The purpose of this study was an examination of elementary- and secondary-school libraries in Arkansas to determine the adequacy of their resources as compared with the 1960 and the 1969 national school library standards. The findings served as a base for establishing goals and recommendations for improved school library programs in Arkansas.

The purpose of this study was to compare a group of successful and unsuccessful pupils who were in the fifth and sixth grades. It was the purpose to make comparisons between these two groups in terms of (1) school achievement, (2) mental ability, (3) personality, (i|) pupils as perceived by teachers and peers, (5) pupils' perceptions of teacher and school, (6) self perception, (7) school attendance, and (8) socioeconomic status.

This study was conducted to gauge the perceptions of various groups regarding the elementary principal1s role in the public schools. The hypotheses for the study were the following. 1. There will be no significant difference between the role perception ratings given by the elementary school principal and the business representative regarding their perception of the role of the elementary principal. 2. There will be no significant difference between the role perception ratings given by elementary principals and public school board members regarding their perception of the role of the elementary principal. 3. There will be no significant difference between the role perception ratings given by business representatives and public school board members regarding their perception of the role of the elementary principal. 4. There will be no significant difference between the role perception ratings of elementary principals, business representatives, and public school board members regarding their perception of the role of the elementary principal relative to the age of the respondent, the sex of the respondent, number of years in present position, number of years residing in district, and educational level of the respondent. 5. There will be no significant difference among the role perception ratings of elementary principals regarding their perception of their role relative to sex of the respondent, number of years in the present school district, and number of years as an elementary principal.

The purpose of this study was threefold: (1) to write a narrative account of the meaning, objectives, and functions of -auditorium work in public schools and to note the importance of providing for pupil participation in auditorium classes, and recommended practices in planning for and presenting programs in this phase of the educational situation; (2) to develop in detail the practices, procedures, and techniques contained in printed and mimeographed materials distributed by the Board of Education to auditorium teachers to serve as guides in conducting auditorium work in the elementary schools of Dallas, Texas; and (3) to evaluate these instructional materials in the light of modern practices, procedures, and techniques advocated by authorities in the field of auditorium work. As an outgrowth of these three phases of the study, it was believed that certain conclusions might be evident as to the efficacy of the auditorium work in the elementary schools of Dallas in so far as it could be determined by a careful examination of materials prepared for the use of auditorium teachers in conducting their classes. It was believed, also, that it might be possible to make recommendations for the improvement of auditorium work in the elementary schools of Dallas in the light of the instructional materials now used by auditorium teachers as compared to modern conceptions of auditorium advanced by authorities in the field.

Industrial arts has been taught in varying degrees in the elementary schools of Texas for a number of years. In some cases, industrial arts activities have been integrated with other subject matter areas, and in some cases they have been taught as a separate subject. There have been several studies made concerning what the nature and extent of industrial arts activities should be at the elementary level. Research indicates, however, that there has been no study made to determine if industrial arts activities could be used to enrich the elementary curriculum in the Fort Worth Independent School District. The problem of this study is to determine if there is a need for industrial arts activities to enrich the elementary curriculum in the Fort Worth Independent School District, Fort Worth, Texas.

Dans le champ de la didactique de l'histoire, cette thèse vise à enrichir la question des apprentissages des élèves à l'école élémentaire. En s'appuyant sur un corpus de données construit à partir de l'observation non participante des leçons d'histoire dans une classe de CM1 durant une année scolaire, ce travail de recherche permet de mieux comprendre l'activité mobilisée par les élèves en situation. Les constats proposés sont issus de l'analyse didactique des productions langagières, essentiellement orales, des acteurs que sont les élèves et le professeur. Cette analyse est menée à partir d'une méthodologie qui mobilise des notions théoriques issues de la didactique de l'histoire, de l'épistémologie de l'histoire scientifique, de la didactique du français langue maternelle, de la psychologie sociale. Le lien langage-apprentissage y est examiné en fonction des contraintes induites par la discipline histoire. L'interprétation des données permet de mettre en évidence la configuration des savoirs élaborés dans la classe et les modalités d'élaboration de ces savoirs tant au niveau collectif qu'aux niveaux individuels, en soulignant les particularités de l'activité cognitive mobilisée par les sujets apprenants. S'ils attestent de l'empreinte de la discipline dans les processus observés, les constats de cette recherche spécifient également la discipline scolaire histoire en la situant à l'école élémentaire / In the field of history didactics, this thesis aims to broaden and enrich the question of pupils' learning processes in elementary school. Based on a corpus of data built thanks to the non-participating observation of history lessons in a CM1 class (9 year-old children) during a school year, this research work enables to better understand the type of activity used by pupils in a learning situation. The suggested conclusions stem from the didactic analysis of linguistic productions, mostly oral, from the actors, i.e. the pupils and the teacher. This analysis is based on a methodology referring to theoretical notions developed in history didactics, scientific history epistemology, didactics of French as a native language. and social psychology. The link between language and learning is studied contingent on the constraints created by History as an academic subject. The interpretation of data highlights the configuration of knowledge formed in the classroom, and the modality of elaboration of this knowledge both at the collective and individual levels, emphasizing the particularity of the cognitive activity employed by the learning subjects. If they reflect the importance of the topic studied in the observed processes, the conclusions from this research also define the academic subject "History" by situating it in elementary school

Master of Science / Architecture / R. Todd Gabbard / The purpose of the research study was to explore the role that the physical classroom environment plays in fostering student creativity in the combined fourth and fifth grade USD 475 gifted program. The research focused on answering the primary research question: Does the proposed environmental modification of the physical classroom foster creative behaviors in students? Secondary research questions included: 1) How does function-based classroom design affect both students and the classroom teacher in terms of creative process? 2) How does adaptability of the designed classroom environment affect both students and the classroom teacher in terms of creative process? A review of the literature led to the development of the author’s Framework for the Modification of Creative Learning Community Physical Environments. The study utilized a two-phase, experimental embedded research design that assessed the effects of an environmental modification to the physical classroom. Quantitative data collection methods included an environmental assessment and student survey utilizing a Likert scale. Qualitative data collection methods included participation observation, video observation, expert interviews, and open-ended student survey questions. The study found that the environmental modification of the physical classroom produced precursory creative behaviors in students. The emergent themes from the data analysis included facilitative physical environment, increased environmental acuity, leadership and self-esteem development, and improved teacher classroom management – all attributes found to be conducive to creativity development. These findings suggest further development of similar in-depth studies across a greater diversity of classroom learning environments is needed to establish reliability of the Framework for the Modification of Creative Learning Community Physical Environments.

This exploratory research was designed to elucidate elementary school children's perceptions of the process of counseling with school counselors who utilize play therapy techniques. Seven elementary school children who were engaged in a counseling relationship with a school counselor who utilized play therapy techniques were interviewed three different times in person. All three rounds of interviews were audio taped and transcribed for the purpose of data analysis. Throughout each round of data collection, coding procedures, mainly open, axial, and selective, were utilized to extract and organize emergent themes. The data yielded three main categories: (a) therapeutic relationship, (b) emotional expressiveness, and (c) creative play, which included properties and sub-properties. To verify findings, expert consultation, member checks, and rival explanations were sought. Findings are discussed, followed by a conceptual framework of the counseling process. Methods to address potential limitations are presented, followed by a discussion of implications for counselor educators, play therapists, and school counselors. Last, suggestions for further research are offered.

Child abuse and neglect (i.e., maltreatment) affect a considerable number of children and can negatively impact how children learn and behave in the classroom. Knowledge gaps, false beliefs, and limited skills with regard to child maltreatment are commonly found among teachers, despite their vital role in the lives of maltreated children. In Canada, little has been done to develop training or other supports for teachers around detecting and responding to child maltreatment. This two-study dissertation brings awareness to the training needs of Canadian-based teachers regarding child maltreatment, as well as to the feasibility of developing, implementing, and evaluating child maltreatment teacher training. Study 1 involved a multi-informant assessment of (1) teachers’ child maltreatment training needs and (2) factors that may influence teachers’ training participation and use of maltreatment-related knowledge and skills. Using surveys and focus groups, qualitative information was gathered from three informant groups in a major urban region in Ontario (i.e., 19 school social workers, 9 child welfare practitioners, and 21 foster caregivers). Study 1 findings highlighted gaps in maltreatment-related knowledge and skills among local elementary school teachers in various areas related to child maltreatment detection and intervention (e.g., trauma-sensitive classroom practices, reporting). Beyond identifying training content needs, Study 1 results also identified multi-level factors that might influence teachers’ participation in child maltreatment training, as well as their use of maltreatment-related knowledge and skills. Most commonly, factors included teacher workload issues, teacher beliefs (e.g., negative attitudes toward child welfare), school internal supports (e.g., unavailability of social workers), and school resource structures (e.g., unmet demand for assessments). Building on these results, Study 2 designed, piloted, and evaluated a child maltreatment training curriculum for teachers. The training evaluation followed Kirkpatrick’s (1994) model for evaluating training programs, wherein the first three of four levels were addressed: (1) reaction (participants’ perceptions about the training); (2) learning (change in knowledge and/or attitudes); and (3) behaviour (change in actual work practices). A quasi-experimental design was used to gather data from a sample of 45 local teachers (19 intervention and 26 wait-list comparison group participants) with total experience in education ranging from 2 to 39 years. To explore participants’ feedback on the training, quantitative and qualitative information was gathered using surveys administered during the training (n = 19). To explore preliminary training outcomes, quantitative and qualitative information was gathered using pre- and post-training questionnaires (n = 45), as well as post-training interviews (n = 13). Training feedback findings supported the usefulness and relevance of training content for local elementary school teachers. Study 2 results also suggest that relatively brief child maltreatment training has the potential to improve teachers’ attitudes, knowledge, and likelihood of responding effectively to maltreatment-related issues at school. Although replication with additional samples and more rigorous methodology are needed, these findings represent an important first step in establishing improved training for Canadian school professionals regarding child maltreatment. Collectively, dissertation results also have several research and clinical implications. Foremost, this dissertation offers recommendations for future maltreatment training development, implementation, and evaluation efforts that include teachers and other school-based professionals. Dissertation results also highlight a need for complementary efforts to explore and address the intersection of factors and systems that may influence teachers’ participation in maltreatment training and research, as well as their responses to child maltreatment at school.

Thesis (Ed.D.)--Boston University / Problem The purpose of this study was: (1) to develop graded study guides for use in paired practice in sixth grade social studies, and (2) to evaluate the effectiveness of this procedure as one means of improving the power of recall and the ability to comprehend and retain subject matter. Procedure Forty-four study guides based on Ginn and Company's textbook, Your World and Mine, were constructed. They included: fifteen detailed-question lessons in aided recall; fourteen outline-techniques exercises in summarizing; and fifteen general-question lessons in unaided recall. The study guides were planned for use in the regular social studies period for twenty-five teaching days. Children worked independently in pairs within three ability groups, with each group progressing at a different rate. The study was conducted in two public school systems within a fifteen-mile radius of the city of Boston. Five hundred and twenty-three pupils were divided into two groups, with 265 in the experimental group and 258 in the control. Groups were equated on the basis of chronological age, mental age, reading achievement, and ability in oral recall. The following battery of seven tests was administered: (1) Otis Quick-Scoring Mental Ability Tests, Beta Test, Form A; (2) Gates Reading Survey for Grade 3 (2nd Half) to Grade 10, Forms I and II; (3) a social studies test constructed by the investigator; (4) a modified form of the Bogardus Social Distance Scale; (5) a pupil and a teacher questionnaire developed for the purpose of evaluation; and the following instruments developed at Boston University: (6) Bucknam's selections for measuring oral and written recall; and (7) a subject preference rating scale. Reliability was established on the original social studies test and on each of the four recall selections, as tests of both oral and written recall. Teachers evaluated the procedure in individual conferences with the investigator. Conclusions 1. Both groups made significant gains in oral and in written recall. Slightly greater gains were made in each by the experimental group; however, the difference in gains was not statistically significant. 2. The difference in mean score on the social studies test resulted in a critical ratio of 2.58 which favored the control group. 3. Gains were made by both groups in reading achievement, expressed as reading age. All gains and all differences between the gains of both groups in total reading age, comprehension, vocabulary, and the speed of reading lack statistical significance. 4. Significant gains were made in social acceptance among pupils in both groups. 5. No significant change was found in the attitudes of children toward the social studies. 6. Pupils in experimental classrooms enjoyed the lessons and liked working with a partner. They preferred: reading questions after reading the textbook; answering questions to one paragraph at a time; and giving answers orally. 7. Teachers observed that pupils generally liked the lessons and greatly enjoyed paired practice. Criticisms and Suggestions for Further Study These materials used with virtually complete self-direction on the part of pupils have had practically the same value as the regular teacher-directed method of teaching social studies. Previous research further indicates the value of team learning; therefore, additional research in this area seems justifiable. In future investigations using graded study guides in paired practice, the following changes appear advantageous: 1. Extend the actual working time of the study and cover the textbook material more slowly. 2. Shorten each study guide and provide more time for daily class discussions. 3. Limit the use of study guides to three or four lessons a week. 4. Provide for systematic review at regular intervals. 5. Employ a greater variety of materials. 6. Vary the approach more and add greater flexibility to the procedure. 7. Include specific provisions for enrichment activities. 8. Provide increased opportunities for pupil-teachers to work with the slower pupils who have reading difficulties.