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Use of Co-Design to Identify Barriers to Health-Promoting Behaviors among African American Breast Cancer Survivors with Comorbid Obesity
Get PDFApproximately 90% of African American patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer have multimorbidity – with obesity as one of the most common conditions. Obesity is related to negative impacts across all aspects of cancer care as well as more adverse side effects of cancer treatment. African American breast cancer survivors (BCS) show higher incidences of chronic conditions, like obesity, with barriers to body wellness. Lifestyle interventions can improve survivorship outcomes, but most have not been adapted to African American BCS needs. The purpose of this research is to explore and honor the lived experiences of breast cancer survivorship among African American women with obesity to better understand their experiences and perceptions of how their cancer journey intersects with other health behaviors and to identify barriers to health behaviors. A co-design approach with five participants was used to understand specific barriers to a healthy weight and lifestyle as well as potential solutions that would benefit African American or Black BCS entering an evidence-based lifestyle intervention that targeted weight and body wellness. Participants completed one co-design session for problem identification. This initial session identified the participants\u27 most impactful cancer- and non-cancer-related barriers to building health behaviors. Cancer- and non-cancer-related carriers to a healthy lifestyle were identified from artifact creation and affinity diagramming for intensity and frequency. Top cancer-related barriers were pain and fatigue related to cancer treatment and its side effects. Non-cancer related barriers included time and responsibilities, nutrition, exercise, and the definition of health used by medical professionals. Both cancer-related and non-cancer related barriers were identified in contributing to difficulty in maintaining health behaviors. Further research should examine how these barriers can be addressed in lifestyle interventions targeted to African American BCS
Literacy for All: Empowering Student Voices and Creativity in the Classroom
No full textThis issue of Literacy Connections highlights innovative, student-centered literacy practices, including culturally responsive writing, creative poetic forms, and literary critique. It showcases transformative approaches that empower educators and students to engage deeply with language and literature
Beyond 21st Century Learning: C.O.U.N.T on Creating Authentic and Relevant Writing Experiences in the Classroom
No full textWriting instruction is not usually what first comes to mind when having conversations about 21st century learning, curriculum, and instruction—however, it should be. The definition of what constitutes 21st century learning, as it relates to writing and literacy, are not currently well defined. This article’s primary focus will be to discuss the possibilities for relevant and authentic writing experiences for all students—while reimagining writing lessons and curriculums of the future. It will further explain the value in sharing with educators (pre-service and in-service) the need to develop and implement culturally responsive writing prompts and lessons with their students. In walking through Author’s (2023) C.O.U.N.T. acronym, this article seeks to share the importance of evolving the traditional norms of writing instruction to create experiences and curriculums more engaging for students. Through research backed strategies and suggestions, the author found that there is much more that can be done beyond pencil and paper writing assignments in classrooms to connect with students. The power of writing can be unleashed and instilled through meaningful and innovative curriculum ideas, and use of non-traditional resources—within this article these ideas will be further explored.
Keywords: writing instruction, relevant writing, authentic writing, culturally responsive instruction, literacy engagement, innovative curriculu
A Blast of Creativity and Engagement: Bringing Reversible Verse Poems to Life in the Classroom
No full textThis article outlines a four-step classroom activity that utilizes reversible verse poems to ignite student imagination and critical thinking. Learn how to guide students through brainstorming, free verse writing, crafting mirrored poems, and refining their work. Discover the power of this engaging approach in fostering language exploration and a deeper appreciation for poetry
Nichole Coleman. The Right to Difference: Interculturality and Human Rights in Contemporary German Literature. University of Michigan Press, 2021.
Get PDFReview of Nichole Coleman. The Right to Difference: Interculturality and Human Rights in Contemporary German Literature. University of Michigan Press, 2021. 270 pp
Providing Long-term Sustainability to Capital Outlay Funding in Kansas
Get PDFThe purpose of this study was to provide insight into the challenges and limitations of the capital outlay fund across the range of the 286 school districts in the state of Kansas. The data and conclusions gleaned from the study conducted here are of importance for local governing bodies and state policymakers alike, as they look to provide for the long-term sustainability of the pupils of Kansas.
The stark reality facing Kansas school districts and their respective school buildings is that, for many, the proverbial clock is ticking on their life expectancy. In some cases, buildings are simply living on borrowed time with failing critical systems and classroom environments that are not truly conducive to maximizing student learning. As the costs of maintaining and operating these buildings continue to rise, current statutory provisions mean less revenue is available for districts to use toward renovation, remodeling, replacement, or any other alternative that truly extends the life expectancy of a learning environment.
The study was conducted by using the latest audited fiscal year (FY 2023) data to create three distinct fiscal profiles: 1) The current reality under the Kansas statutory limitations as they exist today; 2) A first alternative that provided for an increase to the statutory limit set on the mill rate for the capital outlay fund; and 3) A second alternative mirroring that of the first, while increasing the statutory cap even further. Each of these three fiscal profiles were then examined using common descriptive statistics to provide an analysis of implications across the state.
The results of the study were clearly indicative of the need for legislative policy change if the state’s school districts want to make a lasting, positive impact upon their students’ physical learning environments. The current fiscal profile reveals that there is very little unused and accessible statutory authority or matching state aid because school districts are taxing and spending to current limits. Both alternative fiscal profiles revealed that a substantial amount of additional monies could be made available at relatively low political effort, with positive implications at the local level for taxpayers, and modest effect as well on the state’s coffers.
While policy implications abound, a consideration of what the results in this study reveal is noteworthy as boards of education, as well as legislators, grapple with how to balance the needs of Kansas school districts and the taxpayers who provide the required financial resources. While the looming backlog of deferred maintenance should certainly bring attention to the level of concern present here, the true reality is the consequence of failing to address these issues for the pupils of Kansas and the impacts upon their educational success