Education Commons^™

How Does Enriched Differentiated Small-Group Instruction At The Middle-School Level Accelerated Learning And Promote Community?, Kathleen A. Bernard

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The question addressed in this capstone project was guided by the demanding need for customized differentiated enriched learning experiences at the middle-school level. It documents why providing customized enriched learning experiences through small-group instruction for all students is necessary to help close educational opportunity gaps, improve academic growth and to create stronger communities of understanding and connectedness. It is founded in the learning and understanding of differentiation and self-determination theory. The frame of the project guides middle-school teachers through the process of understanding the importance of small-group instruction, provides them with structural classroom framework options and cultivates time for collaboration …

Implementing Growth Mindset Learning In The Special Education English Language Arts Classroom, Jody Brenteson

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The capstone question investigated in this project was, how can a growth mindset curriculum be successfully integrated in a special education English language arts classroom? It catalogues one teacher’s formation of an English Language Arts growth mindset curriculum intended for use in small group, special education ELA classrooms. The curriculum was designed by the author with the objective of developing a growth mindset in the guiding audience. Described herein is the proposed use of the curriculum as well as measurements of effectiveness and future implications on a teacher’s career, classroom development, and educational progress of her socioeconomically disadvantaged students.

How To Improve High-Risk High School Student Achievement And Well-Being Through Using Best Practices, Particularly In An Alternative Setting, Laura Lopez Dahl

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Many high-risk students struggle in education and find it difficult to be successful in mainstream educational settings. Alternative educational programs (AEP) are used as an intervention for students who are struggling in the mainstream setting and are at risk for failure. Students in AEP programs have an opportunity to overcome their barriers and achieve graduation as opposed to dropping out or getting their general education diploma (GED). Many of the students in these programs struggle with adverse childhood experiences (ACE) and have had negative educational experiences. This capstone project addresses the research question: How to improve high-risk high school achievement …

Using Diverse Literature Along With Critical Literacy Strategies To Support Diversity And Equity In Spanish Immersion Classroom, Claudia Milena Noguera Yara

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

In the capstone project, the following research question was addressed: How can diverse literature be used along with critical literacy strategies to support diversity and equity in Spanish immersion classrooms? The purpose of this capstone is to support teachers from K-6 when incorporating diverse literature books in their curriculum and how the use of critical literacy strategies can benefit students when analyzing topics using a critical lens. The use of critical literacy strategies allow students to have a multiple perspective of topics or aspects related to other cultures that will connect them with their own cultures and their identity will …

Engaging The Safety System Of The Brain: Training For Teachers Of Immigrants Who Have Experienced Trauma, Lindsey Grace Crifasi

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Research has shown that trauma makes changes in our brain chemistry. In the space of teaching and learning, these changes can inhibit students from reaching their goals effectively. This research focused on addressing the questions: What are the key aspects of trauma-informed teaching, specifically for the immigrant population? What happens to the brain when it is dealing with trauma, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or grief and how does that affect learning? With inspiration from Dr. Bessel van der Kolk’s book The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, Body and the Healing of Trauma and studies into the Polyvagal Theory …

Incorporating Linguistic Analysis And Processes Into English As A Second Language Instruction, Signy Kirsten Sherman

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The research question addressed in this paper and project was: how can an online professional development resource and community for teachers support understanding of using Linguistic Analysis and processes to deepen an educators understanding of a student’s native language (L1) in order to develop more effective instruction in the second language (L2)? Key influences included Jim Cummins and Maggie Tallerman (2015) Understanding Syntax from which the descriptive approach adopted was derived from. Additional influences included, case studies conducted by researchers such as Ronald Sheen and Lin and Chuan has shown that students can benefit from instruction informed by information derived …

How To Say Nothing And Everything At The Same Time: A White Teacher, Students Of Color, And The Trial And Error Of Building Relationships Of Opportunity With Envoy, Melissa Bougie

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

This capstone project focuses on how ENVoY classroom management might impact student teacher relationships and academic success in diverse high school classrooms. The project takes the form of a blog that outlines ENVoY classroom management techniques as well as discusses the philosophy of educational equity that exists behind the techniques. It includes my own analysis and research as well as interviews of ENVoY Demonstration Teachers. Due to the opportunity gaps between white students and students of color that often exist in diverse high schools, it is important to consider what might contribute to closing these gaps. Classroom management is one …

Supporting Twice Exceptional Students Within The General Education Classroom: Strategies For General Education Teachers, Rebecca Levi

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The research question addressed by this project is How can educators best support and challenge twice exceptional students within the general education classroom? The purpose of exploring this topic was to help identify strategies for classroom teachers to implement to help their gifted and talented students with learning disabilities feel successful in school. The project reviews studies and articles written by experts in gifted and talented studies as well as experts in learning disabilities in order to provide a better understanding of what it means to be twice exceptional and help provide educators with a guide for how to serve …

An Equitable Educational Experience For All: Strategies For Secondary General Education Teachers To Meet The Learning Needs Of Special Education Students Learning In Their Classrooms, Joseph Z. Walker

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

This capstone project focuses on the issue of providing equitable educational experiences for all students. More specifically, the project examines the most effective strategies for secondary general education teachers to provide modifications, accommodations, and differentiation for special education students in the areas of instruction and assessment. A central tenet of contemporary special education policy is the principle of inclusion. In accordance with this principle, students with special needs are increasingly learning in the general education classroom among their peers. This places an additional responsibility upon general education teachers to ensure that they are meeting the unique learning needs of special …

How Can Second-Grade Students Learn Algorithmic Thinking And Pattern Recognition Through Collaborative Learning?, Christine Walth

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

In today’s technology-filled world, employers seek applicants with strong computational thinking (CT) skills and computer science (CS) backgrounds. The demand for CT education reaches all the way to the elementary level. Wing (2006) states “computational thinking is a fundamental skill for everyone, not just for computer scientists” (p. 33). Though researchers are continuing to define all aspects of CT, the major elements include: algorithmic thinking, pattern recognition, decomposition, and abstraction. The digital age has also caused an increase in screen time, time children spend in front of a device, which has prompted studies on the negative physical and psychological effects …

Using A Fun And Frugal Approach For Teaching 21st Century Digital Literacy Skills To Teachers, Rochelle Lockridge

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

With the high-value placed on digital learning and the consequential need for accompanying 21st-century digital literacy skills, effective teacher professional development is crucial. Surveys report that K-12 teachers are largely dissatisfied with their current training options. They prefer collaborative learning experiences that are energizing, supportive, and hands-on; focusing less on presentations and lectures and more on opportunities to apply learning through demonstrations, modeling, and practice. An underfunded public education system combined with a perceived “tech bloat”, the juggling of too many digital tools, exacerbate training and support issues. The 10-week professional development curriculum designed for this project facilitates the development …

How To Build A Classroom Community Of Caring, Self-Directed Learners Through The Use Of Morning Meeting In The First Ten Days Of School And Beyond, Andi Jo Zimmerman

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Research has demonstrated that creating a child-centered classroom and implementing the Responsive Classroom Morning Meeting is integral to creating a classroom community. The curriculum designed for this project focuses on using Roxanne Kriete’s “The Morning Meeting Book” and other theories of co-operative learning to create a framework of a Morning Meeting to create a classroom community of self-directed learners. The project involved creating a diverse curriculum that engages students with classmates and their own learning through activities that expose them to both social and emotional skills and strategies but also academic skills, in an atmosphere that is non-threatening. The curriculum …

Amending Flex Time: A Proposal, Johnathan Thompson

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The Minnesota high school where I am employed has recently instituted a program called Flex Time. This program is a one-hour break in the middle of the day and could be equated to a recess. One of the stated purposes of this program is to assist students in developing their social and emotional competencies. This purpose has prompted the creation of this capstone which answers the question, How can Flex Time be constructed to ensure that it is best assisting all students in developing their individual social and emotional competencies? In answering the question, I discovered and explored the five …

How Can Educators Make Use Of Feedback Types And Process To Optimize Student Performance?, Trang Nguyen

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Feedback is one of the most common educational tools, which is frequently used in classrooms among multiple fields and grades. Although teachers use it to improve students’ learning, not all feedback would impact students positively. Instead, some feedback can be ineffective or damaging to learners, leading to a decrease in educators’ teaching productivity. This paper strives to answer the question, How can educators make use of feedback types and process to optimize student performance? It addresses research surrounding feedback and categorizes it based on four factors: positivity, levels, language used, and forms of feedback. From the research findings, this paper …

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 Prevalence Of Peter Senge's Five Disciplines Of A Learning Organization In A Rural High School's Professional Development, Jacquelyn Stevens

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative case study used mixed methods data collection to research the prevalence of Senge’s (2006) five disciplines of a learning organization in a rural high school’s professional development. It also examined how the presence or absence of the five disciplines impacted teachers’ perceptions of professional development. The study included participants at a Midwestern rural high school and focused on elite interviews with the principal and professional development coordinators, a focus group with eight teachers, and survey results from fifty percent (50%) of the high school teaching staff. Findings indicated that the discipline of team learning is most prevalent in …

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 …

How Induction Practices Impact Retention: A Case Study, Heidi Dunlap

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The topic of this dissertation is teacher induction or the process by which teachers are supported as they enter the profession or a new educational setting. Specifically, case study methodology was used to describe how a particular type of induction program, Peer Assistance and Review (PAR), impacted retention. Examination of program records, secondary data analysis, and interviews were used to describe the process of induction in two ways. First, how PAR impacted teacher retention. Second, how teachers perceived the support components utilized within the program. The results were analyzed using Herzberg’s (1968b) Two-Factor Theory of Motivation; the analysis included teachers’ …

What Are The Doorways And Barriers To Enrollment In College Preparatory Courses For Students Who Are Black, Hispanic, And American Indian?, Alicia Moore

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

Upper level honors, Advanced Placement, and dual enrollment courses in high schools reflect different racial demographics from mainstream on-level courses. The research question addressed in this study examined the doorways and barriers to enrollment in college preparatory courses for students who are black, Hispanic and American Indian. A mixed method approach was used to determine the precise racial disparity and an understanding of why the disparity exists. A quantitative analysis measured racial disparities in enrollment data for honors, Advanced Placement, and dual enrollment core courses in a large suburban high school. White and Asian students were over-represented in college preparatory …

Utilizing Technology With Nature-Based Learning In The Elementary School Classroom, Caroline Labate

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The research question addressed in this capstone is How can nature-based learning and technology be combined to enrich learning experiences in elementary school classrooms? Through extensive research in literature review, this project has set out to find that nature-based learning and technology combined does help to enrich learning experiences in elementary school classrooms. It examines the pros and cons of technology and nature-based learning as separate entities, and then finally examines how nature-based learning and technology combined can help enrich the learning experiences in elementary school classrooms. The project described in this paper is an informative and user-friendly website for …

The Roles And Identities Of English As A Second Language Teacher Leaders, Madeline Benson

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

Due to rising numbers of English Learners (ELs) nationwide, mainstream teachers are increasingly called upon to meet the needs of their ELs without adequate preparation to do so (Correll, 2016). In an effort to address these needs, the English Learners in the Mainstream (ELM) Project trains English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers to assume a leadership role in their buildings. Through a model of peer instructional coaching, ESL teachers provide professional development for their mainstream colleagues. The goal of this study was to answer the following questions:

1) After being trained as teacher leaders, do ESL teachers experience a …

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 …

U.S. History Curriculum Project Using Blended Learning To Improve Formative Feedback, Timothy Kennealy

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Kennealy, T. U.S. History Curriculum Project Using Blended Learning to Improve Formative Feedback. (2019)

This capstone project leverages a 1:1 device classroom setting to create opportunities for effective teacher-to-student formative feedback. Classroom feedback is complex and proven effective but the practice of giving excellent feedback is rare, even for the most dedicated K-12 teachers. The implementation of effective feedback is rare but there is significant and specific research that identifies important characteristics and formats for offering effective formative feedback. A 1:1 classroom using blended learning offers opportunities to implement excellent feedback practices by allowing teachers more time for conversation with …

Effective Instruction Of Social Skills To Increase Student Achievement In Elementary-Aged Students, Kate Grahek

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The research question addressed by this project is How can educators successfully implement social skills with elementary-aged students to increase their overall achievement? The purpose of this exploration is to identify effective strategies for elementary school educators to reference and utilize supporting their student’s social skill development. This project reviews studies conducted by many researchers in the field of elementary education, social skill development, and child development in order to create a digital resource compiling receptive and expressive social skill strategies to be used with elementary-aged students.The research focuses on the definition of social skills, which skills are necessary for …

A Trauma-Informed Devised Theater Curriculum, Christopher Michael

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

This project seeks to understand how trauma affects the brain in order to inform more effective approaches for engaging high-school aged survivors of trauma in devising theater. By understanding how the brain responds in unfamiliar situations, a teacher can be more informed on how to prevent triggering the natural flight, fight, or freeze responses common to post-traumatic stress disorder. The realization that many trauma survivors need additional exercises and time to transition from survival mode to their more cognitive processes informs the processes necessary for creating theater from scratch. Planning for this results in a more carefully selected scaffolding of …

Improving Language Skills Through Digital Storytelling For Primary Students, Stefanie Topinka

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The guiding question addressed in this project is how can we improve language skills through digital storytelling for primary students? The main idea of this capstone is to address the changes that are occurring in classrooms today and how students can gain confidence in the reading and writing process. Throughout this project capstone, there are multiple examples of how young children can benefit from extending literacy elements through the process of digital storytelling using technology tools. The research for this capstone is based on early childhood psychology and aspects of how incorporating digital storytelling into the classroom can benefit children …

Strategies To Enhance The Positive Effects Of Bilingualism, Danielle Mcmillan

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Supporting bilingual students is critical not only for the bilingual students but also for monolingual students. Prominent bilingualism in the classroom can translate to higher test scores, increased engagement, and long-term impacts on brain agility. This capstone project seeks to answer the question: What strategies are available to educators to enhance the positive effects of bilingualism in their students? The final result of this project is a website which includes a series of strategies focused on the four domains of language which seeks to meet the educational needs of both bilingual and mainstream students. The website includes a description of …

The Lost Boys: An Exploration Of The Male Gender Gap And Its Causes, Derek Swart

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The male gender gap refers to a discrepancy between achievement and investment levels of male and female students. Demonstrated through a variety of metrics such as graduation rates, grade point average, enrollment in Advanced Placement courses, special education identification, and behavioral intervention, male students demonstrate lower levels of academic success than female students. Factors influencing this gap appear to include social factors such as male disinclination to orient peer relationships around academic topics, internal factors such as lower measured time spent on study or homework in males, and different academic expectations for males and females from their teachers. This project …

Teaching Chemistry Through An Environmental Science Lens And The Effect Of Student Understanding And Motivation In Learning High School Science, Sara Peterson

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Research has shown that on average, student motivation for secondary sciences, especially physical sciences, decreases from ages nine to seventeen due to a perceived lack of connection to content. The curriculum designed for this project focuses on using socio-scientific issues (SSI) to relate an introductory knowledge of chemistry to environmental examples. Using SSI and real world, environmental examples has been shown to increase student understanding and interest in secondary science content. The project has combined the two to create a curriculum which lends to both socio-scientific issues and environmental examples to increase scientific relevancy in students. The curriculum will be …

Black Males And The Literacy Gap: How Can Professional Development Help Support Literacy Development Of Elementary Black Males In A Western Suburban School District?, Keenan Jones

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The guiding question addressed in this project was how can professional development help support literacy development of elementary Black males in a western suburban school district? This project was intended to provide going professional development for educators addressing the Black male literacy gap. The achievement gap amongst Black and White students has been well documented by many in the world of education. Data also shows that there is a gap between Black male and White male students in our American classrooms. Four-two hour sessions were created for this professional development.The first session is to explain what the literacy gap is, …