Developing Partnerships across Rural, Cultural, and Intellectual Contexts to Improve Literacy and Student Achievement

The presenters will share insights gained through focus group and observational data from families living in rural Central Texas that participated in a community based literacy program, Read to the Top! Participants will learn about the collective value added through community partnerships

Panel: Meeting the Challenges of Rural Education

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Learners in Collaborative Strategic Reading Approved by

Before beginning this research, I had little knowledge about my research and concerned about my future work. I would like to express my gratitude to professors, research personnel, friends, and parents who gave me the opportunity to complete this thesis and master’s program at the University of Texas at Austin. I am grateful to Dr. Sorrells for her dedication towards my research. She always gave me excellent feedback and sound advice, which I cannot forget. Her comments were significant for my study. Beyond this thesis work, Dr. Sorrells was my academic adviser who guided me for my course work throughout my master’s program. Definitely, she was an inspiration for my study and life. I also thank Dr. Vaughn for her invaluable help for my study. She invited me to her research meeting so that I could broaden my ideas about Collaborative Strategic Reading. Whenever I asked for research-related resources and material, Dr. Vaughn was always there to support me. I furthermore thank Ms. Cho, students ’ parents, students, and Dr. Renaud, who helped me to practice my study. I am grateful to Ms. Cho for listening to my concerns and sharing useful ideas with me; I thank the parents and their children who participated in my study; and I thank Dr. Renaud for his assistance in the process of approval of Human Subjects and Institutional Review Board. My friends, including graduate seniors, were my supporters. Polar bear was my great support. I am also thankful to Sue, Soyeon, and Kyungeun Unni for being my mentors at the graduate school. v Finally, I would like to extend special thanks to my mother and father. They always gave me love and took care of me even if they were physically far away from me. With their love, I was able to do my best for two years during my master’

Effectiveness of “Ladder of Risk” training on policy adherence and understanding among sorority and fraternity leaders

Fraternity and sorority leaders (N = 301) at UT Austin attended the Ladder of Risk training program and completed a survey to measure their awareness of and adherence to Fraternal Information and Programming Group (FIPG) policies prior to and after training. The researchers also collected qualitative data through five open ended response questions. Findings and recommendations are presented.Special Educatio

Cheryl WilkinsonTeachers ’ Instructional Practices when Working with Latino English Language Learners with Reading-Related Disabilities

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