Teacher Education and Professional Development Commons^™

Ideological Becoming During Student, Preservice Teacher, And First-Year Teacher Experiences, Holly Sheppard Riesco

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In the first manuscript in Chapter 2, this study examines two teachers’ talk about literacy as they describe literacy events and practices throughout multiple contexts. Drawing the theoretical framework of discourse and literacy as a social practice, this research illustrates the potential ways these first-year English teachers talk and have talked about literacy during their time as English methods students to their student teaching experience in their current contexts. Findings illustrate that the teachers assimilated and adapted their literacy ideologies early but continued evolving their understanding of literacy across various contexts. Implications for teacher education include considering literacy events through …

Figure Worlds: An Analysis Of The Untold Stories Of Female Teachers Of Color., Anetria B. Swanson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores the lived experiences of Black female teachers in a large urban school district, focusing on how these experiences shape their identities, influence their professional practices, and affect their retention in the profession. Despite the growing recognition of the importance of teacher diversity, Black female teachers often encounter unique challenges, including systemic racism, microaggressions, and a lack of support and resources. Through a narrative inquiry approach, this study amplifies the voices of nine Black female teachers, uncovering their stories and the complexities of their professional lives. Guided by Critical Race Theory and the concept of figured worlds, this …

Examining Novice Teacher’S Perspectives On Mentoring Programs And Their Influence On Attrition, Lakeisha Ector

Dissertations

This qualitative study examines the perspectives of novice teachers on mentoring programs and their influence on attrition. Mentoring programs present opportunities for skilled educators to teach, sponsor, encourage and advise novices, improving their personal and professional development. The research determines whether mentoring and induction programs strengthen teacher efficacy and their influence on attrition rates. The study is rooted in constructivism, which seeks to develop an understanding and knowledge of individuals through their experiences and reflection. The research employs an inductive and deductive approach, facilitating pattern and theme identification. The study involves nine participants – novice teachers – from Martin-Ellison County …

Emailed Prompt Package To Increase Alternative School Educators’ Use Of Behavior Specific Praise, Chelsea Johnson

Dissertations

Alternative school educators are often placed in alternative education settings with minimal training or support to manage disruptive behaviors in the classroom. To combat this, school-based consultation may be provided to assist alternative school educators with classroom management strategies. However, face-to-face consultation may be limited due to the numerous responsibilities placed on school-based consultants. Behavior specific praise (BSP) is a strategy that is recommended, but often provided at low rates. To address these barriers, previous literature has examined the use of emailed prompts to increase treatment integrity, feasibility, and acceptability of a variety of evidence-based interventions. A concurrent multiple baseline …

“Oh, That’S Engineering?”: Complicating Black Women Educators’ Understanding Of Engineering Practices In Urban Elementary Schools, Brittany N. Anderson, Ginaya S. Littlejohn

Journal of Pre-College Engineering Education Research (J-PEER)

In most teacher preparation programs, a focus on standards and curricula with STEM concepts, specifically engineering, are largely missing from the teacher licensure requirements. There have been few opportunities for teacher educators to teach, learn, and reflect on the nuanced complexities of STEM, specifically engineering concepts and practices in urban elementary schools. This university-school- community partnership, led by Black women, focused on the early exploration of STEM with high-ability/ gifted Black girls, caregivers, and their Black women educators. In this qualitative study, Black women teachers were able to disrupt assumptions and stereotypes of STEM, particularly in engineering, and identify challenges …

Sociocultural Environment And Agency In Identity Construction Of English Language Teachers, Bharat Prasad Neupane , Phd

The Qualitative Report

Identity is an emerging field in educational research focusing on how teacher education programs, training, reflective practices, and short-term interventions impact the identity negotiation of teachers (Gautam, 2018). However, this study reports how different levels of sociocultural environments influence teachers and what initiatives they take for professional development and identity construction. Drawing on Wenger’s (1998) notion of communities of practice and Norton’s (2013) investing, this study sought to uncover the interchange of the development of learning communities and teachers by investigating the life history of four secondary-level English language teachers derived through informal conversations and in-depth interviews. Teachers’ life stories …

Supporting 3rd Grade Reading Proficiency: Utilizing Paraprofessionals To Provide Literacy Intervention, Hayley Jacobs

Masters Projects

Being able to read on grade level by third grade is a standard across the United States for public school systems. With the current educational climate enduring a teacher shortage, the ability to provide consistent reading intervention is affected. Paraprofessionals are increasingly being hired to support these gaps, but are not provided with the necessary resources and professional development to employ quality reading intervention. This project will provide the framework of a professional development schedule with necessary resources for paraprofessionals to refer to and expectations for paraprofessionals and administrators when implementing it.

Spatial Mapping With Polaroid Post-Its, Angela C. Dittmar, Katie Claiborne

Arts-Based Collaborative instructional materials

No abstract provided.

Writing As (Self) Service And Witness: Exploring The Experience Of A Teacher Educator Writing Group, Sarah Donovan, Amy Vetter, Eileen Shanahan Phd

Teaching/Writing: The Journal of Writing Teacher Education

Writing groups in teacher education typically focus on providing faculty, usually junior faculty, with a supportive environment to share their work and to help one another create publishable manuscripts and/or improve teaching practices. Writing groups, however, are also about engaging in the act of writing in both personal and professional ways alongside others. In this collaborative autoethnography, we explored how we, three ELA teacher educators, made sense of ourselves the world around us through a writing group focused on writing as self-service and witness. We portray this exploration in the form of a collage that pieces together our writing, transcripts …

The Influence Of Misconceptions On Pedagogical Choices Of Secondary Science Teachers: An Embedded Case Study, Tracey Beyer

Dissertations

This case study, using phenomenography within science disciplines, examines how educators' experiences with misconceptions affect teaching methods in high school physics, chemistry, and biology. Based on constructivist and interpretive theories it highlights that personal experiences shape learning and involve continuously reconstructing knowledge. The shared misconceptions of 13 educators across science disciplines reveal how those experiences influenced both their content knowledge and instructional practices. The findings indicate that educators who openly acknowledge and learn from their past experiences with misconceptions are better equipped to recognize and address gaps in understanding, an asset to furthering student learning. This research highlights the importance …

Teacher Knowledge And Confidence Integrating Social Change Concepts In K–12 Classrooms, Amy White, Fran Reed, Tina Marshall-Bradley, Kathy Strang

Journal of Sustainable Social Impact

The purpose of this survey research was to examine the perspectives of K–12 classroom teachers about their knowledge of social change concepts and their confidence in implementing these into their existing curriculum. A questionnaire was used to (a) examine the perspectives of K–12 classroom teachers about the knowledge, skills, and resources they need to implement social change concepts into their teaching and (b) define areas of social change that teachers struggle to implement in K–12 classrooms. We employed Wilcoxen signed rank tests to determine if differences existed between what teachers reported they knew and their confidence in integrating 11 social …

Here’S Why You Should Use The Reflective Approach To Teaching Practicum Debriefing (Ratpd): Insights Into Its Usefulness, Benefits, And Challenges From Over A Decade Of Research., Mark Minott

Essays in Education

No abstract provided.

Safety In P–12 Engineering Courses Within The Southern United States, Tyler S. Love

Journal of Pre-College Engineering Education Research (J-PEER)

Engineering education programs, especially at the P–12 level, pose inherent legal and ethical responsibilities pertaining to safety that cannot be ignored. Cultivating safer practices and habits during the design and hands-on development of engineering solutions starts well before students enter higher education engineering programs. P–12 engineering education programs play a critical role in enhancing safety awareness, developing safer habits, and improving safety culture, which has an influence on the safety practices that students carry with them into higher education programs and the workplace. This study analyzed the safety factors and accident occurrences reported by 305 P–12 engineering educators from the …

Improving Cohesion Between General Education And Special Education Departments, Jacob Haugmo

Graduate Teacher Education

Cohesion between general education and special education departments is the idea of blending and aligning instructional methods and approaches regardless of educational discipline. This paper was written to examine how this cohesion can be improved. Educational leaders must improve cohesion between general education and special education departments to support the academic achievement and success of all students in schools. Through qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods studies, methods to improve this cohesion were researched. The research provided insight on how general education and special education teachers feel about collaboration and how collaborative efforts can be utilized to improve cohesion. These collaborative …

The Perception Of The Implementation Of Culturally Relevant Pedagogy To Support Black Male Students In Mathematics – A Case Study, Chiquita Granville

Dissertations

Culturally Relevant Pedagogy is a method of education that promotes an inclusive and empowered learning environment by acknowledging and valuing students varied cultural origins. CRP is especially important for tackling the ongoing achievement discrepancies encountered by high school Black Male students in the context of mathematics instruction. This abstract emphasizes the value of culturally sensitive instruction in enhancing black male students' mathematics learning results and experiences.

This research will examine the difficulties faced by Black male students in Mathematics classes, including prejudice, a lack of cultural representation in the curriculum, and a lack of relevance between the subject matter and …

Digital Intelligence In Egypt’S K-12 Public Schools: Educators’ Perspectives, Mohammed Al Mousa

Theses and Dissertations

Technological integration has been a dominant feature of Egypt’s education recently, especially after the announcement of the Education 2.0 initiative, which aims to transform Egypt's education to digital-based and skill-based learning (UNICEF, n.d.), Ever since, public schools in Egypt started adopting technology into teaching practices through online classes, digital textbooks, e-learning platforms, and digital examinations. This educational transformation requires teachers and students to possess the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values to become effective and responsible users of the transforming digital education system and the digital world in general, which are collectively known as Digital Intelligence (DQ). Despite the substantial role …

Cte Teacher Recruitment, Training, And Retention Toolkit: A Nationwide Search 2024, Lisa Martino, Sara Shaw

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

This updated toolkit is a collaborative effort of ECMC Foundations research fellows from the University of Central Florida as well as U.S. academic experts with experience in postsecondary and secondary CTE teacher recruitment, training, and retention. The purpose is to create a digital toolkit of practical and proven strategies for the hiring and retention of quality postsecondary CTE teachers. This toolkit contains similar information from seven U.S. states and two U.S. territories regarding their CTE teacher policies and practices including lessons learned and best practices. By comparing similar information in a digital toolkit, CTE leaders and stakeholders have easily accessible …

Addressing The Importance Of Recruitment And Retention Of Black And Latinx Teachers: Strategies Designed To Diversify The Teacher Pipeline, Shavon Pittman

Dissertations

The United States student demographic has shifted significantly, with minorities, particularly Black and Latinx students, now constituting almost half. However, the diversity of the teaching profession, historically led by White females, lags behind, with Black and Latinx teachers comprising less than 30%. This lack of representation poses challenges for students without culturally similar educators. My research explores the impact of teacher diversity on Black and Latinx students' success, revealing positive outcomes. Yet, attracting and retaining minority teachers faces obstacles, including feelings of isolation and financial concerns. Recommendations include educational pathways, scholarships, mentoring programs, salary incentives, and professional learning communities to …

Impactful Digital Technology Coaches: Identifying Their Characteristics And Competencies While Delineating Their Role, Tiffany L. Gallagher, Catherine Susin, Arlene Grierson

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

Digital technology coaches (DTCs) often support teachers with integrating technology into their classroom and instructional program, as well as provide ongoing staff development. To be effective, coaches tend to have specific characteristics for instructional coaching and competencies for educational coaching. We investigated if these characteristics and competencies applied to effective DTCs while we observed their proficiency with technology, their interactions with other educators, and the way they provide support for the teacher-professional learning (PL) process. Three DTCs led over 80 K–12 teachers from the same school district in classroom coaching sessions, collaborative planning meetings, PL sessions, and conference presentations. In …

Perceptions Of Pre-Service Teachers About Natural Disasters: Coronavirus, Earthquake, Fire, And Flood, Pınar Bozca, Eylem Yalçınkaya Önder

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

This research explores the perceptions of preservice teachers in Turkey in terms of their preparedness for various disasters, including epidemics, earthquakes, fires, and floods, all of which have profound social and economic impacts on education. Using a descriptive survey model, the study examined the responses of 512 preservice teachers at a single university across all levels of their educational program. The survey, conducted digitally due to the pandemic, consisted of 70 questions. Findings reveal inconsistent levels of confidence and readiness across different types of disasters. For instance, while most preservice teachers understand the severity of the coronavirus and are concerned …

Teacher Beliefs And Experiences Addressing Healthy Racial And Ethnic Identity Instructionally Through Social Emotional Learning, Juliana Gutierrez

Theses and Dissertations

Children and youth develop within an ecological context that includes family, peers, and broader social environments including school. Children’s understanding of their ethnic or racial group and the meaning they attribute to belonging in that group is also shaped by interactions in their school environment. Most research on school-based social-emotional learning (SEL) programs has focused on student behavioral and academic outcomes. However, as SEL spreads across U.S. K-12 schools, questions have emerged surrounding how children from diverse racial and cultural groups and unequal opportunity can benefit from universal SEL programs. Using a mixed-methods design, this study explores teachers’ understanding and …

Black School Leader Truth: How Black School Leader Epistemology Influences Liberatory Mindset Development In Their Staff, Orpheus Williams

Dissertations

Black students in the United States have consistently been denied access to empowering, culturally affirming, and responsive learning experiences in the traditional public system. The epistemological and pedagogical beliefs embedded in a liberatory mindset can subvert this pattern of disempowerment (Shujaa, 1998). Black school leaders (BSLs) who understand the systemic and institutional pressures Black children may face and have to overcome, having undergone similarly racialized experiences in school, are uniquely placed to create liberatory spaces for Black students by recruiting and developing these liberatory mindsets in their staff. This instrumental case study used qualitative research methods of front-porch pedagogy (McTighe …

Borderland Voices: Exploring The Educational Journey Of Transfronterizx Students, Families, And Educators For Enhanced Engagement And Empowerment, Sobeida Velazquez

Dissertations

Transfronterizx students and their families cross the U.S.–Mexico border for academic, economic, social, cultural, and linguistic reasons. Socioeconomic disparities, deportation, and work have propelled some families to live in Mexico and enroll their U.S.-born children in U.S. schools to provide more socioeconomic opportunities in the United States. Educators of transfronterizx students are uniquely tasked to work with these nontraditional students. Moreover, transfronterizx students and their families have distinct needs in U.S. schools; as such, there is a need for further research on the transfronterizx experience in the U.S. K–12 system. This qualitative narrative inquiry study aimed to understand the experiences …

Promoting Positive White Racial Identity Development In K-12 Teachers: A Qualitative Case Study, Johnny Cole

Educational Studies Dissertations

The process of racial identity development (RID) is widely agreed to be the process by which an individual comes to understand the role race plays in their sense of self, how it influences their ability to acquire information and reach goals, how it affects their interpersonal interactions with others, and the manner in which it assigns group membership in the larger society. The formative years students spend in K-12 educational environments can play an important role in their RID; thus educators’ awareness of these developmental processes can potentially help dismantle the systems of inequity within a critical race theory framework …

An Exploration Into Urban Middle School Teachers’ Perspectives On Student Voice And Their Classroom Management Approaches, Gina D. Upshaw

Graduate Theses & Dissertations

Abstract

This dissertation explored the intersectionality between student voice and classroom management within middle school educational settings through the perspective of ten urban middle school teachers. Classroom management is defined as the array of techniques educators employ to foster an environment conducive to learning, often characterized by order, focus, and positivity. This encompasses the establishment of explicit expectations and procedures, adept handling of student behaviors, and the promotion of an ambiance that nurtures student engagement and scholastic achievement. The significance of adept classroom management is particularly pronounced in urban middle schools, where it is pivotal for engendering affirmative learning contexts. …

Management Of Religion Teachers’ Socioemotional Competencies In Information And Communication Technologies Integration: A Phenomenographic Study, Mario Armando Cartagena Beteta, María Inmaculada Pedrera Rodríguez, Francisco Ignacio Revuelta Domínguez, Edith Soria Valencia

The Qualitative Report

This investigation forms part of a doctoral study that examines the relation between socioemotional competencies (SECs) and teachers’ beliefs on the integration of information and communication technologies (ICTs). It addresses religion teachers’ knowledge of SECs during the curricular integration of ICTs, specifically their internal aspects in their pedagogical practice using ICTs (second-order barriers). This study also discusses the characteristics of religion teachers, who have received less attention than teachers of science, language, or mathematics disciplines, partly because religion is not considered a priority area in educational policies. To this end, this study adopted a qualitative approach in the phenomenographic tradition …

Educating For Equitable Voting, Leah M. Bueso, Erica R. Hodgin, Joseph Kahne, Abby Kiesa

Democracy & Education

Voting instruction typically provided to students is focused on educating for informed voting, but we believe it is essential that schools educate for informed and equitable voting. Indeed, in a well-functioning democratic society, participants need to be prepared to engage in critical, but civil, discourse with and about people who look and think differently from themselves, which necessitates learning about issues of equity. Drawing on the efforts of 20 in-service educators to promote equitable voting ahead of the 2020 election, this study examines the ways in which participants incorporated issues of equity into their instruction and the conditions that supported …

Exploring Special Education Teacher Perceptions Of The Effects Of A School-Based Yoga Program On Adolescents Classified As Emotionally Disturbed, Ivette Brown

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Adolescents with behavioral disorders suffer academic and social struggles when compared to general education adolescents in the United States. As behavioral health strategies gain greater priority in schools, interest has increased in the use of yoga practices as one of the key approaches to addressing student well-being. The majority of previous research relating to adult yoga has shown positive benefits; however, research on teacher perceptions of youth yoga is lacking. This study explores special education teachers’ perceptions of school-based yoga programs and their impact, if any, on students with behavioral disabilities with special interest in adolescents’ personal and social experiences …

Social Constructivist Mentoring Program To Support Teacher Professional Development: An Action Research Approach, Kurniawan Yudhi Nugroho, Choiril Anwar, Hartono Hartono

The Qualitative Report

Despite the presence of various TPD initiatives from governmental and non-governmental organizations, English teachers in the private universities in Indonesia continue to encounter challenges in accessing TPD programs, that fit their specific needs. This study explored the implementation of a social constructivist mentoring program to support the professional development of seven teachers teaching English academic writing. Using an action research approach, this mentoring emphasized collaborative inquiry, reflective practice, and continuous improvement. We opted for a qualitative approach to gain a deeper understanding and exploration of the learning process within the program. Data were collected from multiple resources such as interviews, …

Female Medical Students’ Lived Experiences Of Financial Stress And Coping, Untara Shaikh, Dr. Kimberlee Bonura

Georgia Public Health Association Annual Meeting & Conference

Financial stress is a pervasive concern among medical students, with documented associations with adverse physical health, psychological morbidity, and ineffective coping. This study focuses on understanding the financial stressors female medical students face and the coping strategies they employ. While financial stress and coping mechanisms have been explored in the literature, a notable gap exists in understanding these dynamics among female students.

The study employed a phenomenological research approach to obtain data from the respondents, where data collection involved face-to-face semi-structured interviews. The Adaptation Model of Nursing, complemented by Lazarus and Folkman's Coping Theory, was a comprehensive framework for analyzing …