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The importance of reading proficiency is unquestioned. Although the nation has set a goal for all students to be proficient in reading, many of the nation’s students are not proficient readers. The vast majority of research examining reading proficiency and reading achievement has concentrated on the cognitive aspects of reading and the use of scientifically based reading interventions. However, there is a body of literature that suggests that reading achievement is related to attitudes toward reading. The purpose of this study was to determine the recreational and academic reading attitudes of a group of sixth-grade students and to determine if their attitudes toward reading were related to measures of their reading achievement. This study was guided by seven research questions and utilized three research designs. Descriptive research was used to answer research questions one and two which sought to determine the recreational and academic reading attitudes of the sixth grade students participating in this study. Causal comparative research was used to answer research questions three and four which compared measures of academic and recreational reading attitudes by gender and ethnicity. Research questions five, six, and seven were answered using correlational research to determine if measures of reading attitudes were related to the scores on the language arts portion of the MCT2. The results of data analyzed to answer the research questions revealed that overall the sixth grade participants in this study had reading attitudes that were less than positive. The results also revealed that males had reading attitudes that were more positive than females. The results of the analysis of reading attitudes by ethnicity revealed that African American students had higher measures of positive recreational reading attitudes than Caucasian students and the students in the other ethnic group while Caucasian students had higher measures of positive academic reading attitudes than African American students and students in the other ethnic group. The only significant relationship discovered between measures of reading attitude and MCT2 scores was a very weak relationship between measures of academic reading attitudes and the language arts section of the MCT2. The study concludes with recommendations for further research.

Thesis (Ed.D.)--Duquesne University, 2004. / Title from document title page. Abstract included in electronic submission form. Includes bibliographical references (p. 259-298) and index.

This study developed a summative scale that could be administered in a short time period to determine the Quality of Use (QOU) of an intervention used by teachers. The scale can be completed in less than an hour using easily attainable information. The QOU scale was applied to an elementary reading program to determine if the program results were dependent upon the quality of the fidelity of teacher use. The study focused on use of the Linguistic Pattern Series (LPS) portion of the Integrated Skills Method (ISM) Reading Program by 20 special education teachers in 13 elementary schools in San Antonio, Texas. Progress is measured by the use of the Decoding Skills Test (DST) (ISM Teaching Systems, Inc., 2004-b). To determine each teacher's QOU, a summative scale was developed composed of five items (Initial Placement, Frequency of Direct Instruction, Materials – LPS, Materials – Literature/Test Prep, and Scheduling) that possessed low-moderate cohesiveness of Alpha=.71. Results of the study showed a correlation between QOU summary scores and residualized DST Raw Score Grade Equivalent (RSGE) gains. The QOU could predict .771^2 = 50 percent of score variance. This is a strong prediction for a non-student external measure in education.

Résumé This thesis deals with the personality and also with the work of Frantisek Travnicek, an important Czech linguist living between the years 1888 and 1961. Firstly, his life is briefly outlined, secondly this personality is introduced as an influential linguist of Czech Studies, as well as a long-time university official and teacher. His post-war political activities in the Communist Party are also mentioned. The thesis is focused on the works of Travnicek with a particular respect to his linguodidactic activities. One part is dedicated to his scientific writings and takes the cultural and historical context into account. This part summarises his considerably extensive and thematically varied work. Five essential areas of linguistics were defined (grammar, historical grammar, phonetics, phonology, word-formation and dialectology) which were much enriched by Travnicek. Nevertheless, there is a mention of some work which is of the kind that is impossible to label with any category listed, or the work which is represented in each category just by several writings. Finally, the influence on Travnicek's scientific activity is touched upon. The last and crucial part of the thesis tackles Travnicek's linguodidactic activities with respect to the context of the particular period. Concerning the topics of the...

Technology integration continues to be a professional development concern, especially in elementary schools. It remains unclear why there is a difference between how teachers talk about using technology and how they apply it in teaching reading. The purpose of this study was to explore professional development options that would help teachers connect theory to practice by studying their decision-making process. The conceptual framework was based on elements of the knowing-doing gap and reflective practices. The research questions explored (a) the decision-making process, (b) reflective practices used during decision-making, (c) professional development that facilitates closing the knowing-doing gap, and (d) recommendations from participants to improve upon professional development. In a case study design, 10 K-4 teachers participated in one 60-minute interview, one follow-up interview, and one 45-minute focus group. With the use of typological analysis, transcripts were coded for initial and emerging themes. Results indicated that integrating mobile devices was highly dependent upon teachers being self-directed learners. Teachers relied on informal collegial interactions when deciding to use mobile devices. Continuous professional development that addresses adult learning styles was recommended by the teachers to support technology adoption. Improvements to reading instruction lead to positive social change by increasing student achievement, thereby preparing students to be world citizens in a competitive global market.

This project analyzes interactive dialogue journals of first grade students who have been identified at different levels of English language proficiency.