Education Commons^™

Antiracist Praxis In The Adult English Classroom, Cydnee Sanders

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The research question for this capstone was: How can educators of adult English learners utilize antiracist praxis like translanguaging to more deeply value learners’ linguistic and cultural backgrounds and experiences? As the field of teaching English to adults grows, educators need to be aware of the colonial history of English learning that is harmful to learners (Motha, 2014). Through colonizing ideologies of monolingualism and standardization, adult learners of English constantly get messages of inferiority towards their linguistic and cultural identities. As educators, it is our responsibility to combat these racist practices in our classroom and community with antiracist praxis. Kendi …

Holistically Discouraging School Aged Students And Youth From Joining And/Or Becoming Affiliated With Gangs And Gang Violence, Megan Steinhoff

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Currently there is varying research on gang affiliation and how it impacts various communities. Schools are one place where we see gang affiliation and violence affecting a large community. The present Capstone project attempts to look at how school communities can holistically discourage young students from joining a gang or being involved in gang violence. Most importantly, how can educators create a plan to systemically change the way students, especially Black students and students of color, move within the space of education and a school community. Research from Hagadorn (1998) was highly influential in the project. His gang research conducted …

The Power Of Translanguaging In American Schools, Tasneem Rattansi

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The concept of teaching English as a second language or multilingualism is something that the country has grappled with since the time of colonization. As we have become more aware of the globalization in our world, it has become quite evident that the basis of many of the theories and research conducted has a level of monolingual bias and is geared towards a system that is more fitting to what is known as monolingual norms. As more understanding is gained, the American education system is learning about translanguaging, an asset-based concept that is a heteroglossic ideology holding bilingualism to high …

Framework For Implementing Metacognitive Reflection Tools To Facilitate Student Learning, Elise Thompson

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Educators of all disciplines are finding themselves providing endless engaging content and working long hours to give feedback, yet they are still witnessing their students struggle to master content objectives. Students need to be empowered and provided the tools to take ownership of the learning process. Through intentional metacognitive reflection, the interrogation and reconstruction of learning, teachers will find increased retention, comprehension, critical thinking, knowledge transfer, accountability, and motivation in their students. This professional development framework is intended to improve high school student mastery through metacognitive reflection and to provide tools for teachers of all disciplines to set students up …

The Power Of Language And Its Integral Role In Lgbtq+ Inclusion In Education, Jay Carr

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Abstract

Carr, J. (2021). The Power of Language and Its Integral Role in LGBTQ+ Inclusion in Education Language plays a central role in our daily lives; it is through language that we name, identify, and differentiate everyone and everything in our world. It is through language that dominant, heteronormative discourses have been established surrounding gender and sexuality. Heteronormativity positions heterosexual and cisgender (identifying with the sex / gender assigned at birth) identities as normal and natural, while excluding and oppressing LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer / questioning, + other non-conforming identities) individuals. Despite a heavy push for ‘diversity’ and …

Songs And Salamanders: Investigating The Relationship Between Music And Environmental Education, Walker Nyenhuis

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Environmental education and creative arts such as music have complemented each other for many years. This capstone project investigates the relationship between the two disciplines by asking the question: How can environmental educators use music to increase students’ understanding of the natural world? Focusing on the professional development of environmental educators and other informal educators is important because these individuals will have many opportunities to promote connection between students and the natural world throughout their careers. Musicians and songwriters such as the Banana Slug String Band and Joe Reilly provide invaluable examples of musical experiences that both inform and entertain …

Muslim Parents’ Expectations In The Public High School Education System, Tamer Hamid

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The research question addressed in this capstone project is, what are the expectations of some Muslim parents of high-school-age students. These expectations include prayer, Ramadan, observation of Islamic holidays, school schedule, school meals, school curriculum, gender separation in physical education classes, and teacher insensitivity. In a humble effort to set my fellow educators up for success and expand their knowledge base, a professional development plan is designed as a source that would mainly include high school administrators, teachers, staff members, community members, and anyone invested in the welfare and success of a school with any number of high school Muslim …

Supporting Beginner English Learner Success In Low-Incidence Districts: Reading Accommodations For The Content Classroom, Ashley Gilbertson

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The research question addressed in this capstone project is: “How can low-incidence high school content teachers provide reading accommodation strategies with beginner ELs to impact student success?” This paper focuses on a way to provide equitable instruction for high school beginning English Learners (ELs), through researched reading accommodation strategies. The context in which this project was created was for low-incidence districts whose content-area teachers may not have formal training on working with beginner ELs. The professional development sessions include a focus on who ELs are, as well as the following reading strategies: oral scaffolds, text discussion activities, vocabulary instruction, and …

An Investigation Of The Best Practices To Develop Oral Proficiency In Adult English Learners That Are Engaging And Minimize Anxiety, Caroline Cherry

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Oral language proficiency requires more than simply knowing a language’s linguistic structure; learners must be able to quickly retrieve the relevant information to speak in a comparatively short amount of time. Speaking is the most fundamental language skill, and according to many researchers, the most complex as well, especially for adult learners. While many, perhaps most, adult ESL students rate the ability to speak fluently as the primary reason they are in class, practicing the skill can invoke considerable anxiety, which may stall or block learning. Reticence to speak typically results from anxiety, low self-confidence, or cultural expectations that discourage …

A Middle School Professional Development That Uses Reading Comprehension Strategies To Create Engagement And Comprehension In Middle School Classrooms, Madison Gallagher

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Many elementary students enter middle school disengaged with reading and lack literacy comprehension skills. All middle school teachers can make reading fun in their content classrooms to help students comprehend and engage with classroom content. This capstone project introduces a year-long, seven-session reading comprehension strategies professional development plan. This professional development plan motivates middle school teachers to use reading comprehension strategies to engage and help students understand their classroom content. This reading comprehension strategies professional development plan explains that each middle school teacher has their teaching style, and each student learns in their unique way. This capstone professional development plan …

Designing A Professional Development Series For Educators On The Benefits Of Mathematical Manipulatives For Elementary Students’ Understanding And Mindset, Emily Geraghty

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Research has shown that manipulative use has a positive impact on elementary students’ understanding and mindset during their mathematics instruction. Yet, some K-5 educators are not aware of the benefits or do not know how to effectively implement manipulatives in their classrooms. This led to the creation of a professional development series. The goal of the project is for K-5 educators to learn about the benefits of manipulatives on students’ understanding and mindset through active learning, practice and application. This is made possible through slides, videos, discussion and example lessons that utilize manipulatives. By participating in the professional development series, …

Engaging Middle Schoolers: Teaching Strategies For Boosting Independent Reading Motivation In Middle School, Hannah Schrempp

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

This capstone investigates and describes the factors that impact adolescent reading motivation. With access to modern technology, limited resources at home, and a shift in teaching practices, adolescent readers do not find value in reading. Many guardians struggle with supporting their middle school readers at home due to social and economic factors. A combination of articles, studies, and assessments, help answer the question, What factors impact reading motivation in middle school students to help them identify as readers? Research concludes that creating a print-rich environment, giving access to high-interest books, building a positive relationship with family members, and giving students …

Facilitating Awareness Of Trauma For All Staff In An Educational Environment, Kelly Rygh

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

It is important to address the effects of trauma in the K-12 education system because those effects can have crippling effects on how students succeed academically and in life. The research uncovered in this review of literature pointed to the fact that there are inconsistencies in even defining trauma. There are multiple versions of how to categorize trauma and various ways they manifest, with only some of them being observable. The methods used for addressing trauma have their positives and negatives, however, those methods are inconsistent. This makes it confusing and difficult to evaluate their effectiveness. The capstone project sought …

A Toolkit For Mainstream Teachers Of Multilingual Learners In International Schools, Elizabeth Butterfield

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

International schools date back to the early 20th century, just after the end of World War II. Today, they can still act as a kind of “island of English” in countries where English is not the language spoken by the majority of residents. English learner programs in international schools tend to reflect an English-advantaged mindset which can be detrimental to multilingual learners. This is especially problematic in the international school setting, where English learners are not immigrants, but rather are in the school for a short time (2-4 years), and will likely return to their home countries and home languages. …

The Case For Culturally Affirming Systems Of Education: Exploring How Professional Development Impacts Culturally Relevant And Critical Literacy Teaching Practices, Carey Seeley Dzierzak

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This case study based on a qualitative paradigm utilized grounded theory to analyze teacher interviews, focus groups and elite interviews focused on culturally relevant and critical literacy practices. This case study focuses on a small group of teachers and facilitators in a large urban school district in Minnesota. This dissertation focused on the impact of culturally relevant and critical literacy professional development on teachers' mindsets and practices. The theoretical concepts that emerged from this case study are the importance of culturally affirming systems. The data collected from this project support the need for creating culturally affirming classrooms, diverse literature, and …

Digital Device Use In Urban Elementary Physical Education Classrooms: Viewpoints, Eric Kaluza

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

Elementary physical education teachers and the use of digital devices in their classrooms are evolving. From simple step counters to Apple Watches to track the movement and skills of students, the digital tools available for physical education teachers are more prominent than ever before. This case study looked at how urban elementary physical education teachers use digital devices in their classroom, pre-covid-19, and during covid 19. In an upper-Midwestern setting, this research used a qualitative case study to find examples of digital device usage by urban elementary physical educators from one school district. Data collection methods included an online survey, …

Asset-Based Kindergarten Readiness For Black Children In Preschool And The Implications For Racial Equity, Jocelyn Mcquirter

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Early childhood education represents both a significant and formative moment in a child’s entry into the K-12 education system. While preschool children learn from well-meaning educators, inequities persist in kindergarten readiness outcomes for Black children. Some of the most saliently known disparities include the preschool to prison pipeline (i.e., discipline and suspension practices), poverty, and literacy rates. The Capstone Project sought to answer the research question: How might teacher preparation utilize an asset-based approach to reduce bias in Kindergarten readiness for Black children in lower socioeconomic status households? Explored were effective instructional and curriculum practices to increase learner engagement, empowerment, …

Code-Switching In The Classroom, Rebecca Maki

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Research has shown that code-switching can aid in students’ English learning and help them feel as if their first language (L1) and its culture are valuable; however, many teachers who are not educated in English Language Learner (ELL) best practices can be hesitant to include code-switching in their lessons and might even actively discourage it. The question addressed in this project is: how can code-switching be used in the mainstream high school classroom taught by monolingual teachers to enhance learning for ELL students in the areas of writing fluency and reading comprehension? The paper explores the literature that supports code-switching …

Choice Based Directing: Promoting Inclusivity In Middle School Theatre Programs, Brooklyn Riggs

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Riggs, B. Choice-Based Directing: Promoting Inclusivity in Middle School Theatre Programs (2021) The research question addressed in this capstone project was, how can implementing Choice-Based Directing promote inclusivity in a middle school theatre program? The capstone documents one theatre teacher/director’s self-created process of directing and teaching middle school theatre students. Choice-Based Directing integrates student voice and choice into learning on stage. The author presents research, personal experience, and the program results of implementing Choice-Based Directing. As an aspect of this work, a professional development for middle school theatre educators was created with the goal of helping teachers and directors learn …

Will Building A Healthy Community In The Elementary Classroom Reduce Disruptive Behaviors?, Samantha Janchan

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Community building in the elementary classroom can reduce disruptive behaviors. Elementary teachers wear many different hats during the school day, and managing behavior expectations is one hat. This paper explains the purpose of building relationships with students to reduce disruptive behavior. Teachers will spend time building relationships through activities, routines, and positive feedback. Chapter one provides background knowledge and the author’s personal investment in the subject area of relationship centered classroom management. Chapter two explores research on relationship building and the positive results of a community in the elementary classroom. Chapter three describes the author’s capstone project and the professional …

How To Be An Antiracist Educator, Veronica Myers

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Every educator should be antiracist. Racism, both overt and inadvertent, in the classroom leads to students entering the school to prison pipeline, the widening of the opportunity gap, and lack of support for English language learners. This capstone project works to answer the research question: How can educators be antiracist and incorporate antiracist practices into teaching elementary students? Antiracist strategies in the classroom include developing strong and positive relationships with all students, using culturally relevant pedagogy in the classroom, and providing ESL students with language support. This project also provides educators with the opportunity to engage in a series of …

Figuring-It-Out: Fostering Independence Through Transferable Problem-Solving Competence, Maya Kruger-Steinrueck

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

When faced with unknowns, there are those who wait and those who figure-it-out. For middle school students to be happy, healthy, and successful, they need to be able to independently navigate the unknown—to figure-it-out, no matter what it is. Figuring-it-out refers to a person’s ability to independently solve problems or determine a workable solution through their capacity to regulate, cope, apply strategies, and take action. This capstone project uses a five-part professional development series for educators to answer the question, how might the explicit teaching of figuring-it-out combined with sustained practice help students to become more independent? The series emboldens …