Date of Award
4-1-1988
Document Type
Practicum
Degree Name
Education Specialist
Department
Center for the Advancement of Education
Advisor
Dr. Joan Horn
Keywords
academic performance, bilingual education, bilingual students, communication skills, disadvantaged students, elementary education, inner city students, language skills, limited English proficient students, natural language approach, oral vocabulary, Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-Revised, prefirst grade, Spanish language, transitional first grade, vocabulary, vocabulary development, vocabulary instruction
Abstract
The purpose of this project was to improve the academic performance of transitional first grade students by developing the students’ oral vocabularies. The researcher developed a 12 week vocabulary development curriculum; by using a natural language approach 104 words were introduced. The classroom teacher presented the daily 20 minute lessons. Pre- and post-implementation vocabulary ages were measured with the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-Revised (PPVT-R). Pretest vocabulary ages ranged from two years and zero months to five years and four months.
Final test results indicated the vocabulary ages of the 19 participating students increased and average of 11 months. Individual student improvement ranged from three months to 22 months. The oral language patterns of the participating students were English, Spanish, and bilingual Spanish. The author has recommended a similar program be implemented in kindergarten and transitional firs grade to attempt a correlation of vocabulary and chronological ages to enhance student potential. Appendices include vocabulary list and two sample lessons.