<p> This study explored middle-class parents&rsquo; descriptions of their experience of the emotional &ldquo;essence&rdquo; of the conflicts that arose between themselves and their children as parents facilitated the homework process. This study on homework experiences sought to gain a deeper understanding and meaning experienced firsthand from the middle-class parents&rsquo; point of view. The use of phenomenological methods allowed for the deep and thick description necessary to uncover the essence of the middle-class parental perspectives on the parent-child emotional experience embedded in the homework process. The identified themes included <i>creation of a homework routine, emotions of resistance and stress,</i> and <i>parental role construction. </i> The emergent constituents were: <i>paradox of parental role construction, tiers of stress,</i> and <i>desire for family harmony during homework time.</i> The study revealed the following ramifications resulting from the relationships between emergent themes and constituents: the intersections between <i>paradox of parental role construction</i> and <i>desire for family harmony, desire for family harmony</i> and <i>creation of a homework routine, creation of a homework routine </i> and <i>paradox of parental role construction</i> and, finally, <i>desire for family harmony</i> and <i>tiers of stress. </i> These intersections manifested in the following: <i>stress, resistance, confusion,</i> and <i>family tension,</i> respectively. The significance of this study rests in its extension of current research on the experience of homework facilitation among working-class families with elementary-aged children by focusing on learning at home in the middle-class. It identified stress during this period as tiered, that middle-class parents would like training on their role during homework, and that middle-class parents had a cathartic stress-relieving experience when they were given an opportunity to share their &ldquo;homework&rdquo; experiences.</p>

<p> Mathematics is an indispensable skill. Mathematical reasoning occurs when a person is taught the basic foundations during the elementary school years. With the pressures following implementation of Common Core State Standards and Race to the Top, school districts are tried not only to raise their state test scores, but also to prepare, strengthen, and empower educators to feel confident in their ability to instruct mathematics effectively. The Singapore approach to teaching math was the innovative program that created higher math scores in school districts in the United States. The country of Singapore, after developing this approach became the world&rsquo;s leader in math scores. As more school districts attempt to use a Singapore math-type approach, the secrets of success for its implementation are important. Math in Focus is the authentic Singapore curriculum. This study attempted to document which aspects that encompassed implementing this new program worked most effectively by utilizing a mixed-method approach. This study documented and analyzed professional development training and collaborative teacher planning. The teachers in this study had five professional development workshops and met weekly for collaboration. Additionally, state testing scores were analyzed for the academic school years 2011&ndash;2012, 2012&ndash;2013, and 2013&ndash;2014.</p>

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Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston University / PLEASE NOTE: Boston University Libraries did not receive an Authorization To Manage form for this thesis or dissertation. It is therefore not openly accessible, though it may be available by request. If you are the author or principal advisor of this work and would like to request open access for it, please contact us at open-help@bu.edu. Thank you. / 2031-01-01

<p>Currently, three out of 10 parents fear for their students? safety while attending classes within the public school setting (McCarthy, 2015). This study focused on two elements that directly affect safety within schools: visitor management and intruder prevention. To analyze each of these two elements, qualitative methodology was utilized through four focus groups to determine the perceptions of Elementary school administrators, parents, and school resource officers on school safety. After conducting multiple interviews, four common themes emerged. The first theme was monitoring access to school buildings. Participants asserted taking an active approach in this area would increase the overall safety of students. The second theme discussed by multiple participants was to take additional measures to make the entrances of school buildings secure. The third theme that emerged was the importance of the role of the school resource officer. The fourth and final theme that developed was the importance of training and communication for administrators, school resource officers, staff, students, parents, and community members. After facilitating focus groups and analyzing the data obtained, it became evident the measure of a safe school depends on two variables. These variables are (1) to create a safe building for students managed by procedures designed with student safety at the forefront and (2) to employ trained individuals with the purpose of generating a positive and secure atmosphere. The data collected in this study could prove useful to district administrators wishing to design a safe and secure learning environment for students.

<p> As a result of federal legislation (ESSA, 2015) accreditation ratings of elementary schools are based on the performance of third through fifth grade students on the end of year assessments in the content subjects of reading and math. As a result of these requirements schools that fail to meet these standards are identified as Accreditation Denied in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Once a school receives this designation certain requirements are mandated by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) to assist in the improvement efforts toward accreditation. Two of these requirements are the implementation of a Comprehensive School Improvement Plan and the formation of a School Leadership Team. Schools and School districts implement a variety of approaches to the responsibilities of team members and the required components of school improvement planning. As a result of these approaches, toward school improvement processes and distributed leadership responsibilities, research confirms that when both are aligned with the needs of the school population improvement goals increase and accreditation ratings improve (Ahearn, 1998; Anfara et al., 2006; Benolieil, 2017; Bush &amp; Glover,2012; Cain &amp; Gunter,2012; Darling- Hammond et al., 1995; Dufour, 2004,2008; Elmore,2014; Fernandez,2011; Freeman &amp; Wilmes, 2009; Gronn,2000; Harris 2004,2008; hayge et al., 2014; Huber &amp; Conway,2015; Leithwood et al., 2004; Louis, 2015; Mintrop &amp; MacLellan,2002; Rigby,2013; Smylie,1992; Spillane, 2005; Wallace,2002). This study determined, through an instrumental case study, what the role of the school leadership team is in relation to the school improvement process in schools denied accreditation in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The theoretical framework of distributed leadership was used as the foundation for the conceptual framework for this study. This study provides a systematic approach to the development of the school leadership team through the distributed leadership framework and professional development for the School Leadership Team in the Instructional leadership responsibilities in elementary schools denied accreditation.</p><p>

<p> The educational connoisseurship and criticism method was used to research the challenges elementary teachers go through each day. This study's findings are taken from observations and interviews with three veteran elementary teachers who have experienced challenges and burdens due to the intensification of their jobs, student behavior, parental involvement, and teacher pay. Veteran elementary teachers were chosen as participants, as they have been through many changes that often happens in education and are able to provide insight that only veteran elementary teachers can provide. The results showed that although elementary teachers have many challenges, they are still able to find a sense of presence, bringing their whole self into the moment, in the classroom and a level of existential joy in teaching. These veteran elementary teachers reveal how having a sense of humor helps to keep their sense of presence. Also, elementary teachers find moments when the mandated curriculum needs to take a back seat while they reconnect with their students.</p><p>

This study explored how the integration of science and literacy in an elementary school classroom impacted the conceptual learning and understanding of first grade students. This study was explored around two research questions 1) How do students respond to the weather activities after being exposed to scientific read-alouds? 2) How will the impact of center based science inquiry on students reading comprehension and conceptual understanding of science knowledge change when the teacher engages students in scientific inquiry through the use of centers? Data was collected over a three-day period when the teacher was conducting a weather unit. It was found that through the literacy integration process and use of centers, the students were able to gain a deeper conceptual understanding and procedural fluency of the science topic.

The purpose of this research study is to examine the instructional practices of teachers who are currently teaching homeless students in their classroom. This study identified eight teachers in two suburban elementary schools that have students in their current classrooms that are experiencing homelessness. In addition, the research study explored the needs considered and strategies that teachers use to differentiate and accommodate their instructional practices to maximize achievement for these students. Qualitative data was collected by a study of teacher interviews through collective ethnographic case studies. Additionally, quantitative data was collected through evaluator observations of the selected classrooms to observe the differences between the identified students and the students not experiencing homelessness. Additional artifacts were submitted from teachers to support data collection. This study revealed key themes of successful pedagogical practices of elementary teachers with instructional strategies and non-instructional strategies. These themes included instructional strategies of planning, learning groups, and homework modifications. Non-instructional strategies included themes of relationships, supports, and needs.