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Full-Text Articles in Education

Music Is The Intervention: The Intersections Of Music As A Therapeutic Activity In At-Risk Youth, Gladys H. Gonzalez Landaverde Apr 2022

Music Is The Intervention: The Intersections Of Music As A Therapeutic Activity In At-Risk Youth, Gladys H. Gonzalez Landaverde

Senior Honors Theses

Across the United States, public schools face many discrepancies in the quality and caliber of education that a student can expect to receive. While schools try to address the vast needs of students, many children and adolescents are unfortunately faced with choosing between prioritizing their education and the circumstances faced outside of the school day. The discrepancies in schooling range from the quality in the commonly accepted core curriculum like English and mathematics to the opportunities offered outside of traditional academia like music. Unfortunately, at-risk students are unlikely to have access to music education in the same ease as their …


The Impact Of Repatriation On Third Culture Kids And The Role Higher Education Institutions Play In Supporting Repatriating Students: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Kylee Rae Spangler Nov 2021

The Impact Of Repatriation On Third Culture Kids And The Role Higher Education Institutions Play In Supporting Repatriating Students: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Kylee Rae Spangler

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand, as a lived experience, the impact of repatriation on Third Culture Kids (TCKs). For this study, repatriation was generally defined as the transitional process of an individual moving from a host country back to the home country to attend college. The central research question for this study was aimed to gain insight into the lived experiences of TCKs whose lives were impacted by repatriation for higher education. The research sub-questions were designed to gain an understanding of the perceptions TCKs have about the preparedness of higher education institutions to meet …


"Read It Again!": Storytelling To Imitate The Great Teacher, Kate Whatley Nov 2021

"Read It Again!": Storytelling To Imitate The Great Teacher, Kate Whatley

Senior Honors Theses

The student’s mind is bent on stories, asking mothers around the world to ‘read it again’. These stories preserve information and emotions for centuries. In the classroom, stories enliven motivation and empathy in ways that result in higher academic achievement and social awareness. Learning to use stories as a key instructional strategy will allow for more equitable opportunities in classrooms, encourage mental health and truth telling for the teacher and the student collectively, and allow the academic community to imitate Christ by contributing to the bigger story taking place across time. In application of using stories as teachers, this thesis …


Impact Of Concept-Based Mathematics Instructional Strategies On Seventh Grade Student Achievement, Katherine Annette Lawley Ellsworth Nov 2020

Impact Of Concept-Based Mathematics Instructional Strategies On Seventh Grade Student Achievement, Katherine Annette Lawley Ellsworth

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In a nation with declining enrollment in college math courses, it is important to examine how mathematics is being taught in the K-12 education system and to identify best practices. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact concept-based instructional strategies has on middle school student achievement in mathematics when integrated into the traditional mathematics curriculum. Participants included 424 seventh grade students from two middle schools. Students Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Fall-to-Winter data 2018 prior to implementation was used a covariate and Fall-to-Winter data 2019 data during the implementation of concept-based instructional strategies integrated into the traditional …


Improving The Problem Of Teacher Retention In A Rural Middle School In Southwestern Virginia, Meagan Marie Goad Apr 2020

Improving The Problem Of Teacher Retention In A Rural Middle School In Southwestern Virginia, Meagan Marie Goad

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this applied study was to solve the problem of teacher retention for a rural middle school in Southwestern Virginia and to design training strategies to address the problem. A rural middle school in Southwestern Virginia is struggling to retain teachers. The research question for this study was: How can teacher retention at a rural middle school in Southwestern Virginia be improved. Interviews with former teachers of the rural middle school were conducted specifically to determine why these individuals left. Survey data was obtained to determine why teachers in this rural middle school choose to stay. Exit documentation …


A Qualitative Study On Urban Middle School Teachers' Perspective Of Social And Emotional Learning As Formed Through Personal And Occupational Experience, Joseph George Gerics Dec 2019

A Qualitative Study On Urban Middle School Teachers' Perspective Of Social And Emotional Learning As Formed Through Personal And Occupational Experience, Joseph George Gerics

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study is to describe the lived experience of social-emotional learning both personal and professional for twelve urban middle school teachers in northeast Ohio. Urban middle school teachers have typically been under-represented in the research around social-emotional learning and this study looks to give voice to this under-represented group. Through the research, this study gained information regarding urban middle school teachers’ personal and professional experiences with social and emotional learning and how this experience promotes or inhibits successful implementation of social-emotional learning within the classroom. The theories guiding this study are Emotional Intelligence which root …


A Phenomenological Study Of The Experiences Of Secondary Teachers Trained In Content-Only Areas Throughout Their First Year Instructing English Language Learners, Bonnie J. Carmen Dec 2019

A Phenomenological Study Of The Experiences Of Secondary Teachers Trained In Content-Only Areas Throughout Their First Year Instructing English Language Learners, Bonnie J. Carmen

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the experiences of first-year, general education content teachers working with ELLs in secondary schools who have limited or no training to do so. The first-year teacher experience was defined as the situations and circumstances of teachers in their introductory year of instruction; their expectations upon entry, the realities of the actual experience, and the concluding reflections following their first year. Schlossberg’s transition theory guided this study as it lends itself to capturing the transition process and added information to the body of research on teaching ELLs - more specifically the experiences …


The Transition From Classroom Teacher To Instructional Coach: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Karin Elizabeth Graham Aug 2019

The Transition From Classroom Teacher To Instructional Coach: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Karin Elizabeth Graham

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental, phenomenological study was to describe the experiences of 13 teachers who have transitioned from the role of classroom teacher to instructional coach. All participants were actively involved in at least one of two online instructional coaching forums. At this stage in the research, the teacher to instructional coach transition experience can be described as the decisions and circumstances that led a classroom teacher to pursue the role of instructional coach. The instructional coach can be defined as a collaborative teaching partner that helps build teacher capacity and provides teachers individualized professional development to meet their …


Elementary Pre-Service Teacher Preparedness In Literacy And Mathematics As It Relates To Anxiety And Self-Efficacy, Lamarcia J. Miller Jul 2019

Elementary Pre-Service Teacher Preparedness In Literacy And Mathematics As It Relates To Anxiety And Self-Efficacy, Lamarcia J. Miller

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study attempted to determine if there is a significant relationship between pre-service teacher preparedness in literacy and mathematics and the levels of anxiety and self-efficacy felt by the pre-service teachers. The research questions are as follows: Is there a significant correlation between the number of college course hours a per-service teacher has taken in literacy and that teacher's teaching anxiety? Is there a significant correlation between the number of college course hours a pre-service teacher has taken in mathematics and that teacher's teaching anxiety? Is there a significant correlation between the anxiety level the pre-service teacher feels in literacy …


The Relationship Between Teacher Experience And Teacher Attitude Toward Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (Adhd), Keisha M. Mchargue Jul 2019

The Relationship Between Teacher Experience And Teacher Attitude Toward Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (Adhd), Keisha M. Mchargue

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examined the strength and direction of the relationship between teachers’ years of experience and their attitudes toward attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). A correlational design was used with the predictor variable being teachers’ years of experience teaching at a K-12 public school. The criterion variable was teachers’ attitudes toward ADHD. Previous research indicated that students with ADHD perform lower than their typically developing peers, in part, because the behaviors that students with ADHD exhibit are difficult for teachers to manage. The added challenge of teaching students with ADHD has the potential to create negative perceptions toward students with …


Effects Of Primary Grade Literacy Field Experiences On Preservice Teachers' Self-Efficacy: A Causal-Comparative Study, Lauren E. Kirk Jul 2019

Effects Of Primary Grade Literacy Field Experiences On Preservice Teachers' Self-Efficacy: A Causal-Comparative Study, Lauren E. Kirk

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Learning to read is an essential skill, yet many new teachers enter the profession unprepared to be effective literacy teachers. Teacher preparation has been at the forefront of many reforms in education. However, discrepancies still exist in how teachers are prepared to enter the profession. This study investigated preservice teachers’ sense of efficacy for primary literacy instruction by the amount of field experience. The levels of field experience included no/ introductory field experience, reading practicum experience, and clinical teaching experience. Participants were preservice teachers who had been accepted into the educator preparation program at small, private universities in Texas and …


A Correlation And Causal-Comparative Study Of The Worldview Of K-12 California Christian Educators, Mariellen True Jun 2019

A Correlation And Causal-Comparative Study Of The Worldview Of K-12 California Christian Educators, Mariellen True

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Christian schools identify developing a Christian worldview in students as an important component of the school’s mission. Many influences affect student achievement. The teacher is one of those influences. At a Christian school, it is reasonable to expect that educators possess a Christian worldview. This study sought to examine the Christian worldview of K-12 Christian educators from ACSI member Christian schools in California. Participants took the Three-Dimensional Worldview Survey (3DWS) and the Worldview Measurement Project Survey (WMPS). Christian educators participated in this study voluntarily and anonymously. The survey results were analyzed to determine if the 3DWS correlated to the WMPS …


The Effect Of Professional Development On Teacher Knowledge Of Concussions And Classroom Support Of Concussed Students, Susan Teeter Hawkins Jun 2019

The Effect Of Professional Development On Teacher Knowledge Of Concussions And Classroom Support Of Concussed Students, Susan Teeter Hawkins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Concussions have received significant media attention in recent years. Although research has focused on the knowledge and perceptions of parents, athletes, and coaches regarding sports-related concussions, little attention has been given to discovering what teachers know about concussions and the correct concussion protocol for the classroom, even though concussions affect academic performance. The purpose of this applied study was to understand further the problem of deficiency in teacher knowledge of sports-related concussions, including symptoms, academic adjustments needed, and how to design appropriate professional development to address this problem. This study incorporated a mixed methods design to examine the effect of …


Teacher Burnout: A Comparison Between Title I And Non-Title I Elementary School Teachers, Sandra Anne Russell May 2019

Teacher Burnout: A Comparison Between Title I And Non-Title I Elementary School Teachers, Sandra Anne Russell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

With school reform and teacher accountability on the forefront of the educational landscape, attention has turned to investigating why so many teachers leave the profession after a relatively short time. Burnout is often cited as a major contributor to this teacher exodus. While many studies have focused on teacher burnout relative to the specific tasks that teachers perform and on the populations they serve, there is no research on how teacher burnout differs between Title I and non-Title I schools in an urban school district in Virginia. The purpose of this causal-comparative study was to investigate if teachers’ perceptions of …


Prekindergarten Teachers' Experiences Using Journals To Reflect On Video Recordings Of Their Classroom Instruction: A Phenomenological Investigation, Katherine Orpilla Alvarado-Mirarchi Apr 2019

Prekindergarten Teachers' Experiences Using Journals To Reflect On Video Recordings Of Their Classroom Instruction: A Phenomenological Investigation, Katherine Orpilla Alvarado-Mirarchi

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore prekindergarten teachers’ experiences using journals to reflect on video recordings of their classroom instruction in an eastern Pennsylvania prekindergarten program. Three theories guided this study. Knowles, Holton, and Swanson’s (2015) theory of andragogy framed this study with a focus on the unique attributes of adult learners. Kolb’s (2015) experiential learning theory informed this study with an emphasis on the importance of workplace experiences for individual development. Dewey (1967) and Schon’s (1987) theory of reflective practice examined the process of reflective thought that is initiated by uncertainty that challenges one’s beliefs. …


A Phenomenological Study Of The Experiences Of Teachers Who Form Positive Relationships With At-Risk Students In Title I Middle Schools In The Southeast, Natasha Brown Apr 2019

A Phenomenological Study Of The Experiences Of Teachers Who Form Positive Relationships With At-Risk Students In Title I Middle Schools In The Southeast, Natasha Brown

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the experiences of teachers who form positive relationships with at-risk students in Title I middle schools. The theory guiding this study was Nel Nodding’s ethic of care as it relates to the teacher as a caregiver interested in the expressed needs of the students. Using a qualitative transcendental phenomenological design, 15 southeastern Title I middle school teachers were selected to participate in the study. The central question guiding this research was: How do teachers describe their experiences of forming positive relationships with at-risk students in Title I middle schools? Sub-questions …


Elementary Teachers' And Administrators' Perceptions Of Teacher Motivation, Jody Mac Foreman Mar 2019

Elementary Teachers' And Administrators' Perceptions Of Teacher Motivation, Jody Mac Foreman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of the study was to compare elementary teachers’ and elementary administrators’ perceptions of teacher motivation. By identifying that differences exist between elementary teachers’ and elementary administrators’ perceptions of what motivates teachers, it allows for administrators to gain a better understanding and possibly design more effective strategies for enhancing teacher motivation. Additionally, it opens the door for further studies, not only with elementary teachers and administrators, but at the middle and high school levels as well. This study used a quantitative methodology with a causal comparative design. The sample population came from two school districts in South Carolina, the …


The Relationship Between Student Assessment, Teacher Evaluation, And Teacher Climate, Cheryl Dayan Owens Buchanan Mar 2019

The Relationship Between Student Assessment, Teacher Evaluation, And Teacher Climate, Cheryl Dayan Owens Buchanan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

High-stakes testing has been a key component in the educational landscape since policies have focused on pedagogical quality in the classroom. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between student assessment, teacher evaluation, and teacher climate. The theoretical framework of Herzberg’s motivation theory guided this study. The researcher used a correlational design to analyze the relationship between student assessment, teacher evaluations, and teacher climate. The survey was given to 109 participants who were selected from a convenience sample of middle school teachers in a rural school district in Tennessee during the 2017-2018 school year. The EVAAS Teacher …


The Effect Of Gender On Spatial Ability And Spatial Reasoning Among Students In Grades 2-8, Sharon W. Morris Jun 2018

The Effect Of Gender On Spatial Ability And Spatial Reasoning Among Students In Grades 2-8, Sharon W. Morris

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to examine gender differences across three types of spatial ability; namely, spatial perception, spatial visualization, and mental rotation in conjunction with working memory. The study utilized a causal-comparative research design involving group comparisons. In this design researchers collect data about variables that they have conceptualized to be in a causal relationship to each other, but there is no intervention as in experimental research. Participants in this study included approximately 200 students in second through eighth grades at one public school and one public charter school, all located in the same school district/county. Spatial ability …


Third, Fourth, And Fifth Grade Teachers’ Experiences With Academic Parental Involvement At Denied-Accreditation Elementary Schools In Virginia: A Phenomenological Study, Allison Knappenberger Jun 2018

Third, Fourth, And Fifth Grade Teachers’ Experiences With Academic Parental Involvement At Denied-Accreditation Elementary Schools In Virginia: A Phenomenological Study, Allison Knappenberger

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental, phenomenological study was to understand third, fourth, and fifth grade teachers’ experiences with academic parental involvement at denied-accreditation elementary schools. Parent involvement refers to two-way communication between parents and teachers. Denied accreditation refers to schools scoring below 70% on state assessments for four or more consecutive years. The theories guiding this study were the Getzels and Guba (1957) social systems theory and Bakhtin’s (1986) theory of dialogism as they influence teachers’ experiences of academic parental involvement through socio-psychological and dialogic environmental interactions. The research questions for this study included: How do third, fourth, and fifth …


Job Satisfaction And Self-Efficacy Score Differences In General And Special Education Teachers As Measured By The Job Satisfaction Survey And Teachers' Sense Of Efficacy Scale, Angela Alford Jun 2018

Job Satisfaction And Self-Efficacy Score Differences In General And Special Education Teachers As Measured By The Job Satisfaction Survey And Teachers' Sense Of Efficacy Scale, Angela Alford

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Teacher turn over has been a concern over the last 30 years in the United States. The implementation of No Child Left Behind Act in 2002 impacted the accountability of teachers. This quantitative, correlation study endeavors to determine the relationship between teacher self-efficacy and job satisfaction. Within this study, teachers of a Title I school in the largest school district in a southern state were surveyed via hard copy. The Tschannen-Moran instrument, Teachers’ Sense of Efficacy Scale (2001), was used to identify three subscales: student engagement, instructional strategies, and classroom management. The Job Satisfaction Survey collected participants’ general satisfaction by …


The Effects Of Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning On Sense Of Connectedness, Sense Of Learning, And Overall Sense Of Community Among High School Students Enrolled In A Marketing Course, Rebecca R. Streetman Jun 2018

The Effects Of Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning On Sense Of Connectedness, Sense Of Learning, And Overall Sense Of Community Among High School Students Enrolled In A Marketing Course, Rebecca R. Streetman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative static group study was to determine the effects of computer-supported collaborative learning on sense of community, sense of connectedness, and sense of learning for students in a high school Marketing Principles course. Sense of community pertains to feelings of belonging and is important to the learning process because it can foster shared positive experiences in the classroom setting. Both collaborative learning and computer-based instruction have been researched extensively and their benefits noted; however, this study is important because it focuses on combining the two into what is known as computer-supported collaborative learning. The independent variable …


Enhancing Literacy Instruction Through Technology, Kaylin M. Haugen Apr 2018

Enhancing Literacy Instruction Through Technology, Kaylin M. Haugen

Senior Honors Theses

Technology has altered how children experience language. As technology has taken root in society, literacy skills have expanded beyond simply reading and writing print texts to include interacting with digital texts and media. To prepare students to operate in this digital environment, teachers should integrate technology into language arts instruction; however, many teachers feel unprepared to do so effectively. Additionally, some teachers hesitate to implement technology into language arts instruction as a tool because of its supposed negative effects on literacy. Despite beliefs about technology inhibiting reading and writing, teachers can utilize technology to enhance literacy instruction. The digital age …


Alternative Seating In Middle School Math: Effects On Student Motivation, Kirk Whitfield Renegar Apr 2018

Alternative Seating In Middle School Math: Effects On Student Motivation, Kirk Whitfield Renegar

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The use of alternative classroom seating has recently become a topic of interest in education. Many teachers have redesigned their classrooms to include many forms of classroom seating aside from traditional student desks. These forms of seating include but are not limited to: therapy balls, therapy cushions, and beanbag chairs. While this movement has certainly caused a buzz, little research has been completed that speaks to its educational impact on students when multiple forms of seating are available to students. Most critically, the potential impact of alternative classroom seating on students’ motivation and self-efficacy has also yet to be studied. …


Relationship Between Authentic Happiness And Servant Leadership In A Midwestern State, Michelle Lynn Clemons Apr 2018

Relationship Between Authentic Happiness And Servant Leadership In A Midwestern State, Michelle Lynn Clemons

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this correlational research study was to investigate the relationship between authentic happiness and servant leadership among college professors. The study sought to close a gap in the research by examining the connection between authentic happiness as a positive psychological construct and servant leadership orientation by teachers in the classroom. Participants in the study included 71 faculty in a Midwestern state. Participants completed the Authentic Happiness Inventory, the Servant Leadership Profile-Revised, and demographic information on SurveyMonkey®. The results were analyzed using SPSS and a Spearman’s rho was calculated to determine the relationship between servant leadership and authentic happiness …


Teacher Factors And The Impact On Student Success In Algebra I, Kalee Mcmullen Apr 2018

Teacher Factors And The Impact On Student Success In Algebra I, Kalee Mcmullen

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Algebra I proficiency is an important aspect of a solid foundation in mathematics. Teachers play a critical role in the failure or success of students. Different teacher characteristics are thought to have a significant impact on the potential for student success. This non-experimental correlational research study seeks to examine the potential relationships between specific teacher characteristics and student success in Algebra I as measured by the Algebra I End of Course Exam scores. This study uses ordinary least squares regression analysis to examine the effects of independent variables on successful Algebra I scores. The independent variables in this study include …


Preparing The Student For High School Band Leadership: A Praxial And Flipped-Classroom Method Based On Kolb's Learning Theory, Brandon Dennis Woods Apr 2018

Preparing The Student For High School Band Leadership: A Praxial And Flipped-Classroom Method Based On Kolb's Learning Theory, Brandon Dennis Woods

Masters Theses

Today's educational climate is rapidly shifting. High stakes testing, both from the federal and state governments, have drastically altered the landscape of public education in America. Although all subjects are feeling the impact of these new educational initiatives, music education is suffering uniquely during this time. With music education so drastically different in modern education compared to what is was before the year 2001, because of the implementation of sweeping federal changes, it is important that we take a new and fresh look at band director education. Students are entering the job field as first year band directors with very …


Effect Of School Level On Teacher Perceptions Of Sst/Rti Effectiveness (K-12), Within A Northwest Georgia School System, Susan R. Tolbert Mar 2018

Effect Of School Level On Teacher Perceptions Of Sst/Rti Effectiveness (K-12), Within A Northwest Georgia School System, Susan R. Tolbert

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this causal-comparative study is to evaluate the effect of school level (primary, elementary, middle, and high school) on teacher perceptions of Student Support Team and Response to Intervention within a Northwest Georgia school system. Understanding these differences in perceptions will allow educational leaders to create meaningful staff development for mandated programs for all certified staff. This study will utilize demographic information, 21 survey questions, and two multiple-choice questions to analyze the differences in perceptions among primary, elementary, middle, and high school certified staff in regards to SST and RTI. Analysis will involve the use of an ANOVA …


Evaluating A Reading Response To Intervention Model: A Case Study Of Elementary Educators, Jeremy Brumfield Jan 2018

Evaluating A Reading Response To Intervention Model: A Case Study Of Elementary Educators, Jeremy Brumfield

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This case study sought to explore the perceptions of classroom teachers and an instructional support team regarding the effectiveness of an established reading Response to Intervention model. It compared the perceptions of both groups regarding the model’s effectiveness, focusing on its strengths and weaknesses. The similarities and differences between the two participant groups’ perceptions that emerged from the individual interviews and focus groups were identified and discussed. This research also compared the perceptions of the participants to the success rates of students in the school in terms of the Response to Intervention measures of reading and standardized student achievement on …


E & I Academics - A Business Plan, Rosalyn Mccoy Jan 2018

E & I Academics - A Business Plan, Rosalyn Mccoy

Senior Honors Theses

Starting a school presents many difficulties, but a business plan provides a method by which to work through many of these issues. The following business plan for Encourage & Inspire Academics, hereafter referred to as E & I Academics, explains many aspects of the proposed business from operations to competition to target market. E & I Academics is a proposed business that will offer both afterschool tutoring and homeschool tutoring services to families who wish to invest in a quality education for their children. E & I Academics will offer more personalized services than a typical public school and will …