Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
- Keyword
-
- Education (10)
- Mexican Americans--Education (10)
- Bilingual--Texas (7)
- English language learners (5)
- Language and education--United States (4)
-
- College students--Texas--Brownsville (2)
- Elementary--Texas (2)
- Language and culture (2)
- South--Case studies (2)
- Teacher effectiveness (2)
- ASL (1)
- Academic achievement (1)
- Academic achievement--Texas (1)
- Academic achievement--Texas--Brownsville (1)
- Academic achievement--Texas--Brownsville--Case studies (1)
- Academic writing--Education (1)
- Adequate Formal Schooling (1)
- At-risk youth (1)
- Breastfeeding promotion--Texas (1)
- Breastfeeding--Education--Texas (1)
- Chemistry (1)
- College Assistance Migrant Program (1)
- College aspirations (1)
- College preparation programs (1)
- College readiness (1)
- College teaching--Texas--Brownsville--Evaluation (1)
- Computer-assisted instruction--Texas--Brownsville--Evaluation (1)
- Course design (1)
- Curriculum evaluation--Texas (1)
- Distance education--Texas--Brownsville--Evaluation (1)
Articles 1 - 24 of 24
Full-Text Articles in Education
Latina Mothers' Expectations And Perceptions About A Dual Language Education In The Rio Grande Valley, Rosalinda A. Cobarrubias
Latina Mothers' Expectations And Perceptions About A Dual Language Education In The Rio Grande Valley, Rosalinda A. Cobarrubias
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
The initial purpose of this study was to identify Latino parents’ expectations and perceptions of a dual language program in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. All of the Latino parents of children in one dual language program were invited to participate in the study. The parents who agreed to participate in the study were all mothers. Consequently, only the perceptions and expectations of Latina mothers were explored. The chosen method of this study was qualitative research to explore the expectations and perceptions of the dual language program of twenty Latina mothers of Mexican descent. There were eleven English dominant Latina …
Exploring English Language Learners' Identity Negotiation In A Sixth Grade English Language Arts Classroom, Carolina G. Lopez
Exploring English Language Learners' Identity Negotiation In A Sixth Grade English Language Arts Classroom, Carolina G. Lopez
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
Secondary schools in the United States are filled with English language learners. The large amount of English Language Learners (ELLs) represent a diverse population with unique academic trajectories and language needs. The diversity among ELLs requires an examination of ELLs’ identity, as it relates to literacy development and achievement. This qualitative study explores how different types of ELLs negotiate identities in an English language arts classroom. Specifically, how different types of ELLs’ perceptions as readers and writers impact identity negotiation is analyzed. The study takes place in a sixth grade English language arts classroom in deep South Texas. It is …
Professional Learning Communities And School Culture: A Case Of Study In District-Wide Implementation Of A Plc, Jaime Lopez
Professional Learning Communities And School Culture: A Case Of Study In District-Wide Implementation Of A Plc, Jaime Lopez
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
The purpose of this study is to explore what influence a school district’s transformation to a PLC had on culture. In particular, the study examined what dimensions of a PLC are evident, how the district approached the change process, and its influence on student achievement. The methodology employed in this study is a Type 2 single-case study. Data regarding this district’s implementation of a PLC, and its influence on school culture was gathered via sources of evidence common in case study research; survey, documents, archival records, direct observations, and interviews. In summary, the findings suggest the following; (1) PLC work …
The Relationship Between Social Presence, Student Satisfaction And Academic Achievement In Fully Online Asynchronous Courses, Martin Rodriguez
The Relationship Between Social Presence, Student Satisfaction And Academic Achievement In Fully Online Asynchronous Courses, Martin Rodriguez
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
The purpose of the study was to describe the strength and direction of the relationship between social presence and student success as measured by student satisfaction and academic achievement in fully online asynchronous courses. A correlational research design was utilized to study the relationship between social presence, student satisfaction, and academic achievement. The participants in this study are a convenience sample of 104 undergraduate level students enrolled in fully online asynchronous courses at The University of Texas at Brownsville from August to December 2014. The data for the participants’ perception of social presence and student satisfaction were elicited through two …
Stakeholders' Perceptions Of Parental Involvement And Home-School Connections In A South Texas Border Town, Cynthia A. Lopez
Stakeholders' Perceptions Of Parental Involvement And Home-School Connections In A South Texas Border Town, Cynthia A. Lopez
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
Latinos have a high amount of individuals residing in poverty, and, yet, are still the fastest growing minority group in the nation (Gandara & Contreras, 2009; National Council of La Raza, 2014). For some families, living in poverty and the need to earn a living prevents parents from being actively involved in their children’s education (Moreno & Gaytan, 2013). Therefore, the need to form alliances with parents is critical. Partnerships with parents must be formed to better understand the necessities of these children. Consequently, educators should convey to parents the significance of forming links between the home and school. Moreover, …
Evaluation Of An Educational Breastfeeding Program For A Non-Profit Agency In South Texas, Marcela Urbina Zavala
Evaluation Of An Educational Breastfeeding Program For A Non-Profit Agency In South Texas, Marcela Urbina Zavala
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
Breastfeeding has been recognized as the most cost effective practice to promote healthier babies among populations (Dennis, 2002). The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effect of an educational breastfeeding and a prenatal + breastfeeding program for individuals attending group classes and to compare the differences between Spanish only and English only versions of the curriculum. Two research questions were stated to know if there were significant differences between pre and post-tests scores and if there were any significant differences in the impact of the intervention between English only and Spanish only versions of the classes. The present …
Examining The Perceptions Of Trust Between Principals And Teachers In Elementary Schools With High Student Academic Achievement, Gabriela Rodriguez
Examining The Perceptions Of Trust Between Principals And Teachers In Elementary Schools With High Student Academic Achievement, Gabriela Rodriguez
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship of trust between principals and teachers. The problem identified that few scholars have examined the perceptions of trust of Hispanic Teachers and Administrators to determine if there are similarities or differences, and how this is sustained to improve student achievement. The reviewed literature argues that school administrators need to carefully assess if their interactions include characteristics of building trust because it may be related to student academic achievement. This research study was quantitative and conducted in Brownsville, Texas in Cameron County. The Brownsville ISD is comprised of 37 elementary schools …
The Relationship Between Course Design, Sense Of Community, And Student Achievement Of Students In Online Courses, Maria Eugenia Perez-Butron
The Relationship Between Course Design, Sense Of Community, And Student Achievement Of Students In Online Courses, Maria Eugenia Perez-Butron
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
The number of students enrolled in at least one online course reached nearly 6.7 million for the 2011-2012 academic year, which represents around 32% of the total enrollment (Allen & Seaman, 2013). As more higher education institutions offer online courses, it is necessary to further study course design and effective online strategies. Numerous researchers (LaPointe & Reisetter, 2008; Liu, et al., 2007; Ouzts, 2006; Rovai, 2002a) have established that high-quality online learning fosters a strong sense of community among its members. The purpose of this study is to describe the strength and direction of the relationship between online course design …
Role-Identity Prominence Of The 'Migrant' Role-Identity In Migrant College Students, Raul Garza
Role-Identity Prominence Of The 'Migrant' Role-Identity In Migrant College Students, Raul Garza
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
The manner by which persons act upon, shape, and change social structure are central areas of study in sociological social psychology. Modification of social structure may be accomplished by persons creatively reacting to social roles. Through processes of legitimation, persons are provided various rewards and these, in turn, establish and hierarchically order a combination of role-identities collectively comprising the self. This ordering of role-identities, termed role-identity prominence, potentially impacts choices for alternative courses of action. This research empirically measures role-identity prominence of college students who have conducted agricultural migrant work. It empirically assesses the level of prominence for the migrant …
Cross Case Analysis Of Three Middle School Mathematics Teachers, Sandra Quiroz
Cross Case Analysis Of Three Middle School Mathematics Teachers, Sandra Quiroz
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
This cross-case analysis was designed to investigate the instructional practices middle school mathematics teachers use in classes with English language learners (ELLs); how the different practices result in differential student achievement; the types of professional development middle school mathematics teachers attend; and what effect the mathematics teachers’ academic background have on the academic achievement of ELLs. The study was facilitated by the use of data from lesson plans, observations, interviews, academic background, and professional development sessions for three seventh-grade mathematics teachers and their students’ proficiency on the seventh-grade mathematics state achievement. Investigation of the lesson plans, observations and classroom culture …
The Effects Of Labeling Hispanic English Language Learners As Learning Disabled, Sandra Irma Rodriguez
The Effects Of Labeling Hispanic English Language Learners As Learning Disabled, Sandra Irma Rodriguez
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
English language learners (ELLs) are often placed in special education due to lack of knowledge on the part of educators of the language acquisition process and because of the pressures educators face to meet state and federal accountability standards. Once in special education, many students’ experiences lead to negative outcomes for those students including stigmatization, inadequate academic preparation, and few opportunities for a successful professional career potential. The purpose of this cross case study was to investigate the effects of labeling English language learners as learning disabled (LD). Three ELLs with normal intelligence who were labeled as LD and placed …
Knowledge, Skills, And Dispositions Influencing Middle School Teachers' Decision Making In Planning Social Studies Instruction In A Hispanic Serving School, Angela Gonzalez
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
The issue of highly qualified teachers as the key to improving the educational system in the United States has become a primary focus in education. The federal educational policy No Child Left Behind Act 2001, describes what it means to be a highly qualified teacher in core subject areas, and all states are required to use this criterion for defining what teachers should know, and be able to do. Accordingly, certified teachers in today’s public school classrooms must possess the knowledge, skills, and dispositions so that all students, including those students who have been historically disadvantaged and those who are …
Second Grade Ell's Emic Perspective Of An Afterschool Reading Program: An Interactional Ethnographic Study Of Reading Opportunities And Social Construction Of Second Grade Ell's Read Alouds, Susana S. Saldivar
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
The purpose of this research was to uncover what counts as reading to second grade ELLs (English Language Learners) in a non-graded, afterschool reading program. I used an interactional ethnographic epistemological research approach. I video-and audio-taped twentyfour afterschool reading lessons, took fieldnotes, conducted semi-structured interviews, and collected artifacts. The thirteen participants were ELLs, from low socioeconomic backgrounds, and of Mexican-American descent. First, I identified children’s opportunities on an event map. Next, I analyzed moment-by-moment discourse analysis of read alouds from the beginning and end of the program. Finally, I made visible what counted as reading from participants’ discourse through domain …
A Third Grade Bilingual Teacher's Knowledge And Practices For Developing Reading Comprehension, Miriam Guerra
A Third Grade Bilingual Teacher's Knowledge And Practices For Developing Reading Comprehension, Miriam Guerra
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
The purpose of this study was to examine teacher knowledge and practices for teaching reading comprehension to English language learners and socio-economically disadvantaged students in a third grade bilingual class. This study uses a conceptual framework of pedagogical content knowledge to investigate how kinds of content knowledge and pedagogical practices interact to create the teacher’s special way of knowing how to teach comprehension to her students. This study uses a case study methodology to investigate what the teacher knows and how her knowledge is enacted in her teaching practices. This case study provided an in-depth perspective of teacher knowledge. Through …
Improving Academic Writing Skills Among Undergraduates At A Hispanic Serving University In South Texas With Cooperative Learning, Scaffolded Instruction, And Formative Feedback, Lori Wells
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
Three teaching strategies: scaffolded instruction, cooperative learning, and formative feedback were analyzed to determine their effectiveness in improving academic writing skills among undergraduates at a Hispanic serving university in south Texas. Hispanic youth in the United States are graduating from high school and college at significantly lower rates than students from all other ethnic backgrounds. This mixed methods study was conducted during the spring semester of 2011. Forty-six students from two education classes participated. Data from a pre and post test survey, writing samples, and interviews were analyzed. Positive gains were seen in all areas of academic writing, but larger …
First Language Use By Adequate Formal Schooling Adult English Language Learners In A University English Language Institute, Joel S. Garza
First Language Use By Adequate Formal Schooling Adult English Language Learners In A University English Language Institute, Joel S. Garza
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
In their pursuit of a better way of life, immigrants who arrive in this country are faced with many challenges. One important challenge is their need to adapt to a new society that requires them to learn English as a second language (ESL). As adult learners enter ESL programs, they are confronted with a common sense belief that the exclusion of their native language (L1) and the exclusive use of the target language (TL) in their instruction is the best approach to learn English. Whether immigrant students are educated or not in their home countries, they face the double task …
Dropout Prevention: Factors Contributing To The Resiliency Of At-Risk Hispanic Students And Their Pursuit Of A High School Diploma, William Roach
Dropout Prevention: Factors Contributing To The Resiliency Of At-Risk Hispanic Students And Their Pursuit Of A High School Diploma, William Roach
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
Dropping out of high school has become a reality for far too many Hispanic high school students. Some estimates have the Hispanic dropout rate at close to 50% (Stutz & Hobbs, 2008). Research on factors contributing to this high dropout rate is well documented and schools across the nation are well aware of the problem. But in spite of this knowledge, the dropout epidemic persists. The purpose of this study was to determine, from a student perspective, what can be done to reduce the number of Hispanic dropouts. Forty-six at-risk Hispanic seniors in a small Texas high school along the …
The Effects Of Teaching The Academic Language Of Language Arts To Secondary Long-Term English Learners, Mary Soto
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
While the majority of English language learners are found in elementary schools, an alarming number of these students are entering secondary schools. These secondary students are long-term English learners, students who have been in U.S. schools for seven years or longer. Long-term English learners struggle with academic success, and educators need to find ways to support them. In this qualitative study, the effects of teaching academic vocabulary and concepts to 10th grade Hispanic long-term English learners in a language arts class at a large, South Texas high school were explored. The researcher observed students as they were involved in five …
Creation Of Post Ap Chemistry Class, Julian Medrano
Creation Of Post Ap Chemistry Class, Julian Medrano
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
The creation of a Post AP Chemistry Class to be taught at the high school level for grade 12 students is discussed. The class is to be taught under the supervision of the University of Texas Pan American professors and taught by an MS Chemistry teacher, in order to better transition students into upper level chemistry courses beyond Chemistry 1401 and 1402.
Educational Effects Of Implementing A K-12 Dual Language Instruction Program In A Community With A High Percentage Of Hispanics And Hispanic English Language Learners, Mario A. Ferron
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
Hispanic students have historically exhibited an educational achievement gap in a variety of indicators when compared with grade-level peers from other racial, ethnic, and linguistic backgrounds. One of the goals of bilingual education research has been the identification of programs and instructional practices that have been shown to be effective in closing the academic achievement gap for Hispanic students. Therefore, the goal of this study was to examine the academic programs available in one school district in order to identify which program was most effective in helping Hispanic students reach full educational parity with their native English speaking peers as …
A Case Study Of Spanish Language Use In A Texas Border Colonia, Maria E. Diaz
A Case Study Of Spanish Language Use In A Texas Border Colonia, Maria E. Diaz
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
This case study reveals a Spanish language marginalization in a South Texas community of mostly Latinos, who are the fastest growing group in the U.S. (Colombi & Roca, 2003); furthermore, approximately 77% of English language learners (ELLs) have Spanish as their heritage language (Hopstock & Stephenson, 2003). Nevertheless, ELLs do not receive much academic literacy support in their first language in many schools (Zehler et al., 2003). Thus, out-of- school social practices play an important role on maintaining a native language (e.g., Burrows-Goodwill, 2009; Reyes, 2006). However, researchers have not explored this phenomenon in Texas border colonias, or unincorporated areas …
Academic And Social Aspects Of Recent Immigrant Children's School Experiences In A Public Elementary School In A U.S.- Mexico Border Town In South Texas, Alicia Judith Bolt
Academic And Social Aspects Of Recent Immigrant Children's School Experiences In A Public Elementary School In A U.S.- Mexico Border Town In South Texas, Alicia Judith Bolt
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
In this study I examined school experiences of recent immigrant students who came to the Ollin South elementary school in Texas, U.S., with prior schooling in Yolitzli, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Using an ethnographic perspective, I analyzed how children and their parents and teachers described children's schooling experiences, challenges, and transition processes. I conducted semi-structured and open-ended interviews with ten students enrolled in 1st through 5th grade in a public elementary school in Ollin, Texas. I also interviewed the parents and teachers of the students to gain a broader perspective of student experiences and schooling processes on both sides of the border. …
First Generation Hispanic High School Students Going To College: Experiences That Support Decisions And College Going Pathways, Norma Ibarra-Cantú
First Generation Hispanic High School Students Going To College: Experiences That Support Decisions And College Going Pathways, Norma Ibarra-Cantú
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
In this study I examined the question: How do first generation Hispanic high school students decide to attend college? To understand how the students made college decisions and what supported their pursuit of college aspirations, I interviewed six Hispanic high school students from five different high schools in a south Texas-Mexico border town. Student participants were the first generation in their immediate family to graduate from high school and to consider going to college. I conducted qualitative open-ended interviews with each of the participants and used inductive multilayered analyses to identify how students made decisions to attend college and how …
Avid Through Student Perspectives: A Qualitative Study On Avid Students' Experiences In The Program, Aidee Vasquez
Avid Through Student Perspectives: A Qualitative Study On Avid Students' Experiences In The Program, Aidee Vasquez
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
The purpose of this research was to examine how Hispanic high school students represent their experiences in one college readiness program, Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID), which is designed to prepare students in the academic middle for four-year college. Utilizing social and cultural capital theories, I examined student perspectives on the supports AVID provided for them to gain the social and cultural capital needed for success in school and entry to college. I conducted eight forty-five minute semistructured interviews grounded in an ethnographic perspective. Eight participating AVID students came from low socioeconomic backgrounds, were Hispanics in the academic middle (GPA …