This paper contains an instructional unit designed to create space in the classroom for open and honest conversations about racism through enhancing the literature circle format with the incorporation of critical literacy and emotionally-responsive teaching. The unit utilizes strategies that are research-based and referenced in the paper. Detailed…

This study explored ways in which the arts could be infused into the day-to-day practices of special education teachers and paraeducators to support them in addressing Individual Education Plan (IEP) goals. This study further explored the impact of positive or negative help from teachers, nurses and paraeducators on student engagement. Due to…

Dissection of lab specimens is a common procedure in science classrooms, yet there are many unasked and unexamined questions relating to this practice. In addition to ethical considerations, there are personal and environmental health impacts of using conventional dissection, which has historically included animals and animal organs embalmed in…

Student teaching is a critical step in the process of becoming a teacher. Since its development over the past few decades, student teaching has become a requirement to attain a teaching credential in all fifty of the United States. Unfortunately, the relationship between student teachers and master teachers is frequently wrought with tension. This…

Based on the assumption that project based learning (PBL) in 12th grade social studies classrooms contributes to the development of life skills for high school seniors in this advanced and globalized time, this research will investigate student experiences with PBL methods for helping them acquire skills along with a case study of a successful PBL…

Social media has permeated almost every aspect of the lives of anyone who utilizes the internet. Teachers and students are no exception. Students are most likely to use social media sites such as MySpace, Facebook and Twitter. This research focuses on best practices related to augmenting school curriculum to utilize these tools to increase student…

This study investigated abuse during teenage dating relationships. A status survey design with pre-determined and post hoc grouping was employed. The independent variables investigated were self-esteem, gender, classification, quality of family life, dating frequency, longest dating relationship, and dating style. The dependent variables were…

A study surveyed 449 seniors and sophomores at North Ridgeville (Ohio) High School to determine their reading interests. The survey of 18 questions revealed the following findings: (1) favorite type of novel was horror; (2) favorite author was Stephen King; (3) favorite magazines were "Seventeen" and "Sports Illustrated"; (4)…

The purpose of this thesis was to investigate the self-esteem of junior high and high school students. The independent variables investigated were quality of family life, birth order, family size, maternal employment, grade level and family structure. The dependent variables were the self-esteem scores from the following sub-scales of the Texas…

Parents, community members, and representatives from local businesses possess a wealth of energy, knowledge, and creativity that is not being used in high schools. In this study parents of 1,234 students (representing 1,051 families) in a California high school were asked to respond to a survey measuring parental involvement in education at the…

This study compared the test scores of AP Calculus students. Two methods were used to work the calculus problems: the traditional pencil and paper method and the graphing calculator method. Four researcher-constructed assessments on various calculus topics were administered over a six-week period to two sections of high school AP Calculus…

This descriptive study attempted to determine if domestic travel affected the attitudes of high school seniors in seeing the educational value of travel. Surveys were administered to 325 high school seniors of 3 different high schools to assess students' attitudes. Results indicate high school seniors generally do not have a positive attitude…

Sexually liberal attitudes have been found to relate strongly to sexual behavior, primarily first intercourse, of both males and females. This study focused on sexual attitudes of adolescents aged 14 to 19. The variables considered include: gender, classification, religious affiliation, family type, educational ability, autonomy, and aggression.…

To determine if performing mental exercises (thinking skills which activate cognitive mental alertness) before taking a test affected test results, a study examined spelling test results of three ninth-grade English classes instructed by the same teacher. Subjects were of similar educational background and had similar characteristics…

As an action research project, a program was developed to improve test-taking skills to increase standardized test scores. The targeted population was high school juniors in a small Midwestern community in west central Illinois. The problem of low standardized test achievement was documented through data that revealed that students fell below the…