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Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

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Full-Text Articles in Education

A Phenomenological Approach To Examining Perceptions Of Middle School Students And Their Educators About Their Service-Learning Experiences, Mccafferty, Anita J. Stewart Mccafferty Jan 2011

A Phenomenological Approach To Examining Perceptions Of Middle School Students And Their Educators About Their Service-Learning Experiences, Mccafferty, Anita J. Stewart Mccafferty

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A primary purpose of public education is to ensure that all citizens have the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to participate in a democracy. Service learning is a democratic, constructivist, instructional strategy that connects academic learning with community needs. This phenomenological study described: (a) how youth, their educators, and community partners who experience service learning perceive its effects on themselves, their schools, and their community lives and (b) how professional-development opportunities need to be structured in order to encourage high quality civics education instruction. The problem this study addressed was how to solve youth civic and political disengagement. This study relied …

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Scaffolding English Language Learners' Reading Performance, Lolita D. Mckenzie Jan 2011

Scaffolding English Language Learners' Reading Performance, Lolita D. Mckenzie

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

English language learners (ELLs) spend a majority of their instructional time in mainstream classrooms with mainstream teachers. Reading is an area with which many ELLs are challenged when placed within mainstream classrooms. Scaffolding has been identified as one of the best teaching practices for helping students read. ELL students in a local elementary school were struggling, and school personnel implemented scaffolding in an effort to address student needs. The purpose of this mixed methods study was to examine how personnel in one diversely populated school employed scaffolding to accommodate ELLs. Vygotsky's social constructivist theory informed the study. Research questions were …

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The Effect Of Special Education Student Participation And Engagement In Mathematics On Student Achievement, Ermanno Ferrara Jan 2011

The Effect Of Special Education Student Participation And Engagement In Mathematics On Student Achievement, Ermanno Ferrara

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Engagement in mathematics lessons has a positive impact on student numeracy achievement. Yet special education students have experienced a significant drop in mathematics achievement from one year to the next, and this gap continues to grow. This mixed methods study examined the extent to which equal opportunities, similar to those offered to regular education students, are provided to special education students. It contributes to the body of knowledge regarding level of engagement of regular and special education students, the impact of their increased participation and engagement on numeracy achievement, and the ways to increase their level of engagement. Grounded in …

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Barriers And Supports To Implementation Of Principal Leadership For School Change, Jodi M. Delucia Jan 2011

Barriers And Supports To Implementation Of Principal Leadership For School Change, Jodi M. Delucia

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Practices for supporting school change have not been implemented consistently in K-12 schools in the United States. Researchers have not studied the needs of K-12 principals who fail to implement these practices, and barriers or supports to implementation have not been identified. The purpose of this sequential explanatory mixed methodology study was to understand K-12 principals' perceptions of the supports and barriers related to their abilities to implement the practices of challenging the process, inspiring a shared vision, enabling others to act, modeling the way, and encouraging the heart. Seven public school principals and 29 teachers in their schools completed …

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The Impact Of Teacher Collaboration In A Professional Learning Community On Teacher Job Satisfaction, Donna V. Ackerman Jan 2011

The Impact Of Teacher Collaboration In A Professional Learning Community On Teacher Job Satisfaction, Donna V. Ackerman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A dilemma in some local educational institutions is the lack of a supportive teacher community which could lead to decreased teacher job satisfaction. The purpose of this study was to describe to what extent teacher collaboration in a professional learning community (PLC) impacts teacher job satisfaction. Theoretical foundations by DuFour, Eaker and DuFour supported the relationships between PLC and teacher collaboration. Herzberg's theory of motivation and Maslow's hierarchy also served as frameworks in this study. An interpretive, qualitative research design was used to explore potential connections between collaboration and job satisfaction. Research questions addressed how scheduled school day collaborative time …

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An Analysis Of Distributed Leadership Implementation In Schools, Edward F. Burgess Ix Jan 2011

An Analysis Of Distributed Leadership Implementation In Schools, Edward F. Burgess Ix

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many policymakers have sought greater levels of success in schools by implementing new and more distributive models of leadership. The problem is that many have not achieved desired outcomes. The purpose of this grounded theory study was to discover what happens within a school organization as it moves from a traditional leadership model to a district mandated distributive leadership (DL) model. DL is an egalitarian balance of leadership among multiple individuals rather than simply administrators within an organization. The method used in this study was grounded theory (GT) which was selected to illustrate events, situations, and conditions from the perspectives …

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The Effects Of An Integrated Health And Physical Education Program On Student Achievement, Myralynn B. Catchings Jan 2011

The Effects Of An Integrated Health And Physical Education Program On Student Achievement, Myralynn B. Catchings

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In recent years, several schools have addressed the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001 by focusing on promoting skill acquisition in reading and math, often overlooking physical education (PE) as a significant part of a child's education. The purpose of this causal-comparative study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an integrated health and physical education (HPE) program on student achievement. This study was grounded in action-based learning theories. The research question examined differences in posttest scores, adjusted for pretest differences, from 204 freshman students enrolled in a Biology-1 class at an urban high school. Students in Group A …

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Elementary Teachers' Perceptions Of Technology Proficiencies And Motivation To Integrate Technology In School Curriculi, Laura C. Karl Jan 2011

Elementary Teachers' Perceptions Of Technology Proficiencies And Motivation To Integrate Technology In School Curriculi, Laura C. Karl

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite the availability of technological resources, the number of teachers integrating and using technology innovatively in the classroom is unknown. This qualitative investigation explored teachers' perceptions of proficiency in the use of computer technology in the classroom. Self-determination theory assisted the examination of motivation as decisions are made to integrate technology into the classroom curriculum. The research questions addressed the self-determination of teachers, decision making processes to integrate technology, and perceived technology competence. A qualitative, multiple case study design was used to explore the views of 10 technology-using elementary teachers in the use of technology in the classroom. These participants …

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The Association Of Mentorships And Leadership Practices With Nursing Faculty Retention, Lisa M. Rettenmeier Jan 2011

The Association Of Mentorships And Leadership Practices With Nursing Faculty Retention, Lisa M. Rettenmeier

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The lack of mentored relationships among nursing educators has the potential to negatively influence perceptions of leadership practices and could decrease the numbers of nursing faculty staying in academia. The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions of mentorships and leadership practices of nursing faculty teaching in academia. Watson's caring theory was the theoretical foundation to explain the congruence between mentored relationships, leadership practices, and the association with faculty retention. The first research question focused on differences between mentoring experience, assistance, and characteristics by mentor training type. Question two assessed the relationship between leadership practices by mentor training …

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Project Management Competencies Leading To Technology Implementation Success At A Community College, Bradford Orcutt Jan 2011

Project Management Competencies Leading To Technology Implementation Success At A Community College, Bradford Orcutt

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this study was to understand the knowledge gap between project management competencies available and those needed for successful implementation of technology projects at a community college. The purpose of the qualitative study was to evaluate, compare, and analyze the performance of project managers of 2 large technology projects in a specific community college with respect to each other and what was known about achieving project success at a public institution of higher education (IHE). The research questions for this study examined the competencies exhibited by the project leaders, the success parameters established for the projects, and …

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Middle School Mathematics Students' Perspectives On The Study Of Mathematics, Christy H. Vaughn Jan 2011

Middle School Mathematics Students' Perspectives On The Study Of Mathematics, Christy H. Vaughn

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This qualitative study addressed the perceptions toward the study of mathematics by middle school students who had formerly been in a remedial mathematics program. The purpose of the study was to explore the past experiences of nine students in order to determine what is needed for them to feel successful in mathematics. The conceptual framework of the study was grounded in philosophies of motivation, including achievement goal theory, self-worth theory, self-efficacy theory, expectancy-value theory, and attribution theory. The study used a phenomenological research design to answer the key research question, which focused upon the experiences of students and the meaning …

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Examining The Impact Of Teacher Perceptions Of Barriers Of Parental Involvement, Frankie V. Johnson Jan 2011

Examining The Impact Of Teacher Perceptions Of Barriers Of Parental Involvement, Frankie V. Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

One school in a Western United States was recently rated academically unacceptable by the state. That same school had an inactive Parent as Teachers organization, and teachers expressed concerns regarding low parental involvement. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine the impact of teacher perceptions of barriers to parental involvement. Epstein's model of parental involvement was the theoretical framework for this study. The research questions focused on identifying perceived parental involvement barriers from the perspective of teachers and suggesting viable solutions to address these perceived barriers. This case study involved interviewing 8 elementary school teachers. Data analysis …

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African American Student Retention In The Reserve Officer Training Corps (Rotc) Leadership Program, Elaine A. Edwards Jan 2011

African American Student Retention In The Reserve Officer Training Corps (Rotc) Leadership Program, Elaine A. Edwards

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The percentage of qualified African American senior military leaders is significantly lower than the percentage of African Americans serving in the enlisted ranks. With the changing demographics of the 21st century, increasing the number of African American Army officers is a practical as well a moral issue. The purpose of this mixed methods study was to understand African American cadets' perception of the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Leadership Program and the impact of ROTC on their lives. The theoretical basis for this study is Sternberg's theory of intelligence and Woodman, Sawyer, and Griffin's theory of organizational creativity. The …

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Teacher Experiences With Credit-Related Finance Education, Nikan Arapoff Jan 2011

Teacher Experiences With Credit-Related Finance Education, Nikan Arapoff

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Recent financial problems have highlighted the portion of financial literacy classes related to credit and spending. The recent bursting of the real estate asset bubble and the ongoing economic crisis framed the research question for this study regarding the experiences of social studies and business teachers in teaching coursework in credit-related finance management. The purpose of this study was to understand teacher experiences in the classroom that involved teaching financial information related to consumer credit. The study was based on the theoretical foundations of constructivism and a synthesis of related economic and educational thought. A qualitative, constructivist, and interpretive case …

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A Quantitative Assessment Of Skills And Competencies In Graduates Of At-Risk High Schools, Charles Jerry Williams Jr. Jan 2011

A Quantitative Assessment Of Skills And Competencies In Graduates Of At-Risk High Schools, Charles Jerry Williams Jr.

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The willingness to work and a high school diploma were once all that was needed to start one's career. The problem is that on the twentieth anniversary of the reports by the Secretary's Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS), high school graduates may still lack what business and education leaders require for success in entry-level employment or post-secondary studies. The research question included understanding how prepared graduates from at-risk high schools are for post-secondary work or study. The study used a Likert-scaled survey to assess participant work readiness in 36 skill or competency areas. The sample consisted of recent graduates …

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Middle School Teachers' Perceptions Of Barriers Of Managing Student Behavior, Winifred Nicole Whitlock Jan 2011

Middle School Teachers' Perceptions Of Barriers Of Managing Student Behavior, Winifred Nicole Whitlock

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite training and support, many middle school teachers struggle to create, implement, and enforce research-based strategies to manage students' behaviors. The purpose of this case study was to examine teachers' perceptions about the barriers of managing student behavior. The research questions investigated 9 teachers' perceived barriers of managing student behavior at one middle school and the observed actions of these teachers' reactions to student behavior. Each participant was asked to participate in a 45-minute semistructured interview to examine their perceived barriers of managing student behavior and the strategies they use to manage student behavior relative to McGregor's theories X and …

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Latino English Language Learners In Middle School And The Effect Of General Education Teachers' Use Of The Lesson Study Collaborative Model, Chauncey Dante Reese Jan 2011

Latino English Language Learners In Middle School And The Effect Of General Education Teachers' Use Of The Lesson Study Collaborative Model, Chauncey Dante Reese

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

General education content teachers in an urban middle school are responsible for the academic performance of Latino English language learners (ELLs) but lack specialized training in language acquisition. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to investigate content teachers' use of the lesson study collaborative model in teaching Latino ELLs. The theoretical framework of cooperative learning and the lesson study planning model guided this study. The research questions addressed the specific English as a second language (ESL) conversations and planning that occurred in interdisciplinary team meetings and lesson study implementation in teaching practice and student performance. Typological analysis of …

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Educators' Perceptions Of Assistive Technology For Students With Severe Or Multiple Disabilities, Mary Jane Davis Jan 2011

Educators' Perceptions Of Assistive Technology For Students With Severe Or Multiple Disabilities, Mary Jane Davis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Assistive technology (AT) is defined as any tool that can help integrate students with severe or multiple disabilities (SMD) into learning activities. As mandated by federal law, AT must be considered for all students with disabilities. Educators, however, do not consistently embrace low and mid tech AT devices in reading and the language arts, thus limiting student engagement in learning activities. The purpose of this study was to explore educators' perceptions of their experiences regarding the acquisition and the use of low and mid tech assistive devices with students with SMD. This study builds on the existing literature base of …

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Phenomenological Study Of Empowering Women Senior Leaders In Higher Education, Mila P. Cselenszky Jan 2011

Phenomenological Study Of Empowering Women Senior Leaders In Higher Education, Mila P. Cselenszky

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The number of women in senior administrative and leadership roles in higher education is minimal compared to the number of women in higher education jobs in general. This phenomenological study explored pathways women took to advance in their careers and barriers that prevent more women from gaining senior administrative and leadership roles. Research questions addressed perceived barriers participants faced while trying to advance their careers, mentoring and other support strategies women in higher education employed to help them move up the career ladder, and actions female leaders took in order to help establish gender equity. Dambe and Moorad's empowerment-based/transformational leadership …

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The Development Of Tracking And Its Historical Impact On Minority Students, Deberae Culpepper Jan 2011

The Development Of Tracking And Its Historical Impact On Minority Students, Deberae Culpepper

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the 1920s, high school students were placed on one of three tracks: high, average, and low. Over the years, vocational education was transformed into a low track assignment for students, often racial minorities, who were perceived as less intelligent. However, the interaction between vocational education and tracking policies and practices remained unclear. Using critical race theory, this study produced an historical analysis of the interaction of these two programs. This included a systematic identification of the originating factors influencing tracking and contemporary tracking policies and practices to understand how tracking affected racial minority students' access to equal educational opportunities …

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Vipassana Meditation And Teacher Decision-Making, Jeffrey Ronald Glogowski Jan 2011

Vipassana Meditation And Teacher Decision-Making, Jeffrey Ronald Glogowski

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this grounded theory study was to build a theory about the process and function teachers construct around the effect Vipassana meditation has on stress, teaching, and decision-making. This study addressed the problem of how teachers respond to daily tasks and demands that can negatively impact their longevity in the profession. The starting point was the conceptual framework, including resolving cognitive dissonance, choice theory, mindfulness, and the perspective of Vipassana meditation. The research questions addressed how Vipassana meditation influences a teacher's daily routine, decision-making, classroom management, general procedures, and stressful situations. The data collection was done in 2 …

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Middle School Educators' Perceptions Of Online Professional Development, Kelley E. Theodocion Jan 2011

Middle School Educators' Perceptions Of Online Professional Development, Kelley E. Theodocion

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Numerous researchers have investigated distance education in postsecondary settings, but there is a paucity of research regarding the design and delivery of online professional development for K-12 educators. The goal of this mixed methods sequential exploratory study was to examine attitudes of middle grades educators toward an online professional development course held for teachers employed by one suburban school district in the southeast region of the United States. The theoretical framework is Knowles's theory of adult education (andragogy). The research questions addressed perceptions of connectedness and learning in an online professional development course. A structured interview protocol was used to …

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Effects Of An In-School Suspension Program On Student Academic Achievement, Recidivism, And Social Literacy, Sherry Williams Jan 2011

Effects Of An In-School Suspension Program On Student Academic Achievement, Recidivism, And Social Literacy, Sherry Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Since the passage of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), school leaders have had to identify instructional and administrative practices that would increase student achievement. Provisions of NCLB have added additional challenges for schools working with low achieving students with discipline problems. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to investigate how a school's in-school suspension (ISS) program served teachers and students. The research questions focused on determining the strengths and weaknesses of the school's ISS program, the potential that these characteristics held to affect student academic achievement and behavior for ISS students, recidivism, and measures that the …

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Exploring The Meaning And Use Of Science Content Integration, Jason L. Garner Jan 2011

Exploring The Meaning And Use Of Science Content Integration, Jason L. Garner

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Science content integration, or the simultaneous teaching of science with other subjects during learning activities, has been explored by multiple studies. However, due to a lack of consensus on its definition, it was difficult for educators in a local school district to discuss and evaluate the effectiveness of this instructional technique. This qualitative collective case study, based on a constructivist theoretical foundation, centered on the questions of how teachers defined and used science content integration, and perceptions of impediments to its use. Participants were five teachers in a suburban elementary school. The sources of data for this study were interviews, …

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Investigating Student Gender And Grade Level Differences In Digital Citizenship Behavior, Robert Lyons Jan 2011

Investigating Student Gender And Grade Level Differences In Digital Citizenship Behavior, Robert Lyons

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The rapid rise of technology, which has become embedded in all facets of 21st century society during the past decade, has fostered a corresponding rise in its misuse. Digital citizenship abuse, a relatively new phenomenon of this electronic age, is a rapidly growing global problem. Parents, schools, and society play roles in supporting appropriate online behavior. Schools must take the lead role to assess and address digital citizenship issues. This ex post facto study investigated the online actions of students in a medium-sized K-12 school district and explored possible causal relationships between online misbehavior and student grade and gender based …

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Teachers' Perceptions Of Reading Achievement For Kindergarten-3 Rd Grade Students Of Low Socioeconomic Status, Vicki L. Curtis Jan 2011

Teachers' Perceptions Of Reading Achievement For Kindergarten-3 Rd Grade Students Of Low Socioeconomic Status, Vicki L. Curtis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The three tiered reading model and the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) are two initiatives being used to identify struggling readers of low socioeconomic status. While there is abundant information with statistical reports from various researchers, there is little research available as to what educators implementing DIBELS in the school environment perceive about the instrument, what it measures and what it fails to take into account. It is important to examine all aspects and views of an initiative being widely used across the nation to close the reading achievement gap. Educators working with students of low socioeconomic …

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Focusing Professional Development By Differentiating For Teachers, Amy Weber-Salgo Jan 2011

Focusing Professional Development By Differentiating For Teachers, Amy Weber-Salgo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study addressed the problem of low student achievement in elementary school mathematics and investigated the level of knowledge held by the teachers. Previous studies have shown that students who succeed in mathematics are more successful during their school years, including college, and earn a higher income level as adults. A theoretical framework of andragogy framed three research questions for investigation. The first question focused on the current professional development needs of the teachers. The other two questions investigated whether the mathematical knowledge relating to teaching (MKT) correlates with the socioeconomic level of the school or correlates with annual yearly …

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Emergency Management Standards For Ncaa Division I-A Football Stadia, Joshua R. Hoogstra Jan 2011

Emergency Management Standards For Ncaa Division I-A Football Stadia, Joshua R. Hoogstra

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the best of times, emergency managers of athletic event venues struggle with the responsibilities of venue security. The possibility of terrorist threats exacerbates the situation, especially when security threats can involve a critical mass of spectators at an event. Emergency managers at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) athletic venues were the focus of this study. The overarching research question examined whether the minimum core competencies and qualifications for NCAA emergency managers were perceived by the same managers as being sufficient and in alignment with the work that is expected of the position. Research questions were designed to study …

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A Mixed Methods Program Evaluation On The Effectiveness Of A School Redesign Model On Teacher Empowerment And Student Achievement, Ann Marie Costa Jan 2011

A Mixed Methods Program Evaluation On The Effectiveness Of A School Redesign Model On Teacher Empowerment And Student Achievement, Ann Marie Costa

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A recent law in a New England state allowed public schools to operate with increased flexibility and autonomy through the authorization of the creation of Innovation Schools. This project study, a program evaluation using a convergent parallel mixed methods research design, allowed for a comprehensive evaluation of the first Innovation School (IS). Activity theory, which conceptualizes change in systems involving human interaction, was the theoretical foundation of this study. The research questions focused on the efficacy of the autonomous school redesign model in involving stakeholders in participatory decision making, improving teacher collaboration, expanding teacher empowerment, and increasing student achievement on …

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Parents' Impact On Their Young Children's Literacy Achievement, Christina A. Williams Jan 2011

Parents' Impact On Their Young Children's Literacy Achievement, Christina A. Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many children enter formal schooling with a propensity toward literacy success while others lack foundational skills that adequately support literacy achievement. Researchers acknowledge if certain skills are not present upon entrance into formal schooling, literacy success can be affected. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine first-grade students' home literacy experiences prior to receiving formal reading instruction in a one suburban public school. Bruner's theory of scaffolding, which suggests that parents and teachers support children in the learning process, and Vygotsky's concept of zone of proximal development provided the conceptual framework for this study. The research questions …

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