Education Commons^™

A Phenomenological Investigation Of Mindfulness Practice Through The Lived Experiences Of Secondary Educators, Karen H. Styers

Education Dissertations and Projects

Teacher burnout and stress are at an all-time high. The teaching profession is reported to be one of the most stressful occupations, especially in 21st century learning environments. The researcher discovered mindfulness and was amazed how this practice allowed her to “breathe” through the difficult and challenging moments. Inspired by her own mindfulness practice, the researcher wanted to discover if mindfulness was as powerful a tool to other mindfulness teachers and educators. This phenomenological investigation explored the lived experiences of 11 secondary educators who self-identify as mindfulness practitioners. Through carefully constructed open-ended questions, the researcher was able to delve into …

The Impact Of Common Core Mathematics Professional Development On Elementary Mathematics Teaching Self-Efficacy And The Resulting Effects On Their Student Achievement, Alissa Smith Lee

Education Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this mixed-method study was to examine the impact of professional development on elementary mathematics teaching self-efficacy as well as the influence of teacher self-efficacy on student achievement. Statistical t tests were used to analyze the dispersion of the teachers’ personal mathematics teaching efficacy beliefs (PMTE) and mathematics teaching outcome expectancy efficacy beliefs (MTOE). To develop a broader perspective, a qualitative analysis of interview data was implemented. Unlike the results from the quantitative data, the qualitative data in this study revealed that meaningful participation in professional development increased teacher performance as well as enhanced their mathematical teaching efficacy. …

Comparing Academic Performance Data Of Students In Single-Gender Classrooms: Which Gender Benefits The Most, African-American Males Or African-American Females?, Daris Felecia Gore

Education Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine if single-gender settings have a statistically significant effect on African-American male and/or African-American female academic achievement on English assessment from sixth through eighth grade. Social science statistics were used to determine if a statistically significant difference occurred in the performance of African-American males and/or female students in single-gender classrooms compared to African-American male and female students in coed classrooms. A two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted to assess if differences exist on a dependent variable (student achievement) by independent variables (instructional setting and gender). A statistically significant difference occurred among …

An Evaluation Of The Relationship Among North Carolina Reading Assessments, Sophia Latrell Crawford-Mapp

Education Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to extend the Bowles (2014) study in North Carolina to (a) determine the relationship between the scores of the North Carolina beginning-of-grade (BOG) and end-of-grade (EOG) reading assessments, the scores of the mClass Text Reading and Comprehension (TRC) assessment, and the scores of the CogAT assessment; and (b) determine the degree the TRC, CogAT, and NC BOG predict scores on the NC EOG reading assessment in third-grade classrooms of nine elementary schools. This study was conducted in two parts to best address the research questions. The first part consisted of descriptive, variance, and inferential …

Comparing Academic Performance Data Of Students In Single-Gender Classroom: Which Gender Benefits The Most, African-American Males Or African-American Females?, Daris F. Gore

Education Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine if single-gender settings have a statistically significant effect on African-American male and/or African-American female academic achievement on English assessment from sixth through eighth grade. Social science statistics were used to determine if a statistically significant difference occurred in the performance of African-American males and/or female students in single-gender classrooms compared to African-American male and female students in coed classrooms. A two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted to assess if differences exist on a dependent variable (student achievement) by independent variables (instructional setting and gender). A statistically significant difference occurred among …

Parent Magnet School Choice In A Large Urban School District, Catherine Diane Payne

Education Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to understand the perspectives of parents who choose magnet schools. The study investigated sources of information parents use in their school search, factors influencing them to apply to a magnet school, features of charter and private schools that attract them, and reasons for choosing a magnet school. Through an analysis of 984 surveys from parents who applied to a magnet school for the 2018-2019 school year and data from focus groups, the researcher found that recommendations from others is the most important source of information in parent school searches. Parents also consulted online …

A Grounded Theory Exploration Of Teacher Grading Practices, Ingrid Rockhead

Education Dissertations and Projects

An examination of the history of grading reveals that many of the problems associated with current traditional grading practices are not new. Despite impassioned pleas from researchers and grading experts, practices such as assigning zeros on a percentage grading scale, assigning grades for practice such as homework and classwork while students are still learning, using the mean to report on students’ overall grades, and not allowing reassessments continue to occur. The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe and report on Title I teachers’ grading practices and explain using grounded theory methods, the influences on those practices. This study …

The Relationship Between Adolescent Students' Motivation To Read And College- And Career-Ready Achievement, Brianne Elizabeth Schoch

Education Dissertations and Projects

This study examined the relationship between student motivation to read and college- and career-ready achievement. The participants were 60 eighth-grade students from a middle school in western North Carolina. Pitcher’s et al. (2007) Adolescent Motivation to Read Profile (AMRP) survey instrument was used to collect data on student motivation to read and its subsets of self-concept as reader and value of reading. Academic achievement was measured by the North Carolina READY End-of-Grade Assessment English Language Arts/Reading for Grade 8 (NC READY ELA/R 8). Descriptive statistics revealed students could be described as neither having a positive or negative value of reading; …

Qualitative Analysis Of Adult Perceptions Of Their K-12 Grade Retention, Helena Sibyl King

Education Dissertations and Projects

This study investigated the effects that a K-12 grade retention had on adults who were retained as children. The research was motivated by three research questions: (1) How do adults aged 18-65 who have experienced grade retention describe the effect that a K-12 retention had and possibly continues to have on their lives? (2) How do adults aged 18-65 feel about having been held back in school? (3) How do adults aged 18-65 perceive grade retention overall? Previous studies neglected to examine the emotional implications that retention can have on a child and the possible long-term effects that retention may …

The Impact Of Graduation Coaches' Relationship Building Strategies On Student Dispositions And Self-Efficacy, Rick Strickland

Education Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative phenomenological research was designed to explore the relationships established by graduation coaches and the students they serve. The research that was conducted in two upstate South Carolina schools explored the perceptions and experiences of both the graduation coaches and the students who participated in the study. The study was conducted using a phenomenological research design to capture the essence of each participant’s experiences and perceptions. Data were collected utilizing surveys, interviews, and field observations. The researcher did not participate in the interaction between the graduation coaches and their students. The results of the data collection revealed themes and …

The Perceived Impact Of Relational Care On The Psychological Growth Of African-American Males In An Alternative Educational Program In South Carolina, Robert Smalls

Education Dissertations and Projects

Alternative schools/programs are prevalent throughout this country; however, some struggle to meet the holistic needs of the students. Many alternative schools in this country are disproportionately populated by children of color. The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand how alternative education teachers in an urban school district in South Carolina embody the ethics of care to support the psychological growth of the students. Second, the study sought to understand the perceived influence of caring on student motivation and behavior. Using criterion sampling, the student population consisted of five African-American males who received their education in an alternative school …

Phenomenological Study Of Middle School Teacher Practices Regarding Homework In An Eastern North Carolina Rural Community, Anna Brooks

Education Dissertations and Projects

This study was an investigation of homework practices at the middle school level. For this phenomenological study, 48 certified middle school teachers in an eastern North Carolina rural community provided insight about homework at the middle school level by participating in a survey. The debate about homework is ongoing and often evokes a variety of passionate responses from those on both sides of the debate. The findings in this study revealed a spectrum of homework practices throughout the five middle schools. Homework is the most widely used instructional practice, yet one that is rarely reflected upon by teachers, administrators, and …

Perceptions Of The Impact Of Quality Professional Development On The Sustainability Of A One-To-One Computing Initiative At The High School Level, Kerry Morrison

Education Dissertations and Projects

It has been said that education is the key to success, and today’s youth are tomorrow’s human resources. This is the 21st century; and students, who will be the human resources of tomorrow, are being prepared for jobs that may not even exist today. Legislators, policy makers, and researchers have encouraged methods to ensure teachers deliver high quality instruction, including requiring that teachers complete specific training, possess a minimum level of content knowledge, and use curriculum materials and professional development resources available from schools and districts (Hill, Blazar, & Lynch, 2015). As a result, teachers need to be exposing students …

A Study Of Teacher Perceptions Of 21st Century Student Learning In A One-To-One Instructional Environment, Laura Michelle Brooks

Education Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to examine teacher perceptions of the extent to which they promoted student acquisition of 21st century skills in a one-to-one laptop program. Many proponents of one-to-one learning suggest that 21st century learning skills are best acquired in a student-centered, constructivist learning environment; therefore, constructivist learning theory was the conceptual framework for this study. The researcher also sought to discover any benefits or challenges that teachers encountered while implementing the laptop program. Eighty-six teachers at a southeastern state public high school responded to a survey, and 10 of those teachers were interviewed. The researcher …

Did We Get It Right? A Study Of Process Fidelity In The Response To Intervention Program, Lashanda Wardlow Foust

Education Dissertations and Projects

For valid disability determination to occur, a diagnostic team needs to be able to determine that a student has received appropriate instruction in the general education classroom” (Johnson, Mellard, Fuchs, & McKnight, 2006, p. 4.2).

The purpose of the study was to determine whether a middle school Response to Intervention (RTI) program is being implemented with fidelity. The researcher used the RTI Essential Components Worksheet and the RTI Fidelity of Implementation Rubric as the evaluation tools.

The research focused on how effectively the RTI process was implemented at the focus middle school. A qualitative method design was used in the …

Filling The Reading Void: Studying Reading Stamina In A Suburban High School Through Action Research: A Companion Research Study, Lindsey Ruth Weycker

Education Dissertations and Projects

A common practice in elementary schools is to allow students silent reading time during school. Experts agree this is best practice due to the benefits to students, especially in vocabulary development and reading stamina. As students age, however, this practice tends to decline in favor of activities that are meant to teach vocabulary in isolation and test preparation skills. In addition to these activities, English language arts classes typically read and study novels together as a class for the purpose of studying literary devices and literary analysis. Because of these practices, secondary students tend to read less, which in turn …

A Study Of Staff Development And Teacher Efficacy In Implementing Standards-Based Grading At The Elementary Schools In A Rural School District In North Carolina, Brayton Alan Leonhardt

Education Dissertations and Projects

Standards-based grading is still in its infancy within North Carolina. At this time, only 12 of the 115 school districts have incorporated the standards-based form of grading into their system. As school districts across North Carolina look to implement different forms of grading to assess student learning, it will be important to look at the effectiveness of the professional development that accompanies the shift. The research questions that guided this work center around the support needed by teachers during the transition period and the impact of the professional development on their understanding of how to successfully implement standards-based grading. The …

A Study Of Rigor, Teacher Self-Efficacy, And Student Achievement In Three High Schools In A Rural School District In Eastern North Carolina, Katrina Hannon Cobb

Education Dissertations and Projects

This study investigated the importance of rigor and teacher efficacy in relation to student achievement. There are several definitions of the word rigor. Blackburn (2008) defined rigor as “An environment in which each student is expected to learn at high levels, each student is supported so he or she can learn at high levels, and each student demonstrates learning at high levels” (p. 16). ACT/SAT data, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), the High School Survey of Student Engagement (HSSSE), and the High School Reform and Work all conclude that students who are college and career ready have graduated …

A Study Of Staff Development And Teacher Efficacy In Implementing Standards-Based Grading At The Elementary Schools In A Rural School District In North Carolina, Brayton Alan Leonhardt

Education Dissertations and Projects

Standards-based grading is still in its infancy within North Carolina. At this time, only 12 of the 115 school districts have incorporated the standards-based form of grading into their system. As school districts across North Carolina look to implement different forms of grading to assess student learning, it will be important to look at the effectiveness of the professional development that accompanies the shift. The research questions that guided this work center around the support needed by teachers during the transition period and the impact of the professional development on their understanding of how to successfully implement standards-based grading.

The …

Case Study Of Teacher Perceptions Of The Effectiveness Of Their Current Grading Practices, Shavondra Danyelle Parker

Education Dissertations and Projects

Traditional grading represents typical grading practices including the traditional way grades have been calculated since the conception of grades. Before traditional grading, there was a time when mastery of content was not measured by grades at all. In recent years, educators have begun to explore other methods of grading in search of better ways to determine student mastery of content. Many educators use standards-based grading methods that focus instruction and grading around the standards students are expected to learn. Although many researchers support the use of standards-based grading, it has not replaced traditional grading methods. Grading practices should yield accurate …

The Relationship Of National Board And Non-National Board Certified Teacher Growth Indexes On Standardized Assessments: A Causal Comparative Study, Pamela D. Porter

Education Dissertations and Projects

The recent demand for schools to respond to accountability measures challenges teachers to increase their proficiency in the classroom in order to develop the unmastered skills of individual students as well as the whole class. There have been several attempts made to establish whether there is a relationship between student growth and teacher National Board Certification; however, opponents argue that National Board Certification may not be an accurate indicator of teacher growth.

The intent of this research was to compare National Board Certified (NBC) and non-NBC teacher mean growth indexes from the Education Value-Added Assessment System (EVAAS). The study explored …

Learning From Failure: An Action Research Case Study On Developing Growth Mindset Through Academic Risk-Taking In An Athletic Training Program, Sarah B. Rabe

Education Dissertations and Projects

The employment of academic risk-taking and growth mindset instructional practices in educational fields, though supported in literature, is limited and not commonly documented in the classroom. The purpose of this action research case study was to determine the impact of facilitation of growth mindset through modification of instructional practices in athletic training clinical courses at an Institution of Higher Learning. Constructive failure and growth mindset theories supported the mixed-methods research approach and the modification of instructional practices made during the study. Data were collected through growth mindset and academic risk-taking instruments and through semi-structured survey questions. The data analysis was …

Enhancing School Programs To Support Transient Students, Tiffany R. Lyles

Education Dissertations and Projects

Over the past 5 years, the effects between student achievement and student mobility have increased within the urban communities and school settings across the nation. When analyzing the proficiency levels of students in Grades 3-8, Westerly Hills Academy continues to receive a below average school rating based on North Carolina state requirements. Year after year, Westerly Hills Academy deemed to improve the overall proficiency of the school, yet it was not until 2015 when it became more prevalent that the increase of academic deficiencies stemmed from a population of students within the school setting. This group of students was not …

Building The Foundation: Initiating Assessment Practices For North Carolina Housing Officers, Marinda C. Bliss

Education Dissertations and Projects

Enrollment at institutions of higher education were tight markets with overlapping competition for the same customers in many areas. The typical undergraduate student market was an informed consumer who sought the amenities of home for their student housing. The shift for the student market placed residence hall programs in competition with one another, thus the need for timely assessment of the residence hall facilities, programs, staff, and customers to plan appropriately for the future is appropriate.

North Carolina Housing Officers, also known as NCHO, served 57 institutions in North Carolina that have residence hall programs for the promotion of idea …

Exploring A Rural School District’S Freshman Academy Program Through Parent And Staff Member Perspectives, Dustin Morehead

Education Dissertations and Projects

This study used a qualitative approach to explore a rural school district’s freshman academy program through parent and staff member perspectives using Stufflebeam’s (2003) CIPP model of program evaluation. Interviews and questionnaire data provided information to answer the following research questions.

1. Context: What is the context within which the freshman academy program was developed and implemented?

2. Input: What alternative resources are available to enhance the structure of the freshman academy program?

3. Process: How are the objectives of the freshman academy program aligned with improving student attendance, academic performance, and promotion?

4. Product: What are the perceptions of …

Filling The Reading Void: Studying Reading Stamina In A Rural High School Through Action Research: A Companion Research Study, Meredith Eubanks Lynch

Education Dissertations and Projects

Experts agree best practice in elementary education allows students time for silent reading during school due to the benefits to students in vocabulary development and reading stamina. As students age, this practice typically declines in favor of activities meant to teach vocabulary, prepare for standardized tests, and study novels together as a class to explore and analyze literature, resulting in less reading and subsequently decreasing reading stamina. -- Teachers at a high poverty South Carolina high school, recognizing reading stamina as an issue, implemented a protocol described by Penny Kittle (2013) in Book Love: Developing Depth, Stamina, and Passion in …

Writing Focused Professional Development For Content-Area Teachers: The Effects Of Writing Instruction On Content-Area Student Achievement, Amanda Edwards Whatley

Education Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to analyze the impact of writing on the content areas when coupled with ongoing professional development and support for content-area teachers. Research shows that writing is an essential skill for success in and beyond the school setting. Research further indicates that writing plays an important role in student learning through its development of cognitive processes; however, in general, writing as a mode of learning is not a focus of either pre or in-service teacher training. As such, writing beyond note-taking and fill-in-the-blank activities is not necessarily a strategy utilized in content-area teacher classrooms. This …

First-Year Teachers’ Perceptions Of Their Readiness For The Classroom, Kathryn Elizabeth Pritchard

Education Dissertations and Projects

This study addresses the impact of teacher preparation programs on novice teachers’ perceived readiness for the classroom. An explanatory sequential mixed-method, three-phase design was used involving two collections of quantitative data and a focus group convened to explore themes that emerged from quantitative data. Data collected suggest whether the type of teacher preparation program completed by a preservice teacher impacts a novice teacher’s perceived sense of readiness for teaching. Butin (2010) discussed “translating research into effective practice has been the weak link” (p. 4) in research studies. Studying a potential connection between teacher sense of readiness for the classroom and …

Media Coverage Of Standardized Testing: A Qualitative Analysis Of Newspaper Reports In Four North Carolina Newspapers, Denita Dowell-Reavis

Education Dissertations and Projects

Standardized testing exists as part of public policy to measure the success of students, teachers, and schools. Ushered in by No Child Left Behind during the G.W. Bush era, testing came with labels for schools which opened the conversation as to whether schools were in crisis or failing. Most of the focus in research on standardized tests has centered on whether the tests were biased, if they were overused, and how they affected teaching and learning. In a comprehensive review, no studies could be found to determine what the public knows about standardized tests based on newspaper reports. This examination …

In Their Words: A Phenomenological Study Of The Experience Of The Mentees In The Citizen Scholars Program, Margaret Kane Lee

Education Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological study examined the mentoring experience of five students involved in a community-based mentoring program developed to guide high ability, low-socioeconomic students from sixth grade through high-school graduation and on to college acceptance and graduation. This study explored, from student perspectives, how each student experienced and interpreted their personal mentoring relationship. Additionally, it explored each student’s perception of how the mentoring experience influenced his or her academic achievement and academic self-efficacy. The study followed an interpretative phenomenological analysis approach and was guided by Rhodes’s mentoring model and Bandura’s work with self-efficacy. Following the analysis protocol developed by Jonathan Smith, …