Education Commons^™

Exploring Dialogue Journals As A Context For Connecting With And Supporting The Emotional Lives Of Fourth Graders, Samantha Simone Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

About 20 percent of school-aged children, 18 years and younger, struggle with mental health issues in America today. Mental health issues lead to greater rates of suicide, depression, loneliness, anxiety, and bullying that takes place in and out of schools. This exploratory multiple case study looks at how 10 fourth graders, five male and five female, use a weekly entry in a dialogue journal letter to their teacher to share their emotional lives. I explore how a dialogue journal can open up a space between students and teachers for emotional aspects of life and learning to be included in schools. …

Interventions And Supports To Ameliorate Math Anxiety In K-12 Schools: A Meta-Analysis Of Experimental Group Design Research, Madeline Rose Hardy

Theses and Dissertations

"Math anxiety is commonly defined as a feeling of tension, apprehension, or fear that interferes with math performance" (Ashcraft, 2002, p. 181). Symptoms of math anxiety are reported by 33% of students by the time they reach the age of 15, possibly contributing to this workforce dilemma (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, 2013). Many models and perspectives of math anxiety have been established including conceptualizing math anxiety as a function of working memory deficits, sociocultural conditioning, lack of reappraisal, and anxiety as a precursor to escape-maintained behavior. Math anxiety is more common in individuals with certain disabilities, such as …

Designing Software To Unify Person-Fit Assessment, Phillip Isaac Pfleger

Theses and Dissertations

Item-response theory (IRT)assumes that the model fits the data. One commonly overlooked aspect of model-fit assessment is an examination of personfit, or person-fit assessment (PFA). One reason that PFA lacks popularity among psychometricians is that comprehensive software is notpresent.This dissertation outlines the development and testing ofa new software package, called wizirt, that will begin to meet this need. This software package provides a wide gamut of tools to the user but is currently limited to unidimensional, dichotomous, and parametricmodels. The wizirt package is built in the open source language R, where it combines the capabilities of a number of other …

Teacher Recruitment: Highs School Students' And Parents' Perceptions Of The Teaching Profession, Steven Scot Christensen

Theses and Dissertations

Concern over teacher shortages has become a perplexing and persistent problem in schools. Teachers are constantly leaving the profession and new entrants into the teaching profession have decreased in recent years, creating a need for recruiting qualified individuals to become teachers and to retain those who are already in classrooms. The purpose of this study was to identify factors that best predict whether high school students are considering teaching as a career and factors that predict whether students' parents would encourage their children to become teachers. A review of the literature revealed potentially influential factors on teacher recruitment and a …

Effects Of Performance Feedback On The Technical Adequacy Of Behavior Intervention Plans, Rebecca M. Cramer

Theses and Dissertations

Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs) are legally binding documents required by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) for students with disabilities. These plans are intended to help teachers use positive, function-based interventions to decrease problem behaviors and promote functionally-equivalent appropriate social behaviors. The Behavior Intervention Plan Quality Evaluator (BIP-QE II) identifies six components of BIP technical adequacy including behavior function, situation specificity and behavior change, reinforcement tactics, reactive team strategies, team coordination and goals and objectives. Unfortunately, in practice BIPs often lack these key components, which can lead to ineffectiveness of plans, as well as lack of communication among team …

Coming Out Of The Shadows: Understanding Autism In Korean Culture, Yoojin Kim

Theses and Dissertations

Culture affects how the symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are perceived and addressed, and Korean culture has been affecting how individuals with ASD are perceived, diagnosed and treated in Korea, specifically the Republic of Korea. Stigmas about individuals with ASD have historically existed in Korean culture, and those stigmas have been affecting the diagnosis and social environment of individuals with ASD. Recent changes have been made to increase acceptance for individuals with ASD in Korea, but the literature has not yet brought this information together in a way that comprehensively portrays the current status of ASD perceptions, identification, intervention …

Damsel In Distress Or Princess In Power? Traditional Masculinity And Femininity In Young Adult Novelizations Of Cinderella And The Effects On Agency, Rylee Carling

Theses and Dissertations

Retellings of classic fairy tales have become increasingly popular in the past decade, but little research has been done on the novelizations written for a young adult (YA) audience. Critical multicultural analysis determining the effect of race, gender, disability, and more has been completed for both original fairy tale retellings and fairy tale retellings for children, but scholars have neglected popular YA novelizations. This study aims to determine how traditional masculinity and femininity affect agency in both male and female characters in YA novelizations of Cinderella. To examine the role of traditional masculinity and femininity in young adult novelizations of …

Evaluating Model Fit For Longitudinal Measurement Invariance With Ordered Categorical Indicators, Jonathan Caleb Clark

Theses and Dissertations

Current recommended cutoffs for determining measurement invariance have typically derived from simulation studies that have focused on multigroup confirmatory factor analysis, often using continuous data. These cutoffs may be inappropriate for ordered categorical data in a longitudinal setting. This study conducts two Monte Carlo studies that evaluate the performance of four popular model fit indices used to determine measurement invariance. The comparative fit index (CFI), Tucker-Lewis Index (TLI), and root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) were all found to be inconsistent across various simulation conditions as well as invariance tests, and thus were not recommended for use in longitudinal …

Teaching Second-Grade Students To Write Expository Text, Angenette Cox Imbler

Theses and Dissertations

Writing is necessary to participate in public discourse. Much of today's communication is based on information, yet many students do not adequately learn how to write expository text. Learning to write is difficult, but expository text can be especially difficult as it requires knowledge of both a subject and special text structures. The purpose of this study was to give teachers a research-proven method for teaching students to write expository text and to give more information on how to evaluate students' writing. In this quasi-experimental quantitative research design, the expository writing of students before and after receiving a new science …

Factor Structure Of The Jordan Performance Appraisal System: A Multilevel Multigroup Study Using Categorical And Count Data, Holly Lee Allen

Theses and Dissertations

Development of the Jordan Performance Appraisal System (JPAS) was completed in 1996. This study examined the factor structure of the classroom observation instrument used in the JPAS. Using observed classroom instructional quality ratings of 1220 elementary teachers of Grades 1-6 in the Jordan School District, this study estimated the factor structure of the data and the rater effect on relevant structural parameters. This study also tested for measurement invariance at the within and between levels across teachers of two grade-level groups (a) lower grades: Grades 1-3 and (b) upper grades: Grades 4-6. Factor structure was estimated using complex exploratory factor …

Defining And Measuring Learner-Content Interaction In Digitally Augmented Learning Experiences, Sandra Thatcher Powell

Theses and Dissertations

Using content analysis, researchers reviewed literature to identify the meanings attached to and methods used for measuring learner-content interaction in digitally augmented learning experience. Digitally augmented learning experiences are defined in this dissertation as situations where a learner interacts with content delivered using a computer. Examples include online learning using a desktop, laptop, or mobile device, classroom use of a device to interact with content such as a digital textbook, computer simulation, augmented or virtual reality, smart watch or phone, or other similar educational activities. These activities can be delivered directly from a digital device, over a wireless connection, or …

The Impact Of Sense Of Belonging In First-Generation College Students On Gpa And Retention, Lynda Smith

Theses and Dissertations

The purposes of this quantitative, correlational study were to (a) understand how the perceived sense of belonging in first-generation students impacts their academic success, as defined by GPA, and (b) to determine how the aforementioned factors impact the students' intention to persist. A survey was distributed to all reported first-generation students at Rowan University with questions including demographics, an adapted sense of belonging index, intention to persist, GPA, and co-curricular involvement (N = 285). Research indicated that 89.8% of students recorded moderate to high levels of sense of belonging. Regression analyses revealed that a positive relationship exists between sense of …

The Contributing Factors To Student Nurse Medication Administration Errors And Near Misses In The Clinical Setting As Identified By Clinical Instructors, Kristen M. Selig

Theses and Dissertations

The report, To Err is Human, by the Institutes of Medicine (IOM, 2000) brought attention to medication safety in the United States healthcare system. While advances have been made in patient safety, including electronic medication dispensing systems, electronic medication administration records, and scanning systems, it is estimated that 7,000 to 9,000 people die each year due to medication errors (Tariq et al., 2019). The medication administration process involves steps from prescribing to administration. However, nurses administering the medications are the final check point. James Reasons’ Swiss Cheese Model of Accident Causation illustrates the role that systems play in medical errors. …

Black Women Family Childcare Providers’ Roles As Community Mothers During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Crystasany R. Turner

Theses and Dissertations

BLACK WOMEN FAMILY CHILDCARE PROVIDERS’ ROLES ASCOMMUNITY MOTHERS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Black women family childcare providers have withstood and adapted to numerous socioeconomic and political challenges and have remained a source of stability and connection within the Black community. This study is situated in the midst of the social disruption resulting from a pandemic that deeply impacted the landscape of early care and education. The purpose of this study was twofold: first, to describe the cultural knowledge of Black women early childhood educators as they reacted and organized to support young learners and their families in conditions of hardship, …

The Relationship Between The 9th Grade State Assessment And Extra Curricular School Activities And Gender For Disadvantaged Hispanic Students In South Texas, Paz Elizondo Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to analyze the relationship between the 9th grade state assessment test scores for Disadvantaged Hispanic students who are taking the English I State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness End-of-Course exam. The group analyzed was comprised of the 2016-2017 cohort students from a South Texas High School.

The Relationship Between Academic Performance And Student Mobility, Gender, Ethnicity, Socioeconomic Status And Number Of Moves, Juan C. Garza

Theses and Dissertations

This study analyzes the relationship between student mobility, reading and math scores, gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status (SES), and the number of moves by students during their academic years. Data were taken from four different high schools during the 2015-2016, 2016-2017, and 2017-2018 school years. The purpose of this study was to determine if student mobility when considering gender, ethnicity, SES, and number of moves impact a student’s reading and math scores. The study will provide educational leaders, community, and parents with valuable data to make informed decisions with regards to instructional adjustments and school changes for mobile students. The null …

A Study Of Student Experiences Of Racial Microaggressions At A Hispanic-Serving Institution, Alexandra E. Hughes

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine college students’ experiences of racial microaggressions at a Hispanic serving institution. The participants were undergraduate and graduate students from a large higher education research institution in South Texas. The study had a qualitative approach with a two-step process of Phase 1 and Phase 2. Phase 1 of the study consisted of a participant selection survey sent to students via e-mail to obtain their experiences of racial microaggressions. In Phase 2, three focus groups were the means used to collect data. The findings suggested that there were experiences of racial microaggressions at the …

Exploring A Quality Assurance Tool On Remote Academic Advising For Higher Education Traditionally Underrepresented Students In Distance Education, Katrieva S. Jones Munroe

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research is to fill the gap in the literature by examining organizational stakeholders' perceptions of access to remote academic advising. Over the past years, traditionally underrepresented student enrollments in distance education at community colleges have increased, yet the retention rate of online students compared to on-campus students have decreased (Breit & Schreyer, 2018). The gap between ideal and reality serves as a powerful blind spot toward the lack of access to remote student support services in higher education. Remote access to technology and student support services (e.g. academic advising) negatively influence student persistence, retention and graduation …

Exploring The Implementation Of A Proficiency-Focused, Performance-Based Approach In Foreign Language Teaching, Yuka Kato

Theses and Dissertations

Foreign language teachers in one district faced a paradigm shift in the ways language should be taught and in their pedagogical beliefs. They were asked to shift from a traditional approach to the Proficiency-Focused, Performance-Based (PFPB) approach in order to meet the national Standards for Foreign Language Learning in the 21st Century, created by ACTFL (1999 & 2006). The expectation was that every foreign language teacher in the district would use the PFPB approach. However, the problem was that some of the teachers would not understand the approach or how to implement it, with the result that the approach …

A Case Study Of Elementary Teachers’ Critical Understanding Of Culturally Relevant Science Education: Mexican American Teachers Of Mexican American Students, Nora Alicia Luna

Theses and Dissertations

There is much research on White teachers’ negative assumptions and biases about their students of color. Less is known about Mexican American teachers. It is often assumed that there exists a strong understanding of culturally relevant science when both teachers and students are of similar cultural backgrounds. Through the conceptual frameworks of culturally relevant pedagogy and LatCrit, this investigation gave insight into, not only the ways the Mexican American teachers conceptualized culturally relevant science as part of their pedagogy, but also the struggles they experienced with the Spanish language. This study added insight by exploring the interactions of Mexican American …

Field Of Dreams: Environmental Factors Contributing To The Academic And Professional Success Of Mexican-American Former Migrant Students From The Rio-Grande Valley Of South Texas, Jaime Villarreal

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify protective factors contributing to the college graduation of seven Mexican-American Hispanic former migrant students from the Rio-Grande Valley of South Texas, the southernmost part of the United States that borders Mexico. I used a case study methodology to examine the real life context of a phenomenon with the data collected from the seven participants using interviews. The findings indicated that interrelated cultural, school and home environmental protective factors enhanced the resiliency of the seven participants as they navigated through their academic endeavors and ultimate college graduation. This study is important to the …

Middle School Leaders' Perceptions Of Self-Efficacy In An Urban School District Along The Texas-Mexico Border, Rachel R. Ayala

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the case study was to comprehend the relationship between the accountability movement as characterized by the Texas A-F Accountability System and ESSA on a middle school principal’s sense of self-efficacy in an urban school district located at the southeastern-most point of the Rio Grande Valley along the Texas-Mexico border. The case study employed an explanatory sequential mixed methods research design and allowed for the collection and analysis of quantitative and qualitative data in two consecutive phases within one study to investigate the research questions in depth. The quantitative portion of this mixed methods case study relied on …

A Mixed Methods Study Of Middle School Teachers’ Perceptions Of Schoolwide Positive Behavior Interventions And Supports And Its Influence On Effective Implementation, Tiffany J. Baskin-Downs

Theses and Dissertations

The use of a multi-tiered system of supports framework has been of growing interest in addressing issues related to disruptive behaviors and school suspensions. The purpose of this mixed-methods sequential, explanatory study was to examine middle school teachers’ perceptions (behavioral expectations defined, behavioral expectations taught, and an ongoing system for rewarding behavioral expectations) of their efforts toward implementing Schoolwide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports with fidelity in two middle schools within an urban school district located in Georgia. Data analyses included descriptive statistics, homogeneity of variance Levene’s test, t-tests, factorial analysis, a one-way analysis of variance, post-hoc tests, frequencies and …

The Influence Of College Preparation In The Relationship Between High School Socioeconomic Context And College Enrollment, Jeffery J. Huerta

Theses and Dissertations

Recent research has documented that the socioeconomic context of high schools plays a significant role in students’ postsecondary enrollment outcomes (Engberg & Wolniak, 2014; Roderick et al., 2011; Engberg & Wolniak, 2010; Nuñez & Kim, 2012; Hill, 2008; Perna & Titus, 2005; Perna, 2000), with lower college outcomes occurring due to students at lower SES high schools having lower amounts of capital, less access to rigorous curriculum, and more negative peer influences than students at higher SES high schools. However, absent in these studies is whether efforts of comprehensive college preparation were taking place and if such efforts are also …

Principal Instructional Leadership Behavior As Perceived By Middle School Principals In The Rio Grande Valley Of Texas, Joseph R. Villarreal

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to determine which of the 10 leadership functions contained in the PIMRS, as identified by Hallinger (1983), are demonstrated by principals in Rio Grande Valley middle schools that received Texas Education Agency distinctions for closing performing gaps, compared to those middle schools in the Rio Grande Valley that did not. The study aimed to determine if there was a significant difference been the principal instructional leadership behaviors at middle schools recognized for closing performance gaps compared to those that were not recognized. The results showed that there did not exist a significant difference between …

Arts Integration And Teacher Collaboration In An Unprecedented Era Of Online Learning, Natalie Hahn

Theses and Dissertations

The unexpected halt of in-person teaching and learning during the COVID-19 pandemic added another layer to an already sizeable and imperative gap in research on arts integrated teacher collaboration. Research shows that teacher collaboration is essential to effective arts integration and can have powerful, positive outcomes for students and teachers (Burnaford et al., 2007; Burton et al., 1999; Carney et al., 2016; Duma & Silverstein, 2014; Lynch, 2007; Snyder et al., 2014; Upitis et al., 1999; Vitulli et al., 2013), but less is understood about the characteristics of and teacher experiences with collaboration in arts integrated environments. The reconceptualization of …

Unmet Medical Home Needs And Educational Services Access In Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Sabrin Rizk

Theses and Dissertations

One in 54 children is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the U.S. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is a primary care model defined as accessible, continuous, comprehensive, family-centered, coordinated, compassionate, and culturally-effective care for children with ASD, jointly with educational services. Children with ASD use educational services for cognitive, social, and behavioral needs. Educational services include early intervention (EI) through EI plans or school services under special education plans in public schools. Linking health and educational services reduces fragmented care and collaboratively addresses the needs of children with ASD. Although the AAP has asserted efforts to …

An Examination Of Two-Year College Student-Athletes’ Perceived Engagement In Academic Advising, Supplemental Instruction, And Academic Alert Systems, Michael Kiefer

Theses and Dissertations

Institutions of higher education face challenges to improve the student success measures of retention, progression, and graduation, which are metrics used to evaluate colleges and universities. One way in which many institutions have sought to increase accessibility to higher education and student engagement is through athletics; however, limited research exists regarding the lack of academic success of student-athletes at two-year colleges. Drawing upon a student engagement theoretical framework presented by Coates, the purpose of the causal-comparative research study was to examine the differences in perceived usage and impact of academic support services by two-year college student-athletes in Florida. The data …

Literacy Based Behavioral Interventions: A Review Of The Literature, Shannon R. Eshman

Theses and Dissertations

In this systematic review of the literature on literacy-based behavioral interventions (LBBIs), ten selected articles were compared to the Quality Indicators prescribed by the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC). There were eight main categories of standards which included 1) context, 2) participant characteristics, 3) description of the intervention, 4) how it was implemented, 5) if the implementation had fidelity and 6) validity, 7) outcome measures, and 8) data analysis. Each of the studies was evaluated according to these indicators by using a coding chart. Results indicated that LBBIs can be considered an evidence-based practice according to the CEC standards.

Mixed Methods Study Of Special Education Training In Educational Leadership Preparation Programs In Rural Georgia, Robert Lewis-Vice

Theses and Dissertations

This research study addressed the problem that school leaders may not be adequately prepared to address the needs of an increasing population of students with special needs. The purpose of the study was to examine the difference between beliefs and perceptions of middle and high school leaders and special education teachers about the knowledge and skills necessary to implement special education programs effectively. The conceptual framework of this study focused on the preparation of principals and assistant principals at the university level through certification programs and district level programs. For this causal-comparative research design study, the quantitative and qualitative data …