The Ham, December 7, 2018, Beacon Staff

The Beacon, 2018-2019

RD will appear on "Bachelorette"; New name, new logo who dis???; $tudents make bank on Beachbody; Opinion: Pizza Ranch pizza ranks super last; Science receives first place in complaints; NW to add new football major; Girls wished boyfriends lived in Coly; Campus will tear down science building and convert to parking

The Classic, Winter 2018-19, Public Relations

The Classic, 2010-2019

Zwemer View: The Way Forward; Around the Green: Northwestern to Start Physician Assistant Master's Program; In Box; Crossing Borders in the Classroom; Enrollment Fourth Largest; Geneticist Nominated for Young Alumni Reward; We're on the List; Campus LIfe: A Taste of Home; New STEM Programs; AD Accolades; Nostalgic Notes; A Summer for Success; Faith Focus Recognized; Face Value: Robert Winn; MCAT Score Success; The Numbers Don't Lie; Musical Mission; Leading by Example; Investing in the Mission; Red Zone; The Sounds of Our Times; 1,000 Words: Yeehaw!; Living Faith: Northwestern helps high school students dig into the Bible; Raider Nation in the …

The Effects Of Setting Goals On Accelerated Reader, Austin King

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

The purpose of this action research project was to determine if sixth grade English and language arts (ELA) and reading students’ reading habits are due solely to Accelerated Reader (AR) point mandates by their classroom teachers and if by allowing them to set their own reading goals, whether or not they will be able to attain an equal or greater amount of AR points. Rather than be given a minimum number of AR points for a quarter which would then be input to the grade book, students were asked to create self-set goals based on their final fifth grade quarter …

Cooperative Learning In Math Education, Leah Kane

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

The purpose of this action research project was to determine whether cooperative learning benefits students in the content area of math. Data was collected for this project over a two-week period of time. Qualitative data in the form of observation was taken while students worked in their cooperative learning groups. Quantitative data was incorporated by looking at the progress of students towards their math-learning goal. The math-learning goal being assessed throughout the following research is on subitizing. More specifically, students will be able to subitize the number of dots seen on a ten frame after having looked at the ten …

Does The Use Of Bell Ringers As Formative Assessments Affect Student Retention Of Knowledge In A Third Grade Science Classroom?, Cari Herbst

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

This research study explored if the use of daily bell ringers used as formative assessments increased student achievement in science. The study analyzed the effect daily bell ringers had on student summative assessment scores in a third grade science classroom. Data collection included summative assessments from a control group taught without daily bell ringers and the test group taught with daily bell ringers. The data and analysis showed there was an increase in the average class scores and amount of student’s proficient with the implementation of daily bell ringers.

This research study explored if the use of daily bell ringers …

Relationship Between Movement And Student Behaviors, Amy L. Ackerman

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

The purpose of this action research project was to determine the relationship between movement opportunities and student behaviors, specifically off-task behaviors. Participants were twenty-five, four and five-year-olds in a public, inclusive, half-day preschool setting. Data was collected through observation during a ten-minute end of the day large group meeting for six weeks. Various movement opportunities were provided ranging from no breaks, ten-minute in-classroom brain breaks, and fifteen-minute gross-motor recess breaks. Any reminders given to attend to the large group meeting were recorded and later analyzed to suggest that movement opportunities affect student behaviors in a positive manner.

Play In Early Childhood, Keri Griswold

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

This literature review looks at play in early childhood education and why play is important for early learners. The review looks at the history of play and the benefits that play has on brain development, as well as defining play. Adults play an important role in play, as does the early childhood learning environment. Early learners develop their critical thinking skills and their social and emotional skills through play. The curriculum that is offered to early learners should revolve around play but should ensure that they are being provided the opportunity to learn about the outdoors, math, reading, and all …

Sight Words And Phonics: The Connection That Helps Early Elementary Students Read Fluently, Stephanie Mulder

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

The purpose of this action research project was to determine if combining phonics and memorized vocabulary words into the reading instruction for Tier 2 students would increase fluency speed. For six weeks the researcher introduced Dolch sight words according to grade level to Tier 2 students. This was done in addition to the typical phonics instruction done in the general education classroom and Tier 2 resource room. At the beginning of each week students were given a list of 20 new vocabulary words. Throughout the week, students were asked to use these words in sentences, find them in books, and …

Video Self-Modeling, Reading Aloud, Or Silent Reading: Effects Of Strategies On Fluency, Rebekah J. Vande Kamp

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

The purpose of this action research is to explore the most effective strategy for children to engage in during Read to Self to increase their fluency. Fluency is the ability to read with speed, accuracy, and expression; and is an important aspect of being a successful reader. In this study, three 2nd grade classes will engage in different Read to Self strategies. One class will be doing silent reading. Another class will be reading their books aloud to themselves. A third class will be using video self-modeling, which is recording themselves reading their books out loud on Chromebooks and watching …

Adequate Use Of Technology And Effects On Young Children, Jackie Breuer

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

This paper reviews literature about technology use in young children and the positive effects it may have, along with consequences and recommendations. Young children are able to access technology easily and use it for many reasons. Using technology responsibly and for educational will help maintain young children’s health and safety. Supervision and interaction is key when young children use technology. Young children spend a lot of time on technology which can have adverse effects such as physical health issues, mental health issues and social interaction problems. When children use it for educational purposes the work should be monitored and the …

The Power Of Intentional Planning, Brittany Busch

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

The purpose of this action research is to give teachers meaning and action to the word intentional. Interventions were used to support early childhood educators in improving the intentionality of their lesson planning and instruction. The interventions included a systematic planning tool, a resource binder, and a model through professional development. Qualitative and quantitative data was collected through an electronic survey of teachers both before and after the intervention. Quantitative data was collected through a rubric rating lesson plans on specific characteristics before, during, and after the intervention. Analysis of the data collected revealed when intentionality is well-defined and trained, …

Kagan Strategies In The Preschool Classroom And Their Effectiveness With Engagement And Academic Response, Megan Smith

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

The purpose of this action research was to determine the impact of Kagan cooperative learning practices on academic growth in a preschool classroom. Participants were four and five year olds in a half-day preschool program in an urban setting. Students were a mix of household incomes as well as students who are English language learners. Quantitative data was collected using the Get Set for School assessment. Data was collected after ten small group sessions for 50 sessions. For each group of sessions, a different Kagan engagement strategy was utilized and the Get Set for School assessment was given to track …

Do Upper Elementary Students Have Higher Grades When They Complete Their Homework?, Kristie A. Olson

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

This action research study takes a look at the question, Do upper elementary students have higher grades when they complete their homework? Data was collected from forty-seven fifth grade students for a three-week period in five academic areas. Students are challenged to complete their homework and have three or less missing or late assignments to earn a reward. Homework completion is compared to the student’s first quarter grades. There is discussion of different factors that affect homework completion from the point of view of the teacher, parent and student.

Student-Centered Collaborative Classrooms And Critical Thinking Skills, Becky Leonard

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

The purpose of this action research was to determine if implementing a student-centered, collaborative classroom would have a positive effect on student critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Data was collected at six points during the study. Three set were collected prior to the intervention and three sets were collected after. After analyzing the data, the research suggests that students working in peer collaborative groups can have a positive impact of their problem-solving strategies and improve their critical thinking skills.

The Impact Of Project-Based Learning In The Secondary Classroom, Alan Kies

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

How to increase student engagement in the classroom and prepare the students for the future are questions that teachers have been pondering for decades. Over the years, many different student-centered teaching methods have been introduced to varying degrees of success. This literature review investigates one of the student-centered teaching methods that has been shown to have positive benefits for students in secondary classrooms, project-based learning (PBL). In a PBL unit or lesson, the students are investigating a real-world question or problem and then presenting their learning in a final project. Through the creation of the final product, the students will …

The Beacon, November 30, 2018, Beacon Staff

The Beacon, 2018-2019

Professors as parents: the scoop; Students remember beloved barista; One movie connects two franchises; Imagine Dragons releases 4th album; Christmas Vespers this weekend; Class provides experience in directing; Religion department changes name; SSP fundraising: getting creative; Profs should attend chapel; NW invites all to Vespers; Women fight on in tournament; Basketball takes close win from Dordt; NW men beat Dordt with no time to spare; Christmas fun to happen on campus; Nything Goes in chapel next week

The Beacon, November 16, 2018, Beacon Staff

The Beacon, 2018-2019

OC natives reflect on life at NW; Campus considers adding E-sport; "Mid90s" produces nostalgia; Jon Bellion releases his fifth album; Local church to host Turkey Trot; A superhero with Down Syndrome; Kao's journey from Taiwan to OC; Students react to midterm elections; The pressure of relationships; Procrastination takes over; NW runners head to Nationals; Football season coming to a close; Rocket League Championship Series recap; Speaker to address human trafficking; Christmas activities to attend around campus

The Beacon, November 9, 2018, Beacon Staff

The Beacon, 2018-2019

Senior soccer girls say goodbye; OC Pride a controversial topic in town; Actors express incredible talent; Tori Kelly goes gospel in new album; "The Crucible" opens this weekend; I-Club Coffee House coming soon; Real world experience in classroom; Futures Program connects students; Influenza and flu shots are back in season; Dorm life becomes family; NW presents "The Crucible"; Successful weekend for women's basketball; Raider volleyball heads to championship; Kevin Cloud to speak in chapel; Campus Ministries to host new retreat

The Beacon, November 2, 2018, Beacon Staff

The Beacon, 2018-2019

Student breaks men's scoring record; Prof's story a testament to God's grace; "First Man" soars high in box office; Kurt Vile releases album "Bottle It In"; Downtown Community Connection; Apocalyptic Vision hits Northwestern; Fostering community through prayer; Genesis House provides support; Make your vote count on Tuesday: it's easy!; English classes help all; Lukewarm about chapel; Raider defense strong despite loss; Looking ahead in Raider basketball; One-day livestream on campus; NCDC moves from spring to fall semester

The Beacon, October 5, 2018, Beacon Staff

The Beacon, 2018-2019

Student safety a priority on campus; Skateboarding continues to grow in popularity; Horror film doesn't scare audiences; Brockhampton releases 4th album; Student group starts conversations; Towns connecting through pages; Transfer students adjust to NW life; SGA gives voice to NW student body; Networking is key; Added parking to Lot H; NW football homecoming victory; Tennis match against SMSU finishes season; Raider soccer shows strongly at Doane; Summer of Service presents in chapel; Staying on campus for fall break

The Beacon, September 28, 2018, Beacon Staff

The Beacon, 2018-2019

Feeling unsafe in Iowa's safest city; Students love Town Square atmosphere; "Life Itself" not perfect but ok; Saying farewell to well-known singer; "Junie B. Jones is Not a Crook"; Benjamin Pratt's work on display in gallery; Dads descend on Dordt College; NW laundry service, "unfolded"; Post-P&W Hub rush; Kavanaugh allegations; Men's golf shoots best of season; Raider soccer strong in week's games; Three MLB teams hope for spot in playoff; Science center opens today; Spread school spirit at Morning on the Green

The Beacon, September 21, 2018, Beacon Staff

The Beacon, 2018-2019

Pumpkinland tradition carries on; Freshman golfer plays in Symetra Tour; The 80s want their sequel back; Carrie Underwood's releases "Cry Pretty"; DME presents "Sioux Center Sudan"; Saint John's Bible shares images; Not your average physics professor; NW business dept. expands offerings; Eatable app changes dining experience; Who will you vote for?; Exceeding expectations; Raider volleyball splits week's matches; NW downs tough Marymount team; NW to host worship conference; Sidewalk Prophets coming to campus

The Beacon, September 14, 2018, Beacon Staff

The Beacon, 2018-2019

Sisters share more than just clothes; Creative Dining helps campus thrive; "Crazy Rich Asians" a hit in theaters; Ariana Grande's relatable new album; Summer sequels lookback; Summer of 2018 "Wyoming Sessions"; New relaxation room eases anxiety; New faculty starts at Northwestern; New food, happy students; Updated ID system; Raiders blast GPAC opener; Raiders JV soccer pick up first win of season; Big win for black and gold on Saturday; DeWitt LC undergoes changes; Annual fall retreat sees new location

The Effectiveness Of Project-Based Learning In The Science Classroom, Jordan Tegrootenhuis

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

The purpose of this action research project was to determine the effect of project-based learning on middle school science students. A science classroom was taught with a traditional method for a unit and data was collected to be measured for growth. Then another class was taught with project-based learning on the same unit with data collected to measure their growth. Analysis of the data collected suggests that while both strategies are effective in providing growth of knowledge, project-based learning showed a greater growth within special education, at risk, and ESL students.

Effectiveness Of Growth Mindset In The Classroom, Amanda Feller

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

This literature review discusses how effective a growth mindset can be in the classroom. The review begins by exploring the differences in fixed mindsets and growth mindsets. Fixed mindsets believe an individual is naturally talented or gifted, while growth mindsets believe that individuals can grow their ability or talent. This review discusses studies that have proved the importance of a growth mindset in literacy, mathematics and science classrooms. It then continues to give recommendations for fostering a growth mindset in the classroom to ensure learners are working at the best of their ability and achieving their goals.

Investigating The Potential Of The Flipped Classroom Model In Secondary Mathematics, Allison Birdsall

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

This literature review investigates the effectiveness of the flipped classroom model in secondary mathematics classes, specifically the types of modifications and strategies teachers have used to help improve student motivation and academic success. The use and availability of technology in the classroom keeps increasing. Many classrooms now have access to tools and resources that they could only dream about ten years ago. Educators have adapted teaching styles and strategies to align with the new growth of technology. With so many technology options now available to students and teachers, the flipped classroom model offers flexibility to adapt the learning to the …

Intentional Teaching In Kindergarten: Combining Academic Instruction And Developmentally Appropriate Practices, Amy Borkowski

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

This literature review explores the perceived dichotomy in kindergarten between child-centered, developmentally appropriate practices and teacher-directed, academic instruction. Long-held beliefs about child development have dominated the field of early childhood education for well over a century, but new research, legislative mandates, and academic standards have dramatically changed the landscape of education in the kindergarten year. Literature from scholarly journals and academic texts will be examined, revealing how kindergarten has changed over time, the impact that various factors have had on driving that change, and what educators should consider as they strive to provide intentional instruction in kindergarten.

The Effects Of Second Step In A Prekindergarten Classroom, Victoria Brandenburg

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

This action research project was conducted to determine if using Second Step social emotional learning program would affect the frequency of negative behaviors in a preschool class. The lead teacher and associate were trained in Second Step social emotional learning. Second Step was implemented in the preschool class for three weeks. Qualitative data was collected from teacher interviews. Quantitative data was collected from behavior logs, behavior reports and researcher observations. The data was entered in a table and the data was used to determine if negative behavior decreased after implementing Second Step curriculum. After analyzing the data and teacher interviews, …

Academic And Musical Success By Gender Separation, Adam Radcliffe

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

This literature review presents the history of the traditional American coeducational classroom, studies regarding the results and benefits of implementing gender-separated classrooms, and the discussion of how music education classrooms could find value in the research relating to gender separation. With the allowance of increased studies regarding single-sex versus coeducational classrooms in the United States since the early 2000s, more researchers are aiming to understand what setting is most advantageous for students and their overall academic experience. The literature review will present information from scholarly-based articles, research study findings, and other reputable sources that highlight the statistical results and overall …

Technology Strategies For Struggling Readers, Lindsey Johnson

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

Lack of reading ability could easily be identified as a crisis in education effecting students all over the world. Students who struggle to read, struggle to learn. This literature review evaluates the technology based strategies that have been proven to be beneficial for those students who struggle with reading as a result of a variety of different factors. The role of the teacher is to implement the technology strategies with fidelity in order to provide the most benefit and improvement to students. While many opposing viewpoints exist on technology and its effectiveness, this review identifies technology strategies such as multimedia, …