Education Commons^™

Social-Emotional Learning In A Week-Long Theatre Camp For Youth, Emily E. Virtue, Lisa C. Mann, Hannah Diener

Current Issues in Middle Level Education

Understanding how social-emotional learning develops in middle level education is important for educators and parents as they work to guide youth toward healthy relationships and responsible citizenship. Many studies demonstrate that students who participate in theatre have shown greater emotional health and more capacity to move through conflict positively. This study asks if social-emotional learning through theatre education can still happen outside of a formal educational setting. This study is a mixed methods investigation of a week-long theatre camp in the summer for upper elementary and middle school youth. Four aspects of social emotional learning were studied: task articulation, self-regulation, …

Exploring The Impact Of A Middle Level School Therapy Dog On Students And Staff And Connections To Best Practices In Middle School Education, Brandye Nobiling, Sherry Maykrantz, Tara Downes, Joshua Nobiling

Current Issues in Middle Level Education

The presence of therapy dogs in schools has increased due to the growing body of research showing positive effects of assisted-animal interaction. But there is little published research on how an innovation such as a therapy dog connects to best practices in middle level education. The goal of the research was to use the Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) theory to connect the implementation of a therapy dog to the Association for Middle Level Education’s (AMLE) essential attributes and characteristics as well as components of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model. Focus …

Building Community With Middle Level Preservice Teachers, Carolyn A. Weber

Current Issues in Middle Level Education

This paper addresses how community building can be implemented in a class for preservice middle level teachers. The preservice teachers connected community building to their success in the course and reported ways they could build community in their future classrooms.

"It Makes It More Real.”: Teacher Candidate Perceptions Of A Clinically-Rich Middle Grades Teacher Preparation Program, Shawn A. Faulkner, Michael Dicicco

Current Issues in Middle Level Education

The persistent divide between theory and practice in teacher education has long been a subject of concern among researchers and scholars (Darling-Hammond, 2006; Zeichner, 2010). This paper explores teacher candidate perceptions of a clinically-rich (NASUP, 2021) middle grades teacher preparation program that has worked to create a “third space” (Zeichner, 2010) through a school-university partnership with a local middle school. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with teacher candidates (n=23) at the time of program completion. Findings suggest teacher candidates felt prepared and valued clinically-based activities and experiences. Teacher candidates suggest future improvements to the program should include more experiences tied to …

Using Text Clusters To Support Student Imagining, Wondering, Questioning, And Discovering, William P. Bintz

Current Issues in Middle Level Education

This article describes an unexpected playground experience that occurred between the author, a reading educator and former middle grades teacher, and his six-year-old granddaughter. The experience became the inspiration and impetus to provide an introduction to, and a rationale for, the concept of text clusters to middle grades teachers. The concept of developing and implementing text clusters in the classroom is driven by inquiry and based on one question: How can middle school teachers develop and implement text clusters to help their students actively engage in imagining, wondering, questioning, and discovering? It shares and illustrates examples of text clusters. It …

From Observation To Ethical Inquiry: Course Redesign In Middle Level Educator Preparation, Sarah Straub, Elizabeth Gound

Current Issues in Middle Level Education

This manuscript explores the transformative impact of ethical engagement in the course MLGE 3301: Adolescent Learning, designed for pre-field students in an educator preparation program. Focused on middle-grade education and special education, this course incorporates a significant service learning component, with undergraduate students spending 10 service hours in middle school classrooms and conducting interviews with middle school students. The purpose of the interviews is to enable pre-field students to engage with middle school students and use the insights gained to reflect on the alignment between their coursework in adolescent learning theory and real-world experiences. Two professors leading the course recognized …

Staff Council Minutes, Georgia Southern University

Staff Council Meeting Minutes & Agendas

No abstract provided.

Staff Council Agenda, Georgia Southern University

Staff Council Meeting Minutes & Agendas

No abstract provided.

How Does Exploration Benefit And/Or Harm Different Groups Of People?, Kathryne Thurow, Ariel Cornett

Teaching Social Studies in the Peach State

In addressing the compelling question - How does exploration benefit and/or harm different groups of people?, students consider counternarratives of marginalized groups (i.e., Indigenous Peoples, the crew on Columbus's ship, etc.) as well as the effects of exploration on these groups of people. Through the supporting question - Should we continue to celebrate Columbus Day?, students are engaged in a Claim - Evidence - Reasoning protocol to analyze sources detailing Indigenous life before European arrival as well as the actions of Christopher Columbus and the associated consequences. With the taking informed action task, students are asked to critically reflect on …

Farewell, Emperor: Incorporating Novelty Breathes Life Into Student Assessments & Retention, Arminda Elizabeth Lawrence Sr.

Teaching Social Studies in the Peach State

In this action research project, a high school AP European History teacher explores the impact of novelty-based assessment on student learning and information retention. By replacing traditional lecture and quiz methods with a creative Napoleon eulogy project, the teacher investigated whether novel assessment strategies could enhance student achievement. Students were tasked with researching an individual in Napoleon's orbit and delivering a eulogistic speech, departing from conventional evaluation methods.

The study revealed promising results: student comfort with Napoleonic history increased by 41.9%, and long-essay scores improved by 5.25%. Interestingly, while students did not initially recognize the project's educational value, follow-up assessments …

Intervention For Struggling Learners In K-5 Social Studies: Exploring A Tiered Model Of Support, Joshua M. Duggan

Teaching Social Studies in the Peach State

The K-5 social studies curriculum introduces students to foundational knowledge in civics, geography, economics, and history. Social studies is also a vehicle through which students: (a) synthesize content knowledge which in turn supports reading comprehension, (b) learn about community structures around them, and (c) build social-emotional skills through an in-depth understanding of the human condition. Yet, instructional time allocated to social studies has decreased over the past few decades, and scores on national social studies assessments indicate that most students do not attain proficiency in acquiring social studies knowledge. Furthermore, there is an absence of a robust system of intervention …

Student Affairs Professional Preparation: A Scholar-Practitioner Guide To Contemporary Topics, Nikheal Patel

Journal of Higher Education & Student Affairs

This review examines a recent edited volume that offers a timely and comprehensive exploration of the Higher Education/Student Affairs (HESA) field. The book distinguishes itself through its dual emphasis on foundational knowledge and contemporary challenges, while weaving together faculty and practitioner perspectives—a structural choice that reflects the collaborative ethos of the field itself. Organized into three parts, the book addresses traditional curriculum areas, institutional type considerations, and emerging topics shaping HESA practice today.

The review highlights how the authors thoughtfully engage Student Development Theory (SDT) as a framework not only for student growth, but also for the professional evolution of …

Staff Council Agenda, Georgia Southern

Staff Council Meeting Minutes & Agendas

No abstract provided.

Staff Council Minutes, Georgia Southern University

Staff Council Meeting Minutes & Agendas

No abstract provided.

The George-Anne Daily, Georgia Southern University

George-Anne Media Group: Newsletters & Magazines

No abstract provided.

College Student Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences And Resilience Through The Eyes Of Transition, Andrew Dies, Juliann Sergi Mcbrayer, Pamela Wells, Antonio P. Gutierrez De Blume, Summer Pannell, Mary Josephine Carney

Journal of Higher Education & Student Affairs

This research focused on the role that Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) play in the lives of today’s college students and how protective factors may increase a student’s level of resilience. This study examined participants’ levels of resilience, what ACEs they experienced prior to entering college, and what role protective factors played in mitigating the impacts of ACEs on resilience levels. Results indicated that older students scored higher in resilience than their younger counterparts. The findings indicated protective factors coupled with resilience play a role in the success of college students. Implications for practice suggest institutions of higher education should examine …

Breaking The Pipeline: Exploring Exclusionary Discipline, Restorative Justice, And The Attitudes And Beliefs Of Educators, Ericka J. Varnedoe

Honors College Theses

This study explores the connection between exclusionary disciplinary practices and the school-to-prison pipeline. It highlights how exclusionary discipline, including suspensions and expulsions, disproportionately affects marginalized groups such as students of color, students with disabilities, and LGBTQ youth, further contributing to the school-to-prison pipeline. In contrast, restorative justice, a non-punitive approach, offers a promising alternative. Initially adopted from the criminal justice system, restorative justice has been integrated into school environments to foster positive school climates, improve experiences, and mitigate challenging behaviors. This research examines educators' attitudes toward both exclusionary and restorative practices, as well as their awareness and implementation of restorative …

The George-Anne Daily, Georgia Southern University

George-Anne Media Group: Newsletters & Magazines

No abstract provided.

The George-Anne Daily, Georgia Southern University

George-Anne Media Group: Newsletters & Magazines

No abstract provided.

The George-Anne Daily, Georgia Southern University

George-Anne Media Group: Newsletters & Magazines

No abstract provided.

The George-Anne Daily, Georgia Southern University

George-Anne Media Group: Newsletters & Magazines

No abstract provided.

The George-Anne Daily, Georgia Southern University

George-Anne Media Group: Newsletters & Magazines

No abstract provided.

The George-Anne Daily, Georgia Southern University

George-Anne Media Group: Newsletters & Magazines

No abstract provided.

Staff Council Minutes, Georgia Southern University

Staff Council Meeting Minutes & Agendas

No abstract provided.

Staff Council Agenda, Georgia Southern University

Staff Council Meeting Minutes & Agendas

No abstract provided.

The George-Anne Daily, Georgia Southern University

George-Anne Media Group: Newsletters & Magazines

No abstract provided.

The George-Anne Daily, Georgia Southern University

George-Anne Media Group: Newsletters & Magazines

No abstract provided.

The George-Anne Daily, Georgia Southern University

George-Anne Media Group: Newsletters & Magazines

No abstract provided.

The George-Anne Daily, Georgia Southern University

George-Anne Media Group: Newsletters & Magazines

No abstract provided.

Pedagogical Approaches For Marketing Ethics And Legal Issues, Ellen Raineri, Erin Brennan

AMTP Proceedings 2025

Lapses and violations in marketing ethics and law can result in employee turnover, revenue losses, decreased customer loyalty, criminal prosecution, and civil liability. Although these topics are addressed in some marketing classes, students noted insufficient coverage. Also, inadequate discussion of legal topics can stem from new regulations and faculty lacking legal acumen and experience. To supplement teaching of marketing ethics and law, eight learning activities were developed: marketing ethics audit to identify organizations’ ethical lapses, vulnerabilities, and illegal activities; deceptive marketing campaigns; podcast analysis of marketing and branding legal issues; analysis of photography privacy and property issues within a …