Elementary Education Commons^™

Perspectives And Expectations Of Native Spanish-Speaking Parents About Their Children's Education In An American Elementary School, Franklin D. Rothwell Ii

Educational Studies Dissertations

This qualitative study inquired about the perceptions of Spanish-speaking immigrant parents about their children's experiences in a Massachusetts elementary school, the expectations they have for their children's education, and their understanding of their role with regards to their children's education. The phenomenological design and analysis concentrated on parents' lived experience as they and their families interacted with the school. Thirty-eight parents of English learners participated in answering a questionnaire and ten were later interviewed. Findings reveal that parents of English learners face obstacles in understanding American schooling and often rely on information from others and comparisons with their own previous …

The Iterative Development And Use Of An Online Problem-Based Learning Module For Preservice And Inservice Teachers, Peter Rillero, Laurie Camposeco

Interdisciplinary Journal of Problem-Based Learning

Teachers’ problem-based learning knowledge, abilities, and attitudes are important factors in successful K–12 PBL implementations. This article describes the development and use of a free, online module entitled Design a Problem-Based Learning Experience. The module production, aligned with theories of andragogy, was a partnership between the recipients of a grant using PBL to enhance English language learner education and the Sanford Inspire Program. A multistage evaluation design was used in the iterative process of module creation. Starting with an initial white paper, the module’s conceptualization, development, pilot testing, and refinement are described, along with the current use statistics. The URL …

An Ethnographic Investigation Into The Influence Of Bandura’S Four Psychological Sources Of Information On Late-Career Elementary Teachers’ Self-Efficacy, Ginger Prewitt

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this ethnographic investigation was to examine and describe the experiences that impact late-career elementary teachers’ self-efficacy beliefs based on A. Bandura’s four psychological sources of information and serves as part of a thematic dissertation with each researcher focusing in a different teacher career stage.

Methodology: Through qualitative methodology utilizing one-on-one interviews of elementary public school teachers with 24 or more years of experience, data was analyzed using the theoretical framework of A. Bandura’s four sources of self-efficacy information.

Findings: Analysis of data from interviews of 15 late-career elementary teachers from five school districts in Riverside County, …

Identifying And Addressing The Educational Needs Of Primary Elementary Latino Males, Sandra Vilas

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this qualitative study is to understand and describe the strategies and practices that exemplary teachers use to address the educational needs of Latino male students from kindergarten through third grade.

Methodology: The researcher selected a qualitative research design to describe and understand the instructional strategies and practices used by district Teachers of the Year from 2011 - 2016 in three counties in Southern California. Through in-depth semi-structured open-ended interviews, the researcher provided a detailed examination of the instructional practices and strategies exemplary primary teachers use to address the educational needs of primary Latino males. The district …

Utilizing Series Books As A Vehicle To Cultivate Motivation And Reading Development In Literature Circles, Heather E. Guerci

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to document the changes in student achievement, motivation, and engagement. The specific aim is to see what happens when series books are discussed in literature circles. Engagement during literature circles, growth in reading level, and behaviors exhibited during the literature circle discussions are analyzed. The focus group of students demonstrated changes in their reading preferences and level of motivation to read texts. Implications for utilizing series books in literature circles are discussed.

Fun, Not Competition: The Story Of My Math Club, Johanna Hardin

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

For almost three years, I have spent most of my Sunday afternoons doing math with my daughters and a group of their school friends. Below I detail why and how the math club is run. Unlike my day job, which is full of (statistical) learning objectives for my college students, my math club has only the objective that the kids I work with learn to associate mathematics with having fun. My math club has its challenges, but the motivation comes from love of mathematics, which makes it fun, and worth every minute.

Student Motivation Profiles As A Diagnostic Tool To Help Teachers Provide Targeted Support, Cailin Tricia Currie

Dissertations and Theses

Research has demonstrated that academic engagement is an important resource for students, promoting their learning and achievement. Less well documented is the possibility that students' classroom engagement may also be a valuable resource for their teachers, capable of influencing how teachers treat their students over time. The current study sought to examine the relationship between student motivation and teacher behavior to better understand how teachers perceive and respond to their students' classroom motivation and whether these motivational states contain diagnostic information about the types of supports students may need in order to be engaged, enthusiastic learners. The observable manifestations of …

The Magnificent Cambry And The Not So Magnificent New School, Melanie Laughlin

Honors Projects

I have written and illustrated a children’s book and created a variety of lesson plans that can be used alongside my book. The book is titled The Magnificent Cambry And The Not So Magnificent New School. Children’s books are incredibly valuable in helping children develop and be an aid to their learning. The Magnificent Cambry And The Not So Magnificent New School centers on a young girl who deals with the struggles of having recently moved to a new place, is attending a new school, and is trying to adjust to these new changes in her life. This projects …

Cybersecurity In The Classroom: Bridging The Gap Between Computer Access And Online Safety, Andrew Malecki

Cyber Security Capstone Research Project Reports

According to ISACA, there will be a global shortage of 2 million cybersecurity professionals worldwide by 2019. Additionally, according to Experian Data Breach Resolution, as much as 80% of all network breaches can be traced to employee negligence. These problems will not solve themselves, and they likewise won’t improve without drastic action. An effort needs to be made to help direct interested and qualified individuals to the field of cybersecurity to move toward closing this gap. Moreover, steps need to be made to better inform the public of general safety measures while online, including the safeguarding of sensitive information.

A …

Empathy Institutionalized: Sociocultural Dialogue As A Strategic Peacebuilding Initiative, Emily Owens

Bridge/Work

A common adage used in psychological exploration tells us that “If you want to know the end, look at the beginning.” While typically employed to emphasize the importance of upbringing and environment on personal outcomes, this phrase can be equally applicable in examining the ways in which society has developed over time to produce our polarized sociopolitical culture of today. This work explores from an integrative psychosocial perspective the potential that exists in working to define a new “end” by shaping a new “beginning,” through going directly to the institutions that comprise our own beginnings— schools. Through a combined research …

A Program For Teacher Induction, Patricia Lager 7701725, Katherine Bertolini

Empowering Research for Educators

Even though many novice teachers are prepared academically to deal with subject matter, many of them enter the teaching field unprepared for many of the other aspects of teaching such as dealing with grading programs, insurance claims, inventory and various other matters that differ from school-to-school. Often these new teachers feel isolated and unsupported and possibly do not realize what they do not know or the proper questions to ask. This results in nearly 29% of them leaving the field within their first three years and around 39% leaving within their first five years. This project proposes creating a teacher …

The Purpose Of Education: What Should An American 21st Century Education Value?, Krista Shilvock

Empowering Research for Educators

A survey taken by 511 respondents dealt with such issues as past and current educational practice preparation, educational purposes in America, core class subjects, and soft skill teachings. Its results revealed a public opinion believing the primary goal of education as teaching students to adapt to any situation they find themselves in. Other results include a lack of preparation in current practices for life beyond education, although workforce preparation is adequate. Also, soft skills ought to see a curriculum of their own and taught explicitly to students in education instead of implicitly enforced, hoping parents alone taught these skills previously. …

Development Of One’S Teaching Philosophy: The Three “R’S” Of Relationships, Relevancy, And Rigor, Mary Bowne

Empowering Research for Educators

A common practice for educators is to develop a teaching philosophy which helps them become reflective practitioners on various teaching and learning strategies. This narrative will address how one faculty member identified common themes within her online and face-to-face classes that held students accountable, yet eager to come to class and learn the important content and develop the unique traits mentioned. Through the use of various data methods and current literature and research available, the author identified three common themes within her teaching and classroom environment. Those themes are identified as the 3 “R’s”: Relationships, Relevancy, and Rigor.

An Exploratory Research On Aesthetic Reading Of A Multicultural Novel In A Book Club Setting Amongst Fifth Grade Students, Kasey Leigh Stevens

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to see if the use of a multicultural novel in a book club setting would produce aesthetic reading. The specific aim was to see if this would happen to fifth graders in an after school program club. Conversation recordings, pre and post surveys about aesthetic reading, reader's notebooks, and the teacher's journal have been analyzed. The focus group demonstrated growth in making aesthetic responses. The implications for using the components in a classroom are discussed.

Fourth Grade Students' Use Of Active Reading Strategies During Independent Daily Reading Time, Stephanie Bradfield

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to determine how fourth grade students implement active reading strategies during independent reading time. Data was recorded over a one-month period and tracked through student response journals, individual reading conferences, and teacher anecdotal notes. Throughout the study, student responses developed to include discussion of strategy use and metacognition. Student stamina and comprehension was supported through the practice. The structure of the independent practice helped students' to build their skills of strategy implementation and metacognition to monitor their independent reading.

Service Learning Course Has Purdue Students Design Curricula To Teach Indiana Elementary Students About Food Waste, Rebecca Busse

Engagement & Service-Learning Summit

No abstract provided.

A Qualitative Study On The Effects Of Second Grade Students Forming Partnerships With Their Teacher And Peers To Set Reading Goals, Sandra L. Shevlin

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research study is for second grade students to form a partnership with their teacher and peers to set reading goals. One goal of the study is to examine how forming partnerships with peers and the teacher helps students better understand themselves as readers. Another goal is to investigate how the created partnerships motivate students to set reading goals independently. A variety of data was collected and analyzed, including notes, observations, student conversations, and charts reported in a teacher research journal, along with the pre and post assessment data, such as the Reading Attitude Survey, student written …

Reading, Thinking, Developing Responses: An Investigation Of Independent Reading In A First Grade Classroom, Heather Pence

Theses and Dissertations

What happens when first grade students engage in independent reading in which they are reading, thinking, and developing responses about texts at their independent reading level? The purpose of this study is to investigate what type of work and learning first grade students engage in during independent reading time. The focus will be on the type of thinking the students are engaging in and what strategies the students are utilizing while reading independently. This qualitative teacher research study consists of 12 first-grade students in the first-grade classroom during independent reading time of Reader's workshop. The data collected revealed students utilizing …

Background Knowledge Conversations About Informational Text, Vanessa Gottesfeld

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to discover what happened when students are given opportunities to discuss their background knowledge before reading an informational text and to discuss how their background knowledge changed and grew after reading the text. The specific aim of this project was to find out how students interacted with each other during these structured and scaffolded conversations. Transcripts of student conversations, student artifacts, observations of conversations, and a teacher research journal were analyzed. The group of students studied demonstrated the ability to learn from each other, expand on each other's comments, and address misconceptions. The implications …

The Application Of An Implementation Science Framework To Comprehensive School Physical Activity Programs: Be A Champion!, Justin B. Moore, Russell L. Carson, Collin A. Webster, Camelia R. Singletary, Darla M. Castelli, Russell R. Pate, Michael W. Beets, Aaron Beighle

Kinesiology and Health Promotion Faculty Publications

Comprehensive school physical activity programs (CSPAPs) have been endorsed as a promising strategy to increase youth physical activity (PA) in school settings. A CSPAP is a five-component approach, which includes opportunities before, during, and after school for PA. Extensive resources are available to public health practitioners and school officials regarding what should be implemented, but little guidance and few resources are available regarding how to effectively implement a CSPAP. Implementation science provides a number of conceptual frameworks that can guide implementation of a CSPAP, but few published studies have employed an implementation science framework to a CSPAP. Therefore, we developed …

Considering Ells When Planning Lessons, Jim Ewing

Faculty Publications

Teachers typically prepare lesson plans for non-ELLs and then attempt to “retrofit” lesson plans for ELLs. This article offers suggestions for planning mathematics lessons that meet ELLs’ needs.

Collaboration And Connections: Investigating The Use Of Teacher Candidate-Created Protocols To Connect Research To Classroom Practice In An Educator Preparation Program, Jannah Walters Nerren, Tracey Covington Hasbun

Faculty Publications

This study investigated the effects of using teacher candidate-created observation protocols based on current research on classroom practices to connect research to practice. The study examined the extent to which mentor teachers modeled current research-based practices as measured by the protocols and explored the frequency with which the practices were observed. Findings indicated that teacher candidates had a positive experience applying research to practice, that utilization of the protocols created an awareness of best practices being used, and the importance of individualizing the practices to meet student needs. Individualization of utilization based on mentor teacher personalities was also observed and …

Collaborative Action Research To Implement Social-Emotional Learning In A Rural Elementary School: Helping Students Become "Little Kids With Big Words", Donna M. San Antonio Dr.

Faculty Scholarship

Research has shown that social and emotional learning (SEL) can benefit students in affective, interpersonal, communicative, and academic realms. However, teachers integrating SEL face a variety of logistical, pedagogical, and skill development challenges, including how to effectively facilitate classroom conversations on social justice and personal loss. This article draws from classroom observations, teacher conversations, interactive journals, and field notes to describe a seven-month-long university-school partnership to carry out an action research project in a high-poverty rural elementary school in the US. Teachers grappled with how to address race, immigration, and gender discrimination in a predominantly White community. Classroom vignettes, and …

A Study Of Staff Development And Teacher Efficacy In Implementing Standards-Based Grading At The Elementary Schools In A Rural School District In North Carolina, Brayton Alan Leonhardt

Education Dissertations and Projects

Standards-based grading is still in its infancy within North Carolina. At this time, only 12 of the 115 school districts have incorporated the standards-based form of grading into their system. As school districts across North Carolina look to implement different forms of grading to assess student learning, it will be important to look at the effectiveness of the professional development that accompanies the shift. The research questions that guided this work center around the support needed by teachers during the transition period and the impact of the professional development on their understanding of how to successfully implement standards-based grading. The …

Mathematical Modelling: A Guidebook For Teachers And Teams, Peter Galbraith, Derek Holton

Mathematics

This document aims to provide teachers with material that will enable them to prepare students to develop skills of mathematical modelling. Mathematical modelling is a process in which real-life situations and relations in these situations are expressed by using mathematics. Included in this publication are junior modelling problems for upper primary, junior or middle secondary levels; intermediate modelling problems for junior or middle secondary levels; and senior modelling problems for middle or senior secondary levels. A specific purpose of this material is to provide additional support to assist teachers and schools in choosing and mentoring student teams to participate in …

Basic Education: Foundation Level, Australian Council For Educational Research (Acer)

Education Analytics Service

The purpose of this module is to provide introductory information about the importance, structure, purpose, key issues and outcomes of basic education. It provides a foundation to engage in this topic and apply advice from staff with operational or expert levels of knowledge in education. On successful completion you will be able to be an informed participant in forums related to basic education.

The Use Of Response To Intervention With English Learners, Anna Burnley

ECTESOL Review

RTIs assist teachers in adjusting instruction to support ELs in acquiring English and content-area knowledge and learning behaviors. The use of RTIs with ELs can supplement support for ELs as an integrated concept of the sheltered instruction (SI) commonly provided for this student population.

Connecting North And South: Engaging Latin American English Learners, Kenyan Intercultural Communications And American Undergraduate Students Through Reciprocal Service Learning, Laureen Fregeau, Ukaiko A. Bitrus-Ojiambo, Suhana Chikatla, William Cornejo

ECTESOL Review

Reciprocal Service Learning through videoconferencing is an efficient tool for connecting native English speakers of various world Englishes and ELs in other nations for the benefit of all. The authors of this study recognize the reciprocal nature of teaching and learning and the social justice of equalizing power structures through the inclusion of participants and researchers from both North and South as members of a project and research team. Through participant observation and document review the authors examine the experiences of educators and learners in the phenomenon of reciprocal service learning through videoconferencing focused on cultural competence and English language …

From The Editor, Laureen Fregeau

ECTESOL Review

No abstract provided.

Employing Word Study With Spanish-Speaking Els, Timothy Rodriquez

ECTESOL Review

Phonics Instruction has had a controversial history. How to teach phonics to Spanish-speaking ELs is also controversial. Understanding the differences between Spanish and English and how phonics instruction occurs in each language would be insightful. Also, knowing how the nature of the two languages affects instruction would be beneficial. Furthermore, exploiting similarities between English and Spanish and examining differences will bolster instruction. This paper will discuss the reasons for word study and how it may be utilized to teach spelling and decoding to Spanish-speaking ELLs.