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Why Can’t God Help Me?” A Shared Journey of SLPs and People with Aphasia
No full textAphasia, a language disorder due to stroke, affects the communication abilities and quality of life of people. Some people with aphasia after a stroke embrace spiritual paths to seek peace and resilience. The purpose of this scoping review paper was to explore the intersection of faith, communication competencies, and recovery from stroke in the lives of people with aphasia. While examining the role of faith, religious beliefs, and spirituality in the aphasia recovery journey, patients’ narratives, emotions, and clinical perspectives and comments collected from aphasia support groups are discussed. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) must integrate culturally and spiritually responsive practices to foster hope, dignity, empathy, patience, motivation, and positive emotions and to honor the lived experiences of people with aphasia. Navigating the challenges of providing holistic, person-centered care by restoring communication systems infused with cultural, linguistic, and spiritual diversities is critical. Future research should encourage the role of spirituality in communication restoration, given the paucity of studies in faith-based speech-language intervention for aphasia
Armour of God: Talking with Artist Steve Prince
No full textArmour of God is an exhibition of linoleum prints derived from the scripture in Ephesians 6:11. The body of work reimagines themes of divine protection, justice, and history through a striking visual narrative. The exhibition is a reminder for us to collectively work for justice, peace, and equality, and know by faith we will be protected by the Armour of God. Join us for this special artist talk with Master Printmaker Steve Prince, whose work is on display in the Bethel University Olson Gallery through April 17th.https://spark.bethel.edu/primetime-presentations/1018/thumbnail.jp
Measuring Change Readiness in Congregations Searching for a Pastor During a Pastoral Vacancy
No full textThis study addressed the problem of measuring change readiness in Midwestern LCMC (Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ) congregations searching for a pastor during a pastoral vacancy. Measuring change readiness is important because it reflects an organization’s willingness and preparedness to change, which is especially crucial for aligning congregations and new pastors. This qualitative study utilized a collective case study approach examining four congregations. The call committees of each congregation completed an online survey and an interview with the researcher in order to collect data regarding congregational change readiness and personal change resistance. The research included a biblical and theological review of the seven churches of Revelation 2-3, examining the message to each church regarding change readiness. It also reviewed current literature on effective spiritual and business practices for change readiness. The data from the field research was evaluated through within-case and cross-case analyses and provided the necessary information to offer preliminary conclusions concerning measuring change readiness. These conclusions encompass the relevance of Revelation 2-3 for contemporary congregations, the significance of resistance to personal change on the readiness for congregational change, issues related to long-term pastorates, and how denominational transitions may lead to homeostasis within congregations
Uncovering the Links: Drug Use, Mental Health, and Undergraduate Student Academic Success Using Data from the 2022–2023 Healthy Minds Study
No full textSubstance use and mental health challenges are prevalent among college students, raising concerns about their impact on academic success. Using secondary data from the 2022–2023 Healthy Minds Study (N = 76,406), this study examined associations between depression, anxiety, alcohol use, marijuana use, and academic outcomes in undergraduate students. Multiple zero-inflated Poisson regressions were used to assess the relationships between depression, anxiety, alcohol use, and marijuana use. Ordinary least squares and ordered logit regressions evaluated links with academic success. Sample numbers varied across analyses (n = 23,629 to n = 47,355). Findings revealed modest but consistent associations between mental health, substance use, and academic outcomes. Depression was significantly linked to both alcohol and marijuana use, while anxiety also predicted alcohol use. Anxiety slightly reduced the effect of depression on alcohol consumption. Depression and frequent marijuana use were associated with lower self-reported grades, while anxiety correlated with slightly higher grade categories. Across all analyses, depression emerged as the most consistent factor influencing both substance use and academic success, despite small effect sizes. These results underscore the importance of integrated campus interventions that address both mental health and substance use. Programs should include screening, early identification, and culturally competent, stigma-free support services, especially for vulnerable student populations. Future research should use longitudinal designs and explore factors such as coping mechanisms and social support to inform intervention strategies
The Importance of Pragmatics in the Foreign Language Classroom
No full textPragmatics has received relatively little attention in language instruction, as it is often regarded as a higher level skill and has only recently gained prominence in linguistic research. This literature review examines the role of pragmatics in foreign language teaching and explores why it is a critical component of language acquisition. First, pragmatics is distinguished from other linguistic branches, such as syntax and semantics, to clarify its unique function in shaping context-dependent communication. Then, the importance of pragmatics in language learning is discussed and the benefits of explicit teaching are highlighted. Finally, common methods for teaching pragmatics such as audio-visual techniques, role-play activities, and reflective practices are reviewed to demonstrate how these approaches support more natural and effective language use
Dr. Jason Menth
No full textTeachers’ Attrition: Relationship Between Principals’ Communication and Teachers’ Job Satisfactionhttps://spark.bethel.edu/edd-show-images-2021/1011/thumbnail.jp
Dr. Jaclyn Rehmke
No full textThe Association Between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Professional Quality of Life: Assessing Secondary Traumatic Stress, Burnout, and Compassion Satisfaction in Minnesota Teachershttps://spark.bethel.edu/edd-show-images-2021/1014/thumbnail.jp
From Teacher Attrition to Teacher Retention: The Role of School Principals
No full textThis quantitative study explored the role of school principals as an intervention to the teacher shortage crisis in the United States. The shortage of teachers is not a new topic in public policy and research; however, the strategies set forth in prior literature have not yielded substantive change to this stubborn problem. Using data from the 2020–2021 National Teacher and Principal Survey, this study analyzed the relationship between the perceptions of early career teachers (within the first 5 years of teaching) about behaviors of their school principals and these teachers’ intentions to remain in the teaching profession. Specifically, this study examined teachers’ perceptions of five behaviors relating to communication, vision, feedback, support, and schoolwide discipline. The analysis showed that teachers who held favorable perceptions about their principals’ behaviors in all five areas had stronger long-term intentions about remaining in teaching than teachers who reported unfavorable perceptions. The study relied on burnout theory as a means to understanding teacher burnout, which contributes to teacher attrition and subsequent teacher shortages. The data demonstrated that school principals play a critical role in interrupting this cycle by engaging in communication, feedback, vision-casting, and student disciplinary practices that teachers perceive as supportive. Keywords: teacher attrition, burnout, teacher retention, principals, communication, feedbackhttps://spark.bethel.edu/edd-showcase-2021/1010/thumbnail.jp
The Impact of an Effective Co-Teaching Model for Elementary Students With Disabilities
No full textCo-teaching has become a widely utilized practice between a general education and a special education teacher to make inclusive education possible for students with disabilities. This thesis examines the characteristics and impacts of an effectively implemented co-teaching approach on the academic achievement of elementary-aged students with disabilities. The literature review examines the history of co-teaching, describes the components of co-teaching and its various models, and discusses the positive impacts and barriers of co-teaching when the approach is implemented with fidelity. Peer-reviewed journal articles, case studies, and textbooks were utilized to accomplish the literature review and apply the synthesized research in the application section
The Effects of Literature Groups on Social-Emotional Learning and Reading Motivation Among Adolescents
No full textAs students move into adolescence there is an increased need for social and emotional competencies to navigate academic expectations, personal identity, and social structures. Research has shown that social and emotional learning can increase learning engagement, self-management, and social awareness. This literature review explores the use of book clubs to promote social and emotional competencies among adolescents and build reading motivation. Research has shown that when students are provided a choice in what they read, and books that reflect their own cultural and/or personal identity, reading engagement increases. Book clubs can be a powerful tool for students to share their own experiences and develop empathy for the experiences of others while connecting with text. Book clubs have been shown to increase reading motivation among adolescents, which can lead to engagement with literary communities throughout their lifetime