Education Commons^™

Bipolar Disorder In Children (Including Gifted And 2e Children), Ed Malin

Graduate Student Independent Studies

Between the publication of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) in 1952 and the DSM-IV in 1993, 277 new disorders were created and made available for life-altering diagnoses. Should it be surprising that, since the late 1990s, psychiatrists in the United States have invented the diagnosis of Childhood-onset Bipolar Disorder? Common practice before that time (and still, in Europe) was that 18 was the earliest age of onset for Bipolar Disorder, based on extensive observation and family history. While lithium and anticonvulsants had been in use to treat adults with Bipolar Disorder, by the late 1990s children …

“Your Body Is For You”: Possibilities For Size Acceptance, Criticality, And Social-Emotional Wellness In Upper Elementary English Language Arts Education, Veronica B. Walton

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This Integrated Master’s Project explores how body image literature can be used in upper elementary classrooms (grades 3 to 5) to support critical literacy and psychosocial development, and vice-versa. Using the approaches Health at Every Size® (HAES), affect theory, and critical literacy, I propose a new analytical framework for thinking about weight stigma and children’s self-image through the lens of literature. There is a growing presence of fiction and nonfiction books that address weight stigma and center children’s experiences of their bodies, and incorporating these books into literacy/English Language Arts (ELA) curricula can help educators shape their classrooms into spaces …

The Role Of The Father In The Young Child’S Life And Development: What Do Early Childhood Teachers Need To Know?, Charlotte Silver

Graduate Student Independent Studies

The contribution of the father to the young child’s life and development has been looked at far less than that of the mother. This paper analyzes how fathers impact the development of growing children and why this issue matters to early childhood educators. By extension, it analyzes the impact of a father’s absence. In today’s society of increasingly diverse parenting structures, many children are growing up in fatherless households. For such children, teachers may prove to be significant figures in the hierarchy of attachment. This paper begins with a brief history of attachment theory. It then provides an overview of …

Look Again: Making Friends With Sensory Processing Disorder, Lauren Binder

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This paper explores the impact of sensory processing differences on the development of young children’s peer relationships in early childhood. Current children’s literature on Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) is limited in addressing the ways in which SPD intersects with social interaction among students with disabilities and their nondisabled peers. By exploring social scenarios grounded in the lived experiences of one child with SPD, I aim to broaden what counts as acceptable approaches to connection and interaction among young children. I use the social model of disability, the tenets of the neurodiversity movement, and the guiding principles of Disability Critical Race …

A Guide For Teacher Sensitivity Of The Homeless Preschooler, Barbara Abdella

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This paper is intended to exhibit the effects of homelessness on preschool children and to provide anecdotes for the child’s social emotional growth and well-being. This paper provides a statistical analysis of the steady growth of homelessness among preschool children and families residing in New York City, lists some of the causes of homelessness, and identifies barriers that homeless children and their families must face daily, affecting their education and stability. Additionally, it is hoped that this paper will allow the reader to comprehend their ability to utilize their empathic reasoning skills and impartial reasoning in their association with homeless …

Indigo Was Our Class Pet: An Exploration Of Death In Children’S Literature, Nella Williams

Graduate Student Independent Studies

Death is a complicated and emotionally weighty subject. Therefore, discussing it can be taboo in early childhood classrooms. Although this is meant to protect children, the lack of discussion limits their mental and emotional processing of bereavement and ultimately undermines their understanding of death. After teaching in a Pre-K classroom with a terminally ill reptile, the author was inspired to write a children’s book about the death of a class pet. The text reviews typical developmental milestones for five-year-olds, the target age of the book. Fives are at an age where their frameworks for understanding the world are shifting; therefore, …

A New Approach To Mindfulness With Teachers, Melanie Flaxer

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This thesis explores the topic of implementing mindfulness programs with teachers in school settings. It begins by exploring the history of how mindfulness has been implemented with students as well as with teachers, revealing the problematic nature of the “mindfulness fad” that has entered into public schools across the country in the past ten years. It also analyzes more recent programs that have begun implementing mindfulness in schools in more productive and responsible ways. The paper then gives a narrative account of a non-traditional mindfulness group that offers an alternative method for training teachers in mindfulness. The group facilitator conducted …

Adult Adhd: An Explorative Inquiry Into Assessment, Executive Function, Qol, Comorbid Psychopathy, And Practical Application, Manuel Angel Ramirez

Graduate Student Independent Studies

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by a pattern of behavior present in multiple settings that can result in performance issues in social, educational and work settings. Although ADHD is prevalent in children, research has proven that the disorder lasts into adulthood. The current body of literature has also suggested that ADHD symptoms are related to specific impairments with executive functions. This paper will introduce ADHD and provide background information on the disorder. It will also examine current literature on assessment, executive function (EF), feasibility of EF measures, quality of life (QoL) as it pertains to …

“Are Staff Bias’ Affecting The Way Pediatric Patients Develop And Cope Within The Hospital Setting?”, Mary Lauren Upchurch

Graduate Student Independent Studies

Gender stereotypes are pervasive in our culture – ingrained by long-standing biases (both conscious and unconscious) (Higgins, 2018). The way boys and girls begin to understand and mitigate their world are often related to the gender stereotyping that society has constructed. However, stereotypical expectations not only reflect existing differences, but also impact the way boys and girls interpret themselves and are treated by others. This paper will focus on the way gender stereotyping of hospitalized pediatric patients may impact coping, treatment, and overall care. The author has chosen to examine language especially as it relates to gender specific analogies, incentives …

Implementation Of An Online Adolescent Oncology Support Group, Jennifer Rupp

Graduate Student Independent Studies

Adolescence is a time for social and emotional growth and learning how they interact and engage in the world around them. When an adolescent is diagnosed with a life threatening cancer diagnosis, it can have a substantial impact on their ability to maintain social and emotional connections with their peers. Disruptions in school and peer relationships can lead to isolation, withdrawal and poor coping. Many factors contribute to a teens inability to stay connected with their current peer group, as well as make it difficult to develop and meet new peers in the hospital setting that are also coping with …

Childhood Anxiety, Julia Post

Graduate Student Independent Studies

The following paper closely examines anxiety in school-aged children, especially those predisposed through environmental and biological factors. While there are many typical worries and fears in children, atypical signs that point to an anxiety disorder include severity and high frequency of worry and avoidance behavior. Anxiety disorders affect roughly a third of children ages six through eleven, and early intervention and cognitive strategies are extremely effective in giving children coping skills for their separation, social, or generalized anxiety. Some of the treatment plans examined in this paper include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and Narrative Therapy and …

Nekkid: Examining Disability, Identity, And Clothing In Adolescence, Megan Vaughn

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This paper is an exploration into the connections between disability, identity, and clothing. The result is a guide for young apparel designers that give practical applications within apparel design through considerations in pattern configuration, textiles, and trims to better meet the needs of consumers with spinal cord injuries that use wheelchairs.

From Silence To Collaboration: Supporting Children With Incarcerated Parents In The Classroom, Lily Cavanagh

Graduate Student Independent Studies

To better support children with incarcerated parents in the classroom, teachers must first know themselves and their biases. Teachers and schools must work to train staff and create a school environment that supports families to form a collaborative relationship with teachers in order to provide the best care for the child. Through the creation of a handbook for teachers and a three-part professional development workshop, this thesis aims to fill this gap in teacher education and proposes some concrete examples for ways teachers can support children with incarcerated parents in the classroom.

Compassionate Discipline: A Study Of Research And Practice, Julie Wasserman

Graduate Student Independent Studies

Presents a spectrum of disciplinary methods, then, based on research and experience, proceeds to analyze particularly new-aged, child-centered disciplinary methods.

A Study Of The Evolution Of Mindfulness Practice In An Early Childhood Classroom, Katherine Berninger

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This paper studies the use of mindfulness practice in a preschool classroom. Combining participant observation, personal journaling, and interviews with children, this study explores the relationship between the introduction of mindfulness practice, changes in classroom culture, and growth in emotional vocabulary.

The Bullying Cycle : Bullies, Victims, And Curriculum Advances, Jordana Marshall

Graduate Student Independent Studies

Although bullying occurs in all age groups, and in every situation from prisons to corporate institutions, the scope of this paper is limited to the effects of bullying on children. The author reviews and explores the empirical data and evidence as it specifically relates to children, from preschool through adolescence and high school. Lastly, this paper explores legislation, preventative programs, and curricular responses that have been developed in response to this disturbing and dangerous social interaction

How We Understand Intelligence And Why It Makes A Difference : A Literature Review, Maya Golden

Graduate Student Independent Studies

Investigates theories of intelligence and examines the educational implications of contrasting views. Following a personal reflection on the subject, the author conducts an extensive review of the related literature. The author indicates that the quality of a student's educational experience is greatly impacted by the view to which his or her teacher subscribes.

Bullying : What You Need To Know, Hela Erez

Graduate Student Independent Studies

Examines the bullying phenomenon and the different factors it involves. Statistics of bullying provide additional information and show the severity and complexity of bullying. This research is intended to help educators and parents oversee the origins from which the bullying phenomenon emerges and consequentially, help resolve bullying among school age children.

The Relationship Between Teacher Satisfaction And Developmentally Responsive Structures At New York City Middle Schools, Elianna Rose Lippold-Johnson

Graduate Student Independent Studies

The purpose of this research was to investigate the experience of teachers at two New York City middle schools to see how developmentally responsive school-wide structures influenced their professional satisfaction and commitment to their schools.

Acting Out In The Classroom : Applying Principles And Methods Of Differentiation To Address Challenging Student Behavior, Jeffrey Neale Kulick

Graduate Student Independent Studies

Schools emphasize the need to consider individual learner differences and provide individualized supports when designing and implementing academic instruction. One of the strategies used to accomplish these objectives is differentiation. Ethnic, cultural, socioeconomic, cognitive, and even physical differences are all factored into the equation. Contrarily, these same differences are seldom considered when it comes to student behavior. Using empirical data, anecdotal evidence, and original case studies, the purpose of this paper is to establish more definitively the inherent problems in a punitive approach and investigate more thoroughly the idea of using principles and methods of differentiation as a possible alternative …

Supporting Kindergarteners Coping With Chronic Traumatic Stress In The Classroom: A Handbook For Teachers, Allison Tom-Yunger

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This independent study focuses on the effect of chronic traumatic stressors on young children and the role of kindergarten teachers in supporting them. The literature review examines the impact of chronic trauma on children, the importance of resilience and protective factors, and the challenges teachers face addressing the needs of these children. A discussion of standards within the public school system and methods to promote social-emotional learning within the standards-driven classroom is also included. The handbook gives a description of chronic traumatic stress and signs of children coping with trauma, suggestions for direct individual support of children, play and the …

Recuerda Que Yo Estoy Aqui Tambien : A Bilingual Picture Book, Liliana Ivette Funes

Graduate Student Independent Studies

My independent study for my Integrative Masters consists of a bilingual (Spanish/English) picture book that is based on personal experience, and endeavors to describe the emotional distress and anxiety children can experience as second language learners entering a monolingual classroom for the first time. The book addresses not only the emotional and academic struggles of the child, but also the ways in which peers and teachers can intervene to ease the child's transition into English. Thus the book can serve as a resource to support monolingual classrooms. The study also includes a personal reflection of the process and journey, I …

Bringing Together Mind And Heart In The Classroom: An Independent Study, Allison Fisch

Graduate Student Independent Studies

The purpose of this thesis is to address the brain research indicating the importance of teaching social and emotional learning and mindfulness within the classroom. Studies denote the possible emotional and social disorders that can stem from a lack of social and emotional awareness. Educators and administrators are provided with activities and techniques that can be adapted into the curriculum with ease. The· activities and techniques reinforce the child's ability to recognize their emotions and gain resilience as well as aiding in their empathy for others. Research supports the concept of mindfulness and how it can be successful in the …

Childhood Mental Illness: Schizophrenia And Bipolar Disorder, Vicki Wolffe

Graduate Student Independent Studies

Many children are inflicted with psychosis. The following essay is an investigation of the characteristics of mental illness as it appears in youths. Studies have been conducted as to what mental illness looks like in children. Various treatment options are described. The body of this work has been compiled, predominantly, through the review of literature on the subject matter. Limited observation of a child that has been diagnosed with a severe form of psychotic illness has been noted.

When Mom Or Dad Has A Mental Illness: General Information And Memories Of A Girl Whose Father Has Bi-Polar Disorder, Lisa RenéE Levesque

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This original material answers common questions that children in middle childhood (8-12 years) may have about parental mental illness. When Mom or Dad has a mental illness: General information and memories of a girl whose father has Bi-polar Disorder defines mental illness, addresses symptoms, causes and treatments, provides definitions of related terms, and shares personal stories about having a parent with mental illness. A review of current literature shows the lack of similar work, and the developmental theories of Piaget, Kohlberg, Gilligan, Erikson, and Vygotsky confirm the importance and validity of the project. The motivation behind this work is to …

A Choice-Based Art Curriculum For Eighth Graders At A Public Charter School, Elisa Hirvonen

Graduate Student Independent Studies

In a choice-based art curriculum students select units of study, explore ideas, and choose specific elements of their projects to develop, e.g., media. The goal is to provide a more authentic artistic experience. Surveys conducted at the beginning and end of the year-long program indicate that students are enthusiastic about choice, and that attitudes towards art improved.

The Classroom And Beyond: The Teacher's Role In Collaboration For Children With Emotional And Behavioral Disorders, Sarah Altman

Graduate Student Independent Studies

While many interventions have been used to help children with emotional and behavioral problems, outcomes for children with emotional and behavioral disturbances continue to be poor. Identifying teachers as essential collateral participants in evidence-based, systems approaches to addressing the needs of children with emotional and behavioral problems, this manual is offered as a guide for members of the education community. Teacher cooperation with empirically supported interventions, interagency collaboration, and programs that accept families as equal partners, have all been clearly supported by research and this collaborative role is discussed in light of relevant literature. Exploring the issues related to emotional …

Naptime And Separation Anxiety : The Use Of A Teacher-Made Book To Help Children Cope In An Infant-Toddler Classroom, Diana Musa

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This paper presents several theoretical explanations of the emotional reality of young children. Its focus is the influential first relationship between the young child and his caregiver and how his emotional development is shaped within the confines of this relationship. It then examines what meanings the first relationship holds for the child's emotional reality during the toddler stage, defined as roughly 18 months to 3 years of age.

The paper turns then to a discussion of the particular emotional reality of a toddler in the childcare setting. What follows is an argument about the importance of acknowledging and labeling young …

Emma Rose : An Original Short Story For Early Adolescent Children, Mary Carol Johnson

Graduate Student Independent Studies

:Emma Rose" is a short story about an overweight seven year old girl whose mother helps her cope with the pain of being teased because of her obesity. Although Emma Rose is only seven, the story speaks to children between the ages of ten and twelve in that it addresses early adolescent issues such as: peer pressure and acceptance, moral reasoning, self-image, and the role of adult guidance in the search for self.

In addition to the story itself, this paper describes and analyzes children's responses to the story and shows how the central issues faced by Emma Rose reflect …

Ichthyosis: A Teacher's Manual, Deborah Brewster Vilas

Graduate Student Independent Studies

"Ichthyosis: A manual For Teachers" addresses the needs of children born with a rare, congenital skin disorder. Not unlike children with cancer, asthma or diabetes, children with ichthyosis have special needs regarding their physical comfort and safety in the educational setting. This manual addresses these needs along the developmental continuum. Using Erik Erikson's eight stages of man as a guideline, this manual addresses the physical, medical and psychosocial needs of the ichthyotic child from infancy through adolescence.

Included in this manual is an explanation of the disorder, it's symptoms and treatments. Practical tips for day care workers, teachers, school nurses …