A practicum used a program of high interest activities involving reading to address the problem of low reading comprehension grades and test scores of eight students in the second through fourth grades, who were an average of 1 year behind the norm in reading. The program's six units included a listening unit, computer technology unit, daily…

A practicum report addressed the problem of lack of interest in the literacy of young readers and the need to motivate them to want to read. A cross-age peer-tutoring program was established where primary students were paired with upper intermediate grade students who displayed positive reading attitudes and habits. The tutoring pair worked…

The practicum addressed the needs of 3- to 5-year-old language learning disabled (LLD) children who required more individualization in their curriculum and longer time on task. The practicum goals were: (1) to address 80% of the children's short term individualized education program (IEP) goals; (2) to increase the children's independent time on…

The need to decrease the number of students repeatedly receiving after-school detentions was addressed by the implementation of the Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) program. The PAL program is based on the premise that students act out because they desire power. The program gave students power over tutoring situations by having input into planning for…

This report describes a cross-age tutoring program implemented to improve reading comprehension skills in a group of regular students in a rural elementary school. A targeted group of four fifth-grade students and four second-grade students were matched for cross-age tutoring sessions. The students developed reading comprehension skills through…

This practicum was designed to provide low-achieving first graders with the opportunity to improve their concept of what a word is and motivate children to become more enthusiastic about the reading process. Cooperative learning, cross-age tutoring, and skill-oriented instruction were utilized in the classroom during the 3-month period to…

This practicum was designed to increase the literacy skills of first-grade students. Students were to improve their reading strategies necessary for success in reading through support from their families and through the use of cross-age reading tutors. A cadre of parent volunteers who presented four parent and child workshops focusing on early…

A practicum aimed to develop the positive reading attitudes of six at-risk thrid-graders. Regular teacher-student sessions were devoted to reading aloud. Practicum participants were assigned mentors. Mentors and mentees met twice during the 12-week implementation cycle. The targted group of third-graders served as tutors for a group of…

A practicum addressing (1) elementary school students' need to increase their sight vocabulary, (2) their needs for self-esteem, (3) their individual learning differences, and (4) the practical difficulties of providing additional practice time and personnel to teach is described in this guide. The introduction of the guide discusses the community…

This practicum project developed and implemented a program to teach young children reading readiness skills before they entered first grade. A target group of 20 students ranging in age from 4 to 6 years old in an elementary school kindergarten class was established for the program. During the 12-week implementation, the target group participated…

Concern at an elementary school that the level of successful first grade readiness for high risk kindergarten children was 62 percent, while the level of success for non-risk kindergartners was 100 percent, prompted a program for improving the readiness skills of high-risk kindergarten students described in this report. Chapter one describes Stout…

A practicum aimed to increase academic competence in math and/or reading and to improve study skills of 27 at-risk students referred by their classroom teachers to the school resource specialist. A before-school peer and cross-age tutoring program for at-risk students was developed. Proteges were monitored on the usage of the following study…

The principal of a public elementary school serving grades K through 6 developed a community involvement program for a school in which community involvement had not been a major factor in the educational process. Primary objectives of the practicum were to increase the number of parents and other community members participating in activities…

This practicum addressed the self-concept and self-esteem problems of 10 upper elementary grade students with learning disabilities through development, implementation, and evaluation of a group counseling program. The program involved educating students about their learning disabilities as well as using counseling strategies which stressed…

To increase the reading achievement of a group of first grade students expected to experience reading difficulties during their first grade year, a practicum study involved the collaboration of a school psychologist with teachers, parents, and fifth graders (in cross age tutoring) to provide services emphasizing holistic, literature-based…