Education Commons^™

Examining Teaching Styles And Classroom Management Through The Lens Of Self-Determination Theory: Implications For Race, Culture And Discipline, Peter J. Cunningham

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Background/Purpose: Historical and contemporary research has clearly demonstrated that racial and cultural minority students experience discrepant school discipline when compared to their White peers, which leads to profound negative outcomes (Wu et al., 1980; Skiba et al., 2011; Fireman & Wang, 2010, Peguero & Shekarkhar,2011; Skiba et al., 2011; Rocque & Paternoster, 2011; Bates & Glick, 2013; Bal, Betters-Bubon, & Fish, 2019). While a number of steps have been taken to address this discrepancy, Self-Determination Theory (SDT), and specifically the Basic Psychological Needs Mini-Theory (BPNT), can potentially inform teaching styles that could be used to increase motivation and engagement for …

Social Validity And Feasibility Of The Five In 20 Classroom Management Observation Tool, Kaylee Hampton

Masters Theses

The present study aimed to assess the social validity and feasibility of a standardized classroom observation tool intended to assess teachers’ current use of the five features critical to effective classroom management. Forty-three observers who regularly conducted classroom observations (e.g., school psychologists) were recruited to complete 20-min observations in kindergarten through twelfth grade classrooms, and then complete an adapted behavior intervention rating scale to assess their social validity ratings of the tool. Due to COVID-19, observers could either complete a live observation or recall a previously completed observation. Of the 43 observations, 15 were live and 28 were recalled. To …

Perceptions Of Classroom Management Coaching At District A Independent School District, Ashley L. Brittain

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study addressed teacher retention and research-to-practice gaps in the literature related to classroom management coaching and what types of teacher support are the best and why. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the perceptions of teachers, campus administrators, and campus intervention coaches regarding District A Independent School District’s campus intervention coach model. This study attempted to understand better the perceptions of how the campus intervention coach model influences teachers’ decisions to remain in the profession; how teachers, campus administrators, and campus intervention coaches perceive the campus intervention coach model’s effectiveness in reducing the percentage of …

Using Peer Supports To Improve Positive-To-Negative Teacher/Student Interaction Ratios By Novice Teachers, Karen Robbie

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A critical teacher shortage continues to exist throughout the United States. Challenges with student behavior and classroom management are identified as a top reason for teacher attrition. Educational research has demonstrated that PreK-12 students who receive social-emotional-behavioral support through evidence-based classroom management (EBCM) practices are more likely to achieve academic success. When teachers deliver high ratios of positive interactions to their students, positive student outcomes are likely to occur. However, researchers have consistently found that, like other EBCM practices, this low-intensity, high-impact practice is typically implemented at significantly lower levels than necessary to promote positive student outcomes. This implementation gap …

Dependability And Reliability Of The Direct Behavior Rating Classroom Management Forms, Kaitlin Angela Cassidy

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Classroom management skills are evidence-based strategies used to maintain a positive and productive learning environment. Utilizing classroom management strategies has been proven effective; however, limited tools are available for assessing such skills and further assessment of the reliability and dependability of such measures is needed. The Direct Behavior Rating – Classroom Management (DBR-CM) forms are measures for assessing classroom management and come in three forms: external rater (DBR-CM ER), self-report (DBR-CM SR), and student rater (DBR-CM ST). This study extended on the information obtained from the Cassidy (2018) study that examined the DBR-CM ER form. The study evaluated the inter-observer …

The Relationship Between Classroom Distractions And Off-Task Students, Michelle L. Andrus, Ashton K. Harrison, Kathryn E. Wojnar

Honors Theses

This study focuses on the prevalence of classroom distractions in elementary education candidates’ field experiences. Classroom disturbances challenge students’ ability to focus on, and process the information that is being taught (Frisby, et al. 2018). Disturbances can occur for a variety of reasons. Intentional distractions, or anti-citizenship behaviors are classroom disturbances that are created by students with the goal of distracting others (Myers, et al. 2015). Classroom disturbances can also be unintentional, yet still equally distracting.

Throughout the duration of this research, the candidates have conducted observations and research in a variety of grade levels. In this paper, the candidates …

Perceived Barriers To Implementation Of The Good Behavior Game: An Exploratory Investigation, Nicole Lovell

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Typical teacher professional development for Tier 1 behavior support often involves a “sit and get” training approach. Here, teachers are provided with a brief presentation that outlines the strategy to be implemented then dismissed from the training with the encouragement to implement the strategy in their classroom. This approach often does not result in teacher usage of the strategies, such as behavior supports, presented during the training session. A common challenge to teacher usage of behavior support is the match between the critical components of the strategy and the values, skills, and available resources of those who are implementing, or …

Teach Peacefully: Fostering A Positive And Engaging Classroom Environment, Kate E. Orbon

Community Engagement Student Work

This study explores the impact discipline strategies and classroom management techniques have on both students and teachers. Discipline strategies can positively and negatively affect student engagement, student behaviors, and student self-perception. They can also affect both negatively and positively teacher retention and job satisfaction. Evidence-based practices in peaceful, positive discipline create a learning environment that is engaging, respectful, and collaborative. Discipline strategies that promote connection, collaboration, empowerment, and respect foster the social, emotional, cognitive, and academic wellbeing of students.

The Qualitative Study On The Effect Of Teacher/Student Relationships On Student Academics And Behaviors, Dionnya Pratt

Doctor of Education Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to review and analyze the strategies teachers use in order to develop positive teacher/student relationships in the classroom of a high-poverty, at-risk school district. The cross-case analysis was performed to determine teacher perceptions of their interactions with students and how they influence academics and behavior. Determining the mindset changes needed to maintain positive relationships will provide information that will be used to build effective schools through teacher trainings. Through analysis of teacher interviews, classroom observations, and journal entries, five predominate themes were determined. Relationships, culture, classroom management, high-quality instruction, and engagement were found to …

The Effects Of Systematic Manipulation Of Reinforcement Within A Classroom Management System, Amanda Gayle Chavez

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

Research suggests that best practice is for teachers to incorporate evidence-based classroom management strategies into their daily routines to improve student behavior. One aspect crucial to evidence-based practices is the rate at which teachers deliver reinforcement. Though research recommends reinforcement be provided frequently within classroom management systems (Robacker et al., 2016), no objective recommendation exists that assists teachers in delivering it systematically. In this study, a single case withdrawal design was used to analyze the effects of the systematic delivery of reinforcement within ClassDojo on the off-task behavior of three students in a fifth-grade general education classroom. The participating teacher …

Effectiveness Of An Interdependent Group Contingency With Randomization Using The Ipad, Chelsea Gyke

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Classroom management, although considered one of the essentials of the optimal learning experience, is often a challenge for teachers. Certain classroom management strategies, such as group contingency interventions and token economies, are evidence-based strategies to aid teachers in gaining successful management of the classroom. The utilization of Class Dojo, a popular classroom management website, as a mechanism to implement an interdependent group contingency (IGC) intervention with randomized components may increase both the effectiveness of the intervention and the social validity of the intervention when compared to a manual implementation.

Participants included students in an elementary school self-contained special education classroom …

The Relationship Between Classroom Distractions And Off-Task Students, Ashton Harrison, Kathryn E. Wojnar

Honors Theses

Classroom distractions occur on a daily basis and prevent students from being fully engaged with their teacher’s instruction. In this session, elementary education candidates discuss the results of a study in which they documented the sources of students’ inattention.

Applied Behavior Analysis In The Secondary Art Classroom, Linda S. Stewart

Masters Theses

Special needs students in the secondary art classroom can be difficult to reach. Students with special needs are required by law to be provided with a fair and appropriate education. The challenge for art educators is to adequately meet the needs of all students in the classroom. This paper examines a brief history of education for students with special needs, behavior management in the classroom, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy, the token system, and the value of a structured classroom environment. ABA therapy techniques in the secondary art classroom provide a tool in the classroom management aspect of providing structure …

The Relationship Between Teacher Beliefs, Classroom Management, And Teacher-Student Relationships, Joann Conriquez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the extent to which teachers’ pupil control ideology relates to teachers’ management beliefs and their perceived relationships with their students. A mixed methods approach was used to explore the correlations between teachers’ pupil control ideology, classroom management beliefs, and their perceived student-teacher relationships, with pupil control ideology as the basis for teachers’ beliefs and attitudes about control. This study included 34 middle school participants from a school district that serves low income students of color. Significant correlations were identified between teachers’ years in the profession and control ideologies, with qualitative results providing …

The Problem-Solving Workshop: Adapting Process Improvement Methodologies For K-12 Educators, Madison Chan

Honors Theses

Lean and Six Sigma have been lauded in the manufacturing sector for their ability to streamline processes, reduce waste, minimize variation and defects, and improve the bottom line. Although these methodologies have begun to spread to other industries, their impact has been relegated to certain areas and has largely missed others. One area that bears strong consideration is education. Education is heavily process-based and notoriously tight on resources. It is hypothesized that if educators were taught the basics of these strategies and were able to implement them in the classroom setting, the effectiveness of both teaching strategies and classroom operations …

Finding Math Success District Wide: How Teaching Styles, Classroom Management, And A Positive Approach Can Help All Students, Melissa Meraz-Herrera

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This Capstone researched the methods a teacher could use in their classroom to increase math understanding and establish an encouraging learning environment. A second-grade teacher, Mrs. Meraz, was interviewed. She was known as a successful teacher for many aspects of students’ education. Some of those methods included using authoritative teaching, proper classroom management, and changing students’ perspectives about math, and the value of struggles students have while learning. The research stated positive outcomes in using authoritative teaching over other styles of teaching. The research showed that classroom management was vital in creating a positive learning environment. Several annual test scores …

Achieving Positive Mental Health And Academic Achievement For Students With Behavioral And Emotional Issues In Elementary School, Reynalda Fuentes

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Elementary students, their peers, and teachers today are being affected by emotional and behavioral issues that some students struggle with at school. In order to understand why it is affecting their academic achievement and mental health, this report answers the following research questions to investigate how these problems affect schools, classrooms, and teachers, as well as what appears to be contributing factors to this problem, and what are some of the solutions. In review of the literature on preventions and interventions placed at elementary schools the research shows that frameworks such as The Multi-tiered System of Supports, and the incorporation …

The Influence Of Environment: A Holistic Approach To Middle And Secondary Art Room Design, Leslie Y. Roberts

Masters Theses

This thesis takes an in-depth look at the elements within the classroom and how they affect students physiological and psychological needs and the impact those elements have on students’ academic success. I offer suggestions based on the research for changes that can be made to your current environment to increase students’ academic success. Additionally, through years of experience and additional research on classroom environments within this thesis I have created a floor plan for an ideal middle and high school art wing. This thesis also covers several different approaches to teaching, and I have used this information plus my experience …

Proactive Classroom Management Strategies In U.S. Middle And Secondary Education, Brittany R. Graves

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Knowledge of classroom management strategies has great importance for middle and secondary teachers. The present research aims to consolidate findings on evidence-based, proactive classroom management strategies for adolescents that can be effectively used by middle and high school teachers of all experience levels. Results suggest that relationship building, antecedent attention, positive verbal feedback, opportunities to respond, proactive discipline, and parental involvement increase engagement and decrease disruptive behavior in middle and secondary classrooms. Veteran, new, and preservice teachers should evaluate and update their classroom management strategies to reflect current, evidence-based practices.

Teacher Perceptions About Teaching Students With Executive Function Deficits, Susan Lynn Dunlap

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem that prompted this study was that kindergarten through 5th grade teachers were struggling to find appropriate interventions to support the rising number of students exhibiting executive function deficiencies (EFD). The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate the experiences and perceptions of local elementary teachers about students with EFD, about instructional strategies used to help focus EFD students, and about teachers’ professional needs to work effectively with EFD students. Diamond’s core characteristics of EFD served as the conceptual framework guiding this study. The research questions focused on teachers’ experiences and perceptions of strategies used for students with …

One To One Device Initiative Implementation In A Rural High School In Mississippi, Roxanne Hall

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractOne-to-one device initiatives provide access to digital learning for students; however, little is known about how this process occurs in rural schools. Implementing a one-to-one device initiative may have positive effects on student access to digital technologies as well as student and teacher efficacy when sufficient training happens beforehand. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine the implementation of a one-to-one laptop initiative in a rural high school in Mississippi, focusing on policy development and stakeholder views. The conceptual framework of implementation science and theoretical frameworks of normalization process theory and adaptive implementation guided the research. The …

The Implementation Of Online Classroom Management Professional Development For Beginning Teachers, Kaytlynn Milliken

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Effective classroom management practices are well known, yet the most efficient ways to teach them to beginning teachers is not. Online professional development is growing in popularity—though there are few examples of online classroom management training in the literature. The purpose of this qualitative study was to evaluate the experiences and implementation practices of beginning teachers that participated in online classroom management training as part of their new teacher induction program. The results suggest that online classroom management professional development as part of new teacher induction is a practical option. The beginning teachers were observed utilizing the classroom management strategies …

Culturally Responsive Classroom Management Techniques And Former Riverside County And San Bernardino County Teachers Of The Year: A Phenomenological Study, Brian Redmond

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to determine what former County Teachers of the Year understand and describe as the methods they use for culturally responsive classroom management with respect to Brown’s Five Culturally Responsive Factors (developing personal relationships, creating caring learning communities, establishing a business-like learning environment, establishing congruent communication processes and, teaching with assertiveness and clearly stating expectations).

Methodology: This qualitative study used a phenomenological design to discover what former County Teachers of the Year do to identify and describe as the methods they use for culturally responsive classroom management with respect to Brown’s Five Culturally …

Effective Evidence-Based Strategies To Minimize Self-Injurious Behaviors In Young Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Practical Manual For Educators, Ngoc Lan Nguyen

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Self-injurious behaviors (SIBs) are relatively common in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), and many teachers have difficulties dealing with these challenging behaviors. Besides the possibility of causing serious injuries to children with ASD, the frequent occurrences of SIBs can limit their access to academic instruction and peer interactions. The abundance of possible strategies is confusing for teachers to figure out which strategies to use and how to implement them. The purpose of this project was to develop a guiding manual for educators working with children with ASD. The manual presents proactive, evidence-based strategies to help prevent or decrease students’ …

The Effects Of Noncontingent Praise ( Ncp ) On Classroom Behavior, Kelly Poirot

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation reports on the effects of noncontingent praise (NCP) as a classroom behavioral intervention. Six teacher participants were trained to provide NCP to the classroom at their free operant level of praises and reprimands directed towards the classroom, either at fixed (NCPf) or variable (NCPv) rates. Class-wide rates of academic engaged time and inappropriate behaviors were collected to examine the student effects of the intervention. In addition, teacher perceptions of their relationships with their students, stress, and job satisfaction were measured both pre- and post- intervention. Treatment fidelity and intervention acceptability data were also examined.

Upon implementation of the …

Teacher Emotional Intelligence And Best Practices For Classroom Management, Juanita E. Kelley

Dissertations

Purpose. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand how middle school teachers describe their use of the four elements of emotional intelligence (self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management) to reduce student behavioral referrals. In addition, it was the purpose of this study to discover the barriers and benefits to teacher use of the elements of emotional intelligence (EI).

Methodology. This study utilized a qualitative approach to understand how middle school teachers describe their use of the four elements of EI to reduce student behavioral referrals. In addition, a qualitative approach was utilized to discover the barriers and …

The Effects Of Peer Observation On Teacher Intervention Integrity, Garrett D. Warrilow

Dissertations

The observer effect is a term used to describe a process during which an observer's behavior changes as they measure the behavior of another individual. The observer effect has been widely studied in organizational behavior management but has limited research with teachers in schools. The current study sought to use the observer effect as part of a teacher training package by evaluating the effects of peer observations on an observing teacher's implementation integrity of components of a Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) system. Participants were four middle school teachers of students in general education classrooms. The primary dependent variables …

Teachers' Perceptions Of School Training On Positive Behavior Supports For Behavior Intervention And Discipline, Kyle Gibson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

School staff was concerned that disruptive student behaviors at an urban, middle school in central Ohio had continued even with positive behavior interventions and supports (PBIS) implementation and professional development (PD) for more than 4 years. The purpose of this study was to explore teachers' perspectives of school training on the implementation of the PBIS system. Skinner's reinforcement theory and Bandura's social learning theory served as the conceptual frameworks for this study. Specifically, this study explored the training of teachers using the PBIS framework in diminishing students' negative behaviors. This study used triangulated data from interviews, observations, and document analysis. …

Perceptions And Experiences Of Teachers And Literacy Coaches' Literacy Instruction, April Jessup Giddens

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The literacy rate in Louisiana remains lower than the national average. This is especially true at Rosewood Elementary School (pseudonym), a D-rated school on a scale of A-F. The problem is that teachers are unsuccessful in trying to improve students' literacy test scores, despite several targeted efforts to give them tools to make these improvements. The purpose of this study is to explore the literacy practices, beliefs, and professional development of teachers at Rosewood Elementary. The conceptual framework of this study included Clark and Peterson's cognitive process teacher model, which focuses on teachers' thought processes and their behaviors in the …

The Impact Of Classroom Management On New Teachers At A Newly Opened Elementary School, Larry Peaden Jones

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation in practice outlines an action research project that was designed in order to solve the research question of: What is the impact of Capturing Kids’ Hearts on improving the classroom management of beginning teachers and district new-hires in a new elementary school setting? This question was proposed on the idea that classroom management is something that many teachers will face as a challenge; especially beginning teachers. The Capturing Kids’ Hearts program was also determined to be beneficial as it contains attributes that would allow any teacher to obtain some useful information from the information. This action research project …