Education Commons^™

Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Exemplary National Blue Ribbon Elementary School Teachers In Improving Student Learning Through Effective Coaching Conversations With Their Principals: A Phenomenological Study, Kristin Watson

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to discover and describe how exemplary National Blue Ribbon Elementary School teachers improve student learning through effective coaching conversations with their principals. A second purpose was to explore the barriers they encountered to holding these conversations and actions they took to overcome barriers. The theoretical framework for this study was grounded in Lev Vygotsky’s sociohistorical viewpoints of development which relies on social interaction as an ingredient in the process of learning.

Methodology: This study employed a qualitative methodology utilizing in-depth and semi-structured interviews of 12 participants. Participants were identified in collaboration with the …

Perception Of Consultation Among Professional School Counselors, Teachers And Mental Health Professional Counselors, Brenda Lorraine Bryant

Dissertations

Abstract This is a study concerning the perception of consultation among school counselors, teachers, and mental health professional counselors (MHPCs) working collaboratively in the public school setting for the benefit of the academic and behavioral success of students. Although there are many consultation models and theoretical views (Brigman, Mullis, Webb, & White, 2005; Caplan, Caplan, & Erchul, 1995; Erchul & Conoley, 1991; Erford, 2011; Kampwirth, 2006), this study utilized the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) framework for consultation in schools. Although MHPCs are not considered school counselors by definition, and they are not compensated by school districts, they still serve …

Diversity Education: Are We Preparing Teachers To Teach All Learners?, Lindi Andreasen

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Five hundred twenty-three preservice teachers from six different preparation programs completed the diversity and multicultural perspectives portion of the Professional Teaching Knowledge and Skills Survey (PTKSS) to determine their feelings of multicultural efficacy at the end of their program and again after their first year of teaching. Statistical analysis revealed that preservice teachers rate their capability to teach diverse students as "adequate" to "well" on a 5 point Likert type scale (M=35.28, possible Range=0-50), with no significant drop in self-efficacy after one year of teaching (M=34.09). However, individual item means did drop consistently between the preservice and inservice stages, and …

Teachers’ And Administrators' Perceptions Of The Characteristics Of Effective Leadership For K-12 International Schools, Travis S. Smith

All NMU Master's Theses

The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to investigate teachers’ and administrators’ perceptions of the characteristics of effective leadership for K-12 international schools. The data produced three themes; these include emotional intelligence, the ability to establish school culture, and administrative mindset. The literature review focused on the survey data points of humor, cultural intelligence, and vision embedded within these themes. The research findings are intended to advance the knowledge of leadership for K-12 international schools.

Let Me Lae-Something On You, Or How I Found My Way Back To Education Through Laes, Robert Sean Myers Ii

Liberal Arts and Engineering Studies

No abstract provided.

A World Both Big And Small: Understanding Urban Middle School Teachers’ Sense Of Self-Efficacy In An Era Of Accountability, Richard Gallucci

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

This explanatory case study seeks to understand the nature of middle school educators’ self-efficacy in an urban public school district during an era of accountability. The study was conducted in a progressive school district, known as OakRidge Pubic Schools. A sequential mixed methods design with a participant-selection model variation was employed. The study identified teachers’ level of self-efficacy via the Teacher’s Sense of Efficacy Scale (Tschannen-Moran & Woolfolk Hoy, 2001), a quantitative survey used to determine high and low self-efficacy focus groups. During these subsequent focus group interviews, the competing objectives of fulfilling responsibilities levied from accountability mandates and initiatives, …

The Evaluation Of Family-School Collaboration With Culturally And Linguistically Diverse Families, Samantha Silver

Educational Specialist, 2009-2019

Research has demonstrated that when parents are involved in their children’s academic and school life, children experience improved language achievement, overall behavior, grades, test scores, have improved attendance, and a lower chance of dropping out of school (Friend and Cook, 2007). Despite the growing diversity of U.S. schools, there is a still a systemic lack of effort to include parents of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. This research study sought to examine barriers to establishing a successful collaborative relationship with these families from the perspective of elementary, middle, and high school teachers using an online survey. A total of 39 …

Middle School Teachers’ Perspectives On Promoting Effective Technology Integration, Yona Andrew Rose

All Theses And Dissertations

Technology integration reforms in education have increased in number and expectation throughout schools across the United States. Some instructors have experienced barriers with skill sets, attitudes, professional development opportunities, and collaboration time which have impacted their ability to model good practices. Pictures of qualified, confident teachers integrating technology into their classrooms with regularity and fidelity are unclear. Existing literature was reviewed regarding methods of increasing teacher comfort and knowledge related to technology integration so that the 21st Century Skills of critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and communication can be addressed in public schools. This research study explored what middle school teachers …

Teacher Retention At A Tribal School, Cara Mulder

Master of Education Program Theses

This action research project examined teacher retention in an extremely stressful job at a tribal school in northwest Washington. Two groups of teachers participated. The first group was made up of teachers who had been at Lummi Nation School for less than five years and the second group was made up of teachers who had been teaching there for more than ten years. The participants were interviewed about their jobs, uncovering the job stressors that they faced, the job satisfaction that they found, and the reasons they continued in their jobs. Both groups had similar responses regarding job stress and …

Importance Of Play: Play-Based Instruction Within A Preschool Learning Environment, Sarah Sjoerdsma

Master of Education Program Theses

This action research study investigated and compared the attitudes and beliefs of play-based instruction among several early childhood professionals. A researcher-designed survey was sent to participants in several small Midwestern schools. The participants included preschool, transitional kindergarten (TK) and kindergarten teachers as well as preschool and elementary administrators. The statements on the survey were based on three different early childhood teaching approaches: teacher-directed instruction, student-centered instruction, and play-based instruction. The responses were analyzed and compared and the results showed mixed beliefs about play-based instruction in the preschool classroom. Preschool teachers and administrators strongly agreed on the play-based statements while TK …

The Effect Of Behavioral Skills Training On Teachers Conducting The Recess-To-Classroom Transition, Sarah C. Smith

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Although it may not seem harmful, students in the elementary grades often take several minutes to move from recess back to their classrooms. The problem, however, is that these lengthy transitions add up over time, and teachers lose valuable time to instruct. The less instruction students receive, the poorer their academic performance tends to be. But how much time can teachers save by reducing their students’ transitions?

According to the current study, the answer is a lot. Dr. Thomas S. Higbee and Sarah C. Smith of Utah State University recently conducted a study in which they trained second, third, and …

An Examination Of Teacher Understandings Of Technology Integration At The Classroom Level, Shawn M. Carlson Phd

All Student Scholarship

The purpose of this dissertation is to describe and understand how teachers describe the changes in their practices as a result of ten years participation in a one-to-one environment. This research study focuses on one successful middle school’s adoption of laptops to support teaching and learning. A qualitative study using interviews of key participants was undertaken with teachers and administrators. The Technological, Pedagogical and Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework was used in conjunction with Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovation framework to understand from the participants’ perspective changes to their practice. The results indicate teachers underwent changes in their use of technology to …

A Comparison Of The Attitudes Of Administrators And Teachers On Cell Phone Use As An Educational Tool, Karen Smith Lockhart

Dissertations

Youth continue to make up the largest share of the cell phone market in the United States. In 2010, 58% of all 12 year olds owned their own cell phone. By 2015, 88% of teenagers owned a cell phone. Today’s teenagers are constantly on cell phones, using them to text, talk, access the internet, and take pictures. Technology is such a part of teenagers’ lives that they have been labeled by Marc Prensky and others as digital natives (2001). They have always had technology and cannot conceive of a world without it.

School systems have faced challenges with the new …

Dual Enrollment Efficacy On College Readiness As Perceived By High School Dual Enrollment Teachers And Counselors In South Alabama, Shulanda Stallworth Franks

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of Dual Enrollment teachers and high school counselors to compare and determine whether there are significant differences between their perceptions of college readiness among DE participants in South Alabama. Data was analyzed and presented based on its relevance to effectiveness. This study is relevant because scholars are unclear about the effects of DE on college readiness.

This research was designed to close some of the gaps in the literature and help education stakeholders to identify effective mechanisms to continue to develop and promote the Dual Enrollment program. This study examined …

Exploring The Working-Lives Of Unemployed And Underemployed Teachers In Ontario, Michael W. Mindzak

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This dissertation explores the working-lives of unemployed and underemployed teachers in the Canadian province of Ontario. Over the past decade, the number of new teachers unable to secure employment within the teaching profession in Ontario has continued to grow. As the oversupply of teachers is expected to persist, an extremely competitive labour market has made the position of being an un(der)employed teacher increasingly “precarious” (Ontario College of Teachers, 2014, 2015).

However, such concerns must also be examined within the context of the contemporary world of work and society. Standing’s (2011) understanding of precarious work and the precariat provides a theoretical …

An Examination Of Emotional Intelligence As A Potential Mediator In Educator Stress And Burnout, Kaitlin Hancock

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between teacher burnout, emotional intelligence, attitudes towards seeking professional help, and perceptions of psychological safety within schools. Findings from this study of 600 Canadian educational professionals suggest that emotional intelligence and perceptions of psychological safety were significant predictors of teacher burnout, while attitudes towards seeking professional help were not. Teaching level, employment status (e.g., part-time versus full-time), and gender were also explored in relation to burnout. Findings suggested that full-time status significantly impacted levels of burnout, while teaching level and gender did not. The potential preventative impact of interventions focusing …

Parent Involvement In The Middle School, Stephanie Walhof

Master of Education Program Theses

This action research project investigated the effects of parental involvement on the education of middle school students. Parents and teachers at Sioux Center Middle School were surveyed on how they viewed the potential impact of parental involvement on student achievement. Parents and teachers were also asked about barriers that might prevent involvement and best practices that would capitalize on effective parental involvement. The results of the survey confirmed that teachers and parents see parental involvement as important for student achievement. Few barriers were noted as inhibiting parental involvement. The best practice of parent-teacher conferences was noted as the most effective …

Teaching For Transformation: A Tool For Christian Teachers, Rachel Vanden Hull

Master of Education Program Theses

This qualitative research study examined the Teaching for Transformation framework and looked at whether Teaching for Transformation strategies equip teachers to be prepared in nurturing students’ faith and their role in the Kingdom story. Previous literature has shown a need for more emphasis on faith in the curriculum in Christian schools. Literature also shows the need for a framework that will equip teachers in empowering students to become responsive disciples. Teachers were interviewed and surveyed to gather information for this study. Teachers were able to give examples of student work by using the Teaching for Transformation framework, and they were …

Reading As A Necessity: Best Practices For Incorporating Reading Into One English Course, Kristin M. Janssen

Master of Education Program Theses

This action research project investigated the best practices of teaching reading in a middle school curriculum requiring reading and writing to be combined in one English course. A private middle school in the suburbs of St. Louis, Missouri, was evaluated on its use of the best practices. The participants were 24 teachers of 13 different subjects taught to students in seventh and eighth grade. All middle school teachers were sent a survey including questions about the best practices of reading across the curriculum, integrated instruction, and cooperative learning. The results of this study suggested that best practices of reading instruction …

Inside/Outside/In-Between: Understanding How Jewish Identity Impacts The Lives And Narratives Of Ashkenazi Female Public School Educators, Mindi Ellen Benditson

Educational Studies Dissertations

Since Ashkenazi Jews in the United States are not a visible minority, it often becomes difficult to distinguish what/who is a Jew. As many Jewish females may appear to be of the dominant culture, they often get overlooked in discussions and courses on teacher education and multiculturalism/multicultural education. However, their identity as both Jewish and White and the absence of conversation regarding their multiple positions in education and in society can contest, as well as support, their connection to multiculturalism.

The purpose of this research was to identify how four middle class Ashkenazi females in the greater Los Angeles area …

Relationship Between Principal And Teachers In Urban Schools: An Examination Of Principal Leadership Practices And Teacher Morale, Tonya Renee Norwood

Wayne State University Dissertations

A pervasive issue facing today’s educational environment is teacher morale in schools. Recognizing that teacher morale in urban schools is an area of concern, and the behavior of the principals may be a contributing factor, the primary purpose of this quantitative research study was to analyze and measure the relationship between principal leadership practices and teacher morale in urban schools. The research questions focused on the relationship between principal leadership practices and teacher morale, significant differences among schools in reference to principal leadership practices, significant differences among schools in reference to teacher morale, and the principal leadership practices that had …

Investigating Residual Impacts Of Teachers With Cancer, Jill Athena Netz-Fulkerson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates the residual impacts of cancer on teachers. Much research is currently available on how to support students in the classroom who have cancer, but there is still a gap in research regarding the impact of teachers with cancer.

This research focuses specifically on three central questions: 1) What are the perceptions of practicing teachers who identify themselves as cancer patients with regard to their professional experiences? 2) What are the perceptions of the teachers about their school community when they are identified as cancer patients? And, 3) What are the perceptions of practicing teachers who identify themselves …

Teachers Perceptions Of Barriers To Universal Design For Learning, Mary Elizabeth Jordan Anstead

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) has been identified as a contemporary instructional model for promoting inclusion and equitable opportunities for diverse and struggling learners. However, research regarding teachers' perceptions of UDL and its effective implementation is limited, making planning, implementing, and providing professional development difficult for administrators. Guided by the constructivist views of Vygotsky and Piaget, this qualitative case study was designed to understand teachers' knowledge and perceptions of how UDL can be used to promote equitable inclusive instruction, implementation barriers, educational applications for UDL, and perceived needs to implement UDL. Participants were teachers who had implemented UDL from a …

Teachers' Perceptions Of The Effect Of Their Attire On Middle-School Students' Behavior And Learning, Elizabeth Clemons Sampson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Teachers' Perceptions of the Effect of Their Attire on

Middle-School Students' Behavior and Learning

by

Elizabeth Clemons Sampson

M.A., Valdosta State University, 1987

B.S., Albany State University, 1974

Doctoral Study Submitted in Partial Fulfillment

of the Requirements for the Degree of

Doctor of Education

Walden University

February 2016

Teachers were once held to a professional dress code. This code has become lax, resulting in teachers dressing in more casual attire. A local middle school in rural Georgia was experiencing complaints about teachers' unprofessional attire from other teachers, administrators, and parents. Teachers play an integral role in modeling cultural and behavioral …

Nigerian Educators' Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Knowledge And Classroom Behavior Management Practices, Arthur N. Ojionuka

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This correlational study assessed Nigerian educators' knowledge about attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and inclusive classroom management practices when serving students with ADHD. Specifically, the study examined the predictive correlation between teachers' demographic characteristics, including years of teaching experience, level of education, and knowledge about ADHD, as well as how their knowledge informed their choice of behavior management interventions. Teachers are accountable for pedagogical responsibilities including maintenance and management of a learning environment that promotes learning and inclusion. Further, they play a significant role in identifying and supporting students with learning impairments including ADHD. Thus, it is critical for teachers to …

Response To Intervention Teachers' Perspective Of Tier 2 Intervention Fidelity, Doretha Meissner

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In an urban Texas school district, teachers and administrators were concerned about students' achievement and the teachers' knowledge and implementation of Response to Intervention (RTI) Tier 2 interventions with fidelity. This study addressed teachers' perceptions of the reliability of the application of Tier 2 interventions at the study site, its influence on student achievement, and the appropriateness of current professional development at the targeted campus. The constructivist concept of how people learn and the implementation theory of scaffolding instruction, meaningful experiences, and active learning provided the framework for this study. The educators provided perspectives of how the quality and frequency …

The Teacher's Closet: A Narrative Inquiry Of Dual Identities Of Lesbian And Gay Middle School Teachers In Georgia, Heather Ann Keilwitz

Educational Studies Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of lesbian and gay Georgia middle school teachers in not disclosing their sexual identities with their students. Using a narrative inquiry, data were collected through in-depth individual interviews and a focus group discussion on the following areas of inquiry: What are the experiences of lesbian and gay Georgia middle school teachers who do not disclose their sexual identity with their students? How, if at all, do the experiences of nondisclosure inhibit their abilities as teachers? How, if at all, has the nondisclosure affected their personal lives? Ten self-identified lesbian and …

Understanding The Relationship Between Teacher And Organizational Intercultural Competency In International Schools: A Mixed Methods Study, Sally Emily Hirsch

Doctoral Dissertations

The number of international schools and their student populations are increasing around the world. These schools are culturally diverse educational spaces, providing opportunities for cultural understanding but also cultural conflicts. Teachers working in international schools need to be able to provide culturally relevant and responsive curriculum as well as be able to communicate effectively and appropriately with students, other teachers, administrators and parents. Research shows that students do best academically when taught by teachers who are interculturally competent yet there is a gap in current research on how this skill is developed in international teachers, and identified by school leaders. …

The Social And Emotional Learning And Character Education Of K-12 Online Students : Teacher Perspectives, Anna Warwick Nolan

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

ABSTRACT

Special Education Teachers’ Working Knowledge Of The Idea, Laura B. Holland

Theses and Dissertations

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is the law that governs special education policies, procedures and practices for school districts. Special education teachers are viewed as the experts in leading the Individual Education Program (IEP) team in IEP development and implementation. Researchers have shown that special education teachers perceive themselves as having a high level of knowledge and understanding of the IDEA. However, special education teachers’ actual working and practical knowledge of the IDEA has not previously been assessed. This study, using hypothetical scenarios, examined whether special education teachers were able to determine if an action taken by the …