Elementary Education Commons^™

The Ethics And Philosophy Of Outdoor Education: Hidden Lessons Within The Leikskoli Curriculum In Isafjordur, Iceland, Cici Conroy

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The Icelandic curriculum structures itself amongst six pillars: “literacy, sustainability, health, and welfare, democracy, and human rights, equality and creativity” (Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, 2014). The United States national standards for their state public schools focus on two central points: math and English language learning (Participant 6, personal communication, 2022). The way these structures are upheld reflect values, goals, and systems of knowledge. Depending on where a child is raised, the skills learned in the classroom will result in a completely different attitude toward environment, place, and success. In the United States, success seems to be defined by …

Does Guided Math Paired With Math Stations Result In More Student Mathematical Growth Than Traditional Whole Group Structure?, Abigail Eben

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

This action research project was conducted to determine if guided math paired with math stations resulted in more student growth than a traditional, whole group classroom. The topic was chosen because of the researcher’s interest in elementary mathematics. Some teachers are implementing math stations and guided math in schools while other teachers believe in a whole group, traditional setting. The researcher has been teaching for five years, and her class of 5th grade students participated in the action research. This researcher and another 5th grade teacher implemented guided math paired with math stations for four weeks over a long division …

From Reflection To Analysis: Languaging Lteracy Teaching And Learning, Lindsey Rowe, Jackie Ridley, Marie Borkowski, Michiko Hikida

Publications

While reflection is generally considered an important part of becoming a teacher, there is no consensus regarding how reflection assignments might be best incorporated into teacher education programs. In this multiple case study, we examine the writing of early-childhood (P-3) preservice teachers who were asked to write either reflections or analytic notes. Using a constant comparative analysis, we found that when asked to write analytic notes rather than reflections, preservice teachers tended to use more evidence to support their claims, but often used language that erased their interpersonal relationships with students. Implications for preservice teacher education programs are …

The Religious Lexicon Embedded In Public American Curricula, Daniel R. Jones

Student Publications

What is the relationship between one's own religious beliefs and their everyday colloquial diction choices? Moreover, why is the subfield that encompasses the intersection of sociolinguistics, education, and religious studies one that has gained little scholarly interest in recent years, where one could argue the importance of religious belief, and other socio-political beliefs in education have come center stage in the heart of American political debate? This article will tackle this broad range of topics through a case study focusing on my primary research question: How does a teacher’s own religious identity affect the religious language utilized in their classroom …

Teacher Strategies To Maintain Rapport In Elementary Classrooms, Emily Ray

Honors College Theses

This study examines the initiation and maintenance of rapport between teachers and students in kindergarten through second grade classrooms. Three teachers participated in phenomenological interviews to identify what strategies they employ when initiating and maintaining rapport with their students as well as the perceived benefits of student-teacher rapport. Research has shown that there are several effective strategies for initiating rapport with students, but if this effort is not maintained throughout the school year, the quality of student-teacher rapport can weaken. Through thematic analysis, this study identified the strategies these three elementary grades teachers use to initiate and maintain rapport with …

Gifted Student Burnout, Lillian Clevenger

Senior Honors Theses

Gifted Student Burnout may be part of the occurrence of fatigue that can affect students of all ages. This can range from elementary to high school. Burnout in gifted education is a relatively new area of research, as burnout research in students and the gifted programs themselves are also new. The potential causes and potential solutions will be used to differentiate classroom instruction for gifted students. As gifted students grow and begin to want more control over their learning, instruction will need to be adjusted to help students stay invested in their academics. There are possible outlying effects that the …

Music Is The Intervention: The Intersections Of Music As A Therapeutic Activity In At-Risk Youth, Gladys H. Gonzalez Landaverde

Senior Honors Theses

Across the United States, public schools face many discrepancies in the quality and caliber of education that a student can expect to receive. While schools try to address the vast needs of students, many children and adolescents are unfortunately faced with choosing between prioritizing their education and the circumstances faced outside of the school day. The discrepancies in schooling range from the quality in the commonly accepted core curriculum like English and mathematics to the opportunities offered outside of traditional academia like music. Unfortunately, at-risk students are unlikely to have access to music education in the same ease as their …

Development Of The Teacher Efficacy Toward Providing Physical Activity In The Classroom Scale, Erin E. Centeio, E. Whitney G. Moore, Jeanne Barcelona, Hayley B. Mckown, Heather E. Erwin, Alex C. Garn

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

The overall aim for this study was to create and validate an instrument that helps researchers measure and better understand classroom teachers’ efficacy toward providing physical activity throughout the school day. The development of the Teacher Efficacy Toward Providing Physical Activity in the Classroom Scale (TETPPACS) occurred in two phases. First, in study one, after item development and face validity review, an exploratory factor analysis was conducted with pilot data (N = 320) to discover the factor structure of the TETPPACS. Second, with a follow-up sample (N = 192), a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed to confirm the factor …

The Effects Of Charter Schools On Early Foreign Language Education In Public Schools, Cassie Kunz

Senior Honors Theses

Education is a notoriously contentious subject in America. Controversy exists and continues to flare up over what content should be taught, how it should be taught, as well as the cost; foreign language is one such subject. The history of foreign language education in the United States (U.S.) reviews current foreign language policies and practices in the U.S. and other countries, as well as the reasons that proponents of foreign language education argue that it must be improved in the U.S. The charter school approach to education was analyzed in the context of market theory to determine if a correlation …

Oral History: A Tool For The Elementary And Middle Classroom, Jessica Keiser

Senior Honors Theses

Modern historical instruction requires educators to cover broad expanses of history and prepare students for standardized testing. In the push to meet state standards and cover the vast curriculum in short periods of time, many educators have begun to teach to the textbook. Much to the detriment of students, this educational practice has favored periodization and content quantity over the development of crucial historical skills. Rather than adhering to popular education trends, teachers can consider implementing oral history projects within their elementary and middle school classrooms. Oral history is a methodology that employs first-hand accounts to teach about key historical …

Teachers’ Lived Experiences And Perspectives Of School-Wide Positive Behavior Support Plans, Susanna J. Brice

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

The purpose of this case study was to examine how teachers from Title 1 elementary schools implemented school-wide positive behavior plans in Northeast Florida. This qualitative study was founded on the theory of planned behavior (TPB). According to TPB, an individual’s behavior can be predicted by attitude and purposes for the behavior. The research participants were six Title 1 elementary school teachers with whom semi-structured interviews were conducted to gather the data. Themes that emerged were professional development, consistency, teacher buy-in, administrative support, and the effectiveness of the plan. Participants indicated the importance of continued support through check-ins, collaborations, professional …

Aligning Instructional Practices And Direct Instruction To Improve The Social-Emotional Competencies Of Students, Collin Boekhoff

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

The action research conducted was brought about by the researcher identifying a need to develop social-emotional skills due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent shutdown of schools. Students in this research are in third grade in the researcher’s classroom. The research was conducted over two weeks. Students were given self-assessments to rate their scores. During the research, instructional practices were designed or utilized to match desired social-emotional competencies targeted through direct instruction. Findings from the research indicate that instructional practices aligned to social-emotional competencies grow the self-rated ability levels of students. The research conducted highlighted the need to provide opportunities …

St Math Student Outcomes: Response To Goal-Setting And Mathematical Supports When Applied To The St Math Problem-Solving Process, Sara Klein

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

The purpose of this action research study was to identify the impacts of goal setting and the use of mathematical tools on student performance while engaged in ST Math. The study was conducted in eight Kindergarten classrooms across eleven elementary schools in Northeast Iowa. Quantitative data was collected to monitor the following indicators: number of puzzles completed, average student velocity, and average percent journey completion at weekly intervals throughout the collection period. Those results were then analyzed to determine impacts based on the presence of the goal setting and mathematical tools innovations within individual classrooms compared to those that did …

Comparing The Job Satisfaction Of Virtual School Educators To That Of Traditional Educators, Eric L. Sierra

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

Virtual education in the K-12 environment is a growing field in the education industry. Not only does virtual education provide new opportunities for students, it also changes how teachers work in the industry and how they perceive the job satisfaction. Using the Teacher Job Satisfaction Questionnaire (TJSQ), this study compares perceived job satisfaction of virtual educators to that of traditional educators in the K-12 environment. Data collected from 112 educators suggested that both virtual and traditional educators were satisfied with their jobs. When teachers in both environments were compared to one another, there was no statistically significant difference in their …

Homework Does Matter, Niang Hatlangh

Andrews University Teaching and Learning Conference

Homework has become a debatable topic as some schools have begun to question if homework is an important part of education. Some say that homework is a form of practice and makes students better learners. Others argue that homework is an unneeded pressure and does not impact student learning. This poster will explore the issues of homework and if there may be benefits to limiting time or possibly doing away with the practice of homework.

The Innovation Standard: The Arguement For An Office Of Innovation In Clark County Public Schools, Lindsay Ruthann Bryan Hale

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A capstone submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education in the Ernst and Sara Lane Volgenau College of Education at Morehead State University by Lindsay Ruthann Bryan Hale on March 29, 2022.

The Mitigation Of In-Group And Outgroup Biases: Understanding The Perceptions Of Educators On The Contact Approach Theory, Brigitte Blazys

Dissertations

The contact approach theory was introduced in the 1950s, by Allport, as a method to mitigate biases. Since then, many DEI practitioners in the United States have formed alliances to create a social justice movement to combat racism, prejudice, and biases in our society. Nevertheless, little research has been conducted in the contact approach theory as these biases, initially observed as in-group and outgroup biases, originate in the early years of life. To begin to fill this gap in the literature, the purpose of this study was to better understand and identify to what extent, if any, prekindergarten through third …

Pandemic Pain, Holistic Help: How One School’S Trauma-Informed Approach (Tia) Provided Support And Expanded Opportunity, Nadine H. Borum, Carrie Giboney Wall

Seaver College Research And Scholarly Achievement Symposium

The onset of the COVID-19 health crisis significantly altered the physical and pedagogical structure of schools across the globe. The impact of this drastic shift disproportionately affected economically-challenged and trauma-impacted individuals and communities. The present qualitative study relied on interview and questionnaire data taken from 14 educators at a Title 1 elementary school in order to 1) identify the physical, academic, and social losses experienced by students and families, and 2) examine how the focal school’s Trauma-Informed Approach (TIA) served to support students during the pandemic. Several themes emerged from a content analysis of the data that pointed to common …

Reimagining Family Engagement: A Drive-Thru Bilingual Family Literacy & Math Program, Katherine M. Stieber, Kristen Milligan, Greg Green

National Youth Advocacy & Resilience Conference

In order to meet the needs of their school community, Birney Elementary School collaborated with their Partner In Education, Northwest Exterminating, Inc., to develop a successful drive-through bilingual family literacy program. Presenters will share how to develop and implement an effective bilingual family engagement program that continues to grow and positively impact the school community with each subsequent event.

Pathways To Resilience: Lessons Learned From Covid-19, Mary Ann Hollingsworth

National Youth Advocacy & Resilience Conference

Out of the mouths of youth themselves while in the Covid-19 pandemic - pathways to build and sustain resilience in the life challenges that come our way at all stages of life.

Eating Pizza With Chopsticks: Discovering Flavorful Truths About Writing, Jennifer K. Allen

Teaching/Writing: The Journal of Writing Teacher Education

The teaching of writing often brings about feelings of tension and trepidation. In the age of accountability, teachers feel pressured to succumb to test-based writing practices that stifle student creativity and cause both teachers and students to disconnect from the joy of writing. In addition, teachers sometimes shy away from teaching writing because they are not confident as writers themselves and they question their ability to effectively teach writing. Using a tangible analogy that emerged from a writing partnership between elementary writers and pre-service teachers, this article explores specific truths about writing that can transform a classroom of students into …

The Impact Of The Science Of Reading Training On The Nwea Map Test Scores Of Elementary African American Students In A Central Arkansas School District, Katina Simpson-Ray

ATU Theses and Dissertations 2021 - Present

Abstract

THE IMPACT OF THE SCIENCE OF READING TRAINING ON THE NWEA MAP TEST SCORES OF ELEMENTARY AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS IN A CENTRAL ARKANSAS SCHOOL DISTRICT

Katina Latrice Simpson-Ray

The state of Arkansas adopted ACT 1063 in 2017, which was designed to improve reading achievement for all students. Included in the law was the requirement that “curriculum programs that are supported by the science of reading and based on the instruction that is explicit, systematic, cumulative, and diagnostic be implemented (Division of Elementary and Secondary Education, 2020). All K12 teachers and administrators, as well as higher education institutions, were required …

Design Of A Week-Long Introduction To Engineering Summer Camp To Increase Interest And Eagerness Of Stem In Young Children, Beth Cannon

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

For this creative project, a one-week camp curriculum was designed for elementary students (Grades 3-5) to introduce engineering. This work includes a rationale and camp curriculum. The rationale describes the research-based design of the curriculum. It outlines engineering basics and why and how to teach engineering to young students. The curriculum intends to introduce engineering to young children and excite the possibility of a future career. The following engineering disciplines are presented throughout the week of camp: mechanical, environmental, civil, electrical, and chemical. The first day of camp focuses on the basics of engineering. Following that, each day of camp …

Remote Elementary Education (Part 2): Grade-Level Comparative Analysis With Control, Stefan Kleinke, David Cross

Publications

Purpose – The purpose of this two-part research was to investigate the effect of remote learning on student progress in elementary education. Part 2, presented in this paper, is a follow-up study to examine how student progression in the two pandemic-induced environments compared to the pre-pandemic conditions. Design/methodology/approach – The authors expanded the quantitative, quasi-experimental factorial design of the authors’ initial study with additional ex-post-facto standardized test score data from before the pandemic to enhance the group comparison with a control: the conventional pre-pandemic classroom environment. Thus, the authors were able to examine in which ways the two pandemic-induced learning …

Thurgood Marshall Memorial Lecture Series: "A Roadmap To Educational Excellence And Equity For Rhode Island 03-03-2022, Roger Williams University School Of Law

School of Law Conferences, Lectures & Events

No abstract provided.

The Casnr L.I.N.K.S. Newsletter: Learning Innovation Network For K-12 Schools, Edition 3, March 2022, Bailey Feit, Tammy Mittelstet

CASNR L.I.N.K.S. Newsletter

The purpose of this L.I.N.K.S. newsletter is to provide a monthly update of opportunities and resources for K-12 schools to connect with the University of Nebraska's CASNR Food, Energy, Water, and Societal Systems (FEWS²) programs and partners.

Included in this edition:

Classroom resources for all levels

Eye on curriculum and resources

Teacher opportunities

List of new partnerships

Ask an expert

Eye on CASNR research: Trenton Franz

Send your students to campus

Success stories

Playing With Code: Big Ideas For Early Learners, Lindsey Herlehy, Cassandra Armstrong

Publications & Research

For young children growing in today’s digital world, the acquisition of coding and computer programming skills has become a popular and appropriate focus in education. Beyond engaging in technology and coding applications as consumers – the passive act of sitting in front of a screen and merely pressing buttons without a high level of thought – early childhood students are capable of high-quality programming tasks through play-based learning experiences. As producers, our youngest students may explore the open-ended nature of computer programming and coding through design, art, and innovation. Engaging in coding builds valuable and transferable practices such as problem …

Little Changes, Big Impact: Integrating Evolution In Science And Ela, Christine L. Moskalik, Nicole Ross

Publications & Research

No abstract provided.

Teacher Perception Of Implicit Mindset And Its Influence On Math Instruction In Elementary Classrooms, Danielle E. Tamke

Education Doctorate Dissertations

Math achievement is frequently measured by various assessments. These assessments are then used to determine student and school success, often leading to high stakes decision making. Therefore, it is important to understand ways in which educators can improve student math achievement. Students with a growth mindset, as defined by Dweck (2006), exhibit higher math achievement than students with fixed mindsets. Additionally, teaching practices predict and influence the development of student mindsets. Therefore, one way to improve student math achievement may be through understanding the impact, as well as proper and consistent implementation of growth mindset instructional practices. This qualitative phenomenological …

Special Education Teacher Burnout: Examining The Role Of Educator Preparation Programs In Prevention, Brittany L. Straub

Dissertations

Teacher burnout is increasingly problematic, especially for special education teachers who have a unique set of job responsibilities. Survey and interview data was used in this phenomenological study to examine how the educator preparation program (EPP) experience and self-authorship journey of early career special education teachers impact their potential to experience burnout. Data findings regarding level of self-perceived burnout, recollections of being or not being taught stress management and coping strategies in their EPPs, recollections of the self-authorship journey, and intentions for remaining in the career are shared in this dissertation. The essence of this phenomenon can be summed up …