Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 19 of 19
Full-Text Articles in Education
Exploring Novice Elementary Teachers' Use Of Academic Language In Planning, Teaching, And Assessment, Lori Teegarden
Exploring Novice Elementary Teachers' Use Of Academic Language In Planning, Teaching, And Assessment, Lori Teegarden
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Academic language is the key that promotes disciplinary reading, writing, speaking, and thinking. The novice teacher may not be prepared with the knowledge, skills, and strategies to effectively plan, teach, and assess for academic language achievement. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to understand the novice teacher’s experiences and perspectives of academic language development. The research questions focused on the novice elementary teacher’s practice of addressing academic language demands in teaching. The conceptual framework that guided the study comprised Bruner’s education theory that places teaching and learning within the culture and society and Rumelhart’s theory focused on vocabulary …
Primary Grade Teachers’ Perspectives On Early Literacy Intervention Programs In Urban Title I Schools, Whitney L. Smith
Primary Grade Teachers’ Perspectives On Early Literacy Intervention Programs In Urban Title I Schools, Whitney L. Smith
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Developing a strong foundation in literacy is an essential component of students’ overall academic success. However, first through third grade students in urban Title I schools located in the southeastern region of the United States continued to show limited progress on state literacy assessments. The purpose of this basic qualitative study with interviews was to explore teachers’ perspectives on their experiences with literacy intervention programs. The conceptual framework was based on Senge’s learning organizations and systems thinking theory. Research questions explored literacy intervention program effectiveness and supports teachers needed for ongoing implementation with fidelity. Data from semistructured interviews with 13 …
Teachers’ Perceptions Of Literacy Instruction With Autistic Students During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Heather Ann Marzenski
Teachers’ Perceptions Of Literacy Instruction With Autistic Students During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Heather Ann Marzenski
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
AbstractFamilies and educators have voiced concerns about the literacy skills of students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and the COVID-19 pandemic has amplified the situation. Pandemic era studies have demonstrated the ramifications that students with ASD have faced, including regression of literacy skills, lower grades, lack of support services, and subpar instruction. Teachers' perceptions remained unexamined in the pandemic era studies. The purpose of this basic qualitative dissertation was to examine teachers’ perceptions about the materials and strategies used to deliver literacy instruction during the pandemic for students with ASD. The conceptual frameworks that underpinned this study were self-determination theory …
First-Grade Teachers’ Perspectives On Children’S Oral Reading Fluency And Automaticity, Keshia Wood
First-Grade Teachers’ Perspectives On Children’S Oral Reading Fluency And Automaticity, Keshia Wood
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Reading fluency and automaticity are essential components of the first-grade reading curriculum, yet little is known about teachers’ perspectives on their role in assisting children in mastering these skills. The purpose of this basic qualitative research study was to explore teachers’ perspectives of the problem of low reading fluency and low automaticity among their first-grade students. The theory of automatic information processing in reading formed the conceptual framework, augmented by Rasinski’s techniques of repeated reading and readers theater to support development of reading fluency and automaticity. Research questions about teachers’ perspectives of oral reading fluency and automaticity, their understanding of …
Perceptions Of Community College Students And Instructors On Traditional And Technology-Based Learning, Lukishia Denise Washington
Perceptions Of Community College Students And Instructors On Traditional And Technology-Based Learning, Lukishia Denise Washington
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
The college under study only requires instructors to use traditional resources to teach literacy content leading to a variation in the use of technology within literacy courses. In this college, technology is not being integrated well, too little or inconsistent exposure to technology depending on the instructor. The purpose of this study was to investigate the attitudes of faculty toward integration of technology into classroom instruction and students' perceptions of technology as a part of their learning. Dewey's theory of educative experience was the conceptual framework used in this study. Data collection for this qualitative study was based on semistructured …
Teacher Perspectives Of The Implementation Of The Journeys Early Literacy Program, Milton Bernard Reese
Teacher Perspectives Of The Implementation Of The Journeys Early Literacy Program, Milton Bernard Reese
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
A small rural school district in the southwestern part of the United States required teachers to provide highly effective literacy instruction by implementing an evidence-based reading program called Journeys. With consistently low reading achievement, it was unclear whether teachers were implementing Journeys as prescribed. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore teacher implementation of the Journeys program for students at an elementary school in the district. The theoretical framework used to guide the study was Clay’s emergent literacy theory. The conceptual framework included 5 strands of the Journeys reading curriculum, which was derived from Clay’s theory. A …
Strategies And Assessments To Support Special Education Students' Writing The Literacy Test, Angelo Caesar Maniccia
Strategies And Assessments To Support Special Education Students' Writing The Literacy Test, Angelo Caesar Maniccia
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Many special education (SPED) students are failing the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) despite writing instruction provided by SPED teachers. The purpose of this study was to understand teachers' perceptions about why students were failing the literacy/writing test and document whether evidence-based assessment and writing practices were implemented. Cognitive-behavioral theory served as the conceptual framework for this study. The research questions in this study focused on SPED teachers perceptions regarding students not passing the OSSLT, observations of whether assessment and instruction for writing aligned with best practices, and collecting baseline curriculum-based measurement (CBM) data of SPED students' current writing …
European Alternative Preschool Philosophies, Styles, And Emergent Literacy Skill Development, Lynne M. Lawson
European Alternative Preschool Philosophies, Styles, And Emergent Literacy Skill Development, Lynne M. Lawson
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Many American preschool children enter kindergarten without the emergent literacy skills needed to learn to read. To address this problem, this multicase qualitative study investigated the emergent literacy practices at Steiner Waldorf-inspired and Reggio Emilia-inspired schools. The research questions focused on how alternative preschool philosophies help staff cultivate emergent literacy skills in young children. The conceptual framework came from Piaget's cognitive development theory, and Vygotsky's sociocultural theory. The study included eight participants from two Reggio Emilia-inspired and two Steiner Waldorf-inspired preschools. Data were collected through open-ended interviews, observations, and analyses of de-identified student work, then subjected to thematic cross-case analysis. …
Kindergarten Literacy Readiness Before And After Highscope Implementation, Chandra Kathleen Youngblood
Kindergarten Literacy Readiness Before And After Highscope Implementation, Chandra Kathleen Youngblood
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Students who attended preschool in an urban Michigan district are not entering kindergarten with the necessary skills. The preschool implemented the HighScope curriculum and the effect of this curriculum on kindergarten readiness was unknown. The purpose of this causal-comparative study was to investigate the difference in kindergarten readiness scores of students who attended a preschool before and after the High Scope curriculum was implemented. The pedagogical practices of preschool and the HighScope curriculum align with Dewey and Vygotsky's theories on experiential learning which were the foundation that guided this causal comparative study. The research questions examined preschool letter identification and …
Content Area Teacher Perspectives On Integrating Literacy Strategies, Lynette Smith Smith
Content Area Teacher Perspectives On Integrating Literacy Strategies, Lynette Smith Smith
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
The Common Core State Standards recommend that all educators prepare students with the literacy skills needed for college and careers. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine 7th and 8th grade content area teachers' perspectives towards teaching literacy. The research questions addressed teachers' capabilities in the role of literacy instructor as well as the actual application of literacy. The conceptual framework included Bruner's constructivist, Bandura's self-efficacy, and Knowles's andragogy theories. These theories informed the investigation of adult learners' perspectives regarding the way they learn and gain confidence to provide literacy instruction. Eleven English, math, science, and social …
Literacy Training In An Urban High School Professional Learning Community, Vicki Sandra Ross-Norris
Literacy Training In An Urban High School Professional Learning Community, Vicki Sandra Ross-Norris
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
The purpose of this study was to explore the essence of professional learning experiences shared by teachers who participated in a professional learning community (PLC) at a New York City high school in the South Bronx. Guided by Hord's PLC characteristics and Bruner's constructivism theories, this phenomenological study addressed the research questions of what PLC practices urban high school teachers employ to support the academic-literacy achievement of their students of low social economic status (SES); the role of administration in the PLC process; and the roles of a shared mission, values, vision, norms, and collaborative knowledge on the functioning of …
A Case Study Of Middle School Teachers' Preparations For High-Stakes Assessments, David Lee Yeary
A Case Study Of Middle School Teachers' Preparations For High-Stakes Assessments, David Lee Yeary
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Students, educators, and schools across the country have been presented with challenges as a result of rigorous standards and high-complexity tests. The problem addressed in this case study was that teachers in a rural middle school in a southeastern state were preparing students to take a new high-stakes state-mandated assessment in English language arts with very little information about what should be done to best prepare students to perform well. Danielson's work on instructional leaders, Webb's work on alignment of standards and assessments, and Tankersley's research on alignment of instruction and assessment provided the frameworks for the study. The participants …
Improving Literacy For Diverse Low Socio-Economic Status Middle School Students, Vivian Fowler Means
Improving Literacy For Diverse Low Socio-Economic Status Middle School Students, Vivian Fowler Means
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
In an urban district, Surfside School personnel were concerned that student literacy proficiency levels were low during 2011-2014 and teachers had not been able to close the achievement gap despite a focus on literacy practices and literacy professional development (PD) provided by the district. The purpose of this case study was to explore the perceptions of teachers and administrators in relation to the best instructional practices for increasing self-efficacy when teaching literacy skills and related literacy PD for teachers. Knowles' andragogy theory and Vygotsky's social learning theory formed the theoretical foundation of this study, which hold that PD should provide …
Effect Of Public And Private Preschool Attendance On Kindergarten Literacy, Matthew Garofolo
Effect Of Public And Private Preschool Attendance On Kindergarten Literacy, Matthew Garofolo
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Students who enter kindergarten lacking readiness skills often struggle to meet literacy benchmarks and to successfully complete school. The problem to be investigated by this study is the low literacy scores on the standardized Fountas and Pinnell Benchmark Assessment test at 2 public New Jersey elementary schools. While some students attended public or private preschools, others did not attend any preschool prior to starting kindergarten. The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine the difference in kindergarten literacy gain scores among students who attended public, private, and no preschool. Vygotsky's sociocultural theory and emergent literacy theory served as the …
Teachers' Perceptions Of The Impact Of The Jolly Phonics Program On Students' Literacy, Lorane Evadney Moodie-Reid
Teachers' Perceptions Of The Impact Of The Jolly Phonics Program On Students' Literacy, Lorane Evadney Moodie-Reid
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
At 2 primary schools in Western Jamaica, students at the Grade 1 level lacked basic literacy skills of comprehension, letter recognition, letter sounds, and oral communication. The purpose of this qualitative evaluation study was to investigate teachers' perceptions of the Jolly Phonics program implemented to improve students' literacy in Grades 1-3. Guided by Engestrom's activity theory, the effectiveness of the Jolly Phonics approach was examined based on the sociocultural learning theories of Vygotsky, Dewey, and Piaget. The research questions focused on teachers' perceptions of the program's impact on students' literacy improvement and of the strategies used in the Jolly Phonics …
High School Science Teachers' Perceptions Of Teaching Content-Related Reading Comprehension Instruction, Theresa D. Williams
High School Science Teachers' Perceptions Of Teaching Content-Related Reading Comprehension Instruction, Theresa D. Williams
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
In order to achieve academic success, students must be able to comprehend written material in content-area textbooks. However, a large number of high school students struggle to comprehend science content. Research findings have demonstrated that students make measurable gains in comprehending content-area textbooks when provided quality reading comprehension instruction. The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of how high school science teachers perceived their responsibility to provide content-related comprehension instruction and 10 high school science teachers were interviewed for this study. Data analysis consisted of open, axial, and selective coding. The findings revealed that 8 out of …
Exploring Literacy Coaching As A Form Of Staff Development, Kate Matthews Welborn
Exploring Literacy Coaching As A Form Of Staff Development, Kate Matthews Welborn
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Following a 2011 audit a school district in the south central United States clarified the role of the literacy coach. However, there were still differences among the literacy coaches as to how they were performing their duties. As a result, the purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of the role of the literacy coach in the participating school district. The theoretical foundation of this study addressed adult learning and was based upon Kegan's constructive development theory and Knowles's theory of androgogy. A case study design was used to explore how 5 literacy coaches implemented literacy staff development …
K-5 Elementary Balanced Literacy Reading Program Implementation Evaluation, Suzanne Marie Anderson
K-5 Elementary Balanced Literacy Reading Program Implementation Evaluation, Suzanne Marie Anderson
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Students who struggle with reading in their elementary years are likely to make poor academic progress, leave school before graduation, and struggle in the workplace. The district leaders at 24 K-5 elementary schools in a large Midwestern district were interested in a formative reading program evaluation to determine reading program effectiveness. This mixed methods study, approached from a cognitive and social theoretical framework, was a formative evaluation of the Balanced Literacy Reading Program implementation at these elementary schools. The purpose of this study was to capture the K-5 classroom teachers' (n = 113), instructional coaches' (n = 18), and principals' …
An Examination Of Teachers' Reading Instructional Challenges In An Alternative School Setting, Leslie Bowen Retchko
An Examination Of Teachers' Reading Instructional Challenges In An Alternative School Setting, Leslie Bowen Retchko
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
In a suburban alternative school, educators of at-risk students reading below grade level often struggled to provide effective reading instruction. As a result, these students were likely to continue to experience academic difficulties, which could limit their career options and their opportunities to contribute to the betterment of society. This study addressed the gap between reading strategies teachers actually used in the classroom and the reading strategies they learned during professional development. The research questions focused on the instructional challenges teachers experienced while working with struggling readers in an alternative school setting. Mastery learning theory and the adult adragogical theory …