Education Commons^™

Middle Level Students’ Responses To A Guided Inquiry Of The Weeping Time, John Bickford, Molly Bickford, Razak Dwomoh

Faculty Research and Creative Activity

HISTORIANS’ TASKS, specifically their habits of mind, aremeaningful far beyond the scholarship they produce and far outsidethe discipline of history. Historians critically evaluate ambiguousand seemingly foreign situations. They consider and weigh thebest available evidence—some readily accessible, others obscure—which they rely upon to articulate findings. Historical inquiry, thus,involves gathering and reading documents; thinking carefully aboutwhat one knows, suspects, and cannot know; and communicatingsubstantiated understandings in a persuasive way. The necessaryhabits of mind—or heuristics—transfer to diverse occupations, likean attorney or detective, and are associated with citizenship tasks,like discerning fact from opinion in a campaign advertisement orbeing an informed voter. Historians’ heuristics prepare …

Dynamic Online Discussions That Work, Lauri Deruiter-Willems, Kathleen Phillips

Faculty Research and Creative Activity

Tired of short, insignificant discussion posts? We will share our tips and suggestions for developing meaningful interactions between your students in online discussion boards in lower and upper division courses. Our system allows for active learning through instructor-led or student-led conversations by incorporating procedures to ensure that dialogue is related to the course content, empowers students to engage in critical thinking and persuasive writing, and also provides a manageable system of evaluation for instructors.

Investigating Children’S Abilities To Count And Make Quantitative Comparisons, Joohi Lee, Shamah Md-Yunus

Faculty Research and Creative Activity

This study was designed to investigate children’s

abilities to count and make quantitative comparisons.

In addition, this study utilized reasoning questions

(i.e., how did you know?). Thirty-four preschoolers, mean

age 4.5 years old, participated in the study. According to

the results, 89 % of the children (n = 30) were able to do

rote counting and 70 % (n = 24) were able to do rational

counting. When children were asked how they knew how

many objects were in a set, 30 responded that they used a

counting strategy. Sixty-five percent of children (n = 22)

answered ‘‘zero’’ when no …

Scrutinizing And Supplementing Children’S Trade Books About Child Labor, John H. Bickford Iii, Cynthia W. Rich

Faculty Research and Creative Activity

State and national initiatives place an increased emphasis on both students’ exposure to diverse texts and teachers’ integration of English/language arts and history/social studies. The intent is for students to critically examine diverse accounts and perspectives of the same historical event or era. Critical examination can be accomplished through teachers’ purposeful juxtaposition of age-appropriate, engaging trade books and relevant informational texts, such as primary source materials. To guide interested elementary and middle level teachers, researchers can evaluate trade books for historical representation and suggest divergent or competing narratives that compel students to scrutinize diverse perspectives. Researchers can locate germane primary …

Muslim Immigrant Children In The United States: Practical Suggestions For Teachers, Shamah Md-Yunus

Faculty Research and Creative Activity

Immigrant children from Muslim communities come from a variety of ethnic and cultural backgrounds, and speak 60 different languages. Some of their religious beliefs, values, and practices have created issues and challenges for Western society. This article provides basic information about Muslim and Islamic practices, issues, and challenges Muslim immigrant children face in schools and offers some suggestions for teachers on how to accommodate Muslim immigrants in the United States.

Muslim Immigrant Children In The United States: Practical Suggestions For Teachers, Shamah Md-Yunus

Faculty Research and Creative Activity

Immigrant children from Muslim communities come from a variety of ethnic and cultural backgrounds, and speak 60 different languages. Some of their religious beliefs, values, and practices have created issues and challenges for Western society. This article provides basic information about Muslim and Islamic practices, issues, and challenges Muslim immigrant children face in schools and offers some suggestions for teachers on how to accommodate Muslim immigrants in the United States.

Using History-Based Trade Books As Catalysts For Historical Writing, Speaking, And Listening In Elementary Curricula, John H. Bickford Iii, Dylan Dilley, Valerie Metz

Faculty Research and Creative Activity

State and national initiatives have aligned to compel change in elementary classroom curricula and instructional practice (Council of Chief State School Officers [CCSSO], 2012; National Governors Association Center for Best Practices & Council of Chief State School Officers [NGA & CCSSO], 2010; Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers [PARCC], 2012). An increased focus on informational texts and content area literacy are two significant changes intended to both facilitate and integrate historical thinking and historical content. For a subject that has struggled to maintain relevancy in elementary curricula, the social studies has a new, stronger position (Center on …

Using History-Based Trade Books As Catalysts For Historical Writing, Speaking, And Listening In Elementary Curricula, John Bickford, Dylan Dilley, Valerie Metz

Faculty Research and Creative Activity

State and national initiatives have aligned to compel change in elementary classroom curricula and instructional practice (Council of Chief State School Officers [CCSSO], 2012; National Governors Association Center for Best Practices & Council of Chief State School Officers [NGA & CCSSO], 2010; Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers [PARCC], 2012). An increased focus on informational texts and content area literacy are two significant changes intended to both facilitate and integrate historical thinking and historical content. For a subject that has struggled to maintain relevancy in elementary curricula, the social studies has a new, stronger position (Center on …

Scrutinizing And Supplementing Children’S Trade Books About Child Labor, John Bickford, Cynthia Rich

Faculty Research and Creative Activity

State and national initiatives place an increased emphasis on both students’ exposure to diverse texts and teachers’ integration of English/language arts and history/social studies. The intent is for students to critically examine diverse accounts and perspectives of the same historical event or era. Critical examination can be accomplished through teachers’ purposeful juxtaposition of age-appropriate, engaging trade books and relevant informational texts, such as primary source materials. To guide interested elementary and middle level teachers, researchers can evaluate trade books for historical representation and suggest divergent or competing narratives that compel students to scrutinize diverse perspectives. Researchers can locate germane primary …

Examining The Historical Representation Of Native Americans Within Children’S Literature, Lauren Hunt

2014 Awards for Excellence in Student Research and Creative Activity Documents

In this research, I evaluated the historical representation of Native Americans in children’s literature. The portrayal of Native Americans in children’s literature is important because Native Americans are commonly included within elementary school social studies curriculum. For this reason, teachers should know how the literature they select historically represents Native Americans. This historical representation includes—but is not limited to—their interactions with European explorers, colonists, and eventually Americans. Teachers must be aware that publishers of children’s books are businesses; their job is to sell books. As a result, these companies do not always ensure that the books they sell are historically …

Child–Senior Relationship Training: Adaptation Of Cprt For Kindergarten Students, Angela Yoder, Danessa Carter, Breanna Way, Bobbi Ward, Alyssa Swan, Amy Allison

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

Child–senior relationship training (CSRT) is an adaptation of child–parent relationship therapy (CPRT), a highly effective intervention for children, where trained senior citizen volunteers provide free play sessions for children whose parents are unable or unwilling to participate in CPRT. This study explored the effects of CSRT on kindergarten children and the senior volunteers’ effectiveness with children following training. The researchers propose CSRT provides benefits to busy school counselors by closing the gap between the high number of students needing services and the historically low number of providers. Although CPRT has been shown to be more effective when used with parents, …

What Will They Say About Me When I Am Gone: A Tribute To Robert "Bob" Hussey, Scott M. Ronspies

Faculty Research and Creative Activity

No abstract provided.

[Malaysia] Early Education And Development In Malaysia: Issues And Challenges In Providing A Framework For A Multiethnic Society, Shamah Md-Yunus

Faculty Research and Creative Activity

This paper provides a brief overview of early education in Malaysia with focus on the issues and challenges in providing quality early education for a multiethnic society. Conflicting interests between majority and minority ethnic groups not only cause different educational outcomes and expectations for children and families but also create challenges to the government to provide quality and equality of education to all young children. Some suggestions for a framework for early education in Malaysia are discussed.

[Malaysia] Early Education And Development In Malaysia: Issues And Challenges In Providing A Framework For A Multiethnic Society, Shamah Md-Yunus

Faculty Research and Creative Activity

This paper provides a brief overview of early education in Malaysia with focus on the issues and challenges in providing quality early education for a multiethnic society. Conflicting interests between majority and minority ethnic groups not only cause different educational outcomes and expectations for children and families but also create challenges to the government to provide quality and equality of education to all young children. Some suggestions for a framework for early education in Malaysia are discussed.

Adaptation Of The Child - Parent Relationship Therapy Model For Use With Senior Citizen Volunteers In School Settings: A Pilot Study, Angela M. Yoder, Fred Washburn, Shannon Mills, Danessa Carter, Brian Brausch, Jiwon Lee

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

This study provides a proposal for crucial volunteer services to fill the gap for overburdened school counselors when parents are unable to engage in Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT), a highly effective intervention for childhood problems. CPRT has been successfully adapted for use with individuals other than the child’s parents. The researcher in this pilot study adapted CPRT for use with senior citizen volunteers who often possess untapped abilities and talents. Seniors received several weeks of training, and then met with children for 1/2 hour supervised, video-taped play sessions for several weeks. Childhood adjustment problems were assessed before and after the …

The Diversity Dialogue: Rethinking Pedagogical Practices To Provide Hope For Pre-Service Teachers, Mildred M. Pearson Dr., Samantha Cantu

Faculty Research and Creative Activity

This study examines how a diverse dialogue addresses cultural differences and social injustices and how cultural responsiveness helps teachers approach education more equitably. When teachers use a diverse dialogue, they are able to create a classroom curriculum that includes all voices, experiences, and activities and satisfies the needs of all learners. The study also suggests that teachers adjust their pedagogical practices to the ever-changing multicultural classrooms. Through an examination of best practices, teachers will be able to invest in more creative and diverse approaches that will not only benefit the individual student, but also the entire classroom. Applying positioning theory …

The Diversity Dialogue: Rethinking Pedagogical Practices To Provide Hope For Pre-Service Teachers, Mildred Pearson, Samantha Cantu

Faculty Research and Creative Activity

This study examines how a diverse dialogue addresses cultural differences and social injustices and how cultural responsiveness helps teachers approach education more equitably. When teachers use a diverse dialogue, they are able to create a classroom curriculum that includes all voices, experiences, and activities and satisfies the needs of all learners. The study also suggests that teachers adjust their pedagogical practices to the ever-changing multicultural classrooms. Through an examination of best practices, teachers will be able to invest in more creative and diverse approaches that will not only benefit the individual student, but also the entire classroom. Applying positioning theory …

Adaptation Of The Child - Parent Relationship Therapy Model For Use With Senior Citizen Volunteers In School Settings: A Pilot Study, Angela Yoder, Fred Washburn, Shannon Mills, Danessa Carter, Brian Brausch, Jiwon Lee

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

This study provides a proposal for crucial volunteer services to fill the gap for overburdened school counselors when parents are unable to engage in Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT), a highly effective intervention for childhood problems. CPRT has been successfully adapted for use with individuals other than the child’s parents. The researcher in this pilot study adapted CPRT for use with senior citizen volunteers who often possess untapped abilities and talents. Seniors received several weeks of training, and then met with children for 1/2 hour supervised, video-taped play sessions for several weeks. Childhood adjustment problems were assessed before and after the …

Building Bridges To Belong, Charles G. Eberly

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

The following PowerPoint served as the basis for my presentation at the October 5, 2012, Bridging Voices in Our Community Bullying Project Conference held at Eastern Illinois University. The focus of the presentation was on the critical presence of university faculty members as recognized student group advisors, in effect, Building Bridges to Belong. In the process, caring, engaged faculty members help to reduce student violence and support students to "live their best lives."

Building Bridges To Belong, Charles Eberly

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

The following PowerPoint served as the basis for my presentation at the October 5, 2012, Bridging Voices in Our Community Bullying Project Conference held at Eastern Illinois University. The focus of the presentation was on the critical presence of university faculty members as recognized student group advisors, in effect, Building Bridges to Belong. In the process, caring, engaged faculty members help to reduce student violence and support students to "live their best lives."

Examining Spiraled Elementary Curricula On Columbus: A Case Study, Maegan Wilton, John H. Bickford Iii

Faculty Research and Creative Activity

Educators’ content background and use of accurate, age-appropriate teaching materials generates quality teaching. Content in every grade level should supplement content from previous grades in a spiraled format. State test results on students’ math and reading indicate, but do not prove, the presence of these two presumptions. Because history is not tested, the authors examined the basis of these two presumptions for history in two school districts that require every elementary educator to teach about Christopher Columbus. Findings reveal significant interconnections between these two presumptions and have consequential implications as states consider standardized testing in other curricular areas, such as …

Original Political Cartoon Methodology And Adaptations, John H. Bickford Iii

Faculty Research and Creative Activity

This paper is grounded on the premise that effective educators base lessons on rich and intriguing content which is relevant to students’ lives, implement the content using engaging and age-appropriate methodology, and measure students’ learning through authentic assessments. In order to support practicing teachers’ effective implementation of best practice methodology and assessment, educational researchers investigate the interconnections between content, methodology, and assessment. As technology facilitates teaching methodologies and learning assessments, meaningful activities such as students’ original political cartooning should be examined, detailed, and adapted. In this article, the methodological suggestions for, and adaptations of, students’ original political cartoons guide educators …

Role Of The Chapter Advisor, Charles G. Eberly

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

The attached document is "In Press" and will be published later in 2012 as part of a Fraternity / Sorority Advising Manual by the Association of Fraternity and Sorority Advisors. The document provides a thoughtful rationale for reasons to secure a faculty member as an advisor to a campus fraternity or sorority chapter.

Role Of The Chapter Advisor, Charles Eberly

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

The attached document is "In Press" and will be published later in 2012 as part of a Fraternity / Sorority Advising Manual by the Association of Fraternity and Sorority Advisors. The document provides a thoughtful rationale for reasons to secure a faculty member as an advisor to a campus fraternity or sorority chapter.

Identifying Cyberbullying, Connecting With Students: The Promising Possibilities Of Teacher-Student Social Networking, Mark Schmitz, Molly Sigler Hoffman, John H. Bickford

Faculty Research and Creative Activity

Cyberbullying, an emergent problem that most students face but few report, negatively affects students’ academic and personal development, disrupts the school environment, and usually peaks around middle school. The Association of Middle Level Education (AMLE) suggests that successful middle schools should, among other things, ensure every student has an adult advocate to guide academic and personal development in an inviting, safe, inclusive, and supportive school environment. The Olweus Anti-Bullying Program denotes educators’ proactive intervention must first follow recognition of students’ misbehaviors and both identification and supervision of problematic school contexts. Without such recognition, identification, and supervision, educators’ proactive interventions are …

Does Code Switching Work For Young Children? A Case Study Of English Language Learners, Shamah Md-Yunus, Geena Anselmo, Mohogany Williams

Faculty Research and Creative Activity

The study examines if a code switching technique demonstrated by the teacher helps English language learners acquire a second language. Nineteen preschoolers from families speaking Spanish as their primary language participated in the study for seven weeks. Structured classroom observations, pre-and post-test checklists, anecdotal notes, and the Speaking Component Scale were used to measure children’s scores in speaking, listening and writing in English. Data from the Speaking Component Scale showed an increase in grammar and expressive language scores after learning about the code switching technique. However, the children scored low in the reading component of identifying concepts about print and …

Does Code Switching Work For Young Children? A Case Study Of English Language Learners, Shamah Md-Yunus, Geena Anselmo, Mohogany Williams

Faculty Research and Creative Activity

The study examines if a code switching technique demonstrated by the teacher helps English language learners acquire a second language. Nineteen preschoolers from families speaking Spanish as their primary language participated in the study for seven weeks. Structured classroom observations, pre-and post-test checklists, anecdotal notes, and the Speaking Component Scale were used to measure children’s scores in speaking, listening and writing in English. Data from the Speaking Component Scale showed an increase in grammar and expressive language scores after learning about the code switching technique. However, the children scored low in the reading component of identifying concepts about print and …

Identifying Cyberbullying, Connecting With Students: The Promising Possibilities Of Teacher-Student Social Networking, Mark Schmitz, Molly Hoffman, John Bickford

Faculty Research and Creative Activity

Cyberbullying, an emergent problem that most students face but few report, negatively affects students’ academic and personal development, disrupts the school environment, and usually peaks around middle school. The Association of Middle Level Education (AMLE) suggests that successful middle schools should, among other things, ensure every student has an adult advocate to guide academic and personal development in an inviting, safe, inclusive, and supportive school environment. The Olweus Anti-Bullying Program denotes educators’ proactive intervention must first follow recognition of students’ misbehaviors and both identification and supervision of problematic school contexts. Without such recognition, identification, and supervision, educators’ proactive interventions are …

Examining Spiraled Elementary Curricula On Columbus: A Case Study, Maegan Wilton, John Bickford

Faculty Research and Creative Activity

Educators’ content background and use of accurate, age-appropriate teaching materials generates quality teaching. Content in every grade level should supplement content from previous grades in a spiraled format. State test results on students’ math and reading indicate, but do not prove, the presence of these two presumptions. Because history is not tested, the authors examined the basis of these two presumptions for history in two school districts that require every elementary educator to teach about Christopher Columbus. Findings reveal significant interconnections between these two presumptions and have consequential implications as states consider standardized testing in other curricular areas, such as …

Original Political Cartoon Methodology And Adaptations, John Bickford

Faculty Research and Creative Activity

This paper is grounded on the premise that effective educators base lessons on rich and intriguing content which is relevant to students’ lives, implement the content using engaging and age-appropriate methodology, and measure students’ learning through authentic assessments. In order to support practicing teachers’ effective implementation of best practice methodology and assessment, educational researchers investigate the interconnections between content, methodology, and assessment. As technology facilitates teaching methodologies and learning assessments, meaningful activities such as students’ original political cartooning should be examined, detailed, and adapted. In this article, the methodological suggestions for, and adaptations of, students’ original political cartoons guide educators …