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Increasing Number Sense At The Preschool Level, Sarah Marie Koenig
Increasing Number Sense At The Preschool Level, Sarah Marie Koenig
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
This capstone addresses the question, “What strategies can be used to increase number sense at the preschool level?”. Current research states that preschoolers need opportunities to learn about numbers and math concepts through a balance of natural play and exploration, intentional teaching, and structured learning activities embedded in their daily routines. Through the process of curriculum design using McTighe and Wiggins’ Understanding By Design framework, the author created a learning plan that includes lessons, resources, and parent/child activities using a variety of instructional strategies to teach number sense at the preschool level. The learning plan includes a sequence of activities …
Using Guided Math And Flipped Learning In A Fifth Grade Fractions Unit, Kristin Leigh Moore
Using Guided Math And Flipped Learning In A Fifth Grade Fractions Unit, Kristin Leigh Moore
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research question addressed in this project was: How can I design a math curriculum that will increase fifth grade students’ understanding of fraction concepts? The author began her research by investigating the struggles elementary students face when learning fraction concepts, which led to a study of four instructional strategies: ability grouping, differentiation, flipped learning, and guided math. The author considered the work of Boaler, Sammons, Tomlinson, Tucker, and Vann to inform her research. After careful reflection on the benefits and limitations of each strategy, the author chose to create a hybrid unit utilizing both guided math and flipped learning. …
How Can The 5-E Learning Cycle Model Of Instruction Be Used To Develop A Differentiated Science Unit On Evolution Based On Six Minnesota Evolution Standards?, Monica Christine Digre
How Can The 5-E Learning Cycle Model Of Instruction Be Used To Develop A Differentiated Science Unit On Evolution Based On Six Minnesota Evolution Standards?, Monica Christine Digre
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research question addressed in this capstone was, how can the 5-E Learning Cycle Model of Instruction be used to develop a differentiated science unit on evolution based on six Minnesota evolution standards? The capstone documents a middle school life science teacher’s experience developing a curriculum for teaching evolution in a nontraditional way. The author explores the difficulties in teaching evolution with a traditional approach by researching experts in the field of both Evolutionary Biology and secondary science instruction. Through the use of the 5-E Learning Cycle Model of Instruction, the author develops an inquiry-based and hands-on curriculum to teach …
Critical Literacy For Linguistically Diverse Students, Jennifer Ann King
Critical Literacy For Linguistically Diverse Students, Jennifer Ann King
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research question addressed in this capstone is how can a critical literacy unit on exploring identity enable secondary ELLs to find voice and take action? It documents the creation of a twelve lesson unit organized around three target texts and one digital storytelling project. These lessons blend the components of the SIOP Model for effective instruction of English learners (Echevarría, Short, and Vogt, 2013) with activities to promote critical literacy. Additionally, the author documents the relevant research used in the creation of the curriculum along with the successes and challenges of the curriculum development process. In reflecting on the …
Listening Strategies For English Language Learner Comprehension, A Teacher Resource Guide, Ana Marie Ruiz Mclafferty
Listening Strategies For English Language Learner Comprehension, A Teacher Resource Guide, Ana Marie Ruiz Mclafferty
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
This capstone examines listening strategies for English Language Learners in grades 3-5 and includes a teacher resource guide to help support students in the listening language domain. There are very few resources for elementary teachers to support students in listening comprehension strategies. The teacher resource guide includes think-aloud, focus questions, journaling and interactive listening strategies. Lesson templates and examples are included.
Teaching Mla Formatting And Research Using Screencasting Technology: Resources For High School English Teachers And Students, Tegan Skye Madson Dion
Teaching Mla Formatting And Research Using Screencasting Technology: Resources For High School English Teachers And Students, Tegan Skye Madson Dion
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The topic for research was how online screencasts demonstrating research and MLA format in research writing can support students in learning key research and research writing skills. The online screencasts are designed with English Language Learners and students who do not have access to help from people with research writing experience outside the classroom. The screencasts demonstrate steps in the research and formatting process to support students with demonstrations as they begin their own research. The videos may also be used by teachers, as part of a flipped classroom model, to teach research skills and MLA format. The author provides …
How Can Critical Literacy Be Used To Address Social Justice Issues Through A First Grade Social Studies Read Aloud Curriculum?, Katie L. Lorenz
How Can Critical Literacy Be Used To Address Social Justice Issues Through A First Grade Social Studies Read Aloud Curriculum?, Katie L. Lorenz
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research question addressed in this capstone was, how can critical literacy be used to address social justice issues through a first grade social studies read aloud curriculum? The goal of research was to create a read aloud unit that reinforces social studies standards while addressing social justice issues and teaching students to evaluate text and challenge the power of text through a critical literacy approach to instruction. This curriculum relies on current research pertaining to critical literacy, effective classroom read aloud practices, and a backward design lesson template model. The author describes the details of the curriculum and connects …
Young Adult Saudi Learners With Low-Level Literacy, Randy Allen Heuring
Young Adult Saudi Learners With Low-Level Literacy, Randy Allen Heuring
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The guiding question addressed in this curriculum project was, how should phonics be used to improve the English acquisition success rate of Saudi military students? It documents the design and creation of a specialized unit that takes into account all aspects of student learning based on prior knowledge, educational background, cultural values, interest, and motivation. The author integrates newly developed, modified, and existing curriculum, based on relevant research into the methods. The author documents the details of the unit and uses related research literature to construct meaning and validate the curriculum. He describes both success and struggles in implementing the …
Analysis Of Nominalization In Elementary And Middle School Science Textbooks, Breanna Marie Mueller
Analysis Of Nominalization In Elementary And Middle School Science Textbooks, Breanna Marie Mueller
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research in this capstone examines the existence and implications of nominalizations through a text analysis of first through fifth grade and middle school science textbooks. This study utilizes various tools based on Systemic Functional Linguistics to determine the quantity and types of nominalizations found in various text levels, to reveal how frequently nominalizations are modified by a prepositional phrase that shows agency or force, to uncover how nominalization might affect the syntax and semantics of a text, and to deduce how nominalization might contribute to lexical density. The author also compares the results to address what nominalizations look like …
What Teaching Approach In An Online English Class Is Effective In Improving Guatemalan Business Professionals’ Oral Use Of The Language, Erin Raxon
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The motivation behind this capstone was to create a curriculum unit plan specifically for Guatemalan business professionals wanting to learn oral English in an effective way. This capstone looks at the online learning setting, curriculum models, class size, adult learning, and Guatemalan culture. Based on this research and a questionnaire answered by business professionals in Guatemala City, a curriculum plan is designed. The limitations (and implications) of this curriculum plan are assessed. The curriculum plan is pending implementation.
Units Of Study: A Curriculum Supplemented With Problem-Based Learning And Technology, Jami Kristina Vandenberg
Units Of Study: A Curriculum Supplemented With Problem-Based Learning And Technology, Jami Kristina Vandenberg
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research question addressed in this project was, How can I provide 5th grade students with opportunities to engage in reading, writing, and talking about texts and ideas across different instructional contexts using technology and problem-based learning? The motivating factor for this capstone was the struggle with providing students dynamic learning opportunities that teach academic content as well as 21st century skills and relevant technology integration. This capstone details problem-based learning as an opportunity to assuage this struggle. The capstone reviews the components of problem-based learning and outlines the research on successful implementation. The capstone goes on to describe the …
Presenting Evolution In Public Schools; Is It Indisputable?, Paul Andrew Erdman
Presenting Evolution In Public Schools; Is It Indisputable?, Paul Andrew Erdman
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research question addressed is, how do 10 public school teachers present the theory of evolution? The motivation of this capstone was my experience with teachers presenting evolution (all life having evolved from a simple single celled organism) to students as indisputable, and the seemingly lack of discussion about any problems with the theory or unanswered questions. A key influence was an older sibling, a mechanical engineer, who often provides scientific answers for me and provided many resources that challenge the so-called indisputability and possibilities of evolution. This study interviewed 10 public school teachers to identify how they present the …
How Incorporating Physical Activity And Movement Into The Kindergarten Curriculum Will Help To Keep Students Engaged And Increase Their Academic Success, Katie M. Lockrem
How Incorporating Physical Activity And Movement Into The Kindergarten Curriculum Will Help To Keep Students Engaged And Increase Their Academic Success, Katie M. Lockrem
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research and curriculum writing that was done for this capstone answers the question of how incorporating physical activity and movement into the kindergarten will help to keep students engaged and increase their academic success. The current epidemic of childhood obesity and the push for all students to perform better on standardized tests lead to this capstone question. This capstone explores different ways to incorporate movement into the classroom to help students get the recommended sixty minutes of physical activity a day all while improving learning. It also explores other areas such as nutrition, breakfast in the classroom and different …
Effective Conversations Around Tough Text Within Middle School Literature Circles, Gretchen Elizabeth Enselein
Effective Conversations Around Tough Text Within Middle School Literature Circles, Gretchen Elizabeth Enselein
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research question addressed in this project was, how can I ensure that effective conversations around tough text are occurring within middle school literature circles? It explores the role of literature circles within middle school classrooms. The capstone outlines the scaffolding provided for student success. Defined is the term “tough text” and how text can successfully be implemented with the use of discussion to promote effective conversations. The author documents the related research to identify and define best practice strategies to implement and support existing curriculums in a middle school. Created to be implemented school-wide as a supplement to existing …
Strategies To Support Vocabulary Development In Middle School Content Area Classrooms, Caitlyn Bandy
Strategies To Support Vocabulary Development In Middle School Content Area Classrooms, Caitlyn Bandy
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research question addressed in this project was, what strategies are available to support content area vocabulary development in the middle school classroom? It explores the needs of a content area classroom as it relates to vocabulary development, then addresses those needs through a strategy map of best-practice vocabulary learning strategies. Created to be implemented school-wide as a supplement to existing curriculums in middle school classrooms, the map supports vocabulary development with two strategies detailed for each grade level six through eight. The strategy lessons follow the gradual release lesson plan model in order to best support student learning.
Teaching Health Literacy To Underrepresented Adolescents: A Curriculum For High School Advisory Teachers, Anya Dmytrenko
Teaching Health Literacy To Underrepresented Adolescents: A Curriculum For High School Advisory Teachers, Anya Dmytrenko
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
This curriculum-based capstone provides high school teachers with a curriculum guide for teaching health literacy to underrepresented adolescents. The secondary knowledge research examines the effectiveness of advisory programs and current trends in health literacy, and the healthcare needs of diverse youth in urban populations. Earlier public health efforts, such as establishment of school nurses and development of school-based health clinics, are also introduced. The UbD framework and principles (Wiggins & McTighe, 2005) used to design these curricula are discussed in detail. Unit and lesson plans on various topics related to health literacy were developed with appropriate assessment tools. Vital components …
Integrating Human Culture, Community, And Sense Of Place Into An Existing High School Environmental Studies Curriculum, Kathy Allen Kline
Integrating Human Culture, Community, And Sense Of Place Into An Existing High School Environmental Studies Curriculum, Kathy Allen Kline
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
This capstone addresses challenges faced by a first year high school teacher on an interdisciplinary team integrating social studies into an environmental studies curriculum. After exploring literature in biodiversity, biocultural diversity, and place-based education, the author determines that the existing curriculum can be enhanced to make stronger connections between people and the places already being studied, including the local community. To that end, this paper presents a sub-unit, developed using the Understanding by Design ® model, that seeks to integrate human culture, community, and sense of place into an environmental studies curriculum. The sub-unit includes six weeks of lessons to …
Food Waste And Behavior Change Through Project-Based Learning, Patrick Cary Crawford
Food Waste And Behavior Change Through Project-Based Learning, Patrick Cary Crawford
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
This study aims to find if food waste behavior can be changed through project-based learning. Food is a valuable resource that is being thrown into landfills; I question how we can change that? After compiling research on food waste, pro-environmental behavioral psychology, and project based learning I have constructed a theoretical framework that can be used to teach behavior change through project-based learning. The following were created to attain this goal: (a) a project unit plan, (b) assessments designed to evaluate students content knowledge on food waste, and (c) assessments designed to evaluate students pro-environmental behavior based on Blake, 1999. …
Encouraging Student-Generated Critical Questions Through Literature Circles In A Tenth-Grade Classroom, Damon Reuben Brook
Encouraging Student-Generated Critical Questions Through Literature Circles In A Tenth-Grade Classroom, Damon Reuben Brook
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
This study explored how literature circles were used to encourage 32 tenthgrade students enrolled in an English 10 class to generate critical questions about memoirs. The literature review overviewed the philosophy of studentcentered classrooms as well as the specific benefits of using literature circles and questionanswer relationship (QAR) reading strategies. This study covered a fourweek unit where teams of students were observed in interestbased literature circles. Students discussed the texts and recorded questions that they used for discussions. Other data included analysis of teachergenerated reflection journals. The results of the study revealed that the students overall responded positively to the …
The Integration Of Social And Emotional Learning And Literacy, Sarah Marie Kennon Hippert
The Integration Of Social And Emotional Learning And Literacy, Sarah Marie Kennon Hippert
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
A curriculum development project exploring the integration of Social and Emotional Learning skills into the mini-lesson portion of Reader’s Workshop. Included is a definition of Social and Emotional Learning, an exploration of existing Social and Emotional curricula and state standards, a discussion of the effects of Social and Emotional Learning on both students and teachers, and an examination of impacts of Social and Emotional Learning on future success of students. The curriculum developed herein relies on picture books as a framework for enhancing both existing literacy and Social and Emotional curricula. It is organized around the five Social and Emotional …
Literacy And Social Skill Development: A Technology-Focused Curriculum Design, Karissa Sue Wentzel
Literacy And Social Skill Development: A Technology-Focused Curriculum Design, Karissa Sue Wentzel
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The curriculum design created in this project was centered around the concept that the integration of technology into a 6th grade classroom can facilitate the advancement of both literacy and social skill development. It documents one teacher’s use of various technological applications and reading related activities to cultivate academic conversations and see growth amongst five pre-selected and targeted social skills. The author documents the details of the unit and provides researched literature to support the foundation for the curriculum design. The key influence for the study was the author’s personal experience at a one-to-one iPad school. The author concludes the …
Intertextual Connections In Text Sets: Creating Common Core Curriculum For Middle School Readers, Karissa Anne Finley
Intertextual Connections In Text Sets: Creating Common Core Curriculum For Middle School Readers, Karissa Anne Finley
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research question was, How can I design a curriculum unit that uses a text set to teach middle school English students to integrate knowledge and ideas as indicated by the Common Core State Standards? The capstone explores the challenges and steps to addressing the Common Core State Standards in reading, focusing especially on eighth grade standards of Integration of Knowledge and Ideas (standards seven through nine). Key influences for this capstone were Wiggins & McTighe (2005) and Cappiello & Dawes (2013). The author develops a multimedia text set unit for eighth grade students, using the short story “Flowers for …
The Integration Of Play Into The First-Grade Language Arts Curriculum For English Language Learners, Cheryl Jean Sanderson
The Integration Of Play Into The First-Grade Language Arts Curriculum For English Language Learners, Cheryl Jean Sanderson
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research question addressed in this project was, can the integration of play and games with rules into the first-grade Language Arts curriculum improve the oral speaking and reading skills for English language learners? To investigate the answer to that question, I studied how a child’s first language develops. For children who learn a second language, Krashen’s models were utilized in learning how a second language is acquired. Play and games with rules are defined. Looking primarily to Piaget and Vigotsky, I learned about the development of the child, play, games with rules and how a child learns through play. …
Mentor Texts Ability To Boost Young Writer’S Confidence, Paired With Mini-Lessons And Explicit Instruction, Allison Juanita Koester
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 …
How Can Inquiry-Based Instruction Be Implemented In A Secondary Mathematics Classroom?, Jennifer Colley Smith
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 …
The Impact Of Computer Assisted Language Learning On Language Proficiency, Shelley Lyn Sorenson
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 …
Culturally Responsive Curriculum: Third Grade Dual Language Immersion Fraction Unit, Katherine Elizabeth Jacques
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 …
How Do Interactive Read-Alouds Promote Engagement And Oral Language Development In Kindergarten, Laura Leigh Mikul
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 …