- Title
- Creating a trauma informed school
- Abstract
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The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of a social-emotional learning (SEL) resource in kindergarten through grade 4 classrooms on creating a trauma-sensitive school. One tenet of supporting a trauma-sensitive and informed school is the utilization of ...
Show moreThe purpose of this study was to determine the impact of a social-emotional learning (SEL) resource in kindergarten through grade 4 classrooms on creating a trauma-sensitive school. One tenet of supporting a trauma-sensitive and informed school is the utilization of a social-emotional resource. The resource entitled In Focus authored by Thomas McSheehy MSW, LSW was implemented in general education classrooms for 45 school days. Prior to the implementation of the resource, a qualitative survey was provided to participating teachers to determine previous knowledge of trauma-informed schools and social-emotional learning. This information would be further used to support professional development needs of educators in the participating district to support students that have been impacted by traumatic events. During the 45 days, weekly professional development meetings were conducted with the study group that focused on equipping educators with the necessary skills and knowledge to provide a trauma-sensitive environment. At the conclusion of the 45 day study, an electronic qualitative survey was provided to the participants to confirm or refute the success of the selected social-emotional resource, In Focus. iv The research questions examined during the study included: 1. Prior to this study what training or professional development did Kindergarten-Grade 4 teachers participate in related to trauma-informed schools? 2. After nine weeks of incorporating a daily social-emotional learning resource, what impact was evidenced in the classroom community? 3. After implementing a social-emotional learning resource, and attending the weekly professional development meetings, what specific skills, knowledge, and/or strategies do Kindergarten-Grade 4 teachers feel the most confident to implement in their classrooms? 4. After attending the weekly professional development meetings and evening professional development event, at what level will K-4 teachers feel prepared to deliver a social-emotional learning resource to students? This study contributes to the research in the area of supporting students that have experienced traumatic events and the teachers that support them. Further, it outlines the needs of the participating teachers in the district relating to past and future professional development opportunities around the topic of social-emotional learning and trauma-informed and sensitive schools. An electronic survey was conducted to gather feedback on the areas of the resource that participating teachers determined to be both successful and not helpful to their classroom community. Additionally, teachers provided a comparison of social-emotional competencies that they observed in their students as compared to prior observations to the resource implementation.
Show less - Year Issued
- 2022
- Author
- Doyle, Kristen
- Sub-title
- a study of the implementation of a social-emotional learning resource
- Title
- Critical analysis of classroom management issues within early childhood classrooms
- Year Issued
- 2018
- Abstract
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Classroom management has been the topic of many research studies in the past (Anderson & Kinaid, 2005; Carter & Pool, 2012; Chu, 2015; Ersozlu & Cacyi, 2016; Evertson, 1989; Grining, et al., 2010; Ritz et al., 2014). The purpose of this study was to examine what earl...
Show moreClassroom management has been the topic of many research studies in the past (Anderson & Kinaid, 2005; Carter & Pool, 2012; Chu, 2015; Ersozlu & Cacyi, 2016; Evertson, 1989; Grining, et al., 2010; Ritz et al., 2014). The purpose of this study was to examine what early childhood teachers regarded as disruptive behaviors, what strategies were used to manage said behaviors, and the usefulness of using said strategies. All participants in this research were currently teaching in a Head Start or Pre-K classroom. To collect data for this study, a mixed method study was conducted. A quantitative survey was conducted to gather information on the types of classroom management strategies that were used and the frequency and usefulness of said strategy. To gather qualitative data for this study, four open-ended questions were asked at the beginning of the survey to gather more in-depth answers from teachers on classroom management. The participants interviewed for this study were certified teachers who were employed as early childhood teachers located in Western Pennsylvania. The interviews occurred during the 2017-2018 school year. Results from this study included five main findings. First, it was determined that disruptive behaviors vary between early childhood classrooms and that teachers would benefit from learning classroom management strategies that focus on managing a range of behaviors. Second, lack of knowledge in the time and consistency it takes to shape behaviors leads to teachers not committing to research-based classroom management techniques. Third, teachers have not had enough training in using research-based classroom management techniques for those techniques to be considered useful and effective in their classroom. Fourth, teachers need additional support within their classroom to better meet the needs of diverse learners. Finally, when specific research-based teaching strategies were used frequently, teachers found them to be very useful. Findings suggest that early childhood teachers would benefit and are in need of additional trainings in how to use research-based classroom management techniques to manage disruptive behaviors.
Show less - Author
- Reed, Cybill
- Title
- The Development of a Reflective Wellness Self-Assessment for Music Therapists
- Year Issued
- 2019
- Abstract
-
The inspiration behind developing a reflective wellness self-assessment tool for music therapists came from the rationale that 1) burnout is an ethical issue that is prevalent in our profession and 2) no other tool which encourages therapist self-reflection on this i...
Show moreThe inspiration behind developing a reflective wellness self-assessment tool for music therapists came from the rationale that 1) burnout is an ethical issue that is prevalent in our profession and 2) no other tool which encourages therapist self-reflection on this issue exists in the field of music therapy. In an effort to create a unique tool that is relevant to the uniqueness of the profession, this self-assessment resource was based on pre-existing research and literature specific to music therapists and their experiences of burnout and burnout prevention. The development of this tool involved four phases: 1) an extensive investigation and organization of music therapy literature regarding personal and professional wellness; 2) the development of the wellness self-assessment tool based on the results found in the literature; 3) an evaluation process of the self-assessment by advanced and student music therapy professionals; and 4) an examination of the evaluation results and making changes to the assessment based on those results. In addition to their questions and suggestions that contributed to changes made to the assessment, the evaluators also identified multiple uses of the wellness self-assessment for music therapists, such as: bringing results into individual, group, or peer supervision; administering it to interns and students; completing it at regular intervals (i.e. 5-year re-certification); using it for future research on music therapy burnout; and incorporating it into the music therapy curriculum. The evaluators also indicated that the strengths of the wellness self-assessment tool were that it is specific to the field of music therapy, it is holistic and comprehensive, and it inspires critical and valuable self-reflection. The Wellness Self-Assessment for Music Therapists has ethical implications and is designed to be a preventative resource that promotes self-awareness, self-reflection, and overall wellness for the music therapist’s personal and professional self.
Show less - Author
- Chambers, Janelle