Education Commons^™

An Educational Night Out, Suzanne Lynn-Clark Sprecher

Graduate Research Papers

When educators, families, and communities work together, schools get better. As a result, students get the high quality education that they need to lead productive lives. Thirty years of research confirms that family development is a powerful influence on children's achievement in school (Eagle, 1989: Henderson & Berla, 1994: U.S. Department of Education; Ziegler, 1987). When families are involved in their children's education, children earn higher grades and receive higher scores on tests, attend school more regularly, complete more homework, demonstrate more positive attitudes and behaviors, graduate from high school at higher rates and are more likely to enroll in …

Fluency Instruction In The Second-Grade Classroom, Kati L. Stephens

Graduate Research Papers

This project is a classroom project for implementation in a self-contained second-grade classroom. It is a specific fluency curriculum, focusing on research-based teaching strategies and the use of authentic children's literature to promote second-grade students' reading fluency.

Women Alcoholics And Addicts : An Examination Of The Role Of Gender-Specific Treatment Programs In Substance Abuse Counseling, Adarienne L. Burrow

Graduate Research Papers

Traditionally, substance abuse treatment programs have been developed based on data collected on male substance abusers. Women entering into these traditional treatment programs often are not successful at recovery. Male-based treatment programs are not designed to meet the complex set of needs of women substance abusers and addicts. The purpose of this research is two-fold. First, to identify the specific needs of women substance abusers and addicts. And secondly, determine how to address these identified needs in a substance abuse treatment program in order to provide a holistic approach to substance abusing and addicted women.

A Preferred Vision For Leading Elementary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Tammy Murphy-Flynn

Graduate Research Papers

My beliefs about education have been evolving for nearly four decades. These beliefs about education have developed as I have grown professionally. My many roles as a student, teacher, mother, and counselor have influenced my beliefs and values. Each role has provided a different perspective from which I have viewed the educational world. The different roles, and their perspectives, have overlapped, agreed, and disagreed. My life roles and experiences have shaped me and will continue to do so.

The list for elements that are critical to exemplary leadership is truly endless. I believe that for an administrator the elements change …

My Vision And Beliefs To Effectively Lead A Middle School : A Reflective Research Paper, Philip L. Laube

Graduate Research Papers

The most influential role in a school is the educational leader. A leader's vision and beliefs are what shapes the school's success or failure. Leadership qualities involve being an effective communicator, an instructional leader, a facilitator of change, a relationship builder, and an ethical leader. Obviously, the range of roles the principal must possess is vast. Within each educational leadership quality are numerous traits that aid in the effectiveness of the principal.

A Personal Philosophy Of Secondary Educational Leadership : A Reflective Essay, John A. Netty Ii

Graduate Research Papers

The ability to create and share a vision, knowledge of the.data collection process, organizational effectiveness, and the ability to lead ethically are indeed four critical elements of effective educational leadership. However, I do not believe that these four elements alone will result in an educational leader that is truly great. The truly great educational leader will utilize these elements while helping those around them see more potential in themselves than they ever knew existed. In addition, the truly great educational leader will inspire those around them to fully realize or even exceed this potential. Ultimately, the truly great educational leader …

Psycho-Spiritual Aspects Of Mental Health Counseling, Sahibou Oumarou

Graduate Research Papers

With the growing demand for holistic therapy, interest in the psycho-spiritual dimension as it relates to clients' concerns has increased within the last decades. Many crises that lead people to counseling could hopefully be avoided if more attention were giving to prevention. In this paper, the necessity of seeking harmony between body, mind and soul with certain practices such as yoga, relaxation, deep breathing, prayer, and meditation will be explored. These spiritual tools are supported by clinical practice and empirical research on holistic approaches to counseling.

A Preferred Vision For Leading Elementary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Mark R. Sade

Graduate Research Papers

I have chosen education as my lifetime career because I believe education is, perhaps, the most important occupation within our culture. I believe teachers, individually and collectively, not only change the world, but also improve it. In the service to children, I find personal and professional renewal. I am proud to be part of this noble profession and want to be counted among those in whom future teachers can say they found inspiration.

A Preferred Vision For Leading Elementary And Secondary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Melissa D. Hasty

Graduate Research Papers

I believe our education system is vital to our nation and to our way of life. We need educational leaders who are committed to our students and willing to become masters of each of the critical elements associated with exemplary principals. The six Iowa Standards for School Leaders (ISSL) define what the exemplary school principal should know, be like and do to create productive schools where all children are learning.

A Vision For Educational Leadership : A Reflective Essay, Melissa M. O'Brien

Graduate Research Papers

The decision to pursue a master's degree in Educational Leadership was not decided without a great deal of reflection and contemplation. It was necessary when pondering this decision to consider many issues, such as the complexity of the educational system, the students, and the potential impact--both positive and negative--that a person working in a school setting might have over the course of a career in educational leadership.This paper is an attempt to articulate how some of my experiences, skills, knowledge, and values have formed and how these attributes contributed to the formation of my philosophy of educational leadership.

The Comparison Of Existential Psychology And Buddhist Spirituality, Jackie Nowparvar

Graduate Research Papers

In this paper a comparison between Existentialism and Buddhism is investigated. The relationship is determined by comparing literature written in both fields of study. The focus of the paper concentrates on the importance of ontology, suffering, and death in both groups and how closely they relate to one another. The findings indicate that the spirituality of Buddhism and the psychology of Existentialism in combination, can culminate the experience of finding meaning in one's life and the discovery of self through the therapeutic experience. The paper will also provide a historical overview of Buddha himself and a review of his basic …

What I Believe About Leadership And Education : A Reflective Essay, Katie J. Koble/Walsworth

Graduate Research Papers

Good leadership is critical for a successful school. The school revolves around the leadership at the top. It is important for administrators to have respect from teachers and students. I feel one of the best ways to gain respect is to be fair in the area of discipline. Organized structure and high expectations become achievable if there is fairness across the board. I feel it is important to make no exceptions and stand by the school policies in order for people to believe in the integrity of an administrator.

I feel good leaders must exemplify the characteristics of good, caring …

A Preferred Vision For Administrating Secondary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Travis J. Fleshner

Graduate Research Papers

The mission and. vision of the American public school system must promote the individual success of each of its students. School districts throughout the country are as unique as the students that attend them; just as the needs of each school system are unique. The physical structure and climate vary from district to district, and state to state. The dynamics of the educational system are too great to box up and label one district as the model for all others use as a pattern. However, there are important elements that create school districts that are higher achieving than others. The …

Spiritual Calling, Work, And Family : A Review Of The Literature, Jaymee Glenn-Burns

Graduate Research Papers

Literature on spiritual calling, work, and family was reviewed. This literature included definitions of calling, historical roots of calling in the Christian tradition, possible relationships of calling to career and counseling theories, and writings that address the various combinations of work, family, and calling or vocation. The author concluded that the limited literature encompassing the influences of calling on both family and work suggests a need for further research on this topic.

Women Who Gamble, Hannah Rb Heritage

Graduate Research Papers

Understanding the differences between the male compulsive gambler and the female compulsive gambler can play an important role in the healing process of the female compulsive gambler. This manuscript describes these differences and discusses treatment methods and issues specific to the female pathological gambler including the Twelve Step program for gamblers and cognitive treatment methods. The co-occurrence of other addictions and mental health issues are also examined.

The School Counselor's Role In Empowering Adolescent Girls, Laurie A. Kirkpatrick

Graduate Research Papers

Although many books and articles have been written on the topic of adolescence and the challenges having to do with this developmental stage, there is an increasing need for school counselors to provide programming to empower today's adolescent girls. Research has long shown that a decline in self-esteem accompanies puberty (Dee, 1997). In fact, one study found significant gender differences which indicate that girls are at a much higher risk for not only developing, but also for maintaining low levels of self-esteem (Simmons & Blyth, 1987).

With all of the problems facing contemporary adolescents, empowering girls with a positive self-image …

Leading An Elementary School To Excellence : A Reflective Essay, Christine L. Mccarron

Graduate Research Papers

The educational leaders of today have the potential to be a vital part of some of the greatest transformations of education in history. The new information that we are learning about the brain and how we learn, combined with ever-changing technological advances and political mandates, will cause us to reconsider all of our school structures and methods. That reform will not occur by initiating any single program, strategy or mandate. Instead, we must extend our picture of reality by finding powerful and all-embracing ways to perceive and describe trends and patterns over time.

The Guidance Counselor's Role In Helping Children And Adolescents Deal With Grief And Loss, Brandie Erickson

Graduate Research Papers

Death is a natural part of life. This is a difficult lesson to learn and can be especially confusing for children and adolescents. It is natural for adults to want to protect children for negative emotions and shelter them from the loss. Also, many adults feel uncomfortable or incapable of talking with children and adolescents about death. It is the guidance counselor's role to educate teachers regarding the grief and loss process and to provide support to the student, and well as information and resources to the parents or guardians of the student.

The purpose of this paper is to …

A Vision For Administrating Iowa Secondary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Mark Scott

Graduate Research Papers

The role of secondary principals is always changing. The days of the secondary principal being the master of discipline no longer exists. Discipline is now only a minute part of a principal's role. A principal's role is moving more towards a team player and leader. Teamwork is needed to ensure all students receive the very best educational opportunities. The principal must play an active role in developing all the components necessary for students to succeed in the secondary schools.

A Preferred Vision For Administering High Schools : A Reflective Essay, Jason A. Knittel

Graduate Research Papers

If a person wants to succeed on becoming a principal, a leader, that person has to understand what people want and need. A principal needs to learn how to listen and talk with people. He also needs to understand different cultures, because not everyone is the same. There is an important relationship between the law and protection of the students as well as the staff.

A principal needs to have a sense of humor. Laugh with the students and the staff. Others will understand him as a human. He needs to be strong. People like to mock policies or complain …

A Preferred Vision For Leading Secondary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Brian E. Duwe

Graduate Research Papers

I see the role of the Administrator as the commander and leader of the school's vision. Concern, compassion and consideration are strong virtues a leader must have. I think Administrators have the capability to have an impact on all areas of the school community. A true leader possesses the ability to get individuals to work together for the common good and the best possible results for all.

Working With Children Suffering From Abuse And Neglect : The Elementary School Counselor As An Advocate, Bernice A. Fischels

Graduate Research Papers

This paper examines the history of advocacy for the rights and safety of children suffering from abuse and neglect in the United States, and more specifically the state of Iowa. It looks at statistical data concerning the incidence of child abuse and its correlation to age and ability level. It specifically addresses the developmental, psychological, emotional, and physical effects of child abuse. The remainder of the paper outlines the role of the elementary school counselor as an advocate in helping children who are suffering from abuse and neglect. The paper addresses individual, group, and classroom interventions that may be used …

Implementation Of Literature Circles, Dawn Lewis

Graduate Research Papers

Literature circles are a current and effective technique requiring a group of students to read the same text and then meet to discuss their thoughts on what they read. The purpose of the project is to explain to teachers the components of literature circles and the benefits they have for students. The project will look specifically at what both the student and teachers roles' should be throughout the implementation. It will also inform teachers of different ways to incorporate literature circles into their own classroom.

Snapshots Of Educational Experience And Leadership : A Reflective Essay On Core Beliefs And Critical Elements, Rick A. Miller

Graduate Research Papers

The best interest of the child is a foundation of all my beliefs and actions. As I reflect, I will be describing (as if taking an actual picture of the experience) snapshots in time related to my personal and professional growth as a person and educator.

In developing myself personally and professionally, I identified six critical elements of educational leadership including displaying effective communication skills, using assessment and problem-solving skills, modeling and supporting teaching and learning, collaborating by providing established structures and processes, having knowledge to influence stakeholders in political and legal systems, and being a reflective practitioner as a …

Suicide Risk Assessment And Implications For Counselors, Shannon L. Beelner

Graduate Research Papers

Beginning counselors may not be thoroughly knowledgeable in the art of suicide assessment. It is the purpose of this paper to review the current statistics of suicidality, known risk factors of attempting and completing suicide, crisis intervention techniques, how to carefully conduct a mental status exam, models of suicide assessment, and implications for counselors. The models surveyed in this paper were Leenaar's (1994) five step model which is considered the most common model in crisis intervention, the second model comes from Frierson, Melikian, and Wadman (2002), and the third model is the Chronological Assessment of Suicide Events (CASE approach) by …

My Vision For Administering Elementary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Angela J. Fowler

Graduate Research Papers

I believe the most profound experiences have been watching my mentor in her administrative style and comparing that to the style of my current and past administrators. Somewhere along the way I have taken elements from each one of their administrative styles, and shaped it into a style of my own. I believe I will be an excellent leader, largely due to the tremendous experiences along the way. I am excited to think about the successes and challenges I will encounter as I guide leadership capacity, and shape the culture of the people I lead.

This paper will be a …

A Preferred Vision For Leading Secondary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Gerald W. Hatfield

Graduate Research Papers

Educational administration is an appealing career opportunity for me because it will allow me to put into action two core values that I learned in my early years - we all deserve the chance to succeed and that hard work toward a lofty goal is what leads to cherished success. I believe that if l continue to develop four personal characteristics, my chances of being an ; effective administrator will be greatly enhanced. First and foremost, I must act with integrity at all times. Second, I must present an organized approach to my school activities. Third, I must be a …

A Preferred Vision For Administering Elementary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Melinda J. Hart

Graduate Research Papers

A balance between all academic standards will create an effective leader striving to provide a safe and educationally rich learning environment for all children. An administrator must be clear in the set of beliefs they plan to practice.

My professional vision is to utilize my leadership style to create a school climate where the worth of all children is recognized and all children will be included in the classroom to the maximum extent possible. These children will grow to be socially responsible individuals capable of functioning successfully in the world around them to the best of their abilities. The overwhelming …

Developing State Guidelines For School Library Media Programs In Iowa: Plans For Progress Into The 21st Century, Becky Stover Johnson

Graduate Research Papers

This research project, designed for Iowa school library media specialists, principals, and state education and legislative decision-makers, provides quantitative guidelines for library media program budgets, collections, staffing and facilities in Iowa schools. Research repeatedly has shown a link between these elements of a quality school library program and higher student achievement scores. Historically, standards and guidelines have been used to improve school library media programs. Modeled after previous guidelines developed in Iowa, this project is entitled Plans for Progress into the 21st Century. The literature review of this research project also offers an extensive look at the impact of school …

Plans For Progress Into The 21st Century: A Guide To Planning For School Library Media Programs, Becky Stover Johnson

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this handbook is to provide guidance to school administrators, school boards, general faculty and library media staff in developing and maintaining strong library media programs in the state of Iowa.