<p>The purpose of this multiple case study described and compared practices utilized to implement the School-Wide Positive Behavior Support (SWPBS) approach at 3 purposely selected Central California elementary school sites. More specifically, this study described and compared: (a) school practices for defining and teaching school rules/expectations; (b) the reward systems being used; (c) systems for documenting and reporting office-managed student behavior violations; (d) systems for collecting and summarizing discipline referrals; (e) the priority given to improving behavior-support systems in school site plans; (f) school budget allocations for SWPBS; and (g) district support, financial and otherwise, for SWPBS at these schools. </p><p> This study did not attempt to prove a causal relationship between SWPBS and improved student achievement; rather, it focused on describing and comparing specific practices that these 3 schools were utilizing in relation to the SWPBS approach. The intention was thus to learn more about specific practices that might be replicated in other schools. </p><p> This research was qualitative in nature and utilized a multiple case-study methodology. Interviews, observations, and artifact reviews were conducted at 3 Central California elementary schools, all purposely selected because they had each implemented the SWPBS Framework for more than 1 year, had subsequently decreased negative student behavior, and had increased student achievement. 3 types of data were collected in order to understand each school&lsquo;s SWPBS practices and the level of support for the program. School principals, campus supervisors, and classroom teachers were interviewed; classroom and playground observations were conducted; and reports were reviewed by the researcher and the principal. The 3 types of data were triangulated for each school and compared. </p><p> The findings led to the conclusions that SWPBS is a systems approach that uses interventions to help students succeed in school. Furthermore, it has to have consistent, committed leadership in order to be successful. It has to be built on the foundation of implementing clear and precise rules that are embedded in all areas of the school. Lastly, SWPBS can be implemented without the district&lsquo;s assistance; however it is difficult to sustain unless the district fully supports the approach. </p>

<p> As educators grapple with the issue of eliminating achievement gaps that exist among student groups, instructing for students' diverse learning needs while effectively meeting the demands of the curriculum can be a daunting task. Arts integration (AI) is a research-based strategy that has been demonstrated to lead to positive effects in student achievement with the greatest effect being among students who qualify for federal meals benefits (FARMS) (Deasy, 2002; Catterall, 1999; Rabkin &amp; Redmond, 2006). This mixed-methods study evaluated state mandated reading assessment data for a cohort of grade three students for the years 2011, 2012, and 2013 within one school district in Maryland using a formula developed by the Maryland State Department of Education to determine student change scores. While analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) of AI and change scores for FARMS and non-FARMS students did not yield a positive relationship, further qualitative analysis of principal and teacher interviews and classroom observations at five public AI elementary schools revealed perceptions among educators of a positive relationship of AI to student achievement. Utilizing a grounded theory approach to examine emergent themes, a theory of effective models of arts integration was developed to include the elements of: shared vision, student engagement, rigorous instruction and teacher capacity. This study provided information regarding the optimal method of delivering arts integrated instruction that may lead to student achievement and reduce the achievement gap between FARMS and non-FARMS students. </p>

<p> To increase the number of male teachers at the elementary level in public education, the use of recruitment strategies is necessary. The problem is a lack of literature concerning recruitment strategies for male educators in elementary education. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to understand the perceptions of male teachers and district recruiters to identify common themes of recruitment used in school districts in Texas to procure more males at the elementary public education level. This study was framed through theories of social cognition and self-efficacy. A sample of 23 male teachers from elementary and secondary public education provided responses to 16 openended survey questions. Using Nvivo10, four major themes were identified based on keyword weighted percentage: recruited and applied, viewed as masculine, elementary men are stereotyped as feminine, and recruit using males in current positions of employment. The findings revealed recruitment strategies identified by male teachers that could influence more males to teach at the elementary level as well as factors that influence males to work at this education level. This study authenticates recruitment strategies to employ more males at the elementary level in public education.</p>

<p> The purpose of this study was to examine the differences between mathematics preparation and teachers' perception of self-efficacy for teaching mathematics at low- and high-performing schools. Bandura's theory of self-efficacy was the guiding theoretical framework. The study used a descriptive comparative method to obtain quantitative data regarding teacher backgrounds and teacher efficacy level. Self-reported data from the Mathematics Teacher Efficacy Belief Instrument was used to calculate two dimensions of teaching efficacy, personal mathematics teaching efficacy (PMTE) and mathematics teaching outcome expectancy (MTOE). Preparation was determined by individual calculations for successful completion of preservice mathematics coursework, completion of mathematics methodologies coursework as well as hours and types of teacher professional development completed. An analysis of 69 teachers, 33 from low-performing schools and 36 from high-performing schools, revealed statistically homogenous mathematics preparation and self-reported self-efficacy levels. Elementary mathematics teachers from high-performing schools demonstrated slightly higher level of preparation, PMTE and MTOE; however, differences were not statistically significant. Results were incongruent with prior research and indicate the need for future research supported by data collected from external sources, beyond self-reported data.</p>

<p> The purpose of this study was to develop a valid and reliable survey instrument to examine elementary general education teachers' attitudes toward the inclusion of students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in the general education classroom. By determining what influences attitudes, the needs of elementary general education teachers can be established to make educated decisions, develop meaningful professional development activities, or enable teachers to self-reflect thus improving attitudes of elementary general education teachers toward inclusion of students with ASD. </p><p> The study was guided by the following phases: Phase One: (1) Reviewed current literature and conducted a discussion with a focus group to determine the overall construct, (2) wrote and modified an initial set of items, (3) consulted a panel of experts to certify that items measure the overall construct intended for content and construct validity, (4) conducted a think-aloud with individual teachers to ensure questions are being interpreted as intended, and (5) rewrote and revised as needed. Phase Two: Conducted an Exploratory Factor analysis in order to determine common factor structures. Phase Three: Conducted a pilot test to establish reliability in a test/re-test format. The findings indicate evidence of a valid and reliable survey instrument to examine elementary general education teachers' attitudes toward the inclusion of students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in the general education classroom. </p>

<p> President Obama's Race to the Top competitive grant program instigated a wave of teacher evaluation reform. Teachers across the nation are being assessed based on student learning outcomes in combination with observations of performance and several other factors potentially including professional responsibility and the perceptions of students and parents. In Connecticut, 45% of a teacher's evaluation is now based on <i>student learning objectives </i> (SLOs) (Connecticut Guidelines for Teacher Evaluation, 2012). As a result, teachers are being asked to make changes in the way they think about assessment, plan for instruction, collaborate with colleagues, and converse with administrators. Judicious use of classroom observations, student achievement data, and feedback from students is critical to improve educational outcomes (Marshall, 2012). A multi-faceted approach incorporating use of well-grounded evaluative tools within systems that recognize teacher collaboration serves to support greater student learning (Darling-Hammond et al., 2011). </p><p> This research study is informed by a comprehensive review of the literature related to school improvement and accountability, effective teaching, teacher evaluation models, and change theory. Additionally, the study is predicated on the notion that current evaluation reform will be fruitless without teacher input (Weiner &amp; Lundy, 2013). Fourteen elementary classroom teachers in Connecticut revealed perceptions about the influence of value-added evaluation on their professional efficacy both before and after the implementation began. This study applied qualitative research with a phenomenological approach to explore the manner in which value-added teacher evaluation implementation affected teachers on a personal and professional level. The use of questionnaires and semi-structured interviews revealed four major themes: stress, accountability, communication, and fairness. The research uncovered a shift in focus from concerns about student achievement pre-implementation to concerns about the use of data for evaluation purposes and its effect on teachers once implementation was underway. Additionally, teachers demonstrated concern about equity in evaluation based on invalid or unreliable test data and the exclusion of external factors affecting test scores. Most teachers stated that close communication with principal and colleagues was central to their success with the new plans. These underlying themes indicate a need to reflect on the true intent of teacher evaluation systems and determine whether that intent is indeed being fulfilled. </p>

<p> The purpose of this study was to design, pilot, and evaluate the effectiveness of a teacher-led intervention using karaoke to improve the reading skills. Elements from previous research (Biggs, Homan, Dedrick, Rasinksi &amp; Minick, 2008; Gupta, 2006) were adapted and integrated with the structure of Writer's Workshop (Calkins, 1991; Graves, 1983) to create an intervention referred to as Karaoke Workshop. The researcher, who also participated in the role of the after-school intervention teacher, adapted existing instructional and design methods and the efficacy of the adaptation of these methods in this context was part of the pilot nature of this study. </p><p> Two rounds of the design-based research cycle were followed to develop, implement, and evaluate a teacher-led intervention. The impact of the design on three key outcomes was observed leading to several key findings. The most significant finding validated the impact that karaoke has on oral reading fluency. Over an 8-week period, every participant experienced a significant improvement in oral reading fluency, with the average reading rate of participants increasing from 64 to 94 WCPM. </p><p> In addition, this study offers an instructional model for teachers who want to use karaoke in the classroom. The revised model includes separate instructional routines for teacher-led lessons and for student-driven activity. This model is based on teacher manipulation of three variables, the curriculum, the music, and the technology, which were also explored. </p><p> This study serves as an exemplar for the integration of music into the curriculum in a way that supports both the arts and student performance with core content. Given the current educational landscape, where arts instruction is often shadowed by an emphasis on the core curriculum and high-stakes testing, it is important for educators to identify ways to integrate the arts that contribute to these high-stakes outcomes.</p>

<p>Federal, state, and local school policies since the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001 have increased the focus on student achievement. Subjects such as physical education have become less of a priority. At the same time, childhood obesity is a serious public health problem. Virginia schools provide an opportunity for student to learn about the importance of being physical activity and knowledge to lead an active life through physical education class. The purpose of the study was to explore elementary physical education teachers' in the Bergling School Division (a pseudonym) in the Commonwealth of Virginia implementation of the physical education curriculum, and their knowledge of the state and local school division physical education policies. In addition, the study examined their perceptions of factors to implementing the curriculum. A survey was administered to a population of elementary physical education teachers in the Bergling School Division. Part one of the survey included factors to curriculum implementation. Part two of the survey included items related to the teachers' application of the curriculum and understanding of policies. The results were analyzed using quantitative methods to determine if relationships exist between factors to curriculum implementation and specified teacher demographics, setting, and perception of policy. Findings from the survey data show teachers are using the physical education curriculum to teach, but lack competence in the policies that guide how the subject is implemented. Furthermore, teachers sight lack of time with students, class size, and low priority for physical education as factors to curriculum implementation.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of a ten (10) hour Teacher's Motivational Teaching Model (TMTM) on student teachers' teaching behavior. The sample for this study consisted of 90 elementary education majors at Ball State University involved in a dental health study.Of the 90 students involved in this study, 46 were taught an experimental unit in dental health and 44 were taught a less concentrated unit in dental health. The experimental unit was 10 hours in duration and made application of operant conditioning principles, cognitive dissonance, and group decision making. A special unit in classroom first aid was also taught to remove experimental bias. The Student Teacher Observation Form (a category recording system) was developed to measure the effects of the TMTM on student teachers' teaching behavior. STOP is a four category recording system which lasts three minutes. The categories included in STOF were facts/reasons in dental health instruction, demonstrations in dental health instruction, facts/reasons in first aidinstruction, and demonstration in first aid instruction. The STOP system was taught to the classroom supervisors assigned to the student teachers. The classroom supervisors observed their student teachers for 12 minutes a day for 7 weeks. The 12 minutes of observation time were randomly selected and 6 of the minutes observed daily consisted of science health instruction. The data collected by the classroom supervisors was sent in weekly for analysis.Four major null hypotheses were considered in this study.1.1 There will be no significant difference in the amount of facts/reasons dental health instruction performed by the experimental and control groups.1.2 There will be no significant difference in the amount of demonstration dental health instruction performed by the experimental and control groups.2. There will be no significant difference in the kind of dental health instruction performed by the experimental and control groups.3.1 There will be no significant difference in the utilization of teaching materials between experimental and control groups.3.2 There will be no significant difference in the utilization of consultation services between experimental and control groups.4. There will be no significant differences in the relationship between the utilization of materials and the distance from the source of materials between experimental and control groups.In summary the following conclusions were drawn.1. Student teachers exposed to the TNfiM (experimental group)spent significantly more instruction time on facts/reasons and demonstrations in dental health than student teachers who received the less concentrated instruction (control group).2. Significantly more dental health facts/reasons and demonstration instruction occurred in the science health instructional areas than outside the science-health area.3. Student teachers in the experimental group spent significantly more time on dental health facts/reasons instruction outside the sciencehealth area than the student teachers in the control groups.4. Dental health teaching materials were utilized in similar amounts by experimental and control student teachers.5. Student teachers in the experimental and control groups utilized similar proportions between facts/reasons and demonstration instruction in dental health.6. Student teachers in the experimental groups used more dental health consultation services than students in the control groups.7. No relationship existed between students in the experimental and control groups and the utilization of dental health materials and the distance from the source of the materials.

The underlying purpose of the study was to learn more about how elementary-aged children deal with tests purporting to measure critical thinking skills. This involved four related purposes: (a) development of a testing instrument, (b) analysis and evaluation of the test instrument, (c) to determine the difference of performance between grades, and (d) identification of commonality factors among the tests.