Digital Commons Network^™

The Journey Of Mindfulness Into Western Classrooms And Its Impact On Education, Cameron Kolodge

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Everything has a story, a point of origin, a list of defining features that make it into what it is. Yet the larger and more ubiquitous something gets, the harder it can be to define. The saturation of educational related mindfulness publications, resources, and research has made mindfulness into a modern educational phenomenon. The scale of this phenomenon begins far before its western transition and includes forces throughout history and around the globe. In an attempt to truly understand the story of mindfulness many layers need to be peeled back. Layers that have made it increasingly difficult to discern what …

The Impact Of Mindfulness Practice On Adolescents With Special Needs And Mental Health Diagnosis, Rebecca Jean Mcquiston

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Students with mental health diagnosis, trauma or special education labels such as emotional behavioral disorder or learning disabilities often show signs of distress, and/or dysregulation in the classroom. They are referred to providers and evaluated based on the behaviors or symptoms that are presented. Many times, these behaviors impact their ability to learn, regulate emotions and function when compared to their typically developing peers. These students have developed maladaptive behaviors to cope with strong feelings. Within the last ten years, clinics, schools and districts have increased their attention and efforts to develop social emotional learning programs to teach students essential …

Chinese As A Foreign Language In The K-12 Education System Of The United States: Challenges And Opportunities, Joseph Colin Miller

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This paper examines the state of the Chinese as a Foreign Language (CFL) education system in the United States at the K-12 level. The approach to this research first demonstrates the importance of Chinese language expertise to the United States government as well as to private citizens in light of economic opportunities and national security interests. After establishing the relevance of engagement with China on multiple levels and therefore the appropriateness of learning Chinese (specifically Mandarin, but also Cantonese), the focus turns to the institutional and pedagogical aspects of K-12 Chinese education. On the institutional level, CFL programs are spreading …

Dance: The Movement Supporting Safe, Sovereign And Satisfying Birth Experiences, Lisa Marie Morgan

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Labor dance utilizes upright positioning, hands and knees position, use of the rebozo and other alternative labor and birth positions as a traditional means of taking advantage of gravity and increasing the pelvic diameter in labor and birth. Despite recommendations by the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) supporting such positions, promotion and use of labor dance remain in the margins of labor and birth experiences for most women. This literature review finds that labor dance increases safety, sovereignty and satisfaction in the labor and birth experience for women. Further, this simple …

The Effects Of Homework Time And Related Factors On Academic Achievement, Jacob Mark Sandquist

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This paper explores the relationship between homework and academic achievement in the areas of homework time, parental involvement and home support, and teacher ideation and student conceptualization. The findings of 30 academic articles were analyzed and compiled into literature reviews. All relevant findings were categorized based upon their association to three areas. One, time spent on homework was positively correlated with student academic achievement. Two, parental involvement in a supportive home environment had significant impacts on achievement and homework completion. Three, homework should provide opportunities for student autonomy with a focus on student accuracy which allows teachers to identify areas …

Using Arts To Improve Academic Outcomes For Students With Disabilities, Melissa Jean Briggs Wood

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Theatre is often used as a tool in the classroom to target specific skills in language arts classes. More and more, it is being woven into curriculums outside of the language arts classroom to explore multi-disciplinary teaching. Theatre arts have the potential to reach a wide array of students in order to increase academic achievement, engagement/attainment, and social-emotional skills. Not only can theatre arts improve skills for students as a whole, but it can positively impact students with learning disabilities and special needs, too. Research indicates through empirical data that students generally show improvements in academic achievement, engagement and confidence …

Assessment Of Medical Experiences Of Hearing Guardians With Deaf Or Hard Of Hearing Children In The Twin Cities, Hannah R. Jaster, Erin R. Rudolph, Melinda Sorensen

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This paper assesses the medical experiences guardians of deaf or hard of hearing children have after their children are first diagnosed with a hearing loss within the Twin Cities region of Minnesota. Data collection used a mixed methods approach through a survey containing Likert scale questions and opportunities to elaborate on personal experiences. The non-profit organization MN Hands & Voices provided a population qualified to participate in this study who were hearing guardians with a child under ten years old diagnosed within the Twin Cities region of Minnesota. Hearing loss can cause delays in language development if not diagnosed early, …

Effective Teaching: The Qualities And Strategies That Impact Student Achievement, Matthew D. Young

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the topic of effective teaching in the world of education. There are many definitions to describe what effectiveness is, but a central theme is comparative to educational objectives. Once goals are established, effectiveness can be measured. It is clear through literature and research that a teacher has a huge impact on their students, not only within one year but has a cumulative effect that stretches across many years. This literature review separates effective teaching into two sections: qualities and characteristics of effective teachers and practices and strategies of effective teachers. The findings were quite conclusive and showed …

Illuminating The Fog: A Research-Based Perspective On Why And How To Teach Shakespearean Texts, Brett Benedict Walters

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This literature review seeks to reveal identifiable trends that indicate effective methods for achieving learning targets through the use of Shakespearean texts. Thirty studies concerning the use of these texts in the classroom context were reviewed and the methods were classified into three categories based on the Common Core English/Language Arts Reading Anchor Standards: Key Ideas and Details, Craft and Structure, and Integration of Knowledge and Ideas. The results indicated that activities involving performance-based pedagogy should be implemented when learning targets concern literary analysis. Activities involving close reading should be implemented when learning targets concern linguistic analysis. This project also …

Performing Along The Spectrum: A Study In The Application Of Theatrical Approaches To Develop And Enhance Social Skills For Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Kimberly Lynn Lambert

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Individuals on the autism spectrum are faced with many unique challenges in navigating their respective worlds. One of the areas in which individuals across every sector of this spectrum may feel a significant impact is in the area of social skill development. The process of social skill acquisition is somewhat elusive in nature; while there are foundational skills that may be consistent across social scenarios, the ability to recognize, develop, and incorporate these skills into daily life may require an approach to learning that is both non-formulaic and non-linear. Engagement in performing arts activities, specifically those related to theatrical arts, …

The Impact Of Socioeconomic Status And Poverty On African American Students With Special Needs, Royce T. Winford

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Exploring the impact of socioeconomic status and poverty on African American students with special needs has shown that poverty is a global issue that has an impact on children's academic ability. In the United States, about one-quarter of all children are born into poverty. Poverty increases the likelihood of mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders in children and adolescents. Stress affects children from low-income families, preventing their brains from completely developing. This thesis is a review of scholarly research on the impact of socioeconomic status on African American students with special needs and its relation to special education. Through this research, …

Promoting Post School Success For Students In Special Education, Jenna Juliann Joswiak

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was created to meet the needs of students with disabilities and prepare them for life after school, including employment, further education, and independent living. Even after transition services were added in 2004, students with disabilities have lower success rates in those areas than their non-disabled peers. The guiding question for this literature review was: how can special education teachers promote post school success for students who receive special education services? Literature suggested that being knowledgeable of the indicators of post school success, curricula and practices that support students, family involvement, planning and IEP …

Can A Reform Transform The High School Experience For Latin American Immigrant Students In The Suburbs Of Long Island?, Mariana Gil

Theses and Dissertations

In this phenomenological, qualitative study, the researcher analyzed the lived experiences of Latin American immigrant students in the current school culture in Long Island schools. The purpose of this analysis was to identify a relationship between the school culture and social structure with the academic advancement and overall development of these students. The primary data was collected through individual interviews with the participants. Following a snowball method of research, the participants were carefully selected to represent demographically the general Latin American immigrant population on Long Island, and they included high school graduates and nongraduates to arrive to an effective conclusion. …

The Relationship Between Teachers’ Years Of Experience And Their Perceptions Of Teaching English Language Learners, Kerriann Mcfadden

Theses and Dissertations

The number of English Language Learner students (ELLs) has increased within the United States while the number of qualified teachers for these students has decreased. Students’ outcomes are related to the quality of education they receive. A teacher’s knowledge of and preparation for teaching ELLs influences students’ performance. Previous literature found that most classroom teachers do not feel qualified to teach ELLs. The purpose of this quantitative study was to explore the readiness of classroom teachers in teaching ELLs. The sociocultural framework of Bruner (1960) and Vygotsky (1978) aided in the exploration of teachers’ perceptions about the adequacy of instruction …

Examining The Learning Communities Of Two High Schools In An Urban School District, Matel Hanna Hassan, Ed.D.

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research study was to examine the impact of teacher collaboration in an early college high school (ECHS) and a traditional high school as it relates to student

achievement among high school students and on other factors that distinguish an ECHS

from a traditional high school. The ECHS refers to a specific high school model created

to serve traditionally underrepresented students in higher education. Students enroll in

dual credit courses, most often beginning sophomore year. A traditional high school

setting refers to courses that offer students the high school credits and prepare them for

the basic state …

The Impact Of A Writing Center On Retention, Persistence, And Success At An Open Enrollment Campus, Aisha Maunda Williams

Theses and Dissertations

College writing center practices differ greatly from the types of conventional writing instruction students and faculty are used to in classrooms. While conventional college lectures typically lead to a summative assessment in the form of grades based on students’ performance on high-stakes assignments, writing centers are seen as tutoring centers where students can receive more personalized attention in the form of formative assessment practices and a process oriented approach to instruction prior to receiving summative evaluations from lecturers. This study measured whether or not there was a relationship between writing center visits and student outcomes as they related to retention …

The Virtual Teaching Experience With Google Classroom During Covid-19: A Phenomenological Study, Morlena Titanya Robinson

Theses and Dissertations

Technology has been the highlight of the 21st century, and its rapid advancement has undeniably changed the world we live in today. The field has been saturated by digital applications (apps) such as Facetime, WhatsApp, GroupMe, and a plethora of educational apps such as Math Series, The Elements, and History Tools. Additional apps have magnified in popularity since the world moved to virtual learning during the COVID-19 pandemic which devastated the global economy and shut down in person education systems around the globe. Google Classroom from G-Suite for Education was immediately embraced to facilitate the educational process allowing students and …

Is Special Education A Life Sentence? Examining Disproportionality In The Declassification Rates Of Students Of Color In An Urban School District, Rasheed Bility

Theses and Dissertations

Federal law states that any student suspected of having a disability must meet initial eligibility requirements to qualify for special education services. Furthermore, an individual education program (IEP) team is required by federal law to re-evaluate each student with a qualified disability tri-annually to assess his or her ongoing need for such services. The pathway toward initial eligibility is explicitly outlined within federal legislation; however, the law does not explicate an avenue for declassification or exiting from special education. As a result, many students may remain in special education and are labeled as students with a disability when they may …

The Virtual Teaching Experience With Google Classroom During Covid-19: A Phenomenological Study, Morlena Titanya Robinson

Theses and Dissertations

Technology has been the highlight of the 21st century, and its rapid advancement has undeniably changed the world we live in today. The field has been saturated by digital applications (apps) such as Facetime, WhatsApp, GroupMe, and a plethora of educational apps such as Math Series, The Elements, and History Tools. Additional apps have magnified in popularity since the world moved to virtual learning during the COVID-19 pandemic which devastated the global economy and shut down in person education systems around the globe. Google Classroom from G-Suite for Education was immediately embraced to facilitate the educational process allowing students and …

Latino Parent Involvement Of Elementary English Language Learners: A Case Study Exploring Barriers And Coping Strategies During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Emily Denise Sanz

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative case study is to examine the involvement of Latino parents of elementary English language learner students with distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. This case study explored Latino parental involvement, in order to help further understand the inequities for Latinos with distance learning and examine how parents understand involvement in their children’s education. This qualitative case study utilized sixteen semi-structured parent interviews, two teacher focus groups with a total of eight teachers, and one administrator interview, in order to determine the emerging themes and patterns. Teacher participants in this study possessed between six and fourteen …

Flatten The Hierarchy To Elevate The Profession: The Need For Teacher Leadership To Reinstate Educators As Professionals, Sarah Wasser

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to discover how flattening the educational hierarchy by creating career ladders for teachers as teacher leaders can help elevate teachers to a professional status and elevate their professional self-perceptions. A historical look at education yields a field that has been embattled by politicians, philanthropists, intellectuals, business leaders, social scientists, media outlets, activists, and the public (Goldstein, 2015; Mehta, 2013b, 2013a). Isolation is an ingrained factor that is inherent in the profession itself. There is very little emphasis on sustained learning and growth. Teaching, like nursing, social work, and other highly feminized fields, does not …

Employer Perspective On Augmenting Work Experiences For Individuals With Disabilities, Liza A. Laurino-Siegel

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate employer perspective on augmenting work experiences for individuals with disabilities in the workplace through a qualitative case study approach. This study utilized two specific workplaces that are structured, have core values, are mission-driven and support individuals with differing abilities. The goal was to develop an understanding on how these workplaces continue to help individuals gain meaningful employment while supporting their differences and unique learning approaches in the workplace. Data collection included employer interviews, employee insight, an employer focus group, observations of employees at the work sites, artifacts, photos and the researcher’s journals. …

Effects Of Scripted And Teacher Generated Literacy Program On Middle School Students, Lindsay Blaszcyk

Theses and Dissertations

Will a teacher generated literacy curriculum be more effective for student literacy growth more than a scripted literacy curriculum? Archived data of pre- and post-testing of 535 public middle school students were analyzed to examine the effectiveness of these two approaches over a two-year time span. The data were gathered using the Benchmark Assessment System, second edition (BAS-2). Data were analyzed using an ANCOVA to determine the significance of difference in students’ literacy growth by two literacy programs. A series of ANOVAs were used to see any significant differences in literacy growth between groups based on students’ characteristics. Regression analysis …

Do We Even Belong In Education? How Male Teachers Of Color Find Their Sense Of Belonging Through Their Teacher Of Color Program, Jason Craig Baez

Theses and Dissertations

Human beings are fundamentally and universally motivated by the need to belong and maintain strong interpersonal attachments with one another (Baumeister & Leary, 1995). Male teachers of color are no different, yet they may not always feel that connection and belongingness in a profession that they are underrepresented. Unfortunately, the underrepresentation of male teachers of color happens in nearly every subject area throughout K-12 education (Vilson, 2015; Waite et al., 2018). The purpose of this qualitative case study is to explore the experiences of male teachers of color throughout underserved community schools in the United States, who are enrolled in …

Immigrants In Writing, Roshny Maria Roy

Theses and Dissertations

Through this autoethnography, I intend to explore and understand how migration impacted and continues to impact my identity along with the languages and literacies I speak, write, and practice. How does the normalized devaluing and valuing of literacies, languages, cultures, and in extension identities play out in the process of migration? The devaluation of languages and cultures is in fact the devaluation of those who identify with them; they are left to “feel undervalued” or “not good enough” in the languages they speak, cultures they identify with, and literacies they practice. To be “good enough” or valued, they have to …

Equity And Access: College Board And The Effectiveness Of The Advanced Placement Program In Five Private High Schools, Cole Malsky

Theses and Dissertations

In recent years, the College Board and the Advanced Placement program have pushed for further equity and access for all students (College Board, 2020a). College Board is taking strides to offer students open enrollment to Advanced Placement; however, many underrepresented and low-income students are still unable to access these courses. The College Board and school districts need to continue to study strategies to help close this opportunity gap. To what extent is the College Board working to expand the AP program in private schools to serve more underrepresented students? What impact does the growth of the Advanced Placement program have …

An Examination Of The Perceptions Of Teachers, Administrators And Instructional Support Staff About The Use Of Data To Guide Instruction In A Catholic Diocese, In The Northeastern United States, Michael B. Connell

Theses and Dissertations

Educators have an abundance of student data available to guide their instructional decisions. Federal and State legislation has repeatedly incorporated accountability measures to ensure learning equity. Current research revealed that effective data use in the classroom to guide instructional decisions requires a complex network of resources, supports, and practices. This quantitative research study, informed by Sociocultural Theory, investigated teachers, administrators, and instructional support staff perceptions regarding teachers’ use of data to support instruction, their attitudes toward data, and the supports that help teachers use data. The study was conducted in one suburban Roman Catholic Diocese in the Northeastern United States …

Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy For Deafblind Individuals With Progressive Vision Loss, Chelsey Laurito

Theses and Dissertations

Deafblind individuals with progressive visual conditions are presented with the challenge of adjusting to the gradual loss of sight over time and the social, psychological, environmental, and communicative implications relative to that process. Mental health treatment for these individuals is not widely researched due to the lack of homogeneity in the deafblind population; therefore, exploratory studies are necessary. Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) is an evidence-based treatment that has successfully addressed a range of symptoms in many psychological and medical diagnoses but has not been researched with individuals who are deafblind. In this multiple baseline design study, the researcher delivered …

Adaptation And Translation Of Autism Spectrum Disorder Rating Scales For School-Age Children: Evaluating Adherence To The International Test Commission Guidelines, Tamanna Chhabra

Theses and Dissertations

he current review examines adaptations and translations of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) rating scales for school-aged children around the world. ASD rating scales are a quick and efficient way to diagnosing ASD, and adaptations of ASD scales offer low-cost methods to make tools available around the world. The International Test Commission guidelines (ITC, 2017) provide a rigorous framework for researchers to adapt and translate psychological tests. This review used the X-CAGAM (Duke, 2019) a tool developed to operationalize the guidelines to examine how well the selected ASD measures adhere to the ITC guidelines. Fourteen adaptations and translations were included in …

A Case Study On The Implementation Of Disciplinary Literacy With Multimodal Design In Social Studies, John J. Castaldo

Theses and Dissertations

Social studies education provides education researchers with a less common opportunity to discover multimodal instructional methods for disciplinary literacy. During a 12-week period in 2021, four social studies teachers with at least one history course in a large suburban Mercer County, New Jersey school district participated in a case study to showcase how disciplinary literacy can be implemented using multimodal design. Given the existing lack of research on instructional literacy design for secondary grades, this study provides researchers and practitioners with multiple perspectives on how to maximize teaching practices in underrepresented areas of education. Significantly, social studies teachers will thus …