<p> The purpose of this correlational study was to examine the relation between student engagement and reading attitude in an online high school learning environment using the High School Survey of Student Engagement (HSSSE) and the Rhody Secondary Reading Attitude Scale (Rhody). Subjects were administered the HSSSE and Rhody as a single survey electronically using Google Forms during the Fall 2016 semester. All subjects were enrolled in at least one online course at the time of the survey administration. A MANOVA was run to analyze the data for each research question and sub-question. Although this research found there to be no statistically significant correlation between student engagement and reading attitude in the online high school environment used for this study, the results provided a few strong trends: the relation between the number of online courses a student had previously taken and emotional student engagement and the relation between the number of online courses a student had previously taken and overall student engagement. This research found overall trends that contradict the results of research done in traditional high school learning environments, but support previous research done in online high school learning environments.</p><p> These substantial trends influence the development and implementation of policies and procedures of online high school learning environments in order to increase student engagement (behavioral, emotional, and cognitive). Although this dissertation has distinguished these essential trends, future research must investigate student characteristics and environmental factors to identify elements that lead to increased student engagement (behavioral, emotional, and cognitive).</p><p>

<p> This quantitative descriptive comparative study compared test scores from the Ohio Achievement Assessment of students who were taught reading in ability grouped classrooms with those who were taught in non-ability grouped classrooms. The purpose of this quantitative descriptive comparative study was to determine if a statistically significant difference existed between reading scores on the Ohio Achievement Assessments Test (OAA) of third grade students who are ability grouped and third grade students who are not ability grouped with regards to gender and ethnicity. The theories examined for this quantitative descriptive comparative study were the constructivist theory and the theory of multiple intelligences. The primary research question was whether or not there was a significant statistical difference in student test scores for the Ohio Achievement Assessment (OAA) in reading in ability grouped and non-ability grouped classrooms, with regard to gender or ethnicity. This study was a quantitative descriptive comparative design using archived data from the Ohio Department of Education and a school district located in Ohio. The study consisted of 334 student test scores, ability grouped males, females, White, Hispanic, and Black students and then the same groups for non-ability grouped students with regard to their gender and ethnicity. Descriptive statistics (standard deviation and the mean) were used to analyze the variables that were under investigation and to answer the hypotheses. Data analysis was completed using independent samples t-test to determine statistical significant difference among ability or non-ability grouped students with regard to gender. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine if a statistical significant difference existed between ability grouped and non-ability grouped students with regard to ethnicity, this resulted in a post-hoc test. It was determined that a statistical significant difference did not exist between males and females, regardless of their grouping status for reading on the Ohio Achievement Assessment. When grouping students by ability, there was a statistically significant difference in Hispanic students increase in achievement, when being compared to Black and White students. When non-ability grouped students were compared, there was not a statistically significant difference in OAA scores with regard to ethnicity. Further research is needed to provide holistic recommendations for grouping strategies across curriculum, types of schools, and age of students. </p><p>

<p> This study investigated participants&rsquo; openness to change when exposed to a teacher-led care-based innovative method of curriculum delivery, specifically the <i>Schoolhome</i> Instructional Design.</p><p> Answers were sought to four research questions. What are the teachers&rsquo; and administrators&rsquo; knowledge and understanding of the caring pedagogy of the <i>Schoolhome</i> with regard to theory and intent? How do teachers and administrators describe their reaction to the <i>Schoolhome </i> Instructional Design? What are the differences among teachers&rsquo; and administrators&rsquo; responses to the <i>Schoolhome</i> Instructional Design? To what extent would the teachers and administrators support an implementation of the <i>Schoolhome</i> Instructional Design?</p><p> Data from surveys and interviews were analyzed using a theoretical framework derived from Bronfenbrenner&rsquo;s (1979) ecological theory of human development, Martin&rsquo;s (1995) caring educational philosophy, and Hawkin&rsquo;s (2002) <i> I, Thou, It</i> concept of the three-way relationship between teacher, student and subject matter.</p><p> Findings showed that the teachers and administrators responded positively to the <i>Schoolhome</i> and would support its implementation at least in part. Findings also revealed concerns about logistical issues. Several implications can be drawn from the study results. First, one caring-based model will not work for all educators, and second, practitioners will need to update their theoretical educational knowledge prior to any implementation. Third, an in-service program should occur so that any innovation may be knowledge-based and carefully designed. Fourth, teacher education programs should develop a course on teacher-research practice and procedure. Fifth, study results also reveal a need to re-conceptualize change and caring.</p><p>

<p> Secondary science teachers make many daily decisions in the enactment of curriculum. Although curriculum materials are widely available to address science content, practices, and skills, the consideration that goes into deciding how and whether to use such materials is complicated by teachers&rsquo; beliefs about science, their understandings of school-level accountability and testing measures, and their perspectives on the adolescent students they teach. This study addresses the need to understand how teachers consider multiple forces in their enactment of science curriculum.</p><p> The purpose of this study was to explore the ways that discourses around accountability, science, and science education emerge in the narratives around teachers' decision-making in secondary science classrooms. Using a case study approach, I worked at two school sites with two pairs of science teachers. We established criteria for critical incidents together, then teachers identified critical decision-making moments in their classrooms. We analyzed those incidents together using a consultancy protocol, allowing teachers to focus their thinking on reframing the incidents and imagining other possible outcomes.</p><p> Using post-structuralist rhizomatics, I assembled analyses of teachers&rsquo; discussions of the critical incidents in the form of dramatization&mdash;scenes and monologues. I then developed two major interpretive strands. First, I connected teachers&rsquo; sense of having &ldquo;no time&rdquo; to blocs of affect tied to larger discourses of national security, teacher accountability, and the joy of scientific discovery. Second, I demonstrated how teachers&rsquo; concern in following logical pathways and sequences in science relates to the imposition of accountability measures that echo the outcomes-driven logic of the learning sciences. Across both interpretations, I found accountability to be complex, multidirectional, and unpredictable in how it works on and through teachers as they make decisions.</p><p> Research in this area has important practical implications in the fields of professional development, curriculum development, and school change. As more states (including New York) adopt standards derived from the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), the importance of privileging teachers&rsquo; investment and critical decision-making in the process of new curriculum development is vital. I suggest that tools like video-based coaching and consultancy protocol discussions support this kind of thoughtful curricular change.</p><p>

<p> Research indicates that teachers feel intimidated into fully implementing prescribed literacy curriculum at the expense of their own praxis which may indeed be effective in boosting student literacy achievement. This perceived intimidation may serve to compromise students&rsquo; literacy outcomes. The objective of the study was to recognize the different forms of resistance teachers demonstrate in order to take responsibility of their own pedagogical practices as it helps develop students&rsquo; literacy skills. This paper analyzes teachers&rsquo; praxis and use of integrated methods of prescribed literacy curriculum in relation to teacher resistance. It answers four key questions: 1) What forms of resistance to the prescribed literacy curriculum do teachers at this elementary school use? 2) Why do teachers use resistance? 3) What do teachers say are the implications of their resistance? 4) What are teachers&rsquo; pedagogical choices in relation to resistance? </p><p> The study gathered qualitative and qualitative data in order to detail the frequency with which teachers favor their praxis over prescribed literacy curriculum, and to address concepts such as culturally responsive teaching and social participation. The limitations inherent in the research are the lack of diversity among the 18 respondents interviewed (all of them white female teachers from a northeastern U.S. suburban school); and the possibility that respondents might be less than candid in their responses due to concerns about anonymity. </p><p> Most of the teachers reported that they felt teachers resist prescribed literacy curriculum by developing their own pedagogical practices within their classroom in order to feel responsible for developing students&rsquo; literacy skills. At the same time, participants reported that they tended to completely follow prescribed literacy curriculum consistent with their professional development training. Teachers have strategically adjusted controlled academic environments to serve students, which implies a strategy of politicizing education within their classrooms. The long standing educational systems which were believed to promote education for the sake of preparing students for service jobs and consumerism are adjustable in classrooms where teachers promote students&rsquo; social capital instead.</p><p>

<p> With the ever-changing requirements of a secondary level of education and the application of standardized testing criteria to determine proficiency in mastery of the subject matter, the attempt to create a standard and acceptable curriculum for all school sites has left the control of the schools. Now classrooms are scrambling for focus, guidance and support with curriculum development and implementation. Over the last three decades, there have been numerous research studies that have examined the place of the classroom teacher in the process of creating curriculum for their classroom with mixed results. The efforts to reform secondary education, from the federal level to the local level, have shut out the local input from teachers and professionals in their particular fields as to what the curriculum in the classroom should be and left that decision to people outside the classroom environment.</p><p> This research study was conducted to derive a theory developed on the empirical basis of teacher input through the lens of the methodology of grounded theory. Its goal was to identify the underlying issues and problems associated with classroom teachers; input into local curriculum as well as the barriers to changing the prevailing thought of classroom teachers on curriculum. Classroom teachers from two separate academic subject matters that are currently being taught at the middle school level were interviewed and their responses were coded using the classical grounded theory methodology and processes.</p><p> The resulting research shows that the involvement of classroom teachers is considered a benefit to the local curriculum development, regardless of experience in the classroom or length of service as a teacher. While most teachers feel that their input is paramount to learning in their particular classroom, teachers admit that they lack the skills to effectively create curriculum for implementation. It is in this manner that teachers strive to do what is best for their students; however, in some cases they lack the support and direction from the district, state or federal level. Knowing the issue as it appears to the classroom teacher, the creation, implementation and execution of locally created curriculum would be and is met with great resistance due to the adherence to the prevailing thoughts on curriculum development at the state of federal level and the need to comply with and execute the curriculum within the existing frameworks.</p><p> Further studies in looking at the existence of and use of locally teacher created and implemented curriculum, in different state or regional areas, would contribute to a better and clearer understanding of the particular issues that surround and deal with teacher involvement in the classroom curriculum decision making process. It is believed that the use of the grounded theory model as a methodological research tool provides a pathway for all interested parties to be open and candid about the issue and provide a better introspective look at the issues at hand.</p><p>

The purpose of this study was to explore, describe and examine how early childhood teachers utilize and integrate the arts (music, drama, and visual arts) in teaching children ages 3 to 5. It also examined the formal and informal arts education background of early childhood teachers, the relationship between teacher training and educational practice and the role it plays in teachers’ use of music, drama and visual arts in their curriculum. Data was collected through the use of the Arts Integration Questionnaire (AIQ) and by observations, Arts Integration observation Protocol (AIOP). A total of 91 early childhood teachers completed the questionnaire; it included background information as well as general aspects of teacher’s knowledge about the arts, an exploration of the use of the arts in their classrooms, and an exploration of arts integration with other academic subjects. From those participants, 20 teachers were randomly selected to participate in the observations. The results of the study indicated that the majority of teachers have received formal and informal training in music, followed closely by visual arts, and very little in drama. Overall teachers were found to use music more than visual arts and drama in their classrooms; more time is spend on musical activities than in any other form. Again teachers preferred music because they considered it to be more beneficial than drama and the visual arts. This study revealed an array of reasoning behind the arts use in the classroom including addressing different learning styles, students’ preference, and stimulating students’ creativity. There was no statistical significant difference between a teacher’s background training and experience and their use of music and drama into their early childhood classroom. In the case of visual arts there is a statistical significant difference meaning that teachers need training and experience to help them develop an understanding of the visual arts. And finally teachers do integrate the arts with other academic subjects with the purpose of developing skills, explore roles, and to assess learning and understanding of concepts. Recommendations for professional development, teacher education, and further research are discussed.

Although a limited body of research has supported the positive impact of the Tools of the Mind curriculum on the development of self-regulation, research supporting a direct relationship between Tools and academic achievement is extremely limited. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the Tools of the Mind curriculum implementation in improving math and reading scores in Kindergarten by comparing scores obtained before and after Tools. This study also seeks to investigate the effects of SES on student achievement. Finally, this study seeks to identify contributions and challenges perceived by teachers during implementation. Participants included 93 students in the before Tools condition and 97 students after Tools. Students who had Tools scored statistically significantly lower on reading scores than students who did not have Tools. While students also scored lower on math after Tools, this difference was not significant. Differences were found in student scores based on SES. Qualitative results are base interviews of six Kindergarten teachers, and revealed teachers' experiences with implementation. The findings of this study are intended to increase the understanding of the effectiveness of Tools and its implementation.

The increase of HIV/AIDS patients requiring health care has direct implications for dental hygiene education programs and effective college teaching in those programs. Little documentation of the issues of HIV in dental hygiene education and practice have occurred. Research design was exploratory, quantitative and descriptive. A mail questionnaire was conducted on all 1992 Massachusetts dental hygiene program graduates. Response rate was 70%. Results of data analysis with respect to HIV/AIDS attitudes and educational process indicate that program graduates: (a) are willing to provide care to HIV/AIDS patients despite a perception of high risk for occupational exposure due to their work, (b) believe faculty influenced their attitudes about providing care to HIV patients, (c) want more educational opportunities to interact with psycho-social elements of HIV, (d) want interactive, two-way dialogue approaches to learning about HIV/AIDS as well as traditional lecture formats, (e) define the interpersonal and relational elements in effective college teaching as important in this learning context, and that (f) no one AIDS education experience made a difference in terms of attitudes toward providing care but a combination of multiple experiences did influence attitudes toward HIV. Negative attitudes were held about receiving care from HIV infected dental hygiene practitioners and about working in an office that employs an HIV positive hygienist. Risk from HIV/AIDS had not caused the respondents to consider leaving the field of dental hygiene. Findings contribute to dental hygiene and other health care educator work in policy, curriculum, and faculty development and suggest that multiple and multi-dimensional AIDS education experiences be included in the curriculum, that faculty development in HIV/AIDS education and effective college teaching occur, and that communication of program HIV/AIDS philosophies, policies, and protocols be included in clinical handbooks and regular faculty-student communication vehicles. Suggestions for further study include replication of the study with additional classes of graduates as well as national and different geographic region samples, assessment of HIV/AIDS education experiences and instructional methodologies in dental hygiene education programs, and qualitative research on how HIV/AIDS clinical treatment experiences affect learner knowledge, skill and value about providing health care.

<p> This thesis reviews literature researching creative thinking and applies the findings in a curriculum designed to develop creativity in elementary age students in the U.S. Educators and business leaders recognize creativity as a key need for 21^st century success, but creativity scores have been going down. Since current research shows correlations between creative thinking, questioning strategies, and contextual connections, teachers need to weave these processes into instruction. The National Coalition for Core Arts Standards recognized the importance of creativity and proposed new national standards which include 4 key components: creating, responding, presenting and connecting. This six-unit curriculum synthesizes the new National Visual Arts Standards (NVAS), questioning strategies, and contextual connections to increase creativity in elementary school students in the United States. </p>