This study was a descriptive analysis of the relationship between the number of years of school counseling experience of a convenient sample of school counselors and their frequency of consultation, used style of consultation, and preferred style of consultation with teachers, administrators, parents, and counselors in community agencies as measured by the School Counselor Consultation Survey (SCCS). Results indicated that for the participants in this sample group, there is no significant relationship between years of experience and frequency of consultation or between years of experience and the style of consultation employed with any of the four named consultee groups. Although this study found no significant relationship between years of experience and the frequency, style, and any general preferred style of consultation employed by school counselors, the profile of consultation practice as described by this sample population revealed some important information which warrants further investigation. The majority of respondents reported consulting with all consultee groups, although least frequently with counselors in community agencies. Participating school counselors also reported a desire to increase the number of times they consult with all consultee populations studied, with the highest percentage of respondents indicating that they would like to increase their frequency of consultation with counselors in community agencies. More respondents reported using a collaborative style with teachers, administrators, and community counselors than with parents, although the collaborative style of consultation was the preference of most respondents. Additional consultation training and supervision of pre-service and in-service school counselors, collaborative consultation networking between school and community counselors, and further action research about consultation practices in schools is recommended. / School of Education / Counselor Education and Supervision (ExCES) / EdD / Dissertation

The purpose of this study was to determine the status of composition as a teaching tool in the US and UK and to compare the findings of the two countries. In order to achieve this purpose, the following research questions were formulated: How common is the teaching of composition in US and UK schools? How does composition compare to other classroom activities in US and UK schools in terms of instructional time, variety, and emphasis? What kinds of compositional activities are used most frequently? What reasons do teachers cite for teaching or not teaching composition in their classrooms, and how do these reasons differ by country? How do teachers overcome challenges to composition and how do these practices differ by country? For each country, what combination of teacher characteristics best predict the use of composition as a classroom teaching technique? Data were collected using an online survey instrument developed by the researcher based on that used in a more localized study by Strand (2006). Findings were based on responses from three hundred and nine participants from the UK (n = 117) and the US (n = 192). Results indicate that composition teaching is far more prevalent in the UK, with a greater variety of activities, focus on experience and creativity, group work and integration with other curriculum areas. US composition teaching is characterized by notation-focused highly-prescriptive tasks, with the favored mode being individual composition. Needs identified include: a greater provision of technology in US music classrooms, more extensive training and support for UK general teachers who teach music and the further promotion of composition in the US, highlighting its integration with listening and performing in order to provide a more rounded curriculum.

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The purpose of this study was to survey Mississippi foreign language teachers in regards to demographic information pertaining to their educational and professional experiences and how often they employ certain activities taken from the Mississippi Foreign Language Curriculum Framework (2000). The data were then examined to see if a relationship existed between specific teacher demographic data and how they implemented the state-mandated curriculum. A researcher-designed survey instrument was developed. In order to establish the validity and reliability of the instrument two samples were taken: Mississippi foreign language teachers and teachers subscribing to the on-line listserv FLTEACH. A total sample of n= 323 was obtained for reliability and confirmatory factor analysis. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to empirically justify the reduction of the survey items into 4 of the strands found in the curriculum framework. The Mississippi teachers' surveys were separated from the total, retaining a sample of n = 116 for further study. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages, and cross-tabulations, were used to analyze the data. Demographic data indicated that the majority of the foreign language teachers surveyed have obtained more than the minimum requirements in language study and pedagogy for certification in Mississippi. The survey also indicated that the majority of teachers surveyed employed a variety of instructional activities for their students, but that they relied most on vocabulary and grammar activities. A MANOVA was used to test the null hypothesis that increased teacher education in subject area and/or pedagogy did not increase the frequency of specific instructional choices of foreign language teachers. Results indicated that the frequency of certain instructional choices did increase as the number of hours in content hours of study increased, but it was not found to be statistically significant at an alpha of á = .05.

The researcher examined school counselors’ and administrator’s perceptions of the readiness level to implement the American School Counseling Association (ASCA) National Model. The researcher evaluated the differences in perceived readiness, between counselors and administrators, across in each of the 7 ASCA National Model District Readiness Survey indicators (i.e., community support, leadership, guidance curriculum, school counselor’ beliefs and attitudes, school counselors’ skills, district resources, and staffing/time use). The researcher also addressed certain school and position characteristics that could be predictors of the readiness level. The predictor variables included: highest degree of education, age, student-to-counselor ratio, years of total experience in schools, years of counseling and/or administrative experience, gender, ethnicity, grade level of school, and school role. The research provided evidence that school counselors perceived their district to be ready in the areas of School Counselors’ Skills, and School Counselors’ Beliefs and Attitudes indicators. The areas where school counselors indicated they perceived their school district as minimally ready were Leadership, Community Support, and Guidance Curriculum. In the areas of Staffing/Time Use and District Resources, school counselors reported perceiving their school district as being not ready. School administrators perceived their district to be ready in the areas of Community Support, Leadership, Guidance Curriculum, School Counselors’ Beliefs and Attitudes, and School Counselors’ Skills indicators. The areas where school administrators indicated they perceived their school district as minimally ready were Staffing/Time Use and District Resources. There were no areas in which administrators reported perceiving their school district as being not ready. Based on school counselor perceptions, the “overall” readiness level of their district was minimally ready to implement the ASCA National Model. Based on school administrator perceptions, the “overall” readiness level of their district was ready to implement the ASCA National Model. The school counselor and administrator perceptions were significantly different across all 7 readiness factors of the ASCA National Model District Readiness Survey. The classification of school counselors and administrator was determined to account for 30.4% of the variance in the overall perception of district readiness level to implement the ASCA National Model.

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This paper examines the use of humor in the foreign language classroom. Humor is an essential part of culture and a sociolinguistic phenomenon that speaks to the uniqueness of a language and culture. Thus, I argue that an application of humor as an educational objective as well as an educational strategy in the foreign language classroom is valuable in order to lower learners' anxiety and to foster language learning through an increase in culture and humor competences and critical thinking skills. First, I define humor and explore its linguistic functions as well as psychological features and effects that need to be understood to make humor an integral part of a foreign language learning setting. My theoretical research is primarily based on Raskin's Semantic Sript-based Theory of Humor and general theories of incongruity and ambiguity. I further illustrate the effects of using humor in the classroom with psychological research and Krashen's affective filter theory. I then relate the effects of humor to the National Standards of Foreign Language Learning (1996). Eventually in a case study I demonstrate how parodies, as a specific type of humor, can be implemented in the foreign language environment. This is done through the examination of the German film parody "Sieben Zwerge" and it supports my argument that humor deserves an autonomous place in foreign language education as an educational objective and strategy. Finally, I discuss pedagogical recommendations. This paper explores the opportunities and effects of an incorporation of humor in the foreign language classroom. / text

This practicum explores the requirements necessary for the creation of a national standard of plants and living materials. It defines the types of language and documents that are used in the communication between landscape architects, contractors and living material producers/providers. It defines the practical applications of standards in the landscape industry and outlines the process in which two governing organizations worked together to create a national standard with the inclusion of regional supplements. It then outlines the issues surrounding regional specific appendices and provides a local (Manitoba) alternative to the Container Grown Plants section of the National Landscape Standard. / May 2016

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No description available.