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This project consists of two, two-week thematically planned language arts units containing all the components of a balanced literacy. It was created to teach second and third grade at risk students at Chester Morrison Elementary School, in Menifee, California during two weeks of their off track time. Both sessions have daily detailed plans for the teacher outlining all the components of a balanced literacy program. Both sessions contain relevent books that students make and take, shared reading to increase comprehension and skill building, and constant literacy opportunities.

This study reviews characteristics and needs of struggling readers from different age groups. It summarizes special needs characterizing english language learners in relation to reading remediation programs and compare such programs relative effectiveness for younger and older elementary students at various levels of English proficiency.

The purpose of this research was to test a strategy which uses music-related concepts to teach math. A quasi-experimental study of two high school remedial geometry sections was conducted during a review lesson of ratio, proportion, and cross multiplication. A pretest was given to both groups. Then, Group A received normal textbook instruction while Group B received the treatment, Get the Math in Music, which is an online activity involving proportional reasoning in a music-related context. Afterwards, a posttest was given to both groups. Pretest and posttest scores were used to compare gains in subject knowledge between the groups. Then a second evaluation of the treatment was conducted. Group A received the treatment and took a post-posttest. Score gains for Group A before and after receiving the treatment were compared. After these tests, all participants took a survey to determine if their appreciation of math grew as a result of the treatment. Finally, interviews were conducted to provide better understanding of the results. The research questions of this study were: to what extent does the integration of Get the Math in Music improve students' academic performance in a remedial geometry review of ratio, proportion, and cross multiplication, and to what extent does participation in the Get the Math activity improve students' attitudes towards math? My hypotheses were that students would perform significantly better on a subject knowledge test after receiving the treatment, and that all students would have a more positive attitude towards math after receiving the treatment. Quantitative results did not triangulate to support or refute these hypotheses. Greater improvement from pretest to posttest was statistically correlated with Group B, which was the group first receiving the treatment. But later, between posttest and post-posttest Group A did not show statistically significant greater gains after receiving the treatment. Surveys results showed that students did not necessarily like math any more after the treatment. Interviews revealed that several of these students were apathetic to geometry in particular, if not to math in general. The case of one student's improvement suggested that positive teacher-student relationships are more effective than any particular method to increase academic performance and student engagement. Survey results were consistent with earlier psychological studies claiming teenagers care about music. Additional studies in the future on the merits of using music to teach high school math would be useful. Claims that proportional reasoning is challenging were supported. It would be beneficial to evaluate the treatment in an Algebra or Pre-Algebra setting when students first study proportions.

The purpose of this study is to examine the . relationship and effects of New Jersey College Basic Skills Placement Test (NJCBSPT) scores and grades in basic skills reading, elementary algebra, and English/ writing courses with the students' success in selected college-level general education courses in an attempt to establish predictor variables. In addition, the study examines the possibility that predictions of success in general education courses can be made more accurately by using multiple prediction variables. The population for the study consisted of seven years of successful basic skill course grades, New Jersey College Basic Skill Placement Test (NJCBSPT) scores and successful general education course grades for students at one small, rural community college. Coefficients of determination, correlation coefficients, t-tests, and linear and multiple regression were some of the analysis techniques used. / Ed. D.

published_or_final_version / Education / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

Reading is considered to be a vital skill for academic success, yet it is seldom taught to or practised with students. Students begin to `read to learn' during primary and secondary schooling. However, at tertiary level the academic demands are much greater than before and involve more extensive reading of conceptually more complex texts. This study investigates the implementation of an intensive reading programme for post-matric English Second Language Science students, based on the assumption that reading improves reading. In addition, this study investigates the effect that reading ability has on academic performance in Science, which relies inter alia, on the ability to read, comprehend and interpret word problems. An intervention group and a control group were used to ascertain the effects of an intensive reading programme and the findings suggest that any reading (intensive or extensive) improves reading and language skills. This in turn impacts on academic performance in Science, if students have an ability in Science to begin with. / Linguistics / MA - SP APPLIED LINGUISTICS

Dyslexia is one of the most common learning disabilities and learners affected by it are found in both mainstream and specialist schools. The aim of this study was to explore and describe the school experiences of learners who had been diagnosed with dyslexia and attended a long-term remedial school. A phenomenological research design was followed. Six learners in grades 6 to 9, who were attending a long term remedial school, were the participants. Semi-structured individual face-to-face interviews were held to collect data, posing questions that focused on the learners’ experiences with their educators, peers, written and verbal school work, as well as homework. From the data collected themes were formed. The findings showed that participants believed most of their teachers were aware of and knowledgeable about suitable methods to use when teaching dyslexic learners. The results also indicated that the school understood the challenges faced by the dyslexic learners and it was doing well in attempting to provide them with an educational environment suitable for their academic and personal needs. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Psychology of Education)

Literature indicates that there is a national outcry about learners who read below the required levels and that poor matriculation results are, in part, due to the low levels of learners’ reading skills. The focus of this study is reading difficulties experienced by learners in the Foundation Phase in inclusive schools in Makapanstad. The researcher used a qualitative method for the study. The case study research design was adopted for the study. Three schools in Makapanstad were sampled for the study. Empirical investigation was conducted through literature study, observations, interviews and document analysis. There is a worldwide concern with regard to learners’ low reading levels. The study explores the extensive models, methods and theories on reading, the strategies that could be used to teach reading in the Foundation Phase to alleviate or improve reading difficulties experienced by learners, as well as the findings and recommendations towards minimising the reading difficulties in primary schools. / Inclusive Education / M. Ed. (Inclusive Education)