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Full-Text Articles in Education

Teachers Building Trusting Relationships With Students In Elementary Schools And The Principals Who Support Them, Lindsay N. Kidd Jan 2022

Teachers Building Trusting Relationships With Students In Elementary Schools And The Principals Who Support Them, Lindsay N. Kidd

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

Trusting relationships between teachers and students is a cornerstone of success in the classroom. As a means for continuous professional growth, teachers should have an understanding of other teachers’ positive experiences with and accessible strategies for how to build these relationships. Current research is missing the narrative voices of elementary general education teachers in the discussion on trust in the classroom. In addition to how they can achieve trusting relationships, teachers need support from their principals. This study provides a phenomenological analysis of teachers’ perceptions of their responsibilities and actions that led to trusting relationships with students and the ways …


Teacher Conceptualization And Implementation Of Differentiated Instruction In The Elementary Reading Classroom, Kimberly Yulyn Davis Jan 2020

Teacher Conceptualization And Implementation Of Differentiated Instruction In The Elementary Reading Classroom, Kimberly Yulyn Davis

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

Differentiated instruction (DI) is an approach to teaching that considers the individual needs of students based on readiness levels, interest, learning styles, and learning profiles. This pragmatic, exploratory, sequential mixed-methods study investigated the conceptualizations of teachers at high-performing elementary schools within Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) regarding DI, the degree of successful implementation, and the extent to which the degree of implementation correlates with student achievement in reading. Data were collected from 29 semi-structured teacher participant interviews, two 90-minute observations of each participant's reading instruction, and a comparison of i-Ready reading achievement data over two diagnostic assessments. The participants conceptualized …


Teacher Conceptualization And Implementation Of Differentiated Instruction In The Elementary Reading Classroom, Concepcion Cepero Santana Jan 2020

Teacher Conceptualization And Implementation Of Differentiated Instruction In The Elementary Reading Classroom, Concepcion Cepero Santana

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

Differentiated instruction (DI) is an approach to teaching that considers the individual needs of students based on readiness levels, interest, learning styles, and learning profiles. This pragmatic, exploratory, sequential mixed-methods study investigated the conceptualizations of teachers at high-performing elementary schools within Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) regarding DI, the degree of successful implementation, and the extent to which the degree of implementation correlates with student achievement in reading. Data were collected from 29 semi-structured teacher participant interviews, two 90-minute observations of each participant's reading instruction, and a comparison of i-Ready reading achievement data over two diagnostic assessments. The participants conceptualized …


Teacher Conceptualization And Implementation Of Differentiated Instruction In The Elementary Reading Classroom, Felicia Kristina Joseph Jan 2020

Teacher Conceptualization And Implementation Of Differentiated Instruction In The Elementary Reading Classroom, Felicia Kristina Joseph

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

Differentiated instruction (DI) is an approach to teaching that considers the individual needs of students based on readiness levels, interest, learning styles, and learning profiles. This pragmatic, exploratory, sequential mixed-methods study investigated the conceptualizations of teachers at high-performing elementary schools within Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) regarding DI, the degree of successful implementation, and the extent to which the degree of implementation correlates with student achievement in reading. Data were collected from 29 semi-structured teacher participant interviews, two 90-minute observations of each participant's reading instruction, and a comparison of i-Ready reading achievement data over two diagnostic assessments. The participants conceptualized …


The Impact Of The Balanced Literacy Approach In Reading Instruction On Student Reading Motivation And Reading Competence, Jami Beth Clements Jan 2020

The Impact Of The Balanced Literacy Approach In Reading Instruction On Student Reading Motivation And Reading Competence, Jami Beth Clements

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

The purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate the impact Balanced Literacy Reading Instruction had on student motivation to read and student reading competence in the elementary school of one public school district. This study analyzed extant student summative reading assessment data and extant teacher observation data. The study also administered the Self-Regulation Questionnaire-Reading Motivation to measure the reading motivation of students who had received Balanced Literacy Reading Instruction in the district from first grade through fifth grade. The study sought to determine the amount of reading time administered during reading instruction during the implementation, the current level of …


The Impact Of The Balanced Literacy Approach In Reading Instruction On Student Reading Motivation And Reading Competence, Jami Beth Clements Jan 2019

The Impact Of The Balanced Literacy Approach In Reading Instruction On Student Reading Motivation And Reading Competence, Jami Beth Clements

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

The purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate the impact Balanced Literacy Reading Instruction had on student motivation to read and student reading competence in the elementary school of one public school district. This study analyzed extant student summative reading assessment data and extant teacher observation data. The study also administered the Self-Regulation Questionnaire-Reading Motivation to measure the reading motivation of students who had received Balanced Literacy Reading Instruction in the district from first grade through fifth grade. The study sought to determine the amount of reading time administered during reading instruction during the implementation, the current level of …


The Influences On K-2 Teachers' Approaches Towards Assessment And Developmentally Appropriate Practice, Leah K. Shy Jan 2019

The Influences On K-2 Teachers' Approaches Towards Assessment And Developmentally Appropriate Practice, Leah K. Shy

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

Kindergarten-second grade teachers often have to navigate conflicting paradigms as they attempt to honor the developmentally appropriate practices best suited for their young learners while working within the demands of the current educational paradigm of high-stakes testing and standardization. This challenge is acutely experienced in the assessment of young children, yet little research has been done to look at how teachers in the early elementary years approach or use assessment in developmentally appropriate ways. The purpose of this study was to use a constructivist grounded theory approach to address the overarching question: How do K-2 teachers come to their conceptualizations …


Exploring Kindergarten Teachers' Self-Perceptions Of Writing Instruction: An Appreciative Phenomenological Approach, Elizabeth Auguste May 2018

Exploring Kindergarten Teachers' Self-Perceptions Of Writing Instruction: An Appreciative Phenomenological Approach, Elizabeth Auguste

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

Current data point to the need for more research on writing instruction. The latest National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) results showed that 73% of students in Grade 8 and Grade 12 scored basic or below on writing assessments, a trend reflected in college students’ writing. These data co-exist with research that reported teachers’ low self-efficacy with writing instruction .The most effective way to address these troubling statistics is to take a proactive approach that looks at writing instruction from its genesis—kindergarten. This post-intentional phenomenological study (Vagle, 2014) explored two aspects of kindergarten teachers’ self-perceptions of writing instruction (SPWI)—self-efficacy and …


Investigating The Relationships Among Primary Teachers' Math Profile, Math Teaching Efficacy, And Math Content Pedagogical Knowledge, Theresa Marie Roettinger Jan 2014

Investigating The Relationships Among Primary Teachers' Math Profile, Math Teaching Efficacy, And Math Content Pedagogical Knowledge, Theresa Marie Roettinger

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

Kindergarten, first and second grade teachers play an important role in the development of a student's understanding of mathematics. Consequently, in order to improve student achievement in mathematics, it is important to investigate the relationships that may exist among primary teachers' math profile, math teaching efficacy, and math pedagogy and content knowledge. Participants completed an online survey that included the Math Teaching Efficacy Belief Instrument (MTEBI) and Math Knowledge for Teaching (MKT) items. Participants provided math profile data through academic demographic questions.;Two-hundred seven respondents completed the survey. Analysis of the data included descriptive statistics, chi-square test of independence, and Spearman …


Korean Elementary Teachers' Perceptions Of Giftedness And Support For Talent Development, Youngeun Son Jan 2014

Korean Elementary Teachers' Perceptions Of Giftedness And Support For Talent Development, Youngeun Son

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

No abstract provided.


Successful Pedagogical Practices Of Elementary Teachers Of Homeless Students: A Case Study, Kimberly Owen Pickles Jan 2014

Successful Pedagogical Practices Of Elementary Teachers Of Homeless Students: A Case Study, Kimberly Owen Pickles

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

The purpose of this research study is to examine the instructional practices of teachers who are currently teaching homeless students in their classroom. This study identified eight teachers in two suburban elementary schools that have students in their current classrooms that are experiencing homelessness. In addition, the research study explored the needs considered and strategies that teachers use to differentiate and accommodate their instructional practices to maximize achievement for these students. Qualitative data was collected by a study of teacher interviews through collective ethnographic case studies. Additionally, quantitative data was collected through evaluator observations of the selected classrooms to observe …


Math Talent Development Of Elementary School Students: The Relationship Of Gender, Math Motivation, And Goal Orientation To Math Achievement, Ann Haimburger Colorado Jan 2014

Math Talent Development Of Elementary School Students: The Relationship Of Gender, Math Motivation, And Goal Orientation To Math Achievement, Ann Haimburger Colorado

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

Research has established that motivation is an important factor of student achievement. Many researchers in the field of gifted education consider motivation to be a crucial component of giftedness, yet the literature base for motivation and math talent development within gifted populations is scarce. This descriptive study used a within-group design to measure the math motivation, math achievement, and goal orientation of high-ability 5 th grade math students to elucidate the relationships among motivation, achievement, goal orientation, and gender. Findings indicated that math achievement, math motivation, and goal orientation were similar for both genders; students had high math achievement yet …


Fostering Parental Engagement In A Rural Title I Elementary School, Joyce R. Mcdowell Jan 2014

Fostering Parental Engagement In A Rural Title I Elementary School, Joyce R. Mcdowell

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

The major purpose of this study was to find out how to encourage Title I family engagement as the school funds were decreasing in the next school year. I wanted to determine how to continue, as well as increase, parental engagement at a Title I elementary school in a rural setting.;The Title I program focuses on assisting students who are economically disadvantaged in order to raise their academic skills in the areas of reading and math. The parents of the children eligible for Title I reading services at the time of the study were the participants. I used the Appreciative …


An Evaluation Of The Implementation Fidelity And Outcomes Of The Olweus Bullying Prevention Program In Three Elementary Schools In Virginia, Barbara F. Wood Jan 2013

An Evaluation Of The Implementation Fidelity And Outcomes Of The Olweus Bullying Prevention Program In Three Elementary Schools In Virginia, Barbara F. Wood

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

Bullying continues to be a major concern in schools today. Many schools have implemented some type of bullying prevention program. The Olweus Bullying Prevention Program is one of these programs. Evaluation of the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program is typically done through the administration of the Olweus Bullying Questionnaire to students and produces numerical data for its report. Results have been mixed, but often show some type of decrease in bullying activity.;This study evaluated the implementation fidelity and outcomes of the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program in three elementary schools in Virginia. These schools were recommended as having a successful Olweus Bullying …


Dispositions And Practices That Promote Teacher-Student Relationships With African-American Male Elementary Students, Karyn Mitchell Yeldell Jan 2013

Dispositions And Practices That Promote Teacher-Student Relationships With African-American Male Elementary Students, Karyn Mitchell Yeldell

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

This research study was focused on teacher dispositions and practices that create positive teacher-student relationships with African-American elementary male students. Robert Pianta's work on relationships between teachers and students, over the past decade, provided a conceptual framework for this specific study. A review of the literature on this topic evidenced practices that positively and negatively impact teacher-student relationships. Through classroom observations and interviews, the perceptions of elementary teachers were examined on how they actually create teacher-student relationships with their African-American male students. These perceptions were insightful and often supported in the research literature. Effective teachers understand the need for praise, …


Student Trust In Teachers And Its Relationship To Student Identification With School, Student Perceptions Of Academic Press, And Achievement, Regina A. Bankole Jan 2011

Student Trust In Teachers And Its Relationship To Student Identification With School, Student Perceptions Of Academic Press, And Achievement, Regina A. Bankole

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

Research has documented a plethora of evidence that children's perceptions of their relationships with caregivers, specifically teachers, impacts learning outcomes, including academic engagement and achievement (Furrer & Skinner, 2003; Owens & Johnson, in press; Stipek, 2002; Wentzel, 1997), identification with school (anderman, 2003; Bonich, 2007; Goodenow, 1993; McGannon, 2003; Meloro, 2006; Mitchell, 2004;) and academic press (Bonich, 2007; Lee & Smith, 1999; Middleton & Midgley, 2002). Yet the research base from the student perspective on the pertinent elements that influence meaningful relationships between students and teachers, namely trust, is largely missing.;The purpose of this study was to examine the construct …


Effective Reading Comprehension Teaching And Research: How Do They Relate, Lauri M. Leeper Jan 2011

Effective Reading Comprehension Teaching And Research: How Do They Relate, Lauri M. Leeper

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

No abstract provided.


Survey Of Physical Activity In Elementary School Classrooms In The State Of Virginia, Gail Smith Elmakis Jan 2010

Survey Of Physical Activity In Elementary School Classrooms In The State Of Virginia, Gail Smith Elmakis

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

Elementary school age children engage in levels of physical activity that are well below recommended guidelines. It has been suggested that classroom teachers can assist in remedying the problem by providing physical activity breaks and physical activity embedded in instruction. This study utilized the instrument, Physical Activity in the Classroom, to investigate the level of physical activity used in classrooms and to discover whether teachers differed in the amount of activity based on grade level and their own perceived level of personal fitness. It explored academic and behavioral benefits related to incorporating physical activity in the classroom and discovered what …


The Professional Learning Community And Its Effect On African American Students' Achievement, Anthony Eugene Copeland Jan 2010

The Professional Learning Community And Its Effect On African American Students' Achievement, Anthony Eugene Copeland

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

The purpose of this correlational study was to quantify the degree to which teachers believe their school adheres to professional learning community (PLC) practices and determine to what extent PLC practices are related to student achievement. The study also attempted to determine to what extent PLCs were related to African American students' achievement and closing the achievement gap.;Schools were the unit of analysis and participants were elementary school teachers from 25 schools in a large diverse school district located in the mid-Atlantic region. They were administered Hord's School Professional Staff as Learning Community survey to compute their school's "PLCness" (e.g. …


Student And Faculty Perceptions Of Trust And Their Relationships To School Success Measures In An Urban School District, Dennis M. Moore Jr. Jan 2010

Student And Faculty Perceptions Of Trust And Their Relationships To School Success Measures In An Urban School District, Dennis M. Moore Jr.

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

U.S. merchants and traders helped sustain Spanish imperial commercial networks in Venezuela and the Spanish Caribbean. Shipping foodstuffs, arms, re-exported European manufactures, and slaves to the Spanish colonies were profitable enterprises for neutral U.S. traders. Through private negotiations and even Spanish-government contracts, partnerships between Venezuelan and U.S. merchants provided the shipping tonnage and merchandise that Spanish officials and colonial elites needed most to maintain their rule and to fend off the challenges of economic and environmental crises, slave conspiracies, and revolutionary plots before 1810.


The Impact Of The Academic Component Of Response To Intervention On Collective Efficacy, Parents' Trust In Schools, Referrals For Special Education, And Student Achievement, Lisa Lee Pennycuff Jan 2010

The Impact Of The Academic Component Of Response To Intervention On Collective Efficacy, Parents' Trust In Schools, Referrals For Special Education, And Student Achievement, Lisa Lee Pennycuff

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine the implementation status of Response to Intervention (RtI) in the elementary schools (N = 35) in one urban school district in Virginia. The relationship between the implementation of the academic components of RtI, collective efficacy, parents' trust in schools, the number of referrals for special education, and student achievement was also investigated. The factor analysis revealed that RtI for Academics included Universal Screening, Effective Instruction/Tiered Interventions, and Progress Monitoring. Family Involvement was determined to be a separate construct made up of two factors, Family Engagement and Physical Presence. The implementation status of …


Self -Efficacy Beliefs Of Elementary General Education Teachers In Inclusive Classrooms And The Role Of Professional Development, Sheila S. Ashley Jan 2009

Self -Efficacy Beliefs Of Elementary General Education Teachers In Inclusive Classrooms And The Role Of Professional Development, Sheila S. Ashley

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

In an effort to provide greater access and progress in the general education curriculum and higher levels of standards proficiency for students with disabilities, school districts across the nation have substantially increased placements in inclusive classroom settings. This thrust has significantly challenged and frustrated general educators due to their perceptions of incompetence related to meeting the needs of students with disabilities in the absence of appropriate training and support.;This study used mixed-methods research to explore differences in general educators' self-efficacy beliefs based on IEP-identified students' learning or behavioral challenges; variation in classroom practice between high and low self-efficacy teachers relative …


Academic Optimism And Community Engagement In Urban Elementary Schools, Misty M. Kirby Jan 2009

Academic Optimism And Community Engagement In Urban Elementary Schools, Misty M. Kirby

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

No abstract provided.


Organizational Citizenship Behaviors, Collective Teacher Efficacy, And Student Achievement In Elementary Schools, Jeffrey C. Jackson Jan 2009

Organizational Citizenship Behaviors, Collective Teacher Efficacy, And Student Achievement In Elementary Schools, Jeffrey C. Jackson

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

This study sought to examine relationship between teacher organizational citizenship behaviors (OCB), collective teacher efficacy (CTE), and student achievement in urban elementary schools. A convenience sample of 1,327 teachers from 35 elementary schools from a single urban school district completed surveys designed to measure OCB and CTE. Student achievement data were based on performance on the Virginia Standards of Learning exams for grade 3 and 5 mathematics and reading.;Pearson correlation statistics revealed a significant positive relationship between OCB and CTE. Significant positive relationships were found between OCB and student achievement scores in grade 3 mathematics, grade 5 mathematics, and grade …


An Evaluation Study Of The Curriculum And Instructional Approaches Employed In The Norfolk Public Schools Gifted Program, Katie A. Dolph Jan 2009

An Evaluation Study Of The Curriculum And Instructional Approaches Employed In The Norfolk Public Schools Gifted Program, Katie A. Dolph

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine the degree to which the Norfolk Public Schools, Virginia, district elementary gifted grouping model was aligned with the National Association for Gifted Children Standards and its Local Plan for the Education of Gifted Students in regards to curriculum and instruction, as well as to provide data on classroom instruction techniques and the curriculum currently being used to provide gifted education services in the district.;The evaluation questions were (1) to what degree has the eighth recommendation of the 2005-06 evaluation study been implemented in the Norfolk Public Schools (NPS) district in regards to …


The Power Of African American Parent Perceptions On Student Achievement, Melody Luretha Camm Jan 2009

The Power Of African American Parent Perceptions On Student Achievement, Melody Luretha Camm

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

With the implementation of No Child Left Behind, schools have been challenged to maintain Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) for low achieving subpopulations. Current research supported by historical data suggests that African American parent involvement could possibly be the missing link to African American student achievement. This study explores the possible connection between African American parent perceptions of their school involvement and student achievement. It surveyed 738 fourth grade parents from five Title I and five Non-Title I schools to see if there was a significant difference between the parent involvement perceptions of African American Parents and Non-African American Parents, as …


The Assistant Principal's Role In Special Education: An Inquiry Into The Supervision Of Special Education At The Building Level, Valerie Walton Jan 2008

The Assistant Principal's Role In Special Education: An Inquiry Into The Supervision Of Special Education At The Building Level, Valerie Walton

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

The purpose of this study was to examine the roles and responsibilities of elementary level assistant principals in the supervision of special education at the building level. Elementary assistant principals in Virginia (N = 219) were surveyed to identify delegated roles and responsibilities, perceptions of level of preparedness to perform assigned duties, and formal preparation for these duties. The survey addressed five leadership domains---Organization, Collaboration, Instruction, Program Evaluation, and Professional Development. Findings indicate that assistant principals fulfill organization duties more often than duties in the other domains, and felt more prepared for this area of responsibility as well. Knowledge and …


The Principal's Workday: A Comparative Analysis Of Performance Standards And Principal Practice, Holly Elizabeth Baker Richard Jan 2008

The Principal's Workday: A Comparative Analysis Of Performance Standards And Principal Practice, Holly Elizabeth Baker Richard

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

No abstract provided.


A Study Of The Relationship Between The Mathematics And Reading Achievement Of Students With Disabilities And Inclusive Practice In Elementary Schools, Sharon E. Siler Jan 2008

A Study Of The Relationship Between The Mathematics And Reading Achievement Of Students With Disabilities And Inclusive Practice In Elementary Schools, Sharon E. Siler

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

The AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) provision of NCLB requires schools to close the achievement gap so that students with disabilities perform at the same proficiency level as students without disabilities in mathematics and reading. This stringent requirement challenges school leaders to examine traditional exclusionary delivery practices and their outcomes and replace them with inclusive practices that hold promise for improving the academic performance of students with disabilities. This study examined the relationship between inclusive education in Virginia elementary schools and the attainment of No Child Left Behind's AYP performance targets in mathematics and reading for students with disabilities.;A quantitative research …


Teachers' Attitudes And Practices Toward Differentiating For Gifted Learners In K--5 General Education Classrooms, J. Denise Drain Jan 2008

Teachers' Attitudes And Practices Toward Differentiating For Gifted Learners In K--5 General Education Classrooms, J. Denise Drain

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

No abstract provided.