Digital Commons Network^™

School Counselors Treating Anxiety In Public School Settings: A Group Manual, Sarah Dyann Voss

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

As anxiety becomes more prevalent in children and adolescents, the demand for mental health resources has also increased. School counselors are highly trained mental health professionals who could be one of the answers to help close the gap of the demand for mental health resources. This review aims to analyze the benefits and effectiveness of school counselors treating anxiety in public school settings by utilizing small group interventions. Most public school settings have school counselors available for students, which is an opportunity for school counselors to provide mental health services. Several research studies have been conducted on this topic, showing …

Ambiguous Loss And Grief Group Intervention For Youth In Foster Care, Courtenay Anne Miedema

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Over the past ten years in the United States, there has been an average of 414,000 youth in the foster care system each year (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2020). Youth in foster care are an at-risk population for behavioral, emotional, and relational issues that are often perceived or diagnosed as dysfunctional symptoms. Common presenting symptoms reported by this population relate to ambiguous loss experiences and can be conceptualized by ambiguous loss theory. Ambiguous loss theory has been developed through research with well-defined concepts, assessments, and treatment goals. However, there is a gap in the research on ambiguous …

The Effects Of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy On Adolescent Anxiety: A Training For School Staff And Administration, Michael Millard

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Adolescent anxiety is an issue that continues to negatively affect many students. The following literature review and training material have been corroborated to provide school staff members with a basic understanding of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and its effectiveness in a school counseling setting with anxious adolescents. The training may also be relevant for parents, guardians, and other school counselors. The material provides data about the problem of anxiety, different CBT modalities, and considerations for school staff. The training also provides an opportunity for school counselors and other staff members to communicate and acknowledge barriers that are often inherent between …

A Phenomenological Study Of International Students’ Sense Of Belonging At A Rural, Midwestern University, Danielle Smith

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Each year, hundreds of thousands of international students seek academic opportunities in the United States (U.S.). For international students, studying abroad can provide opportunities to build or enhance their English language skills, experience new cultures, study under different education models, and create long lasting friendships. However, if institutions lack appropriate services and resources, these opportunities can quickly become barriers. If campuses do not take the necessary measures to create inclusive and supportive learning environments which enhance opportunities for a sense of belonging, they are at risk of losing these valuable student populations.

Research around the experiences of international students is …

Beginning Special Education Teachers’ Perceptions Of Impactful Self-Resiliency Skills: A Qualitative Study, Kjersten Skatvold

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Special educators are in high demand and greatly needed to meet the growing population of special education in public schools today. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to gain an understanding of how beginning special educators lived experiences and utilized their self-resilience skills which impacted their retention in the field of special education. With an increasing rate of attrition in the field of special education, exploring self-resilience factors that impact the retention of beginning special educators was imperative to understanding how to best support these early career educators. The increasing demands and pressures that beginning special educators are required …

Trauma-Informed Training For Educators, Kristin White

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The occurrence of childhood trauma in the school setting is an ongoing and pervasive issue. Students impacted by trauma frequently display challenging and problematic behavior, and educators lack the trauma-informed care needed to help them heal. These students often go untreated, and their trauma continues to impact them and those around them. This project aims to review the current literature on childhood trauma and how educators can better support students affected by trauma. The trauma-informed training associated with this project will offer tools, curricula, and resources that educators can implement on their campuses.

The Effect Of Student Agency In A Kindergarten Classroom, Rachel Bedel

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

By providing opportunities for students to practice agency in the learning environment, students can make decisions and choices in their learning that will allow them to be motivated and take ownership over their own learning. This mixed methods research study examined the effectiveness of fostering student agency in a kindergarten classroom by comparing the surveys, interviews, and performance results of two groups of students within one classroom. The first group of students were given a choice in what literacy activities they completed and the length of time it took to complete them. The second group of students were given explicit …

Analysis Of Self, Parker Hall

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Self-Analysis is the process of reviewing elements of an individual's own social, professional, and overall self to understand their actions. The point of this analysis is to reflect on where I have come from to gain insight in my path going forward as a counselor. Analytic tools were used to measure important aspects of my character including personality, career aptitude, and general strengths. The specific tools include the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, The STRONG Inventory, and the CliftonStrengths assessment. These formal assessments were then coupled with one-on-one interviews with individuals that played key roles in my life. The paper concludes with …

Mental Health Counseling Advocacy In K-12 Special Education A Training And Resource Manual For Mental Health Counselors, Teni Ebsen

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

This literature review is an examination of effective strategies for clinical mental health counselors to participate within the special education process on behalf of their clients. Mental health disorders among children are on the rise (Osagiede et al., 2018). Within special education, schools are seeing more children requiring social/emotional and behavioral services. When a student is referred by either guardians or school staff for special education services, an initial evaluation is completed (Berger et al., 2022). This is often a cumbersome process that may be overwhelming and confusing for families to navigate (Hott et al., 2015) If a student qualifies …

Anxiety Reduction Within The School Setting: What Known Anxiety Reducing Interventions Are Most Effective In Schools?, Cole Walters

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Students in our schools are experiencing anxiety. This anxiety can be disruptive to the educational experience of students and can make for an uncomfortable learning environment. Educators and school systems oftentimes have the goal of creating an equitable environment for all of their learners. Addressing the effects of anxiety in the classroom should be no different. This quantitative study examined the effectiveness of three different anxiety-reducing interventions in the classroom. Students participated in a testing anxiety intervention, a journaling intervention, and a mindful breathing intervention. Students shared their level of anxiety by completing a survey to understand the effects of …

A.I.M. Handbook Parent Handbook, Emery Palm

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Students that are in special education receive a wide variety of services depending on their qualification. Special education encompasses all types of services including academics, speech and language, occupational therapies, and social and emotional learning skills. Students can receive social and emotional learning services for a wide variety of behaviors or concerns that are being seen and within these services there are a multitude of curriculums that fit the needs of a variety of different students. Based on current research there is a social skills curriculum that encompasses six different components in order to teach students to be a more …

The College Search Process Of Rural, First-Generation Students, Tia Miles

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

First-generation college students (FGCS) continue to be one of the largest growing groups of students across higher education. Being a FGCS comes with a unique set of challenges when facing the choice of a college or university. This research aims to identify barriers that FGCS face in the college search process to provide student support professionals with information and recommendations on how to effectively support FGCS in the college search process. Previous research has often focused on the matriculation, retention, and graduation of FGCS. It is important to understand how FGCS select an institution of higher education to improve retention …

The Effects Of Orthographic Mapping In Student Spelling Performance, Kelli Simpson

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The ability to accurately and automatically spell words shows a deep understanding of phonemes, graphemes, phonological context, morphology, and an understanding of language of origin. One approach to spelling instruction is through the explicit teaching of grapheme-phoneme correspondences. This 2023 study focused on the impact of orthographic mapping on student spelling performance of third grade students. Students completed a spelling pre-assessment. Then, students received orthographic mapping spelling instruction using sound boxes. At the conclusion of the study, students completed a spelling post-assessment. Student data was analyzed to gauge the effectiveness of orthographic mapping as a method of spelling instruction.

Overcoming Language Barriers With Parents Of English Learners, Anissa Elkjer

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The purpose of this literature review was to determine the most effective ways to build relationships with parents of English Language Learner (ELL) students and how to overcome the language barrier when creating these relationships. A literature review was done to answer the following research questions: In what ways can English Language teachers build relationships with parents of English Learners? How can the language barrier be overcome between educators and English Language Learner’s families? The results were used to create a presentation to inform other educators what was learned. The presentation provides explanatory information about initiating effective communication using translators …

Educator Self-Reflection: Parent Communication Methods In Special Education, Katie Hosch

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Communication between educators and parents/guardians increases positive relationships as well as provides opportunities for collaboration. Purposeful and intentional planning for the communication allows for positive moments, thoughts, ideas, and concerns regarding a students’ educational progress (academics, services, social/emotional) to be shared. West and Pirtle (2014) found that parents feel the essential qualities for special education teachers to possess include understanding, training, and effective communication. They felt it was important that their child’s special education teacher was able to effectively communicate with the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) team; this included seeing the educator/parent or guardian relationship as a ‘partnership.’

When students …

The Effectiveness Of Explicit Literacy Instruction On Kindergarten And First-Grade Student’S Decoding Abilities, Stacy Olson, Megan Parenteau, Monica Parenteau

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

There is a growing concern among educators regarding how children best develop early literacy skills. Due to this educational concern, the purpose of this study was to investigate and build a better understanding of how explicit and systematic phonics, phonemic, and phonological awareness instruction impact kindergarten and first-grade student’s ability to decode text. Participants of the study included students currently enrolled in the researcher’s kindergarten and first-grade classrooms within two elementary schools consisting of 54 students. The researchers modeled and taught literacy skills and concepts on a daily basis with all students using explicit and systematic literacy instruction. The research …

The Effects Of Social-Emotional Learning, Classroom Relationships, And Collaborative Learning On Students’ Emotional Intelligence And Academic Achievement, Slade Simpson

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Within educational settings, people are quick to blame intellectual development, or a lack thereof, for students’ shortcomings. However, in recent years, there has been a significant increase in issues related to students’ mental health and emotional well-being that have been detrimental to their academic progress. This quasi-experimental study investigated whether or not development of emotional intelligence through the use of social-emotional learning, relationship development, and collaborative learning has a positive impact on a students’ academic achievement. The results of this study were used to help determine if an educational focus on emotional intelligence can provide a viable option to combat …

The Effectiveness Of Explicit Literacy Instruction On Kindergarten And First-Grade Student’S Decoding Abilities, Megan Parenteau, Monica Parenteau, Stacy Olson

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

There is a growing concern among educators regarding how children best develop early literacy skills. Due to this educational concern, the purpose of this study was to investigate and build a better understanding of how explicit and systematic phonics, phonemic, and phonological awareness instruction impact kindergarten and first-grade student’s ability to decode text. Participants of the study included students currently enrolled in the researcher’s kindergarten and first-grade classrooms within two elementary schools consisting of 54 students. The researchers modeled and taught literacy skills and concepts on a daily basis with all students using explicit and systematic literacy instruction. The research …

The Effectiveness Of Explicit Literacy Instruction On Kindergarten And First-Grade Student’S Decoding Abilities, Monica Parenteau, Megan Parenteau, Stacy Olson

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

There is a growing concern among educators regarding how children best develop early literacy skills. Due to this educational concern, the purpose of this study was to investigate and build a better understanding of how explicit and systematic phonics, phonemic, and phonological awareness instruction impact kindergarten and first-grade student’s ability to decode text. Participants of the study included students currently enrolled in the researcher’s kindergarten and first-grade classrooms within two elementary schools consisting of 54 students. The researchers modeled and taught literacy skills and concepts on a daily basis with all students using explicit and systematic literacy instruction. The research …

A Training For Counselors To Work With Dual Diagnosis Of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder And Intellectual Developmental Disorder, Justin Sawatzke

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Abstract

Individuals with intellectual developmental disorder (IDD), also called intellectual disability, have received little attention when it comes to counseling research. Though there has been a push for increasing amounts of multicultural counseling within the field in recent years, this demographic has not been examined with very much scrutiny. This is especially true when considering individuals who have a diagnosis of IDD alongside a diagnosis of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), despite a high prevalence of co-occurring disorders of IDD and PTSD. The purpose of the proceeding literature is to provide a training program that can be utilized by counseling …

Addressing Self-Esteem: A Counseling Group Manual For Upper Elementary Students, Alexis Lee Wanner

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

An individual’s self-esteem is the lens through which that person views themselves in all aspects of their life. Self-esteem is present throughout the lifespan but generally fluctuates and is impacted by various internal and external factors. The self-esteem of children and adolescents, however, is especially critical because it sets the foundation for self-esteem throughout adulthood and is related to both positive and negative life outcomes. Counseling interventions from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, positive psychology and mindfulness have been shown to be effective for improving self-esteem in this population (Zhong et al., 2021; Su & Swank, 2019; Larking & Thyer, 1999; Wisner …

Effects Of Small Group Instruction On Fact Fluency Progress, Kristi Gaida

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

ABSTRACT

This study will focus on the impact small group and individual instruction has on fact fluency. The specific group of facts being multiplication facts 0-12. This study will be based in a 6^th grade math classroom in rural, central Minnesota. Students will be given a pre-test to assess their base knowledge of multiplication facts 0-12. Over the course of the study, student progress will be monitored through different interventions along with progress monitoring through the use of FastBridge. At the end of the study, students will also receive a post-test to help solidify the validity of the results …

Student Perceptions Of Co-Teaching, Megan Berg

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The purpose of this study was to attain information on middle school students’ perspectives of co-teaching based on their experiences in co-taught classrooms. Co-teaching is a commonly used practice, generally between a special education and general education teacher, to support and meet the needs of all learners in a diverse classroom. Because inclusive classrooms are composed of students with and without disabilities, the individual expertise of general and special educators is essential in constructing a harmonious co-teaching partnership (Jurkowski & Muller, 2018; Ritter et al., 2020). According to Kirkpatrick et al. (2020), when co-teachers work together to share their knowledge …

Barriers That Impact International/Foreign-Born Practical Nursing Students’ Completion Rate In A Diploma Program Located In A Community College In The Midwestern United States, Joy Seymour

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Thousands of international students leave their countries of origin each year to pursue higher education in the United States. These students left their homelands to pursue higher education, which helped change the trajectory of their lives and the lives of their families. Although some of these students have high hopes and aspirations of completing their programs of studies, the literature review showed that they experienced barriers, such as English language, financial, culture shock, and unfamiliar teaching and learning pedagogies. This qualitative phenomenological research study aimed to identify self-reported barriers that impacted the completion rate of international/foreign-born students pursuing the Practical …

Leading With Equity Through Action: The Theory Of Racial And Gender Equity Advancement In Rural Schools, Anna Gross

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

All students deserve an equitable education. Rampant misinformation has flooded the educational world, and society as a whole, turning the concept of “equity” into something that has become politically charged. However, all students are different, and differences must be acknowledged and celebrated to ensure all students receive the education they need to thrive both academically and socially.

The purpose of this study is to examine equitable practices in rural schools. Using a constructivist paradigm, a grounded theory research approach was utilized through collection of qualitative data to theorize why some rural schools are further advanced than other rural schools of …

A Phenomenological Study On Single Parents’ Experiences And Engagement As Their Child Attends Elementary School, Samantha Gort

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The popularity of parental involvement in school systems has risen since the Elementary Secondary Education Act (ESEA) came into effect. However, there is a lack of research on how single parents navigate parental involvement and the struggles they face juggling jobs, multiple children, and stress with a lack of support. This research is guided by the following questions: What are the perceptions and beliefs of parental involvement for single parents with their child attending elementary school? How do single parents experience this first year? What support do single parents receive from the school system?

A phenomenological study using a construct …

How Doctoral Students In A Formal Leadership Program Conceptualize Followership: A Mixed-Methods Study, Katy J. Johnson

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The purpose of this exploratory mixed-methods study was to determine how doctoral students in a formal leadership program conceptualize followership. The methods used to conduct this analysis included distributing a Qualtrics (released in August 2022) survey and conducting one-on-one interviews with a sample of degree-seeking doctoral students within a formal leadership program. The researcher collected quantitative and qualitative data addressing students’ followership style, leadership attitudes and beliefs, and perceptions of followership. These data were analyzed concurrently using a triangulation design. A total of 67 students completed the survey, and seven students were interviewed. The findings revealed that the participants employ …

Reflecting On Ecse Parent Coaching: Integrating High Leverage Practices 2, 11 And 16 With Parents Of Children Birth Through Age 2, John Muhlenpoh

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The purpose of this study was to gather information on Early Intervention (EI) practices and the implementation of the Special Education High Leverage Practices (HLPs) with parents and children ages birth through age two. In the past, EI staff took the lead as they provided a medical model of services where the staff went into the homes of parents and “fixed” problems the child was having, essentially leaving the parent out of the equation (NICHCY, 2022). The programs involved parents, but many of the parents seemed to take a back seat and watch what was going on with their child …

Personalized Health Care In A Data-Driven Era: A Post–Covid-19 Retrospective, Arnob Zahid, Ravishankar Sharma

All Works

No abstract provided.

Changes In Fish Communties Throughout The Buck Creek Watershed In Relation To Land Use, John Clark Miller

Online Theses and Dissertations

Physical alterations of terrestrial habitat surrounding aquatic systems lead to increases in runoff, sedimentation, and nutrient inputs. Tracking changes in fish communities can provide information regarding degradation of water quality and the biotic integrity of freshwater systems. Changes in fish communities, and specifically declines in Buck Darter (Etheostoma nebra) populations, have been observed throughout the Buck Creek watershed since the 1980’s. Thus, goals of this project were to determine if shifts in fish community composition (eg., sensitive to less sensitive families, intolerant to tolerant species, and changes in feeding groups) and extirpation of the Buck Darter in 6 of 8 …