Digital Commons Network^™

An Examination Of Teacher Perceptions Within Professional Learning Communities, Nicole Tiffany Reese

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to determine the strength of the relationship between elementary teachers’ perceptions of the six school practices of the professional learning community (PLC) model and students’ science achievement and if differences exist among teachers at the target school district’s five elementary schools. The six practices of the PLC model are (a) shared and supportive leadership, (b) shared values and vision, (c) collective learning and application, (d) shared personal practice, (e) supportive conditions–relationships, and (f) supportive conditions–structures. The PLCs are presently defined as one of the most discussed school reforms within kindergarten to Grade 12. They assist …

Latina Sorority Membership Impact On The Experience And Persistence Of Latinas In Higher Education, Luz Danela Randolph

Theses and Dissertations

Latinas face many challenges upon their matriculation to a university, including culture shock, acclimation and sense of belonging. Such challenges threaten their retention and success. Having support or a sense of belonging within higher education are notions that influence Latina students to continue or persist in school. An emphasized venue, which supports the educational journey of undergraduate Latinas, is involvement in organizations that reflect their culture. The problem addressed was the need to investigate how sorority involvement impacted their experience and persistence. Conducting research on Latina sorority membership and whether it has an impact on the experience and persistence of …

Assessing Reading And Mathematics Achievement Of Students With Disabilities In A Suburban Middle School, Terri Melissa Toomer

Theses and Dissertations

Co-teaching classrooms consist of general and special education teachers working together to benefit students with disabilities (SWDs). Many parents and teachers believe the content knowledge provided by general educators in the regular education setting, combined with the instructional service delivery model (SDM) expertise of special educators, will result in the greatest academic growth for SWDs. However, it is not known if SWDs served in one SDM progress at a faster rate than SWDs served in another SWD. Therefore, the focus of this study was to compare the reading and mathematics achievement of male and female middle school SDWs in two …

Social-Emotional Skills For Early Learning With Preschool Students: A Program Evaluation, Tory Denyse Hagains

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this applied dissertation study was to evaluate the implementation of a program entitled Second Step for Early Learning to determine if the program would significantly improve social-emotional competence in young children. The participants included six teachers from a preschool program located in an urban school district in Pennsylvania. Data-collection sources included surveys, interviews, and a review of lesson plans. Data analysis employed both quantitative and qualitative procedures.Findings from three data sources in combination with training indicated that implementation of the program increased social competence in young children. Research suggests that the overall result of the effectiveness of …

Collaboration Patterns In Software Developer Network, Didi Surian, Ee-Peng Lim, David Lo

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

In this entry, we mine collaboration patterns from a large software developer network (Surian et al. 2010). We consider high- and low-level patterns. High-level patterns correspond to various network-level statistics that we observe to hold in this network. Low-level patterns are topological subgraph patterns that are frequently observed among developers collaborating in the network. Mining topological subgraph patterns are difficult as it is an NP-hard problem. To address this issue, we use a combination of frequent subgraph mining and graph matching by leveraging the power law property exhibited by a large collaboration graph. The technique is applicable to any software …

Teachers’ Perceptions Of The Use Of Graphic Novels To Teach Reluctant Readers, Bret Ginsberg

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the perceptions of teachers in a suburban private school in Florida serving prekindergarten through Grade 8 regarding the use of graphic novels to increase student motivation to read. The problem was teachers were concerned with students’ inability to complete the required novels, demonstrate comprehension of deep meaning from the text, read silently, and read outside of school. Teachers raised serious concerns about the reading achievement of middle school students. Teachers also noted a frequent mismatch between the preference of the middle school reader and the instructional opportunities provided. The study was …

The Intent Of Residence Life Professionals To Leave The Field At Historically Black Colleges And Universities, Cletra Natasha Peters

Theses and Dissertations

This mixed-methods research study was designed to explore and highlight the lived experiences of residence life professionals at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). Data collection was completed using an online survey and one-on-one interviews. This study will contribute to the discussion of retaining live-in residence life professionals at HBCUs. This research study provided suggestions and opportunities for administrators to enhance the experience of residence life professionals while keeping the mission of educating HBCU students.

It is hoped that this study will continually prompt and influence dialogue to address the consistent attrition amongst residence life professionals, especially at HBCUs. The …

Evaluation Of New Teacher Adjustment Factors In International Schools In Thailand To Improve Teacher Retention, Rekha Sachdej

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was aimed to provide updated information in regards to new teacher’s adjustment factors in a small international school setting in Thailand. With the rapid increase in international schools in Thailand, the demand for quality education and instructions has also increased due to competition between schools. Retaining good teachers is one important aspect in providing quality education, in particular new teachers. Studies have shown new teachers are at high risk of leaving the school or even leaving the teaching career within their first five years of teaching (Haynes, 2014; Phillips, 2015). However, little research exists in regards to …

Hear My Voice And The Voices Of Those I Teach: A Phenomenological Perspective Of Experiences From Migrant Education Program Teachers, Ingrid Bynes

Theses and Dissertations

In the United States, there is an increasing need for educators to acknowledge and utilize culturally-relevant pedagogy within their classrooms. Many MEP educators in public schools, particularly those working in secondary education, find it challenging to ensure this disadvantaged and, often invisible, population is served in a consistent and productive manner. In fact, one indication highlighted in the literature is the lack of research on the perspective of educators in the secondary MEP classroom setting. Consequently, a study was conducted with this group of teachers to gain insight regarding their view of teaching Hispanic migrant students in a large rural …

Teachers’ Experiences In A Charter School With English Language Learners’ Acquisition Of Academic Literacy, Estella Stephens

Theses and Dissertations

Teachers’ Experiences in a Charter School With English Language Learners’ Acquisition of Academic Literacy. Estella Stephens, 2018: Applied Dissertation, Nova Southeastern University, Abraham S. Fischler College of Education. Keywords: charter schools, English language learners, literacy, phenomenon, qualitative research, teachers.

This qualitative applied dissertation was designed to investigate and give voice to the lived experiences of mainstream teachers at charter schools where the English language learner (ELL) population increased significantly. It replicated McCoy’s (2013) study. A phenomenological design was used to interview kindergarten-Grade 8 mainstream teachers in 3 charter schools. Interviews were conducted by a noninterested party due to the positionality …

Elementary Charter School Teachers' Perceptions Of Student Discipline On Academic Achievement, Simone Elloie Shelton

Theses and Dissertations

Many teachers leave the field altogether after a few years of teaching. Research showed that teachers consistently rate the behavior problems of their students as one of the primary reasons for them to quit teaching. Among teachers who have left the field over the past 10 years, some 80% stated that discipline problems caused by students was one of the primary reasons for their departure. Student discipline has been reported as a factor associated with high rates of teachers leaving the teaching profession. Two studies of teacher attrition rates found that problems with students’ discipline issues and classroom management issues …

Factors Affecting Adult Speakers Of Other Languages' (Esol) Enrollment In English For Academic Purposes (Eap) Courses: A Multicase Study, Jacklyn Smith

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation provided insight and identified impediments and obstacles in the areas of educational and societal assimilation, career and monetarist support, and academics to ascertain the effects they have on students transitioning from ESOL classes to EAP courses. Adult non-native speakers have evolved into an important segment of the adult population in the United States. Many Limited English Proficient (LEP) students lack the aptitude as it relates to the English language, often translating into lower wages, higher rates of poverty, and limited upward movement in the workplace. Researchers have identified several factors that may potentially influence the program participants …

Evaluation Of An Adaptive Reading Program At A Title I Public Elementary School, Monica M. Gordon

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to evaluate the I-station adaptive reading program and determine its impact on reading proficiency of third-grade students. The school of study was a Title I school with proficiency rates for third-grade students of about 40% annually. The district recommendation for student usage mirrored the recommended minutes per week established by Imagination Station, the I-station parent company.

The program evaluation utilized the context-input-process-product model components, measuring process and product. There were two research questions underpinning the study: 1. Process: Is the I-station program being used with fidelity at the school of study to achieve program intended …

2018 Viewbook, Office Of Admissions

Viewbook

IMSA’s mission is to “ignite and nurture creative, ethical, scientific minds that advance the human condition.” We are a diverse community focused on studentcentered education. We’re about more than great college prospects and great jobs; we’re about making our families proud. We’re about a better world for everyone. A world that needs a wealth of the kind of thinkers IMSA produces to solve real problems.

Professional Identity, Commitment, And Intent To Persist: The Facilitative Role Of Mindfulness For Pre-Service Teachers, Sean Holden

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Researchers have long observed issues with teacher retention, particularly early in ones career (Ingersoll, 2003; Gray & Taie, 2015). In order to address this issue, many researchers have investigated retention by exploring the development of ones perceptions and beliefs about the profession. Encompassing this trend, interest has been placed on teachers professional identity, a comprehensive construct acknowledging the influence of personal factors and internalized external experience (Schaefer et al., 2014). Based in this perspective, Hong (2010) proposed that ones beliefs about teaching and perceptions of self-efficacy, value, empowerment, burnout, and commitment are particularly salient in the decision to remain in …

Graduate Survey, 2017-2018, Hart Career Center, Illinois Wesleyan University

First Destination Survey

No abstract provided.

An Oboe Damore Concerto (Graun Wv Cv:Xiii:108) By Johann Gottlieb Graun: A Scholarly Performance Edition, Robert Nathan Nix

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

ABSTRACTNix, Robert Nathan. D.M.A. The University of Memphis. December 2018. An Oboe dAmore Concerto (Graun WV Cv:XIII:108) by Johann Gottlieb Graun: A Scholarly Performance Edition. Major Professor: Dr. Michelle Vigneau. In addition to bringing an early Classical era work for the oboe damore into the repertoire, this document is a modern edition and scholarly guide to performance practices based on the only known physical manuscript of the Concerto in D Major for Oboe damore and Strings by Johann Gottlieb Graun, housed at the National Music and Theater Library of Sweden in Stockholm. (Graun WV Cv:XIII:108, RISM #190010969).The first chapter is …

Avoidance Of English Phrasal Verbs Among Saudi Esl Students, Abdullah Saleh Alshayban

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Students of English as a second language (ESL) are often perplexed by English phrasal verbs (PVs) and must seek aid to understand the meanings of such phrases. Understanding an independent verb is simple, but the meaning of a verb can change depending on the context in which it is used as well as its object(s). In other words, since PVs using the same verb or particle do not correspond semantically, many English learners struggle with understanding some sentences. For example, when a preposition (as a particle) is used with a verb to form a PV, the meaning of the sentence …

The Influence Of L1 Writing Proficiency On The L2 Writing Ability Of Saudi College Students, Badar Fahad Almuhailib

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

AbstractAlmuhailib, Badar. Ph.D. The University of Memphis. December, 2018. The Influence of L1Writing Proficiency on the L2 Writing Ability of Saudi College Students. Major Professor:Emily A. Thrush, Ph.D.This study investigated the influence of first language (L1) writing proficiency on secondlanguage (L2) writing ability among Saudi college students. The research was built on Cumminscommon underlying proficiency theory and linguistic interdependence hypothesis, whichadvocate the L1s effect on L2 learning. Participants consisted of 38 students in the Departmentof English at Qassim University representing English Levels 6, 7, and 8. A mixed-methodsapproach was employed. For the quantitative section, the researcher obtained students Qiyas testscores …

An Analysis Of The Relationship Between Educators Self-Assessed Efficacy For Multi-Tiered Instruction And Their Perceptions Of The Climate For School Leadership, Greg Barclay

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Response to Intervention (RTI) was mandated in the state of Tennessee in 2013. Since that time, it has progressed into all school in the state. However, since its undertaking in Tennessee schools, teachers report that they do not believe they possess the ability to effectively implement RTI. Therefore, it is worthy of determining if school leaders implement practices to enhance teachers ability to successfully implement RTI, which will ultimately enhance their self-efficacy.In order to determine teacher self-efficacy for RTI and discern if any leadership characteristics impact teacher self-efficacy for RTI, a combination of the Response to Intervention Self-Efficacy Scale II …

An Investigation Of The Relationship Between Teacher Perception Of Greens Four-Dimensional Model Of Principal Leadership And The Academic Achievement Of Secondary Students, Stephanie Smith

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between student achievement assessed longitudinally in terms of ACT composite scores and state-mandated tests of proficiency and the perceived extent to which high schools have implemented Greens four-dimensional model of educational leadership.Four scales with five items each were used to measure each dimension of Greens model. The items for each dimension originated as responses to twenty items on the 2013 administration of the Teaching, Empowering, Leading, and Learning survey in Tennessee (TELL Tennessee). School-level means at 248 high schools were found for each scale that was proposed to measure each …

Identity, Gender, And (Im)Politeness: A Case Of Twitter Interactions On Women Driving In Saudi Arabia, Nahla Abdulrahman Zamakhshari

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

The traditional view in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is the separation of men and women. Women in the KSA were not allowed to drive cars. On the 26th of September 2017, the King of Saudi Arabia lifted the ban on women driving. This was a major change and a symbolic step for women as part of their quest to achieve visibility and social equality. This became a controversial topic that resulted in many discussions on social media platforms, one of them being Twitter. While existing research has examined (1) CMC, (2) Gendered Identities and (3) Saudi Culture, there …

Rachel Carson: Giving A Voice To The Earth, Katherine Cavender

Outstanding Gateway Papers

When Rachel Carson was a little girl growing up in Springdale, Pennsylvania, she fell in love with the wilderness. While all around her, factory after factory was beginning to spew toxic waste, Carson loved to get away from it all by venturing into the “deep woods” to observe birds. From a very young age, Carson was able to articulate her thoughts eloquently, giving her the opportunity to be published several times in St. Nicholas Magazine. When she was 15, she wrote her first article about her enchantment with nature, foreshadowing her future as a nature writer, and it was …

James Baldwin On The Question Of The Identities Of Americans And The Black Muslim Movement, Minzhao Liu

Outstanding Gateway Papers

One of the tactics the director Raoul Peck employed to make the I Am Not Your Negro documentary so powerful is the juxtaposition of violence against the black population in the 1960s and the brutalities taking place right now. He reveals on a more profound level the wretchedness of the current racial situation and the lack of real change. Peck’s film is built on James Baldwin’s unfinished manuscript Remember This House. Baldwin’s treatment of the racial issue is uniquely interrogative, demanding a clear picture of the reality of both the environment and individuals’ identities. This principle of digging for …

Danish Creativity And Resilience In The Face Of Adversity, Delane Ingalls Vanada

The Bridge

Danish people are known for being innovative thinkers. They are independent, willing to take risks, able to stand up for their thoughts and beliefs, daring enough to commit themselves without fear of failure, and deeply trusting of each other. They are hardworking, flexible, and intellectual (Nordic Reach 2008). This is the stuff of creativity and the dispositions that support it, according to current research on the psychology of creativity (Piirto 2001). As the granddaughter of Jens Peder Jensen, a Danish immigrant who homesteaded in South Dakota in 1907, my life was shaped by the influence of our close family in …

From Ærø To Iowa: Documenting The Journey Of Danish Immigrants To Audubon And Shelby Counties In Iowa, Cynthia Larsen Adams

The Bridge

The island of Ærø lies southwest of Copenhagen, in the Baltic Sea. Just south of the city of Odense, it is connected to the mainland by ferries. Between 1850 and 1920, nearly two thousand of Ærø’s residents decided to immigrate to the United States. When the first emigrants left Ærø the island had three major port towns—Marstal, Ærøskøbing, and Søby. Marstal was well known for its shipbuilding, which made it a local economic power base, while Ærøskøbing was the chief town and primary port for ferry traffic. Aside from sailors, ship’s captains, and shipbuilders, most of the island’s residents were …

Integration Challenges And Langkær Gymnasium, Nete Schmidt

The Bridge

Denmark used to be a fairly homogenous country where stereotypes of homogenous Nordic-ness could be happily and easily applied. Immigrants, often seasonal farmworkers, were invariably white. A young woman named Stefania was one of the many Poles who came to Lolland-Falster in the years 1893–1929 to work in the sugar beet fields in order to send money back to her family. She was thirteen when she arrived, with fake papers. At that time, Danish farmers and squires often hired young Polish women to do the most difficult work in the fields—weeding and harvesting the sugar beets. At the time, this …

Editorial Statement

The Bridge

No abstract provided.

“The Important Fact Is That I Always Felt Danish”: Preserving Ethnic Memory In Virginia Sorensen’S Mormon Novels, Sarah C. Reed

The Bridge

American author Virginia Sorensen (1912–91) grew up a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Manti, Utah, in Sanpete Valley, a place known as “Little Denmark” because it was a major center for the Danish immigrant community in Utah. In 1956 she described her hometown like this: even now if you go to see the fine white Mormon Temple that dominates the landscape night and day you will likely be shown about the grounds by somebody with a Danish name, perhaps even with a Danish accent. he will tell you about the famous spiral staircases in …

From The Translator’S Desk, Michael Goldman

The Bridge

On the Saturday morning of the fortieth anniversary conference of the Danish American heritage Society, translator Michael Goldman gave a talk in which he interspersed readings from his translations of five accomplished Danish authors with his personal recollections and anecdotes. The texts he read included the first major publication of Benny Andersen’s poetry in english translation; the first english translations of Cecil Bødker’s adult novels Stories about Tacit and The Water Farm; the first ever book publication in english of Knud Sørensen’s Farming Dreams, a selection of poetry about the decline of family farms in the latter half of the …