Education Commons^™

Trauma-Informed Whole School Approach: A Case Study, Melissa Erickson

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

Today, trauma is known to affect two-thirds of children, making it a high probability that students affected by trauma are sitting in every classroom around the United States (McInerney & McKlindon, 2014). Cole et al. (2005) described schools as being, “...significant communities for children and teachers” (p. 1). This poses a challenge for schools across the United States to know how to engage students who are affected by trauma in their learning. Trauma leads to adverse effects on how a student will learn, behave, and respond socially and emotionally in the classroom (Cole et al., 2005). Therefore, educators need to …

Tilting The Floor: Uncovering Leadership Factors Teachers And Principals Attribute To Math Growth Rate In Two Title I Schools, Stephanie Hiatt

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative case study investigated the two highest math growth rates at two Title I schools in a mid-size, Midwestern school district. This research focused on the leadership factors that may have attributed to the math growth rate. Open-ended interviews, structured interviews, surveys, focus groups, and document analysis were used to collect data. This study uncovered the leadership factors teachers and principals attributed to the math growth rate. The focus of this study was on leadership decisions made before and after students walked into and out of the classroom that have an effect on math achievement. This study also explored …

The Roles Of School-Based Language Specialists: Implications For Ell Teacher And Speech-Language Pathologist Collaboration, Erica R. Solorio

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The field of education is a dynamic one due to the ever-changing demographics of the society it seeks to serve. Research has shown that the number of culturally and linguistically diverse students in schools is increasing. As a result, schools and educators need to meet the academic and linguistic needs of culturally and linguistically diverse students. Past research as also shown that Speech-Language Pathologists must differentiate between a language disorder or language difference when working with a culturally and linguistically student and they should collaborate with a bilingual interpreter or bilingual teacher during this process. However, much of the past …

In What Ways Do Language Lessons That Incorporate Student- And Teacher-Generated Gestures Support Language Learning In An 8th Grade Beginning-Level Spanish Classroom?, Simone Johnson

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

In this six-week action research study, 18 participants between the ages of 12 and 14 were given four week-long gesture-based vocabulary lessons to determine the role that gestures have on L2 vocabulary acquisition in an eighth-grade beginning-level Spanish classroom. Each week, students were encouraged to learn and practice a list of vocabulary words using gesture-based activities, seeing that gestures, a form of embodied learning, has proven to positively affect L2 vocabulary acquisition and address the needs of diverse learners. The first and third lessons consisted of teacher-generated gestures, while the second and fourth were student-generated gesture-based lessons and the two …

How Does Enriched Differentiated Small-Group Instruction At The Middle-School Level Accelerated Learning And Promote Community?, Kathleen A. Bernard

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The question addressed in this capstone project was guided by the demanding need for customized differentiated enriched learning experiences at the middle-school level. It documents why providing customized enriched learning experiences through small-group instruction for all students is necessary to help close educational opportunity gaps, improve academic growth and to create stronger communities of understanding and connectedness. It is founded in the learning and understanding of differentiation and self-determination theory. The frame of the project guides middle-school teachers through the process of understanding the importance of small-group instruction, provides them with structural classroom framework options and cultivates time for collaboration …

Implementing Growth Mindset Learning In The Special Education English Language Arts Classroom, Jody Brenteson

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The capstone question investigated in this project was, how can a growth mindset curriculum be successfully integrated in a special education English language arts classroom? It catalogues one teacher’s formation of an English Language Arts growth mindset curriculum intended for use in small group, special education ELA classrooms. The curriculum was designed by the author with the objective of developing a growth mindset in the guiding audience. Described herein is the proposed use of the curriculum as well as measurements of effectiveness and future implications on a teacher’s career, classroom development, and educational progress of her socioeconomically disadvantaged students.

How To Improve High-Risk High School Student Achievement And Well-Being Through Using Best Practices, Particularly In An Alternative Setting, Laura Lopez Dahl

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Many high-risk students struggle in education and find it difficult to be successful in mainstream educational settings. Alternative educational programs (AEP) are used as an intervention for students who are struggling in the mainstream setting and are at risk for failure. Students in AEP programs have an opportunity to overcome their barriers and achieve graduation as opposed to dropping out or getting their general education diploma (GED). Many of the students in these programs struggle with adverse childhood experiences (ACE) and have had negative educational experiences. This capstone project addresses the research question: How to improve high-risk high school achievement …

A Coaching Framework: Supporting Mainstream Teachers In Incorporating Academic-Language Development For English Learners, Sarah K. Holty

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

It is challenging to meet the linguistic needs of English learners in mainstream classrooms, even for experienced and trained English-language-development teachers, and many mainstream teachers are minimally equipped to address language needs in the context of content instruction. Because English learner success in the mainstream classroom depends upon mastery of content together with proficiency in academic English, mainstream teachers need further professional development, tools, and resources in order to support English learners in their classrooms. This project proposes embedded professional development within a coaching structure focused on implementing academic-language development in mainstream instruction. Research shows that an instructional coaching model …

Technology Based Interventions Impact On Phonemic Awareness Growth, Je'naya D. Brown

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The research question that was addressed in this project was What impact do technological based interventions have on student’s phonemic awareness growth? It followed the author’s desire to discover a supplemental online literacy tool that would be beneficial to their kindergarten students and help them progress through the early stages of reading. According to Saine (2012), when students are exposed to digital literary activities, they do not see the activities as school work, but as new and exciting tools for learning. The author looked at two online literacy tools and created a tool for teacher use that focused on components …

Mindfulness-Based Interventions: The Implications For Stress Management And Academic Performance In Undergraduate Students, Kathryn Johnson

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Johnson, K. Mindfulness-Based Interventions: The Implications for Stress Management and Academic Performance in Undergraduate Students (2019). Mindfulness activities and programs are becoming increasingly popular in post-secondary settings. At the same time, stress and mental health of students is an increasing concern at institutions of higher learning. This capstone sought to answer the research question: how do mindfulness-based intervention programs impact students’ stress management and academic performance? The culminating project is a website that provides an overview for post-secondary educators interested in implementing a mindfulness program with undergraduate students. The website includes information on mindfulness programs, ways of implementing a mindfulness …

Using Diverse Literature Along With Critical Literacy Strategies To Support Diversity And Equity In Spanish Immersion Classroom, Claudia Milena Noguera Yara

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

In the capstone project, the following research question was addressed: How can diverse literature be used along with critical literacy strategies to support diversity and equity in Spanish immersion classrooms? The purpose of this capstone is to support teachers from K-6 when incorporating diverse literature books in their curriculum and how the use of critical literacy strategies can benefit students when analyzing topics using a critical lens. The use of critical literacy strategies allow students to have a multiple perspective of topics or aspects related to other cultures that will connect them with their own cultures and their identity will …

Engaging The Safety System Of The Brain: Training For Teachers Of Immigrants Who Have Experienced Trauma, Lindsey Grace Crifasi

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Research has shown that trauma makes changes in our brain chemistry. In the space of teaching and learning, these changes can inhibit students from reaching their goals effectively. This research focused on addressing the questions: What are the key aspects of trauma-informed teaching, specifically for the immigrant population? What happens to the brain when it is dealing with trauma, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or grief and how does that affect learning? With inspiration from Dr. Bessel van der Kolk’s book The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, Body and the Healing of Trauma and studies into the Polyvagal Theory …

How Can Zoo Educators Help Individuals In A Community Develop A Deeper Connection To Wildlife, Conservation And The Environment Through Specific Education Programming?, Allison Budnick

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Research has shown that as early as the 1960s, zoos have begun to shift their primary focus from a recreational standpoint to one that is deeply rooted in education, conservation and environmental awareness. Education programming has become an avenue for zoo visitors to gain reliable information about animals, develop awareness about critical species, and understand the human impact on the environment and how our actions can effect change. The curriculum designed for this project enables zoo educators to present a meaningful educational experience in a zoo setting. Each program focuses on a different animal species, allowing for diversity within the …

Incorporating Linguistic Analysis And Processes Into English As A Second Language Instruction, Signy Kirsten Sherman

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The research question addressed in this paper and project was: how can an online professional development resource and community for teachers support understanding of using Linguistic Analysis and processes to deepen an educators understanding of a student’s native language (L1) in order to develop more effective instruction in the second language (L2)? Key influences included Jim Cummins and Maggie Tallerman (2015) Understanding Syntax from which the descriptive approach adopted was derived from. Additional influences included, case studies conducted by researchers such as Ronald Sheen and Lin and Chuan has shown that students can benefit from instruction informed by information derived …

Using English Language Arts As An Outlet For Addressing And Defining Student’S Past Trauma, Dalton J. Pieske

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Research supports the notion that trauma can have a list of negative social, psychological, neurophysiological, emotional and physical ramifications on at-risk adolescents. Research has also shown that trauma-occurrence is affected based on racial demographics and geographical location. Therefore, this capstone project intends to answer the question: How can ELA teachers use their classes as an outlet for addressing and defining ethno-racial minority and U.S. born student’s trauma? There has been an increase in mental health professionals in schools to address increasing student trauma but this project argues the English Language Arts classroom can provide students an outlet for building skills …

A Better Understanding Through The Use Of The Nature Journal, Carol L. Anderson

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

This paper examines the positive impact that spending time in the natural world has on students. In reviewing the history of environmental education in the United States, the importance of nature on human development, and the impact that journaling and reflective thought processes have in education, this capstone sought to expand upon the research and encourage using nature journals to affect children’s perceptions of the natural world and their place within it. While journaling can facilitate communication, self-expression and personal development, it is also a way to enhance learning by connecting background knowledge to new information, analyzing and synthesizing ideas …

How To Say Nothing And Everything At The Same Time: A White Teacher, Students Of Color, And The Trial And Error Of Building Relationships Of Opportunity With Envoy, Melissa Bougie

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

This capstone project focuses on how ENVoY classroom management might impact student teacher relationships and academic success in diverse high school classrooms. The project takes the form of a blog that outlines ENVoY classroom management techniques as well as discusses the philosophy of educational equity that exists behind the techniques. It includes my own analysis and research as well as interviews of ENVoY Demonstration Teachers. Due to the opportunity gaps between white students and students of color that often exist in diverse high schools, it is important to consider what might contribute to closing these gaps. Classroom management is one …

Creating A Nature-Based Environmental Connection To At-Risk Ebd Students In A Self-Contained Classroom, Timothy L. Thayer

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Research has shown that most students in conventional classrooms lack exposure to the natural world in the midst of the complete school day. Looking more specifically at students who have Emotional Behavior Disorders and being in a self-contained classroom can prevent ideal opportunities for the therapeutic benefits of exposure to what the outside environment can provide. The driving focus for this project is creating a nature-based environmental connection to at-risk EBD students in a self-contained classroom. Relying on the influence of biophilic design, this project utilizes many aspects of how natural features can benefit the students both emotionally and educationally. …

Social Justice Teaching In The Elementary General Education Classroom, Chandra Turner

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The research question addressed in this project was: what are effective strategies for teaching social justice to elementary students and how will using them affect elementary students’ attitudes toward and knowledge of social justice? This capstone describes the research behind, development of, and the results of using a toolkit for elementary teachers looking to implement social justice education in an effective way. The toolkit includes web resources, lesson plans, children’s literature regarding social justice, teacher reference books, ideas for active service learning projects, and potential journal prompts for students about social justice. The research behind the project included research into …

Teaching Grammar Through Music, Katie Monson

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The research questions addressed in this action research project were How can repeatedly singing songs in Spanish containing temporal words and past tense vocabulary impact Spanish immersion second graders’ use of past tense verbs when speaking Spanish?; And how will learners perceive the songs and their effect on their learning? A pre-assessment was given to evaluate students’ abilities to use past tense verbs in speaking. The same assessment was given after a teaching intervention in which the students sang three songs containing the six verbs every day for two weeks. Students were then interviewed about how they felt about the …

Meaningful Family Engagement In Schools: Karen Family Perspectives, Emily Mattson

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research project was to examine how meaningful family engagement with schools is perceived by Karen families. In-home interviews, a focus group, and school event sign-in forms were used to collect data. Families were asked to reflect on their experiences with their child’s school, how they felt involved, supported, and what more they would like to see offered in regards to support and engagement. Results showed that the families perceived meaningful family engagement to be culturally relevant, relational, and as being equipped with resources that empower them to support their children. Furthermore, the data collected from event …

Supporting Twice Exceptional Students Within The General Education Classroom: Strategies For General Education Teachers, Rebecca Levi

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The research question addressed by this project is How can educators best support and challenge twice exceptional students within the general education classroom? The purpose of exploring this topic was to help identify strategies for classroom teachers to implement to help their gifted and talented students with learning disabilities feel successful in school. The project reviews studies and articles written by experts in gifted and talented studies as well as experts in learning disabilities in order to provide a better understanding of what it means to be twice exceptional and help provide educators with a guide for how to serve …

How Can General Education Teachers Learn To Build Positive Relationships With El Students By Integrating El Best Practice Strategies Into Their Teaching?, Philip Dennison

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The research question addressed in this project was, how can general education teachers learn to build positive relationships with EL students by integrating EL best practice strategies into their teaching? This project involves a teacher’s creation of a project directed at educating other teaching staff on how to create and develop positive relationships with language learner students. The project made use of Knowles best practices in adult education to make the most effective use of time when addressing adult learners. The author describes the process of building and then delivering the project content. He also reflects on the successes, limitations, …

Incorporating Multicultural Literature Into The Upper Elementary Language Arts Classroom, Elizabeth M. Burgos

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Read-aloud is a strategy that is used in many fifth-grade language arts classrooms, although more often than not it is used to fill time and the only expectation of students is to listen passively. Therefore, the research question addressed in this capstone focused on how to make read-aloud in language arts engaging to students in a fifth-grade classroom. Components and best practices to create an effective read-aloud were explored so that students can participate more actively through different responses during read-aloud. A complete read-aloud guide including sixteen lessons to lead a class through the book The War That Saved My …

Culturally Responsive Curriculum And Literature For Primary Grade English Learners, Katherine Behrend

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Culturally and linguistically responsive teaching and learning is being implemented in many school districts to better meet the needs of all students. Using culturally authentic literature is equally important. Research demonstrates the need for culturally authentic texts so students can see themselves mirrored and see windows to other cultures during school. English learners (ELs) benefit from seeing their culture in the texts they are exposed to as well as culturally responsive learning strategies, or protocols. According to the CCBC (Cooperative Children's Book Center, School of Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2019), non-majority ethnicities represent a small percentage of all children’s literature …

A Culturally Relevant Earth Science Curriculum: Engaging Students In Socioscientific Issues Through Socratic Seminars, Colin Matthew Gettle

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The research question addressed in this capstone project is: How can Socratic seminars be used as a culturally relevant tool to increase student engagement and science literacy? This capstone project is based largely off the work of Gloria Ladson-Billings, who promoted the critical idea of culturally responsive teaching in all classrooms to promote equity and social engagement. Through the lens of culturally responsive pedagogy, this project aims to address the large engagement gaps that exist in many diverse academic settings. Specifically, the project is a set of three 8th grade Earth science units. Each unit addresses Minnesota State Eighth Grade …

How Different Grouping Methods Can Improve Students’ Mathematical Achievement In An Appropriate Setting, Hyangmee Oh

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This research is about finding an appropriate grouping method in a classroom to improve students’ mathematical achievement in a small urban public charter school. It is looking for an answer to the question: Can an inquiry-based discourse taught using an ability-grouping method affect 8th grade students’ mathematical achievement as evidenced quantitatively through numerical self- surveys and scored standardized testing?

Each year, a school will have a different demographic with each student’s own unique math abilities. Thus, we need a solution to best and flexibly group students to adapt to each student’s math abilities based on the unique classroom environment. The …

Benefits And Drawbacks Of A Bilingual Education When Comparing It To A Monolingual Education, Ga Yun Lee

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to understand what parents think of as benefits and drawbacks of bilingual or monolingual education, depending on their linguistic choices for their child. This study also aims to support parents who are struggling to make a decision for their child and students who do not have motivation to learn English. To answer my research question, “What are the benefits and drawbacks of a bilingual education when it comparing it to monolingual education?” I distributed a survey to six participants who are sending their child to a bilingual education setting and five participants sending their …

A Family Approach To Family Literacy With Latino Parents, Jessica L. Davies-Lopez

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The research question addressed in this project is, How can Latino parent involvement and direct teaching of literacy skills help to improve their child’s reading skills? Over the years, research has demonstrated the importance of parent involvement in the success of students’ achievement. Furthermore, Latino parent involvement has demonstrated benefits that far exceed expectations. When families and schools work together utilizing different Family Literacy programs, students and families succeed. This Capstone reviewed different literature to help understand Latino family involvement, in addition to reviewing different family literacy programs to help answer the research question. The Capstone also included a project …

Promoting Student Metacognition To Aid The Writing Process, Jessica Kramar

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Writing is a process that occurs over multiple steps; this may seem both excruciating and tedious to students. By encouraging metacognition throughout the process, teachers can create more autonomous learners. This capstone uses reflective strategies that address the question How can educators use independent and group reflection processes to help students assess their understanding and mastery of writing state standards? Research concludes that guided interaction with feedback increases student accountability and understanding of effective writing. Through a series of reflective strategies, modeling, and both critical and positive feedback, teachers can shift the way students think about their own writing, benefiting …