Education Commons^™

Supporting Mathematic Achievement For Students With Learning Disabilities Through Enhanced Anchored Instruction, Wendie Lappin Castillo

The STEAM Journal

Difficulties in mathematical learning are common and significant.The struggle has increased exponentially with the Common Core State Standards in effect. Students with or without learning or mathematical disabilities may respond to continued failure by withdrawing their effort, carrying low self-esteem, and/or displaying avoidance behaviors. Enhanced anchored instruction is designed to provide students the opportunity to construct knowledge and design solutions to problems collaboratively. The approach of enhanced anchored instruction attempts to guide students to become more active in learning through the use of technology. Enhanced anchored instruction provides students the opportunity to work through problems attached to a visual anchor. …

Toward A Critical-Pbl: Centering A Critical Consciousness In The Middle Grades, Jaclyn Caires-Hurley, Margarita Jimenez-Silva, Rachel Harrington

Middle Grades Review

The dual pandemic of 2020 that includes racism and COVID-19 demonstrates the need for students to become socially responsible and critically conscious world citizens. Students in the middle grades are developing their sense of identity while concomitantly trying to understand the complex world around them. While many teachers understand the need for critical pedagogy, many still struggle to find time to teach rigorous content standards while integrating social justice education. In this article, we propose the four pillars of Critical-Problem Based Learning (Critical-PBL). Using critical standards, critical problems, critical content, and critical discourse, we offer a framework to support teachers …

Fighting Back Against Anti-Asian Xenophobia: Addressing Global Issues In A Distance Learning Classroom, Dara Nix-Stevenson, Laura Shelton, Jennifer Smith

Middle Grades Review

This practitioner essay will outline a project designed by a team of three critical educators at The Experiential School of Greensboro (TESG), a new grassroots charter school in Greensboro, North Carolina. In this essay, we will describe the social context of TESG, discuss how we built towards addressing complicated topics related to systemic racism, and outline the ways we addressed anti-Asian racism and xenophobia in a remote learning context during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Copyright Information, Todd Pagano, Sami Kahn

Journal of Science Education for Students with Disabilities

No abstract provided.

Call For Manuscript, Todd Pagano, Sami Kahn

Journal of Science Education for Students with Disabilities

No abstract provided.

Looking Back To Move Forward: Reflections Of Practicing Teachers On Their Pre-Service Preparation, Brian Bowen

Journal of Educational Research and Innovation

The purpose of this study was to better understand the knowledge and skills related to teaching of mathematics in-service teachers perceived as important for beginning teachers and what knowledge from their pre-service preparation they were able to apply in their instruction. Data was collected from practicing elementary and middle grades teachers who received their undergraduate preparation within the past eight years from a university in the Northeastern United States. Results suggest that even a single learning opportunity can have a lasting impact on the pedagogical practice of novice teachers.

We Are All In This Together: Teacher Preparation, Lesson Planning, And Aiding Classroom Teachers During An Emergency School Shutdown, Aaron Rife

The Advocate

This essay documents the attempt by a small group of student teachers in a secondary History/Government Education program to do something meaningful with their skills when buildings closed in early 2020 in a state of emergency and instruction was shifted to homes. Our solution was to create a digital classroom to share lessons and teaching materials for teachers to use as they grappled with distance learning.

Virtual Tools Show Promise For Moving The Needle On Culturally And Linguistically Diverse Family Engagement, Tamra Mitchell, Socorro Herrera

The Advocate

The school building closures of spring 2020 fundamentally disrupted education in Kansas, but out of this disruption emerged the need and opportunity for schools and educators to be creative and innovative. At a time when every parent in our state was either employed as an essential worker and working longer hours, trying to work from home, or trying to navigate the loss of their job, they were also trying to support their children with continuous learning. This required Kansas schools to think differently and try new strategies for truly engaging families. One promising innovation that many schools piloted was to …

Learning Will Continue, Mischel Miller, Debbie K. Mercer

The Advocate

When Kansas school buildings were closed for the remainder of spring 2020, school leaders responded to ensure learning would continue for the P-12 500,000 students. Rapid change research provides a framework for looking at the response needed during this pandemic. The Kansas State Department of Education led efforts to pivot to remote learning. This article analyzes research data from all public and private schools related to challenges during this time. Access to technology, both devices and internet, remote delivery modes for teaching and learning, and use of paper packets are discussed as the State strengthens and moves forward.

Helping The Helpers: Tending To Kansas Educators’ Social-Emotional Needs And Self-Care During A Pandemic, Jessica J. Lane Dr., Leah Mckeeman Dr., Laura Bonella

The Advocate

On a typical day, pre-COVID 19, educators are pulled in many directions, making hundreds, if not thousands, of quick decisions. Today those dynamics are heightened with varied and additional competing needs. However, what has not changed is the essential role of an educator. Caring for students in a time of such uncertainty seems critical. However, while there is serious and necessary demand for caring for the students and families, one population that is gravely being overlooked are the helpers. The educators. Less emphasis is being placed on the wellness and self-care of those who are offering those needed social-emotional supports. …

Letter From Editors Fall Winter 2020

The Advocate

Letter from Editors Fall Winter 2020

Editorial Information For The Advocate

The Advocate

Editorial information regarding the advocate can be found here.

The Involvement Of The High Basic Grade Students In Palestine In The Mathematics Books, Ayman Al-Ashqar

Journal of the Arab American University مجلة الجامعة العربية الامريكية للبحوث

The study aimed to measure the coefficient of the involvement of the high basic grade students in Palestine in the mathematics books. The researcher adopted the descriptive analytical method using the content analysis method of mathematics books for (7, 8, 9) grades. The results of the study indicated that the degree of involvement of the content, drawings and shapes in the selected books is acceptable according to the Ramey's Formula. It’s ranging between ( 0.4 - 1.5). However, the coefficient of the involvement of the activities in the selected books is unacceptable, It’s larger than (1.5). Moreover, the study results …

Leveraging The Science Of Learning To Enhance Student Success: An Application Of Syfr Learning’S Principles Of Practice, Jennifer S. Jones, Christopher L. Thomas

Journal of Research Initiatives

The purpose of the current article is to describe a set of empirically validated principles of practice with the potential to enhance student learning and academic performance. Specifically, we provide an overview of Syfr Learning’s principles of practice – a collection of scalable instructional techniques derived from decades of research in the domain of learning science. Further, we provide an illustrative example of the benefits of Syfr Learning’s principles of practice when incorporated into existing curricula in a K-12 setting.

Shaping The Supervision Narrative: Innovating Teaching And Leading To Improve Stem Instruction, Bill Sterrett, Ginger Rhodes, Dennis Kubasko, Angelia Reid-Griffin, Kerry Kathleen Robinson, Steven D. Hooker, Andrew J. Ryder

Journal of Educational Supervision

This paper offers a model of supervisory collaboration that brings teacher and administrator programs together through a lens of formative evaluation. The roles of teacher and principal must be collaborative to sustain student success, yet the preparation models for those respective positions are often isolated from each other, as varying university departments and focus areas exist in silos. Preparation programs must maximize the clinical experiences of teacher education and administrator preparation programs, with a focus on practical teaching strategies and authentic feedback to pre-service educators and their instructors for reflection and change. This paper overviews a collaborative supervision model and …

The Dimensions Of Teachers Who Write And The Essence Of A Writing Life, Shari L. Daniels, Pamela Beck

Teaching/Writing: The Journal of Writing Teacher Education

The purpose of this grounded theory case study was to explore the perceptions among ten K-12 teachers who teach writing and also write themselves. What are the key essentials for teachers to sustain a writing life? What habits of mind or attitudes are necessary for teachers to sustain a writing life? Interviews served as the primary data source along with writing artifacts from the participants’ own writing life. Findings indicate that teacher-writers committed to a writing life do so for the purpose of 1) discovering meaning, 2) connections to others 3) commitment to learning and 4) well-being, with an overall …

Imagination At Work: A Book Review Of The Power Of Practice-Based Literacy Research: A Tool For Teachers, Catherine Lammert

Networks: An Online Journal for Teacher Research

This is a book review of of The Power of Practice-Based Literacy Research: A Tool for Teachers.

Implementing Personal Devices In Math, Jamie W. Mcdaniel

Networks: An Online Journal for Teacher Research

This study examined the effect of implementing personal devices into a fifth grade mathematics classroom. Thirty-eight fifth graders participated in this eight-week project with a focus on six students to track their growth. During the study, students engaged in technology based stations that pertained to our geometry unit and coordinate unit. Students took pre and post test on paper to track progress. In addition, students completed online assessments within their practice websites and apps to track comprehension and growth of the content. Furthermore, students were interviewed to ensure they were staying engaged in the online activities and to track student …

Sharing Stories: Reflections Of Professors’ Literacy Identities And Beliefs, Christy M. Howard, Ran Hu, Johna Faulconer

Networks: An Online Journal for Teacher Research

Teacher identities and beliefs influence instructional practices. In order to explore this process, this self-study was conducted by three literacy professors from different ethnic backgrounds including one African-American professor, one Chinese national professor and one White professor. The purpose of this study was to examine how professors' literacy identities are shaped and how sharing these identities, experiences and beliefs in meaningful professional dialogues influences instructional practice. We examined the role of our identities and beliefs on our instructional practices using multiple forms of qualitative data such as journal entries, digital stories, and critical group discussions. Despite the range of differences …

Reclaiming And Redefining Research, Suzanne Porath

Networks: An Online Journal for Teacher Research

Action research, practitioner inquiry, self-study, scholarship of teaching and learning, or practice-based research – there are numerous names for this work. Yet, whether you are new to action research or a veteran of classroom inquiry, I hope this issue of Networks continues to inspires you to “reflect on classroom practice through research ventures… alone or in collaboration, use inquiry as a tool to learn more about your work with the hope of eventually improving its effectiveness” (from the mission statement of Networks: An Online Journal for Teacher Research).

A Spiritual Vision For Catholic Educator Prep In A Time Of Disruption: A Reflective Essay, Angela T. Moret, Ronald R. O'Dwyer S.J.

Journal of Catholic Education

This essay reflects on the spiritual lessons learned as a Catholic graduate-level teacher prep program guided novice teachers through the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic. We observed the importance of articulating a clear spiritual vision rooted in scripture, history, and personal experience. The guiding spiritual lens has been the Emmaus story which helps us look to the past and to the future as we form and support early-career educators in Catholic schools.

Exploring Cold War Religious Persecution Using The Rank-Order Approach, Jeffrey M. Byford, Brian K. Horn, John Grant, Cort Casey, Sherrie Hopper

The Councilor: A National Journal of the Social Studies

This lesson explores religious persecution in East Germany. Students must decide plausible actions to take against the Protestant Church to diminish power. Acting as a member of The East German Secret Police, students, evaluate, rank, and justify decisions to minimalize Christianity in an atheist society.

Facilitating Experiential Learning Experiences Through A Class Pioneer Day, Ronald Vaughan Morris

The Councilor: A National Journal of the Social Studies

Students experience a reenactment of life on the frontier created by the interaction of their teachers and community volunteers. Students in elementary social studies learn content, skills, values, and dispositions through engaging in experiential learning. The classroom environment is described through a case study of one classroom of fourth grade students with an experienced teacher with deep roots in the community. Teachers develop skills in negotiation with volunteers to accomplish tasks that support student learning. Descriptions of student and teacher preparations in addition to budgetary constraints describe how to replicate the experience. Examples and assessments are provided as well as …

Developing Social Justice Skills Through Community Service-Learning In High School Social Studies, Sharehann T. Lucman

The Councilor: A National Journal of the Social Studies

Social studies teachers are presented with the challenging yet rewarding task of cultivating in their students' principles and competencies essential for democratic and social-justice-oriented citizenship. Inspired and guided by literature on social justice education and community service-learning, this study suggests that social studies teachers ought to consider integrating teaching methods that are experiential, participatory, and critical in nature. An example of such a method is community service-learning. As illustrated in this study, community service-learning activities afford students the unique opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills on social justice in authentic social situations.

Using a descriptive and textual analysis approach, …

Preservice Teachers’ Perceptions Of The “Public Displays Of History” Debate, Benjamin R. Wellenreiter, Monica Noraian

The Councilor: A National Journal of the Social Studies

We examined how the preservice history and social science teachers (n=84) with whom we worked conceptualized debates regarding Public Displays of History (PDH) such as monuments and building names. Participants described PDH as important venues for learning history but viewed them as incomplete, often biased, sources of information. When determining whether removal or alteration is appropriate, the preservice teachers stressed comparison of the PDH to current societal norms, original overt and tacit intent of the creators of the PDH, the actions or deeds of the subject through a historical accuracy lens, and whether removal changes understanding of the subject of …

What Drives Your Spirit And Commitment To Middle Level Education? Exploring A Middle School Mindset, Nancy B. Ruppert

Current Issues in Middle Level Education

Over the past two years, middle school advocates have been sharing their thoughts on the following prompt: “What drives your spirit and commitment to middle level education?” The purpose has been to capture ‘the spirit’ of middle school* educators?’ From these stories five characteristics emerged that can help us consider how to promote the next generation of middle school leaders. Perhaps using the findings from this exercise can help us advocate for the next generation of middle school leaders. * For the purpose of this study, middle school refers to those who work with 10-15 year olds and includes intermediate …

Curriculum Integration: Walking The Walk, Taylor A. Norman, Amanda Wall

Current Issues in Middle Level Education

Curriculum integration is a hallmark of middle level education. This approach to education involves blending topics across content areas as a way of studying topics and problems of interest to young adolescents. Approaches to curriculum integration and interdisciplinary curriculum overlap with concepts like democratic education, place-based learning, student agency, and student-designed curriculum. Here, two teacher educators report on a recent initiative in which we co-designed integrated curriculum along with middle level teacher candidates. We drew on place-based instruction and models of collaboration to develop this project. Candidates then developed integrated units appropriate for middle school classrooms.

We Don't Teach To The Edtpa: Maintaining Authenticity And Attaining High Edtpa Scores, Holly J. Thornton

Current Issues in Middle Level Education

Concerns have been raised about the high stakes nature of edTPA potentially leading to reductionist, test-driven approaches to teacher preparation. This has come to fruition in practice within many teacher preparation classrooms. EdTPA can devalue anything that is not formally assessed and limit opportunities for faculty and teacher candidates to imagine new possibilities for education (Madeloni & Gorlewski, 2013). In middle level teacher preparation, we can build upon the connections found between AMLE standards (AMLE, 2012) and edTPA. This includes the goal of improving pedagogy through reflection, inquiry, and intentional design to positively impact student learning. As middle …

Collaborating With The European League For Middle Level Education, Nancy B. Ruppert, Deborah Mcmurtrie, Bridget K. Coleman, Gary J. Senn, Sarah Ellyson

Current Issues in Middle Level Education

Collaborations between the National Association for Middle Level Education (NAPOMLE) and the European League for Middle Level Education (ELMLE) can be mutually beneficial. This article reflects on NAPOMLE’s past experiences with our global affiliate ELMLE and promotes future partnerships expanding our commitment to supporting the development of middle schools and middle level leaders. We advocate a global approach to preparing and empowering the next generation of middle school leaders.

Middle Level Faculty And Change, Robin Dever

Current Issues in Middle Level Education

There is no argument that the world of middle level education is constantly changing. Teacher education programs are always in flux adopting their programs to meet these needs. Faculty who teach within a middle level education teacher preparation program are at the front lines of preparing the next generation of middle school leaders. They are responsible for not only molding the next generation of middle level educators but also shaping the next generation of middle level education researchers and advocates. This requires constant changes to curriculum and organizational structures while finding new methods to meet state requirements. However, not all …