This collection includes Capstone Theses and Dissertations submitted by Hamline School of Education and Leadership master’s and doctoral students, respectively. Capstones are the culminating degree work and include research that draws from the student’s formal study as well as professional and personal development.
This is an online listing of the scholarly works of HSEL graduate program students. Works prior to 2015 are available in print in the Bush Memorial Library. Full text, online, prior to 2015, may be restricted to current Hamline students, faculty and staff.
See also: School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
Browse Theses and Dissertations by Degree:Theses/Dissertations from 2009
For a better life: a case study of a high school Latina learning English in a rural community, Wendy Joy Louwagie Hall
School uniforms: a qualitative examination of the effects on schools, families and students, Jacobs W. Hammond
How formative assessment can guide instruction and impact the reading comprehension of third grade students, Debra A. Hanson
Teaching the Civil War through multiple intelligences, Lori Hansson
Pushes and pulls: a means of describing high school social studies teachers in action, William Gregory Harman
Movement and music: brain-based strategies in the kindergarten classroom, Reyna Hartley
Visual support strategies that special education teachers can use to increase the performance in students with autism spectrum disorders, Jennifer Harves
How teaching writing strategies to emergent readers impacts their reading ability, Meg Hatton
Managing food allergies in the school setting, Ann Jensen Haugh
Action research as a professional development tool when implementing the play and learn curriculum, Kathleen D. Healy
What effects does music have on student performance level while participating in aerobic activities, Judd G. Helstrom
Differentiated instruction in the middle school science classroom, Chris J. Hergenrader
How systematic instruction of reading strategies in content area classes raises reading achievement levels, Shelly J. Hoard
Writing strategies used and not used by sixth grade ELLs as they write personal essays in the mainstream class, Julie A Hoostal
Why aren't some students responsive to responsive classroom?, Lisa A. Hosek
Raising black students' achievement scores on the MCA II in mathematics, Elizabeth A. Huesing
Utilizing student learning strengths to enhance student learning and achievement, Sarah Hughes
I don't want to read! : how can reading motivation of elementary urban learners be enhanced by classroom practice?, Angela Marie Imdieke
Developing a classroom library of high interest books for a diverse population of primary students, Jennifer Isaacson
How the explicit teaching of writing strategies affects English language learner's ability to develop ideas in writing, Alison Jamar-Doty
How teaching explicit word recognition strategies to intermediate special education students increases student reading abilities, Kari K. Jasper
What effect does an exposure to nature have on students during their school day?, Valerie Jeffery
What is FAS?: how schools can help prevent FAS and educational strategies teachers can use to increase students' success in school and adulthood, Dorian M. Jensen
What are the ways music in the classroom alter learning and enhance engagement for students with autism spectrum disorder?, Emily Jensen
College students with cognitive disabilities: understanding their reasons for remaining enrolled by capturing their personal stories, Karena Meryl Lundby Jones
How critical literacy can be explicitly taught in an upper elementary classroom, Katie E. Kersten
A boy friendly reading curriculum: research-based teaching and learning strategies to support fourth grade boys in a reader's workshop setting, Sarah E. Kiecker
Building number sense in primary age students, Kate Ellen Kienow
Differentiation in reading workshop: how to begin, Jessica Kinsky
Environmental education leadership: a descriptive study, Peggy Knapp
The essential elements to a successful guided reading program in kindergarten for linguistically advanced students, Leanna Denoma Koepp
Reading comprehension and memory recall with intermediate grade struggling learners, Julie Ann Kolodziejczyk
Listening to learn: using focus group interviews in cross-cultural settings, Gail A Koski
Using the theory of multiple intelligences to increase number sense in secondary students, Denise Foster Kotz
Our lives, our stories: teaching the practice of journaling to urban teenage mothers as a path toward stress reduction and self-knowledge, Janna Brayman Krawczyk
Writer's workshop in a rural low incidence setting, Rachele Ann Kreuser
Exploring autonomy, belongingness and goal orientation in an urban school, Gretchen Renee Kulas
Learning to move, Casey Kurtt
Teaching U.S. history through popular culture, William Kvebak
The gender gap: how can parents and educators work together to create success opportunities for males in the classroom?, Laura L. Lanik
Improving ELLs' writing skills through action research, Jennifer Larsen
What is an appropriate level of parental support for student-athletes that benefits all participants?, Reed Larson
Computer-based phonological awareness training for adolescent English language learners, Kimberly Laska
Assessing self-awareness for high school students with autism spectrum disorders, Cynthia B. Loftsgard
What can teachers do to increase parental involvement in literacy?, Rachel A. Lucas
For the love of writing: development of an integrated fourth grade writing curriculum, Melissa Rae Machovsky
Toward a sense of place: a historical case study of the Polky Farm, Alyson P. Mack
Emerging as an educational leader: my experiences in alternative education : an autoethnography, Dawn M. Madland
How does a ten-week physical education class improve cardiorespiratory endurance as measured by target heart rate monitors, Brooks Ray Marquardt
Financial implications of special education unfunded mandates, Tami J. Martin
How one leader promotes change successfully within his community, Kathryn A. Mattson
Mental health identification and referral system for secondary educators, Jeni Mavetz
Provocative pedagogy: deconstructing adolescents' misconceptions about sexuality with media literacy, Rebecca E. A. McCammon
The use of systems thinking in the implementation of professional learning communities, Kelly McConville
Subtle cultural differences which affect learning, Vincent de Paul McMahon
Criteria used in the selection of video media for classroom instruction, Brett E. Melton
Strengths-based learning goals and first graders' perceptions of academic abilities, Amy R. Mess
Incorporating GPS technology in geography curriculum, Brianne E. Messick
Using reading recovery strategies with small groups of kindergarten English language learners, Krista Michaelis
How does cognitively guided instruction affect high ability math students, Angela M. Michelson
Exploring concrete assessment strategies in art education and best practice art assessment, Colleen A. Kral Miller
Using Bloom's taxonomy to create higher level thinking skills in fifth grade mathematics, Shanna M. Miller
How does assessment based curriculum alter student participation, habits, behavior, and ultimately learning?, Sarah A. Miziorko
Important elements to consider when designing a proposal for a beginning band mentorship program for students who risk not succeeding, Susan M. Morrissey
Integrating movement with vocabulary instruction to improve reading comprehension in first graders, Ariana M. Mosier
Effectively transitioning students from elementary to junior high school, Sarah K. Mueller
How does implementing effective literacy practices into reader's workshop impact ELL students language development in a mainstream third grade classroom?, Elzbieta Murphy
What can parents do to help their teenagers avoid substance use/abuse?, Joan Murphy
Implementing literacy centers in a sixth grade reading and language arts block, Nicole Lynn Nehring
Music participation and benefits to adolescents, Adam R. Nelson
Using technology in mathematics to increase learning and motivation in middle level learners, Andrew Robert Nelson
Rallying to help sophomores transition into senior high, Angela A. Nelson
Social and emotional learning: a case study, Bradley C. Nelson
How can parents evaluate which kindergarten program is best for their child: full language immersion kindergarten, half-day kindergarten, or full day kindergarten?, Katherine S. Nelson
A reading curriculum utilizing graphic organizers to help remedial readers better understand informational texts, Barbara A. Ohnmacht
Educating parents of young children on the benefits of informational text to change read aloud habits, Lori O'Neil
Teaching about religion in social studies, Nicholas P. Ostrov
How can a portfolio be used as an assessment tool in an elementary music classroom?, Sarah C. Oyler
Affecting L2 attitude and motivation through drama, Jonell Pacyga
The relevance of early childhood education in regard to student readiness, Gina M. Parise
How ESL and classroom teachers can work collaboratively to more effectively serve the educational needs of English language learners, Lynita R. Parks
Best practices of literature circles, Brooke M. Parmelee
What strategies do mainstream teachers in my school need in order to meet the needs of their ESL students?, Micolette R. Paul
Making connections: authentic assessment in middle school math, Margaret A. Pechacek
What effect does phonemic awareness have on the development of emergent kindergarten writers, Catherine Peck-Burley
Teaching writing to disengaged secondary school students, Erica L. Ping
Pre-teaching math language lessons for the success of English language learners, Michelle Vanden Plas
A computer based tool that will help to teach ELL kindergartners to read, Carrie Podgorski
Integrating into a predominantly white campus: students of color share their stories, Sharandra S. Pugh
Improving staff development for classroom teachers of gifted students, Christina Sobaski Ramsey
Reading for lifelong learning, Amber D. Rathmann
Modifying reader's workshop for first grade French immersion, Mary J. Rddad
Teaching problem-solving strategies to increase students' ability to appropriately problem solve throughout the day, Sara M. Rehnstrand
Differentiation in an alternative setting, Heather Ridler
Using a hybrid model for technology staff development training, Blaine W. Ristvedt
The role of play in second language acquisition: a bilingual grandmother and a preschool child, Joyces C Robles
Do center-based language immersion schools or the school within a school model have higher assessment achievement results?, James Rohwer
Meeting learning objectives: using an alternative text, Joseph Rothstein