Indiana's declining SAT scores prompted the publisher of a statewide magazine covering the literary, performing, and visual arts to take action and create a program to use the magazine as a supplemental resource for students. It was believed that such a supplemental resource could enhance critical thinking and writing skills and help raise SAT…

The in-service training needs of first-level employees of the state health and rehabilitative clerical staff and the development and evaluation of an in-service training model workshop were investigated. Interviews were conducted with the first- and second-level supervisors to determine the needs of the clerical staff for in-service training, to…

This action research project evaluated a program for improving motor skills in kindergartners by incorporating into the core curriculum motor activities, new materials focused on motor skills, and authentic assessments of motor skills. Teacher observations, scores from the DIAL-R (Developmental Indicators for the Assessment of Learning-Revised)…

This project describes a program designed to improve the music reading abilities of second grade children. The intention is to discover the best possible method of teaching students basic rhythmic and melodic skills. When combined, these skills will not only increase students' understanding of the language of music, but will also increase…

This action research project evaluated an intervention to improve the organizational skills of middle school students with grade point averages below 2.0. Students' lack of organizational skills was documented by means of parent and student surveys, grade point averages, and progress and deficiency reports exhibiting frequently missing homework…

This five-session research-based program trains parents in various skills through a series of experiential learning activities. An introductory chapter reviews the problem initiating the study, the purpose, importance, assumption, limitations, and plan of the study, along with a definition of terms. Next, a literature review examines materials…

A program was developed and implemented to improve and motivate students' writing in the elementary grades. Research data suggests probable causes for lack of student motivation and progress in writing. These causes include: overloaded and product driven curriculum, lack of appropriate teacher training, time-consuming and subjective grading…

This report describes the design, implementation and evaluation of a class on effective parenting skills that combined behavioral and communication based (client-centered and Adlerian) approaches to child rearing. Seventeen parents of elementary school age children attended the class; twelve parents attended five or more sessions. The class…

The purpose of this study was to research the effectiveness of a skill building course upon the educational and social survival of black students at a predominantly white middle class suburgan high achool. The subjects involved were two groups of students (N=50) who volunteered for the skill building course. These subjects were identified from…

This action research project implemented and assessed a program to improve student behavior. Participants were fourth-grade students in a growing middle class community in northern Illinois. The problem of inappropriate behaviors was documented by means of a behavior checklist, student survey, teacher anecdotal record, and student yes/no…

This action research project sought to increase the use of appropriate social skills by middle school students through an increased instructional emphasis on social skills. The specific social skills addressed were listening, encouraging, self-control, appropriate manners, and accepting others' ideas. These skills were introduced using M-charts…

The development and implementation of a formal homeroom program for seventh-grade students entering a two-year junior high school from five elementary schools is presented. Included are descriptions of: (1) the orientation phase, in which students as sixth graders in their respective elementary schools were provided slide shows, tours, and parent…

This report describes a program for improving listening skills, lack of which interferes with second language acquisition. The targeted population was first- and second-year Spanish students in one middle school and one high school. Intervention over 15 weeks included changes in the classroom environment (desk arrangement, improved lighting,…

The development and implementation of a model rehabilitative program is described in this dissertation. The conceptual model was developed to identify and characterize behavior patterns which interfere with learning in urban junior high schools. The six major behavior categories addressed include: dependent behavior, truancy, aggressive behavior,…

A cybernetic unit in driver education was developed to help grade 10 students develop the skills needed to acquire and process driver education information and prepare for the driving phase of driver education in grade 11. Students used a simulator to engage in a series of scenarios designed to promote development of social, behavioral, and mental…