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Full-Text Articles in Liberal Studies

Benefits Of Promoting College Awareness For Low Income Middle And High School Students, Jenna N. Kroboth Dec 2016

Benefits Of Promoting College Awareness For Low Income Middle And High School Students, Jenna N. Kroboth

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The disadvantages that low-income students face in today’s society make it difficult for them to move on to a post-secondary education. Since higher education is no longer for the elite few and the number of students attending colleges and universities is rapidly increasing, all students need the necessary resources to prepare for a college ready future. In order to reach low-income students and close the learning gap between low, middle, and upper income peers, there will be a need for college awareness programs in the high poverty areas. This capstone examines the barriers low-income students face and how these college …


Implementing Arts-Integrated Lessons Through Auto-Ethnography To Improve Teacher Collaboration, Richard M. Romero Jr Dec 2016

Implementing Arts-Integrated Lessons Through Auto-Ethnography To Improve Teacher Collaboration, Richard M. Romero Jr

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

By utilizing the auto-ethnographical approach to writing in the creatively structured format of an arts-integrated exercise that is project-based, this study analyzes qualitative responses made by one administrator and three in-service teachers. By retroactively highlighting students’ epiphanies of musical memories (see Appendix D) while also integrating Common-Core and State Standards into its structural design, it produced an activity that was extremely challenging for fifth-grade students but also may hold potential for growth in writing skills and self-knowledge especially as it relates to the practice of teacher self-study. This approach may be utilized in classrooms in the future, but any integration …


Benefits Of Counseling Services For Elementary School Students, Sarah D. Fuentes Dec 2016

Benefits Of Counseling Services For Elementary School Students, Sarah D. Fuentes

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The aim of this capstone study was to identify how elementary school counseling services benefits students, academically and emotionally. The interest in this study was a yearning to gain deeper insight into elementary school counseling and how their services impacts students. Through research and field study it has proven that elementary school counseling has been beneficial for young students. Understanding the role of the elementary school counselor is vital to comprehend the services school counselors provide. The collaboration counselors have with teachers, administration, parents and most importantly, the students, reflect how beneficial the counseling sessions are and the conflicts that …


Using Minecraft To Integrate Common Core Activities Across Elementary School Curriculum, William A J Couling Dec 2016

Using Minecraft To Integrate Common Core Activities Across Elementary School Curriculum, William A J Couling

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Minecraft, an open world sandbox game rich with educational possibility, has been a growing sensation among elementary age children across the US. Though there has been some experimentation in a number of schools across the United States, there has been no mass movement to embracing Minecraft as a virtual learning environment. With advances in the fields of Virtual Learning Environments and the new wave of educational thinking known as the “Maker Movement,” the modern educational field has an opportunity for radical new ways of teaching. Using an elementary school as a model in the Monterey Bay area, I surveyed a …


Elementary Teaching Strategies For Lgbtq Inclusion, Nicole E. Cox May 2016

Elementary Teaching Strategies For Lgbtq Inclusion, Nicole E. Cox

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

It is the responsibility of teachers to create a classroom environment that is both inclusive and validating to the identities of students and their families. This capstone project explores how teachers can create this environment for students and families that are a part of the LGBTQ community. Because of the discrimination that presents itself through bullying based on LGBTQ identities, and the lack of LGBTQ representation within classroom lessons, there is a need for a higher quantity and quality of resources for teachers to create these inclusive environments, specifically in elementary schools. To assess our local community, teacher interviews were …


Bullying And Development, Caitlin O'Hare May 2016

Bullying And Development, Caitlin O'Hare

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This capstone project looks into the developmental aspects behind bullying. Cyberbullying, suicide and long term effects are presented along with how schools have been handling bullying within the classroom. Adding a personal touch, to show a prime example of how one can overcome substantial obstacles and see the light at the end of the tunnel. This project also looks in depth of the effects of cyberbullying as it has increased over the years with the strong use of technology. Additional information was gathered by conducting an interview with teachers from a Bay Area elementary school along with a high school …


Arts Integration: The Missing Link, Samuel G. Cochran May 2016

Arts Integration: The Missing Link, Samuel G. Cochran

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Many of our K-12 schools have experienced various challenges in order to narrow the achievement gap that addresses academic improvement for all students. Arts integration offers a foundation for learning that can improve student achievement. Teaching academic content through the arts provides students with opportunities to engage in 21st Century skills that promote critical thinking, collaboration, creativeness and communication. This project examines how arts integration can improve student learning outcomes and how teacher preparedness and ongoing support contributes to it being an effective framework for educators. The researcher was able to conduct observations and interviews with teachers and write and …


Bringing Curriculum Outdoors: Implementing Gardening Outdoors, Nicole Aboujaoude Apr 2016

Bringing Curriculum Outdoors: Implementing Gardening Outdoors, Nicole Aboujaoude

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Traditional public schools are not always giving students access to opportunities to experience innovative approaches to learning like garden-based education. Garden-based education uses the garden in everyday curriculum as well as giving students the opportunity to experience hands-on learning. An outdoor garden can be a tool in promoting outdoor education and positive peer relationships. Through interviews with teachers from the garden program and surveys with students who participate in this program, this Capstone examines the benefits of taking the curriculum outdoors and implementing garden-based education. Students and teachers showed high remarks when taking the curriculum outside in the garden. Having …