Junior High, Intermediate, Middle School Education and Teaching Commons^™

Middle School Students’ Perceptions Of Coeducational And Same-Sex Physical Education, Scott M. Ronspies

Faculty Research and Creative Activity

The prevalence of obesity and sedentary behaviors among children and adolescents is increasing at an alarming rate. The obesity epidemic is reaching proportions never seen across our nation. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine middle school students’ perceptions of coeducational and same-sex physical education classes. The study consisted of 3 girls and 3 boys 12-13 years old. One-on-one semi-structured interviews were conducted with each participant to gain an understanding of their perceptions of physical education (P.E.) classes that were coeducational and same-sex in nature. The results indicated that middle school students shared a variety of perceptions concerning …

Students’ Original Political Cartoons As Teaching And Learning Tools, John H. Bickford Iii

Faculty Research and Creative Activity

A meta-analysis of educators’ uses of political cartoons suggests they are mostly used for teaching interpretation skills and then usually only with gifted and older students. This demonstrates creative stagnation, limited elicitation of higher order thinking skills, and age bias. The researcher previously examined young adolescents’ use of effective and efficient technologies to express historical understandings through original political cartoon construction. This methodology elicited students’ higher order thinking as they expressed learning within their creations, which were then used as a teaching tool to facilitate constructive whole class interpretative discussions. The following questions extend previous research and guide this article: …

A Comparative Analysis Of Two Methods For Guiding Discussions Surrounding Controversial And Unresolved Topics, John H. Bickford Iii

Faculty Research and Creative Activity

Debates, a popular classroom method, elicit students’ participation and critical thinking. Debates’ focus of winning, at times, generates arguments. Constructive controversy, a researched-based methodological alternative, similarly facilitates students’ engagement and critical thinking while also inventively diminishing arguments through cooperative negotiation (Johnson & Johnson, 2009). The author examines both methods’ impact on students’ engagement, students’ thinking, and the dialogues’ productivity. Three findings and three educationally significant insights emerged.

Examining Original Political Cartoon Methodology: Concept Maps And Substitution Lists, John H. Bickford Iii

Faculty Research and Creative Activity

Previous research on classroom uses for political cartoons identified two negative trends: creative stagnation (as teachers utilized them solely for interpretation) and age limitation (as researchers suggested they fit best with gifted and older students). Recent scholarship has addressed both trends by enabling young adolescent students to creatively express newly generated understandings through construction of original political cartoons. During such authentic assessment activities, students demonstrated high levels of criticality by using effective and efficient technologies to create original political cartoons, which then elicited constructive whole class interpretative discussions. This prior research did not detail specific methodological steps that positively influenced …

A Comparative Analysis Of Two Methods For Guiding Discussions Surrounding Controversial And Unresolved Topics, John Bickford

Faculty Research and Creative Activity

Debates, a popular classroom method, elicit students’ participation and critical thinking. Debates’ focus of winning, at times, generates arguments. Constructive controversy, a researched-based methodological alternative, similarly facilitates students’ engagement and critical thinking while also inventively diminishing arguments through cooperative negotiation (Johnson & Johnson, 2009). The author examines both methods’ impact on students’ engagement, students’ thinking, and the dialogues’ productivity. Three findings and three educationally significant insights emerged.

Students’ Original Political Cartoons As Teaching And Learning Tools, John Bickford

Faculty Research and Creative Activity

A meta-analysis of educators’ uses of political cartoons suggests they are mostly used for teaching interpretation skills and then usually only with gifted and older students. This demonstrates creative stagnation, limited elicitation of higher order thinking skills, and age bias. The researcher previously examined young adolescents’ use of effective and efficient technologies to express historical understandings through original political cartoon construction. This methodology elicited students’ higher order thinking as they expressed learning within their creations, which were then used as a teaching tool to facilitate constructive whole class interpretative discussions. The following questions extend previous research and guide this article: …

Examining Original Political Cartoon Methodology: Concept Maps And Substitution Lists, John Bickford

Faculty Research and Creative Activity

Previous research on classroom uses for political cartoons identified two negative trends: creative stagnation (as teachers utilized them solely for interpretation) and age limitation (as researchers suggested they fit best with gifted and older students). Recent scholarship has addressed both trends by enabling young adolescent students to creatively express newly generated understandings through construction of original political cartoons. During such authentic assessment activities, students demonstrated high levels of criticality by using effective and efficient technologies to create original political cartoons, which then elicited constructive whole class interpretative discussions. This prior research did not detail specific methodological steps that positively influenced …

Complicating Students’ Historical Thinking Through Primary Source Reinvention, John H. Bickford Iii

Faculty Research and Creative Activity

To best challenge students’ thinking, researchers and educators must locate or create innovative ways to spark enthusiasm and facilitate criticality. This paper investigates how middle school students analyzed various primary and secondary historical documents to construct original political cartoons. Students articulated newly generated understandings about the complex historical event within these original political cartoons. Students then examined and discussed peers’ original political cartoons. This approach was novel because the research literature indicated students rarely are asked to construct original political cartoons to express opinions and understandings. Political cartoons mostly are used as tools for interpretation and usually only with gifted …

Complicating Students’ Historical Thinking Through Primary Source Reinvention, John Bickford

Faculty Research and Creative Activity

To best challenge students’ thinking, researchers and educators must locate or create innovative ways to spark enthusiasm and facilitate criticality. This paper investigates how middle school students analyzed various primary and secondary historical documents to construct original political cartoons. Students articulated newly generated understandings about the complex historical event within these original political cartoons. Students then examined and discussed peers’ original political cartoons. This approach was novel because the research literature indicated students rarely are asked to construct original political cartoons to express opinions and understandings. Political cartoons mostly are used as tools for interpretation and usually only with gifted …

Creativity & Inspiration: An Interdisciplinary Approach To Engaging Pre Service Teachers, Mildred M. Pearson Dr., Krishna Thomas, Beverly J. Cruse

Faculty Research and Creative Activity

The instructor's focus in the class, Social and Emotional Development in Middle Level Curriculum, was to provide the instructional foundation and foster planning for social, emotional, intellectual, and physical growth in middle level adolescents, providing classroom management strategies appropriate for this age-group. Practicum block experience was taken along with this class. This course was designed to provide a psychological basis for working with middle level studenrs.

Creativity & Inspiration: An Interdisciplinary Approach To Engaging Pre Service Teachers, Mildred Pearson, Krishna Thomas, Beverly Cruse

Faculty Research and Creative Activity

The instructor's focus in the class, Social and Emotional Development in Middle Level Curriculum, was to provide the instructional foundation and foster planning for social, emotional, intellectual, and physical growth in middle level adolescents, providing classroom management strategies appropriate for this age-group. Practicum block experience was taken along with this class. This course was designed to provide a psychological basis for working with middle level studenrs.

Educational Service Center #17'S Fy92 Scientific Literacy Program, Marilyn Holt

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to evaluate Illinois Educational Service Center #17's Scientific Literacy Program for FY92. Objectives utilized to address this problem were:

1. To determine the effectiveness of the staff development delivered in FY92 which emphasized hands-on approaches to teaching physics concepts to students in grades K-8.

2. To determine the effectiveness of the staff development delivered in FY92 which emphasized hands-on approaches to teaching mathematic concepts to students in grades K-6.

3. To determine the effectiveness of the staff development delivered in FY92 which emphasized hands-on approaches to teaching science process concepts to students in grades …

The Development, Implementation, And Evaluation Of A Junior High School Study Skills Program For A Small Rural School, Donald Lawrence Burton Ii

Masters Theses

The purpose of this field experience project was to develop a junior high school study skills program for a small rural school. Upon completion of its development, the study skills program was pilot-tested in the Tower Hill Junior High School in Tower Hill, Illinois. After the background and possible significance of this field study is discussed, specific project objectives and research hypotheses are listed along with the appropriate operational definitions, assumptions and delimitations for this field experience. A representative review of the literature and research is given on the subject of study skills and study skills programs. Field experience activities …

An Analysis Of Ability Grouping Of Mathematics Students At The Argenta-Oreana Middle School, Steven L. Mitchell

Masters Theses

This field experience investigated the effects of ability grouping mathematics students at the Argenta-Oreana Middle School in Oreana, Illinois. This study investigated the perceptions of teacher attitudes toward abilty grouping mathematics students, the effects ability grouping has had on grades assigned to eighth grade students and the effects ability grouping has had on eighth grade student achievement test scores. A two tailed t-test for the difference of means at the .05 level of significance was used to analyze the data collected. The perception survey information collected from 11 teachers determined that no statistically significant differences existed between the perceptions of …

The Development, Implementation, And Evaluation Of An Effective Reading And Writing Program For A Rural, Small Town Junior High School, Lynn R. Curtis

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the extra time provided for reading and writing in Macon Junior High School, Macon, Illinois. The following hypotheses were tested: The reading and writing treatment has a significant effect on student reading comprehension scores, writing skills, enjoyment of reading, and on the encouragement of students to read more. There is a significant difference between the cost of the reading and writing program and the fine and applied arts courses it replaced. Subjects included students and teachers in the 6th, 7th, and 8th grades at Macon Junior High School. Achievement …

A Study Of Junior High Student Awareness Of Guidance Services In Taiwan, The Republic Of China, Chia-Nan Tai

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the student awareness of the guidance services in junior high schools in Taiwan. Specifically, it was anticipated that the study findings would provide a basis to generate guidelines for developing a realistic guidance program based on a better understanding of students for whom the service is offered.

A questionnaire composed of 26 items was designed to investigate attitudes toward the current guidance services from 1,664 respondents who were junior high students in Kaohsiung Metropolis, Taiwan, the Republic of China in 1981. Besides total students, the attitudes of the various grade levels and …

The Development Of A Faculty Handbook For Parkview Junior High School, Ronald K. Negley

Masters Theses

Parkview Junior High School is located in Lawrenceville, Illinois, and is a part of Community Unit District No. 20. At present, Parkview serves 386 students and 25 faculty members.

The purpose of this study is to develop a faculty handbook which will be used to inform the new teachers, as well as the tenured teachers, what is expected of them. The handbook will become a very important part of, the orientation process of new staff members. There is a definite need for clarification of policies and procedures and the organization of these materials in such a form that they will …

Dissemination Of The Career Exploration/Occupational Information Planning Curriculum Guides For Use At The Junior High/Middle School Level, Dorothy M. Lawson

Masters Theses

Objectives of the Field Study

1. To develop an in-service workshop to disseminate the Career Exploration Occupational Information for the Junior High/Middle School, A Planning Curriculum Guide, to administrators and instructors in junior high/middle schools.
2. To develop an in-service package which would be used during the DAVTE workshop which in turn could be used by the participant to in-service personnel in their own LEA workshop.
3. To conduct four workshops within the state which would both in-service junior high/middle school personnel and disseminate the planning curriculum guide.
4. To develop and mail a brochure describing the workshop.
5. To prepare a follow-up evaluation. …

Counselor-Disciplinarian, Carolyn J. Butler

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

An Experimental Study On The Effects Of The Study Skills Course Learn How To Study On Academic Achievement At The Oblong Junior High School As Measured By The S.R.A. Achievement Test, William S. Brown

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Canada: Developing A Unit Of Study For The Social Studies Curriculum Of The Junior High School, Patricia-Marie Green

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

A Survey Of Junior High School Industrial Arts In Selected Counties In Illinois, Martin W. Pattin

Masters Theses

No abstract provided by author.

A Study Of Motivational Approaches For Use In The Transition Period From Childlike To Adolescent Art, Linda Hance

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

The Certification Qualifications Of Junior High School Teachers In Selected Illinois Counties, John H. Conley

Masters Theses

No abstract provided by author.

The Boy's Changing Voice: A Comparison Of Theories, Richard D. Kruger

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

The Power Mechanics Program In The Junior High Schools Of Illinois, Lee M. Sellers

Masters Theses

No abstract provided by author.

Identifying Students In The Junior High School Who Have Emotional, Social, Or Educational Handicaps, Ralph J. Ankenbrand

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Some Source Materials For Use In Teaching American History To An Accelerated Group In The Junior High School, June B. Bouknight

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

A Plan For Teaching Listening At Benjamin Franklin Junior High School, Springfield, Illinois, Charles R. Pulliam

Masters Theses

No abstract provided by author.

Controversial Issues In The Junior High School, John A. Dively

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.