Elementary Education Commons^™

Early Stem Engagement For Kindergartners, Ashley G. Rocha Rocha

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

There is a lack of age-appropriate exposure to STEM subjects among most children within the same age range; moreover, they don’t have any age-appropriate hands-on exposure, which could lead to learning these subjects. Without this kind of lookout in students, they can potentially lose their interest in learning these things as they enter new years of school every year. These kinds of learning experiences in the early years of education are important as they help students develop skills related to their curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking as it begins expanding, which are essential aspects required for their future developmental phase. …

Enhancing Kindergarten Readiness, Aileen Z. Chavarin-Beleche

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Many parents of young children are unaware of successful ways to prepare their child for Kindergarten. Without preparation, children might struggle in their daily academics and fall behind their peers. Parents who learn more about Kindergarten readiness are more likely to create structured learning environments and help their child build skills to successfully transition to Kindergarten. In order to address this need, I have created a one-hour presentation for parents of children attending the Cabrillo College Children Center and Lab School in Aptos, California.

Benefits Of Being Bilingual On The Academic Success Of The Spanish-Speaking English Language Learners, Shary Vaca

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Reframing bilingualism as an academic asset rather than a limitation, this senior capstone research project examines how bilingualism supports the academic success of Spanish-speaking English language learners (ELLs) in early education within California’s diverse and growing Hispanic student population. Using a combination of literature reviews, teacher interviews, and surveys from former English language learners, the findings indicate that bilingualism is one of three key benefits for English language learners: enhancing communication skills, strengthening critical thinking, and increasing language competence. In addition, bilingual students demonstrate a unique ability to collaborate effectively, think flexibly across languages, and transfer linguistic knowledge to support …

Benefits Of Contemporary Literature On Literacy And Cognitive Development In Elementary School Students, Autumn R. Hemenway

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The purpose of this capstone research project is to examine the benefits of contemporary literature on the literacy and cognitive development of elementary school students. Contemporary literature includes modern texts that reflect diverse experiences, identities, and real-life issues that students can relate to. This study reviews academic articles and interviews with elementary school teachers and school librarians to explore how these resources influence vocabulary development, reading comprehension, student engagement, and critical thinking. The findings indicated that contemporary literature supports literacy growth by increasing student motivation and connection to reading, while also promoting cognitive development through interpretation, perspective taking, and deeper …

Technology-Supported Literacy Instruction In Elementary Classrooms (K-5): Perspectives Of Student Teachers In Western Kentucky, Ila B. Shirrell

Honors College Theses

The use of technology in elementary classrooms (kindergarten–fifth grade) has increased significantly with the goal of enhancing instruction. Additionally, educational technology is being used to improve literacy skills, reading recovery, and comprehension. This study examined how technology supports literacy development and instruction in elementary classrooms by drawing upon the perspectives of current student teachers. Student teachers from Murray State University, placed in third through fifth grade classrooms in Western Kentucky, were interviewed. The interviews assessed how technology was used for literacy instruction, including the extent of its effectiveness and potential challenges. Responses were transcribed and analyzed. The themes of evidence-based …

Making Sense Of The Faith-Based School’S Mission: An Instrumental Case Study Exploring How The School’S Espoused Mission Is Enacted, Richard Mingerink

Dissertations

What happens in the space between a school’s espoused mission and the enactment of that mission in the classroom? For faith-based schools—institutions whose very identity rests upon a religiously grounded purpose—this question is not merely technical but existential. While these schools publicly espouse missions centered on a religious faith, research consistently suggests that what is proclaimed on paper is not always what is practiced in classrooms. The persistent gap between espoused mission and enacted practice raises a critical question: how do educators actually make sense of their school’s religious mission, and how does that sensemaking shape what they do?

This …

Comparing Two Emergent Literacy Screeners: The Reading House And Star Early Literacy In A Florida Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (Vpk) Program, Jaime D. Swenbeck

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Sensory Processing Disorder On Elementary-Aged Students In The Classroom And Proper Teacher Responses, Sophia Slater

Senior Honors Theses

Sensory processing disorder (SPD) is when an individual cannot correctly process an incoming stimulus from the surrounding environment. This is prevalent in young children as they are beginning to learn about the world around them. Their inability to properly process information through their senses affects their daily lives and creates a challenge for them. There are also co-occurrences of SPD with both autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactive disorder. Since most of a child’s time is spent in the classroom, it is imperative that teachers understand the disorder and proper strategies to assist these students as they learn. Occupational …

The Effectiveness Of Utilizing An Arts-Integrated Approach With Students With Ieps In Grades K–5 Self-Contained Classrooms And Why An Arts-Integrated Approach Is Not Widely Implemented In The United States, Alexandra Leff

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines arts integration as an approach for K–5 students with IEPs. Drawing on research from Western and non-Western and data from two programs, it shows gains in academic achievement and social-emotional learning. Despite cultural and systemic barriers, findings support expanding arts integration through teacher training and policy reform.

Piloting A Pediatric Screener For Assessing Emergent Literacy With Preschool Children, Nafia Sarhadi

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Developing Empathy And Social Awareness Through Anti-Bullying Education, Alma Garcia-Peralta

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Children in Elementary School have not yet developed effective emotional awareness and social skills. Bullying behavior often occurs when a child cannot clearly express their feelings, does not understand others perspective, and interacts with others in a disrespectful way. Children who have not been taught these skills may have difficulty recognizing how their behavior affects others or responding appropriately in social situations. When children are taught about their emotions and are given opportunities to develop and practice social skills, they are more likely to demonstrate empathy, build positive peer relationships, and reduce the likelihood of engaging in bullying behaviors. To …

Prospects And Challenges Of Parental Involvement In Literacy Development In Children, Anela Mendoza

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Parental involvement in children’s literacy development has long been considered a pivotal component in increasing student literacy skills and benefiting the overall achievement of students. However, many parents face challenges in participating in their children’s literacy education, as evidenced by studies showing a decrease in parental involvement in at-home literacy activities in recent years. This senior capstone research project examines the prospects and challenges of parental involvement in literacy development through a literature review and a study conducted through anonymous parent and teacher surveys. The findings reveal that parental involvement in literacy development positively affects their children’s academic and social …

From Consejos To College: A Dual-Perspective Study Of Latino/A Parental Involvement In Elementary Education, Maritza Valencia

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Latino/a students represent one of the fastest-growing populations in U.S. schools, yet significant disparities in academic attainment persist. While parental involvement is widely recognized as a critical factor in student success, the literature has disproportionately focused on secondary and postsecondary contexts, leaving the elementary years, when foundational habits, skills, and aspirations are formed, unexplored. Furthermore, existing research frequently frames Latino/a parental involvement through deficit lenses that highlight barriers such as language limitations and socioeconomic constraints, rather than focusing on the cultural strengths and strategies families employ.

This qualitative study addresses this gap by examining how Latino/a parental involvement during elementary …

The Influence Of Intervention Strategies On Students With Disabilities Who Exhibit Challenging Behaviors In Rural Public Schools: Teacher Perceptions, Ben B. Robertson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This phenomenological qualitative study addressed rural teachers' perceptions of the influence of intervention strategies on students with disabilities who exhibit challenging behaviors. The purpose of this study was to examine teachers’ perceptions of the effect of intervention strategies on academic achievement, student behavior outcomes, and teacher self-efficacy through the lens of Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory. This theory is a complex, dynamic interaction among people, their behaviors, and their environments. Data collection included 14 individual interviews, conducted on Zoom with educators from one school district in Southern Virginia, including seven general education teachers and seven special education teachers. Data analysis strategies …

Qualitative Phenomenography: Sustaining Motivations Of Black Women Principals In Pk-5 Title I Schools, Kahliah C. Rachel

Dissertations

Black women principals remain underrepresented in educational leadership, yet they are disproportionately assigned to PK-5 Title I schools, where complex academic, social, and political demands converge. Limited research examines what sustains these leaders over time, particularly in roles marked by intersecting oppressions of race and gender. Grounded in Black feminist thought and intersectionality, this qualitative phenomenographic study explored the sustaining motivations of six Black women who currently served or had served as principals in a PK-5 Title I school in Georgia. The purpose of this study was to describe the different ways these principals understood and experienced the internal and …

Exploring Teachers’ Lived Experiences: The Impact Of Wellness On Student Engagement And Behavior In Third-Grade Classrooms, Tiffany L. Jackson

Dissertations

This qualitative phenomenological study explored teachers' lived experiences implementing student wellness initiatives in the classroom and examined their views on how these initiatives affected student engagement and behavior. In this study, participants had the opportunity to express their views on implementing wellness practices in the classroom and on how these initiatives impacted student engagement and behavior. The research was guided by theoretical frameworks related to wellness, emotional and social intelligence, and relational perspectives. Semi-structured one-on-one interviews were the primary data source, and interview notes will serve as secondary data. This study addressed three research questions: (1) What are teachers' lived …

Fiesta De Día De Muertos: Integración De Artes Visuales, Artes Literarias, Artes Escénicas Y Patrimonio Cultural En Una Celebración Escolar De Nivel Primaria, Mayra Urbina, Linda Judith Palafox

The Transdisciplinary STEAM+ Journal

Esta nota de campo documenta un festival transdisciplinario de Día de Muertos organizado en el Colegio México, una escuela primaria ubicada en la colonia El Tapatío, San Pedro Tlaquepaque, Guadalajara, México. El evento integró artes visuales mediante la construcción de tumbas decorativas y el montaje de un altar, artes literarias a través de calaveritas literarias escritas por los alumnos, y artes escénicas mediante coreografías de baile y representación teatral, todo ello vinculado con contenidos de estudios sociales sobre el patrimonio cultural mexicano. Aproximadamente 30 alumnos de primero a sexto grado (edades de 6 a 12 años) participaron como intérpretes, escritores …

Fiesta De Día De Muertos: Integrating Visual Arts, Literary Arts, Performing Arts, And Cultural Heritage In An Elementary School Celebration, Mayra Urbina, Linda Judith Palafox

The Transdisciplinary STEAM+ Journal

This field note documents a transdisciplinary Day of the Dead (Día de Muertos) festival organized at Colegio México, an elementary school, in La colonia El Tapatío, San Pedro Tlaquepaque, Guadalajara, Mexico. The event integrated visual arts through decorative tomb-building and altar construction, literary arts through student-authored calaveritas literarias, and performing arts through dance choreography and theatrical performance, all in connection with social studies content on Mexican cultural heritage. Approximately 30 students across grades 1–6 (ages 6–12) participated as performers, writers, and artists, while parents and community members also actively contributed, including through participation in a theatrical skit, …

Integrating Steam Through Honeybee Education In Southern Appalachia, Gary Padgett, Haley Holt

The Transdisciplinary STEAM+ Journal

Honeybees are vital to pollination and food production, yet their populations are declining in the United States.  This underscores the need for ecological literacy, making honeybees an ideal focus for STEM/STEAM lessons. Middle grades students are familiar with honeybees and instantly engage with them, providing a framework for promoting inquiry, creativity, and real-world problem solving. This article presents a lesson taught in Southern Appalachia, a region facing educational disparities with limited access to advanced STEM/STEAM opportunities. The honeybee focused STEAM lesson presented in this article addresses this gap by providing middle grades students with an interactive, interdisciplinary opportunity that links …

The Unsmart Home: A Steam Approach To Coding Though Drama And Creative Play, Jennifer R. Roberts

The Transdisciplinary STEAM+ Journal

This article examines how integrating drama and coding can enhance computational thinking, creativity, and inclusivity in children. Grounded in constructivist and embodied learning theories, it presents The UnSmart Home, a drama-based coding experience. In this immersive project, children interact with a mal-functioning smart home through character-led, narrative challenges that require basic coding to solve problems. This approach reframes programming as creative play, making abstract concepts tangible through storytelling and physical engagement. Positioned within the STEAM education framework, the article argues that drama offers a powerful entry point into technical learning. It supports multimodal learning, encourages collaboration, and challenges stereotypes about …