The Effect Of Self-Paced Learning On Student Achievement And Motivation Within An Eighth-Grade Mathematics Classroom, Jacy Spencer

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

A large mathematics achievement gap is a concern for researchers and educators alike, making effective teaching practices a main point of study for many researchers. Therefore, this action research, which used a quasi-experimental, quantitative research design, aimed to determine the effect of a self-paced learning environment on eighth-grade students’ mathematical achievement and motivation for learning. Baseline data on student motivation toward learning mathematics and mathematics achievement was collected before implementing a self-paced learning environment. After a mathematics unit was completed utilizing the self-paced learning model, data was collected on student achievement and motivation to determine effect of the learning environment. …

How Well Do Students Perform On A Five-Paragraph Analysis Essay When Writing Digitally Versus Handwritten?, Brittany Coryell

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Technology use in the secondary education setting has been increasing since the early 2000s, but with the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, when students learned remotely, technology use exponentially increased. Many districts provided devices for their students to continue their schoolwork. As we return to the classroom, should assignments remain technology-based or return to handwritten assignments? In this study, the researcher focused on identifying whether handwritten work or typing is more effective when developing a five-paragraph analysis essay in a ninth-grade classroom. Students were given the same curriculum throughout the study, but one group was given the curriculum through worksheets to …

The Impacts Of Phone Use In The High School Mathematics Classroom, Kaitlin Rubash

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

This study investigated the impact, both academic and emotional, of phone use on tenth through twelfth grade students in a high school Advanced Algebra class. The research was carried out through comparing quizzes and the unit test scores from the second unit of the school year. The scores were compared between classes that had access to their phones and those that were required to place their phone in a holder at the start of each class period throughout the unit. The researcher also had students fill out two surveys to see how they felt the impact of not having their …

The Impact Of Trauma-Informed Professional Development On Classroom Climate, Amber Lenz

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

When students experience trauma or adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in the home, such as substance abuse, mental illness, neglect, or violence, schools become an important place in which support, kindness, and understanding are needed the most. School can, for some students, be a place of physical safety and emotional stability. Oftentimes, the weight of what is going on at home or in the community is being miscategorized and is seen as misbehavior or laziness in a student. If teachers do not learn how to deal with the trauma in a supportive and validating way, students will stay distracted and disengaged …

The Impact Of Flexible Seating On Academic Performance Within An Elementary Classroom, Austin Hendershot

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

This study examined how the implementation of flexible seating in an elementary classroom impacted academic achievement. The focus for this study was to determine if allowing students the opportunity to choose the type of seating they use is more beneficial than having every student sit in traditional seating arrangements of desks and chairs. Data was collected through pre- and post-tests via the STAR Reading and Math assessments, and analyzed in a Google Sheet. This nine-week study took place within two 3rd grade classrooms, with a total of 38 participants, in a small school in west-central Minnesota. The results of this …

The Impact Of Paired-Partner Reading On Star Reading Scores, Brianna Byer

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to determine how effective paired-partner reading is when used in the classroom with curriculum. Within a 7th grade language arts classroom, this reading strategy focuses on student collaboration, reading comprehension, and providing the opportunity to read aloud on a regular basis. Researchers Stahl, Heubach, and Cramond (1997) stated, “Partner reading provides an opportunity for students to read connected text within a socially supportive context. This context should both motivate children to read well and provide a supportive environment to aid the development of reading skill” (p. 13). The overall goal of this study …

The Impact Of Student Cell Phones On Standardized Test Achievement In The High School English Classroom, Jackie Otway

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

This 2022 study analyzes the impact cell phones have on secondary student’s academic performance and whether or not banning cell phones from classrooms is an effective policy for supporting student's academic success. To answer this question, two class periods of approximately 30 students in each period will be asked to adhere to two different cell phone policies; one conventional policy that allows for unstructured cell phone use during the class period and one policy that bans cell phone use for the class period. Academic performance and success will be determined by scaled scores on the standardized STAR Reading test, which …

Paraprofessionals In The School Setting: A Literature Review, Tyelyn Pearson

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Teachers and paraprofessionals are partners in education, working together to provide the best educational experience possible for each child. Biggs et al. state “fostering and maintaining strong collaborative relationships are critically important for paraprofessionals and special education teachers working together to provide a high-quality education for students with severe disabilities” (2016, p. 152). It is crucial that paraprofessionals are offered training and taught strategies and techniques to implement and support diverse students in the classroom (Patterson, 2016).

In the 1950’s, paraprofessionals were first added to the classroom as a way to provide teachers with more planning time and they performed …

Strategies For Creating An Inclusive Environment In Early Childhood Education, Jenica Boelter

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The articles reviewed in this literature review examine key strategies needed to create a positive learning environment and successfully include students with disabilities in an inclusive elementary classroom. Key strategies include relationships, collaboration, providing feedback, the use of visuals and nonverbal communication, accommodations, and understanding a students perception of school climate. The literature review concluded that creating this type of collaborative environment with strong relationships ultimately has a positive impact on student success in the classroom. Considering the current trend of inclusion in education, it is important to research and develop strategies that support children with disabilities in the classroom. …

Scope And Sequence Of Social-Emotional Learning Curricula For Preschool And Kindergarten Practitioners Based On Core Competencies, Jenessa Rothmeier

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Before students are ready to learn the academic components of kindergarten, they need to be “ready to learn” first with the social-emotional skills to follow directions, sit quietly, problem-solve, self-regulate, and organize themselves and materials. Collaborative for Academic Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL) defines social-emotional learning (SEL) as “the process through which all young people and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to develop healthy identities, manage emotions and achieve personal and collective goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain supportive relationships, and make responsible and caring decisions.” Social-emotional learning (SEL) is based on …

The Effect Of Daily Fluency On Algebraic Procedural Fluency In Students, Osman Mohamoud

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Abstract

Algebra 1 students in the ninth grade struggled to follow procedural steps to answer elementary algebraic problems. An early pre-test found that the majority of pupils lacked the necessary fundamental knowledge to comprehend and investigate algebra's abstract concepts, patterns, and relationships. Fifteen students from one of the researcher's algebra one classes participated in a daily fluency skill-building intervention program to investigate whether daily fluency practice will affect students' procedural fluency skills. They engaged in 50 minutes of daily fluency practice for five weeks. During each 50-minute session, students practiced specific skills to develop procedural fluency competencies, such as solid …

Transition Guide And Supports For Families Of Adolescents With Disabilities, Chelsey S. Traut

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Often when individuals with disabilities transitioned out of high school, there were a variety of repeated questions that teachers and administrators seemed to constantly be answering each year. The first goal of the project was to answer those questions and potentially serve as a resource for teachers and other professionals to answer the questions parents/guardians were asking them. Another goal was that even if the information was different for their district it could at the very least guide professionals and families in the right direction to find answers and support. The literature review provides information about parent/guardian and teacher collaboration …

A Discourse Analysis Of Cheers, Paul Wiesenborn

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

This paper analyzes the pragmatics features of the language in an episode of the sitcom Cheers to find out what second language learners need to know about the language of the sitcom and about the background knowledge informing it for that episode to be understandable to them and for it thus to be an effective as an instruction tool. To answer this question, the researcher transcribed the speech in the episode and used a speech act theory-based approach to identify and categorize deixis, locutionary forms, illocutionary types, and instances of reduction and types of indirect speech. Categories in these areas …

The Effect Of Choice In Reading: Motivation, Engagement, And Enjoyment, Jennifer Barberg

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of student choice in independent reading material. Specifically, the research focused on student motivation, engagement, and enjoyment of reading in classrooms where choice is offered versus those in which texts are assigned by the teacher. Data was collected through multiple student surveys and researcher observation of student behavior. The students in this classroom gave before and after information about their reading interest and self perceived growth. The results of this study were used to determine whether the freedom of choice in a student’s in class independent reading material fostered an …

Reducing Teacher Turnover: Factors Of Teacher Retention Success, Karrie Pederson Rage

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

This post-positivist confirmatory correlational study examined four contributing factors found in the literature to influence teacher retention. The four factors were working conditions and school climate; administrative support and leadership practices; teacher self-efficacy; and the COVID-19 pandemic. The researcher developed two questionnaires (i.e., Teacher Retention Questionnaire for Teachers and Teacher Retention Questionnaire for Administrators) to gather the data for the study. A total of 324 teachers (30.39% return rate) and 26 administrators (50% return rate) from an urban Midwest P-12+ public school district participated in this study and anonymity was assured. Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory and Self-Efficacy Theory were used …

Diversity In Children's Books, Hala Qarini

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Abstract

This project aimed to determine whether Leveled Literacy Intervention (LLI) curriculum represents diversity in the books in a way that reflects the diversity of students in Fargo Public Schools (FPS). I used the green system in LLI curriculum level B-level I, which represents first grade. For this study, I analyzed eighty books total (lesson 21-lesson 100) based on the Fargo Public Schools definition of diversity. This method was a good match for my research question because it included gender/age, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic, religion, disability, and culture which Fargo Public School includes in its description.

After reviewing and completing a content …

The Impact Of Utilizing Non-Permanent Workspaces As A Formative Assessment Tool On Students’ Outcomes And Attitudes Towards Mathematics In A Middle School Math Classroom, Robert Minkkinen

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The present study investigated the effectiveness of utilizing non-permanent workspaces as formative assessment tools for middle school mathematics students in regards to their academic performance and feelings or attitudes towards mathematics. The researcher took two sections of eight grade basic algebra students, and implemented the practice of utilizing non-permanent workspaces as formative assessment tools with one section, and similar formative assessment strategies with the other section of students, but without the non-permanent workspaces. The participants from both sections took a pretest and post-test to determine the academic effectiveness of implementing the non-permanent workspaces. The participants from both sections also completed …

Effects Of Phonemic Awareness And Oral Reading Fluency, Melissa Vetsch-Larson

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Teaching students to read is a task that teachers are assigned to every school year. Many theories and theorists have given their take on the best way to teach students to read. Phonemic awareness has been in the forefront of reading instruction and currently is becoming a staple in many classrooms. This research study took a look at the correlation between phonemic awareness growth and oral reading fluency growth in a first-grade classroom working with mid-level students in a small group setting. The researcher used Path to Reading Excellence in School Sites (PRESS) phonemic intervention and curriculum-based measurement (CBM) for …

Teacher Burnout: What An Educator Needs To Know., Evelyn Blum

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Teacher burnout is the cause of the distraction of the teacher's well-being in the workforce. The teacher needs to be addressed since it profoundly affects society as it affects the teacher workforce, the students, and schools in general. The teacher's self-worth and self-efficacy also contribute to teacher burnout; the higher the self-worth feelings in teachers, the lower the rate of teacher burnout while low self-esteem is associated with increased levels of teacher burnout. The teachers' well-being contributes to reduced levels of teacher burnout and promotes teacher retention. Teacher burnout has significant implications, and high attrition levels have been linked with …

A Program Evaluation Of The Multi-Tiered System Of Supports (Mtss) And Its Role In Supporting Students’ Reading And Math Performance During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Sonia Nistler

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The purpose of this causal-comparative study was to employ a quantitative research study to measure the degree of impact the COVID-19 pandemic had on students’ academic performance and determine the extent to which the MTSS program served to counter the impact of the pandemic on students’ reading and math performance. This study analyzed pre-existing STAR Reading and STAR Math data collected from 7^th-grade students at one Midwest public middle utilizing the September (Fall) and December (Winter) scores. The data sets were compared to determine the students’ reading and math performance trends in the three years preceding the COVID-19 …

Intervention In Foundational Skills On Accelerating Reading Growth In Third Grade Students, Katie Grundstrom

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The purpose of this research was to determine the effectiveness of intervention in foundational skills, usually the focus of intervention in grades kindergarten through second grade, on accelerating growth in reading for third grade students. This study aimed to determine if a systematic and sequential phonics-based intervention would still be a crucial component to below grade level readers beyond the primary grade levels. As part of this research, FastBridge Learning screeners and progress monitoring Curriculum Based Measurement (CBM) tools were utilized, to monitor the ongoing results and progress of participants in this study. The students who were a part of …

The Effects Of A One-To-One Technology Implementation On High School Students' Communication, Collaboration, Critical Thinking, And Creativity Skills, Hilary Bertsch

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The purpose of this causal-comparative study was to employ a quantitative research paradigm to determine the impact of a one-to-one technology initiative on the development of the 4 C skills of high school students. An objectives-based evaluation model was used to review the one-to-one implementation for future planning and continuous improvement. COVID-19 provided an additional factor that forced both teachers and students to use their newly acquired one-to-one technology tools faster and more extensively than anticipated. The immersion into the new learning environments were captured through pre and post COVID-19 experiences.

This study found that teachers did not perceive any …

Addressing Teacher Attrition Through Trauma-Informed Practices In The Workplace, Amy Pahl, Amy L. Pahl

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Teacher attrition and turnover have been widely studied to understand the reason for the number of teachers moving each year or leaving the profession altogether. Researchers have attempted to understand the contributing factors that lead to teacher movement and attrition, yet a knowledge gap exists between understanding the problem and finding solutions. The aim of this study was to investigate how implementing trauma-informed practices in the workplace impacts teacher mobility and attrition. A grounded theory approach was taken, which data from interviews to investigate the problem. Teachers who have left the profession or have moved from a position were interviewed …

The Role Of L1 Literacy In L2 Reading Development, Sunshine Clark

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Abstract

The purpose of this project was to discover what the research says about the role a student’s first language (L1) plays in their second language (L2) literacy development. As immigrant populations increase across the United States, some districts are perpetuating or implementing programs with little knowledge of best practices. Many districts fail to realize the value of a student’s L1 in their ability to acquire another language and be successful in an academic situation. This situation is perpetuated by district policy, teachers, and families themselves, and the results hinder the educational system’s actual goal of helping students from immigrant …

Sheltered Math Curriculum For Middle School English Learners, Jasmine Ercink

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Language barriers have shown a need for differentiation and sheltered instruction in the classroom for English Learners (ELs) to be successful in the United States public school system. This project proposes a mathematics curriculum using SIOP so that both groups of students in the middle school level can increase their proficiency in the mathematics content area as well as experience opportunities for academic and social language development. The purpose of this report is to describe the processes, methods, data, and intent of the mathematics curriculum for these learners. The curriculum acts as an effective intervention to fill gaps in both …

Improving Disciplinary Literacy In The Science Classroom With Scaffolding, Hunter Schow

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

This study examines the effects of scaffolding on students’ scientific literacy skills. This study measured the scientific literacy skills of students before and after the use of four different scaffolding practices by the researcher. Participants included 41 students in grades 7-12 that are enrolled in a science course taught by the researcher. The data collected will be used to direct the researcher’s future teaching of scientific literacy practices.

A Qualitative Study Of Parental Needs In Supporting Home Literacy Environments And Child Literacy Interest, Leah Carlson

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Literacy education begins long before students step foot in their first classroom. Much research has been done that highlights the importance of the home literacy environment and the development of literacy interest in children (Jeynes, 2018). Home literacy environment (HLE) refers to the variety of literacy materials and activities found within the home. Literacy interest, broadly put, is a child's desire to engage in literacy activities. The development and practice of these has shown to be correlated with students' later reading success in school. Considering this, the role of a parent in their child’s success is influential. However, it seems …

The Impact Of Video Modeling On Middle School Students With Autism, Lisa Dudley

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The purpose of this study was to show how video modeling can be used with middle school students on the autism spectrum. According to Gardner and Wolf (2018) video modeling is growing as a practice in the special education field and has been used to teach a wide variety of skills. The theoretical framework of positivism was used to collect data on how video modeling can be an effective intervention for teaching students daily routines. The program Links was used to help set up the routines and collect data during this study. The study was conducted with two students in …

The Role Of Family Members Or Caregivers And Their Involvement In A Loved One’S Usage Of Augmentative And Alternative Communication In The Preschool Setting From The Perspective Of An Slp, Megan Hintz

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) can be used by an individual to supplement or support communication modalities when there is difficulty with verbal communication. ASHA, n.d.a delves further into the true meaning of AAC and defines the terminology of augmentative as adding to a person’s spoken language and alternative as other methods used to produce verbal communication. The purpose of this research study was to explore the perceptions of speech-language pathologists (SLPs) concerning the involvement and/or role of caregivers or family members when their loved one is utilizing an AAC device for communication across the preschool setting. Four semi-structured interviews …

Science Teacher Attitudes And Perceptions Of Disciplinary Literacy And Think-Aloud Effectiveness – A Case Study, Patricia Mueller

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The ability to read is the most important skill in a person’s life. Learning to read is emphasized in elementary school with the belief that mastering this skill early will result in the ability to read most texts in secondary school. As a student matriculates through school, secondary teachers are focused on teaching their content while integrating literacy skills when necessary or maybe not ever. This research focuses on science teachers and their attitudes about literacy integration, specifically using the think-aloud reading strategy to teach disciplinary literacy. It builds upon the work of Shanahan and Shanahan (2008, 2010, 2011), Ness …