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From Small Talk To Academic Dialogue: An Online Professional Development Course For The English Language Proficiency Standards For Adult Education, Debra H. Cargill
From Small Talk To Academic Dialogue: An Online Professional Development Course For The English Language Proficiency Standards For Adult Education, Debra H. Cargill
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
The purpose of this capstone project was to explore the English Literacy Proficiency (ELP) Standards for Adult Education (AE) (AIR, 2016). I studied the ELP Standards for AE in order to understand how to integrate academic language learning into instruction in order to support adult English language learners in transitioning to careers and postsecondary education. This knowledge was used to design an online professional development course that supported the use and implementation of the standards. The four-week online course engaged participants in course content through integrated discussions, assignments, and materials that utilized a constructivist approach to learning.
All Good People: Professional Development Sessions For Educational Equity At The High School Level, Mauri B. Deer
All Good People: Professional Development Sessions For Educational Equity At The High School Level, Mauri B. Deer
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
This project shares the journey of a white educator towards greater cultural competence, and provides guidance for those beginning an equity journey. It was developed as a series of five, one-hour professional development sessions with supplementary materials. The project was created to address gaps in education for a school district increasing in diversity, but without an equity framework or district-wide initiative that addressed educational equity. The professional development sessions are intended for small groups of educators at the secondary level who have little to no experience with concepts of educational equity. Each session uses concepts in culturally responsive teaching to …
Introducing Non-El Teachers To Visual Learning Strategies For Beginning English Learners: A Proposal For Workshop Study, Jillian Magnusson
Introducing Non-El Teachers To Visual Learning Strategies For Beginning English Learners: A Proposal For Workshop Study, Jillian Magnusson
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research questions addressed in this project were, how can a professional development session be created to help make non-EL teachers more aware of visual learning strategies intended to offer comprehensible input for English Learners? How can the materials within the workshop be adaptable and relevant to teachers with low levels of experience in working with English Learners? This project documents the exploration of non-EL teachers’ lack of professional development in regards to supporting best strategies for English Learners in order to create workshop materials for a future training in the public school district where I work. I began by …
Literacy Coaching: A Research Based Coaching Guide, Mary E. House
Literacy Coaching: A Research Based Coaching Guide, Mary E. House
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
The question that guided the work of the researcher was: What impact would a research based coaching guide have on a coach’s effectiveness with teachers, understanding that the end goal of coaching is increased student achievement? Research suggested that professional learning via coaching is key to building capacity in teachers. However, the researcher found that the role of the literacy coach in many schools is one with little or no initial training or a core resource from which to anchor a coach’s work with teachers. Research clearly suggested that the instructional coach role lacks effectiveness if the coach does not …
How Mainstream Teacher Attitudes Affect English Language Learner Student Learning In The Mainstream Classroom, Lauren Barbara Lippert
How Mainstream Teacher Attitudes Affect English Language Learner Student Learning In The Mainstream Classroom, Lauren Barbara Lippert
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
The primary research question for this project is: do mainstream teacher attitudes towards English Language Learners affect student learning and how? This capstone project presents literature about the correlation between teacher attitudes and student learning, describes research surrounding mainstream teacher attitudes towards ELL inclusion, training, modifications, and language backgrounds, and identifies research-based information mainstream teachers should know about ELLs. The project following the research is a professional development training compiling strategies, resources, theories, and research for mainstream teachers teaching ELLs. The professional development is designed to be presented to K-12 mainstream teachers who are teaching ELLs in their classroom. The …
Building School-Family Partnerships Through Partnerships For Academic Success Meetings, Emily Gartner
Building School-Family Partnerships Through Partnerships For Academic Success Meetings, Emily Gartner
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
The research question addressed in this project was, how can families, students, and school staff come together to engage in authentic partnership through Partnerships for Academic Success (PAS) meetings? The project details the author’s work implementing Partnerships for Academic Success (PAS) meetings schoolwide. During these meetings, families receive data about their individual students, as well as anonymous data for the entire class or grade. After an exploration of this data, families learn an activity that can be done at home to practice the skill that was assessed, and work with their students to set a goal that is revisited at …
Improving The Mental Health Of Students And Staff Through Mindfulness Training And Practices, Sarah Braun
Improving The Mental Health Of Students And Staff Through Mindfulness Training And Practices, Sarah Braun
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
The purpose of this study was to answer the question, what impact does mindfulness training and practices have on the mental health of staff and students? This paper reviews multiple sources of research on neuroscience, mental health, mindfulness practices and website design. The author documents the creation of a mindfulness resource website, in collaboration with the district’s Mindfulness Educational Specialist. This website and it’s contents were designed purposefully to provide staff, students and parents with the appropriate literature, videos, websites and applications, to enhance their mindfulness practice.
Professional Development In Disciplinary Literacy Strategies For Middle School Content Area Teachers, Jodi Dubbeldee
Professional Development In Disciplinary Literacy Strategies For Middle School Content Area Teachers, Jodi Dubbeldee
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
The purpose of this professional development plan is to provide disciplinary literacy instruction support for content area teachers at the middle level. The inspiration for the research was the author’s desire to discover and share how content area literacy is critical to student learning. In-depth research in physical, emotional, and social adolescent development, literacy strategies, disciplinary literacy strategies, and professional development practices drove the findings to create a professional development plan that is built-in and sustainable. Teachers can use the online professional development resource collaboratively in order to determine literacy goals, write lesson plans, and incorporate literacy strategy instruction into …
How Explicit Vocabulary Instruction Leads English Language Learners In Early Elementary Ages To Become Proficient Readers, Angela Kaye Nixon
How Explicit Vocabulary Instruction Leads English Language Learners In Early Elementary Ages To Become Proficient Readers, Angela Kaye Nixon
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
The number of English Language Learners (ELLs) continues to increase nationwide. Early elementary teachers are tasked in laying a foundation of reading, and ELLs face a gap in their literacy journey compared to their English speaking peers. The research question for this project was: how does explicit vocabulary instruction lead English language learners in early elementary ages to become proficient readers? The literature review focuses on vocabulary instruction, proficient readers, ELLs, and professional development. It discusses research with ELLs in the classroom and in reading instruction. Within the extensive world of literacy, explicit vocabulary instruction has been shown to have …
Instructional Strategies To Promote Engagement For Students Of Poverty In A Mathematics Classroom, Jessica Lind
Instructional Strategies To Promote Engagement For Students Of Poverty In A Mathematics Classroom, Jessica Lind
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
The research question addressed in this project was, what instructional strategies can I employ with my high school students of poverty to better engage them in learning mathematics? It documents one teacher’s creation of a presentation designed for high school mathematics teachers who are looking for strategies to engage their students in the classroom. The presentation discusses the barriers of learning for students of poverty and gives several suggestions for teachers to help students overcome these barriers. The presentation also discusses six teaching strategies and gives a sample lesson plan of each strategy in a high school classroom setting. The …
English Language Learner Considerations For Equitable Identification Of Needs And Referrals To Special Education, Melissa Persons
English Language Learner Considerations For Equitable Identification Of Needs And Referrals To Special Education, Melissa Persons
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
Identifying learner needs for an English learner (EL) student has various factors to consider that a non-EL student may not. To explore what is needed to be analyzed prior to determining an EL student’s learner needs, the question being researched is: What are considerations to take into account when an EL student begins the Student and Teacher Assistance Team (STAT)? The framework the research was performed was analyzing resources from school districts and state departments of education, as well as guidance from personal communication with professionals in related fields. Taking all of the data from literature and information from currently …
What Are Teacher Perceptions Of An Equity Committee?, Isabel Rowles
What Are Teacher Perceptions Of An Equity Committee?, Isabel Rowles
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
This qualitative study takes a constructionist approach to answer the research question: What are teacher perceptions of an equity committee? This research study was done using a combination of direct observation, field notes, a survey and interviews. The data from these instruments was analyzed by broadly identifying three common themes that emerged through each data collection method. Limitations, implications and recommendations are made for future research.
Effective Strategies Of A Behavior Management Plan, Elizabeth Farah
Effective Strategies Of A Behavior Management Plan, Elizabeth Farah
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
Our society is experiencing an increase in problematic behaviors across the nation, specifically in the classroom. Newer teachers specifically have a difficult time with managing behaviors and with a lack of consistency and continuity, consequently problematic issues occur more frequently. The author therefore tried to answer the following question: What are effective behavior management techniques and how can schools implement them across the secondary level and engage all stakeholders consistently? The review of the literature determined that the best methods included rules/routines/procedures, student/teacher relationships, behavior specific praise, nonverbal communication and strategies for a culturally/linguistically responsive classroom. These were combined to …
How Can Teachers Enhance The Acquisition And Retention Of Vocabulary In Their Urban Learner?, Sarah K. Norenberg
How Can Teachers Enhance The Acquisition And Retention Of Vocabulary In Their Urban Learner?, Sarah K. Norenberg
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The purpose of this research was to identify high impact vocabulary strategies for urban learners and create professional development for the staff at my elementary school. I determined what would be high-impact by looking at my students three different ways. First, I examined students who are English language learners, second, students who live in poverty, and third, standard English learners. Next, I read research about the best practices for teaching vocabulary in all three categories. Finally, I looked for similarities, ultimately identifying and synthesizing what works best for all three types of students, keeping in mind that the urban classrooms …
Inclusion Of Students With Mild To Moderate Disabilities In Grades 1-5 Mainstream Language Arts Classrooms, Jodi Lyn Smith
Inclusion Of Students With Mild To Moderate Disabilities In Grades 1-5 Mainstream Language Arts Classrooms, Jodi Lyn Smith
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
The research question addressed in this capstone project was what are best practices for creating an inclusive language arts program in grades 1-5 in an elementary school? It documents the history of special education and inclusion in the United States, least restrictive environment (LRE), benefits and barriers to inclusion as well as strategies to create an inclusive language arts setting. The author uses research to prepare and present a PowerPoint presentation to licensed teachers to be used as staff development. The PowerPoint presentation addresses the history of special education and inclusion, how LRE is determined, benefits and barriers to inclusion, …
How Can A Modified Teacher Child Interaction Training (Tcit) Program Decrease Problem Behaviors In Pre-K To First-Grade Classrooms By Supporting Positive Student-Teacher Interactions?, Jill Bradford
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
This Capstone Project will describe a behavior modification program inspired by Teacher Child Interaction Training (TCIT) to help reduce behavior problems in the classroom and help support positive student-teacher interactions. The program called TCIT-lite, uses the skills of Praise, Reflection, Imitation, Description, and Enthusiasm (PRIDE) to increase positive student-teacher relationships in Pre-K to first-grade classrooms. A PowerPoint presentation was created in order to train teachers on how to take data on a specific behavior and implement a five-minute Child Directed Interaction (CDI) session the three times a week for six weeks to decrease the frequency of that behavior.
Guided Reading Curriculum For Chinese Immersion Kindergarten, Yue Fu
Guided Reading Curriculum For Chinese Immersion Kindergarten, Yue Fu
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
The purpose of the study was to create a guided reading curriculum for Chinese Immersion Kindergarten programs. Guided reading worked as an educational literate instruction played a significant role in schools. Based on the summarize of the history and strategies of guide reading instruction, as well as a general review of the implementation of English as a second language (ELL) learners, the connections between the instruction and immersion students, became possible. By combining the “backward” unit model design, reviewing the guided reading strategies, and coordinating the Language Arts Curriculum in our Chinese Immersion Kindergarten program, this paper developed a guided …
Teaching Writing To English Learners: Professional Development For Content Teachers By Ell Teachers, Elizabeth D. Gillaspey
Teaching Writing To English Learners: Professional Development For Content Teachers By Ell Teachers, Elizabeth D. Gillaspey
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
The research question for this project was: what is the best format and content for a professional development class designed to help middle school content teachers improve their skill-set for teaching ELL writing? After presenting literature on different types of professional development as well as best practices for teaching ELL writing, a modified version of train-thetrainer was used to develop four professional development sessions. The sessions were designed to be presented in a school by that school's ELL teachers and they each have a separate focus: background information, pre-writing strategies, during writing strategies, and post-writing strategies. The project contains slides …
Implicit Bias And The Self-Fulfilling Prophecy Phenomenon And Their Affects On Literacy Performance In Elementary Students, Anna K. Quirk
Implicit Bias And The Self-Fulfilling Prophecy Phenomenon And Their Affects On Literacy Performance In Elementary Students, Anna K. Quirk
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
The author’s inquiry was: How do implicit bias and the self-fulfilling prophecy phenomenon affect literacy performance in elementary students. Implicit or unconscious bias is known for causing issues with judges and police officers, but new awareness has been brought to the realm of education and how these biases can widen the achievement gap in literacy and other academic areas. The self-fulfilling prophecy phenomenon or Pygmalion Effect, can hinder growth in academics when an educator fails to identify student strengths, only focusing on deficits. This project brings awareness to how implicit bias and the self-fulfilling prophecy through the use of a …
Pedagogy-Minded Use Of Web-Based Technology In The Classroom, Jeff Mcgie
Pedagogy-Minded Use Of Web-Based Technology In The Classroom, Jeff Mcgie
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
The research question addressed in this project was: How can teachers use web-based technology in the curriculum to increase student engagement and enrich learning? It documents a teacher’s creation of a technology-infused curriculum that uses valid research and pedagogically-minded practices as its foundation. In addition to the curriculum, the author created a web technology toolbox that assists teachers in effectively and strategically implementing the technology into their classroom. The author describes the project’s challenges as well as the implications for students and teachers. He concludes that: 1) technology enhances learning only when used in alignment with pedagogy and instructional strategies; …