Teacher Education and Professional Development Commons^™

Peer Coaching In A School In Cairo, Egypt: Implementation, Barriers, And Pathways To Effective Adoption, Steve Sider

Education Faculty Publications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine how peer coaching was introduced in one school in Egypt and to identify barriers and opportunities for successful implementation.

Design/methodology/approach – The methodology included semi-structured interviews with eight teachers, participant observation of their classes and meetings, and three focus group meetings with teachers and school administrators.

Findings – Ladyshewsky’s (2017) five key aspects of peer coaching are considered in the findings: establishing peer partners, building trust between the partners, identifying specific areas to target for learning, training on non-evaluative questions and feedback, and supporting each other as new ideas are …

Teacher Learning And Continuous Professional Development., Fiona Faulkner, John Kenny, Coral Campbell, Cosette Crisan

Books/Book Chapters

This chapter discusses teacher learning and professional development of out-of-field teachers from the point of view of the literature. It examines what makes this kind of learning and development effective and explores the ideas surrounding the varying rationale for the introduction of such teacher learning and professional development opportunities. Classical approaches to professional development are discussed in addition to several emerging international models of professional development that are currently being employed in the Republic of Ireland, England and Australia for in-service out-of-field teachers of mathematics predominantly but also a range of other subject disciplines (in the case of South Korea). …

“We're Rags To Riches”: Dual Consciousness Of The American Dream In Two Critical History Classrooms, Hillary Parkhouse, Bryan P. Arnold

Teaching and Learning Publications

Within the United States, wealth disparities are growing and upward social mobility is becoming increasingly difficult to attain. These trends call into question the American Dream ideology that anyone can succeed through hard work. This meritocratic ideal has traditionally been one of the unifying ideologies promoted through the public school curriculum. The topic of economic inequality, on the other hand, is largely absent from most social studies curricula. When teachers do address this issue, they tend to omit discussions of causes or potential policy solutions. Students are thus left with few resources with which to develop positions on policies related …

Uruguay Supporting Globalization And Access Through English Language Education Policy, Valeriana Colon

Teaching and Learning Publications

With a comparatively small population and a little over half the country’s population living in the capitol city (The World Factbook: Uruguay, 2019), connectivity internationally and access nationally are important to Uruguay. According to Uruguay’s Commission on Language Policy, English language legislation emerged from national demand to know English for global trade, technology, and academia (Administración Nacional de Educación Pública [ANEP], 2008). Public dialog often depicts the universalization of English as a highly valued commodity essential for student success (Canale, 2011). An example of this is the historic use of internationally recognized standardized exams as a means to gain international …

I Wish School Was Like This: One Teacher's Journey Towards Creating A Student-Led Learning Space, Angela Dawn Abbott

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to use the principles of the Reggio Emilia Approach to change how children in a high poverty school in West Virginia are educated. Specifically, this study was an exploration of the learning space as a third teacher, teachers as researchers, and giving students agency in their learning. A philosophy supporting emergent and participatory inquiry was developed and carried out for this project. Data were collected using several qualitative methods such as participant observation, discussion, interviews, photo elicitation, and student work. Conclusions from this project include: that there is potential of using space as a …

Elementary Teachers' Perceptions Of Teaching Mathematics, Mathematics Anxiety, And Teaching Mathematics Efficacy, Brittany Elaine Porter

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Predicated on the understanding that teachers who are more comfortable with mathematics will better teach it, this study aimed to explore the extent to which building participating teachers’ mathematics efficacy might also help teachers build metacognitive awareness with regards to effectively teaching mathematics, decreasing their mathematics anxiety and ameliorating negative perceptions about teaching elementary mathematics. To analyze teachers’ perceptions with regards to math, teaching mathematics, and their own content knowledge,qualitative research methods were utilized. The participants began the study with an open-ended survey gauging their attitudes, confidence, and anxiety about math. The participants were observed during their trainings and their …

A Study Of Administrator Training For School Security Events, Maria V. Eshenaur

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this research study was to determine if West Virginia (WV) PK-12 public school principals and assistant/vice principals perceive they are receiving suitable professional development to provide a secure school environment. This mixed methods study utilized non-experimental survey research to determine which professional development training school principals report participating in; to determine principals’ perceptions of the suitability of their own training; and to determine the influence of demographics on principal perceptions of training related to specific security events listed within the WV Schools Crisis Prevention and Response Plan. Data were collected by a researcher created, online survey consisting …

The Education Of The Elementary Mathematics Specialist: A Program Evaluation, Lee Ann Vecellio

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Over the past 30 years, there has been a growing need to strengthen educators’ mathematical skills through additional training. Nationwide, companies such as Exxon Mobile (1988) have created mathematics and science initiatives to improve teachers’ skills in the classroom. It is important that school systems explore ways to ensure students receive quality mathematics instruction from well trained, confident teachers who understand the content, can use instructional/assessment strategies, and to understand how students learn mathematics. The purpose of this study was to examine the confidence levels in mathematical content and pedagogy of graduates of the Elementary Mathematics Specialist (EMS) program. This …

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 …

From The Beginning: A Start To End Analysis Of A Beginning Teacher Program, Andrea M. Anderson

Education Dissertations and Projects

This mixed-methods study evaluated the effectiveness of a Beginning Teacher Support Program in the southern region of a school district. The effects of teacher turnover, national teacher shortages, induction programs, mentoring, administrative support, professional development, and other support offered to beginning teachers were analyzed. The researcher created a survey that was administered to high school beginning teachers, mentor teachers, and principals. A focus group and an interview with a regional beginning teacher coordinator were also conducted to further evaluate the effectiveness of the district’s beginning teacher program. The results of the study concluded that beginning teachers benefitted from participating in …

The Impact Of Teacher Working Conditions And Beginning Teacher Support On The Retention Of Beginning Teachers In High - Poverty School Districts, Alfredia Moore

Education Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine the impact of beginning teacher support and teacher working conditions on the retention of beginning teachers in high poverty school districts. This study examined Title I and Low Wealth funded school districts in the southeastern quadrant of North Carolina. Preexisting data, available through the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction [NCDPI], were used to determine the possibility and extent of relationships among the variables. The four components of a beginning teacher support program are orientation, the assignment of a mentor, professional development, and observations and evaluations. The elements of teacher working …

Elementary Teacher Perceptions Of Eureka Math, Lindsay Harmon Walker

Education Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of elementary teachers teaching the Eureka Math program using a mixed methods approach. The participants were Grades K-5 elementary teachers from 10 elementary schools within the same school district located in the southwestern region of North Carolina. Quantitative data were collected via a 4-point Likert scale survey distributed via Google Forms. Qualitative data were collected via an open-ended question from the survey and an interview group. The data were collected to answer the research question, “How do elementary teachers experience teaching mathematics using the Eureka Math program?” The researcher designed …

Identifiable Factors That Influence Teacher Retention In Four Title I Middle Schools: A Multiple-Case Study, Adair Blanton Mckay

Education Dissertations and Projects

Student success has suffered a great deal and continues to suffer in the Title I middle school setting. Staffing problems in these schools account for part of the cause. This study examined four Title I middle schools that experience difficulty retaining teachers. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (2016), between 2011-2012 and 2012-2013, approximately 8% of teachers moved, another 8% of teachers left the profession, and approximately 84% of teachers stayed at the same school. The percentage of movers from high-poverty schools is double that of movers from low-poverty schools. The goal of this study was to serve …

Teacher Perceptions Of Formative Assessments On Student Learning In K-12 Classrooms, Stacey Robinson

Education Dissertations and Projects

A mixed methods design was utilized to examine teacher perceptions of formative assessments and its impact on student motivation. Teachers from 32 public schools in a southeastern school district were invited to participate in a formative assessment survey using a Likert scale to share their perceptions of their understanding and use of formative assessments in the classroom. The survey and interview items addressed teachers’ own self-efficacy values as they relate to their implementation of formative assessments and their relationship with motivating students to learn. Data analysis indicated most teachers had a strong understanding of formative assessments, but some of their …

Relational Response: Preservice Teachers Providing Writing Feedback In Three Middle School Partnerships, Beth M. Lehman Ph.D., Jenny M. Martin Ph.D., Karen Santos Rogers Ph.D.

Teacher Education Program Faculty Scholarship

Providing meaningful feedback to student writers is a nuanced, fully human endeavor. Thus, teaching preservice teachers, in all disciplines, to respond to students’ writing is a complex task, one that requires intentional instruction and practice. In this article, we use practitioner inquiry to analyze our experiences and teaching approaches with preservice teachers who provided feedback to middle school writers through three public school partnerships. The partnerships employed varied modes of communication, including digital platforms, paper notebooks, letter writing, one-to-one tutoring, and face-to-face school visits. Response patterns suggest authentic experiences that explicitly teach and support writing practice spur the ability of …

Agency In University Supervision And Mentoring, Alisa J. Bates, Mary D. Burbank

CUP Faculty Research

No abstract provided.

Preparing Prospective Teachers To Teach Culturally Diverse Populations, Carrie Kondor, Angela Owusu-Ansah, Lynn Keyne-Michaels

CUP Faculty Research

Out of every three students enrolled in either elementary or secondary school in the United States, one is of a racial or ethnic minority, whereas about 87% of the teachers are White and female. The rate of increase in minority K-12 students, who are often also living in poverty, is projected to increase to 41% by the year 2020 (National Center for Education Statistics, 2007). In contrast, those coming into teaching, and those who teach prospective teachers [remain for the most part] White females who have been raised in middle class homes in rural and suburban communities, strengthening the persistence …

Sr. Barbara Joanne: Prison Ministry, Amayrani Lopez

Ask a Sister: Interview Wisdom from Catholic Women Religious

This paper includes an interview with Barbara Joanne, a woman part of a Roman Catholic religious congregation and a teacher for about 20 years, and her experiences with prison ministry.

Sr. Sage: Teaching The Word, Rebekah Wilken

Ask a Sister: Interview Wisdom from Catholic Women Religious

This paper highlights an interview with Sister Sage and the experiences she has had as an educator in the Catholic school system. After 52 years of service, the retired sister reflects on her career’s successes and what it meant to her.

A Praxis Briefing: Mental Health On The Campus: Defining Challenges And Opportunities, Stephen Beers, Connie Horton, Brad A. Lau, Nathan Greer, C. Skip Trudeau, Kim Stave, Brenda Roth

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

No abstract provided.