Education Commons^™

Collaborative Teaching: A Delivery Model To Increase Responsiveness To The Needs Of All Learners Through Academic And Social Inclusion, Dayna Reilly

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

Students with special needs often miss out on classroom curricula for specialized instruction. While these services are valued for educational benefits, this instruction method often has negative impacts on social-emotional development and targets students for their differing needs.

Integrated collaborative teaching models include collaborative teaching among general and special educators in an inclusive environment. In this descriptive study, the author examined integrated collaborative teaching as a delivery model to increase responsiveness to the needs of all learners through academic and social inclusion.

This study involved students with a wide range of disabilities from two different grade leveled collaborative classrooms, who …

The Effects Of Ipad Apps On Student Achievement In Literacy For Children In 2nd And 3rd Grade, Deena M. Reyes

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

Many educators consider using educational iPad apps to supplement literacy curriculum and facilitate greater student engagement. Student literacy achievement is crucial at the lower elementary level. Students who do not progress through the grade level literacy standards of the Common Core State Standards need intervention instruction to achieve mastery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the effectiveness of using iPad apps based instruction in reading intervention programs for second and third grade students.

This study followed a mixed method approach, a pretest, post-test quasi experimental design where students enrolled in an after school reading intervention program used iPad …

Early Bilingual Education: An Examination Of Purposely Selected Teacher Viewpoints: South East China And San Francisco Area, Shan Chen

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

In the coming years, an increasing number of children in urban Chinese areas are taking a second language at an early age. It leads to an argument about whether it is appropriate for children to learn a second language in an early age Some people disagree that idea, because children are not developed enough to receive foreign language learning.

Learning a second language early is disadvantageous for young children because they should first learn to speak the primary language well. Whereas, other people support that children should start learning second language early for three main reasons: children’s talent for language …

Communication: The Key To Collaboration Between Special And General Education Teachers, Alexandra Slatoff

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

Teachers often do not communicate with one another when working to meet the needs of their students. The purpose of this study is to examine and analyze the need, nature and manner by which general and special education teachers communicate and collaborate to address the educational needs of their students.

A review of the educational literature reveals that a burden is placed on the educational community given the often conflicting statutory obligations to: fully include special needs students in the general classroom, comply with State mandated general education curriculum requirements and implement instructional guidelines required by Individual Educational Plans (IEP) …

Opportunity And Access: High School Coursework And Its Impact On Student Self-Perceptions, Cassie K. Ferguson

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

The skills taught and the courses offered to the United States’ public high school students have changed drastically over the past 20 years. Career-based electives have given way to college preparatory classes. Gone are the auto shops, construction and home economics classes—courses that many view as outdated, dangerous or unnecessary at the high school level. Arts and humanities-based courses have also disappeared; even courses that can train students to enter the robust fields of healthcare or technology are diminishing (Dare, 2006).

The communities in which many of these courses are disappearing are often diverse and economically disadvantaged. This “second-generation segregation” …

Supporting Writing Skills In The Common Core State Standards For Students In Grades 3-5 With Executive Functioning And Learning Difficulties: A Teacher’S Toolkit, Elizabeth Anne Conlon

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

Poor writers do not display the skills and strategies employed by skilled writers. The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) set forth an expectation that all children will become skilled writers; yet, for most students with executive functioning weakness and/or learning disabilities, writing is the most challenging academic task. For poor writers to begin to develop essential skills for college and career readiness and the willingness to write, teachers need to provide students with specialized materials and teach instructional strategies that students can utilize independently. The purpose of this thesis was to create a toolkit for grade 3-5 teachers containing a …

The Arts And Social Capital For The American 21st Century: A College Course, Kathleen Escamilla

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

This course is designed to introduce college students to the current significance of the Arts in American civil society. We will begin by examining the concepts of civil society and social capital and their correlations to social well-being. The robustness of voluntary associations is a distinguishing characteristic of American civil society. It is a basis for how we carry out democracy and maintain our common resources. Social capital is the embedded value of our social connections with others. Our mutual trust and reciprocity contributes to the health, wealth, tolerance, and efficient governance of society. We will explore the unique ability …

Self Esteem In Pre-Teen Girls, Carrie Webb Jacob Mccormick

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

Low self-esteem in young girls is on the rise. A review of the literature reveals that low self-esteem has been linked to addictions including drinking, drug abuse, bullying, disordered eating, cutting, depression, promiscuity, and suicide. What are the issues facing preteen girls today that have led to such rampant and widespread negative thought patterns and destructive behavior in their teen years? This study employs a qualitative approach. Information was gathered from a purposive sample from two professionals. Data were gathered from their responses to a questionnaire that addressed contemporary issues that young girls face regarding self-esteem. Results indicated that young …

Self-Advocacy; The Importance Of Building Interpersonal-Communication And Help-Seeking Skills In Elementary School Children, Daniel H. Gasparini

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

Now, more so than in the past, children have been deprived of the opportunity to learn and exercise effective interpersonal communication skills. Interpersonal communication skills, for elementary students, are important in the development of a student’s ability to self-advocate. The purpose of this study is to identify techniques in which teachers may support interpersonal communication and self-advocacy skills among school-aged children. The literature reveals the importance of self-advocacy and help-seeking strategies on students’ academic success. Unfortunately, as students approach the upper-elementary grades, they are bombarded with competing interests that can inhibit their help-seeking ability. Research methods used followed teacher action …

Long Term English Language Learners: Failure Is Not An Option, Jennifer Diaz-Zamora

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

There is a sizable number of English Language Learners (ELL) that are not succeeding in schools and are academically “falling through the cracks.” The purpose of this thesis is to gather information that identifies reasons why students are not succeeding academically and which strategies individual teachers can implement to help these students attain academic success. The literature reveals that Long Term English Language Learners have lower levels of literacy and tend to drop out more frequently compared to native English speakers. This is a qualitative study using a focus group at a middle school. Data were collected from individuals in …

Screen Time, How Much Is Too Much? The Social And Emotional Costs Of Technology On The Adolescent Brain, Katherine Lynn Deweese

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

Screen time no longer means just the amount of time one spends in front of the television. Now it is an aggregate amount of time spent on smartphones, computers as well as multitasking with different devices. How much are the glowing rectangles taking away from adolescent social and emotional health? How is it changing how students learn and how they communicate with the world? How much is too much? The purpose of this study is to determine whether the 1-1 student-to-iPad pilot at an affluent public school in the greater San Francisco Bay Area is helping students succeed in their …

Teachers Creating Safe School Environments: Prevention Of Elementary Student-To-Student Bullying, Heather B. Gant Bradley

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

Student-to-student bullying is still a current issue within elementary schools nationwide. Educators are often unaware, improperly trained and/or unwilling to help in student bullying incidences. Without training or willingness, teachers often are driven into silence and inaction, effectively putting the wellbeing of students at risk. The present study examines this topic through previous literature, gathers data to raise further awareness and better understanding of this issue, and provides proactive bullying prevention strategies for teachers. The present study collects data quantitatively and qualitatively with the conduction of surveys and personal interviews of pre-service and veteran educators respectively. Findings reveal increasing efforts …

Class Size Matters: Impact Of Class Size On Differentiating Instruction In High School Physical Education, Heather Christine Brabo

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

Physical education has evolved from playing recreational games to an environment focused on learning through movement. In 2005 the State of California adopted California Physical Education Content Standards, creating a rigorous academic experience, including physical, cognitive, and psychological standards. Class size has an effect on differentiating instruction to meet the needs of all students. The purpose of the study is to examine the effects of class size on differentiating instruction and reaching all students. The literature reveals although small class size is recommended, it is not a reality in physical education. The study is qualitative in design involving a purposive …

The Importance Of Effectively Teaching Social Skills To Students With High-Functioning Autism, Michaela Elizabeth Mirsky

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

Over the past decade, there has been a significant increase in the number of children diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. Due to this dramatic increase, the amount of children with high-functioning autism that have entered public schools across the United States has skyrocketed. Often times these children might have average IQs, but they often exhibit deficits in various social skills that can cause them to have difficulties in a variety of other areas. Research supports and emphasizes the importance of effectively teaching social skills to children with high-functioning autism. Because social functioning is a critical part of today’s society, …

Serving The Student-Survivor: Exploring The Transitional And Psychosocial Needs Of School-Aged Children With Cancer And Chronic Illness, Devon Malia Lanin

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

The advances in medicine today have created an emerging population of student-survivors, school-aged children living with and/or recovering from serious health conditions (Bauman, 2010). Each school day in the United States, 46 young people, or the equivalent of two classrooms of students, learn they have cancer (Cure Search National Childhood Cancer Foundation, 2010). These statistics reflect the fact that cancer is one of the most chronic illnesses in childhood. Most serious childhood medical issues will have life-long ramifications. This qualitative research study is comprised of an in-depth review of the research literature and the responses and information gathered from two …

Distributed Leadership In Schools: Conditions For Success, Daniel Noble

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

Teacher leadership has always been a necessary part of school dynamics. Through committees, union/administrative negotiations, formal and informal leadership roles, teachers play an important role in the growth and change of an educational institution. The purpose of this study is to examine teacher leadership through the perspective of distributed leadership theory; identify the conditions and components of both schools and administrators that support distributed leadership and identify essential steps to transform leadership practice to a distributed model.

This is a qualitative text analysis of current theoretical papers and relevant research on the subject of distributed leadership. The information was used …

The Effectiveness Of Peer Mentoring In Helping First Year Students Develop Occupational Adaptation Skills, Lashelle Rena Rullan, Jovita Vasquez, Julia Wong

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

Objective. To evaluate the effectiveness of peer mentoring in helping first year, first-generation college students at Dominican University of California (DUC) adapt to university life and navigate the occupational challenges experienced during the first year of college.

Method. Sixty-seven students voluntarily completed an online survey, First Year College Experience (FYCE) Survey: Adaptation to University Life. Quantitative research determined the influence of peer mentoring on the students’ adaptation and occupational performance in their transition to college. Effectiveness was determined by: 1) sense of belonging, 2) developed academic and social skills, 3) adaptive responses and strategies used, and 4) overall satisfaction with …

A Qualitative Study Of The Experiences Of First-Generation Peer Mentors, Cindelle Leyson, Jessica Suzanne Taylor, Tiffany Torres

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

While there are numerous studies reporting on the benefits that mentees receive from peer mentoring, there is limited research on the benefits to mentors, particularly first-generation students (FGS). The purpose of this study was to examine the experience of mentoring from the FGS mentors’ point of view. In this qualitative, exploratory design, four FGS mentors were interviewed about their experiences with a peer-mentoring program at their university. The participants believed they developed skills in the areas of time management, communication, and setting boundaries. The participants learned about themselves and gained an understanding of how the skills they developed while mentoring …

Effective Treatment Strategies For Children With Autism In Grades K-6, Lisa Marie Blakley

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

The incidence of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) continues to rise in our elementary schools. With this increase, more and more children with ASD are present and requiring services in public school classrooms. As teachers and parents we need to know how to provide classroom interventions in order to optimize learning with this group of children, and be able to successfully integrate these students within our classrooms and schools. In order to accomplish this, we need to explore effective strategies to produce positive learning and behavior outcomes. The literature selected and researched for the purpose of this proposal supports …

Culturally Diverse And Underserved Populations Of Gifted Students In The United States And In Taiwan: Equitable Access To Gifted Education, Ya-Ting Ho

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

There is a continuing increase in the African American and Hispanic student populations in public schools. The students who are invited to gifted programs are overwhelmingly White. This is the situation in schools in the United States and also in Taiwan. Misunderstanding or unawareness of culture difference among educators might contribute to underrepresentation of minority students in gifted programs. The research literature reviewed indicates that a deficit in orientation, ineffective teacher referral policies, and the use of culturally biased assessments are the major reasons responsible for low rates of identification for gifted minority students. The purpose of this thesis is …

Through The Looking Glass: Examining The Practice Of Science Classroom Dissection With A Multi-Faceted Lens, Melissa Marie Witte

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

Dissection of lab specimens is a common procedure in science classrooms, yet there are many unasked and unexamined questions relating to this practice. In addition to ethical considerations, there are personal and environmental health impacts of using conventional dissection, which has historically included animals and animal organs embalmed in preservative chemicals. The efficacy of using dissection as a learning tool is worth examining. The purpose of this thesis is to ask, analyze, and examine the multi-faceted questions associated with the use of dissection in the general science classroom. In addition, it is an invitation to engage a discussion about the …

Assessment To Guide Individualized Transition Plans From School To Post-School For Children Ages 14+ With Moderate Disabilities, Kevin William Skidmore

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

As a part of the Individualized Education Plan (IEP), special education teachers work along with their student with special needs and their parent(s)/guardian(s) to create and implement Individualized Transition Plans (ITP) to assist the student with their transition to the post-school environment. As mandated by Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), ITPs are a component of the IEP for students 16 years old and over, who are eligible for special education services. Many special education teachers start the process at 14 years of age to better serve the student. At the non-public school setting of this study, it is considered …