xvi, 120 p. : ill. (some col.) A print copy of this thesis is available through the UO Libraries. Search the library catalog for the location and call number. / Instructional use of the iPod Touch is increasing as evidenced by anecdotal reports of its efficacy as a learning tool. However, research documenting the impact of this technology has been limited. This study was based on the following research questions: (a) Does providing explicit reading comprehension strategy instruction using an iPod Touch increase students' reading comprehension outcomes based on standardized reading tests and multiple-choice probe measures when compared to a No Support comparison group? (b) Does providing different types of electronic text support increase students' reading comprehension outcomes, and if so, which type of support is most effective? (c) Does providing different levels of electronic text support influence students' attitudes toward the use of comprehension strategies as well as using an iPod Touch for this task? Participants included 155 sixth-grade students at a public middle school. Students were randomly assigned to one of three intervention groups; (a) Notational Only support (a note-taking sheet), (b) Notational + Instructional support (embedded prompts), and (c) Notational + Instructional + Translational support (audio version of the text and prompts) and received reading comprehension strategy instruction and text support using an iPod Touch. An intact No Support ( N = 61) group that did not receive instruction or text support but read the texts using an iPod Touch was used as a quasi-experimental comparison group. Two standardized reading comprehension measures were employed at pretest and posttest as well as researcher developed probe measures that were used throughout the study. An ANOVA analysis determined that no statistically significant differences existed between the groups at pretest. An ANCOVA with pretest scores as a covariate found no statistically significant differences between groups on the standardized reading comprehension measures. Because of a high level of variation among the probe measure data, including significant missing data, these results were not analyzed statistically and were reported descriptively. Students responded positively to survey questions about using the iPod Touch for summarization strategy instruction and the text supports. / Committee in Charge: Dr. Edward J. Kame'enui, Chair; Dr. Kathleen Scalise; Dr. Louis Moses; Dr. Lynne Anderson-Inman

The problem of this study was to measure, to compare, and to analyze the amount of stress, as indicated by heartbeat rate, experienced by students during teaching-learning activities in sixth-grade mathematics in a regular classroom. The bases for comparison were the heartbeat rates of selected students as recorded by a cardiotachometer and achievement scores on pretests and posttests dealing with verbal problems. All data were analyzed using the t-tests for the significance of the difference between the means. Findings of the study showed that students did experience increased heartbeat rates while solving verbal problems in sixth-grade mathematics. Also, during the teaching-learning activities, students who solved verbal problems using the realistic approach did not experience more stress than students who solved problems using the standard approach. The standard group did not perform significantly better than the realistic group on the standard pretest-posttest. However, students who were involved in the realistic method achieved better on all types of problems than did students who were taught by the standard method.

Este trabalho teve como escopo detectar mecanismos presentes no processo de produção escrita de alunos que chegam ao sexto ano do Ensino Fundamental sem o domínio ortográfico esperado nesse nível de escolaridade, considerando o sexto ano como momento nodal para um apoio fundamentado àqueles que apresentem defasagem. Para tanto, analisa produções de quatro alunos de uma escola pública estadual da capital paulista, com base em postulados da Fonética e da Fonologia, em que são observadas as possíveis relações entre a consciência fonológica do português brasileiro e os processos de escrita. Reflexões da Psicolinguística concorrem para o entendimento de que os erros dos alunos são índices a serem considerados para intervenção didático-pedagógica. Para sintonizar intervenções na escola, postulados da Teoria da Atribuição Causal, voltados para a educação, são propostos com o intuito de compreender a disposição dos alunos diante das dinâmicas de ensino e aprendizagem. Uma sistematização das normas ortográficas do português embasa sugestões de abordagens em sala de aula para superação dos problemas apontados. / This dissertation aims to describe the mechanisms involved when sixth-grade students do not achieve expected levels in orthography. The sixth-grade is considered a critical time to provide appropriate support for those students who are under-achieving. Psycholinguistics have postulated that student errors are indicators of the need for pedagogical didactic intervention. The study analyses the written work of four students from a public school in the State of Sao Paulo, from a Phonetic and Phonologic perspective. A relationship between phonological awareness of Brazilian Portuguese and writing processes was observed. To understand the engagement of students with teaching and learning, the Attribution Theory is suggested in order to adjust school interventions. A system of Portuguese orthographic norms was part of the research, along with suggestions for practical intervention.

This study analyzed the correlation between students' third grade reading ability and sixth grade reading ability. The data were collected from an urban school district, and the participants were students whose records contained information from their third grade school year and their sixth grade school year. The Utah English Language Arts Criterion-Referenced Tests (ELA-CRT) administered in third and sixth grade were used to determine reading ability. Additional demographic data, including race, gender, special education identification, free/reduced lunch, and English Language Learner (ELL), was assessed and controlled for in the data analysis and provided important information concerning the overall findings. Analysis revealed that third grade reading scores had a strong predictive value on sixth grade reading scores. Certain demographic variables carried statistically significant correlations with sixth grade reading performance including race, special education identification, free/reduced lunch, and ELL identification. However, when analyzed together and considering the statistical weight each other, only third grade reading performance, free/reduced lunch, and ELL identification held significant correlations.

The purpose of this study is to show the development of the motion picture program as a teaching aid in South Marshall School, Marshall, Texas, to determine the value of the motion pictures in the social-studies program, with special emphasis upon learning and retention of facts and general information at the third- and sixth-grade levels, and to induce all teachers of the faculty to use the motion picture as a tool for a happier and more meaningful learning experience for boys and girls.

The purpose of this study is to determine if elementary school children progress faster in academic or tool subjects when taught through interest units in an integrated curriculum or when taught the separate subjects by a traditional method. Reading, spelling, and handwriting are used as illustrative subjects in the sixth grade with reading only in the second grade.

The study proposes an alternative way for elementary school educators to instruct students in spelling. It suggests that spelling instruction should allow ample time for students to manipulate letters and patterns in their spelling words and provide time for writing. It also offers a two-week lesson plan of spelling instruction backed by research. The study was conducted using a mixed design with a predominantly Hispanic 6th grade class at a Title I school, with 60% of the students classified as English Language Learners. The study design consisted of observations of the students manipulating the spelling words, anecdotal notes taken while observing the students, and the collection of writing samples across time. Data was collected by four formal language arts tests and bimonthly spelling assessments.

No description available.