Education Commons^™

Prediction Of Teacher Well-Being Through Beliefs: A Mixed-Methods Study Of Educators, Annie Beatty

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Teachers’ beliefs regarding students with disabilities and their overall well-being are critical for successful inclusion. The current project sought to explore whether teacher beliefs predict teacher well-being and aimed to increase our understanding of how teachers’ experiences with inclusion influence well-being and teaching practices. Participants (n=67) completed a demographic questionnaire, the Beliefs about Learning and Teaching Questionnaire, and the Kessler-6 instrument. Eleven teachers participated in interviews regarding their experiences in inclusion and relevant teaching practices. Results suggest that increased professional experience predicted higher levels of distress in teachers. Additionally, thematic analysis of the interviews identified five themes regarding the current …

"Over The Years I'Ve Come To Realize That Every Student Has The Right To Learn": An Exploration Of The Experiences That Influence Beginning Teachers' Beliefs About Diverse Learners And Inclusive Education, Jessica Delorey

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The current study explored the experiences that influence beginning teachers’ beliefs about teaching and learning in diverse classrooms. Teachers’ beliefs inform their instructional practice, which in turn has direct bearing on their students’ success. Interview data was collected as part of a larger study by the Canadian Research Centre on Inclusive Education. Fifteen pre-service teachers and 13 new teachers sorted the data using Trochim’s (1989) group concept mapping method to identify themes. Pre-service teachers identified four distinct themes: (a) education, (b) practicum/collaboration, (c) work experience, and (d) personal experience with diversity. New teachers identified eight distinct themes: (a) education/training, (b) …

English Language Teacher Self-Efficacy Beliefs, Michael James Karas

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This dissertation investigates English language teacher self-efficacy beliefs. Based in Bandura’s (1997) sociocognitive perspective, teachers’ self-efficacy beliefs, their beliefs about their capabilities to enact various teaching tasks, have been shown to be impactful on numerous aspects of teachers’ professional lives. Research in both general education and language teacher education has shown that more efficacious teachers are often more motivated, exert a greater effort when teaching, have a higher morale, and can even positively impact their students.

Drawing on survey data from N = 571 participants across a variety of English language teaching contexts, this thesis takes an integrated article format …

Elementary Students' Beliefs About The Causes Of Learning Difficulties: A Comparison Between Canada And Saudi Arabia, Huda Saleh Felimban

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

In this cross-cultural comparison, students from inclusive schools in Canada and Saudi Arabia shared their beliefs about the causes of and factors associated with learning difficulties. Qualitative data were collected through interviews with 36 Canadian and 62 Saudi elementary students in Grades 5 and 6. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. Six categories emerged: Lack of Knowledge, Achievement, Academic Skills; Cognitive and Social-Emotional Barriers; Lack of Attention and/or Motivation and Behavioural Issues; Home and Parental Concerns; Teacher-Related Issues; and Physical/Sensory Disabilities and Innate Conditions. Results showed that participants from both countries had a general understanding of the factors …