Elementary Education Commons^™

Perceptions Of Situational Leadership Styles On The Behavioral Intervention Skills Of General Educators, Kendall Jordan Baethge

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The researcher conducted the following study to describe the lived experiences and perceptions of general educators employed in a rural, central Texas school district. The study specifically inquired about the perceptions of leadership styles and strategies to successful behavior intervention strategies for inclusive general education classrooms. The problem addressed within the study was the growing diversity in general education classrooms ensuring inclusive opportunities to students with disabilities who exhibit challenging behaviors. The purpose of the study was to better understand those leadership styles currently being used and styles that are most appropriate to develop perceived self-efficacy and proficiency in behavior …

How Literature Circles Shape First-Grade Students’ Motivation And Enjoyment In Reading, Cambell Hassell

Masters of Education in Teaching and Learning

The purpose of this research study was to examine what happens when literature circles are implemented in a first-grade classroom. This study also aimed to explore how literature circles shaped students’ motivation and enjoyment of reading. Additionally, the researcher focused on understanding both teacher and student perceptions of literature circles. Qualitative data was collected over a four-week period through observations, field notes, student and teacher interviews, survey responses, and student reflection journals. The data was analyzed using the constant comparative method. Findings showed that literature circles in a first-grade classroom are a powerful structure for supporting engagement, comprehension, and reading …

Influence Of Restorative Justice Practices On Student Behavior, Shawn N. Clemons

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative exploratory case study was to explore how teachers in culturally diverse suburban U.S. elementary schools perceive the implementation of restorative justice practices as an influence on student behavior. The researcher collected data through questionnaires and semistructured interviews of 14 elementary teachers currently employed in a suburban elementary school who actively use restorative justice with students. Findings from the study indicated the restorative justice practices contribute positively to school culture by prioritizing relationship building, structured conflict resolution, and inclusive practices. The findings from this study can be used with teachers, administrators, district support, and school board …

Transformative Leadership In Action: A Narrative Study Of Principals’ Influence On Students’ Achievement, Staci Taylor Fullmighter

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This narrative inquiry examined how principals in low-performing high-minority urban schools use transformational leadership to improve academic outcomes. The purpose of this research was to describe principals’ leadership behaviors that are perceived to positively influence academic achievement among students who identify as minority and low socioeconomic status and are attending or have attended urban school districts with high concentrations of the identified population. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with principals, and narratives were studied to identify trends across their experiences. Four themes emerged: (a) trust and shared accountability, (b) encouraging creativity and risk-taking, (c) communicating shared goals, and (d) …

The Influence Of Community Engagement On Educator Job Satisfaction And School Culture In K–5 Schools: A Multicase Study, Hailee Jo Fojtasek

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative multicase study examined how school leaders and educators perceived the

influence of community engagement, particularly volunteerism, on campus culture and teacher

job satisfaction in K–5 schools in the North Texas region. Continuous teacher attrition and

weakening campus morale have resulted in increased attention to leadership strategies that

support retention. However, the role community engagement has in supporting educators has

been underexplored. The purpose of this study was to investigate how educators and

administrators experienced and interpreted community engagement efforts on their campus and

how those efforts shaped school culture and teacher job satisfaction. Guided by social capital

theory, …

The Effect Of Perceived Principal Leadership Styles And School Type On Elementary Teacher Self-Efficacy, Karen M. Gonzalez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of perceived principal leadership styles and school type on elementary teachers’ self-efficacy. The study examined two research questions. The first examined differences between teachers’ self-efficacy in Title 1 and non-Title 1 schools, and the second examined differences in teacher self-efficacy and perceived principal leadership styles (authoritarian, democratic, and laissez-faire). The convenience sample included 129 elementary teachers from social media teacher groups that taught in various Title 1 and non-Title 1 school districts. I used a quantitative, causal-comparative method to collect data and survey questionnaires that identified trends in leadership styles …

Student And Teacher Perceptions Regarding Incentives In The Classroom, Kaylee Darby

Masters of Education in Teaching and Learning

Incentives, which are a behavior management tool, have long existed in education as a way to motivate students to display targeted behaviors and achieve academic goals. This action research study, which was conducted in a first-grade classroom, had the purpose of understanding students’ and the teacher’s perceptions of incentives in the classroom. Through collecting surveys, interviewing the students and the classroom teacher, taking field notes, and collecting artifacts, qualitative data was analyzed to find common themes that emerged, while quantitative data from the surveys was calculated to find the mean. The researcher found that the students and classroom teacher had …

The Role Of Spirituality In A Rural Second-Grade Science And Social Studies Classroom, Elizabeth C. Pitcock

Masters of Education in Teaching and Learning

Children’s spirituality unequivocally connects to student experiences in schools due to their relationships with themselves, others, nature, and transcendence. These pillars allow students to enhance their awareness, value, and mystery in relationship with curricular content to become more spiritually sensitive citizens. This action research sought to understand the role of spirituality in a rural second-grade science and social studies classroom. Qualitative and quantitative survey, interview, observation, and artifact data were collected. The data was analyzed through the constant comparative method and descriptive statistics. Themes emerged to produce three primary codes and 18 secondary codes for findings. The study found that …

Learning Contracts In A Fourth-Grade Math Classroom, Kaylyn M. Hays

Masters of Education in Teaching and Learning

This study explored fourth-grade students’ and their teacher’s perceptions of learning contracts in a math classroom, as well as their potential impact on assessment scores. Over four weeks, students alternated between using and not using contracts. During week three, participants completed a survey of Likert scale and open-ended questions; select students and the teacher were then interviewed. Field notes were taken weekly. Initial data was coded with level 1 codes, followed by level 2 codes derived from the first round. Themes were developed through indexing and analytical memos. Findings showed that students’ opinions of learning contracts were mixed: roughly equal …

Getting Back To The Root Of Kindergarten: Using Literacy-Based Materials To Enhance Play Centers, Lauren E. Mcmahon

Masters of Education in Teaching and Learning

This mixed methods action research study aimed to determine what kindergarten students do when literacy-based materials are integrated into pre-existing play centers. Additionally, the researchers wanted to discover student and teacher perceptions of literacy-based materials used to enhance play in the classroom. To do this, a pre- and post-survey was given to student participants and field notes were taken daily during center time. A pre- and post-focus group was facilitated with student participants, and a pre- and post-interview was facilitated with the teacher participant. The data collected over four weeks was analyzed using the constant comparative method. Researchers found that …

Understanding The Barriers Of General Education Teachers Implementing Inclusive Practices, Sonya Garrette Woodfork

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The inclusion of students with disabilities has become more prevalent in general education classrooms advocating for children to be educated in the least restrictive environment. This participatory action research aimed to investigate the effects of general education teachers’ lack of sufficient preservice training and attitudes on learning outcomes for children with special needs placed in inclusive learning environments. The participatory action research took place on one elementary and one early childhood campus. Data collection methods took place via triangulation using data from interviews, journals, and surveys. There are many barriers to successfully implementing inclusion in general education classrooms. This study …

Is Calendar Math Worth It? A Research Study On The Student And Teacher Perceptions Of Calendar Math, Caitlyn Woodman

Masters of Education in Teaching and Learning

This study examined the student and teacher perceptions of calendar math when introduced in a classroom. This study also compared student perceptions of calendar math to their regular number sense routine, “number of the day.” Students in this four-weeklong study participated in calendar math for twenty minutes daily. By the third week of the study, students took a survey asking their thoughts regarding calendar math and number of the day. Six students were selected to be interviewed based on survey results. The qualitative data was analyzed using the constant comparative method, and the surveys were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The …

Implementing Student-To-Teacher Feedback: Analyzing The Effectiveness Of Feedback In A Pull-Out Special Education Classroom, Aubrie Hutson

Masters of Education in Teaching and Learning

This qualitative case study focused on special education pull-out teachers’ and their students’ perceptions of student-to-teacher feedback forms and how the feedback forms influence their teaching and student learning. The researcher used four data collection methods including feedback forms, interviews, observational notes, and surveys. The patterns and themes found within the data collected were analyzed to determine the study’s findings. The major findings revealed that students who are given the opportunity to openly express their needs through a feedback form felt that the tool helped them to communicate their feelings to their teacher. The students found that expressing their needs …

What Did I Learn At School Yesterday? Student Reflective Journaling As An Educational Practice, Audra Smith

Masters of Education in Teaching and Learning

This study investigated the occurrences of having students reflect on their learning by journaling, as well as the perceptions of this from students and their classroom teacher. Students received three mini lessons on reflective journaling before practicing reflective journaling independently at the beginning of their school day. While students completed their reflective journal entries, the investigator documented observations. Students completed a survey on their perceptions of this experience. Six student interviews were conducted in a one-on-one setting representing the demographic makeup of the classroom. In addition, the classroom teacher also completed a one-on-one interview. The qualitative data was analyzed using …

Co-Teaching In The Classroom: Students’, The Clinical Teacher’S, And The Classroom Teacher’S Perceptions, Allison Nicole Dale

Masters of Education in Teaching and Learning

Co-teaching, where the clinical teacher and classroom teacher teach using different models, has become widely used in clinical teaching placements. This action research study, conducted in a second-grade classroom, had two purposes: to learn teachers’ and students’ perceptions towards co-teaching, and how different co-teaching models were used in different content areas. Through collecting surveys, interviewing students and the classroom teacher, and composing journal entries, qualitative data was analyzed to find common themes that emerged, while quantitative data from the surveys was calculated to find the mean and mode. The study found that co-teaching enriched the learning experience and provided more …

“Why Did You Do That?” A Teacher’S Quest To Finding A Solution To Social-Emotional Learning In A Transitional Classroom, Abriyah S. Skull

Masters of Education in Teaching and Learning

The purpose of this study was to explore what would happen when a mood board and social-emotional centers were implemented in a transitional first-grade classroom. The goal was to understand how the students would express themselves after receiving this learning and the student and teacher perceptions on social-emotional learning (SEL). Field notes were taken daily for observation when students used SEL language. Surveys and student and teacher interviews were conducted over a four-week span. These were coded using the constant comparative method, grouping together similar categories in the data to create 16 level 1 codes and five level 2 codes. …

Smart Moves In Math: Unveiling Student And Teacher Perceptions On Smart Goal Setting In Second-Grade Math Instruction, Alexa Aponte Bojorquez

Masters of Education in Teaching and Learning

Goal setting is a growing strategy in education and has been shown to improve task performance. Studies that have focused on the effects of goal-setting in the past have highlighted both positive perceptions from students and an increase in academic performance. This study investigated student and teacher perceptions of the integration of SMART goals in second-grade math instruction as well as the perceived effects of SMART goals. The researcher collected data through observational field notes, a survey at the end of the study, student artifacts and interviews. The researcher analyzed the data using the constant comparative method. The resulting secondary …

A Study On The Smarts Executive Functioning Curriculum: Explicitly Teaching Executive Functioning Skills In A Fourth-Grade Classroom, Rebekah Curry

Masters of Education in Teaching and Learning

The SMARTS executive functioning curriculum explicitly teaches executive functioning skills to students within a classroom setting. The purpose of this study was to explore what happened when the SMARTS executive functioning curriculum was implemented into a single fourth-grade classroom. This study specifically investigated perceptions of the SMARTS executive functioning curriculum. The participants of this study included 20 fourth-grade students, the classroom teacher, and the elementary school principal. The researcher used a survey, observations, and interviews to compile data. The qualitative data was analyzed using the constant comparative method, and the quantitative data from the student survey was analyzed using descriptive …

College And Career Readiness Effects On Minority Male College Retention, Naquiyah Hodges

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

The continuously low college retention and low degree attainment of African American and Hispanic men is a generational and decades-long hindrance to the elevation of these marginalized communities in the United States and the state of Texas. In Texas, the last 3 years’ worth of data has proven college-readiness rates of African American and Hispanic college students were significantly lower by large margins than White students in English language arts, math, and both subjects by large margins. Consistent low college retention rates of minority men produce a need to conduct further research of how this phenomenon affects minority men …

An Exploration Of The Role Of Alternative Certification Programs In Teacher Preparedness, Bianca Dugas

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Alternative certification programs (ACPs) recently gained popularity due to their brevity and appeal to second-career candidates. However, research shows that alternatively certified teachers often need more pedagogical skills than traditionally certified teachers, leading to the possibility of experiencing challenges their first year as an educator. To address this problem, the role of ACPs in teacher preparation was investigated to identify ways to close the gaps and provide ongoing support to alternatively certified teachers. The purpose of this study was to explore the preparedness of teachers based on their experiences in their ACPs. The study was framed within Malcolm Knowles’s adult …

Educational Robotics And Computational Thinking In Elementary School Students, Sonia D. Jordan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the role of educational robotics in fostering computational thinking in elementary settings, both in classrooms and extracurricular programs. Among growing concerns over K–12 students’ computational thinking deficits, the research evaluated the impact of Lego EV3 and VEX IQ platforms. Data was sourced from lesson plans, student work surveys, and teacher interviews and then subjected to thematic analysis using a qualitative approach. The participants were Texas educators engaged in robotics instruction, even though specific robotics statistics are absent in the Texas Education Agency. Instructional strategies varied from hands-on experiences to translating mathematical concepts into robotic actions. A key …

Exploratory Case Study Of Online Teacher Professional Development At A Faith Based School Through The Lens Of A Community Of Inquiry Framework, Ericka Heide Hamilton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As online education continues to expand, a need has arisen for online teacher professional developments (OTPDs) that are tailored to fit the individualized needs of teachers. This qualitative, exploratory case study explored one faith-based, virtual school’s OTPD program within a community of inquiry framework. This study used purposive sampling to describe six teacher participants’ perceptions of the design and implementation of their OTPD as well as the pedagogical changes resulting from effective OTPD. Data were collected using two focus group discussions, a community of inquiry survey, and end-of-the-year teacher self-evaluations. Data analysis revealed three themes to answer the three research …

Student Perceptions Of Writing: Effects Of Small Group Writing Intervention, Lauren Ramsey

Masters of Education in Teaching and Learning

This study examined fifth-grade students and how they perceived themselves as writers before and after the implementation of small group writing instruction. The researcher used pre- and post-surveys, journal entries, head notes, and focus groups to collect data from the students and herself as the researcher. To analyze the qualitative data, the researcher used the constant-comparative method and created level 1 and 2 codes. For quantitative data, descriptive statistics was used to graphically represent the data. The goal of this study was to understand if small group instruction would cause a shift in student perceptions about themselves as writers. After …

Staar Preparation: How It Affects The Perceptions Of Third-Grade Students, Taylor Whitworth

Masters of Education in Teaching and Learning

Test preparation is a hot button topic in education today. Many studies have looked at students’ and teachers’ perceptions after the administration of the STAAR test. This study investigated third-grade students’ perceptions of the STAAR before and after previous-form test preparation interventions. The researcher used observations, surveys, and interviews to collect data. The data was analyzed using the constant comparative method and descriptive statistics. The author found five major themes that answered the two original research questions. Most students had negative perceptions of the STAAR test prior to intervention, and these often stemmed from information from family members. Overall, the …

Mega Math Workshop: Perceptions Of Dual-Class Cooperative Learning Stations, Lindsay Dilbeck

Masters of Education in Teaching and Learning

This study investigated student and teacher perceptions of Mega Math Workshop, a model combining learning stations, small-group intervention, cooperative learning, and content repetition, as well as its effect on academic achievement. The researcher used surveys, student work samples, interviews, and observational notes to compile data. The qualitative data was analyzed using the constant comparative method, and the quantitative data was analyzed according to measures of central tendency. This data showed a large range in student perspectives on Mega Math Workshop, both negative and positive. Generally, students had a positive opinion of Mega Math Workshop, and their achievement was not adversely …

Noteworthy Notes: Student Perceptions Of Online And Paper Notes, Hannah Hamaker

Masters of Education in Teaching and Learning

Notetaking is an often overlooked but important factor of student learning. Studies that have focused on notetaking in the past have highlighted performance over perceptions. This study investigated the importance of fifth-grade students’ perceptions of online and paper notetaking. The researcher collected data through pre- and post-surveys, interviews, observation field notes, student artifacts, and a data tracker. The researcher analyzed the data collected using the constant comparative method and a primary and secondary coding scheme. The resulting secondary codes were the copying process, features of online notes, features of paper notes, and use of notes. Findings suggest that students vary …

Mindfulness Practices In A First-Grade Classroom: Impact On Student Behavior And Student And Teacher Perceptions, Lesslie Picena

Masters of Education in Teaching and Learning

There has been a rising interest in examining the effectiveness of implementing mindfulness practices to improve students’ behavior. The purpose of this study was to measure the effects that implementing mindfulness practices had on first-grade students’ off-task behaviors during lessons and transitions and to understand students’ and their teacher’s perceptions of the mindfulness practices that were implemented. A mindfulness intervention was implemented for three weeks. Tally sheets and journal entries were gathered to record and reflect on student behavior. Post-intervention surveys, individual student interviews, and a teacher interview were utilized to gather the participants’ perceptions. Quantitative data was analyzed using …

A Qualitative Case Study On How The Transition To Remote Learning Affected Elementary Language Arts Instruction During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Matthew B. Bergman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Emergency remote learning (or remote learning) altered K-12 instruction and occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic in the spring of 2020. Mandatory lockdowns and social distancing efforts transformed face-to-face instruction into a new pedagogical model called emergency remote learning or remote learning. In this qualitative case study, I aimed to understand how third-grade language arts instruction was affected during the transition to remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic from the perspective of general education teachers, learning support teachers, school administrators, and residential care providers. Additionally, the researcher used Moore’s (1997) transactional distance theory to investigate which strategies (methods, materials, and technologies) …

Special Education Teacher Attrition: K-12 Administrator Perspectives, Tia Alove Stevens-Hicks

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

Teacher attrition is a significant contributor to the teacher shortages, with preretirement attrition accounting for two thirds of all attrition. Special education teachers leave teaching at significantly higher rates than their general education peers. In addition, there is a greater demand for special education teachers due to the increase in public school students requiring special education services. As a result, many K–12 administrators and other educational leaders often fill vacant positions with unqualified or new teachers with less experience than their predecessors. Special education teachers have reported that teachers who remained in their positions reported high levels of administrative …

Influence Of Restorative Practices On The Middle-School Classroom, As Reported By Teachers: A Qualitative Case Study, Julia Y. Andrews

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine middle school teachers’ perceptions of the influence that restorative practices have on the middle school classroom environment. For the purpose of this study, seven middle school teachers were selected who have implemented restorative practices in their middle school classrooms to provide feedback. Findings suggest that overall restorative practices have a positive influence on the classroom. The findings from this study can be used with teachers, administrators, counselors, parents, and school and district support staff to help create a positive campus culture between students and adults in middle school classrooms. The …