Education Commons^™

Curriculum For All: An Introduction To Calculus, Maggie Scott

Honors Theses

Math is one of the only subjects that builds upon itself throughout a student’s educational career. Progressing through each course, students are taught concepts that build upon each other year after year. The content is engaged with itself, yet, it’s historically taught in a non-engaging way. Through my research of math education and my experience as a math teacher, it’s apparent that the most successful math classrooms are the ones that elicit student thinking and allow for self-discovery. (Azad)

Most people have very polarized views of math. Some love it, and some hate it, but almost all students can remember …

Evaluating Oer Resources As An Inclusive Teaching Practice, Hannah Ray

Honors Theses

Open Educational Resources (OER) have become a popular alternative to traditional textbooks for university students throughout the U.S. due to their affordability and positive educational outcomes. To better determine the outcomes of OER usage, this study evaluates the implementation of OER at an individual course level and across courses at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). Student success was measured by the DFW rates, which refers to the number of students who received a grade letter of D, failed, or withdrew from the course, before and after the implementation of OER resources in various courses. At the individual course level, students’ …

The Science Of Reading And The Use Of Decodable Texts In The Classroom, Anna Hudson

Honors Theses

This honors thesis includes a definition and explanation of the Science of Reading research, decodable texts and how they are used in the classroom, my creative process in writing my own decodable text, and a copy of my original decodable text "Can Meg Get In?"

Reducing Barriers To Education Around The World: A Systematic Framework Using The Community School Model, Isabella Bejarano

Honors Theses

Proposing a systematic framework for reducing barriers to education around the world is necessary to effectifely address the multifaceted needs of global communities. The Community School Model provides one such framework which can provide evidence-based strategies for school improvement in diverse areas.

Curriculum, Knowledge, And Power: A Critical Race Approach To Content Analysis Of Social Studies Textbooks, Eliza G. Ray

Honors Theses

This study uses Critical Race Theory (CRT) as a theoretical framework to examine the portrayal of the U.S. Revolutionary War in three 5th grade social studies textbooks approved by the state of Florida’s curriculum standards. Textbooks have been a focal point for political debate, most recently influenced more by politicians than by educators. A qualitative rubric was developed to evaluate the textbooks, examining the extent to which they include a CRT telling of the Revolutionary War. This rubric was informed by the tenets of CRT in educational research as described by Solorzano and Yosso (2002). Consistent themes arose from the …

Teacher Preparedness For Integrating Dyslexia Interventions In The General Education Classroom, Eleanor Perkins

Honors Theses

This thesis features a review of the body of literature surrounding teacher knowledge dyslexia and its interventions. Several studies show teachers (both preservice and inservice) do not have a strong understanding of neither the learning disability nor effective interventions for dyslexia. Students with dyslexia benefit from explicit and systematic teaching. The following lesson plans demonstrate how to lead both large- and small-groups using dyslexia-centered strategies as a general education teacher. The ten-day unit and accompanying intervention plans are designed to specifically accommodate the needs of students with dyslexia, though even students without dyslexia are known to benefit from systematic and …

"The Blackbird Girls": Designing A Four Week Novel Unit For Upper Elementary And Middle Grades, While Navigating Teaching In An Ever-Changing Digital World, Ashley Kallhoff

Honors Theses

As a future teacher in an increasing digital world, I wanted to create an online curriculum I could use in my future classroom, students all over the world could use, and other teachers could implement in their own classroom. Taking all of this into consideration, I have designed a digital four-week, 20-day, novel unit for upper elementary and middle grades with social studies and language arts dual focus. The novel I chose was a historical fiction young adult text titled The Blackbird Girls by Anne Blankman. This novel follows the story of two young girls, one that is Jewish and …

A Collection Of Calculus Lesson Plans: Deriving The 'Why' Behind Derivatives, Kasey Brabec

Honors Theses

The traditional mathematics classroom is led with a focus on procedural understanding, with deep conceptual understanding considered to be unimportant or too difficult to teach within the allotted time. Both levels of understanding are important mathematical competencies, as it is rare for either of them to function well without accessibility to the other. The disparity between conceptual understanding and procedural understanding in the mathematics classroom is no larger than in courses like Calculus. This project is a collection of fifteen lesson plans constructed with an emphasis on conceptual understanding and the connectivity of Calculus. Each lesson plan’s overview contains the …

A Push For Historical Thinking In Elementary History Instruction, Taylor Cirone

Honors Theses

While there is research in support of historical thinking in the elementary curriculum, the results vary and this raises the question, how capable are elementary students in engaging in historical thinking? I plan to answer this question by looking at examples of historical thinking in elementary students through their experiences with a unit plan I develop with a central focus on historical inquiry. My goal is to develop a 4-day unit plan for 4th graders on Westward 4 Expansion using the MA Curriculum Frameworks for 4th grade content and NCSS historical thinking skills. I will garner feedback from Worcester area …

English Language Learners In The General Education Classroom, Jolie Crane

Honors Theses

English Language Learners are often thrown into the mix of education without much support. This work takes a look into the different ways that general education teachers can support these students while maintaining a regular classroom function.

Use Of Modeling To Support Students’ Learning Of Energy Concepts, Delaney Carone, Ashley Perkins

Honors Theses

This paper presents a method for teaching energy concepts to children to children. By implementing modeling and the predict-observe-explain method, teachers can greatly improve critical thinking skills and abstract conception capacity in young students. The main focus of this lesson is based on the disciplinary core idea of Energy, and specifically on 4-PS3-1: Use evidence to construct an explanation relating the speed of an object to the energy of that object (NGSS Lead States, 2012). Aligned with the Next Generation Science Standard 4.PS3.1, the lesson gives examples of activities and tips on how teachers can teach students to explain how …

Indirectly And Directly Involved Students' Perspectives On Multi-Modal Communication Treatment In Persons With Aphasia, Emily Lewis

Honors Theses

Our study investigated the perspectives of students who were either directly or indirectly involved in the Multi-modal communication treatment (MCT) sessions for persons with aphasia. Two undergraduate and two graduate students were recruited from the University of Mississippi who participated in the MCT sessions. We collected their perspectives through semi-structured interviews and used thematic qualitative analysis to analyze our data. We reported themes from the indirectly involved students and the directly involved students and compared how the themes were similar and different between the indirectly and directly involved students. We discussed that both direct and indirect experience for clinical therapy …

Challenging The Canon; Teaching The Literary Canon In The High School Classroom, Abigail Baumgartner

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Motivating Students To Participate In The German As A Foreign Language Classroom, Joanna Walton

Honors Theses

This details how to motivate students in the German as a foreign language class to participate and engage in the learning process. Increasing motivation in students is a struggle with which all teachers are familiar, but teachers of foreign languages have a particular challenge because of the intimidation students feel when faced with producing assignments and content in a new language. This topic is also of interest to foreign language educators because student retention is becoming a serious problem, leading many school districts to cut smaller language programs like French and German. Maintaining an engaging classroom environment, where students participate …

Computer Adaptive Instruction And Assessment: The Story Of Prescriptive Curriculum In One Rural Mississippi School, Mary Simpson Stone

Honors Theses

The aim of this study was to discover the impact iReady, a computerized instruction and assessment software, and Ready, the software’s printed counterpart, have had on English/Language Arts teachers at School D (pseudonym). School D is part of the Achieving Success School District (pseudonym) which is located in Town X (pseudonym) in rural Mississippi. This study uses a mixed methods approach to understand teachers’ perceptions of iReady software and Ready curriculum in general as well as teachers’ perceptions of how the implementation of the program affected themselves and their students. The findings and implications recorded in this study are a …

Educating Elementary Students About Nutrition: An After-School Club Curriculum, Morgan Gurwell

Honors Theses

This creative project was created to serve as a 10-week afterschool club curriculum for 3rd-5th graders to teach them about nutrition and healthy eating patterns. The goal of the program is to help kids establish a foundation for healthy eating that they can utilize throughout their lives, potentially reducing their risk of developing chronic diseases as an adult. Information presented during the program is a representation of the key components of the USDA MyPlate and the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The curriculum aims to teach these concepts by breaking down the different food groups, reading nutrition facts labels, and …

Analyzing Mental Health Curriculums: Recommendations For The Implementation Of A Mental Health Curriculum For Middle Grade Students, Lauren A. Bendheim

Honors Theses

Adolescent mental health has been an increasingly important topic of conversation in education policy as the American Academy of Pediatrics declared a national state of emergency for child and adolescent mental health in 2021. In this two phase study I work to understand the landscape of what mental health education looks like in the United States through interviews with policymakers, curriculum developers, and classroom instructors as well as literature research. I investigated what mental health education looks like in practice and how it is experienced by middle school students through classroom observation, student surveys, and curriculum analysis. In my research …

Using Creative Writing And Literacy To Dismantle The School To Prison Pipeline, Tyler N. Gross

Honors Theses

The primary purpose of this research was to elevate the voices of minoritized girls of color (those with intersecting identities such as being Black, Brown and/or gender nonconforming, and/or having a disability) through creative writing and literacy, by engaging them in a process of inquiry that allowed them to creatively express themselves and to share their experiences within the school-to-prison pipeline. Using creative writing and a curriculum that the researcher created, the young women participating in various activities that helped them share their experiences and allowed them to think about countering the narrative about young girls of color and with …

Discovering The Formation Of Sound, Michelle L. Andrus, Catherine Scott

Honors Theses

Sound is a part of everyday life. We use it when talking to others, listening to music, and even to know when food is ready in the microwave. Therefore, it is critical that students learn about sound and how it functions. In this lesson, a first-grade students explore sound through a variety of make-shift instruments and are introduced to the different elements of sound.

Montessori Education: Teaching Self-Regulation Through Virtual Instruction, Brooke M. Myers, Catherine Scott

Honors Theses

One of the hallmarks of a Montessori education is the development of children’s social and emotional regulation skills. However, what happens when the Montessori curriculum is interrupted due to the onset of COVID-19? Does the transition to online learning impact student opportunities for social and emotional self-regulation? This case study attempts to examine the ways in which a school’s four lower and upper elementary Montessori teachers adjust their instruction to meet student needs online, and the benefits and challenges they experienced as a result. Findings are shared, as well as implications for those engaged in virtual instruction of K-6 students.

Esperanza Rising And Identity: Exploring Literature And Self In Upper Elementary School, Emma Fuller

Honors Theses

Upper elementary students benefit from exposure to windows and mirrors in literature. The term “mirrors” refers to when students can relate to characters and situations, and see their own lives valued in an academic context. Mirrors are important for representation in schools because it allows students to reflect on their own learning. “Windows” allow students to see a perspective into other people’s lives. They are important because they encourage reflection on different ideas and empathy among students. One of many literary works with strong “windows” and “mirrors” is Pam Munoz Ryan’s Esperanza Rising. In this Senior Project, I focused on …

The Relationship Between Classroom Distractions And Off-Task Students, Ashton Harrison, Kathryn E. Wojnar

Honors Theses

Classroom distractions occur on a daily basis and prevent students from being fully engaged with their teacher’s instruction. In this session, elementary education candidates discuss the results of a study in which they documented the sources of students’ inattention.

Critical Thinking In Curriculum: Designing An Instrument To Measure Identified Features, Claire Gershon

Honors Theses

Critical thinking is an increasingly important skill in our society and should be cultivated through education. Therefore, the curricula used in our schools should support students in developing critical thinking skills. This study aims to understand what aspects of curricula promote critical thinking, how to measure it, and whether or not current curricula meet these standards. After reviewing the literature, elements of curricula were identified as beneficial in promoting critical thinking. In teacher curricula materials, these are educative features such as identifying misconceptions, explanations of how to use formative assessment, and explanations of pedagogy. In student curricula materials, these educative …

Teacher Perceptions Of Open Educational Resources In K-12 Mississippi Classrooms, Christie Forgette

Honors Theses

In this thesis, I examine K-12 teachers’ perceptions and use of open educational resources (OER) in Mississippi. I used a mixed methods approach to collect data from current teachers at one Mississippi school district. I conducted interviews with, observed, and surveyed 34 teachers at this district. I coded and analyzed the data to draw conclusions. I found that teachers were using OER as supplemental materials in this district, even if they did not know the term OER. Additionally, teachers generally found OER increased flexibility and student engagement in the classroom, especially when paired with technology, but saw several challenges to …

Teacher Evaluation Of An Integrated Nutrition Curriculum For Mississippi Schools, Janiya A. Davis

Honors Theses

The prevalence of childhood obesity in the United States has more than tripled over the last four decades from 5 percent in 1978 to 18.5 percent in 2016, and according to the Mississippi Obesity Action Plan, 40.4% of Mississippi elementary school children (grades K-5) were either overweight or obese. Some reports have suggested that Mississippi’s overall obesity rate could reach 66.7% by 2030. Although the literature on best practices for the prevention of this condition is limited, some success has been achieved through the use of school-based nutrition interventions, in which children are taught how to make healthy food choices. …

Curriculum Coaches: Pre-Service Teachers Opinions And Perceptions Within The Field Of Education, Brooke Ann Mcintyre, Catherine Scott

Honors Theses

The role of a curriculum coach in the PK-12 school system is a valuable one; the curriculum coach can provide mentoring and instructional supports to new teachers as they enter the field. The importance of this aid can be easily overlooked, nonetheless, because teachers are often unaware of the type of support that is available to them. In this study, a survey was administered to preservice teacher education students at a liberal arts institution in the southeast to evaluate their perceptions of curriculum coaches and their role in the classroom. Findings are shared and implications discussed for both school systems …

Motivation In The Mathematics Classroom, Evan Thornton-Kolbe

Honors Theses

Mathematics has always seemed to be an unpopular subject amongst primary and secondary students in the United States. This project seeks to identify the roots of these attitudes and examine them in ways that allow for personal reflection, community building, and student advocacy. An individual’s access to educational resources and equitable treatment play a large role in shaping their mathematics learning identity. This topic was examined via traditional research methods for the written paper portion and also includes a set of lesson plans for teachers to use. These lesson plans utilize the ideas discussed in the paper portion to provide …

Engagement And Computational Thinking Through Creative Coding, Dana Hoppe

Honors Theses

Rising enrollments in Computer Science pose an opportunity to engage students from diverse backgrounds and interests; and a challenge to deliver on positive learning outcomes. While student engagement is the driving factor for increased learning performance and retention, it has been declining to new lows for Computer Science students in recent years. In order to further explore the potential of contextualized computing as a tool for increasing engagement in computing and developing Computational Thinking aptitude in students, we have developed an introductory computing course contextualized with Art and Design with modules centered around guiding pedagogical principles and aimed at middle …

Structured And Unstructured Movement In Elementary School Classrooms: Effects On Student Performance, Savannah E. Watson

Honors Theses

Research has shown the benefits of movement for adults and children alike. Not only are there physical benefits to movement, including physical fitness and health, there are also mental benefits. In this study, the researchers sought to discover how movement impacts student performance on exit slips and assessments given during a unit of instruction.

Reading Between The Lines: Exploring Literacy, The Science Of Reading, And The R.I.S.E. Initiative, Ashly Stracener

Honors Theses

I am passionate about the topic of literacy and believe it is a fundamental human right. Through my thesis, I explore why literacy is so important for individuals and society as a whole by exploring the history of how reading has been taught, how the science of reading has impacted how reading is now taught, such as with Arkansas's new Reading Initiative for Student Excellence reading initiative. Ultimately, by exploring the process of reading and the new initiative, I want to provide a new and deeper appreciation for the value of literacy.