Curriculum and Instruction Commons^™

Bringing Lived Experience Into Curriculum Review: A Proposed Participatory Model, Monica M. Lobenstein, Stepha Velednitsky, Joanna Skluzacek Phd, Briley Rossiter

Journal of Extension

Processes for curriculum review and selection vary across Extension but often rest with educators, specialists, and leadership. For many topics, their educational leadership is appropriate. For topics relating to social, cultural, and/or political aspects of people’s lives, Extension professionals may be limited in essential perspectives to select suitable curricula. Curriculum Jams is a five-step process that engages community youth and adults in identifying relevant criteria, which are used to review existing curricula for use in Extension programs and beyond. While challenges exist, multiple process pilot tests illustrated the process's strengths with encouraging results, including responsive criteria and improved relevance in …

Seeking Kairos: Creating Oases Of Rest Through Contemplative Practice In The Elementary Classroom, Kaisu Aldom

Journal of Contemplative and Holistic Education

Seeking Kairos: Creating Oases of Rest through Contemplative Practice in the Elementary Classroom

This article introduces rest and restfulness as contemplative practice in the context of elementary schooling. As a Canadian elementary teacher, I have been researching ways to introduce contemplative practices of education to support children in their well-being. Children struggle under the pressures of expectations to achieve and excel, to conform and perform, which just as well applies to their teachers. Schooling in a burnout society prioritizes achievement, productivity, and always doing something: “No time to waste” and “keep busy” are mandatory. Not incidentally, the etymological meaning of …

Adapting And Addressing Pedagogy To The Needs Of The Day: George Floyd And American Literature And American Civilization To 1877, Alexis C. Jones, Don Bouchard

Essays in Education

This article explores a unique educational response to the racial and social tensions ignited by George Floyd’s death and the subsequent protests and civil unrest in 2020. Two professors at a small private college near Minneapolis/St. Paul collaboratively redesigned their American Literature to 1870 and American Civilization to 1877 courses, aiming to foster a space for civil discourse, critical inquiry, and social awareness among students. Employing Paulo Freire's concept of “conscientização” and Parker Palmer's vision of a community-centered classroom, the professors created a curriculum focused on primary sources and research-based journaling, which allowed students to critically examine America’s history of …

A Week-Long Departmental Scholarship Curriculum For Pediatric Subspecialty Fellows, Amy Creel, Amanda Messer, Robin English

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Scholarly activity is a key requirement in pediatric subspecialty fellowship training. However, clear guidance on how to effectively support fellows in their scholarly endeavors remains limited. OBJECTIVE: This study assesses the impact of a week-long departmental scholarship curriculum designed to enhance fellows' research competencies. METHODS: In 2024, a curriculum was designed and delivered to first-year pediatric subspecialty fellows over 5 days, combining group learning sessions with individualized tasks. Pre- and post-curriculum surveys assessed fellows' confidence and knowledge across key scholarly domains. Daily session evaluations provided additional feedback. Fourteen fellows from 9 pediatric subspecialty programs participated. RESULTS: All first-year fellows …

Teacher Dexiotita And Student Literacy: Building A Literacy Ecosystem In Elementary Schools In East Kupang Sub-District, Kristina E. Noya Nahak, Lanny Isabela Dwisyahri Koroh

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

The declining trend of Indonesian students' literacy competence has prompted researchers to examine how teachers' Dexiotita (competence) fosters literacy ecosystems within educational institutions. This inquiry also explores the relationship between students' Dexiotita (competence) literacy and teachers' Dexiotita (competence). A descriptive qualitative method, employing a case study approach, was utilized to examine phenomena in three schools located in the Kupang district of East Kupang sub-district. These schools were selected based on their representation of a diverse sample, with three schools each having a principal, 18 classroom teachers, and 225 students.The data collection process involved interviews, observations, and documentation, with the data …

Why Indigenous Children's And Young Adult Literature Matter

Occasional Paper Series

No abstract provided.

The Healing Power Of Diverse Voices, Brian Lee Young

Occasional Paper Series

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Native And Non-Native Teachers In Selecting Children’S Literature By Native Authors, Trisha Moquino, Katie Kitchens, Laini Szostkowski, Tiffany Jewell, Debbie Reese

Occasional Paper Series

Our contribution to the Occasional Paper Series is driven by the editors request for articles that will provide readers with an opportunity to learn how to use Indigenous Children’s and Young Adult Literature (ICYAL) texts responsibly. In our experience, children encounter far too much anti-Indigeneity in literature, and therefore the classroom.. Before using a book, a teacher must select the book they plan to use in the classroom. If the teacher is seeking to “provide opportunities for students to develop interpersonal relationships between real live kids and those who live only on the page,” (Leitich Smith, 2020) we think it …

Kryptonian Frybread, Byron Graves

Occasional Paper Series

No abstract provided.

Utilizing And Creating Indigenous Children’S Literature To Reclaim The Endangered Hoche Language, Jue Wang

Occasional Paper Series

Stemming from a large ethnographic study exploring young Indigenous children’s literacy and language practices in and out of school in a Hoche elementary school in rural Northeast China, this paper focuses on the navigation of Indigenous literature, language, and literacy learning of young Hoche children. Particularly, this reflective paper challenges the efficacy of Hoche language education in the oppressive context of the public schooling system, inviting Indigenous and non-Indigenous educators in China and across the world to rethink the urgency of reclaiming this endangered language and the power of Indigenous literature in understanding Hoche Indigenous ways of knowing, belonging, and …

“We Sing Too:” Pedagogical Approaches For Listening To Children In Indigenous Picturebooks, Rachel Stubbs, Anja Dressler Araujo, Kari Dressler, Jadyn Fischer-Mcnabb, Aubrey Hanson, Erin Spring

Occasional Paper Series

This article explores how storytelling, particularly through picture books, facilitates learning across boundaries of age, culture, gender, and education. In this article, we emphasize the value of picture books in integrating Indigenous oral traditions into the classroom, highlighting how these texts foster a reciprocal relationship between listener and storyteller. By focusing on the act of listening, our article argues that Indigenous picture books require active participation and decentering of the individual, positioning listeners as part of a larger collective. This article also underscores the importance of viewing children as active, responsible, and agential members of their communities, aligning with Indigenous …

“I’M From The Federal Government And I’M Here To Help”: An Examination Of How Firekeeper’S Daughter Educates About Settler Colonialism, Robert Petrone

Occasional Paper Series

This essay offers an examination of various ways Angeline Boulley’s best-selling, award-winning Indigenous Young Adult novel, Firekeeper’s Daughter attends to and educates about settler colonialism. At the core of this analysis is the guiding question: In what ways does Firekeeper’s Daughter illuminate the ongoing social structure of settler colonialism within the context of what is currently known as “The United States”? Specifically, this analysis focuses on the topics of Native identity, including colonial mechanism of blood quantum; and the ways institutions such as the FBI operate from values and epistemologies of compartmentalization and deficit notions of Native Peoples. Across this …

Why Indigenous Children’S Literature Matters: A Native Hawaiian Perspective, Julie Kaomea

Occasional Paper Series

No abstract provided.

Making Connections To The Local: Exploring The Role Of Indigenous Literature In Early Childhood Education, Lori Huston, Dr. Jan Hare, Ashleigh Janis, Leigh Kweon

Occasional Paper Series

Indigenous children's literature is a vital resource for nurturing cultural understandings and appreciation from an early age for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous children. This paper presents insights gathered from a workshop titled "Nurturing Indigenous Childhoods Through Themed Picture Books: Making Connections to the Local," which emerged as a culmination of our collaborative work on a massive open online course (MOOC) centered on Indigenous pedagogy in early childhood education. We curated a list of Indigenous children's books and engaged in discussions on the significance of Indigenous literature in nurturing cultural identity and literacy learning. In doing so, we aspired to create …

Nurturing Authentic Indigenous Voices In Indigenous Children’S And Young Adult Literature: An Aotearoa New Zealand Case Study, Nicola Daly, Julie Barbour, Darryn Joseph, Te Kani Price, Pania Tahau-Hodges, Kawata Teepa, Nic Vanderschantz, Eboni Waitere, Bryony Walker

Occasional Paper Series

At the heart of decision-making in children’s literature is the publisher who decides whose stories are told and how (Encisco et al, 2010). There is some research concerning inclusivity practices in the children’s literature that we see in libraries, homes and publishing houses (Caple & Tian, 2022; Daly, Vanderschantz, Mitchell & Blair, 2025; Daly, 2021; Stagg Peterson & Robinson, 2020). There is, however, little work examining how the publishing process can contribute to increased diversity in children’s picturebooks, particularly in relation to Indigenous languages and cultures. International research shows that there is limited cultural and linguistic diversity evident in children’s …

The Legacy Of Language: Indigenous Language In Children’S Fiction, Christine Hartman Derr

Occasional Paper Series

Generally speaking, storytelling is an honored tradition in many Native communities. I use the term generally with a disclaimer. There are currently 574 federally recognized tribal Nations on the land presently known as the United States of America. There are additional Native Nations recognized at the state level and tribal Nations left unrecognized. Each Nation has its own culture, language, traditions, and beliefs. The statements made in this paper could not be universally applicable to all Indigenous communities. There is no monolithic Native perspective that could adequately represent every Native Nation, nor should there be. We celebrate our differences as …

An Indigenous Feminist Reading Praxis For Imagining Anti-Colonial Futurities: Honouring The Spirit And Intent Of Katherena Vermette’S Writings, Jennifer Brant, Erenna Morrison, Jasmine Rice, Gayatri Thakor

Occasional Paper Series

We conceptualize Indigenous literatures as integral tools for supporting teachers on their journeys toward truth and reconciliation. As such, we intentionally offer our work as a pedagogical guide for introducing Indigenous Children’s and Young Adult Literatures (ICYAL) in secondary level English courses, asserting that the delivery of such works must be taught in ways that align with anti-racist praxis, acknowledge varied experiences of racism, sexism, and gender-based violences, and promote liberatory thinking. Indeed, while Indigenous literatures are excellent pedagogical tools to engage conversations about social justice and anti-Indigenous racism, they must be paired with key lessons that dismantle harmful, disrespectful …

Introduction: Why Indigenous Children’S And Young Adult Literature Matters, Joaquin Muñoz, Dawn Quigley

Occasional Paper Series

No abstract provided.

The World Doesn’T Look Just One Way, Kim Spencer

Occasional Paper Series

No abstract provided.

Global Citizenship Education In Ghana: An Evaluation Of The Junior High School Social Studies Curriculum, Benjamin Takyi, Anthony Bordoh Dr., Isaac Eshun Prof., Frederick Owusu

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

The aim of global citizenship education (GCE) is to equip individuals with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to address global challenges. Despite its significance, GCE is often insufficiently integrated into curricula, particularly in the Global South. The purpose of the study was to examine the alignment of the junior high school standards-based social studies curriculum with GCE principles. Using a qualitative case study design and content analysis, the study explores cognitive, socio-emotional, and behavioral aspects of global citizenship embedded in the curriculum. The findings indicate a strong alignment between social studies learning outcomes and GCE principles, with content incorporating …

Pow, Bam, Snikt: Using Superheroes To Teach Mental Health, Christopher Dabbs

Journal of Thematic Instruction

Undergraduate psychopathology (abnormal psychology) courses traditionally emphasize case vignettes of individuals with psychiatric disorders to illustrate etiology, nosology, and treatment. While pedagogically useful, these depictions can inadvertently provoke distress in students, potentially impeding engagement and learning. To address this dilemma while continuing to center the same learning outcomes, I formulated a course structure which embedded some course topics in superhero-related material with the express intent to create psychological distance between potentially distressing topics and the learners themselves. This commentary provides background for the course, evidenced-based rationale for specific pedagogical choices alongside topical material recommendations, and ends with personal reflections.

From The Stage To The Classroom: Reflections On A Psychology Of Musical Theater Class, Jill M. Swirsky

Journal of Thematic Instruction

Thematic instruction, which uses a central popular culture theme to bridge theoretical concepts and lived experience, is a powerful tool for engaging students in complex subject matter. This paper explores the design, structure, and outcomes of a Psychology of Musical Theater course that uses popular musicals as a lens for examining key psychological theories and themes. Utilizing a hybrid course design, students explored psychological themes in musicals (e.g., racism in Hairspray) through reflective writing, small and large group discussion, and a final project. Anecdotal evidence suggests that this approach enhanced engagement and promoted deeper learning, as students reported personal growth, …

Racism In The American Education System: A Hermeneutical Phenomenology Of The Lived Experiences Of Black And White K-12 Educators, Jude Eliassaint

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutical phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of Black and White K-12 educators with educational racism and its influence on their well-being, self-efficacy, and cross-racial empathy in American schools. Albert Bandura's social cognitive theory was used to frame this study theoretically, as social cognitive theory focuses on providing a path for a more equalitarian pedagogical system for societal and global betterment. Data collection, conducted through semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and a qualitative questionnaire, involved 12 Black and White educators recruited through purposeful sampling from a Southern state school district. A thematic analysis was conducted …

Acculturative Stress Among Immigrant High School Graduates In North Carolina: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study, Caren P. Morgan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Global migration will continue to escalate in the future. In this transition process, the United States is a popular destination. Migrants are motivated by a variety of factors, including education, employment, and research. The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study aimed to better understand lived experiences of acculturative stress among immigrant high school graduates in North Carolina. This qualitative design sought to get answers to the central research question: What are the lived experiences of immigrant high school graduates who encountered acculturative stress? The theoretical framework includes two theories that are essential to this study: acculturation theory, and resilience theory. …

Drawing Disintegration: A Twice-Exceptional Individual’S Autoethnographic Inquiry Into Graphic Narrative Creation As A Tool For Processing Trauma, Natalie J. Krusemeier

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This autoethnographic study explores the researcher’s lived experience of childhood trauma as a twice exceptional individual with an arts-based autoethnography research design, specifically in the form of graphic narrative. Grounded in Dabrowski’s Theory of Positive Disintegration (TPD), this study examines how emotional and sensory intensity, overexcitability (OE), and psychological disintegration intersect with twice-exceptional (2e) identity development and identity authenticity potential. Data sources include personal artifacts from childhood and adulthood—journals, letters, graphic narrative, documents, and photographs—alongside reflective writings and completed graphic narrative pages. Using descriptive coding and TPD’s developmental levels as analytic lenses, the study interprets the processes of disintegration and …

A Phenomenological Study On The Influence Of Teacher Perceptions On Play-Based Learning, Courtney Simpson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of implementing play-based learning for teachers at early childhood settings in Georgia. The theory guiding this study was Jon Dewey’s theory of experiential learning, as it addressed the significance of children learning through play. The Central Research Question was: What are the experiences of teachers implementing play-based learning in early childhood settings in Georgia? A qualitative methodology approach utilizing transcendental phenomenology was taken to describe the lived experiences of 13 teachers implementing play-based learning. The setting included early learning centers and schools in Georgia. A combination of snowball …

Educators' Reflections On Competency-Based Learning: Reflecting 5 Years Of Nep 2020, Gaurav Agarwal, Anannya Chakraborty, Dimple Sood, Priyanka Sharma, Aditi Malviya, Shreevarshini K, Abha Bhagat

ACER India

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 brought a significant transformation in India’s education system by promoting a more holistic, adaptable, and skills-focused approach to learning, moving beyond rote learning. At the core of this shift is Competency-Based Learning (CBL), which encourages the development of essential skills like critical thinking, creativity, and application of what students learn in real life. To make this shift meaningful, understanding the thought process and perspectives of teachers who operationalise CBL principles is crucial. Their experience and insights can help identify the systemic supports that are necessary to build a strong foundation for teacher and student …

Framework-Based Mathematics Intervention: A Practice Guide For School Psychologists, Shaalein C. Lopez

Journal of Applied Disciplines

School psychologists are charged with providing guidance related to the implementation of evidence-based interventions across academic subjects including mathematics. Despite recent advances in the availability of empirically supported intervention and instructional strategies in math, finding appropriate math-related interventions that go beyond fluency building and metacognitive techniques into the realm of math understanding and concept building remains difficult for school psychologists. The adaptation of a framework-based approach to mathematics intervention, such as one developed by the National Center on Intensive Intervention, provides school psychologists with an evidence-based approach that overcomes numerous barriers to providing support for students struggling with mathematics learning.

A Qualitative Analysis Of Educator Well-Being Through Teaching Sel: A Classroom Pilot, Laticia Follansbee, Madison Reid Reid, Chanda Murphy, Allison Henry

River Cities Industrial and Organizational Psychology Conference

Early childhood educators are expected to teach social emotional learning (SEL) in their classrooms, while educators themselves are in need of SEL as much as their students due to stress and burnout in this occupation being at an all-time high. We ran a small pilot study of a mindfulness, audio-based SEL tool (Moshi) to see whether brief daily use leads to easier implementation of SEL in the classroom and, in turn, relates to better educator well-being. In this qualitative study, we analyzed 12 transcripts from interviews and focus groups with 16 educators from 12 elementary schools after at least six …

The Correlation Of Students’ Grit To Their Achievement At Stkip Muhammadiyah Of Southwest Aceh, Ainain Tajriani, Sukri Adani

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

The grit theory emphasizes that persistence and passion for pursuing long-term goals are more important for success than innate talent alone. The purpose of this research was to assess students' grit levels and examine how they relate to academic performance. The study employed a quantitative correlational design to systematically measure numerical data, which helps identify patterns and relationships among various influencing factors. Participants included 136 students (75 English students and 61 Mathematics students). The research process involved: 1) collecting data via a questionnaire, 2) cleaning the data to remove outliers, 3) analyzing the data with SPSS, and 4) interpreting the …