A computer program was implemented as an aid to improve third graders' spelling word mastery. The program focused on helping 15 medium-ability students from 3 classrooms improve their spelling scores and proficiency. During the 10-week project each student spent 10 minutes a day working on a computer using the computer software "Guess That…

This project was developed and implemented in a private school in southeastern Florida to assess whether different instructional strategies would improve vocabulary recall, comprehension, and long-range retention in third graders. The program uses three approaches to provide vocabulary development: (1) contextual use of vocabulary; (2) the use of…

A practicum developed and implemented reading strategies to increase the positive attitudes toward recreational reading of a third-grade target group. The practicum focused on five central strategies for achieving objectives: alternative book reports, home leisure reading, guest reader program, read-aloud student response journals, and writing and…

A study determined if the Directed Reading-Thinking Activity (DR-TA) method would raise levels of critical thinking in students. Subjects, 20 third-grade students, used the DR-TA for 30 minutes each day for a period of approximately 8 weeks. Subjects were pre- and posttested using the Thinking Skills Assessment and the Reading Attitude Inventory.…

A course of study to enhance the effectiveness of the traditional third grade reader and workpack as instructional tools was designed for this practicum. The goal was to create a familiarity with the purpose and function of varied print media available within the community, thereby creating a foundation upon which the students (30 third graders)…

To raise the spelling test scores of the lowest-level readers and poorest spellers in a third grade class, a practicum developed and implemented a spelling improvement program. Various strategies were implemented to allow for different learning modalities. Multi-sensory activities, computer managed instruction, and computer assisted instruction…

A program of paired, repeated reading was developed to improve the achievement in reading comprehension of 14 targeted third-grade students. The program had three basic objectives: (1) to increase literal comprehension by 25%; (2) to increase inference of main idea by 25%; and (3) to increase inference skills of drawing conclusions by 25%. The…

A study evaluated a program designed to improve the reading attitude of students who had the skills to read independently but chose not to during their recreational reading time. Subjects, 25 third grade students enrolled in a public school in a rapidly growing city in Florida, performed in the 80th percentile or above on county, state, and…

A practicum addressed the problem of poor reading comprehension of average ability third graders in a southeastern U.S. elementary school. The target group consisted of 24 third-grade students from a low socio-economic background. The reading program was initiated to improve reading comprehension skills. The average test score on the basal reading…

A practicum implemented an 8-week reading program designed to correct a long vowel skill deficit (CVVC and CVCe) in 11 third grade students of an inner city, predominantly Hispanic elementary school. The main strategy was inductive instruction wherein the skill is introduced so that students discover what they need to learn, thereby increasing…

A practicum project was undertaken to develop and implement a career education program that would introduce third graders to career opportunities. The setting for the project was an industrial city in the Midwest. The goals addressed in the set of structured activities developed were to: (1) increase third graders' awareness of career…

The goal of a practicum was to improve students' attitudes towards reading. Subjects, 35 third graders, were representative of the community's social composition. Activities encouraged increased reading time in and out of the classroom. Parents were asked to encourage their children to read and to participate by reading with them, to them, or…

This practicum was designed to organize and implement an effective thinking skills program to enhance higher-order thinking in children. The program's goals were (1) to provide a series of in-service training sessions designed to improve participants' teaching skills and motivate participants to use various teaching strategies in order to bring…

This practicum was designed to improve and increase the problem-solving skills of third-grade students. Using a specially designed 20-item test consisting of mathematical word problems, a preassessment was made of the addition and subtraction skills of 843 third-grade students from high, middle, and low socioeconomic levels in four Florida…

A practicum used an integrated writing approach to improve 28 third-graders' ability to write descriptive paragraphs. The program consisted of two strategies: a process approach and a step-by-step approach. Success was measured by comparing the statistics of a pretest and a posttest and through observation, computer generated worksheets, and…