Elementary Education Commons^™

Modern Classical Christian Education?, Donna Lybarger

Master of Arts in Classical Studies

This thesis asks if the ancient tradition of classical education is an education method for the modern world. More specifically, this thesis questions, how might classical education methods be implemented for the acquisition of wisdom in the modern world? The literature review gives a brief history of classical education from the Greeks, and a history of why classical education is again a topic of conversation in the modern world. The three stages of classical education, the trivium, is explained. Classical Christian education is defined noting the method remains the same, but the difference is the nuances of the virtues of …

Cultivating Counter-Stories To Deficit Narrative Of Students: A Literacy Problem Of Practice, Amanda Brown

Theses and Dissertations

In urban schools across the United States, literacy outcomes remain inequitable, especially for BIPOC students and those living in poverty. In District 17, the mandate to rigidly implement a purchased curriculum resource reinforces deficit-oriented views of student ability and limits teachers’ professional agency to adjust instruction based on formative data. As a result, instruction becomes disconnected from student needs and identities, further exacerbating literacy inequities.

Guided by Mintrop’s cycle of inquiry, this qualitative study examined how participation in a 90-day inquiry cycle influenced the narratives teachers constructed about their students’ literacy abilities. Kindergarten through third grade teachers collaboratively planned and …

An Examination Of Preservice Teacher Knowledge Of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (Adhd) In The Elementary Classroom, Breana K. E. Webb

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This study examines the knowledge of preservice teachers with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and how well prepared they might be when supporting students in elementary classrooms. ADHD is a diagnosed neurodevelopmental disorder in children and has been increasingly diagnosed over the past several years. Teachers play a crucial role in providing effective instruction to each and every student in the classroom. Managing classroom instruction with diverse learning capabilities and behaviors requires teachers to understand the characteristics of ADHD, as well as instructional adaptations and behavioral interventions, among preservice teachers. Findings indicate that while most preservice teachers recognize the basic …

Ai In Education: Teaching, Learning, And Thinking With Machines, Mary Strawderman, Jesse Senechal, Eric Ekholm, Jason Vest, Moe Greene, Dawn Johnson, Daniel Case, Oscar Keyes, Yaoying Xu, Robert Godwin-Jones, Kait Donahue, Kim Elmore, Haley Hendershot, Amy Corning, Paulina Guerrero, Samaher Aljudaibi, Justin Thurston

AI in Education: Teaching, Learning, and Thinking with Machines

This collection from the Humanities Research Center (HRC) Digital Technology in Education (DTE) working group arose from questions around how rapidly emerging generative AI tools are reshaping teaching and learning in K-12 and higher education. The contributions, loosely organized around ethics, policy, and practice, adopt a humanities lens to probe how generative AI and other emerging digital technologies impact human values, experiences, and social structures, surfacing their philosophical, ethical, cultural, and societal implications for schooling. From the perspectives of practitioners and interdisciplinary scholars, the pieces showcase various dimensions of AI's creative potential in education, while also questioning its limitations and …

Developing Concepts In Second Language (L2) Science From ‘Bits And Pieces’ Of Prior Knowledge: A Multiple Case Study Of Spanish-Speaking 4th And 5th Graders, María Isabel Martínez-Cuenca

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Earth science concepts sit at the intersection of the compounding difficulties English language learners’ (ELLs) face in content-integrated instruction. Emerging first language (L1) skills, emerging L2 language, and the difficulty of science terms interact with second language (L2) content learning. Moreover, L2 science concepts rarely develop incidentally through L2 socialization and instruction in the same naturalistic way as they do in the L1. Leveraging L1 resources may help ELLs in this process, yet there is a dearth of studies that consistently do so. This dissertation explores how, and the extent to which, leveraging ELLs’ pre-existing knowledge may support science and …

Pick Up A Frog, Or Pet A Dog; Animals Are Our First Teachers, Allison Ratner

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This dissertation’s goal was an attempt to answer the question: What are the emotional, cognitive, and/or spiritual effects of children’s relationships/interactions with animals that potentially impact their development? By utilizing autoethnography, I analyzed instances from my own life where interacting with animals changed me permanently; my thinking, my knowing, my feeling, my judgement, my empathy, my attitude, and my ethics. With a standpoint rooted in the research of experts from the fields of psychology and education, I combined my personal knowledge gained over a lifetime, to grant merit to the profundity of children’s relationships with animals. With the analyzed data, …

Digital Stories Of Resilience: A Case Study Of Urban Community College English Learners, Patricia George Hunter

Journal of English Learner Education

This study utilizes a qualitative case study approach to learn how project-based, digital storytelling (DST) voices the resilience of post-secondary English language learners (ELLs) attending a minority-serving, open-access, community college in New York City. Along with many studies that have examined the usefulness of DST in oral production, this research investigates whether project-based digital storytelling enhances students’ understanding of academic content related to resilience and conventional composition. Narrative inquiry (NI) research technique is the basis of the digital story project in an English as a Second Language (ESL) course. In this case, the study relies on observations and artifacts to …

Literacy Instruction For English Language Learners In Indiana Elementary Schools Before And During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Haiyan Li, Wayne E. Wright, Trish Morita-Mullaney

Journal of English Learner Education

This mixed-methods study investigates the impact of COVID-19 on elementary school literacy instruction for multilingual learners officially classified as English Language Learners (ELLs) across 35 teachers in four Indiana school districts. Classroom lesson videos and observation rubrics for 19 teachers were collected from the beginning of 2020-2021 school year (during the pandemic) and compared with those collected pre-pandemic from 16 teachers at the beginning of school years of 2018-2019 (n=7) and 2019-2020 (n=9). Findings demonstrate schools made efforts during the pandemic to offer quality literacy instruction within socially distanced classrooms, online synchronous instruction, and hybrid learning environments. However, teachers spent …

Game-Based Learning With Augmented Reality, Kantida Nanon

Dissertations

Augmented Reality (AR) technology provides an effective and controllable learning environment, especially for complicated, potentially dangerous, or critical content. Effective implementation of interaction and platforms for educational tools can maximize learner engagement and optimize the learning experience. This dissertation explores the potential of AR technology to enhance learning experiences across multiple platforms and subject areas, particularly within chemistry and mathematics. The dissertation is grounded in the field of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and explores the potential of AR to increase learner engagement, improve learning outcomes, and transform traditional pedagogical practices.

The dissertation is divided into two parts. The first part examines …

Factors Affecting Involvement Of Parents Of Students With Learning Disabilities In Saudi Elementary Schools, Mohammed Alyahya

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The research explores the factors that influence parental involvement in school children with learning disabilities in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Understanding these factors is crucial, as parental involvement is widely recognized as essential for the academic success of children, particularly those with learning disabilities. This study used a quantitative approach to collect data from parents of students with learning disabilities, including parents' age, gender, income, employment status, and parental beliefs (responsibilities and capabilities). The findings reveal that parental beliefs regarding their responsibilities towards their child's education are the only significant predictor of parental involvement. In contrast, other variables, including age, gender, …

School System And Student Performance: Examining Science And Mathematics Achievement In Pakistan, Sadia Muzaffar Bhutta, Sohail Ahmad, Aisha Naz Ansari

Institute for Educational Development, Karachi

Public and private school systems are the two largest providers of formal school education in Pakistan, differing significantly in their governance, resources, and practices. While previous studies showed differences in Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs), often favouring private schools, these comparisons remained largely descriptive. This paper compares elementary grade students’ performance in mathematics and science between public and private schools in Pakistan, accounting for factors such as grade level and geographical region. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 15,391 students from grades 5, 6, and 8, selected through a multistage sampling technique from a total of­­ 153 public and private schools …

Nurturing Motivation And Engagement In All Students, Elizabeth Rosales, Elizabeth Ann Rosales

Graduate Teacher Education

This paper examined varied interpretations of student engagement in school and analyzed its impact on students' success across multiple dimensions. Using a range of research methods—surveys, classroom observations, and mixed-methods approaches—the study investigated how engagement manifests in classrooms, how it's shaped by various internal and external influences, and its effects on academic performance as well as students’ social and emotional well-being.

The studies considered different perspectives on motivation and engagement, examining how these contribute to a better learning experience. They also looked at what these insights mean for teachers and others involved in education. The research highlighted how crucial student …

Weaving Care Threads: Matrixial Encounters In Teacher Professional Learning, Misty Paterson

Artizein: Arts and Teaching Journal

The need for increased care in today’s classrooms is becoming undeniable. Yet, teacher shortages, budget cutbacks, and mental health crises makes injecting care into our field feel evermore demanding and depleting. What if abundant and systemic care was at our fingertips? This article shares the voices and processes of six seasoned, “non-artist” educators as they co-created a learning space that prioritized a relational, social-based, caring sensibility through art-care practices. The author brings the lens of Ettinger's Matrixial Theory to her practitioner inquiry into caring affect through Spontaneous Creation-Making (Bickel & Fisher, 2023) with promising and pragmatic implications for teacher educators.

The Impact Of Underqualified Educators On Student Engagement, Autumnbre Moore

Masters Projects

Student engagement is the backbone of academic success, it is often hampered by underqualified educators who don’t have the qualifications to engage with different types of learners. Student Engagement in K-12 Classrooms: Teacher Qualifications, Inclusivity, Attitudes, and Efficacy frames the gaps in teacher preparation within the bounds of cognitivism, constructivism, and connectivism, discussing how much this does not help learning. The results underlined the importance of inclusive practices, strong teacher-student relationships, and effective professional development. It seeks to inform efforts to build teachers up to create engaging and supportive learning environments, especially for marginalized and underserved students.

Integrating The Elementary Literacies Through The Practice Of Physical Education: A Strategy Resource, Bryan Matera, Dillon Martinez

Essays in Education

Integrating literacy and physical education (PE) supports interdisciplinary learning that engages both the mind and body. This article explores innovative approaches to combining literacy skills with physical activity, highlighting the cognitive and physical benefits for elementary students. Recognizing students’ natural attraction to movement, the article demonstrates how embedding literacy into PE lessons can enhance reading comprehension, vocabulary acquisition, and memory retention through action-oriented activities. These strategies also promote physical literacy, encouraging confidence and lifelong participation in physical activities.

Key instructional examples include the "Movement-Enhanced Word Wall," where students connect vocabulary to movement, and "Animal Action Reading Relays," which integrate reading …

A Comparison Of Sixth Grade Student Academic Performance In Indiana Elementary Schools And Middle Schools, Bret Bailey

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative study was to provide school district leaders and policymakers information of the impact grade configuration had on academic performance using math and ELA ILEARN scores over a three-year period. The study included data from 585 schools that were classified into four groups: Elementary Setting, Intermediate Setting, Middle School/Junior High Setting, and Unified Setting. The study analyzed IDOE publicly released ILEARN math and ELA data for each of the three years. A one-way ANOVA test was utilized to run the statistical analysis, and a Games-Howell Post Hoc test identified which had statistically significantly different mean pass …

Benefits Of Afterschool Programs On The Academic Achievement And Social Development For Upper Grade Elementary School Students, Jorge Fernandez-Mora

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Afterschool programs provide beneficial support for students by offering tutoring, homework help, and enrichment/teach programs that reinforce classroom learning. These programs help young students build essential math, reading, and critical thinking skills. My capstone project explores the positive impact of afterschool programs on upper elementary school student's academic achievement and social development. Through the use of literature review and interviews with administrators, expanded learning coordinators, and teachers, the result findings revealed that afterschool programs are crucial in helping students meet their academic and social needs. It is also important to note that school-based academic support programs are safe in supervised …

Harry Potter And The Pedagogy Of Hogwarts, Rachel Cepe

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Education plays a critical role in the academic and personal development of children. Harry Potter spends seven years as a Hogwarts student; while he navigates school, he fights against a growing evil force that threatens day-to-day life. This paper applies different educational theories to each year to examine how Harry adapts to the ever-changing conditions at school to be successful. In the first year, the application of attachment styles theory introduces Harry to a suppressed part of his identity. In the second year, applying intrinsic motivation theory reveals the cultivation of curiosity. In the third year, the locus of control …

Exploring Audience Perceptions Of Elementary School Dance Curriculum: Utilizing Informance To Investigate Beliefs Regarding The Presentation Of Student Learning In Dance, Michaela Summers

Master's Theses

The goal of this thesis was to gain insight into the perceptions and expectations of audiences in relation to elementary school dance education curriculum and its representation through showcases or displays, particularly within the context of viewing an informance. The researcher developed three research questions to guide the study:

Q1 What are audience perceptions of elementary school dance education pedagogy and curriculum?

Q2 What methods do audiences expect to be implemented in an elementary school dance performance?

Q3 Can utilizing informances affect audience perceptions of elementary school dance education, thus changing their expectations for dance performance methods?

Thirty-eight audience members …

Exploring The Impact Of Dance Arts Integration On General Education Teaching Practices: Insights Into Classroom Environment, Planning, Instruction, And Assessment, Sara Kessler-Kennon

Master's Theses

The purpose of this research study was to explore the impact of dance arts integration facilitation on teaching practices by emphasizing classroom environment, planning, instruction, and assessment. The researcher created the following four essential questions to guide the study:

Q1 How does incorporating movement-based arts integration alter classroom environment, student behavior, student engagement, and inclusivity of students with various abilities and diverse backgrounds?

Q2 How does incorporating movement-based arts integration impact the general educators' planning time, process, style, and understanding? Does the general educator feel as though they can effectively incorporate movement-based arts integration without collaborating with a dance educator? …

Oral Language In A Literacy-Based Intervention, Rachel Chappell

Dissertations

The problem of practice I studied in this investigation was how to effectively and intentionally merge oral language support with a comprehensive literacy-based intervention (Reading Recovery®) for a student population exhibiting oral language concerns. This mixed-methods study focused on dual and monolingual students with limited language development, which resulted from various root causes. Through my investigation, I sought to evaluate the impact of additional language-related strategies within the literacy-based intervention with the primary purpose of learning advancement and student reading proficiency improvement. I found that explicit instruction in language-related errors and complex book language in comprehensive literacy-related interventions demonstrates a …

Benefits Of Teaching Pre-Literacy In Waldorf Education In Early Childhood, April Guerrero

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This senior capstone research project examines the benefits of teaching pre-literacy in Waldorf education in early childhood. In Waldorf Education, literacy development incorporates differentiated instructions that fosters cognitive and social emotional learning of their students. Through the use of literature review and several teachers in various grades of Waldorf schools, the result findings revealed that pedagogical practices around literacy instructions promote critical thinking skills, nurtures children’s creative expression, and imagination. Literacy curriculum in Waldorf schools allows students to create tangible evidence of self-expressions and communication skills. Given its emphasis on holistic curriculum, it allows teachers to engage with their diverse …

Leveraging Ai Tools In University Writing Instruction: Enhancing Student Success While Upholding Academic Integrity, Daisuke Akiba, Rebecca Garte

Publications and Research

The emergence of AI-powered Large Language Models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT and Google Gemini, presents both opportunities and challenges for higher education, particularly regarding academic integrity in writing instruction. This exploratory study examines a novel pedagogical approach that integrates LLMs as required feedback tools in a university-level psychology writing assignment. The exclusive online approach emphasizes improvement through revision, requiring students to obtain AI-generated feedback on ungraded initial drafts based on an instructor-provided rubric, with final assessment focused on the quality of subsequent revisions. Analysis of survey data from 39 undergraduate students, incorporating both quantitative measures and qualitative responses, revealed several …

A Qualitative Study Of Iranian Efl Teachers’ Perceptions Of A Digital Diversified Education, Seyed Mohammad Reza Marvasti Zadeh, Azizollah Dabaghi Varnosfadrani Advarnosfadrani, Mohammad Amiryousefi

The Qualitative Report

Because Iran is a country of learners of diverse languages, socio-economic classes, genders, and ages, digital diversified education seems appropriate to address needs in English language education. However, there is a notable gap in research on teachers’ perceptions about this type of education. To fill this gap, this study aimed to investigate the perspectives of Iranian teachers of English as a foreign language (EFL) regarding a diverse digital education. Data were collected via an open-ended survey with 30 EFL teachers, both male and female, who were selected through convenience sampling. Analysis revealed several key themes, including the utilization of diverse …

Aviateok: A Stem App To Increase K-12 Student Engagement In The Aviation And Aerospace Industry, Irene Miller, Amy Rutledge, Timm Bliss

Journal of Extension

STEM industries are driving technological and economic growth across the globe. To remain competitive, the U.S. needs to focus on the advancement of STEM education and develop a sustainable pipeline to provide a well-qualified workforce to STEM-related industries. The Department of Aviation and Space Education (AVED) at Oklahoma State University (OSU) has developed aviateOK, which is a STEM application, to provide aviation/aerospace content to students, parents, and extension educators. The aviateOK STEM application promotes extension education by providing access to free activities and resources for grades K-12. AviateOK equips 4-H youth programs with the resources needed for extension educators to …

“It’S Not My Immediate Instinct”: Perceptions Of Preservice Teachers On The Integration Of Popular Culture, Melinda S. Butler, Eva S. Arbor, Nadine Bravo

Dialogue: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Popular Culture and Pedagogy

Popular culture curricula integration provides educational benefits for students (Morrell, 2002; Petrone, 2013); bridging students’ out-of-school popular culture knowledge with their in-school literacies promotes learning, engages students, and values students’ background knowledge (Dyson, 1993, 2021; Marsh, 2006; Morrell, 2002; Petrone, 2013). Therefore, teacher educators may consider the addition of popular culture education into preservice teacher’s preparation for teaching (Petrone, 2013). In this qualitative study, researchers were interested in asking the following questions: What popular culture texts did preservice teachers consume as children and adults? and How does preservice teachers’ previous popular culture text consumption factor into decisions to include or …

Exploring How Funds Of Knowledge Is Utilized Among Teacher Educators In A Teacher Preparation Program Focusing On Arts Integration And Language Diversity, Gabrielle H. Pretto Ph.D

Teacher Education, Educational Leadership & Policy ETDs

In our current educational climate, teaching for social justice has become increasingly difficult. Teacher educators are faced with certification rules that prioritize test scores over teaching ability, scripted curriculums, and the limited understandings about differences related to culture, class, and race. This study examined how social justice teachings were sustained and enhanced through a Funds of Knowledge (FOK) learning approach. Case study was utilized and guided by the following research questions: (1) What are the FOK of teacher educators participating in the TEALi program? (2) In what ways are the FOK of teacher educators integrated or utilized in their university …

Understanding The “L” In Cslp Within The Literacy Conundrum, Julia Lynch, Andrea Perrone

Michigan Reading Journal

Rooted in culturally relevant pedagogy, culturally sustaining literacy practices (CSLP) focus on equity in education (Gay, 2000; Ladson-Billings, 1995; Paris, 2012). Our view of CSLP emphasizes integrating the arts into literacy instruction to leverage students' cultural assets, stimulating their cognitive processes and recognizing literacy's interdisciplinary role in learning. As we align literacy practices with state standards, high-stakes testing, and research-based methods, it's crucial for educators and society to embrace them. Traditionally, literacy instruction has prioritized written language, creating hierarchical structures that lead to learning gaps and inequitable opportunities. An arts-based CSLP framework addresses these issues by ensuring literacy includes diverse …

Teaching Literacy: The Intersection Of Social Studies And Language Arts Through Integration- Lesson Plan Exemplar, Pamela Mccabe, Jennifer Shiers, Christopher D. Moore, Jeremy Nix

Teaching Social Studies in the Peach State

This lesson plan exemplar, based on third grade GSE ELA and social studies standards, demonstrates how teachers can best integrate social studies and ELA content to maximize instructional time and increase litearcy and social studies background knowledge.

Collaborative Professional Development Featuring Innovative Curriculum Materials, Cory Callahan

The Councilor: A National Journal of the Social Studies

Here I synthesize two research investigations (Callahan, 2018, 2019) that comprise a continuing line of inquiry into the potential of innovative curriculum materials and sustained collaboration as a professional development program to help in-service teachers understand and implement a complex model of social studies instruction. This article features an original innovative curriculum material and specifically explores the question: To what degree can a collaborative professional development program featuring innovative curriculum materials help social studies teachers understand and implement a powerful social studies approach? Findings suggest the professional development program and its innovative curriculum materials helped teachers promote substantive pedagogical thinking …