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Improving Mental Health And Well-Being In Elementary School Students Through Stress Management Activities, Shya Vasquez

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The number of students who are experiencing mental health issues is on the rise. There is a variety of reasons that contribute to the increasing numbers which include the COVID-19 pandemic, lack of support from teachers, the kinds of mental health activities that have not been incorporated into classrooms, and much more. Given this, this capstone project examines how to improve mental health and well-being of elementary school students through stress management activities through the use of literature review, interviews with two teachers, two parents, and two prospective teachers, and classroom observations. The results indicated the many benefits and different …

The Sensory Library: Facilitating Opportunities For Success At Bellevue Elementary School, Reagan M. Trussell

OTD Capstone Projects

This doctoral capstone project was completed through a partnership with Lamar County School District near Hattiesburg, Mississippi. This school district has eight elementary school campuses. The purpose of this project is to provide teachers with tools to improve focus, learning, and participation to facilitate opportunities for success in the classroom. A “sensory library” was created at two elementary school campuses to service grades prek-5 to accomplish this goal.. Faculty was also provided deliverables including rules of the sensory library, instructions to access and use the sensory library digital QR checkout system, the basics of sensory processing, sensory guidebook, contents of …

The Impact Of Covid-19 On Elementary School Students' Academic Achievement, Kourtney Ashlee Baze

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

COVID-19 is a virus that has caused a nationwide lockdown due to the rapid spread. Due to this, non-essential businesses and schools were closed. Many households were not getting enough food, behind on rent, unable to pay household bills. With schools closed, education was forced into online learning. This had negative effects on students’ academic achievement, their mental, emotional, and social health, and caused more behavioral issues than before the pandemic. Through literature review, interviewing two fifth grade teachers and anonymous surveys of forty-eight students, the findings revealed that online learning had a negative impact on students’ academic achievement and …

Improving Stress Management For Elementary School Students, Ashley Man

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This capstone project focuses on stress management for elementary school students. As there has been a rise in elementary school students' reports of stress, a longitudinal study examined daily school stress and coping strategies of elementary school children in the United States. The students were ages 7 to 11 years old and results highlight critical relations between students’ exposure to daily stress at school, their stress appraisals and future expectations, and usage of coping strategies (Sotardi, 2016). The students' ability to manage daily stress in productive, socially acceptable ways was reported to be restricted. This shows that students may not …

Raising Awareness Of Bullying With Elementary Students, Karoleen Bebawy

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Many elementary school students experience bullying. As a result, they may develop anxiety or depression and suffer from decreased academic performance. When elementary school students learn how to address bullying by their peers, the rates of bullying behavior decrease. To address the lack of bullying prevention education, I created a two-day lesson for the third graders in the Afterschool Academy (Expanded Learning Opportunity) at Olson Elementary School in Marina, California.

Developing Science Education For Early Elementary Students, Caty Rodriguez

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Children in early elementary school lack science education. They lack science because it is not a subject that schools concentrate on. Schools are more concentrated on math, English, reading, and writing, while science is just put aside. Our students need science in order to create a better vocabulary, open their minds to new things, and to move on to the next grade.

An Examination Of Measurement Invariance With A Multi-Group Confirmatory Factor Analysis Approach, Ruiqin Gao

Theses and Dissertations

This multiple-manuscript dissertation explored the measurement invariance (MI) testing with multiple-group confirmatory factor analysis (MG-CFA) approach from different perspectives. Study 1 explored MI from a theoretical perspective by conducting a systematic review study on MI practices in education. The findings of this study indicated inconsistency in MI practices and showcased the limitations of the MI practices conducted by researchers in the field of education. Study 2 examined MI from an empirical perspective by implementing a cultural MI test of Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaires for elementary school students in the United States and China. The study provided a step-by-step demonstration of …

Improving Elementary Nutrition Education Curriculum In San Francisco - A Program Analysis Of The Food Education Project, Audrey N. Chang

Master's Projects and Capstones

Childhood obesity and food insecurity are problems within San Francisco, California. The purpose of this program analysis is to assess the Food Education Project (FEP), which is one of many projects addressing nutrition education and the long-term public health impact is to solve the problems of food insecurity and childhood obesity. Through primary data collection, students shared their honest feelings about food and were able to openly discuss what they know and do not know about food. A literature review was conducted through research from various databases from the University of San Francisco to identify not only current interventions but …

Impacts On Elementary School Students Related To Covid-19 And The Role Of Social-Emotional Learning In Children’S Mental Health, Amanda Davis

Education | Master's Theses

Research has shown that schools provide an ideal universal location for preventing behavioral issues and supporting students’ mental health (Ball et al., 2016; Daunic, et al., 2021; Maras et al., 2015). A large body of research has also connected students’ social-emotional skills and their attainment of academic success (Cook et al., 2018; Durlak et al., 2011). With this research and the gaining popularity of SEL, more SEL programs are being created, implemented, and evaluated. The purpose of this study was to understand some of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on young students' mental health and how teachers have responded …

The Impact Of Self-Monitoring Using I-Connect For Increasing On-Task Behavior For Students With Or At Risk Of An Emotional Behavioral Disorder, Marissa Lenae Del Vecchio

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The use of technology-based self-monitoring interventions is becoming more popular, increasing the likelihood that self-monitoring interventions will have greater contextual fit within classrooms. Self-monitoring has resulted in increases in desired school behaviors, such as increases in on-task behavior, academic performance and task completion, for students diagnosed with disabilities. The purpose of this study was to extend the findings from Clemons et al. (2016) and examine student and teacher use of a web-based self-monitoring application, I-Connect, and reinforcement to increase on-task behavior for upper-level elementary school students with or at risk for an emotional behavioral disorder (EBD) using extended self-monitoring intervals. …

Examining The Effectiveness Of An Intervention Package That Combines Behavior Contract And Token Economy In Decreasing Out-Of-Seat Behaviors In Students With Emotional And Behavioral Disorders In Saudi Arabia, Manal Alsheef

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) often exhibit disruptive behaviors in classroom, including out-of-seat behaviors, which have been found to negatively affect their overall academic achievement and social interactions and relationships with parents, typically developing peers and teachers, and increase the likelihood of being suspended or dropping out of school. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of an intervention package that included behavior contract and token economy on out-of-seat behaviors in three elementary school students with EBD (aged 7 and 8) in Saudi Arabia, where the effects of this intervention package has not been studied …

A Quasi-Experimental Study On Creativity Development, Rose Ellis Campbell

Theses and Dissertations

With this quantitative quasi-experimental study, the researcher examined the effect of the implementation of a creativity development intervention on third-, fourth-, and fifth-grade students as measured by the District Screener for Gifted Education in a central Georgia elementary school. Creativity development is of growing concern to U.S. educational and business leaders as jobs require creative ability. Using a two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance, the researcher compared the creativity raw scores from pre- and posttests of all third-, fourth-, and fifth-grade students. The researcher also compared a representative sample of subpopulations using analysis of variance to see if the intervention affected …

Benefits Of Dual Immersion Programs On Elementary School Students, Sofia Alvarez

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The U.S. has always had a rich history of diversity with people coming from all over the world, bringing with them their languages, cultures, and customs. The question over how to educate and help English language learners or minority language speakers, and native English speakers learn another language, is one which can be answered through implementing programs which have helped both groups learn a new language and attain proficiency in that language. This senior capstone examines and discusses the benefit of dual immersion programs on elementary school students through the use of literature review. The findings indicate how dual immersion …

School Psychologists’ Perceptions Of Selecting Divorce-Themed Books For Elementary-Aged Children Experiencing Parental Divorce, Tarryn Elizabeth Roberts

Theses and Dissertations

Divorce is a common event in the United States; an estimated 50% of marriages end in divorce. With so many divorces each year, a substantial number of children are impacted. Divorce can have negative effects socially, behaviorally, emotionally, and academically, in both the short term and the long term. Bibliotherapy is a therapeutic tool centered on the use of books and stories to assist in the understanding and expression of an event. Bibliotherapy has been shown to be effective for children who have experienced similar traumatic events such as loss. Research suggests that bibliotherapy could be a flexible, cost efficient, …

A Well-Rounded Community: Integrating Arts To Enhance The Mental Health Of Elementary School Students, Hilary Jeanne Little

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Despite the continued funding cuts to arts programs in elementary schools across the country, their benefits to the mental health of students and the community at large are undeniable. This senior capstone research project takes a deeper look into local art programs that are available to elementary school students and the way those programs enhance their mental health. In addition to enhancement of mental health, integration of the arts in any forms and all formats offers a unique way to round out local communities, which are beneficial to all.

Frequency And Nature Of Elementary School Teacher-Student Interactions, Thomas Ratkos

Dissertations

Schools are a social environment. Students are learning how to interact with others, both peers and adults outside their immediate family. The classroom teacher is an important part of academic instruction but also with respect to socialization. Teachers and students form a relationship, the quality of which is both important and varied. Students are an active part of that relationship; their behavior changes the way their teachers perceive and act toward them. Past studies have shown that teacher-student relationships are correlated with academic success, student behavior problems, disciplinary consequences such as suspension and expulsion, and school dropout. The present study …

Comparative Assessment Of Agricultural Literacy In Selected K-5 Classrooms Employing Agriculture In The Classroom Methodologies: A Solomon Four-Group Analysis, Mary Margaret Fischer

Dissertations

The significance of agriculture to future generations is unparalleled. The United Nations projects the global population to swell to 9.75 billion people by 2050, and to proliferate to 11.2 billion by 2100. The non-agricultural population has little to no understanding or comprehension of the complexities of sustaining a viable agricultural system. Agricultural literacy is an area often unseen and rarely discussed outside specific agricultural disciplines. Society does not view agriculture as being important, yet it is important that society be properly educated on issues in order to reach well-informed decisions and render prudent choices that impact the world around them. …

Adhd In Elementary School Students: Impact Of Physical Activity On Adhd Symptoms, Jenny Wilcox

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this study was to explore alternative treatment options to stimulant medication in reducing symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in elementary aged children. The goal was to understand whether implementing physical activity programs into elementary schools reduces characteristic symptoms of ADHD including, but not limited to hyperactivity, inattentiveness and impulsivity. Secondary data was used in this research to analyze the symptoms of ADHD and the benefits of physical activity as a behavior modification intervention for this disorder with children. The study addressed the research question, what are the most effective types of physical activity for children …

Elementary Students' Perceptions Of Teacher-Student Relationships, Jayne S. Pocquette

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore at-risk student's perceptions of teacher-student relationships and the context in which at-risk students perceived these relationships. The study was conducted in two phases: first a student self-survey was given and second two focus groups with students was conducted. The Children's Appraisal of Teachers as a Secure Base (CATSB) self-report was given to 145 fourth grade students of which 86 students were identified as at-risk and 59 students were not identified as at-risk. The results revealed two factors in which students perceived teachers as a secure base, "Accepting/Available" and "Rejecting". Although there was …

The Impact Of The Updated National School Lunch Program Meal Standards On Fruit And Vegetable Consumption Among Elementary School Students In Cache County Utah, Jillian C. Fox

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Due to the short time the updated National School Lunch Program standards have been in place since fall of 2012, few research studies have explored what effect these new standards have had on fruit and vegetable (F/V) consumption, particularly among elementary school students. Because the new standards require schools to offer students more F/V than before, researchers are interested to know if F/V consumption has indeed increased.

The participants in the study were enrolled in a program to motivate students to eat more F/V – the Food Dudes program. The results of the data analysis found that most students, regardless …

Holistic Versus Dualistic Christian Worldview: A Study Of Comparative Impact In A Latin American Community, Jinhi K. Roskamp

Master of Education Program Theses

This action research study investigated teacher and student perceptions regarding the impact of worldviews on educational outcomes in an urban, lower income setting in Nicaragua. Two Christian schools, one representing a holistic biblical approach and the other a dualistic approach in similar socio-economic settings were selected for a primarily non-experimental quantitative study to find out whether a holistic biblical worldview orientation in teachers was perceived as more effective in producing student transformation that connected with service to the community. A third school representing a secular approach was included as additional point of comparison. Participants included seven teachers and twelve fourth-grade …

Self-Management Program To Handle Social/Emotional Baggage In The Classroom, Lisa N. Hines

Master of Education Program Theses

This action research study investigated the effects of teaching students to use a self-management tool in a fourth/fifth grade general education and science classroom at Master's Academy in Chicago, Illinois. Seven students who come from a range of broken homes exhibited effects of their home lives in their academic and social learning. These students were taught to assess their abilities both academically (spelling) and socially (teamwork) and then to set weekly goals for improvement in these areas. Weekly goal setting took place over a four week period during the third quarter of academic year 2014-2015. Students' accomplishments were celebrated weekly. …

Arts And Crafts In Elementary School : Blending With Curriculum, Caitlin Tungate

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Art integration in primary school classrooms has become less common in recent years due to the No Child Left Behind Act, the increased demand for standardized testing and the lack of funding present in school districts nationwide. The use of art in the classroom, whether blended into the curriculum and/or taught separately, has been proven to motivate children to use their creative minds and in turn increase student success in the academic arena. Students from two different kindergarten classrooms were observed during regular class time and assessed based on how the use of art in the classroom aided in their …

Social Validity Of Teacher-Written Praise Notes In A Title One Elementary School, Angela Howell

Theses and Dissertations

Praise notes have the potential to positively influence student behavior and relationships. Few studies have examined the social validity of praise, however, and these studies have focused on students' perceptions. The purpose of this study was to describe student, parent, and teacher perceptions of a school-wide praise note intervention at a Title I elementary school. Twenty-three teachers, 203 parents, and 203 students completed surveys regarding a pre-existing praise note intervention. Surveys consisted of 13 quantitative items and two open-ended questions. Quantitative and qualitative results indicate that participants had positive perceptions of praise notes. Participants also believed that praise notes helped …

A Day With The Mustangs, Gracie Elise Flint, Christina Beverly Fromson

Communication Studies

No abstract provided.

The Importance Of Preventative Mental Health Services For All Children In Elementary Schools : School And Administrator And Teacher Perspectives : A Project Based Upon An Independent Investigation, Jessica Ann Olivares

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This qualitative study examined the perceptions and opinions of elementary school professionals concerning the importance of providing proactive mental health services in elementary schools. There were ten participants, including one principal, two school committee members, 3 teachers and four mental health workers working in the elementary schools in Amherst, MA. This study addressed the following research question: What is the value of having preventative mental health services for all elementary school students in the Amherst public elementary schools?

Listening To Students: The Lived Experience Of Students Taking An Accountability Test, Laura Rutherford Crisp

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to understand the lived experience of students taking a high stakes test. The phenomenological method developed by Howard Pollio (Pollio, Graves, and Arfken, 2005, Thomas and Pollio, 2002, Pollio, Henley, and Thompson, 1997) at the University of Tennessee was utilized to explore the perceptions of the experience of fourth and fifth grade students who took the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) Achievement Test, an end of the year criterion-referenced, standardized achievement test given to students in Tennessee.

Nine students from two schools in East Tennessee were interviewed about their experience of taking the test. …

Development Of The Test Item Pool For A Screening Instrument Of Emotional And Behavioral Disorder Of Elementary School Students., Laura Eileen Conley

Theses and Dissertations

The functioning of children with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) is a concern for parents and educators. Screening focuses efforts to identify and prevent/remediate EBD for students most at risk. Current screening instruments fail to meet three factors that may be related to successful early identification. The three factors are universality (rates all students), brevity, and identification of internalizing and externalizing symptoms. This thesis began the construction of a screener with all three factors. The thesis determined a conceptual basis for the instrument and created an item pool. The conceptualization was based on a literature review. The item pool was …

Determining The Relative Efficacy Of Reciprocal And Non-Reciprocal Peer Tutoring For Students Identified As At-Risk For Academic Failure, Keri F. Menesses

LSU Master's Theses

The current study directly compared the academic and social gains of reciprocal peer tutoring, non-reciprocal peer tutoring, and traditional classroom instruction with elementary students. Participants included 59 students who performed below-average on class-wide screenings using curriculum-based measurement math probes. Students involved in peer tutoring were trained to tutor basic math facts using a constant time delay procedure. Both types of peer tutoring produced significantly larger academic gains than traditional classroom instruction; the two types of tutoring produced comparable academic and social results, although reciprocal tutoring resulted in marginally larger academic gains. Reciprocal peer tutoring is recommended based on the fact …

Establishing A Functional Analysis Protocol For Examining Behavioral Deficits Using Social Withdrawal As An Exemplar, Melissa Penaranda Walters

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to establish a functional analysis protocol for examining behavioral deficits, using social withdrawal as an exemplar. A review of the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis over the past 10 years found that although the current behavior analytic literature contains extensive studies that functionally analyze behavioral excesses, there is a limited amount of studies that analyze deficits. The rationale behind this study was the notion that although behavioral deficits are rarely studied, the fact that the participant is capable of the behavior yet fails to engage in it leads to the idea that certain events …