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Full-Text Articles in Education

Fostering Positive Teacher-Student Relationships In The Classroom, Mandi Lehman Dec 2022

Fostering Positive Teacher-Student Relationships In The Classroom, Mandi Lehman

Senior Honors Theses

The research in this qualitative study bases itself on the importance of positive teacher-student relationships in the classroom. Positive teacher-student relationships are critical in furthering students’ growth in the school. Teachers can take the place of a parental role in a student’s life, and positive relationships are essential to make a lasting impact on students. Teachers’ attitudes affect how they understand and build relationships with the students in their classroom, and factors such as closeness, conflict, and dependency affect these relationships. Five elementary education professors were interviewed to gain insight into the specific strategies and attitudes elementary educators need to …


More Than A Single Story: Culturally Diverse Literature And Social Inclusion In Elementary Classrooms, Amanda Works Dec 2022

More Than A Single Story: Culturally Diverse Literature And Social Inclusion In Elementary Classrooms, Amanda Works

Senior Honors Theses

This paper aims to consider the existing literature regarding culturally diverse literature, social inclusion, and children’s literature as mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors. These three concepts form a conceptual framework that supports the research study, which explored the use of culturally diverse literature and any correlation with social inclusion. Four elementary teachers participated in semi-structured interviews focused on two research questions: “What impacts the use of culturally diverse literature in elementary classrooms?” and “Does culturally diverse literature affect social inclusion in elementary classrooms?”. Through thematic, qualitative analysis, the study identified three central themes: (1) levels of choice based on …


Elementary Teachers' Self-Perceptions Of Teaching Team Effectiveness, Kelly Hank Denny Nov 2022

Elementary Teachers' Self-Perceptions Of Teaching Team Effectiveness, Kelly Hank Denny

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, predictive correlational research study is to determine if there is a relationship between individual teachers’ self-perceptions of their grade level teaching team’s effectiveness and their teaching experiences. Research related to the development of effective teaching teams to positively influence academic progress is synthesized. Theoretical frameworks include Bandura’s (1986) social cognitive theory, Senge’s (1990) learning organization model, and Tuckman’s (1965) model of group development. Convenience sampling was utilized to gather data from 77 elementary teachers working in the same southeastern school district. The Tuckman Team Maturity Questionnaire (TTMQ) was the instrument used to determine teachers’ self-perceptions …


A Phenomenological Study Of The Experiences Of Parents As They Choose The Appropriate Classroom For Their Child With High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder, Lorie Michele Mick Aug 2022

A Phenomenological Study Of The Experiences Of Parents As They Choose The Appropriate Classroom For Their Child With High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder, Lorie Michele Mick

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study is to explore the experiences and challenges of parents as they choose an appropriate classroom setting for their child with highfunctioning autism spectrum disorder (HFASD) at an elementary school. Parents of students with HFASD must grapple with this decision each year at their child’s annual IEP review meeting. The theory guiding this study is Knowles’ adult learning theory. Adult learning theory states that adults use both their personal experiences and intrinsic motivation to discover information that they need to make a decision. Ten parents of elementary-aged children diagnosed with HFASD were selected as …


The Importance Of Regional Music To Music Education: The 1927 Bristol Sessions, Valerie E. Pickard Aug 2022

The Importance Of Regional Music To Music Education: The 1927 Bristol Sessions, Valerie E. Pickard

Masters Theses

It is widely accepted that the culture in which one lives is important to his/her understanding of self. Likewise, it has been shown that a working knowledge of cultural music aids in developing one’s musical identity. Although research indicates that there appears to be a gap in cultural music education, there has been little written as to how that gap can be filled, especially with respect to Appalachian cultural music. The Southern Appalachian Mountains are rich in musical diversity. In addition to the already present Native Americans, settlers came from Ireland, Germany, Africa, and other European countries and brought with …


Exploring Elementary School Teachers' Instructional Decisions On English Language Arts Strategies For English Language Learners: A Case Study, Tameika Marie Hairston-Thomas Aug 2022

Exploring Elementary School Teachers' Instructional Decisions On English Language Arts Strategies For English Language Learners: A Case Study, Tameika Marie Hairston-Thomas

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to determine the instructional strategies and decisions that educators chose, implemented, and evaluated while teaching English Language Learners (ELL) during English Language Arts (ELA). The central research question for this study was: How do elementary teachers at Fisherton Elementary School choose, implement, and evaluate instructional strategies during English Language Arts with English Language Learners? This case study consisted of 10 educator participants at Fisherton Elementary School, a predominantly ELL school. The theory guiding this study was Bruner's (1986) constructionist theory. Data were collected for this research through a series of classroom …


A Comparative Study Of Elementary Teacher Efficacy In Christian Private Schools And Public Schools, Jasmine Floyd Aug 2022

A Comparative Study Of Elementary Teacher Efficacy In Christian Private Schools And Public Schools, Jasmine Floyd

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative causal-comparative study was to compare elementary teacher efficacy in Christian private schools and public schools to determine if there was a difference in overall efficacy, instructional strategies, classroom management, and student engagement. Teacher efficacy shapes instructional performance and student academic achievement, so a deeper study of public and Christian school teacher efficacy was significant to recognize factors present in each type of school that could impact instruction and achievement. This study consisted of a convenience sample of 229 teachers of kindergarten through fifth grade at Christian private and public schools in the southeastern United States. …


Applying Patriotic And National Songs To American Elementary Music Education Curricular Standards, Ashley Virginia Finke Jul 2022

Applying Patriotic And National Songs To American Elementary Music Education Curricular Standards, Ashley Virginia Finke

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite existing literature documenting patriotism and nationalism in education and children’s knowledge of patriotic and national songs, the impact of patriotism and nationalism in American elementary music education through patriotic and national songs has not been examined in the context of current national standards. This examination is important as knowledge of patriotism, nationalism, and patriotic and national, specifically state, songs inform individuals’ understanding of culture and national and personal identities. This study identifies educational perspectives of educational scholars, music educators, and policy makers on patriotism, nationalism, and patriotic and national songs. A qualitative design and historical approach were utilized to …


The Effects Of Charter Schools On Early Foreign Language Education In Public Schools, Cassie Kunz Apr 2022

The Effects Of Charter Schools On Early Foreign Language Education In Public Schools, Cassie Kunz

Senior Honors Theses

Education is a notoriously contentious subject in America. Controversy exists and continues to flare up over what content should be taught, how it should be taught, as well as the cost; foreign language is one such subject. The history of foreign language education in the United States (U.S.) reviews current foreign language policies and practices in the U.S. and other countries, as well as the reasons that proponents of foreign language education argue that it must be improved in the U.S. The charter school approach to education was analyzed in the context of market theory to determine if a correlation …


Oral History: A Tool For The Elementary And Middle Classroom, Jessica Keiser Apr 2022

Oral History: A Tool For The Elementary And Middle Classroom, Jessica Keiser

Senior Honors Theses

Modern historical instruction requires educators to cover broad expanses of history and prepare students for standardized testing. In the push to meet state standards and cover the vast curriculum in short periods of time, many educators have begun to teach to the textbook. Much to the detriment of students, this educational practice has favored periodization and content quantity over the development of crucial historical skills. Rather than adhering to popular education trends, teachers can consider implementing oral history projects within their elementary and middle school classrooms. Oral history is a methodology that employs first-hand accounts to teach about key historical …


Music Is The Intervention: The Intersections Of Music As A Therapeutic Activity In At-Risk Youth, Gladys H. Gonzalez Landaverde Apr 2022

Music Is The Intervention: The Intersections Of Music As A Therapeutic Activity In At-Risk Youth, Gladys H. Gonzalez Landaverde

Senior Honors Theses

Across the United States, public schools face many discrepancies in the quality and caliber of education that a student can expect to receive. While schools try to address the vast needs of students, many children and adolescents are unfortunately faced with choosing between prioritizing their education and the circumstances faced outside of the school day. The discrepancies in schooling range from the quality in the commonly accepted core curriculum like English and mathematics to the opportunities offered outside of traditional academia like music. Unfortunately, at-risk students are unlikely to have access to music education in the same ease as their …


Gifted Student Burnout, Lillian Clevenger Apr 2022

Gifted Student Burnout, Lillian Clevenger

Senior Honors Theses

Gifted Student Burnout may be part of the occurrence of fatigue that can affect students of all ages. This can range from elementary to high school. Burnout in gifted education is a relatively new area of research, as burnout research in students and the gifted programs themselves are also new. The potential causes and potential solutions will be used to differentiate classroom instruction for gifted students. As gifted students grow and begin to want more control over their learning, instruction will need to be adjusted to help students stay invested in their academics. There are possible outlying effects that the …


A Case Study Examining How Teachers And Parents Provide Strategies That Nurture The Academic And Social Development Of Young Black Children In Low-Socioeconomic Communities, Naomi Nyambura Karaya Feb 2022

A Case Study Examining How Teachers And Parents Provide Strategies That Nurture The Academic And Social Development Of Young Black Children In Low-Socioeconomic Communities, Naomi Nyambura Karaya

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study was to describe how teachers and parents provided strategies that nurture the academic and social development of young Black children in schools located in low-socioeconomic communities in the United States. The study explored how teachers and parents balance nature with nurture in their instructional and parenting practices to positively impact students' academic growth and behavior. All participants in this case study were Black and included five teachers, four parents, two school counselors, two psychologists, and two social workers. Both males and females from diverse ethnic backgrounds were selected as participants and identified as co-researchers. …


Using Heidisongs Music As An Instructional Tool In The Elementary School Classroom: A Case Study, Leia Denise Jobe Jan 2022

Using Heidisongs Music As An Instructional Tool In The Elementary School Classroom: A Case Study, Leia Denise Jobe

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study is to understand how teachers use HeidiSongs music as an instructional tool in the elementary school classroom. HeidiSongs uses multisensory structured language education to teach by engaging multiple senses simultaneously to increase retention. The theories guiding this study include Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences, which involves kinesthetic intelligences among other types of intelligences, and Krashen’s theory of second language acquisition. HeidiSongs uses both musical and kinesthetic activities to enhance literacy. The central research question focused on how teachers use HeidiSongs music as an instructional tool in the elementary school classroom. The sub-questions …