Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Education Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

PDF

Grand Valley State University

2023

Discipline
Keyword
Publication
Publication Type

Articles 31 - 60 of 144

Full-Text Articles in Education

Fostering Reading For Enjoyment In Upper Elementary Students By Developing Connections To Reading And Increasing Self-Efficacy, Patrick Ritt Aug 2023

Fostering Reading For Enjoyment In Upper Elementary Students By Developing Connections To Reading And Increasing Self-Efficacy, Patrick Ritt

Culminating Experience Projects

Data shows that fewer students are choosing to read for pleasure. Fostering students’ intrinsic motivation to read and developing skills to personally connect with texts, along with authentic literacy instruction has shown to increase how often students choose to read and for how long they read. Upper elementary teachers should create inclusive libraries, help students connect with interesting texts, develop useful independent reading time, and implement authentic and cross-curricular learning activities as part of literacy instruction. This project will help teachers assess student motivation to read and match students with appropriate and interesting texts. This project also provides methods for …


Implementing Social Emotional Activities Into The English Language Arts Curriculum, Allison M. Sherbel Aug 2023

Implementing Social Emotional Activities Into The English Language Arts Curriculum, Allison M. Sherbel

Masters Theses

Over the last decade social emotional learning has revealed itself to be an important element in students' academic growth. Social emotional learning requires students to learn the skills necessary to effectively communicate with others as well as maintaining a positive classroom environment, where all students feel supported, safe and heard. When students become more connected to their own emotions, they are developing an essential skill that will help them inside and outside of the classroom. Research shows that implementation of social emotional lessons can improve both immediate and long-term social-emotional ability as well as academic growth. Despite this research, teachers …


Faculty And Student Perception Of Open Educational Resources In Higher Education, Bethany J. Welling Aug 2023

Faculty And Student Perception Of Open Educational Resources In Higher Education, Bethany J. Welling

Culminating Experience Projects

There is an ever-increasing rise in higher education, including the price of textbooks. Students are choosing to not purchase textbooks to save money. An alternative to this problem needs to occur. One solution is the use of Open Educational Resources (OER). OER improves the cost and quality of course materials for students and makes the materials accessible, thus promoting equity among all students. When all students have access to the materials on the first day, they become more engaged with the course. This paper describes the benefits of OER in higher education and the student and faculty perceptions. To make …


A Collection Of Middle Level Reading Interventions Categorized Based On Specific Criteria, Claire E. Alexander Aug 2023

A Collection Of Middle Level Reading Interventions Categorized Based On Specific Criteria, Claire E. Alexander

Culminating Experience Projects

Students lack literacy skills while entering the middle level grades, where reading is used as a tool for learning, rather than consistently taught through explicit instruction on the components of literacy. Reading interventions give students additional support and opportunities to improve their reading skills. This project argues for those intervention programs to be chosen based on specific qualities that are shown through research to make learning during interventions more impactful. The framework for this project works with the idea that learning is a social and cultural interaction, where collaboration, word play, student interests, and learning environment will allow students to …


Utilizing Cost-Effective Strategies To Combat The Achievement Gap In Low-Income Schools, Danielle L. Groendyk Aug 2023

Utilizing Cost-Effective Strategies To Combat The Achievement Gap In Low-Income Schools, Danielle L. Groendyk

Culminating Experience Projects

While the achievement gap that exists between students in schools of varying socioeconomic status is far from a new problem, its increasing presence emphasizes some of the most substantial inequalities in public education today. Though other achievement gaps such as those relating to ethnicity or gender have substantially narrowed in recent years, research shows that the socioeconomic-achievement gap continues to increase (Strand, 2014). Like other ethical dilemmas, acknowledging this problem challenges the notion that all students have access to a free public education because it recognizes that such access is severely unequal. Students who are raised in low-income communities are …


Early Education Mentor Match, Erik W. Taylor Aug 2023

Early Education Mentor Match, Erik W. Taylor

Culminating Experience Projects

Literature has revealed important information on how establishing mentoring can foster ongoing learning and effective teaching, yet few west Michigan early education environments incorporate any opportunities to encourage these essential relationships. This project explores the recent history of early education learning environments as well as contemporary challenges presented to these programs. Effective teacher supports and ongoing training must acknowledge the necessary out-of-classroom time needed for high-quality instruction and its influence on teacher wellbeing. Mentoring can offer teachers at various points in their careers with rich opportunities to coach and be coached as part of their existing professional development network. The …


Supporting Optimal Recess In Early Childhood Settings, Kristen Spoelman Aug 2023

Supporting Optimal Recess In Early Childhood Settings, Kristen Spoelman

Culminating Experience Projects

Research has revealed that US elementary school recess has declined significantly over the past 50 years, including Coopersville Area Public Schools. The major factors that have contributed to this decline include federal policies, adminstrative perspectives, lack of funding and trained staff, and growing concern over safety and behaviors, such as bullying. Scientific investigations have more recently been conducted in response to the recess cuts or eliminations, in order to provide data that demonstrates the crucial need to provide recess to children. These studies, along with growing social organization efforts, have identified that children experience whole child benefit from recess, which …


Parent Literacy Workshops: A Way To Provide Parents With Strategies To Support Literacy At Home, Ashley Riggs Aug 2023

Parent Literacy Workshops: A Way To Provide Parents With Strategies To Support Literacy At Home, Ashley Riggs

Masters Theses

Parents of struggling readers are seeking guidance and resources to help their child with reading instruction at home. To meet the needs of these parents, schools should provide parents with workshops that model evidence-based instruction paired with take-home resources. Workshops should focus on foundational skills such as print concepts, phonemic awareness, as well as decoding, using letter-sound relationships and decodable readers. Parents can be an overlooked avenue to the success of students’ reading abilities. This project will provide the framework needed for educators to establish and deliver a literacy workshop for parents.


An Examination Of The First-Year Experience Of Conditionally Admitted Students, Alexis Gunn Aug 2023

An Examination Of The First-Year Experience Of Conditionally Admitted Students, Alexis Gunn

Culminating Experience Projects

This project investigates the first-year experience of conditionally admitted students in higher education institutions. The findings within the literature highlight the needs that conditionally admitted students require, which include but are not limited to: the need for greater academic support, mental health support, and understanding of the school-life balance. By understanding the first-year experiences of conditionally admitted students, the project was able to implement strategies to ensure a smoother transition. To do this, a design for first-year workshops designed specifically for conditionally admitted students was developed that addressed resources and support, emotional intelligence and self-care, and time management and organization.


Math Proficiency And The Achievement Gap, Jamila A. Peterson Aug 2023

Math Proficiency And The Achievement Gap, Jamila A. Peterson

Culminating Experience Projects

Mathematical proficiency and the achievement gap have been central topics in educational research for decades. Academic experts from all areas have sought resolutions, especially in Michigan, which ranks relatively low in mathematical achievement; however, the problem persists. This project will investigate the history of the achievement gap, specifically in mathematics proficiency, and explore contributing factors and potential research resolutions. Mathematical proficiency is crucial in closing the achievement gap, as it has been a proven indicator of upward mobility. Proficiency not only negatively impacts the non-proficient student, but it also projects the country's economic future.


Addressing The Lack Of Social-Emotional Skills In Early Childhood, Jeni Marie Visser Aug 2023

Addressing The Lack Of Social-Emotional Skills In Early Childhood, Jeni Marie Visser

Culminating Experience Projects

It has been referenced that behavior management is a top professional development need for early childhood teachers to address challenging behaviors in children (Brock & Beaman-Diglia, 2018). There are evidence-based practices that exist to address severe challenging behavior, but promoting implementation of evidence-based practices remains a challenge (Brock & Beaman-Diglia, 2018). Challenging behavior comes from children not having the social skills to engage in appropriate behaviors and not knowing how to communicate emotions in appropriate ways. Research connects early social-emotional development, especially emotional control, self-regulation, attention, and having appropriate social skills, to the development of higher-order cognitive functioning and to …


Evidence-Based Writing Pedagogy, Patrick Misner Aug 2023

Evidence-Based Writing Pedagogy, Patrick Misner

Culminating Experience Projects

Standardized tests continue to consistently show students performing below grade level on writing tasks. This project explores the history of the issue as well as research behind evidenced based writing pedagogy shown to improve students' writing abilities. It focuses on three key strategies: integrating reading and writing instruction, providing effective feedback, and using a process writing framework. The culminating project incorporates these three techniques in a writing unit, which can be used with high school English students. Also provided are pre- and post-assessments with grading rubrics taken from previous National Assessment of Educational Progress tests that teachers can use to …


The Language Of Racism And Education, Megan A. Visser Aug 2023

The Language Of Racism And Education, Megan A. Visser

Culminating Experience Projects

Language, and how we use it, affects all people around us, including the students in our schools. This project aims to educate others on the importance of language, show how language is often used to be covertly racist, and begin the process of setting educators on a new path towards language that is inclusive. The aspects of language that this project will break down are colorblind language, diversity language, and microaggressions. Once broken down we will address some ways to rebuild our language in a way that makes our students feel safe in our classrooms.


A Study Of Behavior Issues In The Early Childhood Classroom After The Pandemic, Mari Elena Sremba Aug 2023

A Study Of Behavior Issues In The Early Childhood Classroom After The Pandemic, Mari Elena Sremba

Culminating Experience Projects

Research has shown that children entering the classroom environment after the COVID-19 pandemic are struggling with behavioral issues. Due to a lack of social-emotional skills and heightened anxiety and depression, schools are seeing children act out more violently and emotionally than ever before. With a strict focus on the findings of the importance of school readiness and play-based learning skills, this project is aimed to minimize these outbursts of negative behavior by teaching parents on how to get involved in the home and teach these necessary skills for school success. Parental involvement has shown high correlations with success for children …


Summer Bridge Programs And The Impact On African American Students, Astin Martin Aug 2023

Summer Bridge Programs And The Impact On African American Students, Astin Martin

Culminating Experience Projects

Summer bridge programs have been an effective strategy for increasing African American students' success in higher education according to Detgen, Fernandez, McMahon, Johnson, and Dailey study (2021). This project explores summer bridge programs and highlights how these programs provide academic, social, and cultural support to help students overcome the challenges they may face during their transition to college (Ghazzawi, Pattison, Horn, Hardy & Brown, 2021). The success of summer bridge programs can be attributed to their ability to provide early academic preparation, build a sense of community, and increase the confidence and self-efficacy of disadvantaged students in Science, Technology, Engineering, …


Creating A Partnership Using The Home To School Connection To Implement Relevant Instruction In The Classroom And Supporting The School To Home Connection To Create A Tier Two Intervention Tailored To Students’ Early Literacy Needs, Sara L. Arthurs Aug 2023

Creating A Partnership Using The Home To School Connection To Implement Relevant Instruction In The Classroom And Supporting The School To Home Connection To Create A Tier Two Intervention Tailored To Students’ Early Literacy Needs, Sara L. Arthurs

Culminating Experience Projects

A child’s first place of learning is within the home environment. Research has proven the importance of family involvement in developing children’s early literacy skills. Children have academic success when family members are involved and supportive of development. Early elementary students are expected to enter formal schooling already holding knowledge of foundational literacy skills. The home environment offers children the opportunity to learn and support later literacy success. However, there has been a disconnect between how family and schools partner which has impacted how families engage in their child’s educational experience. Schools and teachers should continue to partner with families …


The Social-Psychological Development Of Dual-Enrollment Students, Paulie Robinson-Stevens Aug 2023

The Social-Psychological Development Of Dual-Enrollment Students, Paulie Robinson-Stevens

Culminating Experience Projects

Dual enrollment is a college acceleration program that allows high school students to take college classes while still in high school. This program as it exists today prepares students for the academic rigors of college, but it does not adequately develop the social or psychological skills they need to succeed in a college environment. Dual enrollment programs also do not include information about transfer credits, financial aid, or support services, all of which are necessary for students to transition from high school to a higher education institution. This project proposes a nine-week seminar to complement the academic preparation dual enrollment …


An Examination Of Early Childhood Scholars’ Social Emotional Competencies, Monica J. Graveling Aug 2023

An Examination Of Early Childhood Scholars’ Social Emotional Competencies, Monica J. Graveling

Culminating Experience Projects

Research has disclosed valuable evidence about early childhood social emotional learning. This project investigates the recent history of Social Emotional Learning (SEL) in America and the impact it is having on young learners in order to improve instructional techniques and foster SEL growth within early childhood children. SEL capabilities influence the overall well-being of young scholars in the present and the future. There is an abundance of early childhood students who lack the SEL skills needed to succeed in education and society. Positive, classroom relationships are beneficial in developing social emotional abilities. Additionally, interactive read aloud experiences and discussions are …


Mental Health Education In Higher Education, Chelsea J. Farley Aug 2023

Mental Health Education In Higher Education, Chelsea J. Farley

Culminating Experience Projects

This project dives into the current mental health status of college students and what institutions are doing to address students steady and continuous decline of mental health. Mental Health 101: A Comprehensive Guide for Faculty incorporates suggestions from literature and theory to provide resources to faculty members when educating students. Mental Health 101 was created with the social-ecological model in mind (Bronfenbrenner, 1979) by connecting the individual student to their environment, or in this case, the college classroom. The guide consists of information about mental health such as risk factors and warning signs, coping strategies, activities, and assignments faculty members …


Implementing Successful Foundational Reading Intervention: Resources For Upper Elementary Teachers, Colleen Myers Aug 2023

Implementing Successful Foundational Reading Intervention: Resources For Upper Elementary Teachers, Colleen Myers

Culminating Experience Projects

Research shows that being able to read fluently is linked to other academic success and socioemotional outcomes such as having increased empathy. However, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) shows that approximately one-third of fourth graders are reading at a level that is considered below basic. Upper elementary teachers are in a unique position, as the students they are currently teaching likely had their foundational reading instruction interrupted due to the covid-19 pandemic. This means that upper elementary teachers are having to set up reading interventions that focus on foundational skills. Often, these teachers are not provided with the …


Understanding Dyslexia: A Need For Quality Teacher Training, Mackenzie Meckl Aug 2023

Understanding Dyslexia: A Need For Quality Teacher Training, Mackenzie Meckl

Culminating Experience Projects

With dyslexia affecting 1-2 students in every classroom, it is important, now more than ever, that teachers are receiving current professional development to understand what dyslexia is, how to identify it and how to best support students in their classrooms. Dyslexia is a specific reading disorder that is neurobiological in origin and causes challenges with phonological processing, word recall, automaticity and fluency. It is critical that students are receiving the best and most effective reading interventions as early as possible to ensure that they can head down a path of reading success. Without this early intervention, reading difficulties can lead …


Standardized Testing And Stress In Teachers And Students, Gretchen L. Spoelman-Delong Aug 2023

Standardized Testing And Stress In Teachers And Students, Gretchen L. Spoelman-Delong

Culminating Experience Projects

This project demonstrates the relationship between standardized testing and increased stress in both teachers and students. The emphasis placed on standardized testing and therefore potential for increased anxiety and stress for teachers and students is important because stressed and anxious teachers are not going to be teaching to their full potential. Likewise, stressed and anxious students are not going to be able to rise to their full learning potential (Gonzalez et al., 2017). The purpose of this project is to decrease the amount of stress and anxiety that students and teachers feel. This can be accomplished by informing school personnel, …


Limiting Play-Based Learning In Early Childhood Classrooms: The Impact On Student Engagement, Ashley M. Lesniak Aug 2023

Limiting Play-Based Learning In Early Childhood Classrooms: The Impact On Student Engagement, Ashley M. Lesniak

Culminating Experience Projects

Research has revealed the developmental benefits and school readiness skills students gain from play-based child centered learning, yet most early childhood classrooms beyond preschool are seeing less and less play-based learning and more direct instruction of academic skills due to increased accountability put in place by reforms such as No Child Left Behind. The purpose of this project is to inform and remind teachers and administration of the benefits of play-based learning but also to create some curriculum that will integrate more play-based learning into classrooms. Currently, many classrooms do not implement play -based learning due to time, academics, and …


Grading To Better Communicate Student Learning, Derek M. Carlisle Aug 2023

Grading To Better Communicate Student Learning, Derek M. Carlisle

Culminating Experience Projects

While the inadequacies of traditional grading have been well documented, it is still the most prominent grading system in schools today, including Kent City Community Schools. This project analyzes research on traditional and non-traditional grading systems to determine how to best assess and communicate student learning. Research confirms that, while traditional grading does have some benefits, the negative effects far outweigh the positive. And while there are a few other grading systems of merit, standards-based grading is the most commonly implemented and best meets the project goals of accurately assessing and communicating student learning and growth. The teacher in-service designed …


Lack Of Engagement Of Play-Based Learning In Early Childhood Education, Jessica A. Beuilby Aug 2023

Lack Of Engagement Of Play-Based Learning In Early Childhood Education, Jessica A. Beuilby

Culminating Experience Projects

Research has shown that children in early childhood education classrooms, including those at Ottawa Area Center, are having less time to engage with meaningful play-based learning opportunities. This project explores the factors hindering the implementation of play-based learning as well as thought on how to improve the implementation of play-based learning. To effectively address the factors hindering the implementation of play-based learning, administration and teachers must have the adequate knowledge on play-based learning. Two professional development sessions will be used to address the most common factors that hinder implementation. Additionally, it combines elements of evaluation that will be helpful in …


The Negative Effects Of White Teachers Biased Views Towards African American, Alisha M. Brown Aug 2023

The Negative Effects Of White Teachers Biased Views Towards African American, Alisha M. Brown

Culminating Experience Projects

This study explores the possibility that teachers' prejudices against African Americans have an impact on the academic performance of black students. Data show that Black students perform academically lower than any other group of students. This problem needs to be solved in order to guarantee that every student obtains the best education possible. One solution to this issue is to implement culturally responsive teaching in the classroom. Culturally sensitive instruction benefits both the teacher and the student by fostering a sense of community. Additionally, it will increase students' in-class participation. Teachers will learn the fundamentals of eliminating prejudice and becoming …


The Effects Negative Of White Teachers Biased Views Towards African American, Alisha M. Brown Jul 2023

The Effects Negative Of White Teachers Biased Views Towards African American, Alisha M. Brown

Culminating Experience Projects

This study deals with the question of how black students' academic performance may be impacted by educators' prejudices toward African Americans. Black students perform worse academically than any other group of students, according to data. To ensure that every student receives the greatest education possible, this issue must be resolved. Implementing culturally responsive teaching in the classroom is one strategy to solve this problem. By encouraging a sense of belonging, culturally responsive teaching will be advantageous to both the instructor and the student. Additionally, it will boost students' participation in the classroom. Through this professional development, teachers will learn the …


The Negative Effects Of White Teachers Biased Views Towards African American Students, Alisha M. Brown Jul 2023

The Negative Effects Of White Teachers Biased Views Towards African American Students, Alisha M. Brown

Culminating Experience Projects

This study explores the possibility that teachers' prejudices against African Americans have an impact on the academic performance of black students. Data show that Black students perform academically lower than any other group of students. This problem needs to be solved in order to guarantee that every student obtains the best education possible. One solution to this issue is to implement culturally responsive teaching in the classroom. Culturally sensitive instruction benefits both the teacher and the student by fostering a sense of community. Additionally, it will increase students' in-class participation. Teachers will learn the fundamentals of eliminating prejudice and becoming …


An Examination Of Mental Health In Educators, Hannah F. Sanderson Jul 2023

An Examination Of Mental Health In Educators, Hannah F. Sanderson

Culminating Experience Projects

Research has revealed the significance and importance of mental health and its incorporation into overall well-being. A survey conducted by RAND Corp revealed that one in four teachers has experienced symptoms of depression (Kidger, 2021). Along those same lines, educators have expressed that due to their job and the school climate, they have experienced symptoms of anxiety, depression, and large amounts of stress (Merida et al., 2017). This project explores the various stressors that are felt by educators within their educational institutions and delivers solutions to reduce the symptoms associated with mental illness and improve the school climate. Through surveys …


The Positive Behavioral Effects Of Reading Intervention And Social Emotional Learning, Kristen M. Peffer Jul 2023

The Positive Behavioral Effects Of Reading Intervention And Social Emotional Learning, Kristen M. Peffer

Culminating Experience Projects

The purpose of this study was to highlight the positive academic benefits to students when they are given opportunities to increase their social emotional learning as an added layer of support to their reading intervention and instruction. The studies were done in the United States within the last twelve years in elementary and middle schools in mostly urban settings. The research supported the claim that when social emotional learning was integrated into the reading intervention curriculum, students' academic progress was enhanced as well as decreased behavior problems and referrals. Social emotional learning increases students' connection to school, peers, and the …