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Articles 1 - 30 of 168
Full-Text Articles in Education
Promoting More Play In Kindergarten, Sarah Hofland
Promoting More Play In Kindergarten, Sarah Hofland
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
Kindergarten has changed immensely over the years. It is currently driven by academic standards. Kindergarten teachers use much of the day to implement direct instruction and seat work to meet the higher demands in reading and math. The problem is that this type of learning is not developmentally appropriate for kindergarteners. Research shows that play is the central way in which children at the kindergarten age learn. To be developmentally appropriate, this school improvement plan aims at initiating more time spent playing during the kindergarten day.
Does Pre-Selected Technology-Based Games Improve Alphabet Knowledge In Preschoolers Compared To Peer Learning Small Groups?, Nicole Gray
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
The purpose of this action research project was to determine if peer-learning strategies increases student alphabet recognition at the preschool grade level more than computer-based literacy programs. Data from 14 preschool students was included in this seven week investigation in which students in the groups learned early literacy utilizing the literacy curriculum Fundataions. Students were split into two research groups, one utilizing peer-learning strategies and games, and the other utilizing a computer-based literacy app. Quantitative data consisting of pre-and post-test data was collected over seven weeks. Data examined number of uppercase and lowercase letters identified. After the seven weeks of …
Implementation Of Star To Support Students With Disabilities, Lexis Barkema
Implementation Of Star To Support Students With Disabilities, Lexis Barkema
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
This paper examines the use of a comprehensive autism program in a school district, looking specifically at an elementary school in North Central Iowa. The school does a great job of providing support and interventions for students with autism, disabilities, and specific learning needs with the resources they currently have available to them. This school improvement plan provides a detailed outline of using a comprehensive autism program to better serve and meet the needs of students in their specific need areas. The plan will provide professional development, support, and resources for teachers and paraprofessionals who are implementing the program.
Strengthening The Home And School Partnership: An Improvement Plan To Educate Parents On Child Development And School Initiatives, Jennifer N. Robinson
Strengthening The Home And School Partnership: An Improvement Plan To Educate Parents On Child Development And School Initiatives, Jennifer N. Robinson
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
This school improvement plan considers the implementation of a parent education program. Following the review of literature that proves the significance of parental involvement to increase academic achievement and improve social-emotional development, a needs assessment was established that displays a lack of parental understanding on new education initiatives and child development. With the addition of a parent education component, the home and school partnership will be strengthened ultimately increasing student achievement, improving student behavior, alleviating teaching burnout, and improving overall education.
The Impact Of Small-Group Multisensory Instructional Techniques On Kindergarteners’ Letter Sound Knowledge, Karly Walker
The Impact Of Small-Group Multisensory Instructional Techniques On Kindergarteners’ Letter Sound Knowledge, Karly Walker
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
This action research was driven by the researcher’s interest in multisensory instructional techniques and the effect it can have on kindergarten students’ letter sound knowledge to aid in strengthening pre-reading skills. The researcher compared results of a control (traditional learning) group versus a treatment (multisensory learning) group of eight at-risk students while monitoring progress weekly using FastBridge earlyReading letter sound subtest. The research was conducted to analyze the effectiveness of multisensory instruction within small group learning. The researcher used a four-way factorial design test to analyze the control and the treatment group’s pre- and post-test scores in letter sound fluency. …
The Developing Independence Of Toddlers, Maggie Harbaugh
The Developing Independence Of Toddlers, Maggie Harbaugh
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
This action research project was driven by the researcher’s interest in whether three-year-old children exhibited more negative behaviors then two-year-old children. The researcher used two different types of surveys for mothers and teachers to answer. This survey took 5-10 minutes to complete, and they had two weeks to complete it. The research was conducted to see which age of children displayed worse behaviors. The researcher is an assistant director in her 10th year of teaching early childhood students. The findings showed that two-year-olds have more behavior problems then three-year-olds have.
Effects Of Parental Involvement On Academics, Jessica Stamer
Effects Of Parental Involvement On Academics, Jessica Stamer
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
A child needs their parents to be involved in their educational experience to support social emotional growth and academic growth during the developmental years of their life. It is no surprise that there are many issues that come from little parental involvement. In order to have the optimal parental involvement, educators must encourage involvement through a variety of ways based on the needs to the families in their classroom. Districts must have set plans, support, and encouragement for staff in place to ensure this goal is being met.
Implementing Play-Based Learning, Brooke Patton
Implementing Play-Based Learning, Brooke Patton
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
This school improvement plan discusses play-based learning (PBL), a subject often debated within an early childhood setting. This plan will review current research to define what play- based learning is and the impact PBL learning has on the development of preschool and kindergarten students. Research shows that PBL learning can be highly effective for academic growth and that children learn best in this type of setting. PBL lets children make connections between their personal lives and their environment. In addition, it provides children with joyful experiences associated with their learning, adds motivation, and keeps children’s attention. Consistent, intentional planning that …
Preschool Approach To Teaching Alphabet Knowledge, Ashley Kreinbrink
Preschool Approach To Teaching Alphabet Knowledge, Ashley Kreinbrink
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
This action research project was completed by a researcher interested in the alphabet knowledge curriculum. More specifically, in the study of letters, and how to incorporate the relationship of uppercase and lowercase identification, letter sounds awareness, sound placements, and writing letter formation as critical components of an alphabet knowledge curriculum. This researcher taught preschool for thirteen years. The students were able to participate in the study. Students received Enhanced Alphabet Knowledge (EAK) lessons daily. The study was part of our priority standards aligned to the Iowa Early Learning Standards and Teaching Strategies GOLD. The students were asked to identify uppercase …
Developing Communication Skills In Preschoolers, Andrea Schlotman
Developing Communication Skills In Preschoolers, Andrea Schlotman
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
This school improvement plan looks at how the implementation of a Functional Communication Training Program in preschool classrooms can improve academics, social skills, and eliminate challenging behaviors. The literature review examines research that details the importance of communication and social skills curriculum for young learners. Children who can communicate effectively are less likely to display disruptive behaviors and are more likely to succeed in building strong relationships throughout their academic careers.
Addressing The Behavioral And Emotional Needs Of Elementary School Students: A School Improvement Project, Katherine Ross
Addressing The Behavioral And Emotional Needs Of Elementary School Students: A School Improvement Project, Katherine Ross
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
Elementary school students are found to have increased behavioral and emotional needs require support above and beyond the scope of a general educator's capabilities. Research indicates the need for additional teacher training in the areas of adolescent behavioral disorders and trauma informed care in order for them to provide the best possible education, academically and socially. School counselors are often called upon to address student social emotional needs, however classroom teachers are typically the first to notice when a student needs access to additional support and also spend the most time with students; this school improvement plan addresses the necessity …
Major Components Needed In A Literacy Curriculum To Promote Student Success, Brooke Smith
Major Components Needed In A Literacy Curriculum To Promote Student Success, Brooke Smith
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
This school improvement plan focuses on what components are beneficial in a literacy curriculum to promote success in students' reading skills and improve FAST Test scores. Research has found phonics, phonemic awareness, comprehension, fluency, vocabulary, writing, and science of reading concepts should be included in a literacy curriculum to be effective. These components will help find a new literacy curriculum for a school district. In all success, an effective literacy curriculum will be found with creating a system to look through to find an effective literacy curriculum, piloting, and analyzing data. The objective in the end is to discover a …
Improving Trauma-Informed Practices In A School System, Maria Sloniker
Improving Trauma-Informed Practices In A School System, Maria Sloniker
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
According to research, trauma informed practices have faced disconnect when educating stakeholders who work directly with individuals who have faced a variety of traumatic events. With such disconnect, staff in the school systems have been unable to stay educated on the different resources available and training on best practices used. Administrators being present and working together to provide more effective professional development to help both students and staff who are directly impacted by trauma and trauma informed practices. Current research has supported the lack of knowledge and increase of teacher burnout when working with individuals who have faced adversity. A …
Using Restorative Practice To Decrease Behavior And Increase School Community, Kaylee West
Using Restorative Practice To Decrease Behavior And Increase School Community, Kaylee West
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
The purpose of this school improvement plan (SIP) is to address the student behavioral concerns at Huntington Elementary School using restorative practices. Studies suggest that restorative practices can improve student behavior and social emotional skills. The restorative practices that the author intends for the school to use are described within the plan. The SIP aims to use training on restorative practices and restorative circles to improve school culture, community, and student behaviors.
Improving Reading Comprehension And Vocabulary For English Language Learners, Rachael Vande Hoef
Improving Reading Comprehension And Vocabulary For English Language Learners, Rachael Vande Hoef
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
Research on the education of English Language Learners (ELL) has shown that ELL students underperform native English speakers academically. Right from the start, students’ home language impacts school readiness amongst ELL students. Fortunately, implementing vocabulary and reading interventions is successful in closing learning gaps among ELL students. The implementation of a blended learning approach has been found to increase literary gains among ELL students. Given this research, a school improvement plan was developed to enhance the literary gains of ELL students. This multi-faceted plan involves teacher collaboration, parental engagement, vocabulary and reading interventions, as well as a blended learning approach.
Improving Understanding Of Mathematics Concepts In Kindergarten Students Through Movement Integration, Kendall Stallings
Improving Understanding Of Mathematics Concepts In Kindergarten Students Through Movement Integration, Kendall Stallings
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
This action research project stemmed from the noticeable benefit of movement woven throughout the Wilson Fundations curriculum in developing early phonemic awareness. Knowing that kindergarteners have a natural inclination to move, this project aimed to determine whether similar benefits of movement could be garnered in mathematics instruction by boosting number sense and fact fluency. Participants completed an end-of-unit assessment and then received instruction with movement integration for the following unit before completing its endof- unit assessment. Assessment scores were converted into the school’s grading scale of M, W, or B, and a chi-square test of association was used to determine …
Implementing Changes In Family Childcare Programs To Increase Social-Emotional Development And Decrease Negative Behavior, Julia Green
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
The purpose of this action research project was to determine if implementing environmental and instructional changes in an-home family childcare program would increase children’s social-emotional development as well as decrease negative behaviors exhibited. An assessment of social-emotional skills was conducted prior to the research using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ). The researcher observed staff members implement changes in the childcare program over four weeks, with one change each week. Following the four-week implementation period, the researcher conducted three weeks of observations to determine how the changes affected the children’s social-emotional development and behavior. A second ASQ assessment was conducted …
Implementing Social-Emotional Supports With Coaching In A Preschool Program, Ashley Harvey
Implementing Social-Emotional Supports With Coaching In A Preschool Program, Ashley Harvey
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
Research findings show that coaching paired with professional development around a set of identified instructional practices is one way to increase teacher use of these practices. Combining coaching and professional development can be used to train teachers in the Pyramid Model. Studies show that effective Pyramid Model implementation can positively improve student relationships and adult-to-student relationships as well as increase positive behaviors in schools. With these research findings in mind, a school improvement plan was created to add professional development opportunities on the use of Pyramid Model Practices to improve social-emotional instruction in a preschool program in Eastern Iowa. Executing …
Social Emotional Learning In Early Childhood: A School Improvement Project, Madi Callan
Social Emotional Learning In Early Childhood: A School Improvement Project, Madi Callan
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
This article looks at how the implementation of a social-emotional curriculum can improve academics, behavior, and school climate at the early childhood level. The articles examine research from twenty research papers to communicate a need for a social-emotional curriculum and outline a plan for the implementation of a school-wide social-emotional curriculum.
Student Inclusion In The Least Restrictive Environment, Jennifer Grossman
Student Inclusion In The Least Restrictive Environment, Jennifer Grossman
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
This school improvement project explores student inclusion in the general education environment. Inclusion is an important topic in schools and is important to discuss. Inclusion is defined and explained. This school improvement project will explore the problem, leadership assistance, differentiated instruction, and implementation of inclusion in the least restrictive environment. Inclusion is imperative to student success in the inclusive environment. An analysis of inclusion suggests students with varying abilities be included in as much of the general education environment in order to succeed in social and academic domains. Results of inclusion in the general education environment indicate that students with …
Foundational Literacy Programs Affect Fast Scores, Courtney Stekl
Foundational Literacy Programs Affect Fast Scores, Courtney Stekl
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
This action research study investigated if there is a relationship between the implementation of a foundational literacy intervention in the first grade classroom and the results of the earlyReading (FAST) scores. This action researched answered the question: Is the foundational literacy intervention programs affecting earlyReading FAST scores? First grade students were participating in various literacy programs that focused on phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, comprehension, writing, and language. This action research study was conducted throughout the 2022-2023 school year. Data was collected through two out of the three FAST assessments in the school year.
Efficacy Of Discrete Trial Training, Paula Ahlrich
Efficacy Of Discrete Trial Training, Paula Ahlrich
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
This action research was driven by the researcher’s interest in Autism and Discrete Trial Training- specifically the efficacy of implementation and the generalization of skills learned into the classroom. The researcher is a preschool teacher in her 15th year of Early Childhood education. The 4-week intervention was conducted during specially designed instruction, but also how those skills taught have been displayed during large and small group time. Throughout the 4 weeks progress was monitored using the CBTU recording sheets and DTT steps. Findings revealed common generalization of skills when the student was presented with the cue outside of the trial …
Sccs Tinley Cultural Relationships School Improvement Plan, Rebecca D. Rael
Sccs Tinley Cultural Relationships School Improvement Plan, Rebecca D. Rael
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
This school improvement plan (SIP) aims to identify and implement tangible practices to welcome families of color to the SCCS Tinley Park Campus and create pathways for cultural discussions to begin and grow within the school community. The plan also includes lesson plan materials in the form of tips and guidelines for conversation starters, a list of notable living people of color, technology resources and books for teachers to use in the classroom as they model and scaffold multicultural relationship building amongst students. This SIP also seeks to answer the question “What are effective strategies for increasing parent engagement from …
Supporting Play In The Preschool Classroom With Visuals, Jessica Luetkemeier
Supporting Play In The Preschool Classroom With Visuals, Jessica Luetkemeier
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
Early childhood classrooms in the United States look very different today than they did a decade ago. There are a number of reasons why this changing portrait is the case; however, students entering preschool classrooms today are coming to school with less social and academic skills than in the past. Preschool teachers are feeling the pressure to have students “school ready” while also implementing developmentally appropriate practices. After surveying the research around challenges incorporating play in preschool classroom’s today, this school improvement plan suggests how to justify and support play in the preschool classroom using visuals, such as play scripts.
The Impact Of Notetaking In A Middle School History Class, Marybeth Flietstra
The Impact Of Notetaking In A Middle School History Class, Marybeth Flietstra
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
The purpose of this action research project was to determine the impact of notetaking in a 7th grade World History classroom on learning and engagement. A mixed-methods study of 36 7th grade students was used to determine significant differences between notetaking styles, student performance, and engagement during short class lectures. Post-lecture assessments, Likert-style surveys, and student notes were assessed and triangulated, while interviews and survey questions were evaluated to illustrate common themes and perceptions of notetaking. Data analysis revealed that notetaking does have some impact on both academics and engagement, however, the style of notetaking made a significant difference. Additionally, …
Play Based Learning A School Improvement Plan, Kalee Chamberlin
Play Based Learning A School Improvement Plan, Kalee Chamberlin
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
Play-based learning is a topic that is often discussed at the early childhood level. Research has shown that play-based learning can lead to success within the classroom in the areas of social-emotional skills, literacy, and mathematics. Research conducted within the Muscatine Community School District suggests that children could benefit from additional time in play-based learning opportunities. This school improvement plan describes in detail the process needed to implement a plan to increase the amount of time spent in play-based learning opportunities within the preschool classroom.
Conscious Discipline For Parent, Amber Brown
Conscious Discipline For Parent, Amber Brown
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
Conscious Discipline is a universal comprehensive program combining social-emotional wellbeing into our everyday lives by enhancing the social-emotional skills of administrators, teachers, students and families. Collaboration is the key for Conscious Discipline to be effective. In order to change others, we must first change ourselves. This program uses evidence-based research to help overall improvement for all people involved. It has been known to be a traumainformed approach to learning about ourselves in others to the best of our ability.
The Effects Of Social-Emotional Learning Strategies On Promoting Positive Behavior In Elementary School Students, Lea Adams
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
The focus of this action research was to appropriately implement social emotional learning into a small classroom environment. The lessons were aimed to assist students and foster positive behaviors both inside and outside the classroom environment. Participants participated in a four-week study. The research participants consisted of 17 girls and boys within a classroom. This classroom environment had a total of 11 boys and 6 girls, in Honolulu, Hawaii. The study also included four specialist teachers (Hawaiian, Japanese, Computer Science, and Physical Education), the homeroom teacher, and the school counselor. During the intervention, each class engaged in daily morning meetings, …
The Benefits Of Parent-Teacher Collaboration On Achievement In The Preschool Classroom, Samantha Frye
The Benefits Of Parent-Teacher Collaboration On Achievement In The Preschool Classroom, Samantha Frye
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
This action research project was conducted to identify a correlation between parent-teacher collaboration and student achievement in the preschool classroom. Baseline data was gathered from the preschool student’s using fall Individual Development and Growth Indicators (IDGI) benchmark scores. Opportunities for parent-teacher collaboration began with monthly newsletters sent out on the classroom webpage, parent-teacher conferences, and signed homework assignments. Parent-teacher engagement was tracked through a tally system. A spreadsheet kept track of the number of communications that parents engaged in, as well as the type of communication. All students were progress monitored within each two week session using the IDGI’s progress …
Unplugged Learning In The Kindergarten Computer Science Classroom, Ashley Robinson
Unplugged Learning In The Kindergarten Computer Science Classroom, Ashley Robinson
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
The purpose of this action research study was to determine the impact of teaching computer science to kindergarten using only unplugged learning rather than plugged or a mixture of plugged and unplugged learning on engagement. Participants included 71 kindergarten and transitional kindergarten students in a public school in rural central Iowa. Data was collected through behavior and off-task reminder tallies, as well as assessment data over nine classes equal to a trimester’s number of computer science classes. Students were taught using either strictly unplugged methods using games, books, manipulatives, and movement or a plugged/online curriculum using online puzzles and videos, …