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Articles 1 - 30 of 82
Full-Text Articles in Education
Professional Learning For Paraprofessionals: A School Improvement Plan, Brooke Pfaltzgraff
Professional Learning For Paraprofessionals: A School Improvement Plan, Brooke Pfaltzgraff
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
Dallas Center Elementary is a small kindergarten through fourth grade elementary school in the rural town of Dallas Center, Iowa, just outside of Des Moines. In the past, the school has had difficulty training and retaining paraprofessionals to ensure quality support for their special education students. A review of literature was conducted to determine implications for limited training, best practices, and benefits to training paraprofessionals. Feedback from current employees was also considered in designing this school improvement plan and professional learning calendar for the 2023-2024 school year. The professional learning for paraprofessionals will also support the building wide social emotional …
The Effectiveness Of Individual, Small-Group, And Whole-Class Interventions At The Secondary Level, Rebecca Miller
The Effectiveness Of Individual, Small-Group, And Whole-Class Interventions At The Secondary Level, Rebecca Miller
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
The purpose of this action research project was to determine if academic interventions in reading, writing, and mathematics can have an effect on student achievement at the secondary level. Additionally, the goal was to determine if individual, small-group, or whole-class interventions were the most effective. The researcher gleaned data from the 2022-2023 school year based on two individual interventions, nine small-group interventions, and one whole-class intervention. The researcher is an Instructional Coach and had a part in planning for and/or implementing all of these interventions. This research was conducted to help decide if the use of academic intervention is beneficial …
Improving Fact Fluency For Students With Learning Disabilities, Carrie Wall
Improving Fact Fluency For Students With Learning Disabilities, Carrie Wall
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
The intent of this action research project was to assess the impact of fact fluency when implementing the Direct Instruction (DI) Flashcard intervention for students in special education using curriculum-based measurements. The participants were elementary students who all received specially designed instruction in the area of math due to their Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) in that area. In addition to the body of research in place regarding fact fluency and the DI Flashcard intervention, this study also took into account the students’ initial skill levels as outlined in their IEPs. The intervention occurred over three weeks in a special education …
Establishing Scope And Sequence For Newcomers And English Learners, Tyler Robyn
Establishing Scope And Sequence For Newcomers And English Learners, Tyler Robyn
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
Research findings show that English Learners are the fastest growing subgroup in American public schools. It is the responsibility of the public schools to provide an appropriate and supportive education to these students. Past studies have also examined the history of English learners and the unique challenges they pose, newcomer programs, English learners’ inclusion in the mainstream classroom, and strategies for teaching English learners. With research findings in mind, a school improvement plan was created to revise a current ESL program in a rural Iowa school district to increase student achievement in language acquisition and core content knowledge. This plan …
Improving Opportunities For Students By Creating Pathways For Taking Art, Denise Hingst
Improving Opportunities For Students By Creating Pathways For Taking Art, Denise Hingst
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
According to research, art education has gone through a decline, causing a lack of opportunities for students to experience the development of creativity in the general classroom. These opportunities for students in the schools in this study become even harder at the secondary level. With these small schools, it falls on the leadership of the administration to solve the scheduling dilemma for all the students. A school improvement plan is put into place to help increase the pathways for taking art by extending the day at one of the schools and changing the schedules to better help both schools work …
The Effectiveness Of Behavior Management Systems In Grade 5 Classrooms, Mihaela Colteanu
The Effectiveness Of Behavior Management Systems In Grade 5 Classrooms, Mihaela Colteanu
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
This action research project, conducted over a 6-week period, aimed to enhance classroom management techniques in response to evolving educational trends which emphasize students' self-regulation and intrinsic motivation. The study focused on a control and experimental group of grade 5 students, implementing two distinct behavior management systems: one grounded in a behavioral approach utilizing rewards and sanctions, and the other based on positive strategies. The researcher, a secondary school English teacher with 8 years international teaching experience, collected data through observations and interviews with former teachers. Even though the initial hypothesis proposed the superiority of a balanced system encompassing both …
Improving Students' Assessment Performance By Reducing Stress And Anxiety In The Testing Environment, Andrew Soelter
Improving Students' Assessment Performance By Reducing Stress And Anxiety In The Testing Environment, Andrew Soelter
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
The driving focus of this action research was to better understand how teachers and school districts can help with students' anxiety and stress surrounding assessments. This better understanding of anxiety and stress is crucial to improving academic performance not only on assessments but also across their academic life. A quantitative study was conducted with 88 students spread over two unique content types. 30 students were part of the control group, and the rest of the students were split between one of four different interventions which attempted to reduce students’ assessment anxiety and stress to lead to performance increases. The results …
Decreasing Teacher Burnout, Sara Wobig
Decreasing Teacher Burnout, Sara Wobig
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
Teacher burnout is on an unprecedented rise. Many teachers are experiencing burnout early in their careers. Teachers in Campbell County School District, located in Gillette, Wyoming, are experiencing this at an alarming rate. Teachers at Conestoga Elementary School are experiencing stress and burnout related to student behaviors and increased duties placed upon them. The following school improvement plan is designed to help teachers reduce daily stress and set boundaries. This improvement plan is set to take place during the 2023-2024 school year. Mental health and well-being are an area that is focused on helping students. Teachers are often overlooked and …
The Need To Integrate Computer Science, Brittany Zimpfer
The Need To Integrate Computer Science, Brittany Zimpfer
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
This school improvement plan outlines a detailed three-year strategy designed to integrate computer science into the K-5 curriculum. Emphasizing a comprehensive approach, the action plan employs a multi-tiered strategy combining a standalone curriculum with embedded activities. Drawing insights from successful educational practices and leveraging resources, the plan strategically aligns the curriculum with CSTA standards while fostering hands-on learning experiences at various grade levels. The timeline features foundational teacher training, curriculum integration, community engagement events, and consistent assessment processes. The plan aims to create an environment where both students and educators actively participate in the dynamic landscape of computer science education. …
Strengthening The Home And School Partnership: An Improvement Plan To Educate Parents On Child Development And School Initiatives, Jennifer N. Robinson
Strengthening The Home And School Partnership: An Improvement Plan To Educate Parents On Child Development And School Initiatives, Jennifer N. Robinson
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
This school improvement plan considers the implementation of a parent education program. Following the review of literature that proves the significance of parental involvement to increase academic achievement and improve social-emotional development, a needs assessment was established that displays a lack of parental understanding on new education initiatives and child development. With the addition of a parent education component, the home and school partnership will be strengthened ultimately increasing student achievement, improving student behavior, alleviating teaching burnout, and improving overall education.
The Developing Independence Of Toddlers, Maggie Harbaugh
The Developing Independence Of Toddlers, Maggie Harbaugh
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
This action research project was driven by the researcher’s interest in whether three-year-old children exhibited more negative behaviors then two-year-old children. The researcher used two different types of surveys for mothers and teachers to answer. This survey took 5-10 minutes to complete, and they had two weeks to complete it. The research was conducted to see which age of children displayed worse behaviors. The researcher is an assistant director in her 10th year of teaching early childhood students. The findings showed that two-year-olds have more behavior problems then three-year-olds have.
Implementation Of Star To Support Students With Disabilities, Lexis Barkema
Implementation Of Star To Support Students With Disabilities, Lexis Barkema
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
This paper examines the use of a comprehensive autism program in a school district, looking specifically at an elementary school in North Central Iowa. The school does a great job of providing support and interventions for students with autism, disabilities, and specific learning needs with the resources they currently have available to them. This school improvement plan provides a detailed outline of using a comprehensive autism program to better serve and meet the needs of students in their specific need areas. The plan will provide professional development, support, and resources for teachers and paraprofessionals who are implementing the program.
The Impact Of Small-Group Multisensory Instructional Techniques On Kindergarteners’ Letter Sound Knowledge, Karly Walker
The Impact Of Small-Group Multisensory Instructional Techniques On Kindergarteners’ Letter Sound Knowledge, Karly Walker
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
This action research was driven by the researcher’s interest in multisensory instructional techniques and the effect it can have on kindergarten students’ letter sound knowledge to aid in strengthening pre-reading skills. The researcher compared results of a control (traditional learning) group versus a treatment (multisensory learning) group of eight at-risk students while monitoring progress weekly using FastBridge earlyReading letter sound subtest. The research was conducted to analyze the effectiveness of multisensory instruction within small group learning. The researcher used a four-way factorial design test to analyze the control and the treatment group’s pre- and post-test scores in letter sound fluency. …
Promoting More Play In Kindergarten, Sarah Hofland
Promoting More Play In Kindergarten, Sarah Hofland
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
Kindergarten has changed immensely over the years. It is currently driven by academic standards. Kindergarten teachers use much of the day to implement direct instruction and seat work to meet the higher demands in reading and math. The problem is that this type of learning is not developmentally appropriate for kindergarteners. Research shows that play is the central way in which children at the kindergarten age learn. To be developmentally appropriate, this school improvement plan aims at initiating more time spent playing during the kindergarten day.
Does Pre-Selected Technology-Based Games Improve Alphabet Knowledge In Preschoolers Compared To Peer Learning Small Groups?, Nicole Gray
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
The purpose of this action research project was to determine if peer-learning strategies increases student alphabet recognition at the preschool grade level more than computer-based literacy programs. Data from 14 preschool students was included in this seven week investigation in which students in the groups learned early literacy utilizing the literacy curriculum Fundataions. Students were split into two research groups, one utilizing peer-learning strategies and games, and the other utilizing a computer-based literacy app. Quantitative data consisting of pre-and post-test data was collected over seven weeks. Data examined number of uppercase and lowercase letters identified. After the seven weeks of …
Strengthening Student Success, Lacey Ruden
Strengthening Student Success, Lacey Ruden
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
This action research was driven by the researcher’s interest in student planners and the effect they can have on student success by reducing the number of missing assignments. The research was conducted to analyze the effectiveness of student planners in a school setting. The researcher is a seventh-grade science teacher in her nineteenth year of teaching. The researcher conducted a study for four weeks with two seventh-grade classes. One group used student planners as a control group, and the other group of students did not use student planners. The findings revealed a trend of increased student success as students using …
Improving Student Achievement With Social-Emotional Learning, Samantha Featherstone
Improving Student Achievement With Social-Emotional Learning, Samantha Featherstone
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
Research shows that social emotional learning can positively improve student success both emotionally and academically. Social emotional programs, skills, and overall learning within school systems benefit staff, students, and stakeholders. When there is a lack of a clear and organized social emotional curriculum, students suffer and lack necessary skills to have long-term success both academically and personally. Using various research findings, a school improvement plan was created to construct a school-wide social-emotional system that includes both a research-based program and a variety of social emotional skills. This plan also ensures ongoing professional development for staff to implement with fidelity. The …
Improving School Community Cohesion Through Restorative Justice Practices, Megan Wagaman
Improving School Community Cohesion Through Restorative Justice Practices, Megan Wagaman
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
Van Allen Elementary is one of 21 elementary schools in the Iowa City Community School District (ICCSD). Van Allen Elementary serves 455 students and has 32 certified educators on staff. ICCSD is a High Reliability School (HRS) with a current focus on level one, which includes leading indicator 1.6: safe, supportive, and collaborative culture. As of October 2023, Van Allen Elementary has 75 total behavior referrals for the 2023-24 school year. There is a restorative team made up of certified educators and the building principal; however, the problem is teachers and administration do not have an adequate amount of training …
Improving School-Community Relationships, Rhea L. Cano
Improving School-Community Relationships, Rhea L. Cano
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
This School Improvement Plan responds to the challenge that schools alone cannot address the many obstacles students face. Research has shown that when schools develop positive and supportive partnerships with parents and the community, the overall benefits for students are overwhelming. Rather than three separate entities guiding students, the combination of the school, parental, and community support systems satisfy the critical role of positive school and community relationships in nurturing students' development and meeting diverse learning needs. As revealed by the 2021 Conditions for Learning Family Survey in the Clayton Ridge School District, the school-community relationship has been damaged by …
Improving Collaboration: A School Improvement Plan, Jennifer Trimble
Improving Collaboration: A School Improvement Plan, Jennifer Trimble
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
The inspiration for this school improvement plan was seeing the need in my school building for departmentalized PLC collaboration following the MTSS framework. Research findings show that PLC collaborations following an MTSS framework provide teachers and students with many beneficial supports that increase student learning and teacher knowledge. Informed y a literature review, this school improvement plan creates a departmentalized PLC collaboration that follows an MTSS framework within the school setting.
Using Tier 2 Interventions To Close The Achievement Gap In The Middle Grades, Megan Vanderloop
Using Tier 2 Interventions To Close The Achievement Gap In The Middle Grades, Megan Vanderloop
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
A Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) in a school district or building creates equitable learning opportunities for all students. Charles City MIddle School (CCMS) has spent the last few years focusing on tier one, which is the universal tier provided to all students. Now that CCMS has implemented strong tier one instruction across the building, their tier two supports for students are an area in need of improvement. The purpose of this school improvement plan is to implement an effective WIN (What I Need) time in seventh and eighth grades at CCMS. Providing interventions outside of the classroom on top …
Improving Reading Skills For Early Elementary Students, Kayla Bucheit
Improving Reading Skills For Early Elementary Students, Kayla Bucheit
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
Research findings have indicated areas for improvement in early literacy programs in schools, and schools have been slow to respond, leaving students and teachers unsupported in the methods and knowledge needed for students to become fluent readers. Past studies have pointed to the need for teachers to have content knowledge of explicit instructional practices that focus on phonological and phonemic awareness. When students can manipulate sounds and letters, they are better able to decode and segment words, resulting in reading fluency. Using research findings, this school improvement plan was created to outline how to transition to explicit instructional methods while …
Implmplementing Meaningful Integration For Students With Significant Disabilities, Julianne Scheer
Implmplementing Meaningful Integration For Students With Significant Disabilities, Julianne Scheer
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
This school improvement plan was developed based on the researcher’s interest of integrating students with significant disabilities into the least restrictive learning environment, the general education classroom, to access core learning in a meaningful and developmentally appropriate way using the instructional strategies of Universal Design for Learning, also known as UDL. The researcher is in her fifth year of teaching and in their third year teaching students with significant disabilities who are primarily impacted by autism spectrum disorder. The implementation plan provides opportunities for teachers to create learning opportunities for all students to access core learning areas. This requires both …
Implementing Social Emotional Learning With Fidelity: A School Improvement Plan, Courtney Reuter
Implementing Social Emotional Learning With Fidelity: A School Improvement Plan, Courtney Reuter
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
Research findings indicate social emotional learning can have a positive impact on both teachers and students. Social emotional learning not only improves the social emotional well-being and competence in teachers and students, it can also benefit students academically. When students do not have access to social emotional learning instruction consistently, it can have a poor impact on both their behavior and academics. With research findings in mind, a school improvement plan was created to research, purchase, and implement a new social emotional learning curriculum with fidelity. The goal of this plan is to increase the fidelity in social emotional learning …
Multi-Tiered System Of Supports For Homeschool Families In A Home School Assistance Progra, Stacy Picard
Multi-Tiered System Of Supports For Homeschool Families In A Home School Assistance Progra, Stacy Picard
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
Systematic, explicit reading instruction including phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension has been shown to be effective at teaching nearly all children to read. The Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) framework is used in schools for identifying students who need supplemental instruction and ascertaining their areas of weakness. It is also used for monitoring the progress of students and facilitating ongoing instructional decisions. Homeschool families typically do not have access to scholarly research about effective reading instruction or to tools for determining if their children are making adequate progress or if a change in instruction is needed. The Knoxville …
Increasing Student Achievement In English Language Arts At The Secondary Level, Melissa Randall
Increasing Student Achievement In English Language Arts At The Secondary Level, Melissa Randall
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
This school improvement paper aims to explore a comprehensive approach to enhancing English Language Arts (ELA) standardized test scores at the secondary level through the implementation of a literacy program. The research focuses on four essential components: differentiated instruction, co-teaching, and on-going assessments. The central question guiding this school improvement plan is: "How does the integration of a literacy program, encompassing differentiated instruction, co-teaching, and on-going assessments, and lead to improved ELA standardized test scores at the secondary level?" The proposed school improvement plan looks to provide educators with strategies and tools to effectively engage students in English Language Arts …
Improving Reading Interventions: A School Improvement Plan, Rachel Harmelink
Improving Reading Interventions: A School Improvement Plan, Rachel Harmelink
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
This paper examines the use of reading instruction interventions in an elementary school in Northwest Iowa. Whereas the school excels at providing regular assessments, including universal screeners, educators there have struggled to adequately meet the reading needs of their students as reflected on FAST, MAP, and Panorama data. This school improvement plan provides professional development training in response to intervention (RTI) procedures along with continual support and collaboration throughout the school year to assist teachers in confidently serving all learners and helping them reach their fullest potential as readers.
Implementation Of Restorative Justice Practices Within Our Schools, Katie Chalupa
Implementation Of Restorative Justice Practices Within Our Schools, Katie Chalupa
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
This School Improvement Plan details the importance of implementing a restorative justice system for high school students amongst the current educational climate. Current research points to restorative practices for long term improvement of student behavior and eliminating racial disparities in exclusionary discipline policies. Research indicates schools that places value on empathy and growth foster positive student-teacher relationships leading to a positive school climate. With those findings in mind, this plan focuses on creating school policy that eliminates racial disparities in discipline, reduces office referrals, and improving school culture. The plan outlines an implementation guide for administrators and teachers along with …
Note Acquisition: A Comparison Of Student Versus Teacher Monitored Progress, Laura Gibson
Note Acquisition: A Comparison Of Student Versus Teacher Monitored Progress, Laura Gibson
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
The action research plan documented in this paper was driven by the researcher's interest in the most effective strategies for optimizing student achievement of new notes on a band instrument. During four cycles, the researcher gathered student achievement of new notes when teacher monitoring and student monitoring. Fifth grade students playing the flute completed both types of monitoring and the results were recorded and compared using a dependent T-test and a bar graph. The researcher is in her fourth year of teaching and teaches fifth and sixth grade students primarily. Students learned a total of 99 new notes during the …
Positive Behavioral Interventions And Supports And Student Behavior, Taylor Ahlers
Positive Behavioral Interventions And Supports And Student Behavior, Taylor Ahlers
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
In response to a growing number of behavior incidents and an overall increase in negative behavior, this school improvement plan has been developed in an effort to help support students, decrease negative student behavior, and create a positive school atmosphere. This school improvement plan has been developed based on an extensive literature review, current Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports (PBIS) interventions, and a district needs assessment. This school improvement plan consists of the development of a PBIS leadership team, professional development training sessions, weekly and bi-weekly meetings to assess data, and weekly school-wide assemblies to celebrate positive student behavior. This …