Digital Commons Network^™

Multilingual Learners’ Perceptions Of Their Home Languages Using Ruíz’S Language Orientations, Sophie Breen

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

As the number of multilingual students in classrooms grows, research suggests the positive effects of encouraging growth in both English and students’ home language(s). Many researchers have addressed how multilingualism is perceived in the classroom from the perspective of teachers and administrators, however there is a lack of information from the student perspective. This research aims to address this gap through discussing multilingual students’ perceptions of their home languages using Ruíz’s (1984) language orientations. Participants for this study included 14 English learners in ninth grade at an urban high school. Two data points were collected and analyzed, student journals and …

Perception Of Motivation On Adult Student Academic Achievement, Hailey Swanson

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated how adult learners describe their educational motivation. Twenty-four adult students from two adult education programs responded to a cross-sectional survey focused on intrinsic and extrinsic motivations for pursuing continued education. The survey items consisted of both Likert scale statements and short responses. The data collected led to the conclusion that no definitive description of motivation would allow for a single reactive change to adult curriculum. The research indicates a significant overlap in intrinsic and extrinsic motivational impact. The resulting answer to the research question was that motivation is interrelated and not divided cleanly between intrinsic and extrinsic …

Exploring The Second Language Learning Experience And Its Influence On Willingness To Communicate And Language Use: A Case Study, Christopher Henchcliffe

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

Henchcliffe, C. (2024). Exploring the Second Language Learning Experience and its Influence on Willingness to Communicate and Language Use: A Case Study

The research question guiding this capstone thesis is: How does the L2 learning experience in the classroom affect willingness to communicate and L2 use in adult beginner ESL students? The literature review focuses on topics such as willingness to communicate, L2 motivation, and the classroom learning experience. I also explore ways that willingness to communicate and motivation are measured. To help answer the research question, an eight-week mixed methods case study was conducted with one participant enrolled in …

The Impact Of Explicit Instruction In Phonics And Phonological Awareness On Kindergarten English Learners’ Reading Scores, Emily Goranson

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

Goranson, E. (2024). The Impact of Explicit Instruction in Phonics and Phonological Awareness on Kindergarten English Learners’ Reading Scores

Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling, or LETRSR, is a popular professional development course among early elementary teachers, which promises to restructure the teaching of literacy. An English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher inquired if LETRSR-endorsed practices would benefit the reading growth of English language learners. This research posed the question, How does explicit and systematic instruction in phonics and phonological awareness impact reading growth for kindergarten students who qualify for English language services? The LETRSR framework seems …

Beyond Four Walls: Outdoor Recess As A Complement To Classroom Engagement, Valerie Mulvenna

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This mixed-methods study examined the impact of increased outdoor recess on elementary students' classroom engagement following the implementation of Illinois' 2021 The Right to Play Every Day Act. The study is driven by two main research questions: (1) Does increased outdoor recess influence a student’s classroom engagement? (2) What are educators' perspectives on the implementation of the Act? Quantitative data was collected through classroom observations of 16 third-grade students over six weeks, measuring on-task behavior before and after recess periods. Qualitative data was gathered through semi-structured interviews with five elementary educators. While statistical analysis yielded inconclusive results regarding the relationship …

Success Factors: English Learners Speak About What Worked For Them, Said Garaad

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This research explores the ways of improving the education of English Learners (EL). The purpose of the study was to uncover the narratives that helped their academic success and the challenges they encountered. Central to this research are the firsthand experiences of seven individuals who have navigated the transition out of EL programs. Their experiences offer valuable insights into the effective methods of instruction and environmental factors that contribute to a learner’s success. This study is focused on the experiences of former English Learner (EL) students in American K-12 education in order to determine the most effective strategies for enhancing …

Transferable Skills From Faculty To Students Through A Community Of Practice, Lisa Chase

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

Chase, L. (2024). Transferable Skills from Faculty to Students through a Community of Practice

This dissertation investigates the impact of a community of practice summer faculty on the transfer of nursing caring science principles to the student-faculty relationship. It contributes to the literature by examining how faculty members leverage their knowledge to foster better understanding within the student-faculty dynamic. Employing a convergent parallel design, the research utilizes student surveys and interviews to explore the experiences students have in the courses taught by participating faculty members. The central research question focuses on how an in-person community of practice influences faculty-student classroom …

What Are Rural Minnesota Elementary Teachers’ Views Regarding Their Preparedness To Teach Environmental Education, Benjamin Odegaard

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

Odegaard, B. (2024). What are rural Minnesota elementary teachers’ views regarding their preparedness to teach environmental education. Research has been done on how environmental education (EE) is a positive for students, but not a lot of research has been done on how well the teachers understand EE. Specifically there has been little to no research on rural Minnesota elementary teachers. This thesis takes a look at how well prepared these teachers think they are when it comes to teaching EE in their classrooms. A survey was made using a mixed methods approach. Most of the questions in the survey consisted …

Elementary Educators’ Beliefs And Practices Regarding Explicit Math Vocabulary And Language Instruction, Katherine Lee Berlin

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

For the last couple decades, math achievement scores in the United States have remained stagnant or declined. Teachers are searching for ways to improve these scores. Much work has been done on number sense and math talks. But, are these the only tools to consider? What if the very language used to express mathematical knowledge is a key factor in how students gain their learning and ultimately express their thinking? Research has emerged that draws a relationship between explicit math vocabulary instruction and math achievement. While this is well documented, the practice is not commonly seen. Thus, I asked, “What …

The Influence Of The Student-Teacher Relationship On The Mathematics Confidence Of Students, Mary Tracey Plante

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The student-teacher relationship impacts student confidence and achievement. Many factors such as race, gender, language learning, and special education were researched as they influence this relationship. This research focused on using a correlational case study to determine how the student-teacher relationship influences the mathematics confidence of students when social-emotional supports and learning are implemented. Data collection methods involved using a Likert scale and interviews with the teacher. For the students, data collection was a Likert scale, number sense assessment, interviews, and anecdotal notes. The participants were a kindergarten teacher and 18 of her students from a diverse, midwestern suburban school …

Women With Administrative Licensure: Their Journey Outside The Principalship, Katie Britton

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

Women have been a major part of education throughout history. While women have long been the majority in the classroom the same cannot be said for the principalship. Some may think that women do not get their principal license; however, this is untrue. Women obtain their licenses and then do not become principals. This phenomenological research study worked to understand what women do with their principal license. Through surveys and interviews of women in the state of Minnesota who are licensed as principals but not working as principals conclusions were able to be drawn about why women obtain their licenses, …

Challenges And Opportunities For The Third-Generation Hmong Adolescents In Public Schools: Preparing For The Future, Changying Lawton

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

To my dearest husband and son, Andrew and Joseph, my mother-in-law, Pauline, and the rest of my family, thank you for all of your love and support, and for instilling a drive and work ethic in me as I would not be where I am today with you.

To Hamline University’s EDD Cohort 12, the systems thinkers and creators of social capital and community in education, you are my people and in my heart forever.

To my professors, especially Dr. Harvey, thank you for being the best leader and inspiring and encouraging me to persevere as a leader in education. …

Teachers’ Perspectives On The Transition Of Dual Language Spanish Immersion Students To Middle School, Myriam Castro-Franco

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

How do Dual Language Immersion (DLI) educators envision a well-implemented program that supports their students’ transition from elementary DLI to middle school? This research is intended to amplify teachers’ voices in shaping elementary students’ transition to middle school. Results are focused on aligning teachers’ perspectives with the Guided Principles for Dual Language Instruction (Howard et al., 2018). Educators’ visions for a well-implemented immersion program can provide insight into the best ways to support students transitioning from elementary to middle school. This study intends to provide perspective into developing the program for a successful transition. This understanding can help inform policy, …

Principals Who Lead Elementary Schools With Minimal Out-Of-School Suspensions, Jennifer Bordonaro

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

Mixed-methods research was conducted in order to understand the principals of Minnesota elementary schools where no more than one out-of-school suspensions had been assigned annually from 2017 to 2022. The study consisted of a survey, document analysis, and qualitative interviews. While the findings did reveal commonalities amongst the participants that provided insight into the implementation of nonexclusionary discipline, the picture could not be deemed complete as the identified schools were predominantly White and affluent. There continues to be a great need to study leaders of schools where OSS is not statistically predictable by the school’s student population in regard to …

Examining Elementary English Language Teachers’ Professional Development Of Dispositions, Knowledge, And Skills, Jessica Reese

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this mixed methods study was to examine how professional development contributed to the dispositions, knowledge, and skills of elementary English language (EL) teachers. Historically, EL teachers received little professional development and ongoing support within their discipline of English as a Second Language, which led to inconsistencies with how EL teachers perceived their role as a language development expert. Although the literature review identified the necessary dispositions, knowledge, and skills of EL teachers, there was little research about how EL teachers accessed professional development to engage in continuous growth in their field. As part of the study, professional …

Factors Influencing Multilingual Families’ Decisions To Accept Or Waive English Language Services, Emily Mattson

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the factors influencing multilingual families’ decisions to accept or waive English language (EL) services. The number of multilingual learners in the United States has increased by half a million over the past ten years (National Center for Education Statistics, 2021). This growing population of students requires teachers with specialized knowledge and training in specific areas of second language acquisition, culturally relevant teaching practices, and targeted language instruction to participate fully in classroom content (Cadiero-Kaplan, 2010; Olsen, 2010). However, not all multilingual families choose for their children to receive targeted language instruction and decide to waive English language …

The Potential Impact Of Creating A Justice And Equity Credential On Student Achievement And A&I Retention & Persistence, Jeremy Rupp

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This research paper explores the potential impact of introducing a Justice & Equity Credential and an Achievement and Integration (A&I) License on educational equity in Minnesota. Drawing on a comprehensive literature review and original empirical data collected through surveys and interviews, the study investigates the efficacy of credentialing and licensing frameworks in addressing systemic disparities in educational systems pointed at both students and practitioners of A&I. The findings underscore the critical need for targeted interventions to promote equity in A&I programming, highlighting the role of professional development, cultural responsiveness, and accountability in supporting staff retention and fostering equitable outcomes for …

Communicating Across The Divide: Using Critical Communication Pedagogy As A Lens To Reimagine The Mediated Basic Communication Course As A Space Of Activism, Margaret Baker

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly influenced teaching and learning in mediated spaces, highlighting the challenges many historically excluded learners face in virtual environments. While previous research suggests that well-designed online courses can effectively support these students, communication education as a field has been slow to adopt virtual learning. This resistance has left many educators underprepared to develop equitable and impactful online coursework. Previous work has demonstrated the success of critical communication pedagogy (CCP) - which centers the experiences of traditionally underserved students and promotes collaborative learning - within face-to-face communication coursework (Fassett & Warren, 2007). As such, this dissertation investigates how …

Multicultural Picture Books And The Hard Conversations They Invite: Do Minnesota’S Early Childhood Educators Feel Prepared To Talk About Race During Shared Reading Experiences?, Julie Rech

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

Influenced by the researcher’s own experiences being confronted with young children’s curiosities about race during storytimes, this work investigates educator attitudes, approaches, and abilities as they pertain to broaching race topics in early childhood classrooms. Specifically this work seeks to understand To what degree do early childhood educators in Minnesota feel prepared to engage in discussions of race during shared reading experiences with their students? It reviews existing literature on bias and attitudes towards race topics within early childhood education, multicultural picture books and critical literacy, and anti-bias and anti-racist education. Employing constructivist and transformative paradigms and grounded in the …

Just Another Education Abroad Gatekeeper: Education Abroad Administrators’ Perspectives On Institutional Pricing Models And How Those Models Impact Inclusion Efforts, Katherine Mary Meyer

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

Meyer, K. M. (2023). Just Another Education Abroad Gatekeeper: Education abroad administrators’ perspectives on institutional pricing models and how those models impact inclusion efforts. Nearly every institution in the United States offers some form of education abroad opportunity for their students (Hoffa & DePaul, 2010/2016) and surveys often show interest of undergraduate students is high (Manning, 2023). However, interest does not equate to participation. Some of the top factors found in past research include price and financial implications. Little is said about the institutional-level policies and decisions in setting the pricing models that impact the institution, the education abroad office, …

Translanguaging: The Instructor-Perceived Benefits Of Use In The Adult English Language Learner Classroom, Paul Jonas

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This thesis, seeks to answer the research questions: what are the instructor-perceived benefits of translanguaging in the adult second language acquisition classroom for students who have not had any prior English language experience when learning English as a second language? Additionally, is there an instructor-perceived increase in output and comprehension with adult learners when translanguaging is actively used, and how is it being used? Topics explored during the literature review process included translanguaging, perceived benefits and challenges of translanguaging in the classroom, age-related factors for language acquisition, and non-age-related factors regarding language learning. Six English language instructors of adult non-degree-seeking …

The Relationship Of Two Co-Teaching Models In A Second Grade Special Education Inclusion Classrooms: Impact On Student Achievement, Natalie Hoffert

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The research questions addressed in this study were: In a second grade special education inclusion classroom, how do the students experience two co-teaching models: station teaching and alternative teaching? Subquestion 1: How does students’ performance on ELA assessments vary depending on the co-teaching model? Subquestion 2: How does student involvement, enjoyment, and perceived sense of understanding compare after each co-teaching model? Subquestion 3: Do the ELA assessment scores and student attitudes correlate positively? The review of the literature included benefits and drawbacks of special education inclusion classrooms, the six co-teaching models, and the second grade Common Core English Language Arts …

Exploring How Elementary Esl Teachers Experience Learning And Change Related To A Genre-Based Approach To Language Instruction, Angela Froemming

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This study explored how elementary ESL teachers describe their experience learning about genre-based pedagogy, and how they describe change that resulted from learning about this instructional approach. Multilingual learners represent a rising student demographic across the United States (National Center for Educational Statistics, 2021), however, most teachers and administrators have not been adequately trained in language development, so language remains an abstract concept and professional learning experiences related to language development are scarce (He & Bagwell, 2021; Ranney, 2012). Without language-based resources or frameworks, ESL teachers are often underutilized professionals in their schools (Harper & de Jong, 2009). A genre-based …

Striving To Increase Bipoc Family Participation In Early Childhood Family Education, Ayuko Boomer

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

Boomer, A. U. (2023). Striving to Increase BIPOC Family Participation in Early Childhood Family Education. Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) is a public education program designed and available for all parents and families in Minnesota. Despite these intentions, many Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) families remain unaware of ECFE's existence and its significance. The purpose of this study is to understand the current methodologies of parent education outreach and collaboration with other programs, in particular, BIPOC communities, and explore and process what efforts have been made to increase BIPOC participation in traditional ECFE parent education group classes (non-affinity …

Career Influences Of Environmental Education Field Experiences, Lacey Day

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

As an environmental educator who got her start exploring the various flora and fauna around me, it has always interested me to know whether the same experiences that got me to where I am today have also influenced others to pursue similar careers. This study, because of that initial interest, set out to determine How do environmental education field experiences influence college major and/or career choice in high school students? Through a 21 question, cross-sectional survey, high school students in Allegany County Public Schools were asked a series of questions pertaining to their environmental educational field experiences, their values and …

Dear Education System, It’S You, Not Me: Burnout In Elementary Special Education Teachers, Bernadette Putman-Bailey

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

Putman-Bailey, B. (2023). Dear education system, it’s you, not me: Burnout in elementary special education teachers. Burnout is not new to the education system as there seems to be a news article around burnout in the teaching profession and the shortage of teachers nationwide. Minnesota is not immune to this problem, but it is particularly true in special education. Special education teacher positions are the most difficult to recruit and retain for school districts in Minnesota. This research focused on the phenomenon of burnout in elementary special education teachers in urban and suburban areas of Minneapolis. The primary research question …

How Equitable Teaching Practices Impact The Mathematical Identity Of English Language Learners From Teachers’ Perspectives, Xiaomei Segelstrom

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This mixed method research study examined the teacher’s perspectives on how equitable teaching practices impact the math identity of English language learners. A quantitative research survey instrument including five major themes that was generated from the frameworks in the literature review was used, and then followed by semi-structured interviews to address the research question. The data collected from the survey indicated that participants do believe that equitable teaching practices would impact the math identity of ELLs via: conveying high expectations, language support, modifying lessons, mathematical tasks and mathematical tools. Building on the survey results, interviewees furthermore informed that all these …

Becoming A Badass: Developing Positive Embodiment In Women, Nicole O'Connor

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

Becoming a Badass: Developing Positive in Embodiment in Women Nicole O’Connor Abstract Almost everyone hates their bodies (normative discontent), but women and girls are most likely to engage in extreme behaviors to adjust their appearance. The United States’ history as a heteronormative, white supremacist, patriarchal, capitalist society contributes to myths about weight and health leading to anti-fat bias and harm on fat bodies. A focus on body image has limited the scope of research and Niva Piran’s Developmental Theory of Embodiment offers an alternative framework for healing normative discontent. As a woman living in a large body, the author interviewed …

“The Heart Of My Professional Work”: A Case Study Of Edd Student Experiences And Their Alignment To Program Outcomes And Graduates’ Professional Practice Needs, Khrisslyn Rae Goodman Chien

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

Goodman Chien, K. R. (2023). “The Heart of my Professional Work”: A Case Study of EdD Student Experiences and their Alignment to Program Outcomes and Graduates’ Professional Practice Needs. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to learn about the experiences of EdD graduates and how those experiences aligned with the intended outcomes of a program and graduates’ professional practice needs. This research is vital to the field because it connects current scholarship regarding EdD programs with how these programs meet the professional practice needs of participants by developing scholarly practitioners (Gigliotti et al., 2016; Kline, 2016; Rueda et …

Early Career Language Educators Experience Joy And Purpose In The Creation Of Multilingual Classroom Ecologies, Jonell Pacyga

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this phenomenological study was to intensely analyze and interpret the experiences of a select sample of early career language teachers as they reflected on their languaging interactions with their learners. To answer the research question: How do early career language teachers experience the creation of multilingual classroom ecologies?, four individuals participated by collectively providing 14 interviews, submitting 13 bi-weekly journals, and sharing 17 self-selected semiotic images over a two month time period. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (Smith, 1996) was then employed using a double hermeneutic to uncover themes in each case by elucidating descriptions and then cohesively analyzing …