Elementary Education and Teaching Commons^™

A Qualitative Case Study Of Natural Storytelling Strategies Used At The Nantahala School., Nancy J. Reeder

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative case study identifies what 8 teachers naturally do with storytelling at a K-12 school in western North Carolina. Through observations, interviews, field notes, document reviews, and artifact reviews, I used the constant comparison analysis method to discover themes from their formal and informal storytelling strategies. From these themes, I created a framework of 7 suggestions to enhance storytelling awareness. They are: sharing personal stories, developing voice control and body expression, connecting story to school culture, modeling well-developed stories with beginnings, middles, and ends, introducing stories with a pause, expressing the word "imagine" often during instruction, and finally, making …

Examples: What Teachers Are Doing With Poetry, Penny Miller, Sarah Duffer, Carole Damin, Libby Duggan

Articles

In November, 112 teachers from across Indiana attended a full-day professional development workshop with renowned poet Georgia Heard. Here is a sampling of the things these teachers are now doing in their schools and classrooms as a result of that workshop.

Using Contentdm To Compliment K-12 Curriculum: Southern Nevada--The Boomtown Years, Cory K. Lampert

Library Faculty Presentations

Setting the Stage for Boomtown

•2006, Libraries revamp digitization program and begin staff reorganization

•2007-2008 Implement Digitization Advisory Committee and Project Teams Launch Nevada Test Site Oral History Project: http://digital.library.unlv.edu/ntsohp/

•2008 awarded $95,000 LSTA grant to create large hybrid collection on Southern Nevada during 1900-1925

To Blend Or Not To Blend: Online-Only And Blended Learning Environments, Rachel M. B. Collopy, Jackie Marshall Arnold

Teacher Education Faculty Publications

Increasing curricular demands and the desire to provide meaningful, engaging instruction have pressed teacher educators to review and revise their programs. Many have viewed the assets of online learning as a potential solution to meet the seemingly ever increasing state- and accreditation-mandated course content and competencies. Universities have explored the inclusion of Web based courses for students for several decades. According to Martyn (2003), over 90% of higher education institutions use some type of electronically enhanced learning or “e-learning” option.

These options vary between courses that are offered completely “online” to those that include a blend of differing amounts of …

Meeting The Need For K-8 Teachers For Classrooms With Culturally And Linguistically Diverse Students: The Promise And Challenge Of Early Field Experiences, Amy Strage, Susan Gomez, Kari Knutson-Miller, Ana Garcia-Nevarez

Faculty Publications

The writers present the findings of their study focused on teacher learning through early fieldwork experiences to address the problem of teachers working with a culturally and linguistically diverse student population. Data were analyzed from an archive collected from approximately 500 students enrolled in six undergraduate child development courses at three state university campuses located in urban areas of California. Findings suggest that early field experiences provide participants with opportunities for career goal clarification, and the context of field experience is significant and may lead to outcomes beyond the initial goal of the experience.

“Happily Ever After?” A Fairy Tale Unit [1st Grade], Audrey Tan

Understanding by Design: Complete Collection

This unit is designed as a mid-year unit for 1st grade language arts. Students will have had some exposure to story elements and will have written a few stories independently. The unit is designed around fairy tales. In this unit, students will explore the features that define fairy tales. They will learn how to recognize fairy tales. Students will understand that fairy tales are fantasy. The students will listen, compare, and analyze the characters of fairy tales. Throughout the unit students will develop their idea of happiness. Their understanding will deepen through exposure and discussions. Students will also connect to …

Using Fred Gipson's Old Yeller To Practice Essential Reading Skills [4th Grade], Kathryn Morrow

Understanding by Design: Complete Collection

In this unit, students will practice essential reading strategies while reading the novel Old Yeller by Fred Gibson. They will enhance their awareness and use of skills such as using context clues, identifying the main idea and the author’s purpose, making predictions and inferences, summarizing, and checking for understanding. Students will understand that good readers use specific skills and strategies to help them better comprehend a text, and they will be able to identify and describe some of those strategies. After participating in a number of learning activities, students will be able to answer the questions, “How do reading strategies …

Patricia Polacco Author Study [2nd Grade], Catherine Brackett

Understanding by Design: Complete Collection

Through the study of Thank You, Mr. Falker, Firetalking, The Thinking Quilt, Thundercake, Ginger and Petunia, My Ol’ Man, and The Limonade Club, this unit will allow students to grow as writers by studying an Patricia Polacco. The students will also learn to apply lessons addressed in literature to their own lives. Most importantly, the students will learn how their words and actions can either build a person up or tear them down. In the end, they will be asked to apply what they have learned to create a story or play that will help a bullying situation in a …

Sarah Plain And Tall Book Study [3rd Grade], Karen Morrison

Understanding by Design: Complete Collection

In this unit, students will be doing a chapter book study using the novel, Sarah Plain and Tall. At the end of the unit, the students will deeply understand that there are always things to miss no matter where you are, a sense of belonging happens when someone accepts where they are, and that we carry symbols and artifacts that represent the people and places that matter the most to us. Students will be engaged using the 6 Reading Comprehension Strategies: Phonics/Decoding, Predict/Infer, Monitor/Clarify, Question, Summarize, Evaluate. Other skills such as analytical thinking, predicting outcomes and connecting text to self …

Ideas Trait: The Foundations Of Writing [3rd Grade], Carolys Gordillo

Understanding by Design: Complete Collection

Based on the 6+1 traits of Writing, the Idea Trait is the first element that students explore to brainstorm unique ideas to write about and improve details in writing. This 4 week unit focuses on ideas and content, the first trait which helps students develop their writing skills. Students will write a personal narrative about an ordinary activity that occurred during their summer vacation with a fun twist. The picture book Ted will be shared and will be discussed to get students thinking of how their ordinary activities during summer could become extraordinary if they had an imaginary friend. Over …

How Do Teachers Learn New Skills For Reading Instruction And Transfer Their Learning Into The Classroom?, Patricia Ann Sharp

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Third grade teachers participated in a study that examined the ways teachers learn new skills for reading instruction and transfer their learning into the classroom on a daily basis. A review of literature included identification of a purpose for teacher learning, how teacher self-perception influenced use of new knowledge and teacher skills, and improved reading achievement. The teachers discussed challenges and barriers for their learning and implementation of new learning, which included reflection of how each has evolved as a reading teacher. Teachers expressed interests for new learning in reading instruction and self-awareness necessary for improvement in their practice.

Agent And Subject Of Discipline: How The Novice Teacher Experiences The Techniques Of Power, Lynn Anne Murray-Chandler

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This phenomenological study explored how five elementary school teachers experienced their first year of teaching as both the subject and agent of discipline. Drawing on Michel Foucault’s conceptualizations of power, discipline, and resistance, the investigator analyzed interview data that focused on questions concerning how novice teachers establish their own classroom management techniques, what norms they followed and resisted, as well as how and when they complied (or did not) in order to gain membership into their school/teacher community. Analysis indicated that, although novice teachers expressed many concerns, they largely complied with the norms established institutionally for managing student behavior, and …

Getting Boys To Read: A Look At The Research And The Books They Love, Carrie Lynn Cooper, Kathy Cox Watson

Library Faculty and Staff Papers and Presentations

This session focuses on what the research says about males as readers and introduces the audience to great boy books and other types of text that appeals to male readers. The presenters have chosen titles from the Kentucky Bluegrass Awards program that are of interest to young male readers. Presenters also introduce and promote Kentucky’s children’s choice reading program, the Kentucky Bluegrass Awards. To misquote George Ella Lyon, the presenters would like to get boys to "shake hands with a book."

Motivating Kindergarteners To Write In A Half-Day Setting, Alison C. Barnes

Theses and Dissertations

This research spawned from the observation of two half-day classes of kindergarten students at an elementary school in southern New Jersey. Being urged to write not only their first and last names but also letters, words, and even beginning sentences by the end of the year is a major requirement for New Jersey kindergartens in the year 2009. Noticing a lot of apprehension from the students when they were asked to write and use inventive spelling, methods were brainstormed of ways to encourage self-efficacy and motivation. It was decided to utilize an informal writing activity where the students would use …

Effect Of Hands-On Approach To Editing And Revising Process On Student Self-Evaluation Of Personal Skills, Lauren J. Usignol

Theses and Dissertations

The writing process is a series of four stages: prewriting, writing, editing and revising, and publishing. This action research project focuses on the editing and revising stage. The purpose of the study was to determine if the inclusion of a hands-on approach to editing and revising positively affects student self-evaluation of their skills. Students were introduced to the hands-on approach through the writer's workshop format. Through the use of surveys, interview, observations, and student work samples, I measured the confidence levels of students before and after the introduction of the hands-on approach. The analysis of the data revealed that the …

Increasing The Number Of Checkouts By Classroom Teachers Through Implementing A Levelized Class Set Library System, Beau Richard Hedrick

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to develop a levelized class set collection of books for second- and third-grade teachers. The project will summarize current research as to why teaching reading, while using appropriate leveled books, is one of the most successful ways of teaching. This project describes the steps taken to build and organize a checkout system of levelized books.

Shared Reading Lessons For Fourth, Fifth, And Sixth Grade English Language Learners, Erin Marie Goin

All Graduate Projects

This project explains what shared reading is and how it fits into balanced literacy. It explores the benefits of shared reading for English language learners and things the teacher should consider when teaching them. The project includes a collection of shared reading lesson plans for teachers of fourth, fifth and sixth grade ELL students. It explains what shared reading is, materials needed, possible texts, and skills and strategies that can be taught in a lesson. This guide is intended to help teachers of fourth, fifth and sixth grade ELL students teach shared reading lessons in their classrooms.

Teaching With Imagination And Learning By Doing: The Ideas, Methods, And Topics For Talk After School English Program In Korea From A Native English Teacher, Donovan P. Loomis

Liberal Arts and Engineering Studies

Teaching the students of Songseok elementary to love learning, love learning English, and confidence to speak like a Korean takes curiosity, imagination, and creativity. I demonstrate these skills to the students to challenge the students and help them develop their own gifts, talent, and abilities in these areas. Using sight and descriptive vocabulary I will develop their ability to remark on the remarkable and perceive the unique qualities of an object. They will have an understanding of how these new skills can benefit them and can communicate that understanding within the segment of the global economy in which English is …

How Can Morning Meeting And Character Education Foster A Community Of Respect In A Second Grade Classroom?, Alyssa Conlon

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative research study was to determine how Morning Meeting and the integration of character education values in a second grade classroom can lead to a respectful classroom community. As the United States becomes increasingly diverse, teachers need to learn ways in which they can create a positive learning environment where all students feel accepted and respected. Participants of this study include 13 second grade students; seven boys and six girls. Participants took part in daily Morning Meetings for approximately 20 minutes a day for a period of six and a half weeks. Data was analyzed and …

Values Education In The American School System, Angela Korch

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine students and their values and the integration of teaching values in the school setting to determine whether or not it is beneficial to focus on teaching values within the classroom; and especially the value of respect. The instruments which were used to gather data in this study were a researcher journal, student artifacts, focus group meetings, and two charts. Students demonstrated a general understanding of what respect was and who they should be respectful to as well as how they should be respectful to them. In addition, the students completed a variety …

Using Multicultural Literature Across Curriculum To Foster An Understanding And Acceptance Of Diversity, Nina Stubblebine

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this teacher research was to (a) use multicultural literature across curriculum to foster an understanding and acceptance of diversity and (b) examine more deeply how using multicultural literature in this manner might impact student learning, teacher-student relationships, student-student relationships and the overall environment of an elementary school classroom. In response to a cross-curricular multicultural literature unit, the four first grade self-contained participants of this study demonstrated progression from a recognition of physical differences to an acceptance of diversity. My methods for data collection were: keeping a teacher journal, conducting teacher interviews, informal student interviews, read-alouds, audio recordings …

The Impact Of Literature Circles On Reading Comprehenson In A Fourth Grade Class, Richard L. Kaufmann

Theses and Dissertations

In a fourth grade class where the majority of students were reading below grade level, literature circles were introduced and monitored for their ability to (a) raise student motivation to complete class work, (b) improve student interaction and behavior, and (c) raise Fountas and Pinnell reading comprehension levels. Students' class work in the literature circles was compared to similar work from whole group instruction. A rubric measured the attentiveness and behavior of the students in literature circle, whole group, and small group settings. The study was bookended by two Fountas and Pinnell benchmark reading assessments that were compared for signs …

Using Movement And Kinesthetic Learning To Teach Academics In A Fourth Grade Classroom, Elise Fulginiti

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research study was to determine what happens when movement and kinesthetic learning are implemented academically in a fourth-grade regular education classroom. Kinesthetics were used to help teach a social studies unit on Europeans in New Jersey and were later infused into the classroom curriculum. Qualitative inquiry strategies such as video-taped lessons, student written feedback, individual interviews, and observations written in my own teacher research journal were used to collect data. Sorting and categorizing data within and between data sources revealed that the kinesthetic learning lead to increased understanding of the topics being studied, heightened student engagement, …

Infusing Music In An Academic Curriculum, Katelyn E. Frevert

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this teacher research was to examine the effects of music on student comprehension, cooperative learning and the surrounding learning community. This study was conducted within a third grade inclusion classroom. The students were exposed to educational songs in mathematics, writing and science. The students were also provided with the opportunity to create their own songs about matter and showcase them through their production of music videos. Data for this study was collected through video recordings, student interviews, teacher interviews, and teacher/researcher observations and journal. This study demonstrated that music has a positive effect on the learning environment …

How Does Playful Active Learning Motivate Students To Write And Affect Performance In Writing?, Allison N. Williams

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines students' writing and how educators can motivate students to write. The problem that this study attempts to examine is the effect that motivation has on student writing. This study used teaching methods that incorporate active learning and guided play into the curriculum. Over the course of a three- week period, a classroom of fourth graders was examined to determine if they could be motivated to write. Surveys, a focus group, in class lessons, and a writing journal were used within this study. At the conclusion of the study, it was determined that playful active learning can be …

Using Literature And Role-Playing To Teach Social Skills To Students In Self-Contained Classrooms, Lauren M. Massa

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative research study was to explore the role of educators in teach social skills to self-contained students. Bibliotherapy, which utilizes books to help people solve their problems and role-playing were the two methods used to teach social skills. For this study, five data collection instruments were utilized: audio taped class discussions, video recordings of role-playing sessions, a teacher research journal, an instructional unit, and student projects and artifacts. For the sake of privacy and confidentiality, the names of people and places were altered. The qualitative research study was conducted in a Kindergarten self-contained classroom, located in …

Effective Strategies For Creating Socially Developing And Accepting Inclusion Classrooms, Kristin Bishop

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate and determine the most effective strategies for creating a socially developing and accepting inclusion classroom. The study was conducted as teacher research and uses both quantitative and qualitative research methods. The population used in the study was that of a first grade inclusion classroom. All students who were given parental consent participated. A classroom observation rubric, student surveys, and student interviews were completed pre-implementation. Strategies for creating a socially developing and accepting inclusion classroom were implemented; reading pertinent literature, discussions, and lunch conversations. During this time student artifacts were collected. After the …

Elementary School Students And Homework: A Study Of Best Practices, Michelle F. Brown

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to analyze fourth grade teachers' policies and opinions about homework in a southern New Jersey school and compare these findings with previously completed studies done by other researchers throughout the country. Through the methods of various surveys and discussions, five fourth-grade teachers, nineteen students, and sixteen parents were involved in this study. The researcher, who was student teaching in one of the fourth grade classrooms in this school where the majority of investigation took place, also kept a journal of observations relating to homework. The researcher found that although most students were spending an …

What Happens When Students Learn A Step-By-Step Approach To Solving Math Word Problems?, Lindsay Brooks

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract available.

Differentiated Interdisciplinary Science Instruction In A Fourth Grade Inclusion Classroom, Laura Oliver

Theses and Dissertations

This action research project explored what would happen if interdisciplinary, differentiated instruction was used during a science unit on recycling in a fourth grade inclusion classroom of 20 students. The project also focused in particular on the progress of two throughout the project's implementation. Four differentiated techniques were used throughout the unit. These included a tiered writing assignment, student choice based on interests, centers, and a RAFT, which was a summative assessment that allowed for student creativity based on their own interests and readiness. Using field notes, journal entries, student grades, and student surveys the data revealed a notable difference …