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Full-Text Articles in Education
Antiracist Praxis In The Adult English Classroom, Cydnee Sanders
Antiracist Praxis In The Adult English Classroom, Cydnee Sanders
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
The research question for this capstone was: How can educators of adult English learners utilize antiracist praxis like translanguaging to more deeply value learners’ linguistic and cultural backgrounds and experiences? As the field of teaching English to adults grows, educators need to be aware of the colonial history of English learning that is harmful to learners (Motha, 2014). Through colonizing ideologies of monolingualism and standardization, adult learners of English constantly get messages of inferiority towards their linguistic and cultural identities. As educators, it is our responsibility to combat these racist practices in our classroom and community with antiracist praxis. Kendi …
Systems Thinking Teaching Strategies Using The Un Sustainable Development Goals To Help Best Prepare Students To Be Future Ready, Elizabeth Hickey
Systems Thinking Teaching Strategies Using The Un Sustainable Development Goals To Help Best Prepare Students To Be Future Ready, Elizabeth Hickey
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
The United Nations has outlined seventeen sustainable development goals that high school students will have to tackle to have a sustainable future. Schools must take meaningful action in teaching their students systems thinking strategies to best prepare them to be empathic, self-aware, innovative, resilient communicators that are equipped to be sustainable global citizens. This capstone project takes ninth grade students through a student-choice inquiry project to tackle the challenges of how their school’s sustainable initiatives can become more sustainable in order to answer the question, How can I best integrate the United Nation Sustainable Development Goals into my Understanding By …
How Can Restorative Justice Practices Be Utilized To Create A Positive Classroom Climate In A K-2 Setting?, Ella Brown
How Can Restorative Justice Practices Be Utilized To Create A Positive Classroom Climate In A K-2 Setting?, Ella Brown
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
Students have the right to feel safe, loved, and valued in every school. Schools worldwide are shifting their approaches to discipline and classroom management by forgoing zero-tolerance policies and exclusionary practices. Restorative Justice in Education (RJE) is a growing movement taking the place of traditional forms of discipline. Restorative justice is more than just a buzzword. It is a way to transform learning communities, relationships, and classrooms. From personal experiences in the classroom and throughout my research, the author was encouraged to provide more teachers with resources to implement restorative justice practices into their classrooms. The question, How can Restorative …
Culturally Sustaining Social Studies: Practical Applications To A High School Elective Course, Emily Thomas
Culturally Sustaining Social Studies: Practical Applications To A High School Elective Course, Emily Thomas
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
Scholars including Delpit, Ladson-Billings, Chandler, Paris and Alim remind us that schools must be a place where students’ cultures are validated, centered, and sustained. Social studies classrooms are optimally positioned to allow students to explore issues around race, class, gender, and other forms of (in)justice. Yet while many social studies teachers wish to teach in alignment with the theory of culturally sustaining pedagogy, powerful factors make its tenets difficult to enact in the classroom. This project embedded culturally sustaining pedagogy into curriculum design for a high school Environmental History elective. Using Tomlinson and McTighe’s (2006) Understanding by Design + Differentiated …
Critical Race Theory: Measuring Anti-Black Sentiment In South Korean English Education, Kenya Nelson
Critical Race Theory: Measuring Anti-Black Sentiment In South Korean English Education, Kenya Nelson
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
This research study examines how anti-Black sentiment influences Black teachers’ experiences in South Korea, using the critical race theory (CRT) framework to analyze various forms of anti-Black sentiment (ABS) and explore correlations between major tenets of CRT and types of ABS. Previous research has concluded that Black teachers continue to face overt racism in South Korea. Also, there continues to be a lack of empathy or disinterest in discussing racism in Korea. Unfortunately, the amount of research that focuses on the experiences of Black teachers teaching English in East Asia, primarily South Korea, is scarce. This study will add to …
Yo Soy Mi Idioma: Latinx Bilinguals’ Journeys To Two-Way Immersion Education, José Becerra-Cárdenas
Yo Soy Mi Idioma: Latinx Bilinguals’ Journeys To Two-Way Immersion Education, José Becerra-Cárdenas
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
This study examined how the lived experiences of Latinx bilingual teachers influenced their path toward two-way immersion (TWI) programs and informed the development of their beliefs about education. This research was designed as a qualitative multiple case study, with triangulated data points including surveys, dialogues, and journals. The results were analyzed using pattern matching and cross-case analysis. Underpinned by Critical Race Theory (CRT), both LatCrit and Counter-Storytelling were utilized to add dimension to the Latinx experience, which not only takes into consideration experiences of migration, immigration status, language, and ethnic identities, but also rejects the notion that there is a …
Media Literacy For Political Engagement: A Curricular Unit Design, Adam Bolling
Media Literacy For Political Engagement: A Curricular Unit Design, Adam Bolling
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
The question that guided this research was: How can critical media literacy skill development increase students’ ability and willingness to politically engage? Research shows that despite the fact that most Americans view social media use as just a distraction, young people are using the participatory tools and technologies found on social media platforms to engage with political ideas online. Media literacy education frequently focuses on teaching and learning consumption-centered skills like analysis and evaluation; but a media literacy curricular unit that encourages meaningful political engagement would acknowledge the new, production-centered reality that students inhabit. This curricular unit design for a …
Deepening Student Thinking About A Text: Effective Critical Literacy Strategies In The Elementary Classroom, Kelly Jordahl
Deepening Student Thinking About A Text: Effective Critical Literacy Strategies In The Elementary Classroom, Kelly Jordahl
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
While at a critical crossroads of a social movement to end systemic racism, and with schools simultaneously pushing for cultural competency training and practices in the classroom, educators are being asked to take on the task of bringing diversified texts to students in the classroom and deepening student understanding of those texts. While there are many strategies for implementation, one research-based strategy is utilizing critical literacy strategies to expand student view and analysis of said diversified texts. This capstone explores deepened questioning strategies, critical literacy strategies, and frameworks for implementation as support for educators to help answer the research question, …
Dangerous Teaching: An Approach To Difficult Learning In The Theatre Classroom, Tei Ellgen
Dangerous Teaching: An Approach To Difficult Learning In The Theatre Classroom, Tei Ellgen
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
Over time, social justice theatre has been used to create dialogues surrounding socially relevant issues both specific to the time and prevalent across time. Tectonic Theater Project is a theatre company that focuses on developing works that address such issues, using a method of devising that deconstructs theatre to its bare elements. This process, known as moment work, allows players to create theatre in stages, elaborating on narrative as they work through each element. Tectonic Theater Project’s process for devising using moment work has been implemented in classrooms with students and educators in order to expand understandings about what theatre …
Facing Race: A Project For Talking About Race In A Classroom Setting, Erin Sutliff
Facing Race: A Project For Talking About Race In A Classroom Setting, Erin Sutliff
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
Research shows that racism is alive and well in American school systems. From achievement gaps, to attendance, to behavior referrals and beyond, it is clear that Black and Brown students are not getting the equitable education they deserve. Educators need to step up and face race in order to truly address the inequities and white supremacy that plague our education system. They need to do their own reflection to check their privilege, do some learning, and take the important step of inviting critical conversations in their classrooms. When educators invite students to talk about race, they are centering student experiences, …
More Than White Boys And Their Dogs: Diversity In Children’S Literature Professional Development, Britt Johnson
More Than White Boys And Their Dogs: Diversity In Children’S Literature Professional Development, Britt Johnson
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
The creation of this professional development was based upon the research question: What is the best way to decenter whiteness and decolonize elementary literature, while empowering teachers and students to use literature as a tool for social justice? This professional development involves an exploration of the current diversity in children’s literature. It then focuses on developing an understanding of social identities and social justice. Participants will complete a social identity wheel and use their newfound knowledge of social identities to examine their own personal privilege. With this understanding, educators will learn how to assess their classroom library and begin to …
The Case For Culturally Affirming Systems Of Education: Exploring How Professional Development Impacts Culturally Relevant And Critical Literacy Teaching Practices, Carey Seeley Dzierzak
The Case For Culturally Affirming Systems Of Education: Exploring How Professional Development Impacts Culturally Relevant And Critical Literacy Teaching Practices, Carey Seeley Dzierzak
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
This case study based on a qualitative paradigm utilized grounded theory to analyze teacher interviews, focus groups and elite interviews focused on culturally relevant and critical literacy practices. This case study focuses on a small group of teachers and facilitators in a large urban school district in Minnesota. This dissertation focused on the impact of culturally relevant and critical literacy professional development on teachers' mindsets and practices. The theoretical concepts that emerged from this case study are the importance of culturally affirming systems. The data collected from this project support the need for creating culturally affirming classrooms, diverse literature, and …
Mitigating Climate Change: Understanding How Teachers Integrate Social Justice Themes In Environmental Education, Gregory Simons,
Mitigating Climate Change: Understanding How Teachers Integrate Social Justice Themes In Environmental Education, Gregory Simons,
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
Climate change is an increasingly severe global issue with devastating repercussions for marginalized, poor, and vulnerable people. As a result, environmental education has evolved over the years to build upon outdoor nature study and ecological concepts to incorporate fundamental principles of social and environmental justices while addressing climate change. This qualitative research study employed both an online survey and semi-structured interviews to address two research questions grounded in the environmental justice movement to determine how social justice intersects with pressing global issues commonly found in environmental science curriculum. First, how do environmental science educators integrate social justice themes in their …
Need Not Apply: A Systematic Literature Review Re-Evaluating English Prestige And Its Retribution On Foreign English Language Leaders And Their Learners’ Identity, Jessica Ibarra-Gambrill
Need Not Apply: A Systematic Literature Review Re-Evaluating English Prestige And Its Retribution On Foreign English Language Leaders And Their Learners’ Identity, Jessica Ibarra-Gambrill
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
This comprehensive literature review aims to progress the dialogue on the influence of English prestige in the ESL field related to hiring practices, pedagogical practices, and consideration for how it impacts learner success. Traditional interpretations of cultural capital from Bourdieuean theory form a deficit view of Communities of Color with an extension to immigrant families and those for whom English is not the first language. Further to that, Bourdieu's concept of linguistic capital measures against the knowledge of the ability to speak the official language. The English language has served as a gatekeeper worldwide as the demand for English language …
How To Be An Antiracist Educator, Veronica Myers
How To Be An Antiracist Educator, Veronica Myers
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
Every educator should be antiracist. Racism, both overt and inadvertent, in the classroom leads to students entering the school to prison pipeline, the widening of the opportunity gap, and lack of support for English language learners. This capstone project works to answer the research question: How can educators be antiracist and incorporate antiracist practices into teaching elementary students? Antiracist strategies in the classroom include developing strong and positive relationships with all students, using culturally relevant pedagogy in the classroom, and providing ESL students with language support. This project also provides educators with the opportunity to engage in a series of …
Teaching Through A Social Justice Lens: A Unit Of Study Designed For Second-Year Heritage Spanish Students, Ellen Chirhart
Teaching Through A Social Justice Lens: A Unit Of Study Designed For Second-Year Heritage Spanish Students, Ellen Chirhart
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
Chirhart, E. (2021). Teaching through a social justice lens: A unit of study designed for second-year heritage Spanish students. Research has demonstrated a positive relationship between social justice education and heritage Spanish students’ pride in their identities. The idea for this project originated from the need for a curriculum that honors heritage student knowledge and experiences while inspiring students to be advocates against injustice. The unit of study designed for this project addresses the research question: “How does teaching through a social justice lens impact heritage Spanish students?” Social justice standards and essential components of social justice education are implemented …
Asset-Based Kindergarten Readiness For Black Children In Preschool And The Implications For Racial Equity, Jocelyn Mcquirter
Asset-Based Kindergarten Readiness For Black Children In Preschool And The Implications For Racial Equity, Jocelyn Mcquirter
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
Early childhood education represents both a significant and formative moment in a child’s entry into the K-12 education system. While preschool children learn from well-meaning educators, inequities persist in kindergarten readiness outcomes for Black children. Some of the most saliently known disparities include the preschool to prison pipeline (i.e., discipline and suspension practices), poverty, and literacy rates. The Capstone Project sought to answer the research question: How might teacher preparation utilize an asset-based approach to reduce bias in Kindergarten readiness for Black children in lower socioeconomic status households? Explored were effective instructional and curriculum practices to increase learner engagement, empowerment, …
The Benefits Of Racial Representation In The Middle School Science Classroom, Samantha Karnes
The Benefits Of Racial Representation In The Middle School Science Classroom, Samantha Karnes
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
Research has made evident the importance of representation within the classroom, not only for students of color but also for white students. For the means of this project, representation refers to racial representation. There are many methods of increasing representation, such as ensuring staff reflect school demographics and planning more inclusive lessons. An effective method to bring representation into the classroom is by modifying the curriculum that is taught. The curriculum designed for this project is a three-week-long unit developed for the middle school science classroom. This unit is designed to challenge students’ preconceived notions of the scientific community. This …