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Articles 1 - 30 of 39
Full-Text Articles in Education
Impacts Of The General Music Classroom On Social-Emotional Learning, Nicole Geerdes
Impacts Of The General Music Classroom On Social-Emotional Learning, Nicole Geerdes
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
The purpose of this action research project was to gain insight into students’ social-emotional learning and the impact of general music class on it. The researcher utilized a dependent samples T-test with four sections of third-grade students gathering data with a check-in and check-out form on their emotional zone, using Kuypers, L. (2022) Zones of Regulation. The researcher is a general music teacher (transitional kindergarten through fifth grade) in her nineteenth year of teaching. The findings of this study showed that more than half of students came to music class in a focused and ready-to-learn state. The observations kept by …
Increasing Phonemic Awareness Instruction: A School Improvement Plan, Becca Gaffney
Increasing Phonemic Awareness Instruction: A School Improvement Plan, Becca Gaffney
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
Research findings show phonological awareness is one of the most important skills and predictors of future reading success. Studies have also shown the link between phonemic awareness to reading abilities and the lack of pre-service and in-service teacher knowledge of basic language constructs. While looking at the research findings, a school improvement plan was created to include a supplemental phonemic awareness program to increase student knowledge and skills. It also increased teacher knowledge through a training and additional professional developments based on teacher needs. This project will add to previously collected data which compares proficiency in Lambert Elementary students to …
Sensory Rooms: Increasing Preschool Students’ Focus And Engagement In The Classroom, Tasha Pierce
Sensory Rooms: Increasing Preschool Students’ Focus And Engagement In The Classroom, Tasha Pierce
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
This paper analyzes the need for schools to implement a multi-sensory room to help students regulate their sensory needs. Students today require a multitude of experiences and different levels of support in order to effectively learn. Teachers are faced with the challenge of providing this support to students so they can engage in and retain what is learned each day. To overcome this challenge, we looked at the history of multi-sensory rooms, the benefits they have for all students in the classroom, and how one can be properly implemented in a preschool classroom. We put forth an action plan that …
Maximizing Literacy Instructional Potency In A Classical Education Charter School, Rebecca Thompson
Maximizing Literacy Instructional Potency In A Classical Education Charter School, Rebecca Thompson
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
Variable research spans several decades on how emergent readers should be taught. Literacy experts and governmental reports document evidence-based reading acquisition. Yet, a wide gap remains between the state of research and a professional understanding and application of how teachers should maximize daily literacy instruction in elementary classrooms. Teaching students how to crack the alphabetic code is crucial and forms the foundation for further reading acquisition as students mature. Robust scientific consensus overwhelmingly supports utilizing explicit, systematic phonics instruction in the initial stages of learning to read. Therefore, educators must prioritize strong foundational phonics skills in grades K-2 to help …
Teacher Mindset Affects School Culture, Sarah Miller
Teacher Mindset Affects School Culture, Sarah Miller
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
Feelhaver Elementary School in northwest central, Iowa, has previously focused their professional learning on academic content which limited its focus on school culture and climate. Due to the limited focus on school culture and climate, there has been a lack of trust, collaboration, and growth mindset within the building. This school improvement plan will be implemented over the course of the next school year. This plan was developed to improve the school culture and climate in the building by increasing opportunities to utilize a growth mindset, build trust, teacher agency, and collective efficacy. Steps taken in implementation include a pre-assessment …
A Need For Social Emotional Instruction, Chelsea Cook
A Need For Social Emotional Instruction, Chelsea Cook
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
This article looks at how social emotional learning (SEL) curriculums can improve emotional safety, behavior, and school climate at the elementary school level. The article examines research from twenty-one research papers to show a need for SEL curriculums and outlines a plan for implementing a SEL curriculum school wide.
Improving Reading Skills: A School Improvement Project, Riley Mars
Improving Reading Skills: A School Improvement Project, Riley Mars
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
Reading proficiency in American schools has been a topic of conversation for over a quarter of a century. Although much focus and funding has been put towards this topic, many students are still not able to read proficiently. As students progress through their academic careers, lack of reading proficiency becomes more detrimental and more difficult to remedy. This school improvement plan was created to restructure MTSS in a newly formed upper elementary building serving 4th and 5th grade. This restructuring will clearly define the roles of each Tier, ensure data-based decisions are being made, and support students with research-based interventions.
Aligning Instructional Practices And Direct Instruction To Improve The Social-Emotional Competencies Of Students, Collin Boekhoff
Aligning Instructional Practices And Direct Instruction To Improve The Social-Emotional Competencies Of Students, Collin Boekhoff
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
The action research conducted was brought about by the researcher identifying a need to develop social-emotional skills due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent shutdown of schools. Students in this research are in third grade in the researcher’s classroom. The research was conducted over two weeks. Students were given self-assessments to rate their scores. During the research, instructional practices were designed or utilized to match desired social-emotional competencies targeted through direct instruction. Findings from the research indicate that instructional practices aligned to social-emotional competencies grow the self-rated ability levels of students. The research conducted highlighted the need to provide opportunities …
St Math Student Outcomes: Response To Goal-Setting And Mathematical Supports When Applied To The St Math Problem-Solving Process, Sara Klein
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
The purpose of this action research study was to identify the impacts of goal setting and the use of mathematical tools on student performance while engaged in ST Math. The study was conducted in eight Kindergarten classrooms across eleven elementary schools in Northeast Iowa. Quantitative data was collected to monitor the following indicators: number of puzzles completed, average student velocity, and average percent journey completion at weekly intervals throughout the collection period. Those results were then analyzed to determine impacts based on the presence of the goal setting and mathematical tools innovations within individual classrooms compared to those that did …
Does Guided Math Paired With Math Stations Result In More Student Mathematical Growth Than Traditional Whole Group Structure?, Abigail Eben
Does Guided Math Paired With Math Stations Result In More Student Mathematical Growth Than Traditional Whole Group Structure?, Abigail Eben
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
This action research project was conducted to determine if guided math paired with math stations resulted in more student growth than a traditional, whole group classroom. The topic was chosen because of the researcher’s interest in elementary mathematics. Some teachers are implementing math stations and guided math in schools while other teachers believe in a whole group, traditional setting. The researcher has been teaching for five years, and her class of 5th grade students participated in the action research. This researcher and another 5th grade teacher implemented guided math paired with math stations for four weeks over a long division …
Collaboration During Writing In A First Grade Classroom, Kathryn Av Schafer
Collaboration During Writing In A First Grade Classroom, Kathryn Av Schafer
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
The purpose of this study was to discover if providing students with a collaboration intervention would increase the times they chose to work with a peer and if they found the collaboration beneficial. The participants were sixteen students from one first grade classroom in a midwestern city. This study included quantitative data to determine the impact of the intervention. The researcher tallied if students chose to ask a teacher for help or collaborate with a peer. Students completed reflection forms stating if the help was beneficial. The results do not reveal a significant difference between whom the students ask for …
Incorporating Physical Activity Breaks Before Math Improves Students Overall On-Task Behavior, Larissa Surprenant
Incorporating Physical Activity Breaks Before Math Improves Students Overall On-Task Behavior, Larissa Surprenant
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
The purpose of this action research study will focus on incorporating physical activity before math into a Kindergarten classroom, to help improve on-task behavior. The study was conducted over a four-week period in one Kindergarten classroom. Data was collected to determine if physical activity or brain breaks help improve students' on-task behavior during the math mini-lesson. Two weeks consisted of the students not receiving the brain break/physical activity intervention and the next two weeks consisted of implementing the brain break/physical activity intervention. After the four-week trial, students showed increased on-task behavior after completing the brain break/physical activity. The conclusion stated …
Academic Advantages Of Increased Classroom Movement In Kindergarten, Elizabeth Hill
Academic Advantages Of Increased Classroom Movement In Kindergarten, Elizabeth Hill
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
Modern kindergarten classrooms are academically rigorous learning environments with high expectations placed on young learners. Oftentimes, these students still receive an education based on traditional instructional strategies that no longer benefit and challenge young learners appropriately. This literature review examines the academic benefits of intentional classroom movement, kinesthetic learning, brain breaks and the impact they have on learning in the kindergarten setting. This literature review presents peer reviewed research studies conducted within the last ten years that investigate the most advantageous methods of movement incorporation in the classroom. The findings of this literature review conclude that, by increasing classroom movement, …
Increasing Student Participation In Elementary Physical Education, Andrea K. Garcia
Increasing Student Participation In Elementary Physical Education, Andrea K. Garcia
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
No abstract provided.
School Improvement Plan, Taylor Anderson
School Improvement Plan, Taylor Anderson
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
Students in schools display a variety of behaviors. Some of these behaviors being negative, and some of these behaviors being positive. This school improvement plan will give you a small glimpse at a Title 1 elementary school with a goal of decreasing the amount of times a student has to be removed from the classroom, or receives a first responder call. A first responder call is when an adult in the building has to call for additional adult support due to a student's behaviors. This project will start with a literature review of multiple articles discussing social skills, and the …
The Effects Of Technology On Reading Fluency In A First Grade Summer School Classroom, Bailey A. Kennedy
The Effects Of Technology On Reading Fluency In A First Grade Summer School Classroom, Bailey A. Kennedy
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
The purpose of this action research project was to determine if the technology app EPIC! is more effective in helping first-grade students increase their oral reading fluency skills compared to a teacher-assisted, non-technological intervention. Before the interventions began, the students completed three oral timed reading passages at the first-grade level by FASTbridge. This score was used as a baseline for the data. The intervention lasted for two weeks. The experimental group completed stories on the application EPIC! for 15 minutes each session, while the control group completed research based educational games with the researcher. Both were done in addition to …
Science In The Elementary Classroom, Melissa Birkey
Science In The Elementary Classroom, Melissa Birkey
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
The elementary school day is filled with many different aspects of learning. Math and reading have been the emphasis of teaching over the last decade. Science is a part of students learning that needs to find its way into the elementary school day. This literature review compares different curriculum that is used to teach science in the elementary classroom as well as discusses an effective use of time to implement science into the daily schedule. When considering when and how to teach science, some teachers incorporate into other curricular areas as others find its own time during the day. Multiple …
Comparison Of Play-Based Learning Versus Worksheets In English Language Arts Growth, Erin Wiskus
Comparison Of Play-Based Learning Versus Worksheets In English Language Arts Growth, Erin Wiskus
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
The purpose of this action research is to compare the data of kindergarten student’s growth in ELA (English Language Arts) through the use of play-based learning strategies against students who utilize worksheets as part of their instruction in order to determine if one instructional method is more effective than the other in demonstrating academic growth in English Language Arts. One group of students participated in play-based learning strategies while the other group utilized worksheets as an extension of learning. Both groups were given weekly pretests and posttests in the areas of: letter identification, CVC (consonant, vowel, consonant) words, digraphs, and …
The Impact Of Station Rotations In 2nd Grade Reading, Rebecca Draayer
The Impact Of Station Rotations In 2nd Grade Reading, Rebecca Draayer
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
Selecting a classroom approach which engages students and prepares them for success can be challenging for teachers. Educators have to take into account resources available for instruction as well as the demographics of their classroom. This action research study followed second grade students over a four-month period in a reading classroom that utilized the station rotation approach of blended learning. The reason for selecting the station rotation model of blended learning was to improve students' reading scores. It was a goal of this action research to see if a more active approach to teaching would help improve student reading skills. …
Social-Emotional Learning And Educator Implementation, Jennifer Grossman
Social-Emotional Learning And Educator Implementation, Jennifer Grossman
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
This literature review explores social and emotional learning in the elementary classroom and how educators can help support students to be academically successful. Social and emotional learning is critical to students and their success in the classroom. Social and emotional learning is defined and interventions are explained. This literature review will explore educator support, implementation, interventions, and academic achievement. Three social and emotional learning interventions are explored. The interventions are imperative in the success of every student. An analysis of social and emotional learning interventions suggests that students are academically more successful if they receive social and emotional learning interventions. …
The Impact Of A Classroom Calm Down Corner In A Primary Classroom, Clairissa Thompson
The Impact Of A Classroom Calm Down Corner In A Primary Classroom, Clairissa Thompson
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
Teachers use social-emotional learning (SEL) practices to help teach students strategies to self-regulate inside the classroom. The practice of mindfulness is an SEL strategy that can be implemented through the use of a classroom calm-down corner to help classroom behaviors. This action research studied the impact of a calm down corner in the primary classroom. Participants included the researcher's class of 23 second-grade students. Students participated in daily mini-lessons for strategies to use in the calm down corner. Data was collected on student behavior and usage of the calm down corner through observations. Negative student behaviors decreased as a result …
Math Fact Fluency Instruction, Kelsey Nickel
Math Fact Fluency Instruction, Kelsey Nickel
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
This literature review investigates the purpose and importance of math facts instruction at the elementary level. Being able to know basic math facts both fluently and accurately is the foundation of mathematics education. There has been research showing the lack of math facts knowledge for the students in the United States compared to their peers in other countries. Math curriculum does not focus on math facts instruction enough to achieve mastery without the use of supplemental strategies. There has been research done on the strategies to study the effectiveness. These strategies include rote memorization strategies, computer assisted instruction, educational games, …
Action Research Project: Using Mobymax To Increase Student's Fact Fluency, Brooke Faber
Action Research Project: Using Mobymax To Increase Student's Fact Fluency, Brooke Faber
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
This action research was pursued by the researcher's inquisitiveness about math fact fluency specifically using the technological platform MobyMax Fact Fluency to help boost student's fact fluency. The researcher is a first-grade teacher in her 8th year of teaching. The whole class of 17 students were a part of the class-wide research study. The five-week study examined the use of technology in the classroom. Specifically, the use of MobyMax Fact Fluency to determine if students showed growth in their fact fluency knowledge. Throughout the study, students were progress monitored every two weeks. The data suggests that with the implementation of …
Phonics: The Breaking Apart Of Words To Help All Children Learn To Read, Eliza Rogotzke
Phonics: The Breaking Apart Of Words To Help All Children Learn To Read, Eliza Rogotzke
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
This action research project was driven by the researcher’s interest in phonics based instruction to help children learn to read. Specifically, using the PRESS phonics intervention to help meet the needs of each individual learner in the experimental classroom. The researcher, a first grade teacher in her fourth year of teaching, studied her students participation in the PRESS phonics intervention. The four week intervention was conducted using the students’ fluency and early reading skills to analyze the effectiveness of the PRESS phonics intervention. Throughout the four weeks, oral reading fluency along with decodable word fluency was monitored and all progress …
Bring Them To Class: The Impact Of Art On Students' Ability To Self-Regulate In A Choice-Based Elementary Art Classroom, Rebecca Ortner
Bring Them To Class: The Impact Of Art On Students' Ability To Self-Regulate In A Choice-Based Elementary Art Classroom, Rebecca Ortner
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
This study investigates the relationship between art making in the elementary classroom and fourth-grade students' ability to self-regulate when experiencing a heightened or low state of arousal. The study included the research question "Is time spent creating art following choice-based expectations an effective intervention for students who experienced a heightened state of arousal (red zone or yellow zone) prior to beginning class?" Students' states of arousal were self-indicated through Zones of Regulation check-ins at the beginning, middle and end of class. Additional data was recorded through students' observations and student surveys. The analysis showed students who entered the classroom in …
Evidence-Based Best Practices For Kindergarten Reading, Rachel Dolehanty
Evidence-Based Best Practices For Kindergarten Reading, Rachel Dolehanty
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
This literature review aims to highlight evidence-based best practices for kindergarten reading instruction. Popular reading curriculums and instructional cueing strategies are discussed in relation to their effectiveness for kindergarten reading success. Meaning-emphasis versus code- emphasis reading curriculum philosophies are explored, and specific curriculums that fall into these categories are discussed. Metacognition strategies and their relation to successful reading instruction are underscored. Interventions are examined in the areas of kindergarten phonological awareness, phonics, comprehension, and writing. Successful interventions in each of these areas of literacy instruction are highlighted through current research.
Growth Mindset And Its Impact On Math Performance In Third Grade, Alicia Wenger
Growth Mindset And Its Impact On Math Performance In Third Grade, Alicia Wenger
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
The purpose of this action research is to describe the effects of the application of daily growth mindset lessons upon the accuracy and level of work completion in math assessments. Participants included the researcher’s class of 13 third grade students from a small rural Midwest school district. Students participated in a daily growth mindset lesson intervention for a period of 4 weeks. Data was collected using math assessments and growth mindset surveys. The results concluded that although students can develop an improvement in mindset with intervention, it does not always directly correlate to the improvement of math accuracy and work …
Preparing Incoming Kindergarteners And Parents For The Transition Into Kindergarten, Jessica Kempema
Preparing Incoming Kindergarteners And Parents For The Transition Into Kindergarten, Jessica Kempema
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
The move into kindergarten is a critical transition for kindergarten students and their parents as the transition can impact the child’s academics journey through school. It is essential that preschool and elementary schools prepare families for the transition. This action research project studies the question: how can schools make the transition into kindergarten smoother for both incoming kindergarteners and their parents? The researcher reviewed data from the Kindergarten Readiness Assessment of 26 kindergarten students and also conducted a parent survey to determine how schools can better prepare students and parents during the move into kindergarten. The study found the transition …
Influence Of Phonics Instruction On Reading Fluency And Accuracy, Shelby Bolkema
Influence Of Phonics Instruction On Reading Fluency And Accuracy, Shelby Bolkema
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
This action research study investigated the impact that an explicit phonics curriculum had on second grade readers. Blast Phonics was implemented in first grade during the 2018-2019 school year. Thus, data from 2018-2019 second graders provided baseline data from students who did not receive Blast Phonics. Data from 2019-2020 second graders provided data from students who did receive Blast Phonics. The FAST CBM Reading assessment provides data on fluency (WPM) and accuracy (%). The Press Decoding Inventory provided data on accuracy of targeted phonics skills. Comparing data from the two groups pointed to the impact that the phonics instruction had …
The Effectiveness Of Student-Centered Technology Use During Early Elementary Small Group Math Instruction, Brenna Lind
The Effectiveness Of Student-Centered Technology Use During Early Elementary Small Group Math Instruction, Brenna Lind
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
The purpose of this action research study was to determine whether students would show more growth when using paper and pencil activities or technology during small group instruction in mathematics, specifically on the skill of telling time. Data was collected from ten second-grade students over a five-week period. The two intervention groups involved in the study met for equal amounts of time and were given the same tests for data collection purposes. The test questions were randomized pictures of clocks that required students to tell time to the nearest five minutes. One intervention group practiced the skill of telling time …