Education Commons^™

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 …

Using Diverse Literature Along With Critical Literacy Strategies To Support Diversity And Equity In Spanish Immersion Classroom, Claudia Milena Noguera Yara

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

In the capstone project, the following research question was addressed: How can diverse literature be used along with critical literacy strategies to support diversity and equity in Spanish immersion classrooms? The purpose of this capstone is to support teachers from K-6 when incorporating diverse literature books in their curriculum and how the use of critical literacy strategies can benefit students when analyzing topics using a critical lens. The use of critical literacy strategies allow students to have a multiple perspective of topics or aspects related to other cultures that will connect them with their own cultures and their identity will …

Engaging The Safety System Of The Brain: Training For Teachers Of Immigrants Who Have Experienced Trauma, Lindsey Grace Crifasi

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Research has shown that trauma makes changes in our brain chemistry. In the space of teaching and learning, these changes can inhibit students from reaching their goals effectively. This research focused on addressing the questions: What are the key aspects of trauma-informed teaching, specifically for the immigrant population? What happens to the brain when it is dealing with trauma, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or grief and how does that affect learning? With inspiration from Dr. Bessel van der Kolk’s book The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, Body and the Healing of Trauma and studies into the Polyvagal Theory …

Incorporating Multicultural Literature Into The Upper Elementary Language Arts Classroom, Elizabeth M. Burgos

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Read-aloud is a strategy that is used in many fifth-grade language arts classrooms, although more often than not it is used to fill time and the only expectation of students is to listen passively. Therefore, the research question addressed in this capstone focused on how to make read-aloud in language arts engaging to students in a fifth-grade classroom. Components and best practices to create an effective read-aloud were explored so that students can participate more actively through different responses during read-aloud. A complete read-aloud guide including sixteen lessons to lead a class through the book The War That Saved My …

A Culturally Relevant Earth Science Curriculum: Engaging Students In Socioscientific Issues Through Socratic Seminars, Colin Matthew Gettle

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The research question addressed in this capstone project is: How can Socratic seminars be used as a culturally relevant tool to increase student engagement and science literacy? This capstone project is based largely off the work of Gloria Ladson-Billings, who promoted the critical idea of culturally responsive teaching in all classrooms to promote equity and social engagement. Through the lens of culturally responsive pedagogy, this project aims to address the large engagement gaps that exist in many diverse academic settings. Specifically, the project is a set of three 8th grade Earth science units. Each unit addresses Minnesota State Eighth Grade …

Opening Eyes To What They Don't Know: Talking About Race With White Pre-Service Teachers, Stacy Payne Martin

Theses and Dissertations

This study seeks to determine if a critical element of pre-service teachers' racial socialization lies within an analysis of racial isolation experiences, a lack of understanding White privilege, and how much accurate, historical instruction about racism in America they received from their middle school and high school teachers. The mixed methods action research sought answers to the following two research questions: How do life experiences shape White pre-service teachers' understanding of race? When White pre-service teachers engage in race-based self-examination activities, do they experience a shift in their perceptions and beliefs about race? This critical case study examines White pre-service …

Do Believe The Hype: Teaching Literacy To Urban Students In A Secondary Social Studies Classroom With Culturally Relevant Pedagogy, Jeffrey Engelen

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Statistics indicate that urban students often underperform in testing for literacy competency and educators have argued that literacy is crucial to narrowing the achievement gap. This project was guided by the research question: What is a more effective approach for delivering literacy strategies and content instruction to urban students in a secondary social studies classroom? Research has shown that the more effective teachers of urban students build positive classroom environments based on restorative behavioral practices, asset perspectives and strong relationships. To answer the guiding question, three areas of focus drove the research: literacy comprehension, culturally relevant pedagogy and authentic social …

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 …

What Advantages Can Be Leveraged By Offering A Spanish For Heritage Learners Class As An Elective To Spanish Speaking Long-Term English Language Learners In Middle School?, Claire Milne

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

There is increasing evidence of academic underachievement in school-age Spanish speaking emerging bilingual students - the largest second language speaking group in the USA. Research in the field of heritage language learning has been ongoing since the 1970s. Most research has been concentrated at the elementary school level. This capstone seeks to answer the question of what advantages can be leveraged by offering a Spanish for Heritage Learners class as an elective to Spanish speaking long-term English language learners in middle school. Research is reviewed on themes of long-term English language learners, bilingual literacy, academic self concept and cultural identity. …

Working With Hispanic Learners: Information And Strategies For Educators, Katie Stalberger

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The overall Hispanic population in the U.S. has been and is projected to continue to increase. In line with this population trend, U.S. schools are also seeing increases in Hispanic students. National test scores indicate there is a long standing achievement gap between Whites and Hispanics. This achievement gap shows that the academic needs of Hispanics are different from their peers of other ethnicities. This capstone has sought to answer the question: what specific home, school, and second language acquisition strategies and interventions are successful in helping Hispanic students perform so that they are not at risk, or underachieving? The …

Effects Of Multicultural Education On English Language Learners, Donna Dias

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

It is no surprise to step into a classroom with little to no multicultural education being implemented in the curricula, but when there are English language learners (ELLs) in these classes, the stakes run high. In a predominantly Eurocentric society, the U.S. population has become more diverse. It is important for diverse ELL students to feel heard and understood in their classrooms. This senior capstone will examine and discuss the effects of the different types of multicultural education on English Language Learning students through the use of literature review, interview with teachers and principals, and student surveys. The findings indicate …

How Educators Can Utilize Culturally Responsive Teaching To Enhance Personalized Learning Opportunities In The Secondary Classroom, Christina J. Strey-Wells

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The research question addressed by this project is: How can educators utilize Culturally Responsive Teaching to enhance personalized learning opportunities in the secondary classroom? Research has shown that culturally and linguistically diverse students suffer from an opportunity and achievement gap in this country that creates school-dependent learners. This research aims to prove that integrating Culturally Responsive Teaching (CRT) and personalized learning techniques together in the classroom helps to create independent learners. This paper looks most closely at the theoretical work on CRT of Geneva Gay, Zaretta Hammond, and Gloria Ladson-Billings and focuses on the personalized learning tools of offering students …

Developing Global Competence Through Intercultural Communication In Elementary School Students, Frankie Heller

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

As a teacher one of my primary responsibilities - is creating a world that is more compassionate and understanding. To support me in this effort this capstone project will explore the question: What components of a classroom project build intercultural communication between students of different countries, develops their sense of global competence, and promotes a mindset oriented towards peace? Exploring this question supports the development of four lesson plans to be utilized and adapted in elementary school classrooms in the United States and across the world. The lesson plans include formative assessment and each session should take a half hour, …

Seeing Through The Racist Smog: With A Reading Curriculum Based On Culturally Responsive Teaching And Warm Demander Pedagogy, Maren Swann

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

There are countless articles about the Achievement Gap, but few offer concrete solutions. While the teaching force is “whitening,” the percentage of students of color is increasing. A small group of researchers have offered two new pedagogies as a way to help students of color and low-income students succeed: culturally responsive teaching and warm demander pedagogy. While there is literature on these two theories of pedagogy, there are few unit plans. This author created a 3rd grade reading unit entitled Readers Workshop Activist Book Review Unit using culturally responsive teaching, warm demander pedagogy and Wiggin’s and McTighe’s “backwards design” curriculum …

Developing An Outdoor Mindful Activity-Based Curriculum For English Language Learners, Krista A. Kulas

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Many English Language Learner (ELL) students have endured trauma which inflicted deficiencies in their cognitive function. The restorative effects of nature combined with mindful activities can be employed to enhance ELL academic success and support emotional needs. This capstone project seeks to answer the question of, how can outdoor activities support the academic and emotional needs of elementary level English Language Learner students? Studies have shown that the cognitive benefits of nature included an improved ability to make decisions, a greater ability to concentrate, can foster reduced stress, and help increase positive self-esteem. Studies also confirm that comprehensive support within …

A Grounded Theory Investigation Of Supervisors’ Perspectives On Multicultural Strength-Based Supervision, Erica D. Wiley

ETD Archive

This study addressed an area of supervision that is important to the identity of Counseling Psychologists: multicultural strength-based clinical supervision. Clinical supervision is instrumental to the development of psychological skills and knowledge and is an essential component of masters and doctoral training in psychology. This research explored the ways that clinical supervisors attempt to incorporate strength-based clinical supervision in conjunction with multicultural supervision strategies and concepts into their work with students, which has not previously been done. This study was a qualitative investigation using grounded theory and adapted consensual qualitative research methodology and analysis. Participants included 14 diverse licensed psychologists …

Inclusion And Religious Engagement In A Multicultural Church: A Multi-Case Study Of The Experience Of Immigrant Filipino Volunteer Church Workers In Select Parishes In The Archdiocese Of Seattle, Frank Dennis B. Savadera

Doctor of Ministry Doctoral Projects

This qualitative study investigates the relevant descriptions that first-generation immigrant Filipino volunteer church workers use to characterize their adopted multicultural parish. Further, it investigates how these descriptions influence their views on inclusion and religious engagement in their communities. The study hopes to generate faith and encourage theological reflections on: (1) persons’ capacities to encounter and embrace the “other”; (2) capacities for multiple-mindedness and recognition of a multiplicity of gifts; and (3) the call to embody and participate in the Trinitarian communion.

The central research questions asked are as follows: (1) How do first-generation immigrant Filipino volunteer parish workers in the …

Multicultural Competency In Online Counseling Courses: Before And After A Multicultural Counseling Course, Sheryl Attilee

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The importance of multicultural counseling training received much attention for decades, however, studies on effective training focused on multicultural counseling training in a face-to-face environment with minimal focus on online training environments. These studies found that face-to-face interactions had the most impact on multicultural training. Therefore, the current study was an evaluation of online master's counseling students' and graduates' multicultural attitudes to determine the effectiveness of online multicultural training using Banks' transformative approach. The research questions focused on the significant difference in participants' recalled multicultural attitude scores (know, care, and act) before an online multicultural counseling course as compared to …