Digital Commons Network^™

What Teachers Need To Know About Translanguaging, Thomas Snell

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

This project addresses the question, what do non-ESL teachers need to know about translanguaging in order to support their emergent bilingual students? Translanguaging has emerged in the last two decades as both an epistemology of language and a pedagogical imperative with broad implications for language teaching and learning. This project traces the design and implementation of a professional development experience for teachers on translanguaging, whose goal is to effect a shift in teachers’ thinking about language so that they can understand their students more fully. It was designed specifically for non-ESL teachers, assumes no prior knowledge of translanguaging, and emphasizes …

How Reading Comprehension Strategies Support English Learners In A Primary Integrated Environment, Amanda Roberg

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

English Learners (ELs) are an important and growing population of students in schools nationwide, and how they are taught can have a major impact on their academic success (of course). The overall purpose for this study is to ensure that ELs in my own classroom are taught reading comprehension strategies from an effective curriculum that meets their specific needs. The curriculum used in the school in which this study was conducted was a combination of Daily 5 and the Treasures curriculum. The question posed for my research is: “What instructional strategies are appropriate for teaching reading comprehension to second language …

How Can Students Benefit From Chinese Immersion Schools, Li Zheng

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The research question in this article is to find out in what ways students can benefit from Chinese immersion schools. It documents in depth of three areas: Chinese language skills, students’ academic success, and classroom learning environments. The author integrates research data and interviews about Chinese immersion schools students and teachers. Findings suggest that Chinese immersion schools encourage students’ Chinese language skills, improve students’ academic success, and provide effective classroom learning environments.

Curriculum For The Community: Creating A Community-Based English Learner Curriculum Framework, Danielle Celia Selcer

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Many schools and districts are experiencing a high influx of English Language Learners (ELLs), and a good number are experiencing difficulties with helping these students achieve at high levels, while at the same time fostering a sense of community in their schools. As a result of the author’s research and personal experience teaching English Language Development (ELD) in urban schools, the following research questions were posed. How well are Minneapolis ELLs meeting rigorous educational standards currently? How have personalized and community-based learning been approached in Minneapolis historically? What pre-existing, place-specific, and successful curricular frameworks exist which might provide a model …

Using Dr. Howard Gardner's Theory Of Multiple Intelligences To Connect 4th-8th Grade Students To Nature, Brent Anderson

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Research has demonstrated that early and frequent exposure to nature and the outdoors has a range of physical, mental, emotional, social, and educational benefits. The curriculum designed for this project focuses on using Dr. Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences to connect 4th -8 th grade students to nature, in order to harness the benefits of nature exposure and increase student’s environmental-literacy. Multiple intelligences have been implemented in a number of formal classroom settings for decades, but research on how they have been used in the environmental and outdoor education fields is limited. The project involved creating a diverse curriculum …

Effective Curriculum To Accelerate Academic Reading Comprehension For High School English Language Learners, Lisa Menke Johnson

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The research question addressed in this project was, what is an effective curriculum for accelerating reading comprehension skills in secondary English Language Learner students. It documents one teacher’s creation of a unit that combined research based strategies for increasing reading comprehension skills in older students as well as second language acquisition strategies. It integrated vocabulary development, grammar forms and functions and intervention strategies proven to be successful with high school students. The author documents the details of the unit and uses related research literature to construct meaning and validate the study. The project provides a quarter long unit focused on …

How Self-Regulated Strategy Development In Writing Eases The Transition From Special Education To Regular Education For Students With Learning Disabilities, Charlene K. Irvin-Brown

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The author’s own and her students’ struggles with writing encouraged her to research best practices in teaching written language in order to ease the transition of students with learning disabilities to the regular education classroom. She found that Self-Regulated Strategy Development (SRSD) along with teaching the writing as a recursive process had the highest effect size. She narrowed her research by focusing on the stages of SRSD and best practices for teaching writing. She also reviewed the Minnesota writing standards for third through fifth grade. The author created an eight-lesson curriculum that incorporated the stages of SRSD for teaching narrative …

Training Adult Esl Volunteers In College And Career Readiness Standards, Cara Berger

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

A significant number of instructors in adult education programs are volunteer, and the volunteer-led classrooms in which these volunteers serve face difficulties and challenges that staff-led classrooms do not (Belzer, 2006; Gomez, 2012). This project sought to answer the question: how can College and Career Readiness Standards (CCRS) be incorporated into lesson plans for an adult ESL intermediate volunteer-led class so that students may benefit from the same standards of instruction that staff-led classes follow? Research on the CCRS and various volunteer training methods was addressed to develop a project artifact intended to aid volunteers in their lesson planning. The …

Lesson-Plan​ ​Delivery​ ​Before​ ​Lesson-Plan​ ​Design: Defining,​ ​Sequencing,​ ​And​ ​Teaching​ ​The​ ​Essential​ ​Skills​ ​Of​ ​An​ ​English Language​ ​Teacher​ ​Development​ ​Program​ ​At​ ​Induction, Joel Hanson

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The research questions addressed in this project were: 1) What are the essential set of teaching skills/practices at the induction portion of teacher training that are applicable to my EFL teaching context? 2) In light of the specific teacher preparation and development needs of the staff in a 12-school network in Morocco, how should these skills be sequenced and taught during the induction portion of an English language teacher development program? Answering these questions involved an investigation—and integration—of four teacher development frameworks proceeding from the macro- to micro-level of teacher training, unpacking what Feiman-Nemser calls the central tasks of learning …

Independently Implementing Best Practices In Flexible Guided Reading At The Elementary School Level, Ashley Teare

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Guided reading is a vital part of a balanced reading program in the elementary classroom. Guided reading should be flexible to meet readers where they are. Unfortunately implementation of differentiated guided reading varies from district to district, leaving learning and understanding of the reading processes of children up to the teacher. This project examines the question: How can best practices in flexible guided reading be independently implemented at the elementary school level? The literature review emphasizes the importance of guided reading and how flexible grouping can be implemented to accommodate readers strengths and needs. Research shows that guided reading can …

Tier Two Reading Interventions For Elementary English Learners, Katherine M. Little

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The guiding question for this Capstone project is What curriculum guide can be developed for Tier 2 Interventions within the RtI framework for elementary-level ELs with reading difficulties? The literature was examined for sources of EL reading difficulties, evidence-based practices for implementing Response to Intervention (RtI), for teaching reading, and for teaching ELs. The intersections of this research led to the formulation of several guiding principles that can be used in the development of curricula for Tier 2 reading interventions for ELs: Instruction and materials should be (a) scaffolded; (b) culturally and linguistically responsive; (c) focused on improving reading comprehension …

All Good People: Professional Development Sessions For Educational Equity At The High School Level, Mauri B. Deer

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

This project shares the journey of a white educator towards greater cultural competence, and provides guidance for those beginning an equity journey. It was developed as a series of five, one-hour professional development sessions with supplementary materials. The project was created to address gaps in education for a school district increasing in diversity, but without an equity framework or district-wide initiative that addressed educational equity. The professional development sessions are intended for small groups of educators at the secondary level who have little to no experience with concepts of educational equity. Each session uses concepts in culturally responsive teaching to …

Implementing Best Practice Literacy Instruction Into A Middle School Social Studies Classroom, Christopher Devine

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The research question addressed in this project was, how can best practice instruction support student engagement in a secondary (middle school) social studies class? It documents the topics of literacy, best practices, engagement and reading to learn strategies as compared to the current research on each of those topics. The study was done in conjunction with a website developed to support social studies teachers. Each of these areas support the guided learning that occurs in all classrooms, but specifically to the non-fiction texts that are primarily used by social studies teachers in a secondary setting. The result of the paper …

How Mainstream Teacher Attitudes Affect English Language Learner Student Learning In The Mainstream Classroom, Lauren Barbara Lippert

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The primary research question for this project is: do mainstream teacher attitudes towards English Language Learners affect student learning and how? This capstone project presents literature about the correlation between teacher attitudes and student learning, describes research surrounding mainstream teacher attitudes towards ELL inclusion, training, modifications, and language backgrounds, and identifies research-based information mainstream teachers should know about ELLs. The project following the research is a professional development training compiling strategies, resources, theories, and research for mainstream teachers teaching ELLs. The professional development is designed to be presented to K-12 mainstream teachers who are teaching ELLs in their classroom. The …

Effective Vocabulary Instruction And Study Strategies For Adult Efl Learners, Daniel Todd Place

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

In this capstone I seek the answers to two questions. What are some effective ways to teach vocabulary in the English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classroom? What are some effective ways students can use to study vocabulary outside of the classroom to help them learn and retain target vocabulary items? I start by explaining who my students are. I include information about the students, the university I teach at and the town where the university is located. I continue to explain: what recent research says about adult EFL learners` needs; the importance of vocabulary improvement for EFL learners; and …

Negative Attitudes Toward English As A Second Language: Refusal To Participate In Esl Services In The Somali Community, Rebecca C. Kipchumba

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The research question addressed in this project was: Why do some Somali parents refuse ESL services for their qualifying children? With a goal to start the conversation on what we can do as educators, to reduce the instances of parents declining services for their children. The refusal of service can potentially hinder their success in school. Three adults from the Somali community were interviewed. The findings suggest that, not all Somali parents have adequate information about the importance of ESL services in their children's' schools and in turn do not see the benefits. My conclusion after this study is that …

Green In Your Wallet Or A Green Planet: Views On Government Spending And Climate Change, Lincoln M. Butcher

Student Publications

The scientific community is a near consensus that climate change is not only anthropogenic but is also a major threat to people around the world. Despite the alarm bells from the scientific community many people in the United States simply deny the science of climate change. Many studies have targeted level of education, party membership, and gender in their role in influencing how individuals perceive climate change. This study showed that views on government spending plays a very important role in the importance of the environment. Individuals who supported decreased government spending tend to view jobs as more important than …

"A Delirious Welcome To Anyone In Uniform:" The Gi Experience In Paris, July - September 1944, Bridget E. Ashton

Student Publications

Previous studies of relationships between American GIs and the French population during and after Liberation paint two extremes: one of a perfectly handsome American man doling out candy, cigarettes, and kisses, and the other of a rapist and conqueror. In reality, the situation proved to be somewhere between these two realities. In this paper, I will argue that the Franco-American relationship in the months of July, August, and September 1944 was one of utility and necessity that left the French vulnerable and powerless. Because of factors such as preexisting conditions left behind by German soldiers, language barriers, and material needs, …

Alternative Business Structures: Good For The Public, Good For The Lawyers, Jayne R. Reardon

St. Mary's Journal on Legal Malpractice & Ethics

There has been a shift in consumer behavior over the last several decades. To keep up with the transforming consumer, many professions have changed the way they do business. Yet lawyers continue to deliver services the way they have since the founding of our country. Bar associations and legal ethicists have long debated the idea of allowing lawyers to practice in “alternative business structures,” where lawyers and nonlawyers can co-own and co-manage a business to deliver legal services. This Article argues these types of businesses inhibit lawyers’ ability to provide better legal services to the public and that the legal …

Chbe 9335 - Global Health And Preparedness, Andrew Hansen

College of Public Health: Faculty Syllabi (2014-2021)

This course will focus on global public health and preparedness for domestic and global emergencies. Students will explore patterns of health and disease around the world, and compare them to public health issues in the United States. An ecological framework will be employed to illustrate the complex political, social, economic, and environmental determinants of global health inequity. Concepts from the social sciences, epidemiology, health systems, and policymaking will be incorporated. The course will emphasize issues related to humanitarian emergencies and natural disasters both globally and domestically, and the need to build public health infrastructure and preparedness to mitigate them.

Language Attitudes [Linguistics], Leigh Garrison-Fletcher, Bede Mccormack, Walter Sistrunk

Open Educational Resources

This scaffolded assignment in two parts aims to engage students with the topic of how language and society are related. Framed by the global learning core competency and written ability in its entirety, Part I asks students to focus on their own language/dialect or variety and consider the kinds of attitudes that exist towards students’ language/dialect. Part II asks students to choose a language /dialect they are not familiar with and research the attitudes that exist about that language/dialect.

LaGuardia’s Core Competencies and Communication Abilities

Main Course Learning Objectives:

Explain ways in which language and society are related

Of Counsel, Volume 19 | Fall 2017, North Carolina Central University School Of Law

Of Counsel

No abstract provided.

Facing History In The Aftermath Of Gukurahundi Atrocities: New Media, Memory And The Discourses On Forgiveness On Selected Zimbabwean News Websites, Mphathisi Ndlovu

Peace and Conflict Studies

In 1983, the Robert Mugabe-led government deployed a military unit to the Matabeleland and Midlands provinces under the guise of quelling a “dissident” movement. This army unit went on to commit atrocities on the civilians in these south-western parts of Zimbabwe. By the time this violence ended in 1987, at least 20 000 Ndebele people had been killed. This violence is known as Gukurahundi, and remains a dark chapter in the national memory. Given that the regime that committed these atrocities is still in power and the perpetrators have not been brought to justice, it is timely to probe how …

Book Reviews, Robert Waren, Sara Snyder

Southern Anthropologist

Book Reviews:

• Historically Black: Imagining Community in a Black Historic District / Mieka Brand Polanco (New York University Press, 2014) by Robert Waren, University of Mississippi
• Cherokee Reference Grammar / Brad Montgomery-Anderson (University of Oklahoma Press, 2015) by Sara Snyder, Western Carolina University

Community Law Clinics In The Neoliberal City: Assessing Cuny's Tenant Law And Organizing Project, John Whitlow

City University of New York Law Review

No abstract provided.

The Place Of Philosophy, Danielle Macbeth

Philosophy Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

A Secondary Ela Classroom Curriculum Study Using Culturally-Relevant, Digital Texts To Increase Student Engagement And Understanding, Marika Belusa

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The purpose of this capstone project was to create an engaging and challenging curriculum for a mid-level 11th-grade English course that would explore the use of culturally releveant, digital texts to increase student engagement and understanding. The paper that follows explores the reason why such an interactive and culurally relevant curriculum is needed in an increasingly-diverse suburban classroom. In particular, a blend of research around neuroscience, Culturally Relevant Pedagogy and Constructivism, the use of digital tools to enhance learning, and a look at how texts should fall under the mirrow-window continuum, was collected. Combinging theory and research led to the …

Taverns, Theaters, Publics: The Intertheatrical Politics Of Caroline Drama, Allison Deutermann

Publications and Research

No abstract provided.

Bending The Arc Toward Justice: Including The Excluded. 2017 Hooks Institute Policy Papers, The Benjamin L. Hooks Institute For Social Change

The Hooks Institute Policy Papers

No abstract provided.

Learning To Read English, Charles A. Perfetti, Lindsay N. Harris

Faculty Books & Book Chapters

No abstract provided.