Education Commons^™

Narrowing Attainment And Achievement Gaps Of African American Third Grade Students Through Culturally Responsive Teaching, Phyteria Proctor, Phyteria Lashawn Proctor

Dissertations

Literature suggest culturally responsive teaching is one of our most powerful tools for accelerating student learning and helping students find their way out of the gap. Billions of dollars have been invested in creating educational equity, but the data have shown that inequality in achievement still exists. However, school districts are beginning to focus more on being aware of and sensitive to the cultural and social needs of African American students. When school communities accept the challenge of changing the culture within their schools to ensure all students reach their full potential, then the achievement gap can be eradicated.

The …

Shifting Literacy Methods And Teaching Practices To Improve Equity In Schools For Black Girls, Danae Ross

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Throughout the United States’ history, Black girls and women have found themselves as one of America’s most oppressed groups due to the systemic discrimination of both their race and gender. This problem still persists today and has made schools a place for oppression against Black girls from the time they enter the school system in kindergarten, creating low self-esteem, a feeling of alienation, and a disdain for the school system. Using an intersectional lens, this capstone explores the oppression of Black girls from the past to the present, beginning with slavery and ending with criminalization and the school-to-prison pipeline. This …

Increasing Student Engagement And Success In Reading: A Reading Workshop Unit For Grade 7 Ela, Megan Wilson

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The goal of this capstone project was to design and implement a digital reading workshop unit that is based on the Investigating Characterization: Author-Study Book Clubs (Calkins, Ehrenworth, & Wischow, 2018). This project sought to answer the question Can student-selected texts and the use of a reading workshop model improve student reading engagement and success? My early teaching experiences inspired me to consider whether or not traditional reading instruction methods were resulting in student reading engagement and success. The research studied in this capstone revealed that increasing student engagement in reading is highly reliant upon building student motivation, including student …

The Importance Of Sleep For Learning And Behavior, Alison D’Antonio

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Sleep is a necessary action humans need in order to survive, yet often it is neglected. The importance of sleep ranges from poor health defects to lack of performance in schools. The research question addressed in this project is “How does sleep affect a student’s behavior and learning?” The rationale for this topic was the lack of information provided about sleep’s importance in schools. The project associated with this capstone is a website. The goal of the website is to enlighten educators and parents/guardians on the importance of sleep and show ways to implement changes within schools and at home. …

Examining The Convergent Validity Of The Wechsler Individual Achievement Test - Third Edition And The Woodcock-Johnson Iii Tests Of Achievement - Form A - Standard Battery, Trent Howard Walters

MSU Graduate Theses

The Wechsler Individual Achievement Test-Third Edition (WIAT-III) and the Woodcock-Johnson III Tests of Achievement (WJ III ACH) are two commercial standardized tests of academic achievement that are utilized in many settings, including educational, research, and clinical settings. Both measurements purport to measure academic achievement across a variety of curricular areas. Both instruments yield subtest and cluster or composite scores in the modes of percentile ranks, standard scores, stanines, normal curve equivalent scores, and age/grade equivalent scores. In the current study, similar subtest and composite or cluster standard scores were correlated to determine the degree of convergent validity between the two …

Developing A Growth Mindset Through Teacher Training, Pedagogy Development, And Community Reform, Kailtyn Joyce

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

A consistent problem in teaching has been keeping students engaged and motivated in their studies. Typically these problems were equated to either a student’s inability to make a connection to the information, the material being too difficult, or a student feeling inadequate. To promote a deeper understanding and discover ways to ease these issues, this capstone project used the following question as a focal point, what drives students’ motivation to achieve and what steps can be taken to develop a growth mindset in students? This project was centered around growth mindset as it has shown to be an effective tool …

Best Practices In Online Learning For Language Learners, Peter Christopherson

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Because of the global coronavirus pandemic of 2020, understanding how to do online learning well has become a necessity for educators. Online learning, though it has clear advantages over face-to-face learning such as the flexibility of time and space, variety and speed of delivery of materials, and anonymity, it is not without significant challenges that must be addressed in order for students to be successful. My research question was: Research Question: What are the most effective ways to help language learners to be successful in an online learning format? The goal of this research was to understand these challenges, a …

An Exploratory Study Of The Effects Of A Technology-Based Graphic Organizer And 1:1 Chromebooks On The Persuasive Writing Of Third-Grade Students, Kathy L. Caldwell

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative action research was to determine the effectiveness of a technology-based graphic organizer on student achievement, engagement, and motivation in writing. The study explored the usefulness of incorporating a mindmapping program, using Chromebooks to assist students when brainstorming ideas for a persuasive essay. Further, this study examined third-grade English language arts students’ perceptions of the use of technology to write persuasive essays using a specific writing prompt.

The teacher-researcher collected and recorded data on eight third-grade students over seven days. To identify and validate the study’s findings, field notes, student interviews, student reflective digital journals, surveys, …

A Study Of Incarcerated Youth: How Does Interest Affect Comprehension And Engagement, Grace Mutti

Honors Projects

Current research explores the relationship between high-interest reading material and comprehension in classrooms as well as the impact of literacy on recidivism; however, there is a shortage of research on effective instructional reading practices for incarcerated youth. This qualitative study examines the experience of five white, male incarcerated youth as they experience one-on-one reading instruction from five of BGSU’s pre-service teachers. Instructional strategies used in the study were modeled off of an online program called A-Z Reading and focused on developing students’ fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension skills. The study initially aimed to examine the impact of high-interest materials on the …

Effectively Enabling Translanguaging In The Classroom, Kelly Miller

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Bilingual students have historically been pushed to become as fluent in English as quickly as possible in order to have the students keep up with the rigor of the mainstream classroom. This has the potential to push those students to lose their native languages (L1) and a part of their culture in order to maintain the norm of language within the American public school. This capstone explores the concept of translanguaging through a website, professional development, survey, scholarly research to answer the question How does an educator effectively implement translanguaging strategies in a classroom? Research shows that translanguaging is an …

Impact Of Homework On Learning, James Mcpherson

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Homework is a common feature in many middle and high school classrooms around the world, but it is not always utilized effectively. In some instances, homework is assigned with little consideration for its effectiveness and the impact it has on students. Extensive research has been conducted on the topic of homework and its impact on learning and on students. This research indicates that homework can sometimes provide benefit to the student when designed appropriately, but its benefit has a limited impact. This project explores the various reasons that teachers have for assigning homework, such as practice, communication, or as a …

Advisors Help You Get There: Personalized Learning Plans In The Alternative School, Christy Irrgang

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

As has been discussed in many venues, the achievement gap continues to be a problem for underserved learners of all ages, and it also poses issues for the larger society. Personalized learning plans and specialized advisories that utilize culturally contextualized learning may improve student outcomes and help close the achievement gap. The theoretical backing used to design this project for an urban Indigenous alternative school included personalized learning, culturally relevant pedagogy, teacher-student relationships, and advisement programs. Outlined herein is a year-long program, but three- and five-year implementation models are also provided. The concepts may be successful in other alternative schools …

Effect Of Implementing A Guaranteed And Viable Ela Curriculum, Christian Manley

Masters Theses

A guaranteed and viable curriculum (GVC) outlines what standards are taught and when; ultimately providing all students with the opportunity to learn identified content over the course of a school year. This paper reviews the impact of implementing a guaranteed and viable English Language Arts curriculum and specific adult practices on ELA proficiency in Battle Creek Public Schools.

This project largely seeks to identify how Battle Creek Public Schools is implementing their English Language Arts (ELA) curriculum in 3rd through 5th grade classes, the adult practice data that contributed to the implementation, and to what degree it is having an …

How Can Teachers Empower Students With Learning Differences Towards An Equitable Education?, Samuel Ryan

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Students with learning differences and disabilities in today’s schools face numerous challenges towards an equitable learning experience. Educators and scholars have also developed mindsets and pedagogical approaches that aim to disrupt inequitable experiences for students with learning differences. This capstone examines the nature of challenges facing students with learning differences. It also shares ways teachers may empower students with learning differences despite the challenges they face. A presentation, resource guide, and reflective questions crafted for teachers’ professional development are included in this project to support teachers in learning how to empower students with learning differences.

Best Practices For Professional Development Of Alc Teachers To Assist Gifted And Talented Students, Julia Wallner

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

According to the Minnesota Department of Education, most recent statistics suggest that 11,180 of Minnesota’s students attended an Alternative Learning Center (MDE, 2018). An Alternative Learning Center (ALC) provides a safe learning environment for students who are either at risk of not graduating, or struggling to strive in a traditional public schooling system amongst a plethora of other reasons personal to a student. Many ALCs provide less traditional learning options such as project based learning and experiential learning such as work based learning opportunities (Owens, 2016). Many people think of an ALC as a place where at-risk or failing students …

Program Design: A Practical Guide For Creating El Programs With A Focus On Social-Emotional Development, Brigitta Bognar Cronin

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The research question addressed in this project was, how can English Language (EL) teachers design a program that best serves the social-emotional needs of English Learners (ELs)? The author of this capstone documented her personal experience as a first-year teacher, which inspired her to research methods to improve students’ social-emotional skill sets. The available research on social-emotional learning was merged with theories concerning second language learning to create a framework that addresses the social-emotional learning of ELs. A website was created for secondary EL teachers featuring articles and teaching resources.

Cultural Capital, Habitus And Academic Achievement, Tevin Vaughan

Sociology & Criminal Justice Theses & Dissertations

Education in the United States is directly tied to social mobility for students with low socioeconomic status. The fact that these same students are less likely to succeed academically and that the interaction between cultural capital (knowledge, skills, mannerisms, etc.) and habitus (dispositions and attitudes) are understudied has led to the formulation of this study. This study looks to identify a mechanism that can be leveraged by low SES students for educational attainment. This research will follow an exploratory, cross-sectional design, that will use quantitative methods to examine the influence that cultural capital and habitus on low income student academic …

Impact Of School Librarians On Elementary Student Achievement, Lois D. Wine

Teaching & Learning Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if there is evidence that a full-time certified school librarian, trained and licensed based on state requirements, impacts fourth grade and fifth grade student scores on reading and/or mathematics end-of-year state achievement tests. Following over 30 years of school library impact studies, primarily correlational and qualitative studies, the school library field continues to have a lack of strong evidence of school librarian impact. This quasi-experimental matching design was conducted to determine if students who had full-time certified school librarians attained higher achievement scores than students who did not have full-time certified school …

Music Education As A Strategy To Narrow The Achievement Gap: A Causal-Comparative Analysis Of Band And Choir Enrollment And Academic Achievement Of Low Socioeconomic Status Students, William Zwikelmaier

Dissertations

There is a gap in the knowledge pertaining to socioeconomic status as a variable in academic achievement among students those who enroll in band and/or choir in public high schools in America. Research has shown that students who engage in music study consistently show higher levels of academic achievement in other subjects compared to their non-music study peers. It is necessary to study those who typically do not perform at the same academic levels as their peers (low socioeconomic status (SES) students) and determine if the formal study of music alone can serve as a strategy to contribute to closing …

The Influence Of Superintendent Longevity And Continuity On Student Achievement And Faculty Mobility, Craig M. Hutcheson

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

In New Jersey public schools, one constant measure of academic success is defined by the outcomes on the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC). The purpose of this research was to examine the impact of the relationship between the school district superintendent and resulting PARCC scores, while also examining the strength of the relationship between the superintendent and the teacher mobility rate of each school district.

The conceptual framework for this study was based on theories and research by the Mid-Continent Research for Education and Learning’s (McREL) School District Leadership That Works; The Effects of Superintendent …

1:1 Ipads And Student Achievement, Shawn Goos

Graduate Teacher Education

Abstract

Technology in education is continuously changing and having various effects on both teaching and students' academics. It is essential to understand how both teachers and students are impacted by technology and to learn what research suggests. The topic explored throughout this paper is how professional educators utilize 1:1 iPads in elementary school positively impact students’ academic achievement. In order to examine existing research on this topic, it was important to utilize both quantitative and qualitative research which helped to identify various factors about how the use of 1:1 iPads in the elementary classroom can have positive effects on students' …

Leading For Excellence, Atikah S. Osman

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this explanatory mixed-methods study was to determine the degree of importance for the 12-step principles proposed by Harvey, Drolet, and Devore (2014) to create a K-12 school environment that fosters high student achievement as perceived by public high school principals. A secondary purpose was to explore and describe the leadership strategies for implementing the 12-step principles proposed by Harvey et al. to create a K-12 school environment that fosters high student achievement as perceived by public high school principals.

Methodology: The researcher used sequential explanatory mixed methods for this study. The researcher worked with a thematic …

Self-Contained And Departmental Educational Delivery Systems: A Case Study Of Differences In Student Achievement And Behavior, Robert Eugene Smith Iii

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This study investigated the differences in achievement and behavior for fifth-grade students taught using a self-contained instructional model compared to students taught using a departmentalized model. Differences based on selected demographic/attribute variables were also investigated. Teacher perceptions regarding the differences in the two organizational models were also examined. Data were collected from the West Virginia Department of Education’s end of the year student academic achievement assessment (The West Virginia General Summative Assessment), the West Virginia Department of Education’s online information system (WVEIS), and teacher surveys. Data suggest differences in the two instructional models along with significant differences in male and …

Educational Achievement, Engagement, And Persistence In Choctaw Nation: A Study Of The Success Through Academic Recognition Program, Suzanne Delap

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma has developed a unique initiative to support academic achievement within their tribal territory. The Success Through Academic Recognition (STAR) program is an example of an Indigenously-developed approach to supporting students from grades 2-12, with the hope of promoting achievement, persistence, and engagement. To study the STAR program, a mixed-methods approach was employed to first analyze quantitative demographic and performance data collected from a cohort of high school students from 2014 to 2018. Next, phenomenological interviews were conducted within the same cohort, to describe the lived experiences of STAR students within the Choctaw community. The database …

Administrators' Perceptions Of Arts Integration And Literacy Support For Elementary English Language Learners, Renee Marie Nebolon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In a suburban California elementary school characterized by significant numbers ofEnglish language learners (ELLs), school and district personnel were concerned that literacy among these elementary students remained low despite a recent district focus on literacy. This qualitative study addressed the problem of elementary ELLs not achieving the literacy skills necessary for success in English Language Arts (ELA) courses in school. The purpose of this study was to examine administrators' perceptions on implementing arts integration (AI) as a strategy to support the literacy of ELLs in ELA courses, the potential challenges associated with this strategy, and their role in a successful …

The Circle Of Care: Supporting The Academic Achievement Of Students Who Reside In Group Homes, Shannon A. Malone

LMU/LLS Theses and Dissertations

According to data published in 2018, approximately 20,000 children resided in group homes across the United States. By the nature of their situations, living outside of their familial homes, these children are experiencing trauma while trying to participate in typical childhood activities, such as making friends and attending school. Children who reside in group homes are foster youth. Foster youth consistently show low levels of academic achievement (Vacca, 2008). Children who reside in group homes have many service providers that are responsible for their care, including teachers, social workers, therapists, group home staff; these people make up the child’s circle …

The Effects Of A Computer Based Program On Student Mathematics Achievement Within An Urban Middle School In Georgia, Sheree Barnes

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate the effects of adaptive computer-assisted instruction (CAI) on student mathematics achievement. The researcher sought to describe factors that may influence academic achievement for eight-grade students. The instruments used to gather data were post curriculum-based mathematics benchmark assessment data administered during fall, winter, and spring semesters, the spring mathematic assessment for the Georgia Milestones, and open and close-ended questionnaires. A purposeful sampling of 63 students were chosen to complete questionnaires. Data analyzed from the 2018 Mathematics scores from SchoolCity and the Georgia Milestones revealed that the SuccessMaker® online adaptive software tool positively …