Elementary Education Commons^™

Reducing Barriers To Entry: Enhancing Inclusivity And Engagement In Elementary School Extracurricular Programs, Katie A. Monahan

Education Doctorate Dissertations

This mixed-methods action research study explores the barriers and strategies related to developing inclusive extracurricular programs in an urban elementary school. Through stakeholder surveys, interviews, and archival data, the study investigates how extracurricular activities support student engagement, social-emotional learning (SEL), and a sense of belonging, particularly for students from marginalized backgrounds.

Findings highlight persistent barriers, including funding limitations, staffing shortages, logistical challenges, and the absence of a centralized system for tracking participation. These issues disproportionately impact students with disabilities, English Language Learners (ELLs), and those from low-income households. The study also identifies key supports, such as community partnerships and culturally …

K-12 Special Education In The South: Where Are We And Where Should We Be Going?, Jack G. Walker

Honors Theses

Throughout the past century, special education has undergone significant transformation and increasing accessibility to those who need it. However, persistent challenges remain. Some of these challenges include but are not limited to teachers still challenged with job stress and paperwork overload, schools faced with lack of funding for the program, and the lack of importance seen by administration on close relationships with parents of said students. These problems can affect all involved and especially the students who deserve the best education experience they can receive. The purpose of this thesis is to look into what has gotten policymakers to where …

The Bluey Effect: Using The Children’S Cartoon To Connect Social-Emotional Learning And Core Content In The Classroom, Marra Becker

Undergraduate Theses

In recent years, there has been a push for incorporating SEL, or social-emotional learning, into the classroom. As important as this movement is, many teachers have expressed concerns about their ability to intentionally address SEL concepts during the school day. This stems from a lack of time, accessible SEL programs, and training for teachers and staff. During this time, studies have also shown that as students go through school into higher education, rates of engagement tend to drop significantly. This has only increased after the COVID-19 pandemic. One way to address both of these challenges is to create a way …

Teaching About Bodily Autonomy In The Early Childhood Classroom, Alaina Foster

Honors Projects

Research and evidence-based practices for the need to implement instructional materials in regard to elementary bodily autonomy and childhood sexual assault prevention education in the general education classroom.

Efficiency Versus Quality: A Reflection On Making A Children’S Book, Elizabeth Diehl

Honors Projects

When first looking at a children’s book, it appears to be a simple creative project. However, when one finds out the components that go into making one, it becomes clear that simplicity is deceiving. Research, ideation, rough drafts, and scripts are just a few of the necessary components for the finished product, and each one of these components can take multiple days or weeks to complete. This essay is a reflection on my experience of creating a picture book in one semester as I attempt to answer the questions “What if the most efficient process for creating a children's picture …

Teacher Training: An Investment In The Future Of Literacy Education, Kellie J. Hooper-Bressler

Wellspring: A Practitioner-Oriented Journal of Literacy and Language Education

One teacher's reflection on the professional development afforded by Reading Recovery coursework received thirty years ago in comparison to current explicit training in Science of Reading leads to conclusions about teacher training practices. The paper suggests not only is explicit foundational reading instruction essential for all new teachers, but continued investment at the school level improves the capacity of the district to meet the needs of students, including struggling readers, while also retaining future educators.

Clarifying Background Knowledge - Understandings And Practices That Scaffold Comprehension, Justin M. Stygles

Wellspring: A Practitioner-Oriented Journal of Literacy and Language Education

Background Knowledge is a hot topic, though not new to our understanding of reading and comprehension. Background knowledge is more than just knowing facts and a scaffold to comprehension. What kinds of background knowledge students posses has a significant impact on their ability to interact with text cognitively and viscerally. What happens when they don't have the necessary background knowledge? Students must learn to clarify to acquire new knowledge that becomes the background knowledge for future literacy endeavors.

Increasing Executive Functioning Skills To Focus Attention: Setting Aside Distracting Thoughts, Sarah G. Young

Wellspring: A Practitioner-Oriented Journal of Literacy and Language Education

Distracting thoughts can disrupt learning. While some interrupting thoughts are helpful or relevant to the activity, others interfere with learning. Some students find it challenging to put aside distracting thoughts to concentrate on their studies. I invented a strategy to support executive functioning skill development and assist students in setting aside distracting thoughts so they can focus. Anyone can benefit from this easy-to-use technique called "No, thanks. Not right now."

A Qualitative Hermeneutic Phenomenological Analysis Of Educator Perspectives On The Benefits Of Multisensory Instruction In Elementary Classrooms, April L. Tinoco

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of elementary teachers who have implemented multisensory instruction within their teaching practices, specifically in northern East Coast Florida kindergarten through third-grade classrooms. Multisensory strategies that use human senses are being looked at through teachers’ perceptions of this practice and how they influence student learning. The theory guiding this study is Shapiro’s embodied cognition theory (2019), which is based on the principle that cognitive processes are enhanced through learning that occurs because of interactions between the body and the environment. The central research question guiding this study is: …

Teachers' Experiences Of Assessing Elementary Students: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study, Brittany Nicole Dawson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative transcendental phenomenological study examines teachers’ experiences assessing elementary students in Southeastern North Carolina. This study is based on constructivist theory. Constructivism, with its collaborative founders, is a theory that focuses on the learner making meaning based on their experiences. This theory, though considered a learning theory, is imperative to this study as it helps to frame how educators make meaning from their experiences of assessing elementary students. The theory’s tenets create a guide for the mission of the study and form the research questions to be addressed. This is a qualitative phenomenological study. A qualitative design is based …

Exploring Teacher Knowledge In Meeting The Expectations Of Integrated Content Language Development In Mathematics: A Descriptive Case Study, Carrissa Rozelaar-Miller

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this descriptive case study was to discover how knowledge is applied to meet the expectations of integrated content and language development in mathematics for Title I elementary teachers at an urban school district in the central United States. Halliday’s theory on systemic functional linguistics guided the research as it relates to the function and purpose of language through meaning and social interaction in different genres. The central research question was: How do Title I elementary teachers apply specific integrated content and language development knowledge in mathematics? The participants consisted of 10 teachers with at least three years …

Using Trade Books To Thematically Teach Civil Rights Issues, Alyssa Whitford, Timothy Lintner, Caroline Sheffield

The Councilor: A National Journal of the Social Studies

This semester-long project examined the use of social studies trade books to thematically teach the civic contributions of three individuals who served as change agents in the United States during the late 19^th and early 20^th century. Two were African American men, Robert Smalls and Frederick Douglass, who took civic action to address racial discrimination faced by the Black community following the U.S. Civil War. The other was Ida B. Wells who challenged social inequities and injustices within her community. Throughout this project, sixth-grade students read selected trade books, examined primary sources, completed graphic organizers, and crafted writing …

Artifact Investigation As An Access Point To Doing Social Studies, Jacquelyn R. Benchik-Osborne, Susan Mcdonough

The Councilor: A National Journal of the Social Studies

Social studies methods coursework at two Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) emphasizes providing access to rigorous social science education for all. Teacher candidates (TCs) learn to design equitable opportunities for students in the elementary and middle level classrooms to engage in inquiry–to do social studies. One tool social scientists use to “do” their work is artifact investigation. Artifacts, such as historical photographs and primary sources, help students connect with cultural and historical contexts. Using digital artifacts from the Library of Congress (LOC), TCs create opportunities for students to explore social dynamics, identity formation, power structures, and community development through cultural realia. …

Literacy Alive: Kdp Makes An Impact On Our Local Community, Briana N. Mata, Macie R. Wright, Elizabeth Price, Caleigh E. Hauser

Student Scholar Showcase

Literacy is a foundational skill that impacts every aspect of a child's academic success and future opportunities. However, many children face barriers to literacy development, including limited access to culturally relevant books, literacy support, and positive community engagement. Research shows that when children see themselves and their cultures reflected in literature, they are more likely to engage with reading, which can lead to higher literacy achievement and a greater sense of belonging (Bishop, 1990; Ladson-Billings, 1995).

The University of Lynchburg’s chapter of Kappa Delta Pi (KDP) is committed to addressing these challenges by organizing Literacy Alive! events that connect university …

Supporting Elementary Educators Through A Nervous System Regulation And Social-Emotional Learning Skills Workshop Intervention: An Musc Capstone Project, Lily Morgan

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

Teachers have a great influence on developing children’s emotional intelligence, regulatory capacity, and occupational engagement. These professionals also happen to report some of the highest rates of stress, mental health challenges (Agyapong, B. et al, 2022), and burnout (Xie, M., et al, 2022). Providing teachers with education and support on nervous system regulation, social-emotional learning skills, and related topics can improve their ability to manage job stress, enhance modeling and interactions with students, and improve their quality of life. This project aimed to enhance knowledge, provide access to resources, and serve to support elementary educators at an inner-city school in …

The Impact Of A Sel-Based School Transition Readiness Program For Fifth Grade Students, Abigail V. Hall, Cynthia Haynes, Trish Chialastri

Spring 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium

This poster presents a study that developed and evaluated a Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) based educational program designed to support fifth-grade students transitioning to middle school. This program targeted five key SEL skills: Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social-Awareness, Relationship Skills, and Responsible Decision-Making. The study aimed to improve students' occupational performance and self-perceived skill sets while also expanding knowledge on the role of OT with a psychosocial emphasis. The research addresses the gap in knowledge regarding SEL-based interventions for supporting students during critical educational transitions.

What Does It Mean To Be A Mentor? Perceptions Of Mentor Teachers In A Mentoring Program, Karen M. Powell

Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative case study is to describe a district-wide, new teacher induction and mentoring program in one metropolitan public elementary school in Georgia. Based on the literature reviewed, there is a lack of research on the effects of mentoring programs in elementary schools, and specifically the effects of mentoring on the mentor teacher. Research questions are: (1) How do mentor teachers experience an induction and mentoring program? (2) What meaning do mentor teachers ascribe to their role in new teacher induction? Data was collected from four mentor teachers through a background survey and individual interviews during the …

Scaling Promising Education Initiatives Locally & Around The World, Brad Olsen

Brookings Scholar Lecture Series

As part of the Brookings Scholar Lecture Series, Brookings Mountain West presents a lecture titled, "Scaling Promising Education Initiatives Locally & Around the World" by Brookings senior fellow in global economy and development, Brad Olsen.

What does it mean to scale a promising education innovation or initiative throughout a location? Why is “scaling” a useful approach for education improvement? What is the current state of scaling in education—and how can it be leveraged to better support schools, teachers, learners, communities, and the transformation of whole education systems in the U.S. and around the world? Brad Olsen, senior fellow at the …

Critical Language Awareness For Spanish-English Bilingual 5th Graders, Mary Hudgens Henderson

Journal of Multilingual Education Research

Critical Language Awareness (CLA) instruction can and should be a part of K-12 education. This study reports on a CLA unit taught to Spanish-English bilingual 5^th graders enrolled in a dual language bilingual classroom in the southwest U.S. Scores from a pretest and three posttests administered throughout the school year were compared to peer bilingual and monolingual 5^th graders in an English-only classroom who did not participate in CLA instruction. A Mixed ANOVA repeated measures analysis found that bilingual students in the dual language bilingual classroom had high levels of CLA knowledge both before and after participating in …

The Use Of Evidence-Based Behavior Practices In The General Education Classroom: A Comparison Of Teacher Perception And Implementation, Casey L. Horvath

Education Doctorate Dissertations

This study investigated the perceptions and beliefs of four general education kindergarten teachers regarding their use of evidence-based behavior practices compared to their observed implementation of those practices. Classroom observations were conducted to collect data regarding teachers use of “honey” (positive, evidence-based practices) as compared to their use of “vinegar” (negative comments, redirections, etc.). Teacher interviews were also conducted to examine teacher perceptions, and the data was compared to determine if perceptions matched reality. Teachers reported being familiar with almost all 20 behavior practices included in the study and stated they used more than half. However, teachers were directly observed …