According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in fall 2020, Black women comprised less than 5% of faculty, 10% of student affairs administrators and 9% of students at degree-granting institutions in the U.S. Associate professor and assistant director for the School of Special Education, Leadership, and Professional Studies, Dr. Nicole West is one of only seven … [Read more...] about Creating safe spaces to retain women in academia
But many children's books do not portray Native Americans accurately. As a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation, Lewis is particularly passionate about spreading awareness of Native American history. "So many books depict Native Americans with the same stereotypical characteristics and misconceptions. Meanwhile, they ignore the unique customs and traditions of over 550 federally … [Read more...] about Children’s books for change
Now, people are developing new languages to discuss common interests on online platforms. Dr. Kewman Lee calls these platforms “global online affinity spaces.” “In these spaces, people with common interests communicate with each other across national borders and linguistic and cultural backgrounds,” Lee said. He is an assistant professor in Missouri State University’s … [Read more...] about The language of a common affinity
Dr. Elizabeth King, a Missouri State University College of Education professor, researches the learning environments of early childhood students. One area she investigates is how teachers talk about emotions with young children. King believes gender plays a major role in our social-emotional development. “The ways we talk about emotions with young children is affected by … [Read more...] about Our genders, our emotions
Wandering and bolting are both considered eloping – a term used for leaving an area without permission. It’s a problem behavior, especially for children with autism. That’s why Dr. Megan Boyle, associate professor of special education at Missouri State University, researches the whys behind this largely understudied behavior. She’s a board-certified behavior analyst, runs … [Read more...] about Improving the lives of kids with autism
Livers, an assistant professor of elementary and mathematics education, studies how math classrooms fall into cycles of ineffective teaching. “Math classrooms still look like silent rows of students with worksheets,” Livers said. “We know that’s not effective.” Livers studies the barriers that prevent math classrooms from advancing. For instance, in a recent National … [Read more...] about Summing it up: Adding context to education
"Research shows that 20 percent of students have these disorders throughout their childhood. A lot of those things that go untreated and unhelped get worse as students get older," said Adamson, an assistant professor of counseling, leadership and special education at Missouri State University. "It tends to be a high need." So she wondered about the possibilities. What if … [Read more...] about Rethinking education: How to engage students who have special needs
Dr. Joanna Cemore Brigden, associate professor of childhood education at Missouri State University, is committed to emphasizing the importance of play for children. As a woman of many appellations, Brigden is most proud of her title as play researcher. She teaches outdoor play classes at MSU along with the graduate course, Life as Play, which teaches students the importance … [Read more...] about What’s so serious about child’s play?
Illiteracy is a concern for Dr. Sabrina A. Brinson, who advocates for learning those skills early and reinforcing often. But she is equally concerned about the plague of aliteracy – a term used to describe having the ability to read but lacking the desire and motivation. Brinson is a Diversity Fellow and a professor of childhood education and family studies at Missouri … [Read more...] about Picking the right literature to counter aliteracy
“People with intellectual disabilities often stick to the same things because they’re familiar; it’s part of their routine. TRAIN helps them to identify sports that they might be good at in Special Olympics, something new to try, based on their skill sets and abilities,” said Natalie Allen, dietetics instructor and dietitian for Missouri State athletics. “I think that’s one of … [Read more...] about Training the next Olympians
It is taught early and tested often, and it is a lifetime skill that should be expanded to improve comprehension in daily life. Although children often enter school with a basic grasp of reading and language, educators must be prepared to engage students to improve these skills. Dr. Deanne Camp, professor of reading, foundations and technology and the graduate literacy … [Read more...] about Improving literacy in children