Elementary Education Commons^™

Environmental Print: From Context To Comprehension, Alexandra E. Hinkel

Lewis Honors College Capstone Collection

The purpose of this research is to further our understanding of the role played by environmental print in the literacy development of emergent readers. Environmental print is defined as any print that can be seen in public such as logos, signs, products names and billboards. One of the main things we already know about environmental print is that it helps young children understand that the words in print mean something, or that some message is communicated through them. This connection is crucial to developing early literacy skills. This research identifies young readers’ abilities to recognize these words out of context …

Analyzing Children's Literature Awards, Literary Criteria, And District Demographics To Create A Diverse And Inclusive Elementary School Classroom Library, Casey L. Lavallee

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Future elementary school teachers are tasked with the responsibility to ensure that the children in their classrooms have access to high quality books every day. This can be accomplished by building classroom libraries with titles that are not only of high literary quality but are also inclusive of the students in the classroom as well as the people these children will encounter outside of the classroom. Children should be able to see themselves represented in the literature they read, and they should also be able to develop empathy for people who are different than they are. Diverse literature can have …

Critical Coaching: Approaching Literacy Coaching Through A Critical Lens, Melissa Wells

Education Faculty Articles

Based in critical theory, this qualitative case study explored how a new genre of literacy coaching, called critical coaching, developed and what outcomes it produced. The researcher (a literacy coach) built a critical coaching partnership with an early childhood teacher, and two findings emerged: (1) self-reflection occurred through defining educators’ identities as cultural beings, as well as by naming and challenging assumptions; and (2) taking action occurred through critical networks, advocacy in public spaces, and planning culturally relevant pedagogy. Implications include seven essential conditions for building critical coaching partnerships.

Focused Video Reflections In Concert With Practice-Based Structures To Support Elementary Teacher Candidates In Learning To Teach Science, Julianne A. Wenner, Julie Kittleson

Curriculum, Instruction, and Foundational Studies Faculty Publications and Presentations

Recommendations for science education, including elementary education, highlight instructional practices such as using discussion to promote deep understandings of science. A task facing science teacher educators is to craft instruction to support teacher candidates (TCs) to develop skills that will encourage such practices in classrooms. In 2011, we developed and implemented a class activity —the Supported, Collaborative Teaching Model (SCTM)—to focus TCs’ attention on key aspects of science teaching. The SCTM, which is designed around the idea that practical experience is critically important to teacher education, involves having TCs teach science to elementary students in three different grade levels three …

An Exploration Of Research And Resources Related To Aphasia: Creating A Resource Guide, Lexie Anne Velez Diaz

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The purpose of educators is to aid their students as they develop as their own individuals. Only through education can individuals grow to become the best version of themselves, in and out of the classroom. It is crucial for educators to be aware of the many different learners in the world, so teachers are prepared for any exceptional student that enters their classroom. That is why it is so important to educate oneself on the many exceptionalities and circumstances students are facing. Encompassed within the 13 disabilities identified in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA, 1975), are sub categories …

An Exploration Of Elementary Student Responses To The Interest Inventory For Informational Texts Based On The Teacher Disposition Delivery, Alison Elk

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The impact that a teacher can have on their students is monumental. Teachers often are the only consistent figure of authority that a student sees. Therefore, a vulnerable and conformable environment is crucial for students, so they can share their needs and in return have them met. With this in mind, teachers must consider forming their classroom environment, because of how it is received by the students. This study examined the impact that a teacher’s disposition can have on the response of a student through a six-question interview by analyzing the number of words spoken by the students depending on …

An Exploration Of Representations Of Race And Ethnicity In Three Transitional Series For Young Children, Sonia M. Balkaran

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This thesis seeks to explore the related research literature surrounding representations and portrayals of protagonists of various multicultural backgrounds in series or transitional books. As teachers, it is essential to acknowledge the lack of multicultural characters in children's literature among elementary classroom bookshelves and learn how to incorporate literature featuring strong main characters of varying races and ethnicities so that children can see role models who mirror their own contexts. Prior studies, such as Gangi (2008) and Green and Hopenwasser (2017) have examined the deficiency of multicultural literature in the classroom, particularly among transitional stories, which shows the importance of …

Using Community Volunteers To Help Struggling Readers In Kindergarten, Tamara L. Lindblom

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

It can be difficult to help struggling kindergarten students learn pre-reading skills with limited resources. Trained community volunteers can make an impact on student literacy learning while forming positive relationships with students as they deliver a prescribed curriculum. This project explores the value of Professional Learning Communities (PLC), school and district support, the use of collaboration time, intervention, pre-reading essential standards, community support and PLC self-assessment. A handbook designed to assist in organizing effective interventions for the teacher or tutor is presented. This manual includes the role of professional learning communities in literacy tutoring; in developing essential standards, assessments and …

Effects Of Collaborative Teaching Evaluation Process On Teacher/Administrator Collegiality, Gary A. Storts Jr.

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The job of the professional educator is becoming ever more complex. Research has shown that effective teacher evaluation processes and collegial relationships between the teacher and the principal both positively impact student achievement. This study investigates how a collaborative teacher evaluation process effects collegiality between the teacher and the site administrator. Four teachers who had experienced both traditional and collaborative reviews in a small rural school district in Northern California were interviewed to assess the impact that a collaborative evaluation had on their professional relationship with their principal.

The results of this research confirmed that teaching evaluations, however they are …

Comparing Primary And Lntermediate Elementary Trade Books’ Historical Representation Of George Washington, Maria Anita Penn

Masters Theses

As teachers learn to adjust to the Common Core State Standards, they are left with little to no time for subjects like science and social studies. History is slowly falling by the wayside in elementary classrooms across the country, including the studies of the people who helped shape our nation. This study analyzes a data sample of 32 primary and intermediate level trade books about George Washington, our first president, in search of patterns and misrepresentations. Within the findings, patterns of omission and spiraling were seen across the board. This study allows teachers to see the importance of teaching history …

Inquiry-Based Methods In The International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program Art Room, Andrew Bell

Theses and Dissertations

The International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program [IB PYP] is a student-driven, inquiry-based elementary school level educational program that has grown rapidly in the United States since its creation in 1997. This study explores how IB PYP art teachers define and implement inquiry-based instructional methods in their art rooms through a nation-wide, online survey of art teachers, coordinators, and administrators. The Survey consists of 22 questions which ask respondents to describe their classroom practices and provide examples of how they make use of inquiry-based methods in the art room. The responses to this survey were then value coded for four different …

Small Group Reading Instruction For English Language Learners In Grades 3-5, Emily Peters

All Graduate Projects

This project highlights best practices for small reading group instruction for third through fifth grade English language learners in the general education classroom. By completing a literature review, a journal article was developed to report the pros and cons of heterogeneous and homogeneous groupings for reading instruction. Data from the National Assessment for Educational Progress (NAEP) and the OSPI Report Card were used to discuss a need to raise student reading proficiency scores.

Stem Shift Action Plan, Nancy L. Ledbetter

Transformations

That there is an ever-growing need for students to enter STEM fields is no longer news. The need for people to fill STEM related jobs continues to expand (Bybee, 2013). Today’s students are global citizens who will need to collaborate and communicate with people around the world when they enter the workforce. Therefore, it is imperative that they are prepared with problem-solving, critical thinking, and communication skills before they enter secondary school (Myers & Berkowicz, 2015). Knowing that this must be done is the easy part, figuring out how to do it is the challenge. STEM must be incorporated into …

The Restaurant Study, Jessica Charles

All Faculty and Staff Papers and Presentations

Bank Street faculty and staff regularly work in partnership with public schools to support teachers and leaders sustain and strengthen their progressive educational practice. At Midtown West, a public elementary school founded in 1992 as a collaboration between parents in New York City’s District 2 and Bank Street faculty, Peggy McNamara has worked as a coach and thought partner with teachers across every grade.

Over the course of developing and teaching one signature Midtown West curriculum unit called The Restaurant, we followed Peggy and the teachers as they made teaching decisions to engage and educate students through a study of …

Teacher Perceptions And Effects Of Sustained Silent Reading On Measures Of Academic Progress Scores, Elaina Eddy

Undergraduate Research Journal

Sustained Silent Reading is reading silently for an amount of time in a distraction free environment. Sustained Silent Reading is an important attribute for literacy development. If students read daily and learn to enjoy it, they will become lifelong readers, which leads to improvement in many skills. However, reading instruction varies in schools. Many schools use incentive based approaches to reading. This practice teaches children to read for a prize, instead of reading to read. Many struggling students are assigned to read in isolation or assigned to finish homework during reading time. This method leaves struggling readers with little time …

Stem Certification In Georgia’S Schools: A Causal Comparative Study Using The Georgia Student Growth Model, David E. Proudfoot, Ed.D., Michael Green, Ph.D., Jan W. Otter, Ph.D., David L. Cook, Ed.D.

Georgia Educational Researcher

The increase in demand for college and career ready students has driven the need for education reform to ensure K–12 schools can support student learning across all content areas and grade levels. A STEM Certification process was established by the Georgia Department of Education as part of an effort to reform public school STEM education. Additionally, an international STEM Certification procedure developed by AdvancED has been implemented in several Georgia schools. As a significant component of STEM certification guidelines, problem based learning has been incorporated to stimulate student interest in science, facilitate self-regulation, and increase pedagogical and content knowledge. As …

An Exploration Of Song As A Strategy To Engage Elementary Students During Social Studies Lessons, Morgan Rome

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to explore how curriculum-related songs provide an engaging atmosphere for elementary students learning social studies concepts. The investigation done for this thesis examines the resources available to teachers in terms of songs to be used for pedagogical engagement of social studies lessons. Through research and video analyzations it can be concluded that students are overall intrigued by the usage of songs in their social studies lessons. During the social studies lessons observed in the video analyzations, the elementary students are focused, exhibit positive body language, participate, and have fun. Since engagement is documented within …

An Examination Of Perceptions And Intentions Of Preservice Educators In Title I Settings, Annemarie Bazzo Kaczmarczyk

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

With the shifting demographics of our nation and increased vacancies in schools, teacher preparation programs must equip teachers to work with today's culturally, academically, racially, and economically (CARE) diverse student population effectively. University-based teacher preparation programs are called to examine the steps taken and experiences provided to develop effective teachers to work with CARE students and fill vacancies, specifically in Title I schools. Preservice teachers, 15 total, participated in this qualitative study examining the perceptions and intentions of PSTs who were exposed to course content and field experiences that focused on Title I and CARE students. The PSTs were placed …

“From School Of Crisis To Distinguished”: How One School Continues To Defeat The Odds, Ben Crawford

Theses and Dissertations--Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education

Despite conditions that would work against a small rural school in an impoverish area of rural Kentucky, Fairway Elementary School has managed to excel in its accountability measures. This study used a mixed-methods approach with data collected through interviews and MAP student growth scores in reading and mathematics. Five themes emerged from the qualitative data regarding school success: (1) a well-organized intervention system, (2) a focus on and overall enjoyment of the discipline of mathematics, (3) involvement of parents in school functions, (4) transparency of needs and organization of resources, and (5) an overall school culture that is competitive, impactful, …

Physical Educator Perceptions Of Professional Development: A Phenomenological Study, Eric T. Moore

Theses and Dissertations--Education Sciences

The objective of this study was to explore the perceptions physical educators had of a phenomenon: professional development (PD). Specifically, the study sought to understand the following question: how do physical educators perceive PD? Said in the spirit of phenomenological research, this study aimed to explore the lived experience of PD from the perspective of elementary physical education teachers. Subsequent research questions included: (a) How do physical educators perceive PD in relation to their physical education program’s role in public health?; (b) What perceptions, including potential barriers and facilitators, do physical educators have of PD?; and (c) In what ways …