Education Commons^™

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 …

Let’S Talk Fluency: Elementary Educators’ Perceptions Of The Impact And Implementation Of Fluency Instruction Within The Leveled Literacy Intervention Framework, Megan L. Michalczak

Dissertations

This study was warranted to thoroughly understand general and special education teachers’ perceptions of the implementation of Leveled Literacy Intervention (LLI) within Tier II and Tier III of a Multi-tiered System of Support (MTSS) while focusing on reading fluency instruction. Using a mixed methods approach, this study described the impact of LLI on student outcomes in reading fluency, as well as examined the integrity of LLI implementation within Tier II and Tier III through descriptive statistical analysis of student achievement data and a document review of intervention records. In addition, through the use of inductive thematic analysis of observations and …

Teachers' Interventions To In-Person Bullying And Cyberbullying Situations, Amaia Lojo Novo

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation comprises five chapters, and it is an article-based format that studies teachers’ needs and characteristics regarding bullying intervention. It is divided into two phases that are explained through the different chapters. Chapter One explains the problem's overall background and provides an introduction to the three papers presented in the next chapters. Chapter Two presents the First Phase of the dissertation, which provided information about teachers’ knowledge, concerns, and practice regarding bullying. Findings demonstrate that Idaho education professionals need training and resources to help them intervene appropriately, especially with cyberbullying. Chapter Three focuses on the following potential teachers’ characteristics …

Teachers’ Use Of Standardized Assessments To Monitor Learning And Its Impact On Student Reading Achievement, Eilyn Sanabria

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Reading instruction must be “intentional, systematic, and explicit” and “implemented by a knowledgeable teacher” (Ruetzel & Cooter, 2019, p. 87). The era of accountability has brought standardized assessments to the forefront of reading instruction. However, gaps about assessment-related and instructional practices and their impact on student achievement exist in the literature. The present study aims to provide needed insights on how these practices help or hinder, specifically, historically low-performing students.

Using student achievement and teacher survey data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study: Kindergarten 2011 (ECLS-K), and through the lens of data use theory (Hutchins, 1995; Spillane, 2012), hierarchical multiple …

If I Knew Then What I Do Now: Fostering Pre-Service Teachers’ Capacity To Promote Expansive And Critical Conversations With Children’S Literature, Stephen Adam Crawley

Occasional Paper Series

In this article, I reflect on my practices as a teacher educator and respond to the following questions: How do I foster the capacity of pre-service teachers to use children’s literature to promote expansive and critical conversations in the classroom? How do pre-service teachers report their stances and sense of preparedness when reflecting on the course? To address these questions, I share two strategies I employed in my undergraduate course for elementary education majors: 1) emphasizing children's literature as windows and mirrors and 2) considering stakeholder responses. For each strategy, I include preservice teachers’ (PTs’) statements that reflect how the …

Becoming Inclusive: A Collection And Analysis Of The Perceptions Of Newly Qualified General Elementary Education Teachers On Their Preparedness For Teaching In Inclusive Settings, Brooke Armesto

Georgia Educational Research Association Conference

Abstract

The main research question this study will focus on is “How do newly qualified general elementary education teachers perceive their preparedness to teach in inclusive settings?” The goal of this study is to discover what areas teachers felt like they needed to build more proficiency in to successfully teach inclusion. The topics which will be explored include perceived preparedness for teaching in inclusive settings, ways to measure preparedness for teaching in inclusive settings, current ways teachers are being prepared to teach in inclusive settings and effective strategies for preparing teachers to teach in inclusive settings. After researching this topic, …

Teaching Science In Rural Elementary Schools: Affordances And Constraints In The Age Of Ngss, Doron Zinger, Judith Haymore Sandholtz, Cathy Ringstaff

The Rural Educator

Providing science instruction is an ongoing priority and challenge in elementary grades, especially in high-need rural schools. Nonetheless, few studies have investigated the factors that facilitate or limit teachers’ science instruction in these settings, particularly since the introduction of the Next Generation Science Standards. In this study we investigated affordances and constraints to elementary science instruction in high-need rural schools. Data sources included semi-structured interviews and survey responses from 49 teachers from 30 different rural schools. Through a primarily qualitative analysis, we identified four teacher reported categories of affordances and four categories of constraints to teaching science. One category of …

Becoming A Highly Effective Elementary Teacher And How To Support Teachers' Development, Tim Pressley, Riley Isom, Chalon Johnson, Amy Barnes, Laura Mcauliffe

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

As teachers enter the field of teaching, teachers look to continue to develop in order to become highly effective teachers as they are often less effective than teachers with at least some experience (Boyd et al., 2008; Ladd & Sorenson, 2017). This development may occur through the support of mentors, administration, professional development (PD), as well as through trial and error, with the most development occurring during the first several years of teaching (Koedel & Betts, 2007; Rice, 2003). However, not all teachers develop into effective teachers. Some aspects that may affect a teacher’s effectiveness are the classroom environment, instruction, …

The Impact Of Integrated Stem Education On Student Achievement In Magnet Schools, Holly Esquia Gerlach

Dissertations

In an ever-changing world, scientific advancement and innovation are critical in maintaining national security, economic competitiveness, and quality of life for our global society. Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education has been a priority within educational reforms for well over a decade. The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of integrated STEM education on student achievement results in English language arts, mathematics, and science. The single overarching question of this program evaluation is: Does integrated STEM education impact the achievement outcomes in reading, mathematics, and science for students in fourth and fifth grades? Related research questions …

Education For Children To Embrace Diversity In Japan, Eriha Tomita

International Programs

Japan needs to implement diversity education in elementary and middle schools to promote ethnic and racial awareness to help Japanese society become more tolerant and accepting of the growing international population in the country.

Exploring 3-5 Grade Teachers' Self-Efficacy With Inquiry-Based Science Instruction, Sarah Laden

Undergraduate Research Journal

From an early age, teachers should expose students to high-quality STEM education to allow them to explore and discover phenomena. In order to prepare students, teachers must be able to assist students and facilitate the inquiry process. Unfortunately, elementary teachers often have low self-efficacy regarding inquiry-based science and resort to instruction that is not supported by research. A survey was given to third through fifth grade teachers at a small, suburban, mid-western school district to measure their self-efficacy regarding inquiry-based science. The teachers responded to questions that asked them to rank themselves on several skills that are required to teach …

Combating Chronic Absenteeism In Rural Maine Elementary Schools, Joanne Dupuy

M.S.Ed. in Educational Leadership Research Projects

This quantitative study was designed to determine if there is a correlation between chronic absenteeism and student achievement and if increased teacher communication with positive messages around attendance would affect the rate of chronic absenteeism in rural elementary schools. Four schools were analyzed looking at attendance and achievement data while implementing a new attendance protocol that increased teacher communication and the spread of positive messaging in regards to attendance. Findings indicate there is evidence that those students who were chronically absent struggled academically to meet local and state benchmarks. Preliminary findings also indicate that the implementation of the new attendance …

Title I Schools And Strategies That Work, Michelle Manriquez

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify and describe the strategies principals of Title I schools perceived as most effective in improving English language arts (ELA) scores by at least 10 points, through the lens of WestEd’s Four Domains of Rapid School Improvement.

Methodology: This study utilized a qualitative methodology to gather data via the California Dashboard and semi-structured interviews of 11 principals from 11 different sites in northern California that showed at least 10-point growth on the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) standardized test. The interview questions were based on the Four Domains for Rapid School Improvement: …

The Effects Of Schema-Based Instruction On Solving Mathematics Word Problems, Scarlet Hughes, Joshua Cuevas Dr.

Georgia Educational Researcher

The purpose of this study was to investigate the frequency with which students use math word problem strategies during and after schema-based instruction. It examines the extent to which students increase their ability to correctly solve word problems. It compares students’ attitudes toward mathematics problem solving before and after schema-based instruction. The study was conducted in a resource class with seven second-grade students on individualized education programs (IEPs). A single-subject research design was used. The schema-based instruction was implemented by the special education teacher in a small group setting. Students showed an increase in attempted and correct strategy use during …

Innovations And Critical Issues In Teaching And Learning Volume 1, Issue 1, 2020

Innovations and Critical Issues in Teaching and Learning

Complete text of Innovations and Critical Issues In Teaching and Learning Volume 1, Issue 1, 2020.

Breaking Silence: The Voices Of Syrian Refugee Children In The Canadian Classroom, Sara Shahbazi, Alyssa Palazzolo, Geri Salinitri

Journal of Global Education and Research

The researchers in the study explored the lived experiences of Syrian refugee students in the Canadian classroom. The participant sample included four students who entered their first year in a South-western Ontario public school as of the 2015-2016 calendar year. Data were collected through one-on-one semi-structured interviews. Analysis of results indicated the District’s growing need for understanding refugee students using a holistic approach, utilizing and building peer relationships for language acquisition, and recognizing the effects of the structure of the learning environment on student experiences.

The Influence Of Visually Rich Technology On The Writing Process Of Elementary Students, Mikala Thomas, Drew Polly

Journal of Practitioner Research

This teacher inquiry project, conducted by an undergraduate teacher candidate with support from a faculty member, explored the use of visually rich technology and its influence on elementary school students’ motivation and learning outcomes in writing. Students used visually rich technology as part of the writing process. We found that when students used technology to support the writing process they showed incremental gains in motivation as well as gains in student learning outcomes. Implications for practitioners highlight a need for teachers to consider how visually rich technology can support students’ aspects of the writing process as well as development in …

Evaluating An Evidenced Based Program: Ruling Our Experiences (Rox) For 9/10-Year-Old Girls In The Yough School District, Lisa Mumau

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

During elementary school years, girls experience social, emotional, and physical changes that affect their abilities to manage relationships and establish positive images of themselves. Given the aforementioned issues, girls need effective elementary school programming to support positive self-esteem and the development of girls’ Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Competencies. The purpose of this mixed-method study focused on evaluating the Ruling Our Experiences (ROX) program for 9/10-year-old girls. The methods used were designed to address the three research questions: Based on the implementation of the ROX program in Yough elementary schools, to what extent do participants exhibit a greater level of positive …

Examining The Identities Of White Cisgender Female Elementary Education Pre-Service Teachers: A Qualitative Case Study, Kayla Schroeder

Masters Theses, 2020-current

Each year, elementary classrooms in the United States become increasingly culturally diverse, yet teachers of these classroom remain primarily White and female. While most teacher education programs require pre-service teachers to enroll in at least one course related to diversity education, many of these future educators do not feel adequately prepared to teach students who hold different identities or life experiences. In a qualitative analysis of class observations, participant submitted coursework, and individualized interviews, this case study sought to explore how four White cisgender female pre-service elementary teachers applied knowledge from one undergraduate diversity course to topics of identity, power, …

Mathematics Coaching, Professional Development, And Teacher Practice, Beth Downing

M.S.Ed. in Educational Leadership Research Projects

Recently, math coaching has begun to be utilized in pockets of communities throughout the country. Coaching is a strategy that can be used to provide on site, continual professional development in a specific area. Although it has been used in literacy for decades, it is new to the area of math. Therefore, research on the effect of math coaching has been limited. There have been a handful of initial studies investigating the relationship between math coaching and teacher knowledge or student achievement, but the results are often conflicting (Althuser, 2015; Killion, 2017; Kutaka et al., 2017; Obara, 2010).

By learning …

Restorative Practices, Asha Faith Goldberg

Transformations: Research Papers

Research consistently shows that suspensions are ineffective in addressing the root causes for behavior and inequities as students of color, students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, and students with dis/abilities repeatedly receive high rates of exclusionary punishments for their behaviors. Different schools have implemented Restorative Practices, an alternative discipline policy in response to the troubling data surrounding suspension disparities. This policy encourages students to collaboratively address their behavior and discuss ways that they can restore relationships within their community. Through observations and faculty interviews at an elementary school, salient information emerged on the policies' definitions, implementations, and critiques. The research question …

Teachers’ End-User Attitudes Toward The Implementation Of School-Based Social Networking Sites In K-8 Schools: An Extension Of The Technology Acceptance Model, Barak D. Stanley

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Advancement in technologies, such as smartphones and social networking sites (SNSs), are transforming traditional school-based communication in education. School-based SNSs are a web-based system that enables administrators and teachers to (1) create or join a semi-public online school community within a bounded system, (2) construct a virtual classroom with individual student profiles, or avatars, (3) invite parents and guardians to create a profile and link with their child’s profile, (4) and communicate with students, parents, and guardians about students’ school experiences using the classroom management and communication platform. ClassDojo, a school-based SNS, has over three million teachers and 35 million …

Mirrors Of Our Own: Multiracial Representation In Children’S Picture Books, Kiana Foster-Mauro

Honors Scholar Theses

The United States multiracial population is a fast-growing portion of our population. As the multiracial population grows, so does the need for multiracial representation within books. This study analyzed the representation of multiracial individuals in children’s picture books for ages newborn-8. I identified 75 board and picture books published in the United States between the years 2009 and 2019 that feature mixed race characters. The identified texts were analyzed in a critical content analysis using a framework based upon Critical Race Theory. Through this framework, I examined how multiracial characters in the texts are portrayed, the power dynamics, and what …

Finding Math Success District Wide: How Teaching Styles, Classroom Management, And A Positive Approach Can Help All Students, Melissa Meraz-Herrera

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This Capstone researched the methods a teacher could use in their classroom to increase math understanding and establish an encouraging learning environment. A second-grade teacher, Mrs. Meraz, was interviewed. She was known as a successful teacher for many aspects of students’ education. Some of those methods included using authoritative teaching, proper classroom management, and changing students’ perspectives about math, and the value of struggles students have while learning. The research stated positive outcomes in using authoritative teaching over other styles of teaching. The research showed that classroom management was vital in creating a positive learning environment. Several annual test scores …

Language Acquisition Vs Ethnic Identity: How Family Involvement Affects Heritage Language Maintenance, Lyndsy Cadet

Education Student Scholarship

Major: Elementary and Special Education
Minor: Spanish and Public and Community Service

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Ana Cecilia Iraheta, Foreign Language Studies

This project analyzes the relationship between ethnic identity and maintenance of a heritage language. Specifically, how the level of familiarity with the parent’s culture affects the acquisition of Spanish in first generation participants in the North-East region. The study has implications for participants and teachers. For participants, it is important to learn about their heritage culture to maintain their language skills to then pass down their history to future generations. For teachers, to promote the maintenance of a student’s …

Linguistic Attitudes About Bilingualism: Implications For Teachers And Administrators, Abigail Curry

Education Student Scholarship

Major: Elementary and Special Education
Minor: Spanish Minor

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Ana Cecilia Iraheta, Foreign Language Studies

This study was designed to assess the linguistic attitudes of bilingual students at Providence College. It was conducted from the perspective of a student researcher with a background on elementary and special education as well as Spanish. Overall, the participants exhibited a generally positive attitude about bilingualism, and there was a noticeable correlation between the celebration of bilingualism as a child and the celebration of bilingualism as a college student. The majority of participants also emphasized the importance of their bilingualism in a …

Using Robots To Promote Social And Emotional Learning, Maya Young, Claire Sullivan, Emma Hendricks

Education Student Scholarship

Claire Sullivan ’21
Major: Elementary and Special Education

Maya Young ’21
Major: Elementary and Special Education

Emma Hendricks ’21
Major: Elementary and Special Education

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Lin Zhang, Elementary and Special Education

Technology based interventions, such as computer programs and virtual reality, generally yield positive results when used with students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). It is speculated that these devices may be successful because of their novelty and because they do not require the student with ASD to be socially interactive with a person. This project builds on the existing body of research and uses Root robots to …

“From School Of Crisis To Distinguished”: Using Maslow's Hierarchy In A Rural Underperforming School, Molly H. Fisher, Ben Crawford

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education Faculty Publications

Despite conditions that would work against a small and rural school in an impoverish rural area of the United States, Fairway Elementary School has managed to excel in its accountability measures. Through interviews with faculty, staff, teachers, students, and parents of children at Fairway Elementary School a model was developed through the lens of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. It was found that a new administrator at the school started with the physiological needs of the children and are now working within the esteem stage of Maslow’s Hierarchy. Details from each stage of the hierarchy are provided as a promising practice …

Using Robots To Teach Mathematics To First-Grade Students: Preservice Teachers’ Perspectives, Alyssa Argila, Maryssa Leventhal

Transformations: Research Papers

Helping preservice teachers develop positive attitudes toward using new pedagogical practices requires engaging them in professional learning and teaching practice. In this study, 16 preservice teachers engaged in an intervention that focused on integrating robots to teach mathematics to a group of first-grade students. The mathematical tasks engaged first-grade students with concepts such as counting, addition, subtraction, and identifying patterns. After the teaching experience, the preservice teachers responded to five open-ended questions that elicited their perceptions of using robots to teach mathematics to first-grade students. We conducted qualitative content analysis of teachers’ responses to identify common trends regarding teaching mathematics …

Juxtaposing Primary- And Intermediate-Elementary Trade Books’ Historical Representation Of Amelia Earhart, Rachael A. Burkhardt

The Councilor: A National Journal of the Social Studies

Amelia Earhart can be used in the classroom not only to interest students but can also be used to cover Common Core State Standards (CCSS), National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) framework, and Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). When teaching Amelia Earhart, textbooks, trade books, and primary sources can be used, however one must be careful with the misrepresentations each resource can portray. To look at what is misrepresented, omitted, and included within primary and intermediate grade level trade books, 32 books were scrutinized. The trade books being analyzed were found to have some historically representative and misrepresentative elements …