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Full-Text Articles in Education

A Phenomenology Study- Vicarious Trauma Among School Counselors And Teachers Working With Students From The Northern Triangle In Elementary Title I Schools, Janeth B. Santiesteban Apr 2024

A Phenomenology Study- Vicarious Trauma Among School Counselors And Teachers Working With Students From The Northern Triangle In Elementary Title I Schools, Janeth B. Santiesteban

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The present phenomenological study aimed to describe the lived experiences of school counselors and teachers working at elementary Title I schools in Maryland with students from the Northern Triangle (a region of Central America comprising El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras). The assumption was that these education professionals may undergo struggles and demands that may put them at risk of vicarious trauma due to the trauma those students and their families have endured. The theory guiding this study was the transactional theory of stress and coping (Lazarus,1966; Lazarus & Folkman, 1984) and the stress theory (Cohen et al., 1997), which converge …


A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study On The Common Core State Standards Implementation And The Influence On Academic Motivation Of Students In Middle School English Classes, Susan Diane Wright Apr 2024

A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study On The Common Core State Standards Implementation And The Influence On Academic Motivation Of Students In Middle School English Classes, Susan Diane Wright

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of English teachers and determine how implementing Common Core State Standards has influenced student motivation for middle school language arts students at Smith Middle School. Since the implementation of increased testing, changes in curriculum, and mandated instructional strategies, student motivation has declined in secondary students. The theory guiding this study was Dewey’s theory of experience which explains that students should have individualized, challenging, real-world learning opportunities. Dewey’s theory connected to this study of how the Common Core State Standards have changed the school’s instructional model. The sample …


“I Have Nothing Left To Give” A Phenomenological Study Of Secondary Traumatic Stress And Burnout In Urban School Teachers Related To The Socioeconomic Issues, Childhood Trauma, And Low Academic Performance Of Urban Students, Melissa Elizabeth Grazette Feb 2024

“I Have Nothing Left To Give” A Phenomenological Study Of Secondary Traumatic Stress And Burnout In Urban School Teachers Related To The Socioeconomic Issues, Childhood Trauma, And Low Academic Performance Of Urban Students, Melissa Elizabeth Grazette

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examines the shared experiences of secondary traumatic stress and burnout in urban schoolteachers in Washington, D.C. This study focuses on the experiences of teachers working in a low-performing school in a low-income neighborhood and working with students with trauma as it relates to their experiences with secondary traumatic stress and burnout symptoms. This study focused on the lived experiences of ten urban schoolteachers in Washington, D.C. The teacher participants served a school population of 68% at risk of negative socioeconomic barriers such as exposure to violence, poverty, drugs, and an increased likelihood of exposure to trauma. The hermeneutic …


Football Connections Impact On High School Graduation: A Qualitative Study, Devin Rakin Allison Sr May 2023

Football Connections Impact On High School Graduation: A Qualitative Study, Devin Rakin Allison Sr

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study was to understand the influences that playing high school football has on graduation. The theories guiding this study were the theory of connectedness and the theory of attachment and how students' connections to football helped them achieve the goal of graduation. Ainsworth and Bowlby and their theories of attachment were used to tie football as an extracurricular activity to graduation and why educators push for students to be involved. I attempted to show the benefits that involvement in football helps a student succeed in high school. Themes like connections, support, and academics were revealed …


A Causal-Comparative Investigation Of The Effect Of Middle School Teachers’ Perceptions Of Students’ Socioeconomic Status On Their Attitudes Toward Technology, Catherine Rose May 2023

A Causal-Comparative Investigation Of The Effect Of Middle School Teachers’ Perceptions Of Students’ Socioeconomic Status On Their Attitudes Toward Technology, Catherine Rose

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative causal-comparative study investigated the effect of middle school teachers’ perceptions of students’ socioeconomic status on their attitudes toward technology. The study was based on the theory of social constructivism and the will, skill, and tool model of technology integration to investigate teachers’ attitudes toward technology. This study advanced the body of knowledge by examining the connection between pedagogical beliefs and teachers’ attitudes toward technology, the use of technology with students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, and the need for more research on technology use by teachers at the middle school level. The research question exploring the possibility of a …


Lessons Learned In Social-Emotional Development After A Pandemic: A Qualitative Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Lyndsey Eksili Apr 2023

Lessons Learned In Social-Emotional Development After A Pandemic: A Qualitative Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Lyndsey Eksili

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative transcendental phenomenological study was to explore the lessons learned by educational leaders and teachers in the social emotional development of K-12 students after the COVID-19 pandemic. Twelve K-12 leaders and teachers in varying in age and demographics participated in interviews, a focus group, and artifact collection to explore the lived experiences and lessons learned in social-emotional learning and development after the pandemic. Themes were then developed based on those experiences using the qualitative transcendental methods of research and data analysis. The themes discovered through research were student struggles, teacher/staff struggles, and school climate. The subthemes …


Examining The Relationship Between School Climate And Teacher Self-Efficacy In Oregon, Vincent T. Domingo Apr 2023

Examining The Relationship Between School Climate And Teacher Self-Efficacy In Oregon, Vincent T. Domingo

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, predictive correlational study is to determine if school climate (SC) factors can accurately predict teachers' self-efficacy (TSE) in Oregon public schools. Using social cognitive theory and ecological systems theory as theoretical frameworks for this study, the importance of this research includes, adding Oregon data to the body of knowledge, narrowing the research gap, and a better understanding of SC and TSE that may be applied to improving a school’s climate, school planning, increasing TSE, and retaining teachers. The sample for this study were Oregon public school teachers, 69 of which participated in the study. Two …


A Case Study: Exploring High School Extracurricular Activities' Sponsors' And Coaches' Experiences With The Inclusion Of Ninth--Grade Students As A Marginalized Population, Kimberly Swaney Mar 2023

A Case Study: Exploring High School Extracurricular Activities' Sponsors' And Coaches' Experiences With The Inclusion Of Ninth--Grade Students As A Marginalized Population, Kimberly Swaney

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study was to explore the inclusion process for extracurricular activity sponsors and coaches at a rural high school in southwestern Pennsylvania. The theory guiding this study was Maslow’s theory of human motivation as it provided a structural format that was useful for implementing an inclusive process into extracurricular activities. This was a qualitative, single case study with a purposeful sampling of 11 participants representative of extracurricular activity sponsors and coaches in a rural school district. The central research question was: How do high school extracurricular activities’ sponsors and coaches describe their experiences with the inclusion …


A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Of Connective Experiences Between Elementary Teachers And Parents In A Virtual Setting, Amy J. R. Truett Mar 2023

A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Of Connective Experiences Between Elementary Teachers And Parents In A Virtual Setting, Amy J. R. Truett

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand how connective experiences are built between elementary teachers and parents in a virtual setting at the ABC school district in the southeastern region of the United States. The theory guiding this study was Siemens’ connectiveness theory, as it explored the students' knowledge impacted by the connective experiences of the network of elementary teachers and parents in accessing their learning and success in the virtual school setting. Three essential research questions focused on the connective experiences between elementary teachers and parents in the virtual setting in the southeastern part of the …


A Multi-Site Case Study Of Christian School Leaders And Teachers Who Provide A Welcoming And Inclusive Environment For Students From Low Ses Backgrounds And/Or With Learning Differences, Amanda Blake Champion Dec 2022

A Multi-Site Case Study Of Christian School Leaders And Teachers Who Provide A Welcoming And Inclusive Environment For Students From Low Ses Backgrounds And/Or With Learning Differences, Amanda Blake Champion

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this multi-site case study was to examine the intentional practices of Christian school leaders and teachers who strive to provide a welcoming and inclusive environment for students from low-socioeconomic (SES) backgrounds and/or with learning differences. The theory guiding this study is Bandura’s social cognitive theory. It connects the beliefs of self-efficacy held by school leaders and teachers to their values and philosophies, and their capability to include and welcome students from low SES backgrounds and/or with learning differences. This study investigated how school leaders and teachers welcome and include students from low SES backgrounds and/or with learning …


A Phenomenology Of Teachers’ Experiences With School Leaders On Workplace Motivation, Samantha Berger Hill Nov 2022

A Phenomenology Of Teachers’ Experiences With School Leaders On Workplace Motivation, Samantha Berger Hill

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This transcendental qualitative phenomenological study examined how 10 teachers experienced workplace motivation from school leaders at one kindergarten – eighth-grade school in northern Virginia. The theory guiding this study was Herzberg’s motivation-hygiene theory, as it explains the relationship between the extrinsic and intrinsic factors that influence workplace motivation. The motivation-hygiene theory provided the theoretical framework for this study to answer the central research question and sub-questions: (a) How do teachers who interact with school leaders experience workplace motivation; (b) What experiences, if any, with school leaders have promoted workplace motivation; (c) What experiences, if any, with school leaders have decreased …


Elementary School Teachers' Perceptions Of Student Motivation To Use Classroom Integrated Technology, Jason Lynn Webb Aug 2022

Elementary School Teachers' Perceptions Of Student Motivation To Use Classroom Integrated Technology, Jason Lynn Webb

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The integration of technology into the classroom transforms curriculum design and instructional methods. Research suggests that the perspectives of teachers and students are not always in agreement regarding the influence of classroom integrated technology on learning motivation. The purpose of this causal-comparative study was to determine if there is a significant difference in how teachers perceive the influence of technology integration on student learning motivation based on teacher gender, teacher weekly hours of computer use, and teacher years of teaching experience. The study used the Teacher Attitudes toward Classroom Computing Scale to collect data from 238 4th- and 5th-grade rural …


Measuring Teachers' Knowledge Of Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury In The Classroom, Alana C. Moser Jul 2022

Measuring Teachers' Knowledge Of Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury In The Classroom, Alana C. Moser

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

As more children reintegrate into the educational classrooms with traumatic brain injuries (TBI), educational teams must know the best ways to assist these students as they return to school. This predictive correlational study used multiple regression to analyze the linear relationship between the need for additional training of classroom teachers in the area of traumatic brain injury (TBI) based on the number of hours of TBI training teachers have received and their years of teaching experience. The sample included 74 elementary, middle, and high school general and special education classroom teachers throughout Texas. In this non-experimental study, participants submitted their …


Online Education Experiences Among Teachers Within Technical College System Of Georgia Institutions: A Multiple Case Study, John Robert Edalgo May 2022

Online Education Experiences Among Teachers Within Technical College System Of Georgia Institutions: A Multiple Case Study, John Robert Edalgo

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study was to explore technical education teachers’ perceptions on the use of e-learning within the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) institutions. This central research question provides the lens needed to explore forces that promote or discourage the use of online instruction administered by teachers. The theory guiding this study was the diffusion of innovation (DOI) theory, developed by E.M. Rogers approximately 60 years ago. The DOI theory provides the theoretical framework needed to assess the adopter, the innovation, and the type of communication (evaluation) needed to facilitate sustained adoption in the future. Increased adoption …


A Phenomenological Study On Teachers' Lived Experience With Self-Efficacy Teaching Face-To-Face Instruction During The Covid-19 Pandemic, James Scott Phillips Apr 2022

A Phenomenological Study On Teachers' Lived Experience With Self-Efficacy Teaching Face-To-Face Instruction During The Covid-19 Pandemic, James Scott Phillips

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe teachers’ lived experiences with self-efficacy teaching face-to-face instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic in a public school district in South Georgia. The theory guiding this study is Bandura’s (1977) theory of self-efficacy which was used to answer the following central research question: What are teachers’ lived experience with self-efficacy teaching face-to face-instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic? Twelve teachers from two schools provided a description of their lived experiences teaching in-person instruction amid the pandemic. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews, teacher journals, and a focus group. Data analysis followed Moustakas’ (1994) …


Elementary Public School Teachers’ Coping Mechanisms Used During The Covid-19 Pandemic In North Texas: A Phenomenological Study, Timothy Michael Eastman Apr 2022

Elementary Public School Teachers’ Coping Mechanisms Used During The Covid-19 Pandemic In North Texas: A Phenomenological Study, Timothy Michael Eastman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe elementary public school teachers’ experiences coping with stress during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using Lazarus and Folkman’s transactional model of stress and coping theory, the study answered the central research question: How do elementary public school teachers describe their experiences coping with stress during the COVID-19 pandemic? The sub-questions addressed: What psychological, physical, and emotional mechanisms are elementary public school teachers using to cope with stress during the COVID-19 pandemic? Purposeful sampling and maximum variation sampling were used to select 14 elementary public school teachers’ who experienced teaching during the COVID-19 …


Developing Strategies To Improve Collaboration Between Special Education Teachers And Paraprofessionals: An Applied Study, Brianna Noel Wilbanks Jan 2022

Developing Strategies To Improve Collaboration Between Special Education Teachers And Paraprofessionals: An Applied Study, Brianna Noel Wilbanks

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this applied study is to find ways to increase collaboration between teachers and paraprofessionals in Title I, K-2 schools, and to find strategies to best train teachers and paraprofessionals to address this problem. This research study seeks to answer the following questions: Central Question: How can the problem of lack of collaboration between special education teachers and paraprofessionals be solved at Mountain Elementary School (a pseudonym) in North Georgia? To answer this question, interviews, focus groups, and a survey were used to collect data. Next, the data were transcribed and analyzed for themes. Finally, based on this …


The Attitude Of Staff Members With Regards To Trauma-Informed Care In A High School In Arizona, Deanna Aljean Iverson Dec 2021

The Attitude Of Staff Members With Regards To Trauma-Informed Care In A High School In Arizona, Deanna Aljean Iverson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study analyzes the attitudes and beliefs with regards to trauma-informed care, of certified staff members at one public high school, in a public school district, in the southeast valley of Phoenix, Arizona. Previous studies have demonstrated that the attitudes of certified staff members have had a large impact on the implication and effectiveness of trauma-informed care within schools. The certified staff members went through several trainings to increase their trauma-informed readiness, help them identify struggling students, and build trauma-informed strategies when working with students. The relationship between these trainings and the overall attitude of certified staff requires further research …


Teachers’ Self-Efficacy And Augmentative And Alternative Communication Technology Use, Tamara Therese Parks Oct 2021

Teachers’ Self-Efficacy And Augmentative And Alternative Communication Technology Use, Tamara Therese Parks

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Students identified with disabilities and complex communication needs (CCN) add a unique aspect to teaching practice and pedagogy. Both special education and general education teachers play a vital role in providing opportunities for students to learn and succeed. Using augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices is one way for students with CCN to access the general curriculum as well as become active participants in the classroom. Research has indicated that teachers’ attitudes and self-efficacy using AAC may affect how well the devices are used in the classroom. Though teachers are expected to provide the necessary supports required by students with …


A Comparative Study Of Novice And Experienced Teachers' Self-Efficacy Toward Technology Integration And Level Of Technology Integration In The Classroom, Tonya Renee Coffey Apr 2021

A Comparative Study Of Novice And Experienced Teachers' Self-Efficacy Toward Technology Integration And Level Of Technology Integration In The Classroom, Tonya Renee Coffey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study investigated novice and experienced teachers’ self-efficacy toward technology integration and level of technology integration in the classroom. The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a difference between novice and experienced teachers’ self-efficacy toward technology integration and technology integration. A quantitative, nonexperimental casual-comparative study was performed. The sample included a convenience sample of 100 K- 12 teachers in two rural Virginia school districts. The teachers were surveyed in January 2021 using the Teachers’ Integration of Self-Efficacy Scale (TISS) and the Teacher Technology Integration Survey (TTIS). The data was analyzed using a t-test. The t-test analysis …


Early Learning Teacher Collaboration And Classroom Transitions: A Qualitative Case Study, Danielle Christine Robertson Mar 2021

Early Learning Teacher Collaboration And Classroom Transitions: A Qualitative Case Study, Danielle Christine Robertson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this collective case study was to examine how Early Head Start and Head Start teachers collaborate to create successful transitions for students from classroom to classroom. The theory guiding this study was the sociocultural theory by Lev Vygotsky (1978), which focuses on learning through interactions and communications with others and collaborative learning. Vygotsky’s theory aligned with the study by informing educators that children learn from a guide and teachers should be intentional in adding to children’s knowledge and supporting children’s ways of understanding the world around them. This study addressed the following research questions: How do early …


A Causal Comparative Study Of Burnout Among Public And Charter Elementary School Teachers In North Carolina, Kaleatha Roberts Jan 2021

A Causal Comparative Study Of Burnout Among Public And Charter Elementary School Teachers In North Carolina, Kaleatha Roberts

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to examine the difference between the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Educators Survey (MBI-ES) scores of traditional public school teachers and those of public charter school teachers as measured by the three subscale levels of exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment. A sample of 138 teachers from two school districts in North Carolina participated in this study by completing a demographic questionnaire and the MBI-ES. The total number of public schools in both districts totaled 118 and over 10 charter schools. The overall results of the independent t-tests indicate that there is no significant difference between traditional public …


A Phenomenological Study Of North Carolina Elementary Teachers' Lived Experiences With Google Classroom Integration, Hilary Elizabeth Dodson Apr 2020

A Phenomenological Study Of North Carolina Elementary Teachers' Lived Experiences With Google Classroom Integration, Hilary Elizabeth Dodson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand North Carolina elementary school teachers’ perceptions of Google Classroom technology integration as a lived experience. Google Classroom is a learning management system and component of the technology integration that many teachers use to organize their classroom content. The discovery learning theory by Bruner guided this study. The problem of this study was North Carolina elementary teachers experience difficulties integrating technology, using applications like Google Classroom, in combination with more traditional curriculum and instructional strategies. The central research question was: What are North Carolina elementary teachers’ perceptions of the ways in …


A Phenomenological Study Of Teachers’ Lived Experiences Working In Schools Influenced By Principal Turnover, Carrie Nicole Barbour Link Feb 2020

A Phenomenological Study Of Teachers’ Lived Experiences Working In Schools Influenced By Principal Turnover, Carrie Nicole Barbour Link

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand teachers’ experiences with principal turnover. Julian Rotter’s locus of control theory is the theoretical foundation for this study. He has proposed that people either believe that they have control over what happens to them or that external factors determine their fate. Currently, most research has highlighted the negative consequences of principal turnover; however, there are studies that highlight positives as well. This study sought to dig deeper into the phenomenon of principal turnover to gain an understanding of how teachers experience a change in leadership. The central research question for …


Christian Teachers’ Experiences Motivating High School Students In The Pacific Northwest: A Transcendental Phenomenology, Michael Anthony Rickman Aug 2019

Christian Teachers’ Experiences Motivating High School Students In The Pacific Northwest: A Transcendental Phenomenology, Michael Anthony Rickman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative transcendental phenomenological study sought to describe experiences of Christian high school teachers motivating students in the Pacific Northwest to be autonomous learners, competent in skills and achievements, and relationally balanced within a Christian environment. The literature indicates two phenomena exist. First, student motivation decreases as they progress; and second, a gap exists in the literature related to Christian schoolteachers’ experiences motivating students. The research question is “How do Christian high school teachers describe their experiences motivating students to be autonomous, competent, and relational?” Purposeful sampling produced nine participants from Christian high schools in the Pacific …


American Expatriates' Experiences Of Stress And Burnout While Teaching In International Schools Within Southeast Asia: A Phenomenological Study, Sandra N. Jackson Jul 2019

American Expatriates' Experiences Of Stress And Burnout While Teaching In International Schools Within Southeast Asia: A Phenomenological Study, Sandra N. Jackson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe and understand American expatriates’ perceptions of their lived experiences with burnout and stress while teaching in international schools in Southeast Asia. The theories guiding this study were Hans Selye’s (1951) theory of stress, as it explains the physiological stages of stress the body goes through, and Christine Maslach’s (1997) theory of burnout, which explains the factors associated with burnout. The present study was guided by five research questions, including a single central research question, to discover the participants’ lived experiences with stress and burnout. Four additional subquestions explored emotional exhaustion, …


Elementary Teachers' And Administrators' Perceptions Of Teacher Motivation, Jody Mac Foreman Mar 2019

Elementary Teachers' And Administrators' Perceptions Of Teacher Motivation, Jody Mac Foreman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of the study was to compare elementary teachers’ and elementary administrators’ perceptions of teacher motivation. By identifying that differences exist between elementary teachers’ and elementary administrators’ perceptions of what motivates teachers, it allows for administrators to gain a better understanding and possibly design more effective strategies for enhancing teacher motivation. Additionally, it opens the door for further studies, not only with elementary teachers and administrators, but at the middle and high school levels as well. This study used a quantitative methodology with a causal comparative design. The sample population came from two school districts in South Carolina, the …


A Transcendental Phenomenological Investigation Of Novice Teachers' Experiences With Parental Involvement In Title I Elementary Schools, Kelly Jean Wilson Nov 2018

A Transcendental Phenomenological Investigation Of Novice Teachers' Experiences With Parental Involvement In Title I Elementary Schools, Kelly Jean Wilson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe novice teachers’ experiences with parental involvement in Title I elementary schools in southern Virginia. Parental involvement was defined as parents actively engaging in their child’s education, critically important to academic development. Kolb’s (2015) experiential learning theory was the theoretical framework for this study. The significance of this study investigated novice teachers, those with five or fewer years’ teaching background, and their experiences with parental involvement in Title I elementary schools. In doing so, 14 novice teachers from Title I elementary schools in southern Virginia, were chosen to participate. Interviews, individual …


Effect Of School Level On Teacher Perceptions Of Sst/Rti Effectiveness (K-12), Within A Northwest Georgia School System, Susan R. Tolbert Mar 2018

Effect Of School Level On Teacher Perceptions Of Sst/Rti Effectiveness (K-12), Within A Northwest Georgia School System, Susan R. Tolbert

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this causal-comparative study is to evaluate the effect of school level (primary, elementary, middle, and high school) on teacher perceptions of Student Support Team and Response to Intervention within a Northwest Georgia school system. Understanding these differences in perceptions will allow educational leaders to create meaningful staff development for mandated programs for all certified staff. This study will utilize demographic information, 21 survey questions, and two multiple-choice questions to analyze the differences in perceptions among primary, elementary, middle, and high school certified staff in regards to SST and RTI. Analysis will involve the use of an ANOVA …


Science Instruction In A Culture Of High-Stakes Assessment: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Into The Experiences Of Missouri Elementary School Teachers In A Non-Assessed Grade Level, April Williams Dec 2017

Science Instruction In A Culture Of High-Stakes Assessment: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Into The Experiences Of Missouri Elementary School Teachers In A Non-Assessed Grade Level, April Williams

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of the transcendental qualitative phenomenological research is to describe the characteristics and strategies of teachers who share the same experiences in teaching science, a non-assessed content, in a high-stakes assessment environment at the third and fourth grade levels. Teacher curriculum choices are dictated by the need to prepare students to take content area standardized assessments in the grade level taught. Science instruction that focuses on scientific reasoning may lead to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) careers for students. Teachers who elect to teach science at the elementary level in a manner that develops scientific reasoning are an …