Digital Commons Network^™

Second Grade Language And Literacy Development Through Analysis Of Receptive And Productive Skills On The Nyseslat, Jasmin Varela

Theses and Dissertations

The future success of today’s students and our nation depends on how well prepared our students are to contribute to the globalized world of the 21st century. The population of English Language Learners (ELLs) is exploding in the United States. If students are not given the appropriate language scaffolds to learn English, ELLs will struggle academically, finding themselves ill-prepared for success in the workplace and their roles as active civic participants. This quantitative study focused on three cohorts (n = 25 each) of randomly selected second grade students enrolled in Dual Language Program, Transitional Bilingual Education Program, or English as …

Adjunct Instructors’ Preparedness To Support Students With Disabilities And The Diverse Learning Styles Of All Students, William Leonelli

Theses and Dissertations

As noted by the National Center for Education Statistics (2020), the enrollment of students with disabilities in the higher education environment continues to grow. As more students with disabilities transition into the postsecondary environment, their diverse learning needs and required supports must be addressed to ensure their postsecondary success. Although research has shown how all instructors need to be better aware of supporting the needs of students with disabilities within the postsecondary classroom (Cory, 2011), there is a particular need to explore the experiences of adjunct faculty supporting students with disabilities within these classrooms, as this area has been researched …

The Role Of Science, Technology, Engineering, And Mathematics (Stem) Efficacy For Course-Taking And High School Graduation Of English Language Learners, Yazmin Torres

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines how Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education may improve English language learners' academic achievement and high school graduation. In particular, it highlights the plight faced by ELLs in high schools regarding quality education that allows them to graduate on time and attend college. The analysis for this study is grounded on the self-efficacy component of Albert Bandura's Social Cognitive Theory (Bandura, 1977), which focuses on the hypothesis that students are motivated by positive experiences that contributes to their academic success (Hsieh & Kang, 2010). Using Albert Bandura's self-efficacy framework and nationally representative data from the High …

Are Teachers Prepared To Employ Culturally Responsive Teaching Effectively With English Language Learners?, Karleen Adam-Comrie

Theses and Dissertations

All teachers, regardless of their backgrounds, require appropriate preparation to address the necessities of all students. A significant challenge in preparing teachers is ensuring they are familiar with the unique characteristics of the different group of students in their classrooms. According to New York State of Education (NYSED), the breakdown of ethnic groups’ enrollment is: 17% Black or African American, 27% Hispanic or Latino, 1% American Indian or Alaska native, 10% Asian or native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander, 43% White and 2% multiracial (NYSED, 2019). As the number of diverse ethnicities continues to grow, it is left to educators to ensure …

Educators’ Perceptions Of Their Self-Efficacy In Teaching English Language Learners With Disabilities And Their Use Of Culturally Relevant Pedagogy, Virginia Figueroa

Theses and Dissertations

Researchers have demonstrated the need for teachers to have the training and preparation to meet the needs of a growing diverse student population that can include students who may present with a variety of needs. This research will explore the experience of educators teaching students who are learning English as a second language and present with a disability. While research has been conducted on the assessment and placement of language learners with disabilities there is a gap in the literature regarding teachers’ experiences and self-efficacy in educating English language learners who have disabilities and their use of Culturally Relevant Pedagogy …

The Role Of The Pre-Freshman Summer Experience In The Educational Opportunity Program During Covid-19: A Case Study Approach, Mayulie Luciano

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this case-study investigated the role of the Pre-Freshman Summer Experience Program used for an Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) located at State University (SU) Upstate*. More specifically, this study explored how students fared during the completion of the pre-freshman summer experience program throughout the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Utilizing a single embedded case study approach, this study gathered data from the State University (SU) at Upstate Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) 2021-2022 incoming class. This study includes the following forms of data collection: institutional documents, student questionnaires, focus groups, and interviews. Potential implications include possible program reform to adapt to …

Principal Coaching In A Large Urban District: A Correlational Study Examining The Relationship Between Coaching And Early Career Principals’ Self-Efficacy, Matthew Irving Pearson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between ICF coach-ing and early career principals’ self-efficacy related to their a) management skills and b) instructional leadership. The sample for this study were principals in a larger urban school district in the northeast who began their principalship between July 2017 to June 2021. This was a correlational study in which the researcher investigated early career principals’ perceptions of their self-efficacy related to management skills, and b) self-efficacy related to instructional leadership in a large urban school district. The survey instrument used for this study was Tschannen-Moran and Gareis (2004) …

How Do First-Year Dominican Students Perceive Their First Year Of College And How Do These Perceptions Impact Their Retention, Maria C. Cano

Theses and Dissertations

College completion rate is a major challenge afflicting colleges and universities as well as students in the United States, particularly Hispanic students (Field, 2018). This qualitative case study aimed to investigate how Dominican students perceived their first year of college and how that perception impacted their retention in a community college in the Northeast. Participants included a purposeful sample of fourteen students (four students enrolled fall of 2021 and four students who did not enroll in the spring of 2022, five students from a focus group, and one of the students from the focus group was interviewed for an in-depth …

Mentors’ Perspective On Mentoring Practices For New Teachers: A Qualitative Study, Rosa Smith-Norman

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative phenomenological research study explores the lived experiences of mentors as they share their perceptions of mentoring practices to better understand how participatory experiences affect the professional growth of new teachers. Using a phenomenological research design helps to better understand the participants’ perceptions and personal meaning making processes that emerge from their first-person lived experiences of their professional practice. This study explores how ongoing participatory experiences have served to shape one’s perceptions about teaching and learning though the use of best mentoring practice strategies. To this end, this study triangulates the data by conducting an initial email interview questionnaire …

Culturally Responsive Community Of Practice: A Multiple Case Study Of Instructional Support Teams, Andrea Horowitz

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to understand how culturally responsive actions, behaviors and practices of school building leaders, teachers and support staff during the Instructional Support Team (IST) process impact equitable outcomes for all students within the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) process. The participants of the study are the members of two Instructional Support Teams (IST); one elementary team and the other a middle school team. Data was collected through interviews, collected documents, and audio-visual materials. There is little guidance on how to address equitable outcomes of the Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) process and …

On The Importance Of True Peer Norms In The Assessment Of English Learners: A Validation Study Of The Ortiz Picture Vocabulary Acquisition Test, Jane Yan Ting Wong

Theses and Dissertations

Traditional efforts in aiding English learners (ELs) to achieve better test performance such as modifications to the testing process or the use of native language or nonverbal tests are problematic and disregard the unique language developmental experiences of ELs (Ortiz & Wong, 2022). The Ortiz Picture Vocabulary Acquisition Test (Ortiz PVAT; Ortiz, 2018), an assessment of English receptive vocabulary, incorporates ELs’ proportion of lifetime exposure to English (LEE) in test norms to allow for true peer comparison, thus ensuring test fairness in measurement and score interpretation. The current study aimed to add to the existing validity evidence for the test …

When Equity Is Not Enough: The Serial Mediation Of Teacher Effectiveness And Teacher Job Satisfaction On Educational Equity And Teacher Perceptions Of School Climate, Imena Monet Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

The equity of education for African American students, especially from low-income and economically marginalized (LIEM) communities, has been a major topic of debate prior to the Civil War. The purpose of this study was to determine if educational equity has a positive effect on teacher effectiveness, teacher job satisfaction, and teacher perceptions of the school climate. Participants were educators who teach elementary and secondary level students in the Northeastern region of the United States with at least one year of experience (N = 73). Eligible participants accessed the research prompt and survey via an online link using Qualtrics. The study …

The Impact Of Face Masks On Emotional Recognition Accuracy: Differences Among Emotions And Between Men And Women, Khaled Jamal Alharbi

Theses and Dissertations

Emotional recognition is central to social interactions. This study aims to explore the impact of face masks on the recognition of six emotions, including a neutral emotion condition. In addition, the impact of face masks on the well-established superiority of women at emotion recognition is investigated. A total of 135 college age participants (106 women and 29 men) were recruited. Participants were shown five replications of male and female targets exhibiting 6 emotions in masked and unmasked conditions for a total of 120 stimuli, and the six emotions included Anger, Fear, Disgust, Happiness, Sadness and Neutral. After each stimulus was …

“Slave Guys O Not Slave Guys:” Tracing Colonialism And Resistance In The Hawaiian Pidgin Bible, Aleena Jacob

Theses and Dissertations

On the one hand, colonial-era Bibles represented powerful rhetorical devices for imperialists; on the other hand, Bibles offered a voice of justice that baited hope in marginalized readers. During the U.S. settler colonial movement, Bibles equipped U.S. missionaries with the authority to force assimilation practices, including the extermination of indigenous languages with English-only laws. In Hawai'i, English-only policies functioned to not only dispossess indigenous populations of their native languages, land, and sense of belonging, but they also began a century-plus tradition of monolingualist policy in the U.S. that continues into the present day. Such policies, along with standardized English ideologies …

An Investigation Into Orthographic Processing Deficits In Schools, Shannon Santoro

Theses and Dissertations

One of the most significant educational milestones in a child’s development is learning how to read and write. Phonological and orthographic processing skills are essential in the development of reading and writing. Currently, research exists that provides insight into school psychologists’ knowledge of phonological processing’s impact on reading and writing development and how deficits in this area are evaluated. However, very little is known about the overall level of familiarity school psychologists have with the construct of orthographic processing and how deficits are evaluated at the school level. The following study investigated the knowledge school psychologists have regarding orthographic processing. …

Aggression, Avoidance, Shame And Narcissism In Fragile Masculinity, Israel Zev Meth

Selected Full-Text Dissertations 2020-

The overwhelming representation of males in physically aggressive acts and violent crime suggests that masculinity contributes to the gender discrepancy. Fragile masculinity, a term denoting the cultural mandate and the individual’s perception that manhood is precarious, has been posited as particularly meaningful in understanding the etiology of aggression and relational avoidance in men. Empirical work suggests that there is a link among these constructs (Vandello, 2013), but the literature has not fully explored variables that may inform or impact these connections. Based on psychodynamic theories of narcissism, shame and aggression, this study aimed to empirically test their impact. Mediation and …

The Avoidance Of Shame: A Function Of Anxiety In Insecure Attachment, Sasha Justine Mann

Selected Full-Text Dissertations 2020-

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a distressing condition characterized by excessive worry, and treatment outcomes are often unsatisfactory. Research has identified worry as an avoidance mechanism to manage interpersonal and emotional distress. Insecure attachment creates vulnerabilities for GAD, and research has demonstrated that emotion dysregulation plays an explanatory role in the association between insecure attachment and anxiety symptoms. The current study supported the role of emotion dysregulation in GAD for individuals with insecure attachment. Shame, measured explicitly and implicitly, was investigated as an additional mediator in the relationship between insecure attachment and anxiety. A sample of 355 adults completed self-report …

Trauma-Informed Instruction And How It Influences Mental Health Outcomes In Students With Disabilities, Jeffery Phillip Bishop

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A growing body of research has shown that mental health needs among school-age children exceed the number of mental health professionals available to address those needs. Since students spend a lot of their time at school, much of the responsibility for identifying and responding to student mental health concerns falls mainly on the shoulders of teachers. Teachers often lack the training and resources to support these growing needs, and the recent pandemic has only compounded the issue. Students with intellectual disabilities not only have the same or greater level of mental health concerns as their non-disabled peers but also lack …

Culturally Oriented Diabetes Education For Somali Immigrants Of Minneapolis​, Alan Falkowski, Yuan Neumair, Karl Quickert

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This project aims to support Somali patients at Axis Medical Center in Minneapolis, MN by providing education on the link between diet and blood glucose level as well as the impact of that on the disease progression of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). Axis Medical Center serves many Somali immigrant patients. Due to the language barrier between the Somali patients and clinicians as well as the low health literacy amongst the Somali patients, an eight minute educational video with visual aids was created to facilitate diabetes education in this population. In the educational video, a Somali PA-C explains the pathophysiology …

Autism Across The Globe, Megan N. Haack

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate what autism is like across the globe. Autism is a developmental disorder that is associated with social difficulties, restricted and repetitive behaviors. The prevalence of autism diagnoses had increased significantly in the United States. Since autism impacts every aspect of an individual’s life, it is important to understand the implications an autism diagnosis has on the individual and the family. Additionally, culture is a strong force in life. Culture shapes social expectations and the way behavior is perceived. Therefore, the study reviewed previous research that investigated autism in a variety of cultures. …

Implications Of Teacher Burnout Related To Being A Special Education Provider, William M Sprouls

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACT The profession of special education instructor has evolved over the years. Special education teachers must often manage lesson plans that make accommodations for all intellectual and disability needs of students. Special education teachers are charged with leading the IEP team and overseeing a wide range of goals, including occupational, speech, physical, and emotional behavioral, and modified education that integrates the student into the least restrictive environment mandated by law. These responsibilities often vary across disabilities and federal educational settings. The author of this thesis reviewed a number of relevant articles that explored the multitude of responsibilities required of special …

Effects And Management Of Smartphone Usage In The Classroom, Hannah L Leidall

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this literature review is to analyze the effects of smartphone usage in the classroom and how to mitigate the negative ramifications. The research shows that excessive smartphone usage comes at a detriment to other areas of a student's health, such as students’ well-being, mental health, and social-emotional learning. This informs two actions teachers can take to influence positive smartphone usage: setting a smartphone policy and prioritizing social-emotional development.The literature reinforced that there is less problematic smartphone usage when social-emotional learning is prioritized, and emotional intelligence is high. This awareness of self, others, and how one’s decisions regarding …

Visual Supports And Autism, Donna L Macoskey

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex developmental condition that involves persistent challenges in social interaction, speech and nonverbal communication, and restricted/repetitive behaviors. Children on the Autism Spectrum thrive on routine, visuals, and calm learning environments. Visual supports are effective tools for students who need additional support to understand and communicate. Visual supports are easily accessible, adapted to skill level, and tailored to specific interests and activities. In this literature review with application, I will explore different types of visual supports and describe situations in which visual supports are used effectively. I will go in-depth about the different types of …

Commedia Dell’Arte: The Mechanisms Of Othering, Olly Crick

Representing Alterity through Puppetry and Performing Objects

This chapter proposes that the dramaturgic flexibility within historical Commedia dell’Arte was predicated on a performance methodology that demanded a changing pattern of othering, depending on the class, economic strength and region of their audiences.

Puppetry For A Total War: French And German Puppet Plays In World War I, Didier Plassard

Representing Alterity through Puppetry and Performing Objects

Comparing German, Austrian and French puppet repertoires composed during or in the aftermath of WW1, this paper examines how these productions took part in the “bourrage de cranes” (brainwashing) of public opinions, instilling the hate of other nations in the minds of the youngest.

Plot To Kill The President: A Novel, Arthur Scott, Brian Heath

Faculty Authored Books and Book Contributions

I was always skeptical of The Warren Report as were countless other Americans over the decades.

I was reenergized to look more closely at November 22,1963, by a chance encounter with Brian heath, a JFK aficionado, who had made some startling discoveries about the assassination. He had studied meticulously the Nix film and concluded that the fatal shot came from within the presidential limousine from the driver, William Greer. Similarly, that many of JFK’s cabinet members consisted of former OSS spooks, who dominated the CIA, and were major spokesman for the national security state and America’s global dominance.

They saw …

The Benefits Of Implementing Trauma Informed Teaching Strategies To Support Students In Special Education, Connor J. Malcolm

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The number of children experiencing traumatic events is occurring at an alarming rate. According to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA), more than two-thirds of children in the United States are going to or have already experienced at least one traumatic event by the age of 16. Students with special education needs are also experiencing this trauma at high rates. These students that are experiencing different types of trauma are then carrying this trauma with them into schools and classrooms. Trauma affects the brain and also influences the way that students can learn and behave in the classroom. …

The Benefits Of Implementing Trauma Informed Teaching Strategies To Support Students In Special Education, Connor J. Malcolm

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The number of children experiencing traumatic events is occurring at an alarming rate. According to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA), more than two-thirds of children in the United States are going to or have already experienced at least one traumatic event by the age of 16. Students with special education needs are also experiencing this trauma at high rates. These students that are experiencing different types of trauma are then carrying this trauma with them into schools and classrooms. Trauma affects the brain and also influences the way that students can learn and behave in the classroom. …

La Plástica Mesoamericana, Montserrat Camacho Ángeles

Tejiendo imágenes. Homenaje a Victòria Solanilla Demestre

Resumen: En los albores de nuestra cultura, aproximadamente hacia el 2500 a.C. surgió una civilización con grandes rostros, conformada por pueblos étnica y lingüísticamente diferentes pero unidos por una sola visión del mundo. Estos pueblos se desarrollaron en la región comprendida hoy por parte de México y América Central, caracterizados por algunos elementos culturales comunes, como el uso del calendario, el cultivo del maíz, los sacrificios humanos y un estilo artístico con rasgos únicos. Paul Kirchhoff denomina en 1943 a esta región como Mesoamérica y las culturas que en ella surgen estuvieron cimentadas fundamentalmente sobre tres bases: el sedentarismo, …

Iconografías Asociadas Al Mono Araña En Las Culturas Del Centro De Veracruz, Chantal Huckert

Tejiendo imágenes. Homenaje a Victòria Solanilla Demestre

Este ensayo analiza el papel protagónico de una diosa representada en una estatua de tipo monumental procedente de la Gran Ofrenda del Montículo 2 del sitio de El Zapotal. La argumentación se funda en los datos arqueológicos, con las interpretaciones de los arqueólogos, en los aspectos señaléticos de la pieza, el tocado «en domo», la diadema con la figura parcial tridimensional –cabeza y busto– del mono araña, el artificio dorsal de cinco ramales, el ceñidor ofidio y la postura sedente, y en fuentes que reportan sobre el mono araña en las culturas prehispánicas, particularmente los referentes a las deidades madres …