Term

Fall 12-1-2015

Capstone

Thesis

Degree Name

MAT

Primary Advisor/Dissertation Chair

Ann Mabbott

Secondary Advisor/Reader One

Raul Graziani

Peer-Reviewer/Reader Two

James McAvoy

Abstract

The guiding question addressed in this curriculum project was, how should phonics be used to improve the English acquisition success rate of Saudi military students? It documents the design and creation of a specialized unit that takes into account all aspects of student learning based on prior knowledge, educational background, cultural values, interest, and motivation. The author integrates newly developed, modified, and existing curriculum, based on relevant research into the methods. The author documents the details of the unit and uses related research literature to construct meaning and validate the curriculum. He describes both success and struggles in implementing the unit and concludes that: 1) differentiation, while time consuming and hard to implement, is a valuable strategy to use in the classroom to boost motivation and achievement for all learners; 2) struggling learners and special education students showed the greatest growth under this teaching model.

Research Methodology

Curriculum Development

Keywords

Adult Education, Curriculum, ESL/ ELLs, Literacy

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Education Commons

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