Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) teach mindfulness skills. Mindfulness is defined as self-regulation of attention on immediate experience combined with an open attitude towards present moment experience (Bishop et al., 2004). Current studies suggest that MBIs for youth can be conceptualized as a subset of social-emotional learning skills…

The purpose of this study was to: (a) embed nature and mindfulness into university course curriculum to determine the influence they have on students' health and well-being, (b) examine students' perspectives of mindfulness in the natural environment, and (c) to determine what students identify as the impacts of integrating nature and mindfulness…

School-based organization, time management, and planning skills-related (OTMP) interventions have been developed to address academic and organizational difficulties students with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder face (ADHD), especially when entering secondary school (DuPaul et al., 2012; Evans et al., 2018; Villodas et al., 2014). For OTMP…

Students who exhibit behaviors commonly associated with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are at risk for academic struggles and impaired relationships, often needing targeted interventions to be successful. While research supports the need for using interventions to improve classroom performance for students impacted by ADHD, it…

Social communication deficits present in some neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), create challenges in social, academic, and adaptive functioning throughout the lifespan. Since the number of people diagnosed with ASD with comorbid ADHD is rising, it is…

Children experience a multitude of benefits in response to interactions with nature. Despite documented effects, children have increasingly spent less time outdoors over the last century and experienced higher rates of physical and emotional illnesses. Although child-centered play therapy (CCPT) is a culturally and developmentally responsive…

The October 2021 declaration of a national emergency for child and adolescent mental health resulted in the call for innovative methods for addressing barriers to seeking care, including the suggestion of mental health apps using transdiagnostic approaches. In line with this, the current study sought to validate the app "Amaru: The Self-Care…

Recess is often a favorite part of students' days. Students use recess to release energy, socialize with peers, and give themselves well deserved breaks. In this study, teachers shared their perspectives on the impacts in the classroom of an additional recess in their daily schedule. The purpose was to determine if an additional recess period in…

A single-subject research design was utilized to study the effects of noise-cancelling headphones on students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the classroom. Academic success has long been linked to students' time spent on-task in the classroom. Interventions to maintain time spent on-task have been studied and researched but many, currently…

Joint attention is developmental skill that is typically acquired through visual input during the first year of life in typically developing children. Children with visual impairments develop joint attention through alternate senses such as tactile and auditory input (Baron-Cohen, 1995) and show joint attention behaviors unlike those of typically…

Many educators struggle to deal with challenging behavior from students diagnosed with one or more emotional disorders, often including oppositional defiant disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and attention deficit disorder. Any combination of these disabilities can make learning challenging for the students and make classroom management even more…

The mastery of mathematics skills largely depends on the ability of students to be fluent in basic mathematics facts. Mathematics fact fluency is important because it frees up memory so that students are able to focus on more complex mathematics problems. The purpose of this study was to measure the effectiveness of the Taped Problem Intervention…

This dissertation develops a program designed to tackle teacher stress and enhance knowledge about attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among elementary school teachers. Grounded in cognitive theory and labeling theory, the program addresses the prevalent issue of teacher burnout and elevated stress levels compared to other professions,…

This study's primary purpose was to identify predictors of response to a multi-component reading comprehension intervention in a sample of poor readers in grades 4-5. Additional study aims were to explore (a) the utility of various methods (e.g., "growth" versus "final status") and measures (e.g., "near-transfer"…

Students have always faced the challenge of focusing their wandering minds. Today, the ubiquitous presence of technology makes this task more difficult. This study sought to help students harness their attention in the face of distraction using Zimmerman's model of self-regulated learning (SRL), mindfulness practice, and the Pomodoro Technique for…