By reviewing teacher-made revisions of regularly taught curriculum units, this set of case studies attempts to describe the pedagogical content knowledge development of four concept-oriented middle school teachers. One strand is highlighted: The nature and use of their instructional representations. A primary goal of this effort is to trace the kinds of refinements teachers make in their teaching knowledge after years of blending subject matter with pedagogy. A second goal is to detail influences on such refinements in order to inform preservice and inservice teacher education aimed at teaching for conceptual understanding.

This dissertation examined the personality types of ten selected teachers with one or more year's experience in the Hillcrest Educational Centers, Inc.'s residential schools to determine whether certain personality types were more effective than others in working with at-risk special education students in a classroom setting. This study also described how these types performed in the classroom, as well as their interactions with students outside of the classroom, giving consideration to the kinds of affect, approaches, and teaching styles utilized by each. The central focus of this study was an interpretive perspective of these teachers, with data generated by participant observation and in-depth interviews. All teachers were given the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, and five were selected by their supervisors and their peers as the most effective teachers, while five more were selected who were not so designated, to function as the control group. Although the findings of the study did not substantiate the validity of specific personality types as effective teachers, there was a high correlation between the characteristics of the effective teachers and the body of research on effective teaching. A more in-depth study, with a larger population sample, and the use of the newly developed more comprehensive MBTI, might yield better results toward finding clusters of specific effective teacher personality types.

Archaeology belongs in the schools. Students and teachers both find it interesting, and it has been shown to be an effective vehicle for teaching a wide array of topics and skills. However, there are at least two serious reasons why it is important for students to understand what archaeologists do and why: (1) an informed public is a potential ally in identifying, protecting and managing endangered archaeological resources; and (2) archaeology as a mode of inquiry can help students understand the social construction of the world in which they live. Archaeologists and educators have been working together to develop materials to help teachers use archaeology in their teaching. Some excellent materials are now available for middle and junior high school teachers. But if students are to take archaeology seriously as a tool for social analysis, they need to be exposed to a more mature understanding of it in high school. Interviews exploring the ways in which archaeology is currently understood and used in all aspects of the curriculum in one high school indicate that teachers use it to capture students' interest, or to reward them for learning some other subject. Teachers do not use archaeology to teach analysis and interpretation of evidence, or critical thinking skills, or the role of human beings in the creation of social systems. Since very few teachers have received formal education in archaeology, they do not associate these goals with archaeology as a discipline. Teachers' sources of information about archaeology are television, newspapers and general circulation magazines. These popular sources do not provide them with the understanding they need to recognize archaeology as a tool for intellectual and social analysis. Archaeologists should take advantage of more professional channels for reaching teachers with serious material linking archaeology to the various disciplines traditionally taught in high schools. To reach high school students with a more sophisticated understanding of archaeology, we need first to present that knowledge to their teachers as fellow professionals.

One reason science enrichment programs were created was to address the underrepresentation of women and minorities in science. These programs were designed to increase underrepresented groups' interest in science and science careers. One attempt to increase students' interest in science was the Summer Science Exploration Program (SSEP). The SSEP was a two week, inquiry-based summer science camp offered by Hampshire College for students entering grades seven and eight. Students who participated were from three neighboring school districts in Western Massachusetts. The goal of the program was to stimulate greater interest in science and scientific careers among middle school students, in particular among females and students of color. A review of the literature of inquiry-based science programs revealed that the effect of inquiry-based programs on students' attitudes towards science is typically investigated shortly after the end of the treatment period. The findings from this study contribute to our understanding of the long-term impact of inquiry-based science enrichment programs on students' attitude towards science and their interest in science careers. The data collected consisted of quantitative survey data as well as qualitative data through case studies of selected participants from the sample population. This study was guided by the following questions: (1) What was the nature and extent of the impact of the Summer Science Exploration Program (SSEP) on students' attitudes towards science and interest in science careers, in particular among females and students of color? (2) What factors, if any, other than participation in SSEP impacted students' attitude towards science and interest in scientific careers? (3) In what other ways, if any, did the participants benefit from the program? Conclusions drawn from the data indicate that SSEP helped participants maintain a high level of interest in science. In contrast, students who applied but were not accepted showed a decrease in their attitude towards science and their interest in science careers over time, compared to the participants. The interviews suggested that students enjoyed the inquiry-based approach that was used at camp. In addition, students said they found the hands-on inquiry-based approach used at camp more interesting than traditional methods of instruction (lectures and note taking) used at school. Recommendations for future research are presented.

This dissertation reports findings from a sociolinguistic ethnographic study that examined relationships between a critical language awareness, peer conferencing, and student writing. The purpose of the study was to use critical language study to develop student understanding of the social, cultural and political aspects of language, thereby promoting democratic classrooms. The study involved the revision of the traditional peer conferencing format to include consideration of the social, cultural, and political aspects of language and power. This pedagogical change was embedded in a critical language awareness curriculum and in a Native American unit of study, and involved eighth graders at a suburban middle school who represented a variety of cultures, ethnicities, socio-economic classes, and abilities. They wrote response papers and stories focused on Native American topics and conferred with their partners regarding the social, cultural, and political aspects of language and power in the representation of Native Americans in their stories and response papers. Students recorded their conference responses on the peer conference sheets, and wrote final drafts of their stories and response papers. Analysis of 20 peer conferences involved thematic and critical discourse microanalysis of student talk and critical discourse microanalysis of student final drafts and revisions of their writing. The critical discourse microanalysis, was based on Fairclough's (1992) approach to discourse analysis. The evidence demonstrates that when students became critical language analysts by providing an alternative frame in which to understand seemingly naturalistic ideologies within a text, students were aware of the relationships between language and power. This position was facilitated through discourses and ideologies presented in the revised curriculum, which assisted them in identifying and analyzing the social, cultural, and political aspects of language. This curriculum included the revised peer conference sheet, history curriculum, and personal experiences. In taking up the critical language analyst subject position, students worked toward a critical and complex understanding of language and power not provided by traditional peer conferencing theory and practice. In doing so, students created a more democratic classroom in which students realized their power and authority to promote social change through language.

Misbehavior is a research topic that most researchers investigate from teachers' points of view. This study, in contrast, was designed to explore misbehavior from the students' and the teacher's perspectives, using Doyle's ecological approach. A male teacher, Mr. Softball, and 14 seventh and eighth graders (ten males and four females) volunteered to participate during a two-week basketball unit. Data were collected through shadowing the teacher, critical incidents, student and teacher interviews, videotaped class sessions, and audiotaped stimulated recall sessions with the videotapes. Data from all sources were analyzed using constant comparison to identify common themes. Findings indicated that Mr. Softball's classes included overlapping instructional, managerial, and social task systems (Doyle, 1986; Siedentop, 1991) and his overall program of action could be classified as casual. Misbehavior was situation specific and occurred throughout these overlapping task systems. Students and the teacher noticed few misbehaviors during the actual classes and the misbehaviors recognized did not interrupt the flow of his teaching. When they noticed misbehavior incidents, either during class or when reviewing videotapes, they reacted differently from case to case based on who misbehaved, when it happened, and how it affected them or the class. Misbehaviors were common events in Mr. Softball's classes and most students admitted that they misbehaved. Misbehaviors could be classified as verbal, physical, or rules, routines, and expectations (RRE)-related. These students defined misbehavior as doing something that they were not supposed to do or not doing something that they were supposed to do. Mr. Softball's (a) weak RREs, (b) lack of effectiveness in organizing and delivering instructional tasks, and (c) loose accountability and the lack of intervention, allowed many opportunities for students to misbehave. Further, he created a class environment in which students engaged more often in social agendas at the expense of completing instructional and managerial tasks. Finally, the norm of this workplace did not support Mr. Softball in helping students learn or in maintaining order to insure that students were on-task and well-behaved. In summary, less effective teaching appeared to be the major issue that encourages students to misbehave.

In response to the current educational reform movement that has ensued as a result of the publication of A Nation at Risk (1983), the Massachusetts legislature passed the Educational Reform Act in 1993. From this Act, an educational reform plan was developed for all public schools, and curriculum frameworks were written for the major academic areas. The frameworks recommend what should be taught, and they encourage teachers to align their curriculum with the frameworks. This dissertation describes a qualitative study based on in-depth interviews with 15 teachers throughout the state of Massachusetts, from the fall of 1999 through the fall of 2001. The study investigated the experiences these teachers had with the Massachusetts History and Social Science Curriculum framework . The teachers who were interviewed represent a cross-section of teachers diverse in geographic location, number of years teaching, gender, ethnicity, and experience with curriculum development. The extensive responses to the interviews were analyzed in light of the research questions in this study. Through the literature review, documents, and the interviews, I was able to analyze teachers' experiences working specifically with the history and social science framework, and to assess the impact that the framework was having on their teaching, curriculum development, and student learning. This analysis revealed consistent patterns and themes. These included teachers' common school experiences of not having an organized school curriculum prior to the framework; their perception of the lack of multiculturalism in the framework; and their concerns about the exclusion of teachers from the framework process. The information analyzed from the interviews can be used to guide school systems in the development of educational policies, as well as in the creation of curriculum. This study has the potential to assist those interested in both professional development and teacher education.

Galileo's contemporaries as well as today's students have difficulty understanding relative motion. It is hypothesized that construction of visual models, resolution of these visual models with numeric models, and, in many cases, rejection of epistemological commitments such as the belief in one "true" velocity, are necessary for students to form integrated mental models of relative motion events. To investigate students' relative motion problem solving, high school science students were videotaped in classroom and laboratory settings as they performed collaborative predict-observe-explain activities with relative motion computer simulations. The activities were designed to facilitate conceptual change by challenging common alternative conceptions. Half of the students interacted with simulations that provided animated feedback; the other half received numeric feedback. Learning, as measured by a diagnostic test, occurred following both conditions. There was no statistically significant difference between groups on the measure. It is hypothesized that students did not show statistically significant performance differences on the relative motion test because (a) many students were able to solve numeric problems through algorithm use; (b) many numeric condition students were aided in their ability to visualize problems by interaction with the treatment; and (c) the animation condition fostered little learning because the activities were too easy for students to perform. Students' problem solving was examined through analyses of protocols and through statistical analyses of written responses. Evidence supported the following findings: (1) Numeric condition students had more difficulty with the computer activities than animation condition students. (2) Many students in both groups were able to construct accurate mental models of relative motion events. (3) A number of numeric condition students used faulty mechanical algorithms to solve problems. (4) A number of animation condition students used visualization to solve problems, mapping dynamic visual features of the animations onto posttest problems. Thus, there is evidence that presentation of numeric data can foster students' use of mechanical algorithms. Presentation of animations can foster visualization of target problems solved off-line. These results suggest that, in addition to the structure of the simulations, how computer simulations are used may have a great impact on students' cognition.

Dropout rates are of increasing concern because of issues of equity, the social and economic consequences of dropping out, and changing demographics which are bringing increasing numbers of poor, immigrant and minority students into our schools. A growing body of research suggests that schools, as currently structured, do not address the needs of today's students. Alternative programs have had little if any impact in changing the institutions that cause the students they serve to become at risk. Systemic school changes are needed to create learning environments that meet the developmental needs of all students. The seventh and eighth grade restructuring efforts of the Cambridge Public Schools were examined in three schools--representing first, second and third tier schools in the implementation phase. Students, staff and parents were surveyed in each school; oral interviews were conducted; team meetings were observed; and materials were reviewed. The study documents the impact of a systemic change effort, and to determine enhancing and impeding factors to change. Data indicated that substantial activities have been implemented in all three schools, with positive impacts around teaming, student support, school climate, and bilingual and special education integration. There was a varying degree of implementation and integration between schools, reflecting differing amounts of staff development and common planning time each school received. The project had lesser impact in addressing more complex areas of middle grades reform--that of changing how and what we teach; of exploring strategies to raise the achievement and self-esteem of minority students; of transitioning to shared governance; and of increasing parental involvement. Enhancing factors of change included a commitment by central office administration to the change process; creating a shared governance body at the district level; increasing collaboration with community institutions; giving teacher teams common planning time; and empowering key school staff to act as change agents. Impeding factors included the lack of a written mission statement and school plans, adequate orientation and planning time for third tier schools, a staff development plan, and training for key administrators. The study confirms, though, that a systemic school change approach can significantly improve middle grades education.