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Early Career Language Educators Experience Joy And Purpose In The Creation Of Multilingual Classroom Ecologies, Jonell Pacyga
Early Career Language Educators Experience Joy And Purpose In The Creation Of Multilingual Classroom Ecologies, Jonell Pacyga
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The goal of this phenomenological study was to intensely analyze and interpret the experiences of a select sample of early career language teachers as they reflected on their languaging interactions with their learners. To answer the research question: How do early career language teachers experience the creation of multilingual classroom ecologies?, four individuals participated by collectively providing 14 interviews, submitting 13 bi-weekly journals, and sharing 17 self-selected semiotic images over a two month time period. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (Smith, 1996) was then employed using a double hermeneutic to uncover themes in each case by elucidating descriptions and then cohesively analyzing …
Adult Immigrant English Learners’ Perceptions Of Their Multilingual And Multicultural Identities, Greta Mcelvain
Adult Immigrant English Learners’ Perceptions Of Their Multilingual And Multicultural Identities, Greta Mcelvain
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
Adult immigrant English learners (ELs) must navigate living in a new country while also learning a new language. These immigrants are becoming both multicultural and multilingual. It has been established in prior literature that as immigrants adjust to living in a new culture with a different language, they experience both a language (Wardhaugh & Fuller, 2015) and cultural (Gibson, 2001, as cited in Schwartz, 2006, p. 2) shift. These shifts can sometimes result in immigrants losing connection to their first languages (Zhang, 2010) or their home cultures Gu and Lai (2019). Self-reflection activities have been shown to allow individuals to …
Finding Connections Between Teacher Motivation And Professional Development In Pursuit Of Mastery In Practice, Ann Carlson
Finding Connections Between Teacher Motivation And Professional Development In Pursuit Of Mastery In Practice, Ann Carlson
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
This qualitative case study investigated the connections between teacher motivation and high quality professional development. The research focused on two elementary schools in one large suburban school district in the upper Midwest. Surveys, individual interviews, focus group interviews, and document analysis were all used to collect data. This study identified the attributes of high quality professional development, which include collaboration, sustainability, and active teacher learning (Darling-Hammond, Hyler, & Gardner, 2017; Desimone & Pak, 2017; Macias, 2017; Parsons, Parsons, Morewood & Ankrum, 2016; Steeg & Lambson, 2015). The study explored current research around intrinsic and extrinsic motivation (Deci et al. 1991; …
The Influence Of Student Self-Reflection On Academic Mindset Change, Kate Peck
The Influence Of Student Self-Reflection On Academic Mindset Change, Kate Peck
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The purpose of my research is to determine how student academic self-reflections influence overall mindset change regarding school. I will be working with small groups of 9th and 10th grade students who are receiving high grades in most of their classes, yet are getting a D or F in 1-2 other classes. These students are invited to attend a 6 school day cohort called Lunch & Learn. During these 6 days, I will guide them through self-reflective strategies to help them recognize differences between their classes with higher grades and their classes with lower grades. I will start by asking …
Student Affective And Cognitive Environments In A Classical School, Ryan Meaney
Student Affective And Cognitive Environments In A Classical School, Ryan Meaney
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
This capstone thesis used a qualitative research approach to answer the question of how middle school students in a classical education setting described their affective and cognitive environments. Students in a classical school have different standards and expectations, as the school approach and philosophy are somewhat different than other public schools. The purpose of this thesis question was to see how students felt both emotionally and academically about being in this classical environment. The literature review that accompanied this thesis touched on each aspect of the question individually. Studies on student affective and cognitive environments displayed the role that student …
Perceptions Of Adult-Child Collaboration In Toddler Environments In A Midwestern Montessori School, Anne Estes
Perceptions Of Adult-Child Collaboration In Toddler Environments In A Midwestern Montessori School, Anne Estes
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The purpose of this study was to investigate adult perceptions of adult-child collaboration in two Montessori toddler environments and how it affects language, independence, and social interaction development. The study took place in one Midwestern Montessori school. The study was conducted on perceptions of adult-child collaboration through an electronic survey and intensive interviews. Five Montessori toddler assistants took the survey and two Montessori toddler guides completed intensive interviews. Once data were collected, qualitative theory methods were utilized to code, evaluate, and analyze all data. After data were re-analyzed, new theories and insights emerged surrounding how adult-child collaboration in a Montessori …
Effective Note-Taking Strategies In The High School Math Classroom, Michael Swenson
Effective Note-Taking Strategies In The High School Math Classroom, Michael Swenson
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research question addressed in this action was, how can I implement effective note-taking strategies to improve my students’ performance on assessments? It details how one teacher implements Cornell notes and Foldables over the course of one trimester in two different Algebra 2 classes. A mixed methods approach was used to better understand effects of each strategy on three unit exams, three vocabulary quizzes, student surveys, and six student interviews. He describes the effects of each strategy on student achievement and concludes that: 1) Cornell notes and Foldables did improve student achievement on unit exams with Cornell notes showing higher …
Teachers’ Descriptions Of The Impact Of False Accusations By Students And Parents, Elizabeth De Leon
Teachers’ Descriptions Of The Impact Of False Accusations By Students And Parents, Elizabeth De Leon
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
This mixed method study utilized grounded theory analysis through the use of survey and interview to research how teachers describe the impact of false accusations by students and parents. The study focused on survey results as well as interviews of a selection of teachers and administrators from various levels, rural, suburban, urban areas and disciplines of education. The concepts that emerged from the data illustrated the impact of false accusations on teachers with regard to their emotional and physical health, teaching practice, relationship with administrator(s), and relationships with students and parents. The data also indicate the need for increased training …
Incorporating Effective Practices Into An Intermediate Classroom To Improve Student Writing, Heidi M. Shannon
Incorporating Effective Practices Into An Intermediate Classroom To Improve Student Writing, Heidi M. Shannon
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research question addressed in this project was, How can the teaching of effective writing practices support struggling intermediate students? This study documented the experience of an intervention coach working with fifth grade teachers to improve writing instruction using research based practices. The motivating factor for this capstone was to improve student writing. The study documented lessons and resources that were implemented during the teaching of three fifth grade writing standards and how students improved in their writing. Data was collected through the use of proficiency scales, spreadsheets, reflections and surveys. Results of the study showed student growth in writing. …
What Is The Impact Of Effective Questioning And Critical, Relevant Conversations On Sixth Grade Science Students’ Agentic Engagement?, Corrie L. Christensen
What Is The Impact Of Effective Questioning And Critical, Relevant Conversations On Sixth Grade Science Students’ Agentic Engagement?, Corrie L. Christensen
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research question in this project was, “What is the impact of effective questioning and critical, relevant conversations on sixth grade science students’ agentic engagement?” It documents a teacher’s investigation into the impact of two isolated components, effective questioning and relevant conversations, on the agentic engagement of a group of sixth grade students. The author describes the outcomes of data collection using randomized student agentic engagement surveys. She outlines the successes and struggles that were realized during the process as well as the realization that an isolated component or two does not make a significant change in agentic engagement.
How Can An Individual’S Growth Mindset Be Improved By Using Self-Assessment Techniques?, Elizabeth A. Ryan
How Can An Individual’S Growth Mindset Be Improved By Using Self-Assessment Techniques?, Elizabeth A. Ryan
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
Carol Dweck’s idea of fixed versus growth mindset is becoming a more important concept in the educational world because educators are striving to create lifelong learners inside and outside of the the classroom. In order to do this, educators need to promote the growth mindset through clear instruction. The research question highlights a review of current literature on fixed versus growth mindset; Danielson’s Framework for Teaching; total participation techniques, such as cold calling; and student self-assessment that was used to drive the capstone project. The Danielson’s Framework for Teaching assisted in creating an instructional design that would meet the needs …
Preparing White Teachers To Teach In Racially Diverse Schools, Cristina Benz
Preparing White Teachers To Teach In Racially Diverse Schools, Cristina Benz
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
My personal experience as a White educator in racially diverse classrooms led me to choose my capstone topic and develop my research question: “What core knowledge, essential skills, and experiences do White teachers believe have effectively prepared them to teach racially diverse students?” Based on my literature review, I chose five concepts and theories that I considered connected to my research capstone. Critical Race Theory was the overarching theory that provided related concepts of Racial Realism, Critical White Studies, and Colorblindness. A newer concept that I included, Equity Literacy, provided tools for teachers to consider and use. I used a …
Are Characteristics Of A Professional Learning Community Guiding Student Achievement, Staci Faye Souhan
Are Characteristics Of A Professional Learning Community Guiding Student Achievement, Staci Faye Souhan
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research question addressed in this capstone was, are characteristics of a PLC guiding student achievement? The inspiration for this capstone was sparked by an unexplainable anomaly within a school district's MCA performance data between schools within their district and an intense interest in a DuFour’s research addressing professional learning communities. The author of this case-study style research looked to examine if characteristics of a PLC can be present and guide student performance without a fully functioning and formal PLC school-wide structure. This study documents that singular aspects of a PLC can guide student achievement and likens a co-taught classroom …
Tales For A Teacher’S Toolbox: Stories Of Emergent Bilinguals And Their Funds Of Knowledge, Erika Rae Bakkum
Tales For A Teacher’S Toolbox: Stories Of Emergent Bilinguals And Their Funds Of Knowledge, Erika Rae Bakkum
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
Through a systematic review of ethnographic studies, this qualitative study collected stories that demonstrate the cultural wealth of emergent bilingual students. The stories collected demonstrate the aspirational, navigational, social, linguistic, familial, and resistant capitals (Yosso, 2005) as well as the experiential and social and emotional assets (WIDA, 2014) of emergent bilingual students. The narratives documented in this study can be retold as counter narratives that contradict commonly held deficit beliefs regarding emergent bilingual students, their families, and their communities.
Using Evidence-Based Spelling Instruction To Support Elementary Students: A Self-Study, Brigid Ayn Berger
Using Evidence-Based Spelling Instruction To Support Elementary Students: A Self-Study, Brigid Ayn Berger
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
Teachers have been slow to adopt research-based best practices for spelling instruction. The purpose of this project was to identify effective spelling practices and reflect on the practical implementation of those practices in a first grade classroom. The research question was, how can teachers use research-based strategies to support elementary students as they develop spelling skills? This paper provides a review of English orthography and developmental spelling instruction before contrasting effective and ineffective instructional strategies. The author, a first grade teacher, conducts a self-study in which she implements formative assessments into her spelling routines and reflects upon the process of …
Mindset And Instructional Practices In The Elementary Mathematics Classroom, Charity Hall
Mindset And Instructional Practices In The Elementary Mathematics Classroom, Charity Hall
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
How is teacher mindset reflected in instructional practices within the elementary mathematics classroom? Drawing from Dr. Carol Dweck’s and Dr. Jo Boaler’s mindset research and N. Webb’s and E. Fennema’s studies of teacher instructional practices, this research focuses on how teacher mindset is tied to interactions with elementary math students. This research also draws from Dr. Jo Boaler’s extensive work with mindset research. Teachers send strong messages to students every day about their students’ ability to achieve and grow. Growth mindset messages tell students they are capable, while fixed mindset messages may hinder a student’s growth. In the interest of …
The Perceived Impact Of A Short-Term Monolingual Karen Language Learning Experience On The Teaching Practices Of Low-Literacy Adult English Language Instructors, Loretta Dakin
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
A limited amount of research on low-educated low-literate adult English language learners exists. An even smaller body of literature addresses innovation and teacher change of the instructors of this demographic. Adult refugees need basic language competency to participate with dignity in a new culture. This study explores the impact of increasing teacher empathy for the monolingual language learning environment that most first-wave refugees encounter upon arrival in the United States and identifies the instructional innovations and modifications that result. Nine participants, all low-level adult ELL instructors from a number of community-based adult language schools, took part in a Karen language …
The Emotional Effect Of Same Sex Grouping, Katherine Barwacz Heidrick
The Emotional Effect Of Same Sex Grouping, Katherine Barwacz Heidrick
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research question addressed in this project was, how do gender roles affect the achievement of school-aged children? It documents one teachers research in her fifth grade classroom by creating a curriculum related challenge that students worked on in mixed gender groups and same gender groups. The author documents the details of the research literature review in order to analyze and validate the study. The action research portion included surveys that students responded to, asking them to reflect over their experience. In conclusion, the author describes both successes and struggles of working with mixed and same gender groups and concludes …
Instructional Coaching: How Does It Impact Teacher Efficacy In An Elementary Setting?, Kristen Lynn Wilking
Instructional Coaching: How Does It Impact Teacher Efficacy In An Elementary Setting?, Kristen Lynn Wilking
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
This action research project sought to answer the question: How does instructional coaching impact teacher efficacy in an elementary setting? The research was done in a tier two suburb of the Twin Cities with 24 adult participants. The researcher collected and analyzed quantitative data through a teacher survey with 83% participation. The researcher collected and analyzed qualitative data through a focus group discussion with 6 volunteer teachers and also kept a weekly reflection journal for one semester. Results showed that instructional coaching had a positive impact on teacher efficacy in the elementary setting in which this action research took place.