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Full-Text Articles in Education

A Phenomenological Investigation Of Mindfulness Practice Through The Lived Experiences Of Secondary Educators, Karen H. Styers Jan 2019

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 …


Educating Our Educators: How Teachers Understand Themselves As Adult Learners And Perceive Their Professional Learning Experiences, Desirae` Khampanya Jan 2019

Educating Our Educators: How Teachers Understand Themselves As Adult Learners And Perceive Their Professional Learning Experiences, Desirae` Khampanya

Education Dissertations and Projects

This study investigated how teachers understand themselves as adult learners and perceive their professional learning experiences within a rural school district in North Carolina. This study was a replication of Fitzgerald’s (2014) dissertation and sought to extend the generalizability of the original study. An explanatory mixed-methods design was used, and the two sources of data collected included an online survey and virtual interviews. The results from this study indicated that almost all participating teachers learned best when the core adult learning principles (Knowles, Holton, & Swanson, 2015) were applied to their professional learning experiences, but less than half of those …


From The Beginning: A Start To End Analysis Of A Beginning Teacher Program, Andrea M. Anderson Jan 2019

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 Jan 2019

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 Jan 2019

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 Jan 2019

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 …


Impact Of Teacher Morale And School Culture On Student Achievement, Meredith Bost Jan 2019

Impact Of Teacher Morale And School Culture On Student Achievement, Meredith Bost

Education Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of teacher morale and school culture on student achievement. The setting for this research was a high school in a small, semi- urban school district in the Piedmont of North Carolina. For the purpose of this study, teacher morale and school culture were based on the opinion of English II and biology teachers at the study site. The study’s methodology included surveying English II and biology teachers on teacher morale and school culture. To measure teacher morale, the Purdue Teacher Opinionnaire was given to each participant. To measure the school’s …


Teacher Perceptions Of Formative Assessments On Student Learning In K-12 Classrooms, Stacey Robinson Jan 2019

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 …


The Impact Of Blended Professional Learning Focused On Total Physical Response Storytelling (Tprs®) On Teacher Perceptions And Practices, April Dawn Debord Jan 2019

The Impact Of Blended Professional Learning Focused On Total Physical Response Storytelling (Tprs®) On Teacher Perceptions And Practices, April Dawn Debord

Education Dissertations and Projects

Professional learning plays an integral role in every educator’s career. Studies show that traditional workshop professional learning in a one-round session without follow-up training is not effective (Ball & Cohen, 1999), yet this type of professional learning still comprises the bulk of professional development offerings. This study sought to discover the impact of providing blended professional learning with coaching on teacher perception, teacher knowledge, classroom practice, and student learning. Participating instructors from various Grades 9-12 backgrounds received asynchronous virtual training in the TPRS® method and Marzano’s (2004) vocabulary learning strategies. The training was delivered via the Canvas Learning Management System. …


A Descriptive Phenomenological Exploration Of Resiliency Through Math Curriculum Changes From The Perspectives Of Elementary Educators, Shanna Good Jan 2019

A Descriptive Phenomenological Exploration Of Resiliency Through Math Curriculum Changes From The Perspectives Of Elementary Educators, Shanna Good

Education Dissertations and Projects

Phenomenological research in education, especially regarding curriculum, is rare. Curriculum change in the state has occurred seven times since 2002, and more so in each district with material adoption. This descriptive phenomenological research study describes the experiences of elementary educators through changing math curriculums. To collect data, the researcher interviewed 10 elementary math teachers including a pilot interview. Using a purposeful, convenience sample, three participants from three different schools participated in this study to ensure validity and reliability. After conducting semi-structured interviews, the researcher followed protocol for descriptive phenomenological research and analyzed the data for meaning units that described how …


Perceptions Of The Impact Of Quality Professional Development On The Sustainability Of A One-To-One Computing Initiative At The High School Level, Kerry Morrison Jan 2019

Perceptions Of The Impact Of Quality Professional Development On The Sustainability Of A One-To-One Computing Initiative At The High School Level, Kerry Morrison

Education Dissertations and Projects

It has been said that education is the key to success, and today’s youth are tomorrow’s human resources. This is the 21st century; and students, who will be the human resources of tomorrow, are being prepared for jobs that may not even exist today. Legislators, policy makers, and researchers have encouraged methods to ensure teachers deliver high quality instruction, including requiring that teachers complete specific training, possess a minimum level of content knowledge, and use curriculum materials and professional development resources available from schools and districts (Hill, Blazar, & Lynch, 2015). As a result, teachers need to be exposing students …


From The Beginning: A Start To End Analysis Of A Beginning Teacher Program, Andrea Michelle Anderson Jan 2019

From The Beginning: A Start To End Analysis Of A Beginning Teacher Program, Andrea Michelle 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 …