Education Commons^™

What I Believe About Leadership And Education : A Reflective Essay, Kathlynn W. Breinich

Graduate Research Papers

Communication is the ground work for everything. Without it an administrator cannot effectively move their school forward. However, the school needs a direction to go. When an administrator has a vision, he or she can lead the school in that direction – thus making the school a better place. In order for the school to be effective, it is also helpful to have an administrator that has good organizational skills.

Finally, a school is built for instruction. Above all else, an administrator must remember why they are there, to assist the staff in teaching children. The administrator must hold teachers …

A Preferred Vision For Administering Secondary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Theresa A. Fisher

Graduate Research Papers

Effective principals articulate a clear vision about what they expect of adults and students. They do this more than just the beginning of the year. They spend time explaining to students what they expect in achievement, behavior, attitude,and effort. They don't make excuses. They make sure learners have what they need to meet high expectations. They motivate, inspire, provide direction, and celebrate excellence. If principals don't have high expectations, they cannot expect much of others.

Principals must establish high expectations in their schools. You can model high expectations by selecting challenging goals, informing others of your dreams, and keeping people …

Reducing Suicide Risk Among Adolescents : Treatment And Intervention, Angie Kippe

Graduate Research Papers

Adolescent suicide is very disturbing. Formulating effective prevention and treatment can be elusive. Counselors must become aware of many factors when assessing and treating adolescent suicide ideation and attempts. Facts about suicide and how suicide interfaces with other mental disorders will be examined.

Weight Loss Practices In Amateur Wrestlers And Its Relationship To Disordered Eating, Lyndsey M. Manderfield

Graduate Research Papers

The premise behind many athletic programs is to encourage wellness, a state of well being in both physical and emotional aspects. This research paper reviews how wrestling and other athletic programs where weight plays a significant role, may affect eating and other weight-related habits. It addresses whether weight loss practices in wrestling play a role in disordered eating patterns of its participants.

A Preferred Vision For Leading K-12 Schools : A Reflective Essay, Tammy A. Kruse

Graduate Research Papers

Every child deserves the learning/development and opportunities to earn a diploma. Since education is the primary building block in becoming a successful citizen, as teachers we should make every attempt for student achievement and the development of citizenship. Every child has the ability to learn if given the correct tools to do so and is given a chance. Educators must be honest and trustworthy individuals to earn students' respect. As educators, we all need to encourage children to enjoy education and to understand that life is about life long learning.

A Preferred Vision For Administering Schools : A Reflective Essay, Mark E. Lawler

Graduate Research Papers

The role of an educational leader has changed in the last century. The principal of a school has more responsibility and accountability than ever before. Chief among them is being a role model for students and adults in the school and community, and a leader in the school's progress. Always in the public eye, the principal must make choices based on good judgement and data, and must search for what is best for the stakeholders. The principal should be open to new ideas and pushing the school forward. As Wilmore said in Principal Leadership, a school that is not …

A Preferred Vision For Leading Schools : A Reflective Essay, Deanne E.H. Lewis

Graduate Research Papers

"A school administrator is an educational leader who promotes the success of all students by ensuring management of the organization, operations, and resources for a safe, efficient, and effective learning environment" (Wilmore, 2002, p. 52). All children should be given equal opportunity for advancement and growth. What is challenging for one child may be boring and repetitive for another. Placing students in appropriate settings that will allow the appropriate level of challenge and pace of learning for each child is the goal for the creation of the differentiating classroom.

A Preferred Vision For Leading An Exemplary School : A Reflective Essay, Robert S. Libolt

Graduate Research Papers

Education is a cornerstone in a person's life. Education is vital in today's society. With out it you miss out on many opportunities. As a student moves through the grades of a school district that student is being enriched in many ways.

High school is the beginning of something so much more than classes, athletics, social organizations, and fun: it is the start of your future. Many students don't understand their own potential, and education allows the chance to discover it. Getting an education is the best thing any person can do. From family to money to how you live …

Play Therapy, Melissa A. Hardman

Graduate Research Papers

Play therapy techniques are valuable tools for a variety of professionals who work with children. One need not be a registered play therapist to implement play techniques when working with child clients. There are many types of clients that would benefit from play therapy. There are several different theoretical approaches, but the researcher chose to focus on Adlerian Play Therapy, Client-Centered Play Therapy, Cognitive-Behavioral Play Therapy, and Psychodynamic Play Therapy. The paper considers the best location to implement play techniques, by urging the counselor to be aware of the setting's location within the building, ease of cleaning, available space, and …

The Effects Of Divorce On Children And Adolescents, Rachelle A. Haker

Graduate Research Papers

This research paper focuses on the effects of divorce on children and adolescents. Based on a review of literature, there are many short-term and long-term effects including emotional, behavioral, and physical issues. Children and adolescents vary in adjustment to divorce depending on multiple factors such as communication, conflict, and parental adjustment. The stages that children and adolescents of divorce go through depend on one's developmental stage and gender. Counselors can greatly influence how children and adolescents adjust to divorce.

Overview Of Attachment Disorder And Effective Treatments For Children, Kathryn H. Hedican

Graduate Research Papers

When children experience extreme chronic trauma as a result of the effects of the disruption of healthy attachment patterns, a disorder known as Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) can develop. The importance for mental health counselors to understand the etiology of RAD cannot be overemphasized. Symptoms most often associated with this disorder include the inability to trust, failure to develop intimate relationships, or show affection, lack of self-confidence, low self-esteem, and anti-social behaviors and attitudes (Levy & Orlans, 1998 as cited in Sheperis, Renfro-Michel, & Doggett, 2003). Highlighting the foundational work of Erikson, Harlow, Bowlby, and Ainsworth includes a brief overview …

Eliminating The Fear Factor : Fostering An Environment Of Equality For Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual And Transgender People In Schools, Lana L. Hollar

Graduate Research Papers

The United States of America has been listed as one of the most violent places in the world to live. For gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals, the dangers of violence are even greater and are perpetuated by fear and ignorance. GLBT individuals are victims of oppression in the forms of torture, rejection, stigma, social pressure, isolation, and murder. In an attempt to understand why this oppression takes place, this paper will examine the nature of the oppression and how society is responsible for the continuation of it. With understanding, maybe fear can be eliminated and an environment of equality …

Cutting And Self-Mutilating Behaviors Among Adolescent Girls : A Counselor's Role In Understanding And Treatment, Carla C. Hughes

Graduate Research Papers

With the reported incidence of cutting and self-mutilating behaviors in adolescent girls on the rise, counselors need to take a look at the changing role they can play in helping these young girls understand the reasons underlying their self-destructive behaviors. The counselor can also help them find new ways to cope with the deep emotional trauma that precipitates the behavior. Understanding the causes and dynamics of this disorder will lead to better opportunities for effective treatment. This paper is intended to focus on the nature of the disorder and the role of counseling in bringing these young women back from …

A Vision For Leading Schools : A Reflective Essay, Karen J. Coates.

Graduate Research Papers

Education has undergone many changes in the past few decades. Many of these changes are due to our changing society, and others are due to those in education who see the need to make changes. Still other changes come from government directives. Our world is not the same world that it was when public.education came into being. The two parent family where mom stays home and dad goes to work as seen in 1950's television shows very rarely exists. Rural one-room schools under county jurisdiction have given way to larger consolidated school districts.

With legal mandates to include disabled children …

Critical Components To Successful Leadership In Education : A Reflective Essay, Andrew J. Miehe

Graduate Research Papers

When faced with the question: "What do you believe about leadership and education?" most educators would quickly respond that there should be no separation between the two. A bond exists between leadership and education that is so strong one can not survive without the other. It is this tie between the world of education and the need for leadership that puts educators in classrooms and motivates administrators to take on the challenge of leading a building to success.

How Can Technology Assist In The Effectiveness Of After School Programs?, Imani A. Phillips

Graduate Research Papers

This review examines how technology assists in the effectiveness of learning in after-school programs. There are different types of after school programs available to parents with school-age children. Results describe the use of technology and the influence it has on the learning ability of students who are at risk. Meaningful, engaged learning can be promoted through the use of technology. Experts in the field state that technology facilitates learning by addressing the need of the individual learner. This review's conclusions indicate that a learning community can encourage personalized learning activities, collaboration, and motivation. The integration of effective technology into a …

Using Web-Based Material To Support Secondary Science Curriculum, Ghadeer Filimban

Graduate Research Papers

Web-based materials have introduced a new way of supporting students' learning and teachers' knowledge of the secondary science curriculum. However it is difficult to know which materials to use and how to use them. This review discussed some of the methods for teaching science, web-based materials that support these methods, how the Internet can add to teachers' knowledge, and some negative effects of using this technology. This review shows how teachers can integrate web-based materials into their teaching strategies, and can help teachers who have integrated them to be aware of the negatives of using the Internet in the classroom. …

The Implications Of Anger And School Violence, Ronda Hilbert

Graduate Research Papers

A series of highly publicized school shootings in the Untied States generated the misperception of an epidemic of school violence. Fears of school violence stimulated an ill-advised expansion of zero tolerance school discipline policies and the widespread distribution of profiles or warning signs of potentially dangerous students for use by school administrators. This paper presents that little is known about student threats of violence, although students in special education tend to commit disciplinary violations at a higher rate than regular education students according to some studies. Threats of violence pose a dilemma for educators, who must balance federal requirements, the …

Impact Of The Arts On Students' Learning, Sook Ming Kong

Graduate Research Papers

The role of the arts has been undermined for a long time in the school curriculum. Recently, a group of researchers embarked on a number of studies investigating the positive effects which the arts has on students' performance in school. The results provide an insight into the fact that students who have high involvement in the arts perform better on a variety of academic measures such as grades in English, and scores on standardized tests.

The studies also provide evidence that participation in the arts helps to reduce the drop- out rate of at-risk students and those in low SES …

Could Distributed Curriculum Improve The Itbs Scores Of Non-Proficient Students?, Lesli Lancey-Wensman

Graduate Research Papers

Will the use of a distributed math curriculum improve the outcomes of students who consistently score between the 20th and 30th percentile on ITBS tests? That question and others are addressed in this paper. The purpose of this study was to determine what strategies were being used for math instruction, if those strategies were working for all students, and whether a distributed curriculum would improve the math outcomes of students with disabilities who were not working at their current grade level.

Writing In Math And Distributive Learning In Math Problem Solving, Mary Jo Metz

Graduate Research Papers

Many teachers, parents and students have questions about single sex classrooms. Are there gender based strategies that can be used in single sex classrooms and coed classrooms?

The purpose of this study was to investigate a possible difference in the perceptions of boys and girls in their math problem solving ability, and to determine if writing in math and distribution of curriculum would be effective strategies in math problem solving. The researcher conducted a classroom study to determine the effects of writing in math and compare the impact on males and females. In addition, another study investigated the distribution of …

Toward Successful Student Writers: Change And Growth In Writing Workshop, Kirstey Ewald

Graduate Research Papers

A writing workshop has always been a part of my classroom. Since the beginnings of my career as an English teacher, I have believed that it allows my students the freedom required for them to think for themselves and to express their thoughts clearly. Yet while students have clamored for such trust and autonomy in their classes, they often have a hard time adapting to this change, to setting their own goals and making individual strides to meet those goals. They are very used to having their teachers tell them what to think and what to write about. They have …

A Preferred Vision For Leading An Exemplary School : A Reflective Essay, Shauna Dennison

Graduate Research Papers

While all the elements of a school are important, an educational leader needs to lead by example; he/she should be the model. Leadership traits considered absolutely necessary are professionalism, honesty, trustworthy, and the ability to communicate effectively. A well-rounded principal truly has the best interest of the students, staff, and community at heart, and is knowledgeable about all aspects of a district. Precise and timely decision making involving concerned, upset, or maybe even hostile individuals needs to be addressed immediately and effectively. A good leader has common sense, great communication skills, and of course, compassion.

Utilizing Geographic Education Research To Increase Learning In A Seventh Grade Geography Course, Eric Uwe Schulz

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this paper is to review the current condition of geography education, to examine current research in geographic education, and to create a plan to improve student learning in my classroom. It outlines the re-emergence of geography education in the secondary setting and considers the quality of the national geography standards. A descriptive narrative of current geographic education research is used to determine best instructional practice and is aligned with Colorado's Model Geography Standards to link the current research with curriculum. The results of the research are then used to evaluate and improve the curriculum, pedagogy, and assessment …

A Vision Of Educational Leadership, Cheryl J. Bentley

Graduate Research Papers

I believe that an educational leader must walk into any position with something of a dual personality. He or she must be able to examine and interpret the minutiae of research data and best practice, to handle the day-to-day crises of students, staff, and a community, and to work with such details as schedules and commitment of resources. On the other hand, the educational leader must also be able to continually keep sight of the larger context within which all these details exist. And finally, the inspired and inspiring educational leader never ceases efforts to bring the external and internal …

The Impact Of Reciprocal Teaching Strategies On Reading Comprehension, Mary Jo Fitzgerald

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of Reciprocal Teaching is to improve reading comprehension through the use of cognitive strategies. The strategies encourage student's self-directed prediction, clarification of information, generation of questions about the content, and summarization of material covered. It also promotes collaboration between the student and teacher in the learning process. Reciprocal Teaching was introduced to teachers at a staff meeting, and they were told they were expected to use these strategies in their classrooms. Teachers were given two choices for training. One was a two-day workshop in August and the other was a thirty-four hour program offered throughout the school year. …

A Preferred Vision For Leading Elementary, Middle, And High Schools : A Reflective Essay, Jodie M. Schepler

Graduate Research Papers

This is a personal reflective research paper that is a discussion of my personal characteristics, values, beliefs, and philosophies, while also outlining qualities that I believe are essential for leaders in education. This paper is a personal statement that will lead to the explanation of what I believe constitutes an exemplary educational leader.

Adolescent Eating Disorders : Causes, Implications, And Treatment, Margaret P. Messenger

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this research is to better understand eating disorders. Possible causes such. as social and cultural factors, family environment, and personal characteristics are stressed. Health complications for both adolescent males and females are discussed. Therapy approaches such as treatment and prevention for adolescents are also described.

Study Of Reciprocal Teaching And Peer Coaching At Central Middle School, Rebecca Mohorne

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of Reciprocal Teaching is to improve reading comprehension through the use of cognitive strategies. The strategies teach students to think about what they are reading and learning. It also promotes collaboration between the student and teacher in the learning process.

This study was designed to evaluate the implementation of Reciprocal Teaching at Central Middle School. If the initiative is to be successful, implementation should result in higher test scores in reading comprehension. The data from this study will tell us what we are doing well and what we can prove regarding the implementation of Reciprocal Teaching. As other …

What I Believe About Leadership And Education : A Reflective Essay, Michael J. Irvin

Graduate Research Papers

The key topics of education will be revealed throughout the entirety of this essay. The purpose of education and why leaders are important to school success will be the first topic. The section describes how leaders mold the school and work with teachers to find best practice is key to school-wide success. The next area the essay dissects is how the principal leads learning for students and teachers. School leaders have to bring teachers up to the maximum potential through staff development.

The third section will explain the importance of leadership during the change process. The fourth portion addresses how …