Education Commons^™

How Do Students Structure Their Silent Reading When Situated In Inquiry Based Pedagogy?, Michelle Cohen

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to document the engagement levels and classroom discussions students have after reading their independent reading novel. The specific aim was to see how students respond using their independent reading books when class discussions are centered around an essential question. Classroom reading behaviors, student-led classroom discussions, interviews, and exit tickets were analyzed. The students were engaged as active readers when reading their chosen silent reading book to find the answer to an essential question. After, the students engaged in meaningful conversations using their silent reading books as guides before some students offered personal responses while …

A Qualitative Study On The Effects Of Second Grade Students Forming Partnerships With Their Teacher And Peers To Set Reading Goals, Sandra L. Shevlin

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research study is for second grade students to form a partnership with their teacher and peers to set reading goals. One goal of the study is to examine how forming partnerships with peers and the teacher helps students better understand themselves as readers. Another goal is to investigate how the created partnerships motivate students to set reading goals independently. A variety of data was collected and analyzed, including notes, observations, student conversations, and charts reported in a teacher research journal, along with the pre and post assessment data, such as the Reading Attitude Survey, student written …

Perceptions Of Teachers Who Engage In Social Media Networking: A Multiple Case Study, Celese Nolan

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine how and why teachers engage in social media networks. Using a case study approach, data was gathered through semi-structured interviews, online observations, direct observations, artifacts, and documents to gain understanding to how and why teachers are using online networks such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Twitter for professional learning. The underpinnings of constructivism and social constructivism theories served to provide a framework for understanding how teachers perceive their professional use of social media. Moreover, this study sought to gain insight into how this practice may or may not influence teacher practice at …

The Most Efficient And Effective Ways To Address New Literacies For The 21st Century Classroom, Catherine Elizabeth Mcgowan

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to provide an extensive review of literature that focuses on the most efficient and effective ways to implement new literacies in the classroom. It focuses on how to maximize the impact of new literacies instruction on student learning through curriculum, and professional development and discusses the impact of new literacies on student motivation. The thesis provides information on how to define new literacies and discusses the impact they are having on the school environment and learning process. It discusses the importance of new literacies and why they should be integrated into today's classroom. The …

Reading, Thinking, Developing Responses: An Investigation Of Independent Reading In A First Grade Classroom, Heather Pence

Theses and Dissertations

What happens when first grade students engage in independent reading in which they are reading, thinking, and developing responses about texts at their independent reading level? The purpose of this study is to investigate what type of work and learning first grade students engage in during independent reading time. The focus will be on the type of thinking the students are engaging in and what strategies the students are utilizing while reading independently. This qualitative teacher research study consists of 12 first-grade students in the first-grade classroom during independent reading time of Reader's workshop. The data collected revealed students utilizing …

The Impact Of A Values Clarification Process On The Factors Associated With Retention Of Historically Underrepresented Students At A Public University, Jose Antonio Aviles

Theses and Dissertations

The literature examining the retention of students of color is very much like a puzzle. Many scholars have contributed to the puzzle attempting to make a complete body of knowledge regarding student departure. However, a void in the literature seems to be the role of students' values in the retention puzzle, specifically, whether the process of clarifying personal values would affect the retention of students of color in higher education.

A transitional summer bridge program was modified using a conceptual framework anchored in the examination of espoused values versus values in use. The model was developed using Argyris and Schon's …

Out And Queer: Independent School Teachers Navigating The Personal And Professional, Caroline C. Dunnell

Theses and Dissertations

In recent years the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Queer (Queer) community has experienced unprecedented acceptance in U.S. culture. Yet, education, historically slow to change (Fullan & Miles, 1992), continues in many states to promote a heteronormative culture that does not recognize nor promote equity for the queer community that exists within their schools (Barrett & Bound, 2015).

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological heuristic inquiry was to explore my experience, and those of eleven other queer out independent school educators, to understand how we makes sense of, and navigate, the heteronormative, traditionally male-dominated, independent school environment. This study used in-depth …

A Conceptual Study On Effective Independent Reading Practices To Foster An Enjoyment Of Reading, Diana Mitchell

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this conceptual study was to analyze what factors impact students' engagement and motivation to read independently. Further, the study sought to determine effective modifications to independent reading for today's students. Because this study is conceptual in nature, an extensive review of the current qualitative and empirical literature on independent reading was conducted. From there, the data was coded inductively to generate new ideas about what independent reading should entail for students today. Some clear patterns emerged. First, student choice and autonomy were cited as important factors for fostering students' motivation and engagement with reading. Second, simply providing …

Improving Student Engagement And Acceptance Using Multicultural Texts, Bianca Rouse

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research is to investigate how students in a third-grade classroom engage in multicultural texts when reading about cultures other than their own. Furthermore, it will investigate how the use of multicultural texts will impact their understanding and acceptance of diverse cultures. Throughout the six-week study, students read and engaged in discussions after reading two multicultural texts. They participated in activities expressing their thoughts and beliefs related to the content read in class. The strategies used for this qualitative research study were questionnaires, observations, accountable talk discussions, artifact analysis, and interviews. Finally, after discussing and analyzing the …

The Value Of Non-Scholarship Community College Athletics In New Jersey: A Student-Athlete And Administrator Perspective, Anthony Joseph Trump

Theses and Dissertations

This multiple case study examines two New Jersey non-scholarship community college athletic programs and answers the questions why student-athletes choose to attend the community college and participate in athletics, what factors influence their decisions, and how administrators and student-athlete descriptions of the value and contribution of participation in community college athletics align. The value of attending and competing in a non-scholarship community college athletic program is carefully examined through multiple interviews of student-athletes, athletic administrators, and chief student administrators. Additionally, the student-athlete perspective on what factors influenced them to choose to attend community college and participate at the non-scholarship level …

How Choice In Daily Independent Reading Affects Book Talks With Peers, Deirdre Rae Glynn

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine any effects that daily choice independent reading had on peer book talks in regard to reading motivation and engagement. The specific aim was to see what happened in weekly peer book talks when students were given daily independent reading time with a book of their choosing. Motivation profiles, audio recording of student talk, anecdotal notes, and student interviews are all analyzed. The implications for implementing daily independent reading with a choice book and peer book talks are discussed.

Background Knowledge Conversations About Informational Text, Vanessa Gottesfeld

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to discover what happened when students are given opportunities to discuss their background knowledge before reading an informational text and to discuss how their background knowledge changed and grew after reading the text. The specific aim of this project was to find out how students interacted with each other during these structured and scaffolded conversations. Transcripts of student conversations, student artifacts, observations of conversations, and a teacher research journal were analyzed. The group of students studied demonstrated the ability to learn from each other, expand on each other's comments, and address misconceptions. The implications …

Picture Books In High School: How Picture Books Impact Student Understanding Of Revolutionary Literature Curriculum, Larae Drinkhouse

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to document student engagement and understanding of American literature when picture books supplement 11th grade curriculum. The specific aim is to see what happens when 11th graders use picture books to make sense of Revolutionary era literature and persuasive rhetoric found in texts such as Common Sense by Thomas Paine, Speech to the Virginia Convention by Patrick Henry, and The Declaration of Independence by Thomas Jefferson. Student questionnaires, interviews, artifacts, and observations were analyzed. The focus group of students demonstrated changes in the overall value of picture book usage in the 11th grade classroom. …

Exploring The Impact Of The Associate Degree On Bachelor's Degree Completion For Reverse Transfer Eligible Students Using Propensity Score Matching, Justin Aaron Hull

Theses and Dissertations

Many students who enter a community college expect to transfer and earn a bachelor's degree, yet many are unable to do so largely because of inefficiencies in the transfer of earned credits. Prior research has shown that students who leave community college with an associate degree are more likely to complete bachelor's degrees. However, this has not been situated within the context of reverse transfer, which allows former community college students enrolled at four-year institutions to transfer their credits back in order to retroactively earn an associate degree. This study uses propensity score matching to compare the six-year bachelor's degree …

A Qualitative Case Study On Delegation Of School Nursing Practice: School Nurses, Teachers, And Paraprofessionals Perspectives, Sharon L. Schofield

Theses and Dissertations

For the past decade, there have been many changes to school nursing with the implementation of unlicensed assistant personnel now known as paraprofessionals. This process has brought about several concerns such as mode of delegation, education, training, ability to monitor health-care needs, and organizational effects that trended downward without direction. This qualitative inquiry gave an interpretative meaning to the process of delegation in school nursing, the factors that hinder the delegation process as well as components that are needed to effectively delegate and utilize support staff (paraprofessionals) without detrimental effects to students. This study interviewed 20 participants.

Results of this …