Theoretical Framework

My experiences as an educator have exposed me to numerous issues in education that I would like to study. In conjunction with my fledgling scholarly career, my experiences as an educational practitioner are creating a roadmap of research that includes many possibilities. There are a few issues that act as a solid foundation for my current and future work. One, I want to inquire about how educators and the system can provide true equity of learning for all students who attend public school. I also want to research and find solutions to at-risk youth learning barriers. My work over the past several years has exposed me to the importance of multicultural education practices. The students I work with are diverse, and I believe a multicultural approach to teaching needs to be a common practice. I also have coached high school basketball for many years, and I have seen the positive effect high schools sports, as well as athletes, can have on a school culture. I want to research how high school sports, coaches, and athletes can be utilized to create positive school climate. I realize I am all over the map with research interests, but it is difficult to narrow the focus of my energy whcn I know all of these concepts could improve the lives of young people, ultimately leading to a better world. In regards to the theoretical frameworks I choose to frame my work, there are a couple that I find intriguing and valuable. Resiliency theory is extremely relevant in my line of work. Educators who work with at-risk or marginalized

groups of students may find this theoretical framework helpful in their mission to provide and equitable education for these students who face such difficult odds. I find it fascinating that some students who face such extreme adversity can function day to day, and even more incredible, achieve academic success. What are the factors that aid them in overcoming adversity? How can program developers and educators learn from the students who are able to defy the odds and push through, achieving success. Currently, I am working with at-risk students in a Student Advocacy course. I have attempted to implement educational strategies in my classrooms that use resiliency theory as a framework. In fact, the students in these courses have learned what resiliency theory means, and they have adopted it as a mantra in a way. The identification of the theory alone, has given many of these students a level of support and hope that was not present in their lives before. But there is much work left to be done. Resiliency theory can also be applied to my work in multicultural education. Students who come from different cultures and attempt to learn in the American public school system face a unique set of challenges themselves. For example, I have a young lady from Iraq in one of my student advocacy courses. She has only been in the U.S. for 4 years, but she is doing quite well. She speaks English relatively well, but still has difficulty with the language in certain contexts. How is she able to overcome her challenges as an immigrant student but others with similar circumstances cannot. I believe resiliency theory can yield some, even if not all the answers. I do know here parents are educated and involved in her life. Experts in resiliency theory have identified familial support as being a protective factor that

my promote resiliency. This is just one example of how resiliency theory can provide a framework for studying how educators, through multicultural educational practices can promote learning amongst immigrant student populations. Resiliency theory may even be able to support the idea that high school athletics, the coaches and the players can promote positive campus culture. Theorists of resiliency argue that the presence of mentors and peer support can promote resiliency in students. Using this idea as a guiding principal, one can see the possibility of how high school athletes, if utilized wisely, can actually provide support in areas of resiliency with their peers. The next theory I would like to discuss is the social-emotional intelligence theory. Dr. Daniel Goleman coined this theory and has performed extensive research around this idea. I absolutely agree with social & emotional intelligence theorists on the importance of such a theory as it relates to educating youth. Working with students K-12 for the past several years has exposed me to a lot of critical issues in education, the need for students to develop socially and emotionally in order to succeed academically is one of them. There has been a great deal of research that supports the idea that purely academic approaches to learning are not sufficient enough for students to succeed in school. This last statement is even more so true when speaking about marginalized groups. Social-emotional learning emphasizes self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, responsible decision-making, and relationship skills. The theoretical approach is comprehensive in nature, meaning it covers so many key skills and knowledge needed for students to thrive in todays society. Marginalized students lack so

many resources and supports that many of their peers have access to. For them, it is even MORE imperative to become socially and emotionally intelligent in order to overcome the adversity that they face externally. I am a huge proponent of socialemotional learning practices and have seen first-hand how they can improve the educational landscape for many at-risk and marginalized youth. Social-emotional intelligence is a natural element in multicultural educational practices. Teaching students to be more socially aware, especially of diverse cultures, is in itself a practice of multicultural education. Students who are self-aware, especially immigrant students, may develop the confidence and selfefficacy to succeed as students in the American public school system. Resiliency theory and the social-emotional intelligence theory may not be answers to all of the problems faced by public educators, but they are a pretty good start in addressing many issues. I am excited, anxious, and ready to step into my role as a researcher, using these frameworks as lenses that hopefully guide to some questions, and answers to questions that may improve the lives of students.