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Articles 1 - 30 of 534
Full-Text Articles in Education
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 …
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 …
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 …
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.
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 …
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 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.
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 …
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. …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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.
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.
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 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. …
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.
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 Instruction, Social-Emotional Behavioral Health, And Attendance, Angela Keeney
Improving Instruction, Social-Emotional Behavioral Health, And Attendance, Angela Keeney
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
Every Student Succeeds Act (2015) requires all schools to ensure that all students are receiving a quality education. Multiple measures are used to evaluate the quality of instruction students receive. The Iowa Department of Education assigns a rating to a school based on students’ assessment scores, which measure students’ reading, math, science, and social studies proficiencies. Schools also receive percentages for components of a Conditions of Learning survey. Based on assessment data scores, Blue Grass Elementary score received a commendable rating. However, improvements can be made to improve instruction using differentiated instruction by implementing a multi-tiered system of support and …
Intervention Playbook For Homeschool Families, Rebecca Huisman
Intervention Playbook For Homeschool Families, Rebecca Huisman
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
The growing trend of homeschooling has led to the rise of independent charter schools in California by providing families with the flexibility to tailor their children's education while aligning with state standards. This school improvement plan focuses on assisting educators at Blue Ridge Academy, an indepedent charter school in Los Angleles, California, by providing a toolkit of interventions to help homeschooled students achieve grade-level proficiency in language arts and mathematics. The intervention playbook, developed by using evidence-based research and action studies, simplifies interventions in ELA and math for early and upper elementary students. The aim of the playbook is to …
Social-Emotional Learning In Elementary Classrooms, Staci Sanders
Social-Emotional Learning In Elementary Classrooms, Staci Sanders
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
This school improvement plan focuses on how a social-emotional curriculum can positively impact various aspects of an elementary school, such as academic progress, behavior, and the overall school environment. It uses reliable research to emphasize the importance of integrating social-emotional learning seamlessly. The plan is based on evidence that clearly demonstrates how this curriculum can promote good behavior and improve academic success. A key highlight of this effort is the combination of studies that show how a carefully designed social-emotional program, when fully implemented, can bring about significant positive changes in the school culture and environment, creating a better atmosphere …
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 …
Social Emotional Learning, Laura Pierson
Social Emotional Learning, Laura Pierson
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
This article looks at how the implementation of a social-emotional curriculum can improve academics, behavior, and school climate at an Elementary school level. The articles examine research from various research papers to communicate a need for a social-emotional curriculum and outline a plan for the implementation of a school-wide social-emotional curriculum.
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 …
Reducing Teacher Stress Using Mindfulness, Allison Morgan
Reducing Teacher Stress Using Mindfulness, Allison Morgan
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
The prevalence of teacher stress is real and is currently at the forefront of recent research and studies. Stress has impacted teachers who are employed at Woodrow Wilson Elementary located in Newton, Iowa. There are ways to deal with stress and one of those ways would be implementing mindfulness exercises. This school improvement plan would implement mindfulness exercise training for teachers during the 2023-2024 school year. A teacher stress survey would be given before implementing the training, and the same survey would be given at the completion of the training. A reflection will be administered to determine if teachers feel …
Improving Discipline Practices With Restorative Justice: A School Improvement Project, Ryan Schultz
Improving Discipline Practices With Restorative Justice: A School Improvement Project, Ryan Schultz
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
Research indicates that punitive discipline practices, such as zero-tolerance policies and exclusionary approaches, have shown limited effectiveness and create potential harm in schools. In contrast, school discipline and culture based on restorative practices have shown great promise as an alternative. This school improvement project seeks to promote a change from a punitive, exclusionary discipline system to a research-based system rooted in restorative methods in a suburban public school district in the Midwest. The goal was to integrate restorative practices with a district's existing MTSS framework, emphasizing positive alternatives to exclusionary punishments, equity prioritization, and healthy relationships. By educating staff, students, …