Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for writing have created a challenge for teachers at an urban elementary school as they struggled to provide effective writing instruction to support the rigorous expectations of the standards. The purpose of this study was to explore elementary teachers' lived experiences of instruction and better understand instructional writing procedures and strategies. The conceptual framework of this study was based on Dennick's work for incorporating educational theory into teaching practices, which combined elements of constructivist, experiential, and humanist learning theories. Research questions investigated how teachers perceived the impact of the CCSS writing standards on their practice and what kinds of support they needed in order to effectively support writing instruction. A phenomenological design was selected to capture the lived experiences of participants directly associated with CCSS writing instruction. The study included 6 individual teacher interviews and a focus group session of 6 teachers who met the criteria for experience in Grades 3-5 at the elementary school. Data were coded and then analyzed to determine common themes that surfaced from the lived experiences of teachers including the need for training in writing instruction, the impact of common core standards on the increased rigor of current writing instruction, a lack of PD at the local school, and instructor challenges with differentiated writing instruction. A job-embedded professional development model was designed to support teachers with effective writing instruction and improve teacher practice at the local school, the district, and beyond. When fully implemented, this professional development may provide elementary teachers with research-based writing strategies that will support the rigor of CCSS standards and college and career readiness.

The debate on how students of different abilities should be organised and taught is probably as old as the introduction of formal schooling. It has generated a lot of debate in the past and continues to do so in the present millennium. This debate has invariably divided the world of educational research into two distinct camps. On one hand are proponents of ability grouping who claim that this grouping approach creates homogeneity which make it possible to tailor teaching to individual needs and thus raise achievement. On the other hand, are the exponents of mixed-ability grouping, who argue that ability grouping denies equality of educational opportunities to many young people, limiting their life chances and increasing social segregation. However, there is an emerging trend which posits that teachers should view students' mixed-abilities as an asset, which if properly exploited can result in effective instruction for the benefit of all students regardless of their many individual differences. This emanates from the realisation that there are different types of intelligences, and that it is not always possible for an individual student to posses all the types of intelligences. Therefore, students from diverse backgrounds, endowed with multiple intelligences, can help one another understand the content better as they will perceive the content from their diverse experiential backgrounds. This qualitative study concerned itself with investigating how mixed-ability grouping can be optimised for effective instruction at the junior secondary school level in Botswana. The study made use of literature study, focus groups, follow-up interviews and lesson observations. Major findings were that teachers are not optimising mixed-ability grouping for effective instruction. Instead, teachers have problems in teaching mixed-ability classes, with most of their teaching being teacher-centred. However, teachers can optimise mixed-ability grouping through the use of student-centred instructional strategies such as cooperative learning, small-group instruction, peer teaching and student research. Gifted students could be catered for through curriculum compaction, enrichment and extension work, while mentally challenged students could be offered remedial work. These cited teaching strategies are differential and they make use of the diverse abilities found in mixed-ability classes. / Educational Studies / D.Ed. (Didactics)

本研究採行動研究，旨在探討如何設計出一套符合低成就學生需求的補救教學課程。實施對象為九年級六位體育班學生並選取其中兩位做深入的紀錄。地點為南部一所特偏國中，經歷十五週。研究結果如下: 第一，對低成就學生有幫助的教學設計應考量到: 1. 教材應就低成就學生程度而做適宜的改編。 2. 診斷學生學習困難之處並對症下藥，以提升學生學習信心。 3. 根據學生偏好的學習模式，課程應減少老師講課，多讓學生做活動。 第二，補救教學課程確實能幫助低成就學生學習，基於以下五點: 1. 師生互動頻繁。 2. 不必趕進度，學生做中學。 3. 學生告訴老師自己想學的東西，落實學習者中心的理念。 4. 友善環境下，學生逐漸培養出讀書習慣。 5. 活動多元，從各面向訓練學生英語能力。 第三，如何提供一套有效的補救教學課程，有以下三點發現: 1. 將課堂學習與學生的生活經驗相連結。 2. 學生主導自己的學習。 3. 提供支持的學習環境。 實施過程中面臨到最大的挑戰為學生時輟時學，搖擺不定的態度。因應方式為冷靜處理，堅持到底。 最後，根據研究結果，對教學與未來研究提出相關建議。 / This study adopted action research to explore how to design an effective remedial instruction based on the low-level students’ varied needs. This remedial English program was implemented to six ninth PE specialty graders, lasting for fifteen weeks in junior high school locating in the extremely rural area. The findings of this study are as follows: As the aspects of offering a helpful remedial instruction, first, the contents must be adapted to meet the low-level readiness levels. Second, the class can focus on students’ difficulties to enhance students’ confidence. Third, the teachers can reduce lectures to allow for activities based on the students’ leaning styles. The low-level students were proved to benefit from the remedial English class because first, there was lots of interaction between the students and the teacher. Second, the remedial class did not have to follow the fixed schedule, and the students could learn through participating in activities. Third, the students told their needs to the teacher. The learner-centered concept was carried out in this way. Fourth, the low-level students were provided with constant support and help, and they gradually cultivate study habits. Fifth, the remedial class offered diverse activities to develop students’ proficiency. After implementation, the researcher concluded three points to design an effective remedial instruction. First, connect the learning to students’ personal experience. Second, let the students take the active role. Third, create a support environment. In the process, the challenge was the students’ lax attitudes and inconsistency. The teacher solved the dilemma with reason and persistence. Finally, based on the findings, suggestions for teaching and future studies were discussed. Keywords: Remedial instruction, Low-level students, An effective instruction

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The debate on how students of different abilities should be organised and taught is probably as old as the introduction of formal schooling. It has generated a lot of debate in the past and continues to do so in the present millennium. This debate has invariably divided the world of educational research into two distinct camps. On one hand are proponents of ability grouping who claim that this grouping approach creates homogeneity which make it possible to tailor teaching to individual needs and thus raise achievement. On the other hand, are the exponents of mixed-ability grouping, who argue that ability grouping denies equality of educational opportunities to many young people, limiting their life chances and increasing social segregation. However, there is an emerging trend which posits that teachers should view students' mixed-abilities as an asset, which if properly exploited can result in effective instruction for the benefit of all students regardless of their many individual differences. This emanates from the realisation that there are different types of intelligences, and that it is not always possible for an individual student to posses all the types of intelligences. Therefore, students from diverse backgrounds, endowed with multiple intelligences, can help one another understand the content better as they will perceive the content from their diverse experiential backgrounds. This qualitative study concerned itself with investigating how mixed-ability grouping can be optimised for effective instruction at the junior secondary school level in Botswana. The study made use of literature study, focus groups, follow-up interviews and lesson observations. Major findings were that teachers are not optimising mixed-ability grouping for effective instruction. Instead, teachers have problems in teaching mixed-ability classes, with most of their teaching being teacher-centred. However, teachers can optimise mixed-ability grouping through the use of student-centred instructional strategies such as cooperative learning, small-group instruction, peer teaching and student research. Gifted students could be catered for through curriculum compaction, enrichment and extension work, while mentally challenged students could be offered remedial work. These cited teaching strategies are differential and they make use of the diverse abilities found in mixed-ability classes. / Educational Studies / D.Ed. (Didactics)

AFRIKAANS: Voor 1994 was die skoolhoof aanspreeklik vir die beheer van die finansies van die skool. Met die instelling van die Suid-Afrikaanse Skolewet no. 84 van 1996 het die aanspreeklikheid vir skoolfinansies drasties verander deur die instelling van selfbestuur by skole. Daar bestaan tans groot onduidelikhede by departementele amptenare sowel as by skoolhoofde en skoolbeheerliggaamlede oor wie aanspreeklik vir die finansies van die skool is. Sommige skole se begrotings het sedert 1994 van `n paar honderd duisend rand tot `n paar miljoen rand toegeneem; meer personeel word aangestel wat deur die skoolbeheerliggaam vergoed word en dit alles plaas bykomende bestuurverantwoordelikhede op die skoolhoof. Dikwels is die skoolhoofde en skoolbeheerliggaamlede nie opgelei om hierdie bykomende finansiële lading te hanteer nie. Daar word van die skoolbestuurspan verwag om kennis van finansiële bestuur te hê om hulle taak effektief uit te voer, nie alleenlik vir hulle eie oorlewing nie maar ook tot die voordeel van die skool en die gemeenskap. Die doel van hierdie studie is om die vertrekpunte waarbinne skoolfinansies bestuur en beheer word, te bepaal, asook om aan die hand van kontrole- en beheermaatreëls te bepaal of begrotings aangewend word om onderrig en leer in openbare skole te bevorder. ENGLISH: Before 1994 the principal of a school was accountable for the control of the school`s finances. Since the introduction of the South African Schools Act no. 84 of 1996 and the implementation of self-management of schools, accountability for schoolfinances has changed dramatically. Some schools’ budgets have increased from a few hundred thousands of rand to millions of rand since 1994; more teachers are being appointed and paid by the school governing body; these developments increase the principal’s managerial responsibilities. Principals and school governing body members are often not qualified to shoulder this extra financial burden. It is expected of school managers to have knowledge of financial management to enable them to execute tasks effectively, not only for their own survival but also in the best interest of the school and the community. The purpose of this study is to identify the principles for the control and management of schools’ finances and also to establish whether budgets are managed in such a way that instruction and learning in public schools are propagated. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Education Management and Policy Studies / unrestricted