Education Commons^™

Effective School Leadership Practices In Schools With Positive Climates In The Age Of High-Stakes Teacher Evaluations, Kristina M. Hansen

All NMU Master's Theses

The purpose of this research project was to understand the leadership practices and characteristics of school leaders within schools identified as having a positive school climate. In this qualitative study, three focus groups of teachers were interviewed and asked a series of questions about their principals’ professional practices and characteristics. The building principals from these schools were also interviewed individually. These responses were scripted and analyzed using an open-coding model and then compared to recent educational leadership literature. Key findings from this research include professional practices and characteristics of principals in schools with positive climate, as well as recommendations for …

The Impact Of Moving From Two-Person To Four-Person Teams On Seventh-Grade Students’ Attitudes And Beliefs Towards School, Zachary B. Sedgwick

All NMU Master's Theses

The purpose of this mixed methods study was to examine the impact moving seventh-grade students from two-person to four-person teams had on students’ attitudes and beliefs towards school. The review of literature provided the reader a brief analysis of the history of the middle school philosophy and teaming, recommendations for schools to address the unique needs of early adolescents, a review of key literature regarding middle level programing and structure, and a discussion highlighting the importance and impact of smaller learning communities. Two main theories makeup the framework for this report: Social Cognitive Theory and Human Relations Theory. The …

Paper Conferences As Meaningful Feedback To Student Writing, Jessica N. Betz

All NMU Master's Theses

This case study is designed to examine a potentially effective way to evaluate and provide feedback on student writing, and through meaningful evaluation, the writing process for secondary students could be more holistic, could better prepare students for college writing. This case study took place in a small eighth grade Language Arts/social studies classroom, located in a town of approximately thirty thousand residents, and the case is the classroom of 22 students, six of which were purposefully chosen for observation during their Paper Conference session and fourteen of which chose to participate in a survey. Paper Conferences are regular practice …

Examining The Nature And Development Of Group Cohesion In Residence Hall Staffs, Thaher J. Aiyash

All NMU Master's Theses

The study of group cohesion has brought forth meaningful insight into the interworking of groups in athletic sports teams, classrooms, adult couples, businesses, and military training groups. This study used a mixed quantitative and qualitative methods survey to examine the nature of group cohesion in relation to resident hall staffs located on the campus of Northern Michigan University. A quantitative assessment of group cohesion used in previous studies of group cohesion was modified and used in supplement to a series of nine extended response items. Through the research, seven themes which were consistent across the staffs were discovered. The discovered …

Teachers’ And Administrators' Perceptions Of The Characteristics Of Effective Leadership For K-12 International Schools, Travis S. Smith

All NMU Master's Theses

The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to investigate teachers’ and administrators’ perceptions of the characteristics of effective leadership for K-12 international schools. The data produced three themes; these include emotional intelligence, the ability to establish school culture, and administrative mindset. The literature review focused on the survey data points of humor, cultural intelligence, and vision embedded within these themes. The research findings are intended to advance the knowledge of leadership for K-12 international schools.

Transitioning From Elementary To Junior High: Action Research At Bark River-Harris School District, Jason B. Lockwood

All NMU Master's Theses

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this action research was to identify factors related to attendance and academics that contribute to student failures and absenteeism in a rural school district. Comparing data between 2012-2013 through 2014-2015, the school district administration recognized a trend in failing grades and absenteeism in the middle school grades. Using a mixed methods design, data was collected from an on-line survey, focus group interviews, teacher interviews and student records. The seventh grade class of 57 students were recruited with twenty-four students participating. The key findings included both teacher behaviors and student behaviors which contributed to the trend in …

A Case Study In A Superintendent’S Leadership Under Duress, Anders C. Hill

All NMU Master's Theses

This case study explores a superintendent’s leadership during financial crisis. It is imperative that new superintendents have a body of research and specific case studies to review to see how other superintendents were able to manage and mitigate crises in similar areas they may face. In the particular case studied, a superintendent took over a district with a newly identified deficit, an expired teacher contract and a poor reputation with stakeholders. The qualitative study allowed for an analysis of the superintendent’s leadership traits and actions that are needed in crisis. Data included interviews, memos and primary source documents. Findings showed …

Using A Virtual World For Science Instruction With Fifth And Sixth Grade Students, Amy Eileen Pihlainen

All NMU Master's Theses

This qualitative study's purpose was to integrate virtual classroom assignments with traditional classroom activities. The integration of these virtual classroom assignments were used to assess the benefits of technology integration in a science classroom. Thirteen fifth and sixth grade students learned about the evolution and traits of organisms in accordance to the State of Michigan Grade Level Content Expectations. This unit followed a unit on animal systems.

Students were given a pretest and posttest (in concept map form and unit test in essay form). Objectives were taught using a combination of lecture, discussion, and in class activities. The unit also …