Browsing by Subject "Limited English Proficient"
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Item The relationship of language proficiency, general intelligence, and reading achievement with a sample of low performing, limited English proficient students(2009-05-15) Jones, Charlotte KennedyThe present study had three purposes. The first was to examine the score reliability of instruments purported to be appropriate in the assessment of students with limited English proficiency (LEP). The second was to investigate the criterion-related validity of the Universal Nonverbal Intelligence Test (UNIT) with a sample of lowperforming, Hispanic students. The third purpose was to explore the contribution of language proficiency in the dominant language (L1) and the language proficiency in the subordinate language (L2) in the prediction of reading achievement in L1. Participants included first and third grade students of Hispanic origin who scored below the median for their district on a state-approved, district-administered measure of literacy in first grade. Satisfactory internal consistency estimates were achieved with a sample of LEP students (n=24) on the UNIT, the Woodcock-Mu?oz Language Survey (WMLS) in English and in Spanish, and the Bater?a Woodcock-Mu?oz: Pruebas de Approvechamiento-Revisada (Bater?a-R APR). For first grade students, scores from the UNIT demonstrated satisfactory concurrent validity with those from the Woodcock Johnson III: Tests of Achievement (WJ-III ACH) for a sample of Hispanic, non-LEP students (n=89). However, the concurrent validity of the UNIT was not upheld for a sample of Hispanic, LEP students administered the Bater?a-R APR (n=56). Regarding predictive validity, results from simple linear regression analyses suggested that performance on the UNIT in first grade accounted for a negligible portion of the variance on the Texas high-stakes reading test in third grade for a group of LEP students (n=51) as well as for a group of non-LEP students (n=77). Language proficiency in L1 emerged as a positive predictor of reading achievement in L1. However, language proficiency in L2 was not shown to be a statistically significant, independent contributor to this relationship with reading achievement on the Bater?a-R APR (n=79), WJ-III ACH (n=14), TAKS Spanish (n=54), or TAKS English (n=12). Findings are discussed with respect to the restriction of range due to selection criterion and sample size, the use of the Abbreviated battery of the UNIT in the prediction of reading achievement, and the contribution of language proficiency in L2 for low performing, LEP students in the third grade.Item The Values of Immigrant Students on Citizenship as a Trait of Character Education(2014-04-17) Obamehinti, FeyiThe purpose of this study was to examine the values of immigrant students on citizenship as a trait of character education in accordance to Texas Education Code 29.906 in a high school setting. The study examined the perception of immigrant students who are in their first three years in U.S. schools on what shaped their understanding on citizenship as responsible members of society. Citizenship is one of the nine traits of character education in accordance to Texas Education Code 29.906. Data for the study was gathered from immigrant students at Hurst-Euless-Bedford (HEB) Independent School District, Euless, Texas. Furthermore, the study examined how immigrant students defined character in relation with citizenship. The gathered data provided a cultural sensitivity lens for curricula design and implementation in character education. The analysis of data collected from 45 immigrant students at HEB ISD was restricted to the national framework, What Works Clearinghouse (WWC). The analysis was used to make connections between two or more variables to determine important relationships that were not predicted. The national framework WWC provided a critical lens to analyze the data collected by categorizing outcome measures assessed in the study. Student responses ranged from cognitive, affective and behavioral categories. The cognitive category provided the understanding and ability to be able to reason about character concepts as well as academic content. The affective category provided the relation to attitudes, emotions, motives, and beliefs about what is important and the behavioral category provided the foundation of acting on understandings and beliefs. The research findings for this study included: 1. Most students (91%) ? defined character and related it with citizenship based on their understandings. 2. A small minority (9%) of students defined character in relation to a character in a storybook. 3. Students? understanding of character as a trait of citizenship is influenced by the values and culture of their country of origin. 4. The values of honor, hierarchy, gender roles, patriarchal and form of greetings shape immigrant students? understanding of citizenship as responsible members of society. 5. The integrated approach adopted by Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District to character education is preparing immigrant students for citizenship. 6. Immigrant students have a broader understanding of being a responsible member of society than their non-immigrant peers.