Education Commons^™

Identity-Focused Second Language Acquisition: A Systematic Review Of Classroom Applications, Heather Lynn Stockton

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The research question addressed in this project is, what does research say about identityfocused second language acquisition (SLA) as applied in the classroom? The aim of this study is to provide stakeholders in ESL contexts with an overview of existing research on identity-focused SLA with particular emphasis on classroom applications. This information is investigated in the hopes of uncovering practical tools and strategies for educators to use in support of both SLA and identity development. Identity-based SLA is defined and discussed using Bonny Norton’s (2006) five beliefs about identity as a framework. Twenty-four studies with classroom applications of identity-focused SLA …

Text Analysis: Sentence Initial Adverbials In A Second Grade Language Arts Book, Sherri Kathleen Silva

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The research questions addressed in this text analysis are: What are the forms and functions of sentence initial adverbials?, What is the frequency of each?, and What is their relationship in the second grade Mondo language arts curriculum book Up and Away! Taking a Flight? This study investigates, classifies, quantifies, describes, and analyzes sentence initial adverbials with the goal of increasing linguistic understanding of the forms and functions of this language structure. The guiding principles of Schleppergrall’s functional language analysis discussed in The Language of Schooling: A Functional Linguistics Perspective and Halliday’s systemic functional linguistics were employed to analyze the …

Developing The 21st Century Skills Of Creativity, Collaboration And Information Fluency In A Kindergarten Classroom, Corrine Marie Schmidt

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The research question addressed in this project was, how can kindergarten students develop the 21st Century Skills of creativity, collaboration and information fluency through technology integration? It documents one teacher’s creation of a literacy based curriculum unit that gives kindergarten students opportunities to grow their 21st Century Skills, using the iPad as the learning tool. Key influences for this capstone include the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s new standards for technology integration in early education classrooms, as well as the International Literacy Association’s new standards for literacy education. Richardson’s research on the change in learning and teacher’s …

Sports And Somali Girls: Increasing Participation And Acculturation, Mandy Rose Franz

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The research questions addressed in this project are: What are the current barriers in high schools in a large mid-­‐western city that prevent Somali girls from joining high school sports? Which local programs have been successful in recruiting Somali girls and how has this been accomplished? What are some solutions to overcoming obstacles that are preventing involvement? The motivating factor for this capstone was to provide recommendations to coaches and athletic directors of high schools on how to incorporate more of their Somali female population into their athletic programs. The results of this study suggest that there are specific actions …

Teacher Perceptions Of Their Preparation To Meet The Needs Of Secondary English Learners With Limited Formal Education, Kristina Marie Herman Hill

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

As more immigrants and refugees make the Upper Midwest their home, many English Learner (EL) teachers are struggling to meet the various needs of students with limited or interrupted formal education (SLIFE), especially at the secondary level. The purpose of this study was to examine secondary teacher perceptions of their preparation to meet the unique needs of SLIFE and to examine what types of preparation would have been helpful to them. Sixteen secondary EL teachers who work with SLIFE were surveyed and four were interviewed to share their perceptions of their preparation. The overall result of the survey was that …

Mentor Texts Ability To Boost Young Writer’S Confidence, Paired With Mini-Lessons And Explicit Instruction, Allison Juanita Koester

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The research question addressed is, how can mentor texts, paired with mini-lessons and explicit instruction, boost young writer’s confidence? The motivating factor for this research was young writer’s lack of confidence and inability to identify themselves as a writer. Through the influence of key figures in this area, such as Lynne Dorfmann, Rose Cappelli and Katie Ray Wood, these researchers supported the use of mentor texts in the classroom paired with an appropriate writer’s workshop framework. They felt that mentor texts would bolster young writer’s confidence and skills, when used with explicit whole group and small group instruction . Through …

Relationship Between Oral Language And Reading Comprehension For English Learners: A Systematic Review, Jenna Lee Varghese

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This systematic review documents one teacher’s search for reasons why transitional readers at her elementary school seem to be stagnant in their reading progress, particularly in the area of reading comprehension. The relationship between English oral language proficiency and English reading comprehension for English learners at the transitional stage of reading is explored in depth. Additional factors that make it difficult for transitional readers to move through this stage are identified and discussed. A thorough review and synthesis of the current research is provided, offering many answers to the questions posed. Instructional implications and recommendations for mainstream teachers are shared.

Creating Picture Books That Feature Children Parented By Same-Sex Partners, Kira Lenore Fischler

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The research question addressed in this project is, how can an author create a picture book for children featuring families parented by same-sex partners that provides windows into and mirrors of the lives of those families? This capstone captures the journey of one teacher as she creates a picture book for children that is culturally responsive to the Lesbian/ Gay/Bisexual/Transgendered (LGBT) community. It presents research on the effects absent narratives have on marginalized populations and how schools respond to children from LGBT families, as well as the different typologies of picture books, guidelines for developmental appropriateness, and advice on the …

Monitoring The Writing Progress Of English Learners In The Secondary Setting, Susan C. Ellis

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This capstone is a literature review that centers on two research questions: what are researchers saying about using progress monitoring in writing, particularly that of secondary school English learners (ELs), and what tools are available for monitoring the writing progress of these students? An investigation of the uniqueness of EL writers was conducted prior to designing a systematic literature review for this capstone. An exhaustive search for studies that addressed the research questions was conducted, resulting in three studies that met the reliable and valid criteria established for this literature review. Each of the studies examined the reliability and validity …

How Can Inquiry-Based Instruction Be Implemented In A Secondary Mathematics Classroom?, Jennifer Colley Smith

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The research question addressed in this project was, how can inquiry-based instruction be implemented in a secondary mathematics classroom? The motivating factors for this capstone were the inability for students to retain information and the challenges that students often face due to lack of investment in secondary mathematics classrooms. This capstone documents the creation of tools that support teachers in implementing and using inquiry-based methods in a secondary mathematics classroom, rooted in mitigating the challenges that may arise as an inquiry-based structure is introduced. The author supports the creation and implementation of each tool through research literature, documenting purpose and …

How Does The Current Educational Climate Impact The Teacher’S Ability To Build And Maintain Quality Teacher Student Relationships?, Kymberly Nicole Saba

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The research question addressed in this study was, how does the current educational climate impact the teacher’s ability to build and maintain quality teacher student relationships? The motivating factor for this capstone was that while research has shown that the teacher student relationship has a positive impact on student achievement the current trend is to focus on assessments. This study looked at the student teacher relationship from the perspective of the teacher. The author surveyed teachers from a k-6 elementary school and found while teachers do feel that the teacher student relationship is important they felt that there is limited …

The Impact Of Computer Assisted Language Learning On Language Proficiency, Shelley Lyn Sorenson

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This research study seeks to explore the effectiveness of Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) for young English Learners (ELs) who are beginning to acquire English. The study looks at the role of CALL in a standards based educational environment in which students must make regular progress towards state English language proficiency and academic achievement goals. Key influences included peers, current and former students and my quest to find practical teaching tools. The positive effects of using CALL with students as demonstrated by White, Keengwe and Hussein proved to be important sources for this research. This qualitative study utilized existing standardized …

How Can Standards-Based Grading Be Implemented Into An English Language Arts Classroom In Order To Give More Accurate Feedback Of Student Achievement, Taunya Kolbinger

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

Properly and fairly assessing student work is an important and timely job. This paper will document the background of traditional grading, along with how standards-­‐based grading benefits teachers, students, and parents. Key pieces of learning around this pertinent topic of assessment come from the current work of Guskey, as well as Wormeli and Reeves. It will also address barriers to standards-­‐ based grading, and what professionals can do to implement this grading system into schools and classrooms, and cover how standards-­‐based grading can be implemented into an English Language Arts classroom in order to give more accurate feedback of student …

Finding ‘A Heart To Continue:’ A Study Of Constructive-Developmental Diversity And Academic Literacy Learning Experiences In The Adult English As A Second Or Other Language (Esol) Classroom, Jennifer Rae Ouellette-Schramm

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

Developing academic literacy skills is becoming increasingly high-stakes for Adult Basic Education (ABE) English as a Second or Other Language (ESOL) learners to accomplish goals like passing the General Education Diploma (GED) test or preparing for post-secondary. ESOL literature suggests that academic literacy development is not only a language issue, but a cognitive and academic phenomenon. Related to an adult learner’s cognitive and academic learning is stage of epistemological complexity. Theories of adult epistemological development, including constructive-developmental theories, are based on empirical research demonstrating that the logics through which adults construct meaning can continue to develop over time following predictable …

Culturally Responsive Curriculum: Third Grade Dual Language Immersion Fraction Unit, Katherine Elizabeth Jacques

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

While there is a growing body of research about best practice teaching in the dual language immersion setting as well as how to structure culturally responsive instruction, there is far less research that connects the dual language immersion model with culturally responsive mathematics instruction. This capstone primarily seeks to demonstrate how cooperative learning strategies, culturally responsive instructional techniques and the response to intervention and curriculum-based measurement model can be used to develop a math fractions unit for third-grade bilingual students in the dual language immersion setting. This study describes the components of dual language immersion, establishes the existence of racial …

Reading Success Stories: Case Studies Of Somali Elementary Students, Julie Marie Weiss

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

A major challenge that elementary ESL teachers face is that of helping students achieve reading competency. There are many factors that play a part in learning to read in a first language. English Learners have additional challenges as they learn to read in a second language. These factors and challenges are investigated and reviewed within this study. The author was curious about a few Somali students in her school who achieve high levels of reading proficiency. The research question for this study was, what factors lead to reading success for Somali elementary students and how do we support these students? …

Instructional Coaching: How Does It Impact Teacher Efficacy In An Elementary Setting?, Kristen Lynn Wilking

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This action research project sought to answer the question: How does instructional coaching impact teacher efficacy in an elementary setting? The research was done in a tier two suburb of the Twin Cities with 24 adult participants. The researcher collected and analyzed quantitative data through a teacher survey with 83% participation. The researcher collected and analyzed qualitative data through a focus group discussion with 6 volunteer teachers and also kept a weekly reflection journal for one semester. Results showed that instructional coaching had a positive impact on teacher efficacy in the elementary setting in which this action research took place.

How Do Interactive Read-Alouds Promote Engagement And Oral Language Development In Kindergarten, Laura Leigh Mikul

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The research question addressed in this project was, how do interactive read-alouds promote engagement and oral language development in kindergarten? The motivating factor for this capstone was the high number of students coming to school with limited resources and lacking prior knowledge of literacy skills. The author developed an interactive read-aloud curriculum unit focused on characters to implement in kindergarten throughout the school year. Each lesson plan incorporates scaffolding, teacher modeling, student discussion, and engagement strategies. The capstone highlighted benefits and common practices for interactive read-alouds, theories such as Cambourne’s Conditions of Learning and Instructional Conversations, and implications of oral …

Mandarin Immersion School: A Case Study, Susan Jean Koehn

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The research questions addressed in this project were designed to explore the literacy development of a nine-year-old boy in an elementary Mandarin immersion program. The motivating factor for this research was to investigate his learning experience from his perspective, that of his teachers and that of his mother, the researcher. The approach chosen was a case study using ethnographic methodology consisting of classroom and home observations, teacher and student interviews, a survey, and formative and summative assessments. During the course of the study, it emerged that he has dyslexia. The issues in dealing with a dyslexic student were therefore also …

Perceptions Of Cyberbullying Within Higher Education, Julie Marie Luker

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

Two methods of qualitative research informed three dissertation research questions: What are faculty and academic administrators’ perceptions of cyberbullying within higher education? How prepared do faculty and academic administrators perceive themselves to be with regard to addressing situations involving cyberbullying? How prepared do faculty and academic administrators perceive their institutions to be with regard to addressing situations involving cyberbullying? First, 384 (N = 384) participants completed a 28-item, adapted online survey (Cyberbullying Survey). Second, six (N = 6) participants participated in a semistructured interview process. Results from both methods were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Participants are reporting that cyberbullying is …

How Do Mindset Interventions Affect 6th Grade Students' Mindsets, Nadine Louise Uremovich

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The research question addressed in this project was: How do mindset interventions affect 6th grade students' mindsets? Students in a 6th grade middle school setting were participants in a series of mindset interventions that took place over eight weeks during science class. Surveys, student work samples, and anecdotal notes demonstrated that mindset interventions increase growth mindset in 6th grade students. The research had several unexpected results which included: 1) mindset interventions increased students' knowledge about brain structure and function; 2) mindset interventions caused an increase in use of students' problem-solving strategies; 3) mindset interventions caused a decrease in concern about …

Environmental Education In Pre-K Child Care Settings, Kathryn Allison Galloway-Thoele

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The research question addressed is, how does environmental education and nature play in child care settings benefit children? A key influence was the author’s interest in providing stimulating environmental education for her young daughter and evaluating the environmental programs of local child care providers and the perceived benefits for children. Six child care centers of differing teaching philosophies were the focus of the study with each completing a 28 question survey about the environmental activities and sustainability programs in place at their facilities and the early childhood development traits observed in the children. Results from the study showed that child …

The Beauty Of Hatred: The Mcdonogh Three’S Untold Stories, Leslie Theresa Hitchens

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The Beauty of Hatred is a dissertation written to share the lived experiences of three primary participants of the educational desegregation movement of New Orleans public schools through a qualitative research approach. The methods used in this research were focus group interviews and document analysis. Two interviews were conducted to gather information about the events of the November 14, 1960 desegregation and their reflections on how it shaped their lives. The participants recalled life events from their experiences desegregating McDonough 19 in the lower ninth ward of New Orleans. This study focuses on the primary experiences of Gail Etienne, Leona …

Literacy Intervention For Adolescents: A Review Of Spanish Language Heritage Instruction, Heidi Palms

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This study is a systematic review of current research regarding Spanish language heritage instruction with a focus on middle and high school. With substantial evidence in the field at the elementary level indicating that literacy development of L1 supports the literacy development of L2, this study seeks to determine what current research shows regarding Spanish heritage instruction in middle and high school. Is there evidence of literacy gains in L2 English due to L1 Spanish instruction during adolescence? The final selection of studies from the systematic review includes a broad range of methodology, and correspondingly produces a broad range of …

Teacher Cognitions In Relation To Pedagogical Practices And Transformative Learning For Purposes Of Pre-Service Teacher Education, Robin Reginald Bell

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This study purpose is to explore the connection of teacher beliefs, knowledge about education, teaching, and learning in relation to classroom practice of university academics, who use transformative pedagogies to teach education courses on diversity, social justice and equity. The study is built on the assumption that teaching is a cultural construct (Hollins, 2011b). Second, the study is built on the assumption that human learning is a multi-dimensional and complex process mediated through culture and situated in a particular institutional setting (Wertsch et al., 1995).

The study attempts to accomplish this aim through an interpretive, qualitative evaluation of one, African-American …

Exploring How Faculty Members In Higher Education Respond To An Assessment Of Their Intercultural Competency, Naomi Rae Taylor

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This study addressed the response of faculty members in higher education completing the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) to measure their developmental level of intercultural competency. In addition, this study described how faculty members implemented their intercultural development plans (IDPs) and also identified the supports or barriers to their future development of intercultural competency. The literature review examined research on both K-12 and higher education to highlight the problems related to diversity and culturally relevant pedagogy that are consistent at all levels of education. Three case studies and one partial case study were cross-examined to capture the similarities and differences between …

Differences Between Curriculum-Based Service-Learning And Off-Campus Service-Learning Opportunities Based On Students' Reflections On Their Experiences, Carly Gates-Vickery Deleu

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The research question addressed in this project was, how do curriculum-based service-learning opportunities and off-campus (student chosen) service-learning opportunities differ in students' reflections on their experiences? Key influences for this project were the author's personal belief of social justice education for all students and the importance of service-learning in the high school setting. Through a qualitative research method the author created questionnaires and discussion questions, and conducted a group interview with high school students. Students were able to report on their service-learning experiences through reflection. Results of study showed no conclusive data on the differences between curriculum-based and off-campus service-learning. …

How Do Context And Low L1 Literacy Of Non-Native Speakers Of English Affect Their Noticing Of L2 Learner Recasts?, Rachel Mueller

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates how low L1 literacy and the level of context influence adult students' L2 oral processing skills, specifically their ability to recall recasts correctly by addressing the question: To what extent do low-literacy second language learners' noticing and uptake of recasts of oral questions depend on the level of meaningful context associated with the question? It discusses the Noticing Hypothesis (Schmidt, 1990) and Lyster and Mori's counterbalance hypothesis (2006) on recasts as a means of reflecting students' ability to notice and correct grammatical errors in their L2. Students were interviewed and recalls recorded in three NNS-NS tasks: Elicited …

Digital Culture: An Autoethnographic Report On Assimilation And Self-Change, Kirsten M. Foslien

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The research question addressed was, what is one teacher's experience moving into the digital culture? This question was answered by performing an autoethnographic documentation of one teacher's assimilation into the digital culture. Using the reflective theory for transformational learning, the researcher studied how the move into the digital culture prompted self-transformation personally, and as a teacher. The research is focused on three main areas: personal journey, teacher implications, and balance. Many unexpected outcomes and revelations unfolded that revealed profound research on: adult learning, digital media culture, and the role of the teacher in today's changing world.

Do They Get The Picture?: Visual Literacy And Low-Literacy Adult Esl Learners, Daniel J Bruski

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

Teachers of low-literate adult English language learners often use visual materials to teach content, but little research has been conducted on how these visuals are interpreted. This research explores the relationship between first language (L1) literacy and visual literacy, specifically the ability of adult ESL learners to identify the functions of graphic devices used in educational materials. The literature review examines how literacy and visual literacy are defined and discusses visual communication using the framework of semiotics. Through think-aloud interview sessions, Somali participants of varying L1 literacy levels interpreted illustrations from ESL materials. Results show lower than expected ability to …