Education Commons^™

The Roles Of School-Based Language Specialists: Implications For Ell Teacher And Speech-Language Pathologist Collaboration, Erica R. Solorio

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The field of education is a dynamic one due to the ever-changing demographics of the society it seeks to serve. Research has shown that the number of culturally and linguistically diverse students in schools is increasing. As a result, schools and educators need to meet the academic and linguistic needs of culturally and linguistically diverse students. Past research as also shown that Speech-Language Pathologists must differentiate between a language disorder or language difference when working with a culturally and linguistically student and they should collaborate with a bilingual interpreter or bilingual teacher during this process. However, much of the past …

In What Ways Do Language Lessons That Incorporate Student- And Teacher-Generated Gestures Support Language Learning In An 8th Grade Beginning-Level Spanish Classroom?, Simone Johnson

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

In this six-week action research study, 18 participants between the ages of 12 and 14 were given four week-long gesture-based vocabulary lessons to determine the role that gestures have on L2 vocabulary acquisition in an eighth-grade beginning-level Spanish classroom. Each week, students were encouraged to learn and practice a list of vocabulary words using gesture-based activities, seeing that gestures, a form of embodied learning, has proven to positively affect L2 vocabulary acquisition and address the needs of diverse learners. The first and third lessons consisted of teacher-generated gestures, while the second and fourth were student-generated gesture-based lessons and the two …

Teaching Grammar Through Music, Katie Monson

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The research questions addressed in this action research project were How can repeatedly singing songs in Spanish containing temporal words and past tense vocabulary impact Spanish immersion second graders’ use of past tense verbs when speaking Spanish?; And how will learners perceive the songs and their effect on their learning? A pre-assessment was given to evaluate students’ abilities to use past tense verbs in speaking. The same assessment was given after a teaching intervention in which the students sang three songs containing the six verbs every day for two weeks. Students were then interviewed about how they felt about the …

Meaningful Family Engagement In Schools: Karen Family Perspectives, Emily Mattson

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research project was to examine how meaningful family engagement with schools is perceived by Karen families. In-home interviews, a focus group, and school event sign-in forms were used to collect data. Families were asked to reflect on their experiences with their child’s school, how they felt involved, supported, and what more they would like to see offered in regards to support and engagement. Results showed that the families perceived meaningful family engagement to be culturally relevant, relational, and as being equipped with resources that empower them to support their children. Furthermore, the data collected from event …

How Different Grouping Methods Can Improve Students’ Mathematical Achievement In An Appropriate Setting, Hyangmee Oh

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This research is about finding an appropriate grouping method in a classroom to improve students’ mathematical achievement in a small urban public charter school. It is looking for an answer to the question: Can an inquiry-based discourse taught using an ability-grouping method affect 8th grade students’ mathematical achievement as evidenced quantitatively through numerical self- surveys and scored standardized testing?

Each year, a school will have a different demographic with each student’s own unique math abilities. Thus, we need a solution to best and flexibly group students to adapt to each student’s math abilities based on the unique classroom environment. The …

Benefits And Drawbacks Of A Bilingual Education When Comparing It To A Monolingual Education, Ga Yun Lee

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to understand what parents think of as benefits and drawbacks of bilingual or monolingual education, depending on their linguistic choices for their child. This study also aims to support parents who are struggling to make a decision for their child and students who do not have motivation to learn English. To answer my research question, “What are the benefits and drawbacks of a bilingual education when it comparing it to monolingual education?” I distributed a survey to six participants who are sending their child to a bilingual education setting and five participants sending their …

On The Importance Of Deliberate Writing Instruction In Fourth Grade Classrooms, Joshua Baumgartner

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The research question that was at the heart of the study was: How can fourth grade educators increase student motivation to write and strengthen students’ writing skills using the workshop model? Central topics addressed in the Review of the Literature included the Common Core State Standards for writing, concerns and issues facing today’s teachers of writing, and a variety of possible solutions to these issues. A group of 14 fourth grade students were the focus of the study in which a workshop-based writing unit from the Units of Study curriculum was taught, with particular attention paid to the growth of …

Middle School Voices On Leadership Matter: Adults Miss "The Small Ways In Which We Lead", Brenda Backes

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative research study focused on the middle school students perspectives of leadership experiences during their daily school lives. Data collection methods include surveys, focus group, individual interviews, field observations, and written artifacts. Participants from a Midwestern suburban middle school were selected for this research based on the fact that the researcher was also the teacher with daily access to the students. Findings suggested that middle school students define leadership on a vast range of meanings, such as helping others to influence change. Themes developed from the findings; e.g. quiet students, negative leaders, leading as a group or individually, and …

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 …

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 …

African American Parent Perspectives On School Segregation And Integration, Beatrice Rendon

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This capstone thesis explores the question: What are African American parent perspectives on segregation and integration in a large urban district in the Midwest? I review the literature on Critical Race Theory, counterstorytelling as a narrative research approach, historical factors leading to re-segregation in American schools, African American family engagement paradigms, African American families and school choice, and the effects of segregation on students. My narrative research approach centers the voices of four African American women who tell the stories of their school experiences as students and parents of Black children in the same urban district. While each parent had …

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 …

Common Worlds: Multi-Species Interactions At A Nature Based Preschool, Patty Born

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines interspecies relations between preschool-aged children at a suburban nature-based preschool and the animals who reside on a “working farm” located on its grounds. Typical early childhood environmental education lenses regard children as a)separate from nature, in need of returning; and b) the sole subjects of interest, whose re/actions are the ones most worthy of attention. This work attempts to challenge the discourse of a child/nature/animal split by acknowledging the ways in which children are already engaged with nature and animals in their own ways. It acknowledges the animals present in a nature-based preschool setting, asserting their agency …

Can You Repeat That, Please? Using Repeated Reading With Low-Intermediate Adult English Language Learners, Jennifer Siegfried

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

Reading fluency is an important component of reading comprehension. Elements of oral reading fluency include reading rate, accuracy, prosody, and comprehension. The technique of repeated reading has been shown to increase the oral reading fluency of both K-12 and adult L1 readers, and it may help improve learners’ attitudes toward reading. This study explored the potential benefits for adult English learners. Assisted repeated reading, using a model oral reading, was implemented with low-intermediate adult English learners from a variety of L1 and educational backgrounds (n=8). Participants practiced a repeated reading technique during eight treatment sessions over the course of four …

Implementing Genre Pedagogy In An Adult Esl Classroom: A Novice Teacher’S Diary Study, Steven Wicht

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated two questions: how does a novice ESL teacher experience the implementation of genre pedagogy through the teaching learning/cycle with adult ESL students, and what themes emerge from the diary of the novice ESL teacher? Literature reviewed includes the efficacy of genre pedagogy practices for adult English learners, specifically the teaching/learning cycle, novice teacher research, and the use of diary studies by researchers who also serve as participants. The research gap addressed is genre pedagogy’s application to adult ESL contexts, specifically by a novice ESL teacher. The study was designed as a single participant observation over an eight-week …

Effective Strategies That Provide Support And Enhance Learning For Strong Readers, Kathleen Benbrooks

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The research topic addressed in this thesis is: effective strategies that provide support and enhance the learning for strong readers. Strong readers often times do not get the enrichment they need during the school day. This research set out to investigate specific strategies that can be taken during guided reading groups to push strong readers to the next level in their reading development. The research found to support these strategies is extensive and thought-provoking. By using a structured guided reading framework and incorporating reciprocal teaching strategies, the action research of this project engages and supports strong readers.

Addressing How Whiteness Silences African American Narratives In Higher Education In The United States Through Narrative Analysis, Keith Bistodeau

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

Addressing systemic issues of Whiteness in higher education in the United States is vital for understanding how Whiteness influences the culture and environment of college campuses and within college classrooms. Furthermore, the experiences of those negatively impacted by Whiteness help to explain and provide examples of how Whiteness exists in higher education, and what areas of our college climates need to be addressed and changed in order to provide an equitable environment for all individuals involved in higher education in the United States: students, faculty, staff, etc. This dissertation aims to better understand and more accurately address how Whiteness, the …

High Interest Low Readability Books And Motivation In Chinese Classrooms, Renee Zhang

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The research question addressed in this study was, how do high interest texts mediate Chinese middle school students’ reading comprehension? The author opens up this research territory by exploring four areas including the history of education in China, China’s examination system of high-stakes testing, L2 motivation, and classroom reading materials used at her school. The author focuses on interest as a factor and orientation towards intrinsic motivation, where high interest texts are used to mediate students’ reading experience and reading comprehension. Wigfield and Guthrie’s seminal work on intrinsic and extrinsic motivation along with Saddleback Educational hi-lo books influence the author’s …

Heritage Language Maintenance In An Urban Somali Community And Its Relationship To Academic Performance, Sarah Latzke

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This research project sought the answer to the question: Is there a correlation between the maintenance of Somali heritage language and academic performance in relation to national norms of urban Somali elementary students in a focus school? Key indicators of heritage language maintenance were determined through research and were identified as Family Language Policies, socioeconomic factors, prestige, identity, and motivation. The project focused on the collection of academic data and interviews of urban Somali parents, guardians, and students to determine if there is a relationship between heritage language maintenance and academic achievement. Interview data was coded and checked for reliability …

Collegebound: Assessment Of An Outdoor Orientation Program, Kyle Rauch

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

Collegebound is an optional outdoor orientation program (OOP) offered to incoming first-year students at two joint liberal arts colleges. This long-running and popular program has increased in participation to over 10% of the incoming class in recent years, however, little formal evaluation had been conducted. This research assessed the outcomes of Collegebound participation. Using a mixed methods design, academic and personal-social outcomes of Collegebound participation were assessed to understand the impact of the program on students’ college transition and career. Academic outcomes (first to second year retention and cumulative GPA after first year) were compared between Collegebound and non-Collegebound students …

A Test Of Project-Based, Learner-Centered Pedagogy In A High-Needs, Urban Charter School, Michael Padgett

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This study addressed the following research question: How does a project-based, learner-centered pedagogical approach affect the learning, classroom experience and overall academic engagement of traditionally-marginalized and disadvantaged high school students? It documents the process of executing a project-based, learner-centered pedagogical approach toward teaching at a high-needs charter school located in a midwestern urban environment. Throughout the project process, participants engaged in a buy-in phase, project planning phase, research phase, project building phase, presentation phase and a reflection phase with the aim of studying how student learning, classroom experience and overall academic engagement are affected throughout each phase and the process …

Reasons Families Choose To Homeschool: A Study Of Homeschooling Families In Minnesota, Laura R. Smetak

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

During the spring of 2016, researchers for the U.S. Department of Education estimated there were 1,689,726 students ages 5–17 homeschooled nationwide, based on data gathered from the National Household Education Surveys program of 2016. Many families choose to homeschool their children in the state of Minnesota, but as far as empirical data is concerned, information on the specific homeschooling demographic in Minnesota is scant. This thesis seeks to identify the specific reasons Minnesota-based families choose to homeschool their children. Understanding the reasons for the decisions of individual families who choose to engage in homeschool, rather than enrolling their children in …

Memorization And Mastery: Teaching Disciplinary Vocabulary In The Secondary Classroom, Matthew Granoff

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This capstone posed the question, how can disciplinary vocabulary best be taught in a secondary classroom? As little direct research had previously been conducted on that topic, this curriculum design project drew from work in a variety of connected fields, such as the science of memory, second language acquisition and effective assessment practices and study habits, to create an original structure for instruction. Designed to complement rather than replace existing units, this capstone offers not a set of specific lessons but a set of detailed guidelines (grounded in theories such as depth of processing and the "testing effect") which can …

Decoding A New Age Of Informal Learning: Describing Public Pedagogy For The Web, Alison Holland

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The everyday, informal, out-of-school learning adults participate in has drastically changed in the past two decades as information and interaction online has grown and evolved (Blaschke, 2012; Skyrme, 2001). Instead of attending in-person workshops and noncredit courses, sending away for fact sheets and the like, much informal learning today occurs online, often beginning with a search engine or social network. However, long-standing, nonprofit, and governmental institutions have largely failed to understand and capitalize on the new information and education ecosystem, while nimble start-ups (e.g., Wikipedia) have thrived (Fuad-Luke, 2009; Skyrme, 2001). This dissertation aims to provide a model for a …

Examining Group Dynamics Of High School Adminstrative [Sic] Teams: How Individual And Group Leadership Traits Foster Integration Of Ideas And Actions In Learning Organizations, Steven Brady

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines the complexity of leadership teamwork and focuses on high school administration teams. These teams are complex and support multiple stakeholders throughout their educational institutions. The primary purpose of this study is to understand how high school administration teams construct strong group dynamics that foster integration of ideas and actions across a learning organization. The secondary focus is understanding leadership traits that teams and individual leaders of high school administration teams possess and how teams utilize communication to support effective leadership teams. The study analyzed high school administration teams, of three or more members, looking at the team …

Getting More Young Children Outdoors By Supporting And Encouraging Their Teachers, April Greibrok

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This capstone thesis used an Explanatory Sequential Mixed Methods (ESMM) research design to answer the question, How do we support and encourage teachers to take their early childhood classes outdoors? While anecdotally, and through literature review, there appear to be barriers to outdoor activities, e.g., policies and regulations, or lack of safe clothing or equipment, there also is an abundance of research on the benefits of having children spend time in nature, or with natural elements. In the early childhood setting the mixed method survey research identified actual-stated common barriers to spending time outside with a class. An initial quantitative …