Education Commons^™

The Wichita Teacher Inquiry Group (Wtig) Lessening Structural, Cultural, Indirect And Direct Forms Of Through Cultural Competence And Transformative Teaching And Learning, Linda F. Rhone, Kimberly Johnson Burkhalter

The Advocate

Bullying at school is an international phenomenon, and as a result there is a need for teachers to understand bullying behavior at its roots and beyond direct (hitting, kicking, choking) and indirect (gossiping, cyberbullying, silencing one’s voice) forms. If we are really going to lessen bullying at school overtime, we must talk about the unmentionable: Bullying at school is larger than one child pushing, hitting or kicking another. Literature suggests it is quite disappointing that to date there has been no significant impact on bullying at school in the United States (Juvonen, Graham, & Schuster, 2003; Berger, 2007). Literature also …

Beyond Busses, Balls, And Beans: An Examination Of The Leadership Skills Of Kansas Principals, Carolyn L. Carlson

The Advocate

Introduction: Each year in American public schools, nearly 450,000 teachers leave their jobs (Johnson, Berg, & Donaldson, 2005). This means that one-sixth of all teachers either transfer to different schools/districts or leave the teaching profession altogether.

Where Are All The Women? Gender Bias Persists In Social Studies Texts, Tim Fry, Brenna S. Hofelt

The Advocate

Introduction: Creating an inclusive and a more equitable classroom is a goal that all educators should continually strive for. One area of concern is that many girls and young women do not see themselves in curriculum materials - especially in the social studies.

Table Of Contents And Introductory Materials For Vol. 20, No. 2, 2012, Bruce Quantic

The Advocate

This content includes the table of contents and editorial information for vol.20, issue 2 (Fall, 2012)

Alien Education, Jennifer Cady

The Advocate

Introduction: Stepping into the classroom now-a-days is like walking through Times Square. Students come equipped with vast levels of knowledge just like the diverse individuals navigating the streets in the heart of New York City.

Developing Cultural Competence Through Problem Posing And Multicultural Children's Literature, Gayla Lohfink, Laurie Curtis

The Advocate

Increasing diversity in Kansas elementary schools is challenging educators to teach culturally and linguistically diverse students effectively. Unfortunately, research shows teachers as lacking in necessary cultural competencies. This article shares a multicultural picture book action-research project and shows how pre-service teachers constructed pedagogy by selecting literature that drew upon their students’ funds of knowledge. Implementation of the same project in practicing teachers’ classrooms revealed their self-reflections of students’ cultural connections frequently, but more often, the teachers’ reflections focused on students’ connections to the curriculum. This observation prompted an alternative problem-posing approach for utilizing multicultural literature to be presented for teachers. …

The Conceptual Framework: A Supportive Accreditation Practice For Teacher Education Programs That Could Be Used In The Academic Governance Of Public School Districts, Kirsten Limpert, Nancy Albrecht, Stu Ervay

The Advocate

This paper discusses how the conceptual framework - a tool used by teacher education units to improve post-secondary professional programs - can be used by public school districts instead of or in addition to a mission statement for the development of course syllabi and curriculum in this era of educational reform. It brings to a forefront the reality that public schools do not typically use the syllabus technique but instead use local curriculum guides and lesson plans. However, some districts are beginning to use comprehensive course plans similar to syllabi in higher education. Regardless of the processes being used, a …

Maximizing Resources To Make School Employee Wellness A Reality, Jennifer Thomas, Joan Carley-Brewer, Matt Howe

The Advocate

Because of the large number of Americans employed within school districts, they are a prime target population for the development and implementation of employee wellness programs. Even with grant support, funding for these programs can be limited. Forming partnerships with universities who have health- and wellness-focused areas of study can be mutually beneficial; school districts can stretch their dollars further, while college students gain hands-on experience for effective employee wellness program implementation. This articles addresses a successful partnership between a local school district and nearby university department to provide an employee wellness program. Specific tips and ideas for implementation of …

Combating Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Through The Integration Of Multiple Intelligences, Jennifer Cady

The Advocate

In recent years, millions of children have been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). As a result, schools are ill-equipped to handle the distractive characteristics that often times accompany those diagnosed with ADHD. Through the use of the Muliple Intelligences, established by Howard Gardner, teachers can begin to construct lessons that meet the needs of all learners, but particularly those individuals diagnosed with ADHD.

Students' Perceptions Of Learning Course Objectives: On Campus Versus Virtual Sections Of One Course, Lori Cook-Benjamin

The Advocate

The college course used in this project is required for students majoring in the Elementary Education and Early Childhood Unified Programs. Sections of the course are offered virtually as well as on the campus. This paper examines students' scores on an assignment called the Course Objective Reflection to determine if course format made a difference in the candidates' perceived learning of the six course objectives. Preliminary results indicate that virtual students achieved higher aggregate scores on the assignment than students completing the class on campus.

The Importance Of Activating And Building Knowledge, Stephanie Wessels

The Advocate

Introduction: The following exchange occurred in a third-grade classroom:

"I thought grit was a food. It doesn't make sense," Saida commented. "Yes, there are grits that people eat. Grits are ground corn, however, in this story the word is grit. Do you remember when it was really windy outside and dust and dirt got on you? That was grit," Mrs. Henning explained.

Table Of Contents And Introductory Materials For Vol. 20, No. 1, 2012, Bruce Quantic

The Advocate

This content includes the table of contents and editorial information for vol.20, issue 1 (Summer 2012)

Cultural Capital And The Digital Divide: A Literature Review, Suzanne K. Becking, Marilyn L. Grady

The Advocate

The internet holds promise of rapid diffusion of information to the global community and the potential to change our way of life. Those without access or with limited access to the internet are at a disadvantage. This paper examined the implications and issues surrounding the Digital Divide as it relates to Bourdieu's theory of cultural capital. It is an examination of the literature on the Digital Divide in education.

Preparing Digital Natives To Teach: Time To Redesign Teacher Education Programs, Adam C. Holden, Thomas Mcglinn

The Advocate

Since the emergence of Marc Prensky's concept of Digital Natives being taught by Digital Immigrants, education's challenge has been to find a way to effectively teach those who have grown up in a net generation. Now that the first of these millenniel students are preparing to become teachers themselves, we have the opportunity, perhaps for the first time, to witness true digital natives teaching their own. This article will examine the paradigm shift required of teacher education programs if they are to prepare this digital teaching generation effectively for the educational challenge that lies ahead of them.

Student Perceptions Of Undergraduate Research At Fort Hays State University, Germaine Taggart, Amanda Brown, Dustin Engel

The Advocate

Undergraduate Research is becoming an increasingly important aspect of all academic areas in universities today, and as a result an effort must be made to underand how students feel about conducting undergraduate research. Literature suggests that students are aware of the benefits to be gained from conducting research, but there are a variety of factors holding them back from actually doing so. This particular study aimed to examine the benefits students feel they receive from conducting research as well as examine how the students feel about the availability of research opportunities at a Midwestern, predominantly undergraduate institution, Fort Hays State …

Editorial Introduction, Catherine F. Compton-Lilly

Networks: An Online Journal for Teacher Research

The public eye in America continues to position teachers as contributing to the demise of American society. They are accused of not knowing their craft, not preparing students for the future, and not helping children to score high enough on endless rounds of tests. The articles presented in this journal challenge these discourses. They are authored by educators who claim their expertise and abilities. This is the power of teacher research and this newest edition of Networks is a wonderful testament to the teacher knowledge and craft.

Reflection-In-Action Teaching Strategies Used By Faculty To Enhance Teaching And Learning, Dr. Cindy Giaimo-Ballard, Dr. L. Hyatt

Networks: An Online Journal for Teacher Research

Scholars have suggested that reflective strategies are vital to teaching and learning (Brookfield, 1998; Dewey, 1964; Rogers, 2001; Schön, 1983, 1987; Zeichner, 1996). Additionally, accrediting institutions recognize the importance of reflective practice and include the requirement in their standards. However, little direction is given to faculty regarding reflective methods and processes, and it is unclear how faculty members apply the process of reflection. To elucidate these processes, this study explored the phenomenon of reflection-in-action regarding teaching from the perspectives of faculty from institutions accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), using Schön’s (1983, 1987) concept of …

Participatory Action Research As Praxis: Developing Scientifically Literate Students Through Inquiry-Based Science Instruction And Guided Reading, Rhonda L. Nixon

Networks: An Online Journal for Teacher Research

Two grade six teachers, Sara and Colleen, and myself, Rhonda, a literacy coach, engaged in critical participatory action research (Kemmis & McTaggart, 2005) to inquire into our grade six students’ declining performance in science. Our research questions were: How does guided reading impact students’ reading practices in science? How does our critical or praxis-based approach to professional learning impact our students as collaborative learners? At the time when we became a teacher researcher team, Sara had taught grade six for a few years at the school. Colleen was an experienced grade six teacher coming from another school, and I was …

Editorial Introduction, Catherine F. Compton-Lilly

Networks: An Online Journal for Teacher Research

The Spring 2012 issue of Networks, brings a unique set of articles. While featuring the voices of teachers and teacher educators, each highlights a different and important perspective on education.

Utilizing Goal Setting Strategies At The Middle Level: Helping Students Self-Regulate Behavior, Nimisha Patel, Rachel Smith, Kristen Fitzsimmons, Mcgee Kara, Emily Detmer

Networks: An Online Journal for Teacher Research

For three weeks, 34 middle level students in the Midwest identified goals, completed preand post-surveys, and regularly reflected on their respective goal attainment. Quantitative and qualitative analyses revealed that participants reported increases in self-regulatory behavior.

Investigating The Reggio Emilia Study Tour Experience From Conversation To Insights, Will Parnell

Networks: An Online Journal for Teacher Research

Taking early childhood Master’s students on a Reggio Emilia Study Tour leads to making meaning of anticipatory and after-experience reflective narrative-episodes. These narrative episodes are constructed around the phenomena of anticipating the trip as well as reflecting on the experiences during and after the study tour. The experiences are then analyzed collaboratively among researchers and participants through informal discussions. Themes in each narrative episode are explored through the written narratives and then conclusions are drawn. Anticipatory themes include eagerness to see, desire to witness the image of the child in the everyday, and a concern about adopting the Reggio approach …

“Being It No Matter What Anyone Else Think About It:” Combating Gender Bias With Nontraditional Literature In An Urban Elementary Classroom, Martin James Wasserberg

Networks: An Online Journal for Teacher Research

Gender stereotypes pervade children’s literature. This action research project sought to alter stereotypical perceptions of gender roles held by a classroom of students in an urban elementary school through the introduction of nontraditional literature. Results suggested that some stereotypical perceptions could be altered through utilization and discussion of such literature.

Lessons From A Preservice Teacher: Examining Missed Opportunities For Multicultural Education In An English Education Program, Amy M. Vetter, Jeanie Reynolds

Networks: An Online Journal for Teacher Research

I had to get to know them [his students]. Because I am disconnected from Black culture a lot, honestly. You get people who assume I’m Black or I’m not. Before I even started teaching the very first question that I got asked was what color are you? And I never knew how big of deal that would be. This was one of many experiences that James described in an interview after being asked how his multiracial identities shaped his student teaching experiences. James was one of six preservice teachers that we followed in our program for three semesters in an …

Theories Of Learning And The Real World: An Integrated Teaching Technique Using Empirical Research And Film, Karen Michele Zabrucky, Nannette Evans Commander

Networks: An Online Journal for Teacher Research

As instructors of an educational psychology course focusing on theories of learning, we are aware of the trepidation our students may experience on the first day of class and beyond. Theories of learning sound a bit daunting and, unfortunately, disconnected from the real world. Of course, our students' conceptualizations of learning theories are quite different from our own; that they are interesting, informative, and relevant to understanding how individuals learn in a variety of contexts as well as how best to instruct others (Schneider, 2008).

Review Of Diane Ravitch's Book, "The Life And Death Of American Public Schools,”, Angela Affronti

Networks: An Online Journal for Teacher Research

“And who are you and why are you here?” asked a student my first day of my practicum at a public middle school in lower Manhattan. “I am here from NYU to help you with your reading,” I responded with a friendly smile. Looking back at this exchange, I realized that not only did I work hard to help and gain acceptance from the students, I was working just as hard to learn more about public school structures, specifically since I was in NY, the bureaucratic structure that is the NYC Board of Education. While I was working in the …

One Slice At A Time: A Book Review Of A Toolkit For Action Research, Suzanne Porath

Networks: An Online Journal for Teacher Research

The foundation of research is the collection and analysis of data. Graduate students spend countless hours learning the ontology and epistemology of their chosen methodology. But, what about teachers who want to be more systematic with researching their own teaching practice and students but have limited time and resources? Many teachers choose to complete action research projects in their classrooms, but most textbooks only devote a short chapter to both the collection and analysis of data. In my experience, the discussions in these textbooks tend to be too short without enough models or templates to guide teacher-researchers through what can …