Education Commons^™

Expanding Local To Global Through Esri Story Maps, Ann Marie Gleeson, Lisa Andries D'Souza

Education Department Faculty Works

For decades, the “expanding communities” model has dominated the elementary classroom, sustained by notions that young children need to first understand their local communities before they can understand the broader world. As proponents of this approach value how it supports young learners developmentally, critics fault its narrow scope. How will children become global thinkers if they fail to explore the world beyond their home?

Instead of separating local and global perspectives and topics, we set out to integrate them, to teach children about the world through their local communities. We created Community Story Maps as an inquiry-driven project where students …

An Examination Of The Factors That Impact Elementary School Principal's Perceptions Of Their Leadership Role, Kathryn M. Kish

HIM 1990-2015

A growing body of research supports the idea that large-scale school reform efforts often fail to create sustained change within the public school sector. When implementing deep organizational change, both novice and veteran educators are challenged to learn new skills, reexamine their instructional practice and content knowledge, and re-shape their underlying beliefs and values about schools. This qualitative study explored principals’ perceptions of their leadership roles in the school system. Data collection was done through a series of three interviews with three elementary school principals in Central Florida. In addition to their perceptions, it also studied factors that may influence …

Exploring The Differences Between Pre-Service Teachers' Analyses Of Various Informal Reading Inventory Results In The Elementary Grades, Tara A. Miller

HIM 1990-2015

Reading is a fundamental skill in our modern society; being able to read with comprehension and fluency is an important skill in all core academic subjects. Reading teachers are charged with the task to analyze student data in order to drive their instructional decisions. Informal Reading Inventories (IRIs) are one type of an informal reading assessment that teachers can use in the classroom to learn about student reading behaviors and drive instruction. Informal Reading Inventories assess fluency and comprehension. Research suggests that fluency and comprehension have a reciprocal relationship; meaning, if you improve one skill, you improve the other skill …

The Impact Of Meditation And Mindfulness In The Elementary Classroom: A Review Of Research Literature Across Five Disciplines, Kayli Routhier-Martin

HIM 1990-2015

Mindfulness meditation programs, benefits, and outcomes were examined through research previously conducted and published by professionals within five differing disciplines: health and wellness, psychology, elementary education, exceptional education, and medicine. The goal was to find common themes within the differing disciplines in order to gather information about the effectiveness of a mindfulness meditation program to be used in an elementary classroom. In this thesis, the chapter of Health and Wellness is a review of literature that tells the benefits found within meditators, which are not found within non-meditators. The chapter of Psychology explains the social-emotional needs of students, the causes …

Utilizing The Writing Process To Develop Meaningful Arguments, Vicky Giouroukakis Ph.D., Maureen Connolly

Faculty Works: EDU (1995-2023)

With the advent of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) (2010), argument writing has assumed a dominant role in writing instruction. Even though most students learn to argue from a young age, as they advance in the middle school grades, they must acquire more structured and sophisticated writing skills that support logical, evidence-based arguments. Many teachers feel overwhelmed with the demands of CCSS implementation and may feel concern regarding how to teach argument writing to make it accessible to students with varying academic abilities and learning styles. Based on our experiences teaching writing instruction on the secondary and college levels …

Adaptive Change For An All Boys College Preparatory Public Middle School: A Change Leadership Project, Carla L. Sparks Dr.

Dissertations

As a result of district, state, and national attention on academic achievement, as measured by state assessment tests and end of course examinations, teacher and school leaders at the school identified for this Change Leadership Project (CLP) have worked diligently to raise student rigor and achievement. However, they have used largely instructional practices that rely heavily on the work of educators rather than emphasizing the engagement of students. This CLP provides the basis for a paradigm shift in instructional practice that promotes a full understanding of the value of authentic learning, project based learning, exhibitions of mastery, and capstone projects …

Creating Cartoons To Promote Leadership Skills And Explore Leadership Qualities, Latisha L. Smith, C. K. Clausen, J. K. Teske, M. Ghayoorrad, P. Gray, Mason Albert Kuhn, Sukainah Subia, Dana L. Atwood-Blaine, Audrey C. Rule

Open Educational Resources

This document describes a strategy for increasing student leadership and creativity skills through the creation of cartoons. Creating cartoons engages students in divergent thinking and cognitive processes, such as perception, recall, and mental processing. When students create cartoons focused on a particular topic, they are making connections to their already developed schema by representing the idea or concept in a unique way. The cartoons presented in this report were created by an education professor, graduate students, preservice teachers, and third grade students. Many of the cartoons focus on the seven leadership skills articulated in Steven Covey’s “Leader in Me” program. …

Praise In The Elementary Classroom: The Teacher’S Perspective, Steven J. Bourgeois

Journal of Contemporary Research in Education

While words of encouragement from teachers may seem innocuous on the surface, the practice may have hidden costs (Kohn, 1993). Although effective in the short-run, the use of extrinsic motivators, such as praise, has been shown to have an undermining effect on long-term motivation to learn (Deci & Ryan, 2000). Mindful of the fact that academic intrinsic motivation decreases from ages 9-18 (Gottfried & Gottfried, 1996, 2006), the present study sought to gain insight into the phenomenon of classroom praise from the perspective of 105 elementary teachers, revealing their explanation and justification for this practice. Although research has documented the …

Which Middle School Model Works Best? Evidence From The Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Brian V. Carolan, Christopher C. Weiss, Jamaal Matthews

Department of Educational Foundations Scholarship and Creative Works

There are few areas of school organization that reflect more dissatisfaction than how to structure the education of adolescents in the middle grades. This study uses multilevel models on nationally representative data provided by the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study to investigate the relationship between schools’ middle-level grade span and students’ math achievement. Classroom quality was considered as an explanation for any relationships between grade span and achievement. Also examined was whether gender and family structure moderated this relationship. Results indicate that there is no generalizable relationship between grade span configuration and math achievement, but that measures of classroom quality predicted …

The Integration Of Kinesthetic Learning Through The Math & Movement Program: Pilot Study 2015, Benjamin Ferder

Master's Theses

Purpose: The primary purpose of this pilot study was to verify that the use of kinesthetic learning (Math & Movement Program) in the classroom increases retention of multiplication facts at a greater rate than traditional drill and practice. The Math & Movement Program uses a kinesthetic learning-based approach for practicing, learning, and memorizing mathematics through the incorporation of bodily movement(s). Participants: The directors of the research project for the participating school district selected the sample of convenience. The population size of this study included 213 third and fourth grade students during the second half of the 2011-2012 school years. Data …

Extended Book Review: Really Big Numbers, By Richard Evan Schwartz; The Boy Who Loved Math: The Improbable Life Of Paul Erdös, By Deborah Heiligman; The Short Seller, By Elissa Brent Weissman, Gizem Karaali

Pomona Faculty Publications and Research

The genre of math lit for children is not huge, but it is growing. My kid loves the early reader books by my friend and colleague Julie Glass (A Dollar for Penny (1998), The Fly On the Ceiling (2000)). I found Izolda Fotiyeva’s Math with Mom (2003) too late for my daughter but will definitely read it with my son. For a neat twist on the traditional alphabet book, I recommend The Technical Alphabet (2014) by the engineer sisters Lavanya and Melissa Jawaharlal. More recently a colleague introduced me to Laura Overdeck’s Bedtime Math series; these will soon join …

The Shining Sun Issue 30: Summer 2015, The University Lower School

University School Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Invention Through Form And Function Analogy, Audrey C. Rule

Faculty Book Gallery

Invention through Form and Function Analogy is an invention book for teachers and other leaders working with youth who are involving students in the invention process. The book consists of an introduction and set of nine learning cycle formatted lessons for teaching the principles of invention through the science and engineering design principles of form and function. An appendix contains sets of color, illustrated cards to be printed onto cardstock paper and used for sorting and sequencing activities during the lessons. This set of lessons has been field-tested with elementary and middle school students by teachers and was improved through …

Cultivating Creativity: The Practice Of Teaching For Creativity In The Elementary Classroom, Karin M. Colley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Limited resources in public education and a focus on the “basics” have resulted in a narrowing of the curriculum, which, in turn, has led to a dramatically minimized role for the arts and creativity (Mishook & Kornhaber, 2006). Our world and the ways in which we access and share knowledge continue to evolve at an alarming rate. With this, complex issues arise- issues that will need fresh, innovative eyes that can cultivate creative solutions. The success of our society is fueled by creative and flexible minds that can generate innovative and authentic solutions to some of our most complex problems …

Learning In Green Spaces : A 1st And 2nd Grade Curriculum On The High Line, Alyssa Anker

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This social studies curriculum provides educators with the framework for teaching 1st and 2nd graders about the High Line and other New York City parks. It provides the lens for students to explore how parks are used, observe the commonalities among different parks, and investigate the uniqueness of the High Line.

The Stories We All Share : A Sixth Grade Geography Curriculum Based On Paul Salopek's "Out Of Eden Walk", Georgina Wells

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This sixth grade geography curriculum is based on a digital journalism series called the "Out of Eden Walk," in which Paul Salopek, a journalist for National Geographic, is spending seven years walking the path of early human migration and digitally reporting the stories he encounters. The curriculum follows him on his journey, as students read his and other stories about early man, Africa, and the Middle East. Students also design and report findings from their own walks.

Sounds And Symbols : The Relationship Between Auditory Processing And Reading, Jacqueline Kohos

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This project explores the relationship between auditory processing and reading. Inspired by the students and teachers during the author's first year of teaching, this work analyzes five areas of reading challenge through the lens of auditory processing: letter names and sounds, phonological awareness, sight words, decoding, and fluency.

"Through The Ages: Images That Communicate" : A Medieval Art Museum Curriculum, Flannery Santos

Graduate Student Independent Studies

The museum curriculum proposed here utilizes the Princeton University Museum of Art's collection of medieval art to explore the ways in which images communicate. The curriculum is designed to help middle school students explore the concept that art represents the values and ideas of a culture.

Engaging Readers, Engaging Families : How Can Current Research And Thinking About Reading Engagement And Motivation Translate To The Family Context?, Erin Gordon

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This paper will provide a review of the research that pertains to reading engagement and motivation in general and offer some ways of considering the research through the lens of the family as a part of the larger educational community. The author also introduces readers to a website for families called "Engaging Readers." This website aims to empower families with resources, information, and opportunities for conversation and collaboration so that they can support their young readers with enthusiasm, confidence, and heart.

An Exploration Into The Gender-Based Achievement Gap In Literacy: Deficiency, Difference, And Teacher, Researcher And Measurement Bias, Theresa Orlandi

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This paper provides a review of the research pertaining to various explanations and causes for boys' underachievement in literacy.

Mindfulness And Children, Edna Moy-Rome

Graduate Student Independent Studies

The purpose of this study of mindfulness with third grade children is to describe the process using mindfulness as a tool and strategy to help children become self-aware of the present moment, and bring more calm, and focus and attention to learning within a classroom.

Romps, Riots, And Revels In The Land Of Make-Believe : Imaginative Play As A Prerequisite For Social And Emotional Development In Early Childhood Through Adolescence, Shoshana Balk

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This paper explores the impact of imaginative play on child development, as well as its educational benefits when incorporated into the learning environment.

A Phenomenological Investigation Of Professional Development And The Impact On Elementary Principals Instructional Leadership, Isa Dearmas

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological investigation is to identify and describe professional development components that elementary school principals in the Santa Clarita Valley perceive as having the greatest impact on their instructional leadership related to building teachers’ capacity for improving classroom instruction.

Methodology: To investigate the professional development of elementary school principals in the Santa Clarita Valley and the impact on instructional leadership, the study will follow a phenomenological research design that includes a series of interviews. This research design will focus and describe professional development components and the perspectives of elementary school principals with regard to professional development …

An Exploration Of Text And Illustrations For Implicit And Explicit Gender Bias And Stereotypes In Caldecott Award And Honor Books From 2001-2014, Jessica Kunkel

HIM 1990-2015

Children’s literature is a critical aspect during a child’s development; the messages portrayed in children’s books can affect the development of gender identity in young children and can affect how a child with act and perceive the world around them in the future (Tsao, 2008). Expanding on this research this study aimed to determine if award winning children’s literature contained implicit and explicit gender stereotypes and biases in the illustrations and text. The sample examined was Caldecott Award and Honor books from 2001 through 2014; the sample size was did not include biographies, autobiographies, informational books, concept books, poetry, and …

If I Had An F: A Feminist Picture Book For Boys, Kelly Tieger

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This independent study uncovers and meets a need in contemporary children's literature: a book explicitly expressing Feminism as a critical democratic value for everyone. The study includes a comprehensive review of available children's picture books on the topics of gender identity, roles, and expressions after finding a notable absence of books dealing with, or even mentioning the word Feminism. Specifically, this picture book serves the previously unaddressed population of cis-gendered gender conforming boys aged eight to eleven by engaging them specifically in the topic of Feminism. The study posits that picture books can act as catalysts for positive change within …

Contingent Rewards In The Elementary Classroom: The Teacher’S Perspective, Steven J. Bourgeois

Journal of Contemporary Research in Education

With growing force, extrinsic motivators, such as stickers, certificates, gold stars, and monetary compensation, permeate the educational environment (Kohn, 1993). While innocuous on the surface, such incentive-laden practices represent a level of teacher control that has profound consequences for student motivation (Reeve, 2006). Although considerable field experiments have shown the effects of contingent rewards on subsequent intrinsic motivation for engaging in proscribed activities (Deci & Ryan, 1985), such studies do not shed light on the motivational realities of the classroom environment, complete with student discipline, standardized curricula, and accountability measures. One hundred five (105) elementary teachers of grades one to …

A Comparison Of How The United States And England Educators Teach Reading, Katy Wood

Honors Theses

During my time of studying to be an early childhood education teacher at Ouachita Baptist University, I felt a calling to explore and become immersed in another culture. I had never been out of the country before, and I believed that in order to become a well-rounded teacher, I needed to learn how other countries' teachers taught their children. I chose to study abroad in Liverpool, England, at Liverpool Hope University. I took several classes at the university, but one of the most impactful things that I did while I was in England was observing in St. Leo's and Southmead …

Applying Reflection And Self-Assessment Practices To Integrative Stem Lessons: A Design-Based Research Study To Develop An Instrument For Elementary Practitioners, Diana V. Cantu

STEMPS Theses & Dissertations

This study utilized design-based research (DBR) to develop an empirically substantiated local instruction theory about the use of self-assessment and reflection in creating and assessing integrative STEM lessons. The research goals that guided this study are:

1. Determine the initial STEM self-efficacy level for the study's participants. 2. Utilize theories of reflection and self-assessment to create an instrument for preparing and assessing an integrative STEM lesson. 3. Refine the instrument through two Design-Based Research macro cycles to ensure appropriate content and applicability for use in a K-2 elementary classroom.

A conjectured local instruction theory was developed through the study's literature …

A Phenomenological Study On Principal Leadership In Islamic K-12 Schools, Allen Farina

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

The Muslim population in America is increasing and to meet the demand for quality religious and academic instruction for Muslim youth, Islamic K-12 schools are being established throughout the U.S. As these institutions multiply, it becomes necessary to study school board influence and leadership by principals, although literary sources appear to be sparse. This phenomenological study can be a starting point for scholarly research on this topic, as follows:

1. How do Islamic school principals describe their leadership role as administrators of Muslim K-12 schools?
2. What impact does the school board have on the leadership role of principals in Islamic K-12 …

The Comprehensive Emergent Literacy Model: Early Literacy In Context, Leigh Rohde

Leigh Rohde