Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 30 of 40
Full-Text Articles in Education
How Does Classroom Management Affect Student Behavior?, Lucy Hoelscher
How Does Classroom Management Affect Student Behavior?, Lucy Hoelscher
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
The research question discussed is, how does classroom management affect student behavior? This capstone project is a research-based professional development training for educators. The training is made up of two sessions. The first session focuses on the components and principles of classroom management and the impact of classroom management on student behavior, engagement, and academic performance. The second session consists of successful classroom management approaches and the challenges and barriers educators may face.
How Can Educators Implement Nature-Based Learning To Increase The Well-Being Of The Whole Child?, Jennifer Hubert
How Can Educators Implement Nature-Based Learning To Increase The Well-Being Of The Whole Child?, Jennifer Hubert
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
This project is a collection of materials presented in a website format that dives deep into the benefits of nature-based learning, specifically answering the question: How can educators implement nature-based learning to increase the well-being of the whole child? This website is intended to be used as a resource for teachers, caregivers, and anyone seeking nature-based content for kids. High quality materials have been curated in a central repository for easy access. The sections on Nature-based Social Justice Resources, Art-based Environmental Education and Environmental Justice Resources can influence policy change by bringing awareness to social justice issues and providing concrete …
How To Create A Successful Learning Environment For Students With Challenging Behaviors, Kristin Otto
How To Create A Successful Learning Environment For Students With Challenging Behaviors, Kristin Otto
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
As an experienced special education teacher working with a range of school districts, I have observed the need for further training on how to manage challenging behaviors within our schools. Though there are many researched based strategies available for helping educators manage challenging behaviors, there are very few trainings that guide educators to program for students with challenging behaviors. With teacher shortages at all-time high in the state of Minnesota, and schools working hard to provide inclusive classrooms, the need for further training for educators appears to be at the forefront. This project on: How to create successful learning environments …
Preparing Trauma Informed Teachers And Utilizing Trauma Responsive Systems To Increase Educational Success For Elementary Age Students, Kate Jordal
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
Research suggests that trauma informed teaching practices benefit all students, regardless of whether or not they have experienced trauma. The professional development created for this project is informed by the work of Danielle Theis’ Teach to Heal and Performing Tracking System (2022), Nicholas Long’s Life Space Crisis Intervention (2021), the scholarship of Ross Greene (2014), and the educational framework Universal Design for Learning (2022). Trauma informed teaching practices include at its core: role definition for adults, common language, and explicit teaching of social emotional skills. The professional development will help teachers create a trauma responsive classroom which will be beneficial …
Implementation Of Movement Integration In The Classroom, Maren Armstrong
Implementation Of Movement Integration In The Classroom, Maren Armstrong
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
Research has illustrated that the involvement of movement and physical activity in the classroom can be utilized to achieve a variety of positive outcomes. This paper explores the concept of movement integration in regards to its effects on classroom management, student engagement, and childhood obesity. While the body of literature on movement integration is extensive, there has not been a defined “best practice” providing exact allotments of timing, type, duration, or intensity for implementation. The intent of this project is to synthesize current research and organize the types of movement integration that had common results. The website and professional development …
Restorative Justice Practices And Their Impacts In Elementary Classrooms, Mary Miles
Restorative Justice Practices And Their Impacts In Elementary Classrooms, Mary Miles
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
This capstone sought to answer the question: What are the most effective ways to implement restorative justice practices into elementary classrooms in order to create a positive learning community? This capstone analyzed the historical need for restorative justice practices in classrooms by describing the detrimental effects of zero tolerance policies and the school to prison pipeline. It analyzed the roots of restorative justice practices in indigenous cultures and examined how culture can influence the way conflict is addressed. This capstone examined the need for interactive staff development on how to implement restorative practices in the classroom. It discussed several restorative …
How Can Restorative Justice Practices Be Utilized To Create A Positive Classroom Climate In A K-2 Setting?, Ella Brown
How Can Restorative Justice Practices Be Utilized To Create A Positive Classroom Climate In A K-2 Setting?, Ella Brown
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
Students have the right to feel safe, loved, and valued in every school. Schools worldwide are shifting their approaches to discipline and classroom management by forgoing zero-tolerance policies and exclusionary practices. Restorative Justice in Education (RJE) is a growing movement taking the place of traditional forms of discipline. Restorative justice is more than just a buzzword. It is a way to transform learning communities, relationships, and classrooms. From personal experiences in the classroom and throughout my research, the author was encouraged to provide more teachers with resources to implement restorative justice practices into their classrooms. The question, How can Restorative …
School Recess: Benefits, Obstacles, And Policy, Amy Mcmullan
School Recess: Benefits, Obstacles, And Policy, Amy Mcmullan
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The practice of school recess is explored including its benefits, obstacles, and policies. Academic literature provided research indicating a myriad of benefits including academic or cognitive, behavioral, health, and social emotional development, while challenges with implementing school recess are described as allocation of time as well as supervision, safety, and bullying. Current policies regarding recess are divided into two categories: requiring students be given a recess period and the issue of withholding recess. Original research was conducted with a mixed methods design by an electronic survey, where Minnesota elementary school principals were surveyed regarding recess in their schools. The data …
Helping Primary School Students Exposed To Stress Or Trauma To Learn In The Language Classroom, Ekaterina Shamaeva
Helping Primary School Students Exposed To Stress Or Trauma To Learn In The Language Classroom, Ekaterina Shamaeva
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
Perhaps, every teacher would like to see their students thrive academically and succeed in their future careers. However, some learners face challenges which are not related neither to their individual characteristics, nor to aptitude, but to stressful and traumatic experiences in their lives, which represent huge barriers on the way to success. Therefore, the question addressed in this project was how can English as foreign language teachers in Russia mitigate the impact of stress and trauma on primary school learners to facilitate learning in the language classroom? Extensive literature review concludes that the effects of stress and trauma at a …
Incorporating Physical Activity In The Kindergarten Classroom, Kendra Buteyn
Incorporating Physical Activity In The Kindergarten Classroom, Kendra Buteyn
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
Physical activity is something all children need. In today’s world, young children are spending more time on devices and are getting less physical activity at school and home due to busy and overbooked schedules. Research conducted by Abdelbary, Castelli et al., Conyers & Wilson, and Helgelson show that when children move more, they can increase their academic achievement, on-task behavior, and their overall health. Keeping the body active promotes mental clarity by increasing blood flow to the brain, making activity vital to both learning and physical and neurological health (Abdelbary, 2017). The collection of research in this capstone project helps …
Professional Development Activities: Understanding How Cultural Stigmas Impact The Participation Of Japanese English Learners In Universities, Peter Rom
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
According to a variety of research and literature, existing cultural stigmas in Japanese society and education creates a classroom culture gap between native English teachers (NETs) and Japanese English learners (ELs) at the university level. The specific cultural gap in question is on the differences in cultural expectations regarding participation between NETs and Japanese ELs. The result of this classroom cultural gap generally results in a silent and non-productive class. To combat this issue, I have designed a total of 15 professional development (PD) activities. The project employs culturally relevant pedagogy as understood by Ladson-Billing, and it is specifically designed …
Will Building A Healthy Community In The Elementary Classroom Reduce Disruptive Behaviors?, Samantha Janchan
Will Building A Healthy Community In The Elementary Classroom Reduce Disruptive Behaviors?, Samantha Janchan
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
Community building in the elementary classroom can reduce disruptive behaviors. Elementary teachers wear many different hats during the school day, and managing behavior expectations is one hat. This paper explains the purpose of building relationships with students to reduce disruptive behavior. Teachers will spend time building relationships through activities, routines, and positive feedback. Chapter one provides background knowledge and the author’s personal investment in the subject area of relationship centered classroom management. Chapter two explores research on relationship building and the positive results of a community in the elementary classroom. Chapter three describes the author’s capstone project and the professional …
Increasing 4th Grade Student Engagement Through Technology And Other Strategies, Brennan Dickinsen
Increasing 4th Grade Student Engagement Through Technology And Other Strategies, Brennan Dickinsen
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
Finding ways to engage students in the classroom can be a challenge over the course of the school year. Over the years the focus and attention of students has seemed to shorten. This has led to teachers having a harder time to find ways to engage students in a lesson for a longer period of time. I have been an educator in fourth and fifth grade classrooms for six years and I have noticed this trend as well. This has motivated me to research and look deeper into this issue. My question is how can technology and other strategies increase …
The Role Of Restorative Practices In Building Community, Increasing Student Learning And Reducing Racially Disparate Discipline In Secondary Schools, Lawrence Koszewski
The Role Of Restorative Practices In Building Community, Increasing Student Learning And Reducing Racially Disparate Discipline In Secondary Schools, Lawrence Koszewski
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
The highly negative outcomes of persistent racially disparate discipline for students and communities of color are well documented and wide-ranging. In response many districts are instituting Restorative Practices in order to reduce the racial discipline gap and mediate negative outcomes for communities. Research of these districts shows a reduction in suspension rates for all students although a racial gap persists. In order to maximize the potential positive benefits of Restorative Practices teachers, administrators and facilitators must fully and properly implement Restorative Practices. To do so will require support through clear, personalized and tangible Restorative resources. This project involved the production …
How Will Self-Centering And Breathing Practices Improve And Promote Purposeful Learning In Beginning Band, Leah Toppen
How Will Self-Centering And Breathing Practices Improve And Promote Purposeful Learning In Beginning Band, Leah Toppen
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
Rehearsing an ensemble of beginning band students is a joy and adventure. Every student who enters the band room for rehearsal is excited to take out their instrument and play. The excitement and other emotions students have when they walk into class can affect the energy and tone of a rehearsal. This capstone project is for band directors who teach beginning band and are in need of a more focused rehearsal setting and routine. Centering and mindfulness practices have been around for centuries. Practicing centering and mindfulness helps call down the mind and body. This capstone explores the question: how …
Impacting Student On-Task Behaviors Through Classroom Based Physical Activity And Movement, Katelyn Allen
Impacting Student On-Task Behaviors Through Classroom Based Physical Activity And Movement, Katelyn Allen
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research question addressed in this thesis study was: How do different amounts of physical activity and movement implemented into a suburban kindergarten classroom setting impact student on-task behaviors? The literature topics researched and reviewed before conducting this study were on physical activity and movement, classroom management histories, classroom behaviors, and classroom physical activity. In this study, the mixed methods design was used in monitoring and collecting data with the quantitative method as the main approach and the qualitative method as the secondary. Over a five-week period, 16 kindergartners in a suburban classroom participated, and were monitored, before and after …
Culturally Relevant Small-Group Strategies To Increase Engagement In African-American Students, Kimberly Haley
Culturally Relevant Small-Group Strategies To Increase Engagement In African-American Students, Kimberly Haley
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
Minority groups of students are oftentimes expected to convert to the eurocentrism set up of education. However, the demographics of students in education continues to grow and evolve. Teachers are expected to keep up with this evolution of change, but aren’t necessarily provided with the correct resources. Due to this, educators are seeing reduced levels of engagement, particularly in African American students. This capstone is a professional development for staff showcasing some culturally responsive strategies created by Dr. Sharroky Hollie. These strategies can easily be placed into lessons in order to support the different rings of cultures within students, while …
Program Design: A Practical Guide For Creating El Programs With A Focus On Social-Emotional Development, Brigitta Bognar Cronin
Program Design: A Practical Guide For Creating El Programs With A Focus On Social-Emotional Development, Brigitta Bognar Cronin
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
The research question addressed in this project was, how can English Language (EL) teachers design a program that best serves the social-emotional needs of English Learners (ELs)? The author of this capstone documented her personal experience as a first-year teacher, which inspired her to research methods to improve students’ social-emotional skill sets. The available research on social-emotional learning was merged with theories concerning second language learning to create a framework that addresses the social-emotional learning of ELs. A website was created for secondary EL teachers featuring articles and teaching resources.
How To Improve High-Risk High School Student Achievement And Well-Being Through Using Best Practices, Particularly In An Alternative Setting, Laura Lopez Dahl
How To Improve High-Risk High School Student Achievement And Well-Being Through Using Best Practices, Particularly In An Alternative Setting, Laura Lopez Dahl
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
Many high-risk students struggle in education and find it difficult to be successful in mainstream educational settings. Alternative educational programs (AEP) are used as an intervention for students who are struggling in the mainstream setting and are at risk for failure. Students in AEP programs have an opportunity to overcome their barriers and achieve graduation as opposed to dropping out or getting their general education diploma (GED). Many of the students in these programs struggle with adverse childhood experiences (ACE) and have had negative educational experiences. This capstone project addresses the research question: How to improve high-risk high school achievement …
How To Say Nothing And Everything At The Same Time: A White Teacher, Students Of Color, And The Trial And Error Of Building Relationships Of Opportunity With Envoy, Melissa Bougie
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
This capstone project focuses on how ENVoY classroom management might impact student teacher relationships and academic success in diverse high school classrooms. The project takes the form of a blog that outlines ENVoY classroom management techniques as well as discusses the philosophy of educational equity that exists behind the techniques. It includes my own analysis and research as well as interviews of ENVoY Demonstration Teachers. Due to the opportunity gaps between white students and students of color that often exist in diverse high schools, it is important to consider what might contribute to closing these gaps. Classroom management is one …
Social Emotional Learning And Literacy In The Primary Grades: An Integrated Approach, Kaitlynn Cline
Social Emotional Learning And Literacy In The Primary Grades: An Integrated Approach, Kaitlynn Cline
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is essential to school success. This capstone was developed around the guiding question: How can primary grade level teachers teach Social Emotional Learning skills as an integrated approach through literacy? There are a number of SEL curricula available to educators, some of which have had a greater impact than others. There have also been a large number of policy changes in the United States related to academic achievement and standards that have impacted what is taught in the early years of elementary education. This capstone explored SEL curricula that are currently used, policies that have impacted …
Social-Emotional Learning For The Alternative High School, Lindsay A. Bednar
Social-Emotional Learning For The Alternative High School, Lindsay A. Bednar
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
The purpose of this capstone is to provide social-emotional learning (SEL) strategies for educational professionals to use with high-school students in the alternative high school. Included in this capstone is a detailed description of SEL as well as an analysis of the need for SEL offering in alternative high schools. The project provides three succinct strategies that educators and professionals can implement within an alternative education setting to best support the high needs of their students. Adapted from Nancy Hellander Pung’s UpCoaching framework, the three strategies focus on deepening questions that allow students to realize their values, their intentions, and …
How To Build A Classroom Community Of Caring, Self-Directed Learners Through The Use Of Morning Meeting In The First Ten Days Of School And Beyond, Andi Jo Zimmerman
How To Build A Classroom Community Of Caring, Self-Directed Learners Through The Use Of Morning Meeting In The First Ten Days Of School And Beyond, Andi Jo Zimmerman
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
Research has demonstrated that creating a child-centered classroom and implementing the Responsive Classroom Morning Meeting is integral to creating a classroom community. The curriculum designed for this project focuses on using Roxanne Kriete’s “The Morning Meeting Book” and other theories of co-operative learning to create a framework of a Morning Meeting to create a classroom community of self-directed learners. The project involved creating a diverse curriculum that engages students with classmates and their own learning through activities that expose them to both social and emotional skills and strategies but also academic skills, in an atmosphere that is non-threatening. The curriculum …
The Norms And Procedures Needed For Successful One-To-One Device Implementation In An Upper Elementary, Katie Coulson
The Norms And Procedures Needed For Successful One-To-One Device Implementation In An Upper Elementary, Katie Coulson
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
This capstone project focuses on answering the question, what are the impacts on digital citizenship when creating the norms and procedures for integrating one-to-one iPads into an upper elementary classroom? It documents one educator’s experience and research that led them to gathering and adapting six mini lessons that teach digital footprints, healthy media choices, digital citizenship, credible sources, private vs personal information, and setting up expectations for home and school. This project resulted in four major findings. First, collaborating within your school and district is essential for providing the support needed for 1:1 implementation. Second, having a strong classroom and …
Social And Emotional Learning Strategies In The Elementary Classroom And Their Impact On Student Success, Megan Williams
Social And Emotional Learning Strategies In The Elementary Classroom And Their Impact On Student Success, Megan Williams
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
During the course of my project, I explored social and emotional learning strategies that can be easily implemented into the elementary classroom, specifically my fourth grade classroom. These students attend an elementary school in a first ring suburb of a large metropolitan area in the upper midwest. My intention was to develop strategies that were easy to implement and promoted a positive learning environment that allowed students to increase their academic success. The successful implementation of these strategies helped students develop and use conflict resolution skills and therefore promoted a positive classroom climate. This project was the first step in …
Restorative Justice In Education Practices As Interventions That Support Teachers In Creating A Better Climate And Culture In Their Classrooms, Erin Tande
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
Behavior management in schools is constantly changing. School-wide and classroom behavior processes are striving to find and create ways to reduce negative or unwelcomed behavior while increasing the school’s climate and culture. Schools committed to following Restorative Justice practices have reported stronger school community, reduced suspensions, and increased problem-solving skills during conflicts. This capstone uses a combination of research, assessment, testimonials, and pilot school studies to help answer the research question, What restorative justice in education interventions can be used to support teachers in creating better climate and culture in their classrooms? The research concludes Restorative Justice in Education practices …
Using Classcraft As A Positive Behavioral Intervention Strategy In The Classroom, Renae Otto
Using Classcraft As A Positive Behavioral Intervention Strategy In The Classroom, Renae Otto
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
The research question addressed in this project was, how does Classcraft, a positive behavioral intervention strategy, increase student motivation in the classroom? It chronicles a teacher’s creation of a professional development plan and professional development presentation to integrate Classcraft into a positive behavioral intervention system (PBIS) classroom. The author uses related research literature in the areas of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, social and emotional learning, generation z students, and gamification in the classroom. In this study it is found that combining PBIS and Classcraft will allow teachers to foster the development of positive behaviors in the classroom. Classcraft can be …
Walking Field Trips: Mapping Outdoor Instruction Opportunities, Anna Cochran
Walking Field Trips: Mapping Outdoor Instruction Opportunities, Anna Cochran
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
The research question addressed in this project was the following: How can upper elementary educators in a rural school district utilize walking field trips and outdoor instruction to support achievement of state academic content areas and to integrate principles of environmental education? The project extends upper elementary school instructional settings to public lands, open spaces, parks, trails, river access points, and beyond in order to enhance the academic experience. It is informed by Sobel’s place-based education theory and Lieberman and Hoody’s proposal of using outdoor settings to connect multidisciplinary content areas. A walking field trip map was produced for a …
Effects Of Evaluative Praise Versus Behavior Descriptive Praise On Intrinsic Motivation And Behavior, Stacie Mccormack
Effects Of Evaluative Praise Versus Behavior Descriptive Praise On Intrinsic Motivation And Behavior, Stacie Mccormack
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The author’s research inquiry was: what is the impact of behavior descriptive praise and evaluative praise on intrinsic student motivation and behavior? The literature states that using evaluative praise can cause a ‘fixed mindset’ where a child is fearful of trying new tasks, and confused on the desired behavior of the educator. Moreover using behavior descriptive praise allows children to view effort and working hard a positive aspect of learning, while the educator is able to easily establish clear expectations for the students. This study took place over a four month period with two different third grade art classes. Through …
Combating Student Apathy: Helping Teachers Create Autonomy-Supportive Classrooms That Foster Motivation And Higher Achievement, David Schlotfeldt
Combating Student Apathy: Helping Teachers Create Autonomy-Supportive Classrooms That Foster Motivation And Higher Achievement, David Schlotfeldt
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
This project was created as a resource for better understanding the question, How does providing students with autonomy-supportive instruction strategies and choice impact motivation to learn within the classroom? It condenses current research related to student motivation, with a specific focus on autonomy support, and explains how educators can better meet the motivational needs of their students. Resources rooted in Self-Determination Theory (SDT) research is also provided through a motivational framework.