After consent forms and permission forms were sent out and collected, the researcher explained the assent form to the students. The study was conducted over the course of 10 school days during a normal writing period. For the first five days, the students participating in the study were asked to write using a pencil and paper. For days six through ten, the students were given the opportunity to write using the word processor. The majority of topics were self selected by the students. Students filled out feelings chatis on days one and six.
The results from the study were quite compelling. The students enjoyed writing using the word processor. When using the word processor, the noise level in the classroom as well as the classroom dynamic changed. The teachers in the classroom went from being teachers to coaches. The conversations between students and teachers as well as student to student conversations were all about the writing assignment.
With the above results as well as the interest that students have for technology, it seems like a "no-brainer" to use the word processor when writing. When in doubt with writing, try
using the word processor. Using the word processor is influential for the majority of beginning writers because instead of concentrating on letter formation they are able to push a key and know that the letter is going to look the same every time.]]>
This study examined the quantity of literacy that eight different students from a regular education kindergarten classroom were exposed to at home before entering school. The parents of these students answered a ten question survey regarding specific examples of literacy experiences that their child may have been exposed to. Parents' survey results were then compared to their children's individual reading level when entering kindergarten. A positive correlation was found between early literacy exposure in the home and beginning reading levels. The student who had the highest level of literacy exposure has the highest reading levels when entering kindergarten.
This study looks to reinforce the idea that the amount of early literacy exposure introduced to children who are now in kindergarten positively affect their overall reading development.]]>
The purpose of this study was to explore the different literacy test preparation approaches both novice and veteran 3rd, 4th and 5th grade teachers of one school used in their classrooms and to examine whether and how they shared these approaches. The study also analyzed teachers' perceptions ofthe strengths and weaknesses of these practices and how they were able to bridge the generational gap between novice and veteran teachers in order to professionally collaborate with one another and create a positive school culture. Results indicate that although professional collaboration was evident, novice and veteran teachers possessed different perceptions on test preparation and utilized different practices in their classrooms. These practices were directly related to both their perceptions of accountability and years of experience within the field.]]>