzed by the researcher. The non-classified group had an average score of 15.83 (a normal self-esteem is within the range of 15-25). The non-classified group had an average …

The Effectiveness Of Non-Traditional Vocabulary Instruction In A Second-Grade Inclusion Classroom, Stephanie Marie Anderson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this experimental study was to determine if non-traditional vocabulary instruction would significantly raise the scores of second-grade students in an inclusion classroom compared to second-grade students whom were taught vocabulary words in a traditional manner. Students were tested in matching vocabulary words to definitions as well as using vocabulary words in a meaningful context. Analysis of the data obtained from the pretest and posttest scores showed that while students in both settings improved in their performances, students who were taught vocabulary words in a non-traditional way, scored slightly higher. Further analysis was conducted to portray that this …

The Effect Of A Constructivist Social Studies Unit On Student Attitudes Toward Social Studies, Kristi L. Arruzzo

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a constructivist social studies unit on student attitudes towards social studies. It was hypothesized that students who experienced constructivist based social studies lessons would display a greater interest in social studies topics in the classroom than those who did not experience constructivist based social studies lessons. The subjects in this study were fifty, fourth grade students from a southern New Jersey school district. The study consisted of an experimental and a control group, both of which received a pre-test. While the control group received no difference in teaching style, …

Test Anxiety: Effects On Standardized Testing, Average Classroom Assessments, And Fourth Grade Students, Elysia J. Ochs

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of both standardized testing and average classroom assessments on the levels of test anxiety. The study was a correlation study. with a sample of 42 fourth grade students. The students came from four separate classrooms within the same elementary school. This study adapted Wren and Benson's (2004) Children's Test Anxiety Scale (CTAS). The subjects in this study were administered two identical questionnaires entitled, "How I Feel About Tests." The first CTAS was administered in the week following the New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge (NJ ASK). The second CTAS …

The Impact Of The Resource Room On Peer Relationships, Jennifer Howells

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to ascertain if resource room attendance for classified students had an impact on social relationships with their non-classified, general education peers. Specifically, the study sought to establish trends in the following two areas: if resource room students were in fact less likely to be accepted by their general education peers, and the most likely reason why resource room peer non-acceptance would occur. Using student interviews, which consisted of a peer nomination rating, and a Teacher/Faculty Survey, which consisted of three open-ended items and one forced-choice item, data was collected. Using a chi-square analysis of …

The Impact Of Positive Reinforcement And Self-Recording On The On-Task Behavior Of Third Grade Students, Shannon L. Bishop

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of positive reinforcement and self-recording on the on-task behavior of third grade students. It was hypothesized that third grade students, within a learning community, who employ self-recording strategies and experience positive reinforcement rewards will be on-task a significantly longer length of time than third grade students who do not utilize those strategies. The study consisted of an experimental and a control group. Both groups were observed to determine baseline data. The experimental group was then asked to record their own on-task behavior and received rewards for being on-task a high …

A Correlational Study On How Reading Scores Are Affected By Complementing Learning And Teaching Styles In Multiple Kindergarten Settings, Leslie-Ann D. Monforto

Theses and Dissertations

The purposes of this correlational study were to (a) observe the learning styles of groups of kindergarten students and the teaching styles of their corresponding teachers; and (b) determine the effects that the matching of similar learning and teaching styles had on students' reading performances. It was hypothesized that students whose learning styles matched that of their teachers' teaching styles would do significantly better on their reading scores than those students whose learning styles did not match that of their teachers' teaching styles. Teacher and students were assessed using an adaptation of Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligences Test to determine their …

The Effect Of Positive Reinforcement On The Achievement Of 3rd Grade Students' Spelling, Leandra Pintel

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of positive reinforcement in the form of rewards on the achievement of 3^rd grade students' end of the week post spelling test. The study was conducted on fourteen 3^rd grade students in a kindergarten through sixth grade school in southern New Jersey. The researcher collected the students' grades for four weeks during which positive reinforcements in the form of rewards were not used and the grades for four weeks during which the students received positive reinforcements in the form of rewards every time the student earned a grade …

How Critical Is Fluency For The Struggling Reader?, Lisa Dilts

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative research study is to look at the importance of fluency to the struggling reader. The research sets out to look for answers to the following questions: How critical is fluency for the struggling reader? What effect does fluency have on the reading experience? What strategies work to improve fluency? The research was conducted on three struggling fifth grade readers, all with different ability levels. One student is placed in a self-contained special education class, one student goes to the resource room for literacy, and one student receives help from the basic skills teacher. Students were …

What Happens When A Fifth Grade Class Takes An Inquiry Stance Into Their Own Wellness Through A Critical Literacy Lens?, Casey Shalhoub

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to teach wellness to students in a fifth grade class using inquiry and critical literacy books. I taught lessons that incorporate the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards for Health to find out how this knowledge affected the students' lives. I worked with twenty-four students in a fifth grade class for a sixteen week period during my student teaching. I used a student questionnaire to gather information and also analyzed the student participation during lessons and responses to what was taught. I found that through the teaching of wellness through inquiry and critical literacy …

Computer Use And Integration Of Elementary School Teachers, Samuel L. Smith

Theses and Dissertations

The problem in this study asks: Could it be that teachers who have high frequency of computer use in the classroom have recognizable characteristics than teachers who have a low frequency of computer use in the classroom?

A data collection instrument was develop and distributed to 23 classroom teachers at H. B. Wilson Elementary School in Camden, New Jersey. The 47 questions on the survey assessed computer knowledge and uses in the classroom, and a score was given to each category. Some of recognizable characteristics of teachers who had high frequency of computer use in the classroom were the fact …

The Prevalence And Function Of Mathematics Specialists Across Southern New Jersey, Susan M. Eith

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this descriptive study was to examine current practices regarding math specialists in the eight southern counties of New Jersey. Additionally, information on training opportunities offered by several universities was presented and compared to the certification requirements of other states. A written survey was mailed to a proportional stratified random sample (n=45), categorized by county and socioeconomic status. Both simple percentages and tests of significance (t-test and chi-squared) were used in analyzing the data. This study found there were no significant differences in the number of math specialists working in economically disadvantaged districts compared to other, more affluent …

Anti-Bullying Laws And Policies In Southern New Jersey, Joanna M. Wardrop

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to discover the anti-bullying laws set by New Jersey legislatures. It was also to discover whether school districts in the five southern-most counties of New Jersey are following these laws. Finally, this study attempted to discover which, if any, anti-bullying services are being utilized by school districts in these counties.

This study consisted of a survey which was sent to the 110 superintendents in school districts in the five southern-most counties of New Jersey. The survey contained multiple choice, yes/no, and open-ended questions. The goal of the survey was to find the percentages of …

How To Create A Successful Team Teaching Partnership, Travis Haskins

Theses and Dissertations

Studies have shown that there is a movement towards inclusion and team teaching in schools throughout the nation. This movement has not only affected the students who are being mainstreamed, but the teachers who are now co-teaching these classrooms. This study used questionnaires, teacher interviews, and a teacher research journal to sample a southern New Jersey elementary school. The participants' responses provided insights to answer the question "How do teachers create a successful team teaching partnership?" The study suggests criteria for successful teams and discusses possible barriers which may hinder effective teaching partnerships. The four main themes which emerged from …

The Effect Of Learning Centers And Interactive Bulletin Boards On Student Vocabulary Word Knowledge, Kristin Marie Schleher

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this project was to determine the effect of different vocabulary strategies on student comprehension. A main focus of the research is to determine the impact of learning centers and interactive bulletin boards in helping students develop word knowledge in the subject area of social studies. This study takes place in a fourth grade general education classroom in an elementary school in southern New Jersey. The research includes qualitative data from student surveys and interviews, and teacher questionnaires and interviews, as well as the two vocabulary interventions: a learning center and an interactive bulletin board. The students completed …

Increasing Expressive Vocabulary Through Non-Traditional Instruction, Lisa C. Washart

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined vocabulary teaching techniques. Its major purpose was to discover ways of teaching vocabulary to students that motivate them to use the words and allow them to understand and use these words appropriately. This study utilized a qualitative approach, examining instruction through the use of a case study. The study took place in an inclusive fifth grade classroom of twenty-five students. Sixteen of these students participated in the study. A checklist, student writing samples, and field notes were used to gather data surrounding varied forms of instruction and the ability of students to use newly learned words. Collected …

The Impact Of Classroom Environment On Student Learning, Amy A. Turano

Theses and Dissertations

Classroom environment is a concern among almost all educators. This thesis discusses the four major factors of classroom environment: physical environment, time and instructional management, behavior management, and teacher effectiveness. A goal of this study is to contribute to teacher knowledge about how classroom environments impact student learning. A resource center and a first grade classroom were observed and the teachers of both classes were asked to complete a self-evaluation of their classroom's environment. Both teachers were found to have classroom environments that were conducive to learning.

Student Perception Of Behavior Management Systems, Jennifer L. Dayton

Theses and Dissertations

The following qualitative study focuses on how students perceive classroom behavior management systems. The process of research consisted of observation of students in their natural classroom setting, the completion of the Student Beliefs of Discipline Inventory Survey by the students, and informal interviews. A total of twenty seven fourth and fifth grade students participated in the study. The major themes of the study consisted of the students' perception of responsibility in the classroom and the common misbehaviors identified by the students. The results of the study concluded that a majority of the students want to have some responsibility for decisions …

An Exploratory Investigation Of The Effects Of Prewriting On Fifth Grade Students' Writing Ability, Katie Montegary

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not the use of a graphic organizer during the prewriting stage of the writing process improved the writing of narrative compositions in fifth grade students. For this study, the Four Square approach to writing was the selected prewriting strategy. Four Square Writing is a systematic approach to writing designed around a graphic organizer that teaches students how plan before they write. The students in this study were introduced to the approach through small group instruction over a five-week period. By interviewing students, comparing writing samples throughout the intervention, and assessing …

Standardized Educational Assessments: The Effects On Teachers In A South Jersey Elementary School, Ashley P. Root

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to explore how standardized testing affects teaching methods. The major aspects of this qualitative study focus around two questions: How do the pressures and incentives inflicted by standardized achievement tests affect or change teacher instruction? The site for the research is in an elementary school in Gloucester Township, New Jersey. The population for this study consists of teachers ranging from kindergarten teachers to fifth grade teachers. My research is based on interpretation of data gathered by investigation and examination. I used observations, analysis of materials, survey responses, and questionnaires as the basis for my …

The Connection Between Gender And Literacy In A First Grade Classroom, Jessica V. Feldman

Theses and Dissertations

This study is a qualitative case study that explores the connection between literacy and gender in a first grade classroom environment. The subjects for this study are twenty first grade students in a regular education classroom located in a southern New Jersey elementary school. For this study, students were observed with the attempt to answer three questions: 1) What gender stereotypes have these first graders internalized coming into the classroom? 2) How are these gender beliefs expressed in the language arts classroom? 3) What are teachers doing to foster these biases in their students? Data collected includes student writings, discussions, …

Inclusion: A View From Students And Teachers, Elizabeth A. Carroll

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to examine students' and teachers' opinions on the inclusion model and its implementation in classrooms today. This study was conducted in an elementary school (grades one through five) in a K-12 public school district in Roosevelt Township, New Jersey. The participants were 27 second and third grade multiage students as well as 7 second and third grade teachers with varied teaching experiences and certifications. Teacher participants completed open-ended questionnaires while student participants completed surveys in which they used a rating scale to assign their comfort level with varied example situations. Data from the surveys …

Response To Gender In The Classroom: A Look At A Teacher's Reaction To Her Students And Its Effect, Victoria A. Henwood

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this investigation was to understand a teacher's response to boys and girls in the classroom and determine whether this has an effect on students' perceptions of gender. Using a qualitative study and analyzing interviews, observations, and a gender activity through a data analysis spiral (Creswell 1998) in a first grade classroom with a female teacher, I discovered a teacher's perception of gender influences her interactions with students. Through the gender activity, I found this interaction can help shape a student's perception of gender.

No More Worksheets: A Pre-Service Teacher's Look At Manipulatives, Kathren Field Barraclough

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to explore the use of manipulatives during math. This is done by examining manipulatives in reference to student interest, diverse learners, student response, and student opinions. The study was conducted in an elementary school in the Winslow Township school district located in the Camden County region of South Jersey. All seventeen participants were taken from a collaboratively taught first grade classroom. Collection of data was done through the use of video tape, student journals, tests and my personal observations. Data was triangulated through the examination of multi-sources (video, journals, tests, observations), and themes, scores …

The Effects Of Small Group Mathematical Instruction, Theresa A. Storms

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of small group mathematical instruction when compared to whole group mathematical instruction. The participants of the study consisted of 35 first grade students from two intact classes from a suburban school district in New Jersey. The control group included 21 students who received whole group mathematical instruction. The experimental group included 14 students who received small group mathematical instruction. All students were pre-tested, instructed in mathematics, and post-tested in their respective groups.

This study hypothesized that first grade students who received small group mathematical instruction would show a higher significant …

A Study Examining The Effect Of Multi-Sensory Stimulation On The Descriptive Writing Of Fourth Grade Students, Karen L. Scott

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if multi-sensory stimulation during writing exercises would increase the number of descriptive elements used by fourth grade students. Thirty-five students in two intact classrooms participated in the nonequivalent control group design study. A learning styles questionnaire was administered to both groups to ensure that all modality preferences were represented in each classroom. Two pretests in the form of writing prompts were given to each group. Two weeks later posttests identical to the pretests were administered to each group. During posttest writing exercises, the experimental group was exposed to multi-sensory stimulation. The control …

The Effects Of Collaborative Strategic Reading Among Third Grade Students, Inez Lee Barberio

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the use of Collaborative Strategic Reading in a third grade class significantly improved test scores in vocabulary and comprehension in a given social studies unit exam. Two third grade classes were researched. The use of CSR was compared to the testing results of another third grade class that was taught through the use of traditional "textbook" teaching methods. The researcher taught the experimental group through the use of CSR while the control class was taught by their regular classroom teacher. Each class was tested using the same pretest and post-test. Mean …

Teachers' Insights On Character Education, Meghan Kristin Salowe

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to explore teachers' thoughts and concerns regarding the practice of teaching Character Education programs in elementary school. The subjects for this study are twenty-one elementary school teachers and the school's guidance counselor. This study used a survey instrument with closed-ended responses (Likert scale) as well as teacher interviews. A qualitative approach was utilized to analyze the data, which showed varying teacher perceptions on Character Education. A need for consistent teacher training and opportunities for teacher dialogue are some implications that emerged from my study.