Education Commons^™

Convivios Familiares: Interactions And Shifts In Language(S) To Support Teacher Efficacy And Parent Engagement Of Emergent Bilinguals, Lydia Claire Carnesale

Theses and Dissertations

Within early childhood classrooms of today, many languages and cultures are represented. Both caregivers and educators need to be aware of how to best support children who speak a language other than English to prepare them to be capable members of their home and school community.

This requires reimagined family engagement and professional development for both caregivers and teachers to support the growth of linguistic skills of early childhood Emergent Bilinguals. This study explores how through family engagement sessions, caregivers and teachers recognize the language development of Emergent Bilinguals. Through a qualitative research case study, the findings reveal how collaboration …

Role Of University Staff In Fostering Graduate Student Engagement, Elizabeth Ellen Caulder

Theses and Dissertations

Graduate student disengagement has increased in higher education, especially after changes from the COVID-19 pandemic, such as automation, remote work, and less face- to-face interaction. This dissertation-in-practice investigated whether relationship-focused interventions could boost student engagement. Guided by Social Exchange Theory and Improvement Science, it used a Plan–Do–Study–Act framework to develop and refine a professional development lunch program. The intervention aimed to promote reciprocal interactions between students and staff based on shared goals. Data from observations, attendance, surveys, and interviews were analyzed across three cycles.

This study illustrates how improvement science serves as a practical, systems- focused approach to tackling problems …

“Not Being Classified (English Proficient), Only Limits How Much I Can Learn”: An Action Research Examination Of The Elpac, Manuel De Jesus Acuna Jr

Theses and Dissertations

Emerging language learners across the United States face challenges in accessing equal educational opportunities because they are classified as not proficient, which holds them back. The emphasis on this classification compromises their performance on state exams, jeopardizing their educational future. The English Language Proficiency Assessments for California is a state-mandated exam that non- first-language English Speakers must take and pass in order to be classified as English proficient. Districts and educators must begin to challenge the educational system in California. This research outlines the difficulties faced by emergent language learners who are not classified and the repercussions on their future. …

When One Size Does Not Fit All: Helping Teachers Adapt Scripted Curricula For Students With Disabilities, Julie Elizabeth Broad

Theses and Dissertations

Special education teachers are responsible for differentiating instruction so students with disabilities can access the general education curriculum and meet their IEP goals. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act requires that students eligible for special education receive specially designed instruction aligned with their individual needs, yet at the time of this qualitative action research study, I served as a special educator in a district that mandated the use of scripted curricula for math and language arts. To resolve this problem of practice, I sought to understand elementary teachers’ lived experiences with the scripted curricula, including their effectiveness for students with …

Financial Incentives And Substitute Teacher Job Fill Rates, Anna Ruth Graham

Theses and Dissertations

Since the return to full-time, in-person instruction following COVID-related school closure, our district, Madison County Public Schools (MCPS), has struggled with a consistently low substitute teacher fill rate. MCPS is a small, rural district with a student population hovering around 1,560 students, pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade, and just under 300 total staff members. The county borders and is within reasonable driving distance to several higher-paying districts. As a result, we struggle to cover daily teacher absences. While the national average for substitute fill-rates is 80 percent, our substitute fill-rate at times averages below 50 percent. Kraft et al.’s study of …

Clarifying Educator Roles To Strengthen Inclusive Practices For Students With Disabilities, Anastasia Sara-Nicholas Theophelis

Theses and Dissertations

This Dissertation in Practice (DiP) focuses on improving inclusive instructional practices in Clarkston Community Schools by increasing clarity and shared understanding of educator roles. Despite a strong district commitment to inclusion, data and teacher feedback revealed that role ambiguity between general and special education staff limited collaboration led to inconsistent implementation of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), and contributed to educator frustration. Research supports that role clarity is foundational to effective co-teaching, collaboration, and sustained inclusive practices (Friend & Cook, 2016; Scruggs et al., 2007).

Guided by the principles of improvement science, this study tested a structured Action Plan and Role …

Supporting Retention Of Special Educators: A Comparison Study Of Perspectives And Experiences Of Special Education Teachers, Mary Margaret Stahl

Theses and Dissertations

The shortage of special education teachers and providers is a significant concern across the United States. This research study further examines the factors which effect special educators and how this can differ based on the service delivery model and category of disabilities taught by teachers. To date, no previous studies have examined special education teacher and provider retention by service delivery model and this study addresses that gap. By examining retention across service delivery models, these findings can inform implications for both practice and further research. This study helps expand the literature and move the field from identifying what matters …

Bridging The Gap In First Grade: Community Perceptions Of Standards-Based Grading And Literacy Communication In A Rural Virginia School Division, Kristin Janssen

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative action research study explored the perceptions of parents, guardians, and teachers regarding standards-based grading (SBG) in first-grade literacy instruction and examined community buy-in toward its implementation in a rural Virginia school district. Although state-level mandates such as the Virginia Literacy Act emphasize evidence-based literacy instruction and foundational reading skills, traditional grading practices remain common in early elementary classrooms. These practices often lack alignment with instructional standards and may obscure students’ literacy progress, creating challenges for communication between schools and families.

Surveys with closed and open-ended questions yielded data from first- grade teachers and parents or guardians to illuminate …

It’S Not A Hierarchy Of Needs; It’S A Maze. A Case Study Of The Challenges And Supports For Former Foster Youth Transitioning To The Community College In Virginia, Lee Hemmrich Hunt

Theses and Dissertations

Despite decades of policy reform and targeted support, today’s former foster youth (FFY) face disproportionate challenges to higher education completion. This qualitative case study explored the lived experiences of six former foster youth as they transitioned from the foster care system to a community college in Virginia. Guided by a conceptual framework integrating Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, Bridges’ Transition Theory, and Zimbardo’s Time Perspective Theory, this study sought to understand the barriers FFY encounter, the supports they find most meaningful, how they define successful independence, and the role higher education plays in that definition.

Data was collected through preliminary meetings, …

Collaborative Technology, Collaborative Technology Integration, Digital Literacy Skills, Teacher Self-Efficacy, Bailey Christine Coen Tucker

Theses and Dissertations

Effective technology implementation occurs when the technology being used in the classroom provides students the opportunity to collaborate and communicate with each other. Additionally, collaboration is an effective pedagogical strategy for building student digital literacy skills. At East Caraway Valley High School, educators seldom utilize collaborative technologies to further their students’ digital literacy skills. This mixed-methods research study aims to explore educator perceptions about their self-efficacy with collaborative technology integration and the practices of using collaborative technologies in the classroom to identify the reasons for a lack of collaborative technology integration and devise strategies for supporting educators to overcome barriers …

The Metacognitive Shift: Reshaping Student Attitudes And Adaptive Reasoning Through Error Analysis In Eighth-Grade Mathematics, Samantha Lynn Graves

Theses and Dissertations

This study utilized an action research framework to address students’ lack of adaptive reasoning skills in a mathematics classroom in South Carolina. These students often focus on procedural fluency without understanding the reasoning behind the steps. Using a mixed methods design, this study examined the impact of implementing student- led error analysis as a metacognitive strategy on the adaptive reasoning skills and attitudes of 20 eighth-grade mathematics students. The study took place over 6 weeks at a Title I public charter school, and the intervention required students to identify, correct, and explain errors in various problem types, including fractions, applied …

Fostering High Achievement For Students Within And Beyond The Classroom – Building In Students Academic Language And Literacy Skills To Improve Standardized Test Scores In United States History And The Constitution. An Action Research Study, Amber Nicole Gant

Theses and Dissertations

The scores received on high-stakes tests throughout a student’s educational journey are an indication of the level of mastery of advanced content. Subsequently, these scores highlight their ability to access skills that reflect their likelihood to achieve success and become 21st century college and career-ready individuals. As an educator teaching in an underserved area, students’ inability to comprehend academic language and literacy skills negatively impacts standardized test scores and evidence of complete competency of learned materials. This research examines the effects and outcomes of building on students’ academic language and literacy skills to foster higher academic achievement on standardized tests …

Book Creator In A Dual Language Classroom: The Impact Of A Digital Multimodal Writing Tool On Second Graders’ Spanish Informational Writing Skills And Attitudes Toward Writing, Adriana Hart

Theses and Dissertations

Second grade students in dual-language immersion programs often experience limited vocabulary development and fluency in Spanish, which can affect their ability to comprehend texts and express ideas in writing. In many dual-language settings, Spanish writing instruction receives less instructional time than English literacy, resulting in limited opportunities for students to engage in sustained, structured writing. As a result, there is a need to examine instructional approaches that intentionally support Spanish writing development. The purpose of this action research was to evaluate the impact of a digital multimodal writing tool on second grade students’ informational writing skills in Spanish, as well …

Instructional Design To Support Math Identity Growth In Middle School, Sarah A. Foster

Theses and Dissertations

Middle school mathematics classrooms often emphasize performance and correctness in ways that contribute to negative student beliefs, disengagement, and persistent underachievement, particularly among students enrolled in on-grade-level courses. In this action research study, a targeted math identity development intervention was implemented to examine how instructional practices designed to affirm student thinking influenced eighth-grade students’ math self-efficacy, growth mindset, academic performance, and self-perception as mathematics learners. The study also explored teachers’ perceptions of student identity shifts and the instructional strategies they viewed as most effective in fostering positive math identity.

Guided by Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy, Dweck’s growth mindset theory, and …

Teachers’ Needs And Preferences Versus School Leaders’ Perceptions: Recommendations For Professional Development On Literacy And Technology Integration In A Rural Elementary School, Kristen Sargent Hopkins

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this action research was to identify and describe early childhood teachers’ needs and preferences, as well as district and school leaders’ perceptions of teachers’ needs and preferences, for professional development on literacy and technology integration at South Elementary School. Like much of South Carolina, South Elementary has reported decreases in reading performance and skills, causing leaders to focus on teacher professional development in early literacy and technology integration. This research was guided by two research questions: (1) What are early childhood teachers’ needs and preferences for professional development on literacy and technology integration at South Elementary School? …

Quality Of Life As A Guiding Construct For Service Delivery In Applied Behavior Analysis, Aaron Randall Check

Theses and Dissertations

Currently, there is considerable research highlighting less than ideal outcomes for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities across many facets of daily living. The field of behavior analysis has the potential to meaningfully impact outcomes for these individuals if the focus of service provision is improving quality of life. The purpose of this multiple manuscript dissertation is to describe three cohesive research projects intended to contribute to advancing the field of applied behavior analysis towards centering quality of life in service provision. The first project was a systematic literature review which explored the presence of both quality of life and …

Exploring The Impact Of Culturally Relevant Pedagogy On Student Cultural Capital, Jessica Asten Leonard

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the intersection of cultural capital and culturally relevant pedagogy (CRP) within the context of eighth-grade social studies education. Grounded in a theoretical framework of Bourdieu’s cultural capital theory, Ladson-Billings’ theory of culturally relevant pedagogy, and principles of critical curriculum theory, this research study investigated how elements of objectified and embodied cultural capital manifested in student participants and how those elements may have been influenced using culturally relevant instructional strategies. Within the context of a mixed methods design, a qualitative survey instrument was administered to students enrolled in South Carolina and United States history courses and sought to …

Instructional Practices, Belonging, And Self-Efficacy In Rural Inquiry-Based Classrooms: A Structural Equation Model Of Direct And Indirect Effects, Jennifer Nichol Harrist

Theses and Dissertations

Research on inquiry-based learning (IBL) has largely focused on student achievement outcomes, with less attention given to how classroom social dynamics influence students’ motivational beliefs, particularly within rural educational contexts. Rural schools often operate within smaller, close-knit communities where interpersonal relationships may shape students’ academic experiences in distinctive ways. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between instructional practices, belonging, and students’ academic self-efficacy in rural inquiry-based learning environments. Using self-efficacy theory and belonging frameworks, the study investigated whether students’ perceptions of teacher and peer belonging mediated the relationship between instructional practices and perceived academic competence.

Survey …

Meeting The Needs Of Students With Disabilities In School Crisis Plans, Christine L. Montesi

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine crisis preparedness among educators in public schools across York County, SC. More specifically, the study explored how prepared educators believe they are to meet the needs of students with disabilities during and after a school-based crisis. While a majority of public schools report having written crisis plans in place, less is known about crisis preparedness for students with disabilities. Respondents were asked to provide input on ways to address the needs of students with disabilities during a crisis and report their own perceptions of preparedness.

Data were collected through a survey and …

Soft Skills As The New Hard Skills In The Industry 5.0 Era, Miria Zangirolami Munoz

Theses and Dissertations

As technological advancement reshapes educational and professional landscapes, the human dimensions of teaching have become increasingly critical. This action research study examines the gap between the strong academic preparation of Teachers of English as a Second Language (TESL) pre-service teachers and their readiness to meet professional workplace expectations. Situated within the context of Industry 5.0, where human-centered skills are emphasized alongside digital competence, the study explores how soft skills, punctuality, digital etiquette, presentation skills, and professional attire, can be intentionally developed within teacher education. Guided by the strength model of self-control and achievement goal theory, a targeted workshop intervention was …

From Survival To Social: The Evolution Of Strategic Competence In B2 English Learners During Collaborative Board Gameplay, Hazza Bin Hazza

Theses and Dissertations

An examination of the communicative strategies of B2-level English language learners was conducted to investigate the evolutionary trajectory of strategic deployment in informal, collaborative, and non-instructional settings. While traditional research has predominantly focused on digital or explicitly educational games within controlled, single-session tasks, a notable gap remains in understanding how learners navigate the linguistic and social demands of non-pedagogical, commercially available board games over repeated encounters. This qualitative case study addressed this gap by observing four learners as they engaged in four sessions of Forbidden Desert, a collaborative survival board game.

The theoretical framework integrated Sociocultural Theory, Communicative Competence, and …

Reimagining Math Instruction: An Improvement Science Study On Student Choice And Teacher Support Systems In 5th Grade, Nikki G. Gilmore

Theses and Dissertations

This improvement study investigates the potential impact of implementing choice-based assignments on student performance in fifth-grade mathematics. Recognizing that traditional, one-size-fits-all instructional models often limit student engagement and ownership, this study explores how offering students meaningful choices in their learning tasks can improve academic outcomes. Grounded in the principles of improvement science, the study began with an examination of student data, empathy interviews, and root cause analysis using tools such as the Five Whys, fishbone diagram, and driver diagram to better understand the problem of practice. This process positioned choice not as a luxury but as a strategic lever for …

Increasing Equity In Technology Integration, Whitney Anne Colley

Theses and Dissertations

The problem of practice focuses on unequal integration of technology across the district. This action research study aimed to understand teachers’ experiences and promote equitable use of technology in classrooms by implementing a coaching cycle centered on co-teaching and collaboration, which supports teachers beyond simply substituting traditional tools with technology, toward more meaningful integration that improves learning. Teachers often use technology as a direct substitute due to limited time and rushed professional development, which can affect their confidence and effectiveness. The study took place in a public elementary school serving 700 students, in which all students from second to fifth …

Examining Shifts In Attitudes Toward Mathematics: A Mixed Methods Study In Undergraduate Business Calculus, Kathryn Pedings-Behling

Theses and Dissertations

Students in my non-theoretical Business Calculus course at the College of Eastshore almost never begin the class with a positive attitude towards mathematics. They are taking the course to fulfill their general education requirements in mathematics, and for most of them, this will be their last experience in a formal classroom setting with a mathematics educator. This profile of a math-reluctant student is not unique to my Business Calculus course; I have spoken with many fellow educators in similar situations who experience the same persistence of negative attitudes toward mathematics from their own students. Their attitude not only has implications …

From Sounds To Success: Multi-Sensory Parent–Child Engagement For Early Phonics Among 4-Year-Olds In Rural Jamaica, Kyc-Ann Denise Scott

Theses and Dissertations

Early literacy disparities remain a persistent challenge in rural Jamaican communities, where many young learners begin school with limited exposure to systematic phonics instruction despite the rich cultural and linguistic resources present within their families. This Dissertation in Practice examined how a multi-sensory parent– child engagement approach could improve phonemic awareness among four-year-old learners in a rural early childhood classroom in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica. Anchored in an equity-oriented improvement science framework, the study used two iterative Plan–Do– Study–Act (PDSA) cycles to test strategies that integrated systematic phonics instruction with culturally responsive parent engagement practices.

The intervention included daily multi-sensory phonics …

I Fina’Nå’Guen I Famagu’On Put I Tåsi: The Impact Of Phenomena-Based Learning On Explaining And Conceptualizing Ocean Acidification In The Pacific, Angelia Jean Blas-Lizama

Theses and Dissertations

This convergent mixed methods study examined the impact of a new phenomena-based (PhBL) lesson plan—grounded by social constructivism and the NGSS framework—on 1) student ability to explain and contextualize a phenomenon, and 2) assess student perceptions of PhBL compared to traditional science instruction. This addressed the shift towards science education reform that better prepares K-12 students for the STEM pipeline and creates student agency surrounding human impact on the environment. Ocean acidification was the selected phenomenon for this study as it was culturally and locally relevant to the participants—sixth-grade science students at a Pacific Island public middle school. Findings revealed …

Perception Is Reality: Co-Teachers’ Perceptions On Co-Teaching, Tabitha Stewart Strickland

Theses and Dissertations

Co-teaching is a service delivery option that high schools use to assist in meeting the needs of students with high-incidence disabilities in general education classrooms. This quantitative study investigates the effectiveness of co-teaching in South Carolina high schools by examining co-teacher perceptions related to fidelity implementation, the descriptions of current co-teaching classrooms, student outcomes, specially designed instruction in the co-taught classroom, teacher preferences, and barriers to effective implementation. The results reveal co-teachers (n = 117) agree that 58% of the implementation practices are occurring; co-taught classrooms are described as having 31 to 40% of students with special needs in classes …

Reimagining Civic Readiness: Middle School Teachers’ Definition And Perceptions Of The Importance Of Civic Readiness, Razak K. Dwomoh

The Councilor: A National Journal of the Social Studies

This article examines how middle school social studies teachers define “civic readiness,” how teacher motivation shapes civics instruction, and why middle-level civics is integral to engaged citizenship. The paper presents teachers as “curricular instructional gatekeepers” and argues that civic readiness (preparedness/willingness) differs significantly from civic competence (mastery) in terms of meaning, scope, and outcomes, proposing a four-staged pathway from readiness to engagement, then development, and finally to competence. It further provides an overview of three interrelated concepts (academic readiness, college readiness, and career readiness) to juxtapose civic readiness within the larger literary discourse. The …

Strengthening Students' Political Thinking Skills By Researching The Annexation Of Texas, Rebecca Macon Bidwell, Jeremiah Clabough

The Councilor: A National Journal of the Social Studies

The unit plan in this manuscript uses best practices from the C3 Framework published by the National Council for the Social Studies and Wayne Journell’s ideas about political thinking to engage students in discussion of the politics leading to the nomination of Governor James K. Polk as the Democratic Party nominee for president in the U.S. 1844 presidential election. Students explore the impact of candidates’ views of the annexation of Texas during this election as well as the influence of President Jackson on the nomination process in the Democratic Party. Ultimately, the election pitted Governor James K. Polk, the dark …

Making Social Studies Work In The Age Of Ai, Angelo Letizia

The Councilor: A National Journal of the Social Studies

The purpose of this paper is to first outline a more embedded stance toward AI use, which I have labeled invisible philosophy and history as DNA and use this embedded framework as a backdrop for a more concrete discussion of skills and dispositions in regard to the use of AI in the social studies classroom and beyond. This dual positioning, one more theoretical and one more concrete, calls attention to the fact that AI should not simply be seen as some flashy tool divorced from a more nuanced and embedded understanding of its role in society. A list of practical …