Education Commons^™

Influential Educators: Why Are They Remembered And What Can Be Learned From Them?, Jessica M. Butler

Senior Honors Theses

The purpose of this study is to examine the lives of seven educators and present a synopsis of their lives, educational beliefs, and how their practices are implemented in the modern classroom. The educators included are Socrates and Plato, Jesus Christ, Johann Pestalozzi, Fredrich Frobel, Maria Montessori, and Jamie Escalante. Each were considered great teachers of their time, and their practices be evaluated for effectiveness and then implemented into modern educational thinking.

The goal of addressing each educator individually is to look at what these educators have in common that all teachers should identify as effective practice. These commonalities may …

Methods For Teaching Hispanic English Language Learners, Johannah M. Strohman

Senior Honors Theses

With the increase of diversity in American schools and the growing importance of English around the world, teaching English as a second language has become an essential aspect to education. It is difficult to have students of different cultural backgrounds in the classroom who are not proficient in English. A teacher cannot expect these students to succeed in an English only classroom setting. It is important that there be specialized teachers to address the needs of these students in order to reach all students where they are and help them accomplish all that they need to in order to succeed. …

Village Literacy: Adult Education In Northeastern Kenya, Jodi Heidorn

Senior Honors Theses

The underdevelopment of effective adult literacy programs in Northern Kenya is a problem that must be addressed to meet the needs of a changing generation of nomadic pastoralists. Existing programs must be reevaluated in order to increase their efficiency and incorporate the unique aspects of local cultures into their design. This paper explores the broadening definition of literacy and discusses how there are in fact multiple literacies in any given culture. Next, it examines the history of education in Kenya and the barriers that may be unique to adult literacy programs in Northern Kenya. Also, it examines how changes in …

Educating English Language Learners: The Literacy Gap In The Underacheiving Demographic, Stephanie Merrick

Senior Honors Theses

With the recent rise in immigration, the demographics of the American classroom are changing. English Language Learners are becoming more common, and with this change comes the challenge of effectively educating them. Unfortunately, this demographic has been observed to have a major achievement gap, as many students are placed in mainstream classrooms without basic literacy skills. This gap can be bridged through intentional focus on literacy with these students. This thesis examines styles of education for English Language Learners and instructional strategies in an effort to identify which styles and strategies can bridge the literacy and achievement gap most effectively.