Elementary Education and Teaching Commons^™

A Study Of Gender And Subject Area On Student Test Score Prediction, Slade Spencer

Theses and Dissertations

The goal of student self assessment in this study was to give the instructor feedback – first hand knowledge of the level of understanding/comprehension the students have of the concepts in a given subject area. The purpose for test score predictions was to enable the classroom teacher to teach the areas of subject matter that were needed, not teach what has already been mastered as a skill.

Previous research has shown mixed results in the area of whether gender or subject area affects test score prediction. This provided support for the dual null hypotheses. There is not a significant relationship …

A Study Of Multi-Sensory Instruction On Fourth Grade Students' Reading Achievement, Kristine Carter

Theses and Dissertations

Research has supported that by accommodating teaching methods to complement student learning styles, academic achievement and attitudes improve. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of multi-learning style based instruction, specifically perceptual preferences, on the reading achievement of fourth grade students. Forty-seven students in two intact classrooms from one elementary school participated in the pretest/posttest control group design. A pretest was given to both groups to ensure initial group equivalence. An experimental group then received multi-perceptual instruction for a period of two weeks while a control group was taught by traditional instruction. Following the instruction period, a …

Effect Of Hands-On Instruction On The Science Achievement Of Second Grade Students, Wendy Nardi

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of hands-on methods of science instruction on low-level second grade students from a low-income community. Hands-on instruction actively engages students in exploratory activities using cognitive, manipulative and operational skills. According to a nonequivalent control group design, the nonstratified sample of 39 students was pretested and presented with either hands-on science instruction or more traditional strategies. Following posttest administration, a t test for nonindependent samples indicated a significant difference between the pretest and the posttest scores of both groups. However, a t test for independent samples revealed no significant difference between …

Thinking About The Preparation Of Teachers Of Elementary School Mathematics, Jane Wenstrom, Kathleen Martin, Susan King

Humanistic Mathematics Network Journal

No abstract provided.

Teachers' Perceptions Of The Multiage Program At Kingsley Elementary School In Sullivan County, Tennessee, Sandra G. Ramsey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examines how teachers at Kingsley Elementary School feel about the multiage program now as compared to when the program was first implemented. There were 28 teachers and two administrators interviewed to determine their perceptions of the positive and negative influences of the multiage program. The purpose of the study is to reveal the success or failure of the multiage program at Kingsley Elementary School and to explore the process used by the school to implement the process. The approach to this study is qualitative and uses interview data from both former and current Kingsley staff. Five research questions …

The Association Between Music Intelligence And Learning Process Style, Mary Jane Wishart-Morey

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to begin to understand brain function and musicality. The problem of this study was to determine if there is a relationship between learning process style and musical intelligence.

Subjects who were in grade three were administered the Intermediate Measures of Musical Audiation test (IMMA). This test was used to identify musically talented children. Subjects took the test by listening to a tonal cassette and rhythm cassette. The subjects decided whether pairs of tonal or rhythm pattern they heard sounded the same or different. These tests required no reading skills. Students put circles around the …

The Effects Of Harmonic Accompaniment On The Music Achievement, Aptitude, And Musical Effectiveness Of First Grade Children, Ruth Pelphrey

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to determine how harmonic accompaniments affect first grade children. The specific problems of the study were to understand how harmonic accompaniments affect children in their 1) tonal development, 2) use of their voice, and 3) interest in singing. Furthermore, a fourth problem was to determine the relationships among interest in singing, use of singing voice, and tonal development.

One hundred and six first grade students in five classes were randomly selected to participate in this study. There were three treatment groups; one received song instruction with the accompaniment of piano/guitar, the second used CD …

The Relationships Among First Grade Students' Tonal Aptitude, Singing Vocal Development, And Developmental Age, Florence Tavani

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a correlation between developmental age and scores achieved on music ability tests.

The problem of this study was to determine the relationships among the Primary Measure of Music Audiation and the Singing Voice Development Measure and the Gesell School Readiness Test.

Sixty-three students in grade one of the Indian Mills Elementary school took part in this study. All of these students had been tested with the Gesell School Readiness Test prior to entering first grade. This test consisted of eight subtests requiring such tasks as cube stacking, verbal …

The Future Of Headteachers As Educational Leaders In Pakistan: Implications For Pedagogical Leadership, Muhammad Memon

Institute for Educational Development, Karachi

Literature on educational management and leadership (e.g. Leithwood et al. 1994, Grace, 1995 and Segiovanni, 1998) suggests the significance of the role of headteachers as educational leaders in the western context. Whereas in the eastern context generally and particularly in Pakistan, the role of headteachers as educational leaders of the future is not yet fully understood and recognized. The current practice of headteachers in Pakistan seems to focus on supervision, monitoring and evaluation of teachers and students work, underpinning the style of 'bureaucratic / mechanistic leaders'. At present, headteachers spend most of their time on maintaining status quo through administration …

A Follow-Up Of Professional Development Of Educational Leaders: Implications For School Improvement, Muhammad Memon, Fauzia Reza

Institute for Educational Development, Karachi

The paper presents an account of the processes, outcomes and challenges associated with a follow-up study after the completion of a professional development programme in educational management for senior education officers from Sindh. Prior to induction to their jobs, the district education officers, principals of elementary colleges of education and higher secondary schools are not formally exposed to any new educational management and leadership practices. As a result, most of them remain unaware of the tasks and demands of their role, therefore, they tend to maintain a status quo position rather than engaging in change strategies for improving the quality …

Need For Initiating Education Reform Based On School Effectiveness And Improvement In Pakistan, Muhammad Memon

Institute for Educational Development, Karachi

No abstract provided.

Understanding Headteachers’ Role In Pakistan: A Case Study, Muhammad Memon, Rana Nazir Ali, Tim Simkins, Viv Garret

Institute for Educational Development, Karachi

No abstract provided.

Factors Associated With The Utilization Of Mathematics Manipulatives In Grades Kindergarten Through Four, Debra J. Bandy

Masters Theses

Since the publication of "Curriculum and Evaluation Standards for School Mathematics" by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics in 1989, mathematics pedagogy has shifted from the standard memorization of facts and processes to concept development and application. Teachers have been encouraged to utilize manipulatives to help students bridge the gap between concrete and abstract mathematical concepts. This study was conducted to determine if grade level impacted the frequency with which manipulatives were used, to examine teacher perceptions of eleven factors associated with the frequency of utilization of math manipulatives, and to assess the perceived effect of teaching with manipulatives …

A Statewide Survey Linking Assessment To Interventions: Assessing Teacher Awareness And Training Needs Related To Students With Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Leann Pearson

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The present study, using a survey questionnaire developed by Luckett (1996), was completed by 211 kindergarten through sixth grade teachers in 33 school districts across Kentucky. The sample consisted of regular education, special education, and Title One teachers with one to thirty-one years of experience. Educational backgrounds of the predominantly female sample ranged from bachelor's to doctoral degrees. The survey included four distinct sections. Participants were questioned about (a) knowledge level with respect to the diagnostic criteria and diagnostic labels for Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, (b) intervention preferences for addressing ADHD student's behaviors in the classroom, (c) interventions which they would …

The Cultivation Of Thinking Dispositions In Grades Three And Four, Linda L. Taylor

Critical and Creative Thinking Capstones Collection

Thinking dispositions are the internal motivation for thinking critically and creatively. Successful critical thinkers use theirs without another person directing them to use the skills. Many individuals, having acquired these skills, fail to use them. Tishman and Perkins suggest that inadequate development of the dispositions necessary to invoke the thinking skills account for the second behavior. In my work as an enrichment specialist, I have found support for this view. In this paper I present a case study of my work with third and fourth grade students, which focuses on developing the attitudes and dispositions needed for successful critical and …

The Use Of Data In School-Based Decision Making, Walter J. Deboer

Dissertations

This study examined the extent to which various types of commonly available data were used by staff for school-based decision making at 24 elementary schools in the Grand Rapids Public School district. The level of data use w as correlated with measures of school effectiveness. Further correlational analyses examined: (a) whether principals' attitudes toward data influenced the level of data use, (b) whether staff at more effective schools made exemplary or effective use of data to a greater degree, and (c) whether staff at more effective schools were more likely to overcome traditional barriers to data use.

School effectiveness was …

A Situational Pedagogy For Elementary Mathematics, Vincent Haag

Humanistic Mathematics Network Journal

No abstract provided.

Book Review: Garbage Pizza, Patchwork Quilts, And Math Magic: Stories About Teachers Who Love To Teach And Children Who Love To Learn, By Susan Ohanian, Alvin White

Humanistic Mathematics Network Journal

No abstract provided.

Reflections Of Glenmount Reform Effort, Gail Black, Ruth Miller

Humanistic Mathematics Network Journal

No abstract provided.

First Graders Solving Problems, Mary H. Burke

Critical and Creative Thinking Capstones Collection

First graders become good problem solvers when given the opportunity to practice problem solving skills. It is necessary for such practice to take place in a risk-free environment that treats errors as valuable learning experiences rather than something to always avoid. This thesis integrates academic subject matter, school life interactions, and out of school experiences into the first graders' development of critical thinking skills and strategies necessary for them to become good problem solvers. The thesis explains in several different academic subject areas the implementation of critical and creative thinking pedagogy essential for the development of a sound foundation for …

Perceptions Of Year-Round Principals: The Effect Of Year-Round Education In Fulfilling The Recommendations Of The National Commission On Excellence In Education And Goals 2000, Sharon C. O'Dell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study sought to answer research questions designed to determine principals' perceptions of the effect of year-round education (YRE) on students, teachers, and parents. These perceptions were then used to determine if YRE is fulfilling the recommendations of the National Commission on Excellence in Education and Goals 2000. There were 27 null hypotheses used to answer eight research questions that guided the study. Analysis of the data revealed that year-round principals perceive YRE as having a significantly positive impact on 25 variables in areas relating to educational opportunities/content, standards and expectations, time/flexibility and operational costs, teaching, and school/parent relations. Analysis …

Reading Attitude And Academic Achievement In Third, Fourth, And Fifth Grade Children, Denise L. Moretz

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if a correlation existed between reading attitudes and academic achievement of elementary school children in grades three, four, and five. Also, the researcher wanted to determine if variables such as gender or time in school affected the relationship between reading attitude and academic achievement.

The subjects consisted of seventy students from three intact classrooms. This study took place in a middle class suburban elementary school in southern New Jersey. Twenty-seven students were from third grade, twenty-one students were from fourth grade, and twenty-two students were from fifth grade, Thirty-eight females and thirty-two …

The Effect Of Gender And Birth Order On Reading And Mathematics Achievement Among Third Grade Students, Laurie D. Rosenberg-Asch

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine that there was no significant correlation between the effect of gender and birth order on reading and mathematics achievement among third grade students.

The sample in this study consisted of students in a third grade class, in a public elementary school in a suburban school district in southern New Jersey. The sample was comprised of forty randomly selected students from two third grade classes in the school. Twenty students were female, and twenty students were male.

Interim report cards were used as the instrument to determine achievement in reading and mathematics. The …

Self-Concept In Gifted Children: A Developmental And Comparative Study, Sherri L. Evangelista

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the various dimensions of self-concept in gifted children, to compare self-concept in gifted and nongifted children, and to attempt to discover a relationship between self-concept and achievement in gifted children. The 25 subjects who participated in this study were a sample of gifted students taken from a population of 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students enrolled in a public elementary school in a suburban area in southern New Jersey. The Self-Perception Profile for Children (Harter, 1985) was used to assess self-concept. Mean self-concept scores and standard deviations were calculated for each subscale. …

The Effects Of Social And Tangible Reinforcement On Vocabulary Acquisition In Whole Language, Carolyn M. Brida

Theses and Dissertations

In this study the effects of social and tangible reinforcement in whole language was measured. The purpose was to determine if there were any significant effects of the various treatment conditions on vocabulary acquisition.

Social reinforcement and tangible reinforcement are used to motivate students to perform (Neihoff & Mesch, 1991) and achieve (Hitz & Driscoll, 1989). The academic performance and achievement of students in the area of vocabulary acquisition is an important part of the academic process. Vocabulary remains a key focus in education (Nagy, 1988). Whole language programs include vocabulary acquisition (Blachowicz & Fisher, 1996).

The sample for this …

Vocabulary Acquisition Of Target Words By Second Grade Students Through Storybook Read-Aloud Sessions, Joann Ulbrich

Theses and Dissertations

The effects of three conditions of vocabulary presentation were examined to determine which method is optimal for vocabulary acquisition of the meanings of unfamiliar words in elementary school students. The design of this study was similar to that used by A. Brett, L. Rothlein, and M. Hurley (1996). Three intact classes of second grade students, N = 59, in a suburban area in Southern New Jersey were randomly assigned to a control group, a group where students received no explanations of target words when they were read a storybook aloud, or a group where students received brief explanations of target …

The Effect Of Coeducational And Same-Sex Cooperative Learning Groups On Achievement, Michelle L. Rodier

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of coeducational and same sex cooperative learning groups on the achievement of first grade students. It is hypothesized that the academic performance of students in all subject areas while participating in a "same-sex cooperative learning group" will exceed their performance in the "coeducational learning group." The subjects of this study were twenty-two first grade students from a southern New Jersey community. This study was divided into two experimental cycles – cycle A and cycle B. Cycle A included three weeks of coeducational cooperative learning groups and cycle B included three …

The Relationship Of Attendance (Absenteeism) To Achievement And To Single-Parent And Two-Parent Home Status, Kristi H. Weikel

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine whether there was a significant correlation between student attendance and overall achievement level. This study also investigated if there was a significant difference in the absentee rate of students from single-parent homes versus students from two-parent homes.

The sample in this study consisted of one hundred and thirty-five fourth grade students from an elementary school in southern New Jersey. This was the entire fourth grade population for this district. The school was located in a suburban area.

The report cards were used to determine the grade point averages for the students. Their …

A Parent And Student Handbook For The Howard M. Phifer Middle School, Valerie Anne O'Brien

Theses and Dissertations

This study was undertaken to determine if there was any significant difference in the expressed needs of the parents and students of the Howard M. Phifer Middle School and the expressed information in various districts' middle school handbooks.

The sample in this study was one hundred and thirty-five randomly selected sixth graders in the Howard M. Phifer Middle School, Pennsauken, New Jersey and their parents.

The sixth grade students and their parents responded to a twenty-five question needs assessment. A comparison of other districts' middle school handbooks was also used to compile information for a middle school handbook for Howard …

A Comparison Of Multiage Education And Graded Education In The Areas Of Academics, Social Skills And Attitudes Of Participants, Cheryl L. Buff

Theses and Dissertations

This study compared the effects of multiage education and graded education on academic performance, social skills development and parent, student and teacher attitudes toward school.

The 34 multiage students and the 27 graded students were assessed through curriculum based tests and informal reading inventories. Statistical analyses were completed A significant difference was found.

Both groups of students completed a social skills development survey. Cafeteria/playground aides were surveyed and discipline referrals were examined to find the percentage of students in each group who received a detention for a discipline violation. Data was collected, and statistically analyzed. No significant difference was found. …