Education Commons^™

Using On-Going Mentoring To Support Elementary Teachers Of Language Learners, Elizabeth Callaghan Done

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

This project was shaped from experiences as an ESL teacher, classroom teacher, and teacher mentor led me to research how teachers improve their practices, particularly around language learners in the mainstream classroom. The question became how can implementing a mentoring program support elementary classroom teachers in changing their practices with language learners. The research led in two directions: effective professional development and best practices with language learners. Based on this research, a determination was made that in order to support teachers in developing their practices with language learners, a mentoring program focusing on four specific areas – vocabulary, syntax, oral …

Antiracist Praxis In The Adult English Classroom, Cydnee Sanders

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The research question for this capstone was: How can educators of adult English learners utilize antiracist praxis like translanguaging to more deeply value learners’ linguistic and cultural backgrounds and experiences? As the field of teaching English to adults grows, educators need to be aware of the colonial history of English learning that is harmful to learners (Motha, 2014). Through colonizing ideologies of monolingualism and standardization, adult learners of English constantly get messages of inferiority towards their linguistic and cultural identities. As educators, it is our responsibility to combat these racist practices in our classroom and community with antiracist praxis. Kendi …

Systems Thinking Teaching Strategies Using The Un Sustainable Development Goals To Help Best Prepare Students To Be Future Ready, Elizabeth Hickey

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The United Nations has outlined seventeen sustainable development goals that high school students will have to tackle to have a sustainable future. Schools must take meaningful action in teaching their students systems thinking strategies to best prepare them to be empathic, self-aware, innovative, resilient communicators that are equipped to be sustainable global citizens. This capstone project takes ninth grade students through a student-choice inquiry project to tackle the challenges of how their school’s sustainable initiatives can become more sustainable in order to answer the question, How can I best integrate the United Nation Sustainable Development Goals into my Understanding By …

The Joy Of Reading: Increasing Intrinsic Motivation Through Choice Texts And Reading Conferences In Middle School, Joshua Overby-Lang

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Research has proven that middle school is the time in which students abandon recreational reading for the rest of their lives if they do not find the process to be engaging. In order to hook readers and urge them to continue this pursuit, teachers need to give students access to high interest books and the time to read without any high stakes assessment attached to it. The curriculum designed for this project uses the influences of Allen, McClure, and Serravallo to implement a series of reading conferences in conjunction with independent silent reading time and mini-lessons in the middle school …

Differentiation And Online Learning, Emily Nelson

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The research question investigated in this project was, how can digital teachers utilize differentiation strategies to best meet the needs of their learners in an online environment? It describes the process of creating a standards based literacy unit which utilizes online resources. This project builds on the work of Tomlinson’s approach to differentiation in a traditional in person classroom setting and the community of inquiry (COI) model of online learning. The unit is differentiated according to student academic level, method of content delivery (synchronous or asynchronous), and student sharing. The document shares how the project was created to meet the …

Best Practices In Science Education And Next Generation Science Standards: A Review Of Systems Thinking, Inquiry-Based Learning And Culturally Sustainable Practices, Kyle Koyle

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Public School science educators are given the task to teach students dynamic, interpretable material based on grade level as well as national and state standards. Science is at the forefront of many jobs and future economic stability and also encompasses a wide range of disciplinary topics. Having educators use the best resources in curriculum development and teaching methodology is crucial to successfully empowering future scientific research and understanding. The Whole Ecosystems in Balance (WEB), A Natural Resource Curriculum, originally created in 1995, was used to support science teaching efforts in Eastern Oregon. In order to continue its relevance, the curriculum …

Peer Review And Feedback In The Middle School English Learner Classroom, Alyssa Schuler

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The development of writing skills is a necessity when it comes to teaching English Language Learners (ELLs). Middle school ELLs should be taught in a different manner compared to their older and younger peers. Research has shown that implementing peer review and feedback in a middle school ELL classroom can improve students’ writing skills. This capstone helps to answer the research question, How can I integrate peer review and feedback activities into instruction in order to improve the writing skills of middle school English language learners? This capstone project provides a curriculum unit that scaffolds lessons and activities in a …

Developing Culturally Responsive Curriculum For High School Hmong And Karen Ela Students, Alexandra Bolduan

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Research consistently finds that for minority students, it is important that they see themselves reflected in the classroom curriculum; educators must celebrate and incorporate the unique perspectives and backgrounds that minority students bring to class rather than focusing solely on any perceived deficits (Gay, 2018; Hammond, 2014; Ladson-Billings, 2001, 2014, 2018; Muhammad & Mosley, 2021). Additionally, those who come from “Asian” families tend to be lumped together whenever demographic information is collected or used to inform policy. As a result, there are a lot of curriculum guides for Asian students that do not focus on Hmong or even Karen students, …

How Can Guided Reading Help Elementary Students Read At Grade Level By Middle School?, Magan Graham

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Elementary students who struggle with reading are a common concern among elementary school teachers. This capstone project documents how teachers can use a guided reading curriculum as a way to help their students grow in their reading success. The literature review focused on two main topics; guided reading, and the importance of comprehension in reading. This project and literature review help to answer the question, How can guided reading help elementary students read at grade level by middle school? According to the literature, guided reading has a positive impact on helping elementary students learn to read (Richardson, 2016). This capstone …

Teamwork In The Classroom: Peer Interaction In Latinx Transnational Athletes, Kaitlin Beltre

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The reasons adult learners enter into language programs are as varied as the countries, cultures, and backgrounds that the learners themselves come from. This project was designed with a very unique population of learners in mind: Latinx transnational professional baseball players who also come from lower or interrupted education backgrounds. Due to the simultaneous value of peer interaction in language classrooms but the lack of research related to both transnationational athletes learning English as well as Literacy Education and Second Language Learning for Adults (LESLLA) populations, the current project explores the following research question: How can explicit strategy instruction aimed …

Culturally Relevant Pedagogy In The Online Elementary Classroom, Kelsey Iverson

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Culturally relevant pedagogy (CRP) is a critical component of ensuring equity and contributes to creating a safe, nurturing, and supportive learning environment for all students (Ladson-Billings, 1995). With the increase of students of color entering the online learning sphere (U.S. Department of Education, 2021), it is critical that teachers are equipped with knowledge of best practices in CRP practices. Additionally, with the increase in creation of elementary online learning programs throughout the country, it is important that teachers are equipped with knowledge of best practices for online teaching and learning. The research question addressed in this capstone project is: How …

Implementing Cultural Sustaining Literacy: Curriculum Unit Plans, Adewale Adenodi

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Abstract

The research question that is being addressed in this capstone project is: How can we create curriculums and environments that integrate equitably and culturally sustaining literacy practices in high school Social Studies settings that intentionally consider all learners? This paper discusses the creation of curriculums rooted in the approaches of Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy and Equitable Literacy Practices. Additionally, this document discusses the creation of a 12th Grade US Government curriculum that seeks to respond to the work of Muhammed (2020), Hammond (2015) and Paris & Alim (2014). Historically Responsive Literacy Framework from the book Cultivating Genius is one of …

English Writing Through Content And Language Integrated Learning For Korean University Students, Michael Delorenzo

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The purpose of this project was to discover how to adapt Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) classes to serve the learning needs of Korean university students who want to learn content and English communication skills, particularly writing. The project outlines a goal focused curriculum unit. The curriculum unit includes a content portion focused on discussing current news events, and a portion for teaching writing using those same readings as authentic examples. The writing portion includes strategies to teach basic writing organization such as topic introduction paragraphs, body paragraphs, topic sentences, through process writing, as well as strategies to teach …

Holistically Discouraging School Aged Students And Youth From Joining And/Or Becoming Affiliated With Gangs And Gang Violence, Megan Steinhoff

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Currently there is varying research on gang affiliation and how it impacts various communities. Schools are one place where we see gang affiliation and violence affecting a large community. The present Capstone project attempts to look at how school communities can holistically discourage young students from joining a gang or being involved in gang violence. Most importantly, how can educators create a plan to systemically change the way students, especially Black students and students of color, move within the space of education and a school community. Research from Hagadorn (1998) was highly influential in the project. His gang research conducted …

Culturally Responsive Identity Project For A High School English Language Arts Classroom, Monique A. Plaster

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The research question addressed in this project is, what is necessary to empower and engage students in high school ELA classrooms to allow them to express themselves? It documents one teacher’s creation of an eight-week english language arts curriculum unit that will offer a method to engage students in self-discovery, self-expression, and cultural acceptance. The curriculum focuses on the concept of identity and integrates project-based learning, culturally responsive pedagogy, and Understanding by Design, based on Wiggins and McTighe’s (2011) framework. The author documents the details of the unit and uses related research literature to construct meaning and validate the creation …

The Power Of Translanguaging In American Schools, Tasneem Rattansi

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The concept of teaching English as a second language or multilingualism is something that the country has grappled with since the time of colonization. As we have become more aware of the globalization in our world, it has become quite evident that the basis of many of the theories and research conducted has a level of monolingual bias and is geared towards a system that is more fitting to what is known as monolingual norms. As more understanding is gained, the American education system is learning about translanguaging, an asset-based concept that is a heteroglossic ideology holding bilingualism to high …

Framework For Implementing Metacognitive Reflection Tools To Facilitate Student Learning, Elise Thompson

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Educators of all disciplines are finding themselves providing endless engaging content and working long hours to give feedback, yet they are still witnessing their students struggle to master content objectives. Students need to be empowered and provided the tools to take ownership of the learning process. Through intentional metacognitive reflection, the interrogation and reconstruction of learning, teachers will find increased retention, comprehension, critical thinking, knowledge transfer, accountability, and motivation in their students. This professional development framework is intended to improve high school student mastery through metacognitive reflection and to provide tools for teachers of all disciplines to set students up …

Effective Teaching Of Embedded Phonics Instruction In A Middle School Special Education Resource Room, Amanda Nichols

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

This capstone addresses a gap in middle school instruction for students identified for special education services in reading. In Minnesota’s state standards, phonics instruction is only required through 5th grade (Minnesota Department of Education, 2011). However, students in middle school and beyond still may be learning to read past 5th grade. This research question is: What is the most effective way to integrate phonics instruction into reading lessons in a middle school, resource room special education classroom? This paper introduces what phonics is, the reason phonics should be integrated into reading instruction, a framework for embedded phonics, a description of …

Sustainable Agriculture Curriculum For 9th-12th Graders, Michaela Gallup

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

According to the research conducted by Ziska, L. H. climate change and the agricultural industry’s fates are tightly tied. As the effects of climate change continue to worsen, food production will become more challenging. Inorder to help address these issues, this curriculum will introduce student to the causes of climate change, how climate change and agriculture impact each other, evaluate agricultural technologies that could help diminish the effects of climate change, and finally have students propose solutions to agricultural and climate related issues in their communities. The pedagogical practices used in this curriculum is a combination of traditional teaching styles, …

Differentiating The Integration Of The Four Skills In Multi-Level Adult Esl Writing Classes, Yasmine Meziou

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

This capstone project addresses the following research question: How can open-ended activities that integrate the four language skills support differentiation in multi-level (low-intermediate to advanced-level) adult general ESL writing classes? In literature grounding this project, several researchers have dealt with the importance of integrating different language skills in lessons and the role of differentiated instruction in meeting the needs of multi-level students. They also studied the benefits of using different open-ended activities from communicative to project-based activities. However, concrete examples on the integration of the four language skills and differentiating activities to accommodate low-intermediate to advanced-level adult students in general …

Tprs In Esl Programs: A Storytelling Approach, Karl Schaumann

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

This capstone project is an effort to incorporate TPRS (Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling) into a middle-school sheltered ESL curriculum. TPRS is a promising methodology that has been used in foreign language acquisition classes for decades, but has not yet had a significant impact on ESL education in the United States. The accompanying paper examines the process of adapting this methodology to best serve the needs of English learners, which are distinct from foreign-language learners in critical ways. Relevant topics in the literature review include an overview of ESL in the United States today, the principles of language acquisition, …

The Importance Of Math Fact Automaticity, Jessica Olson

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The retention of math facts is a critical step when it comes to solving mathematical equations. The website I designed for my project addresses this topic. It focuses on giving students, teachers and parents the research, tips and resources they need to be successful. Research shows that automaticity with math facts can lessen the academic load of students and also be a predictor of future math success. Using strategies such as interleaving, engaging with manipulatives and learning mnemonic devices has been shown to positively affect one’s recall of basic facts. However, drilling and mindless repetition has a much more negative …

An Antiracist Education: A Curricular Unit Design, Tanner D. Wright

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The research question addressed in this capstone project is: “How does one implement antiracist curriculum in a classroom that emphasizes storytelling?” This project documents one teacher’s odyssey in creating a curriculum that represents the core principles of an antiracist pedagogy focused on storytelling while using technology in a responsible manner. The core influence of this unit is the work of George Dei; Dei emphasizes the importance of shifting toward an antiracist framework compared to a multicultural framework. This project provides educators with a full unit of detailed lesson plans for a tenth grade English Language Arts classroom. Also, the project …

Increasing Student Motivation In English Language Arts Through Student Choice, Jennifer Baker

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The purpose of this capstone project was to design and implement a digital website where resources are readily available for teachers and students in order to increase motivation in reading. This project sought to answer the question Can providing student choice improve student motivation in a middle school English Language Arts class? My love of reading happened early in my life and it has made me a lifelong reader, and this inspired me to instill that love in middle school students. The research conducted in this capstone indicates that increasing student engagement in reading is highly dependent upon building student …

More Than Social And Emotional Learning: Developing A Brain Aware Sel Curriculum For A Kindergarten Classroom, Macie Berg

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Research has shown that stress, negative emotions, and trauma all affect a students’ ability to learn and achieve in school. Thus, there has been a worthwhile movement to incorporate structured social and emotional learning programs into elementary schools. The goal of these programs are to help students develop critical social and emotion regulation skills that are required to adapt to school environments and achieve academically. The curriculum designed for this project focuses on teaching kindergarten students emotion regulation skills as well as make them aware of their own brain development. The content of the curriculum was influenced by by these …

How Can Incorporating An Animal Based Curriculum Into An Elementary Classroom Help Promote Social/ Emotional Development?, Stephanie Stickney

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The research question addressed in this project was, how does incorporating an animal based curriculum into an elementary classroom help promote social/ emotional development? This project describes a teacher’s journey in implementing an animal based curriculum in the hopes of promoting social/ emotional development. The purpose of this project is to examine the effect that having animals into a classroom environment can have on students in regards to their social/ emotional development. This project describes the challenges, struggles, and opposing views on having animals in a classroom as well as the successes and highlights from an animal based classroom.

The Power Of Language And Its Integral Role In Lgbtq+ Inclusion In Education, Jay Carr

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Abstract

Carr, J. (2021). The Power of Language and Its Integral Role in LGBTQ+ Inclusion in Education Language plays a central role in our daily lives; it is through language that we name, identify, and differentiate everyone and everything in our world. It is through language that dominant, heteronormative discourses have been established surrounding gender and sexuality. Heteronormativity positions heterosexual and cisgender (identifying with the sex / gender assigned at birth) identities as normal and natural, while excluding and oppressing LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer / questioning, + other non-conforming identities) individuals. Despite a heavy push for ‘diversity’ and …

Creating And Cultivating A Multitude Of Relationships In An Elementary Classroom, Zachary Hoffmann

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Relationships are a crucial part of the classroom experience for all parties involved. They occur between the student and the teacher, as well as amongst peers. This capstone project looks to answer the question: How do relationships, both in the classroom community and with teachers, affect student achievement, primarily in the elementary school environment? Research shows student-teacher relationship is the most powerful in a classroom, setting the tone for both academics and behavior. Relationships built on trust and caring lead to improved academics and behavior in the classroom, while conflict can lead to a negative school experience for all parties …

Songs And Salamanders: Investigating The Relationship Between Music And Environmental Education, Walker Nyenhuis

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Environmental education and creative arts such as music have complemented each other for many years. This capstone project investigates the relationship between the two disciplines by asking the question: How can environmental educators use music to increase students’ understanding of the natural world? Focusing on the professional development of environmental educators and other informal educators is important because these individuals will have many opportunities to promote connection between students and the natural world throughout their careers. Musicians and songwriters such as the Banana Slug String Band and Joe Reilly provide invaluable examples of musical experiences that both inform and entertain …

Muslim Parents’ Expectations In The Public High School Education System, Tamer Hamid

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The research question addressed in this capstone project is, what are the expectations of some Muslim parents of high-school-age students. These expectations include prayer, Ramadan, observation of Islamic holidays, school schedule, school meals, school curriculum, gender separation in physical education classes, and teacher insensitivity. In a humble effort to set my fellow educators up for success and expand their knowledge base, a professional development plan is designed as a source that would mainly include high school administrators, teachers, staff members, community members, and anyone invested in the welfare and success of a school with any number of high school Muslim …