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Following the release of the Curriculum and Evaluation Standards for School Mathematics, (NCTM, 1989) substantial federal funding in the 1990s supported the development of curriculum materials intended to help teachers enact new visions of mathematics teaching and learning. Although a great deal of research about the "Standards-based" curriculum materials has focused on student achievement, an equally important body of research has investigated teachers' experiences with these materials. While this research about teacher-curriculum interactions continues to mature and offer insights into teachers' curriculum use, we face a critical shortage of information about preservice teachers' use of mathematics curriculum materials. To address this gap, I conducted two separate but related qualitative studies focused on preservice teachers' interactions with mathematics curriculum materials. The first study examined a teacher education activity in which 23 preservice elementary teachers analyzed sections of different mathematics curriculum materials and textbooks. The second study focused on three student teachers' uses of mathematics curriculum materials and textbooks during their student-teaching internships. The overall purpose of these studies was to examine the views and experiences that appear to influence preservice teachers' initial interpretations of Standards-based curriculum materials and to document preservice teachers' experiences using Standards-based and other instructional resources during student teaching. I also aimed to explore how mathematics curriculum materials might be more carefully positioned to play a more critical role in preservice teacher learning throughout typical teacher education opportunities and also in teachers' future use and learning with Standards-based curriculum materials and other instructional resources. Results of this manuscript dissertation indicated that preservice teachers found themselves immersed in professional development with mathematics curriculum materials, textbooks, and state curriculum guides during coursework and fieldwork experiences. They had the opportunity to develop an understanding of the variety of mathematics instructional resources available to them that were different from what they were used to, and also had opportunities to consider the unexpectedly complex nature of many of the materials. The preservice teachers found themselves negotiating balance between university coursework and fieldwork expectations as they evaluated, adapted and supplemented materials during coursework and fieldwork. The results from these chapters not only illustrate teacher learning with and about curriculum materials, but also point out opportunities within teacher education for preservice teachers to question well-established beliefs and practices regarding mathematics teaching and mathematics instructional resources as they encountered disequilibrium in multiple contexts. Overall results also highlight possible missed opportunities for learning and the importance of human resources within teacher education as it relates to preservice teachers' encounters with mathematics curriculum materials and instructional resources. / Ed. D.

The problem of the present study was to determine the relationship between role-preferences of experienced elementary school teachers and their attitudes toward certain behavior problems of children.

Since the music requirement does rest with the teacher training institutions, the elementary education major is required, in most colleges and universities, to take six hours of music education. My problem is to develop an adequate course of study in music education to fit the musical needs of the elementary education major which will prepare her as well as possible in the allotted six hours to teach music in a classroom aided or unaided by supervision

The purpose of this study is to develop and evaluate a comprehensive program for the elementary schools of Texas in which industrial arts is correlated with the other subjects in the elementary curriculum.

Thesis advisor: Robert J. Starratt / This qualitative case study examined the effect the first year of an elementary mathematics induction program had on the mathematics content knowledge, pedagogical repertoire, confidence, classroom practice, and student achievement for six new elementary teachers in a suburban school district. The study also examined which components of this job-embedded professional development program influenced the teachers' practice the most. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with the six volunteer teachers, questionnaires, journals, and student assessment results. The major findings from the study showed that: (1) teachers' perception of their instructional practice, particularly their ability to question student thinking, math content knowledge, and confidence to teach mathematics improved as a result of the program; and, (2) teachers benefited the most from the opportunity to regularly observe their mentor teach a mathematics lesson, followed by the opportunity to discuss mathematics and related pedagogical issues with their cohort and mentor. Implications from the findings include the benefit of instituting content-focused, job-embedded professional development during a new teacher's first year in a district that provides regular opportunities for new teachers to observe a skilled veteran teacher teach mathematics lessons and to have peer discussions regarding the teaching of mathematics. Limitations of the study included the role of the Assistant Superintendent as researcher and developer of the program and the small sample size. Recommendations for future study include following: the effect on teaching practice after the second year in the math mentoring program; the effect of the program on mentors; the effect of mathematics self-efficacy on mathematics teaching self-efficacy and student achievement. / Thesis (EdD) — Boston College, 2009. / Submitted to: Boston College. Lynch School of Education. / Discipline: Education and Higher Education.

Collaboration is touted as a solution to modern challenges in education, but the difficulties of establishing truly collaborative communities are many. From a conflict-resolution lens, collaboration requires both assertiveness and cooperation (high preference for both completing tasks and maintaining relationships). This study uses surveys and interviews to explore the ways that teachers balance task and relationship orientations in resolving conflict between themselves and the impact that teachers’ behaviors while in conflict have on collaboration. Specifically, this study examines the role that trust, relationships, and process norms play in encouraging collaborative behaviors. Results suggest that teachers’ perceived ineffectiveness with conflict resolution and the fear of damaging relationships discourage open communication. Consequently, focusing on trust and relationship building does little to promote authentically collaborative exchanges. Instead, the perception of available time and a familiar process for raising concerns with colleagues are more likely to promote open communication and more authentic collaboration.

The purposes of this study are to determine the understanding of economic concepts and attitudes toward economic education of selected elementary teachers, to determine which variables relate to the understanding of economic concepts and attitudes toward economic education, to determine the interaction of selected variables, and to determine if there is a positive correlation between the understanding of economic concepts and attitudes toward economic education. The analysis of data reveals the following: 1. Completion of a recent college level social studies methods course does not appear to have a significant relation to the teachers' understanding of economic concepts. The methods course does appear to have some positive significant relation to teachers' attitudes toward economic education, although not significant at the .05 level. 2. Completion of two or more college level courses in economics does not appear to have a significant relation to the teachers' understanding of economic concepts or their attitudes toward economic education. 3. Participation in a Developmental Economic Education Program (DEEP) workshop appears to have a significant relation to the teachers' understanding of economic concepts, but does not appear to have a significant relation to their attitudes toward economic education. 4. Teaching assignment (classroom organization) does not appear to have a significant relation to the teachers' understanding of economic concepts, but does appear to have a significant relation to their attitudes toward economic education with teachers in a self-contained classroom having a less favorable attitude toward economic education than do teachers in team-teaching or departmentalized classrooms. 5. The interaction of the variables grade level taught and adopted textbook series used appears to have a significant relation to the teachers' understanding of economic concepts and their attitudes toward economic education. Sixth grade teachers using textbooks with high-economic content score higher in cognition and fourth-grade teachers using textbooks with low-economic content have a less favorable attitude toward economic education. 6. There is a significant positive correlation between teachers' understanding of economic concepts and their attitudes toward economic education.

This qualitative study explored the expectations and perceptions elementary teachers have of school counselors. Participants were current or past students in an elementary education graduate program at a southeastern university. The participants responded to an open-ended online survey that consisted of questions that focused on the demographics of their schools and the expectations and perceptions they had of the school counselor’s roles and responsibilities pertaining to both academic achievement and student behavior. Although responses varied, the data suggests that there was substantial concern regarding the time and availability of the school counselor, implications of the use of counselors as school standardized testing administrators, and respondents’ desires for school counselors to focus on the severe emotional and behavioral needs of students.

This paper explores the role of school culture as embodied by elementary teacher preparation in relationship to humanizing pedagogies. Further, it explores how the school culture of elementary teacher preparation can be experienced as an oppressive force towards identity formation and humanization for students who position themselves outside of the conventional norms of the field and traditionally accepted membership criteria. A brief play in three acts shares anecdotes from students who consider themselvesin the margins of elementary teacher preparation with recommendations for teacher educators seeking to humanize the elementary teacher preparation curriculum and experience to be inclusive of all students.