Education Commons^™

Supporting Young Children Of Immigrants In Prek-3

Occasional Paper Series

This special issue of the Occasional Paper Series describes practices and policies that can positively impact the early schooling of children of immigrants in the United States. We consider the intersectionality of young children’s lives and what needs to change in order to ensure that race, class, immigration status, gender, and dis/ability can effectively contribute to children’s experiences at school and in other instructional contexts, rather than prevent them from getting the learning experiences they need and deserve.

An Intervention For School Refusal Behavior : An Evaluation Of An Alternative High School Program, Kelly Ann Teufel

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Missing school is linked to a plethora of negative outcomes for students. Absences and school nonattendance pose significant concerns for a myriad of youth. Students miss school for a variety of reasons, thus this heterogeneous sample of pupils is broadly considered exhibiting school refusal behavior. Many studies have investigated this phenomenon, with contemporary research advocating for implementing a variety of interventions aligned to the function(s) of the school refusal behavior, and the use of a multidisciplinary intervention team (Kearney & Silverman, 1990; Suldo & Ogg, 2014; Wimmer, 2004). Few empirical studies, however, have investigated such recommendations. The need for thorough …

The Relationships Between Parent Involvement And Reading And Mathematics Achievement For Students With Disabilities : An Analysis Of Ecls 1998-99 Data, Brian K. Bellair

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Parent involvement in education has long been viewed as a pathway to increased student achievement. Although much research exists with regard to this topic, little examines this relationship specifically for students with disabilities in grades 1-5 despite being required by both the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Representing nearly 13% of the school-age population demands a more in-depth examination of the potential for parent involvement to impact the achievement of an already disadvantaged subgroup. This study uses the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study 1998-99 (ECLS) publicly available data set to investigate the …

Investigating Teacher And Administrator Response To A Care-Based Curriculum Implementation, Piera Camposeo

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

This study investigated participants’ openness to change when exposed to a teacher-led care-based innovative method of curriculum delivery, specifically the Schoolhome Instructional Design.

Spiders & Webs: The Core Curriculum And Tutoring, Deborah Ostrosky

Thought and Practice: (1987-1991) the Journal of the Graduate School of Bank Street College of Education

Describes the connection between a child's tutoring sessions and her school success.

Exploring The Associations Between Teaching Behaviors And Affect In Upper Elementary School Students Before And After Controlling For Parenting Behaviors., Allison D. Barnard

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study explored the associations between student perceived teaching behaviors and negative and positive affect in upper elementary age students, both before and after controlling for perceived parenting behaviors. The Teaching Behavior Questionnaire (TBQ), the Alabama Parenting Questionnaire (APQ), and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule for Children (PANAS-C) were completed by 777 students in third through fifth grade across nine elementary schools. Two-level hierarchical linear model (HLM) analyses not controlling for parenting behavior found that the Instructional Teaching Behavior scale of the TBQ was negatively associated with negative affect (NA) and positively associated with positive affect (PA). The Socio-Emotional …

Use Of Role And Power In Parent-Teacher Relationships: Perceptions From The Parent Perspective, Sonja Taylor

Dissertations and Theses

Studies have increasingly shown that more parent involvement leads to higher academic achievement for kids. However, studies have also shown a difference in the ability of parents to effectively further their children's interest based on social class. Middle-class parents are described as being able to activate their cultural and social capital in order to further their interests, while working-class and low-income parents have been described as frustrated and marginalized- lacking the ability to activate their capital in a way that benefits themselves and their children.

The intent of this study is to explore how parents understand their role in the …

From Bank Street To High School, Evie Gurney

Progressive Education in Context

Explains the process of searching for the perfect high school fit for the eighth graders, most of whom have been attending the Bank Street School for Children from early elementary through middle school.

The Effects Of Parental Monitoring And Parent-Child Relationships Quality On Children's Academic Engagement In Mother-Headed, Single-Parent Families, Benjamin Robert Malczyk

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Using a sample of 110 mother-headed single-parent families, this longitudinal study examined the relationship between pre-adolescent students’ academic engagement and three variables: Parental monitoring, parent-child attachment, and observed child-parent relationship quality. Special interest resided in the extent to which observed relationship quality or attachment moderated the relationship between parental monitoring and academic engagement.

Cultural Capital And The Family-School Mesosystem : A Multiple Groups Analysis Of School-Based Parent Involvement Types And Their Relations With Early Student Achievement., Emily R. Dickinson 1974-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation study explored the relationship between school-based parent involvement and early reading outcomes by positing that different types of parent involvement activities reflect access to different forms of cultural capital and therefore should be analyzed as separate constructs. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) techniques were used to establish the factor structure underlying measures of school-based parent involvement available in the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Kindergarten Cohort of 2011 (ECLS-K: 2011). Also of interest were the variations in the amount of participation in different types of involvement between families from various sociocultural backgrounds, as well as the …

Implementing Technological Change: Effects On Student Learning Through Implementation Of A Learning Management System For Enhanced Two-Way Communication Between School, Students And Parents, Courtney Lynn Curtis

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to determine whether or not a blended learning environment that focuses mainly on incorporating core-subject standards into a current 7th grade Fundamentals of Information Technology (FIT) course can help to increase 7th grade student core-subject, academic performance. If such performance is distinguishable, the curriculum materials used to develop this project may then be used for curriculum development within the Bethel School District, 7th grade FIT program. The product or end result of this project is an online curriculum guide titled: "Fundamentals of Information Technology Project: An Online Curriculum Guide for Bethel School District Middle …

Connecting With Families Of Poverty Handbook, Rebecca Christine Oren

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project is to create a handbook describing services available in the Sumner School District and researched based practices for elementary administrators and teachers to use when working with students and families of poverty. The McKinney-Vento Act in the United States protects families to ensure that all students have immediate access to school-linked services, including free breakfast and lunch, as well as transportation needs for getting to and from school. This handbook includes descriptions and contact information for local support organizations that administrators and teachers can additionally partner with to create supportive learning environments within their school …

A Modul Of Homeschooling Based On Technology, Mohd Nazri Bin Abdul Rahman Mr

mohd nazri bin abdul rahman

Homeschooling in Malaysia is a form of alternative education that emphasizes quality education based on moral values and belief in strengthening family ties. The purpose of this study is to produce a model of homeschooling technology- based learning activities in Malaysia as a guideline to improve the quality of education, curriculum and organize the delivery of learning content and teaching for homeschooling children. This study used the Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) process to develop a model and map the relationship between the elements involved in the homeschooling model-based learning and teaching technology. This study dismantled a complex system into several …

Strengthening Student Achievement Through Family Learning Events, Jacquelin Ann Charlton

All Graduate Projects

Families and educators both have a great influence on a student's academic success. When the relationship between home and school is strained, students miss out on some of that success (Harris & Goodall, 2008). Parental influence is an important factor in a child's education, but parental engagement in their learning is even more important (Ho Sui-Chu & Williams, 1996). However, some parents may feel unwelcome or unneeded at school (Williams, Williams, & Ullman, 2002), so it's the educator's responsibility to understand and encourage parents to become more engaged in student learning. Hosting family learning events at school can build a …

Conceptual Change Theory In Education: Using Dinner-Home Visits To Reshape Teacher Perceptions Of Students, Audrey Consuelo Hovannesian

Theses Digitization Project

This study was designed to determine a method to identify barriers which inhibit and items which foster levels of School Connectedness based on teacher perceptions of School Climate. When barriers related to School Connectedness are identified, the application of a protocol to reshape teacher perceptions may be necessary. Identifying teacher perceptions of School Climate related to students, the school environment, and themselves, is often an indicator of how connected the various elements of a school are since teachers and staff members greatly assist in the formation of a school climate. The 100 Dinners Project was a mixed methods study designed …

Using Technology To Increase Parental Involvement In Elementary School, Scott Thomas Neuscheler

Theses Digitization Project

Summary.;The purpose of this project was to develop an entertaining and informative way of communicating school expectations to students and parents, and to create an atmosphere where parents want to participate in school events. The DVD targeted parents who were unaware of programs offered at the school, lacks the tools to help their students with homework, as well as parents who wanted to participate but did not know where to start.

Community Perspectives On Black Parent Engagement In West Las Vegas Before And After Desegregation: A Case Study, Tonia Faye Holmes-Sutton

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

According to research on parent engagement in K-12 schools, disconnects often exist between parent involvement as defined by school leaders and the African American families and communities they serve (Delgado-Gaitan, 1991; Tillman, 2009). Unfortunately, these competing definitions and conceptions of parent involvement often result in school leaders and administrators perceiving that Black students do not achieve as well as their White peers because Black parents are not involved or engaged in the education of their children (Cooper, 2010; Cooper, 2009; Fields-Smith, 2005). This perception undermines the development of positive home-school relations between school leaders, educators, and Black parents, and in …

Bringing Physical Education Home: A Handbook Of Fitness Activities For Use Outside Of School, Nicholas Joseph Lombardo

All Graduate Projects

A handbook has been developed to aid in the integration of physical fitness and movement of elementary students beyond the school gymnasium. As more and more evidence points to the need and importance of physical activity being a daily part of children's lives, it is clear that the current requirements of physical education in today's schools are not enough. The handbook consists of six sections regarding the scope of where outside the school these activities can be done: at home indoors, your own back yard, within your neighborhood, surrounding cities, around the state, across the Nation. The targeted population for …

The End Of Homework: Redefining The Default To Goalwork, Theresa Marie Gomez

Theses Digitization Project

This study examines whether setting individualized attainable goals are more effective than assigning traditional homework. The author uses the term 'goalwork' to describe individualized goals set by teacher and student which are practiced in place of traditional homework. The research question addressed in this study is whether there is a significant connection between the implementation and use of goalwork and district benchmark assessments.

Taking On The Perspective Of The Other : Understanding Parents' And Teachers' Perceptions Of Parent Involvement In Students' Educational Experiences, Rene Michele Wilson

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Parent involvement is considered a vital educational factor that is associated with students' academic success. Engaging parents in the educational process is a challenge confronting many school districts across the United States. This is a significant problem for schools in low socioeconomic communities where lack of resources for parents and teachers creates barriers to involvement initiatives.

Motivations For Involvement : An Empirical Test Of Parents Of Students With Disabilities, Callen Emily Fishman

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Parents of students in special education have greater barriers to parent involvement than parents of students in general education. Little is known, however, about the factors that facilitate or impede involvement practices for this group. This study investigated the extent to which the motivational factors from Hoover-Dempsey and Sandler's (2005) Model of Parent Involvement (i.e., Parent Role Activity Beliefs, Parent Efficacy, General School Invitations, Specific Teacher Invitation, Specific Child Invitations, Perceived Knowledge and Skills, and Perceived Time and Energy) predicted the Home-Based, School-Based, and Special Education Involvement of 177 parents of students in special education. Family structure, race/ethnicity, family socioeconomic …

A Teacher’S Guide For Increased Parent Involvement In Low Socioeconomic And Highly Diverse Areas., Alyssa Katheryn Newby

All Graduate Projects

Secondary research was performed to obtain an overview of parent involvement in schools with low socioeconomic status and ethnically diverse populations. Within the project, different ethnicities' typical values and perceptions of appropriate involvement in a child's education were presented. These perceptions often contradict educators' perceptions of parent involvement, which generally takes on a white, middle class perspective. The purpose of the project is to better inform educators about the variety of ethnicities. As a result, this project addressed challenges to parent involvement and suggested possible solutions/interventions to bridge the gap between educators and families.

English Literacy Development In The Spanish Speaking Home: The Effects Of Training Parents In The Use Of Reading Comprehension Strategies While Their Children Read, Rommel Manuel Guerrero

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this project was to measure the impact Spanish speaking parents can have on the English reading comprehension of their children who are learning English. This study also investigated the effect of training monolingual Spanish speaking parents is reading comprehension strategies in Spanish while their children read English text.

Partnership Between Myth And Reality : Structural Asymmetries In Parent-Teacher Relationships, Marisa Bel Holtz

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Despite a historically unprecedented increase in advocacy for parental involvement in education in recent decades, parents continue to express dissatisfaction with their communication with teachers, while teachers continue to identify their interactions with parents as a source of tension and stress. While the practitioner literature recommends parent-teacher collaboration as an attainable goal, the theoretical literature suggests that, given the structural asymmetries of parent-teacher relationships, open communication may be impossible. Via unstructured interviews with parents and teachers of suburban secondary students, this study explored the structural limitations on authentic parent-teacher communication. A two-layered analytic approach combined thematic analysis and narrative discourse …

Importance Of School Readiness And Early Childhood Education, Amanda L. Moore

All Graduate Projects

The need for childhood education was studied and, based upon experiences garnered as a Kindergarten teacher, Cub Club was created and implemented in order to begin to reduce the achievement gap. The program was designed to educate parents about the importance of family involvement and the benefits, lasting into adulthood, of working with children at home during their early years of learning.

Kindergarten Connection: An Early Literacy Intervention Through Home/School/Community Connections, Laurie Card-Roley

All Graduate Projects

Students most at-risk for academic failure are the populations of students classified as English Language Learners; migrant students; special education students; children of poverty; homeless students; students in foster care; children of abuse or neglect; and children with social, emotional, or behavioral concerns. The number of students falling within the at-risk population of students has continued to increase over the years. A program and curriculum called Kindergarten Connection attempts to address these barriers to learning by identifying family, societal and academic concerns prior to kindergarten and connecting families to the school and community resources that will provide the needed support. …

Enumclaw School District Summer Reading Program, Lea Kai Tiger

All Graduate Projects

The aim of this project is to improve the elementary summer school program currently offered by the Enumclaw School District by developing a reading program to be used by the summer school instructors. Instruction outside of the school day, characteristics of successful extracurricular programs, why reading needs to be the focus of the summer school program, and what to teach and how to teach reading were researched. Taking the information found after studying the aforementioned topics, a program to be used for the Enumclaw School District summer school was developed. The program consists of lessons, games, and strategies that can …

School, Home, And Community: A Symbiosis For A Literacy Partnership, Karen C. Waters

Education Faculty Publications

With the belief that fertile ground for a literate environment is created through lots of oral language, ancestral anecdotes, and reading a variety of genre in fiction and nonfiction, it is possible to link home and school literacy communities. This chapter describes the connection between district literacy events and functional home activities as the basis for a partnership in developing higher level thinking that transcends the classroom. At monthly get-togethers, families were encouraged to participate in the very activities that were used in the classroom as part of the district's literacy block. In helping families acquire a few basic strategies …

Benefits Of A Parent Involvement Plan For Second Grade Students, Mila Hart

All Graduate Projects

The benefits of a parent involvement plan for second grade students were researched. Students, whose parents were actively involved in their education, did better in school (Henderson & Mapp, 2002). Most parents want what is best for their child and will provide the support needed when encouraged and shown how to be involved with their child in school. Active parent involvement can be facilitated by a parent handbook combined with an open house, follow-up workshops that provide helpful information to parents, and frequent and regular communication via phone, progress reports, e-mail, home visits, and formal or informal conferences (Epstein et …

An Integrated Nutrition Unit For Half-Day Kindergarten, Erin Spencer

All Graduate Projects

The obesity rates among children in the United States have been rising rapidly over the past thirty years. Children are getting messages from the media to eat unhealthy foods. This epidemic is beginning to be addressed in schools. A nutrition curriculum was developed and implemented in a half day kindergarten program. Core academic subject were integrated using Washington State GLEs as a guide. Parent involvement was a component to strengthen student's understanding of cultural diversity as it pertained to food.