This dissertation focused on the study of the Spanish academic language proficiency of novice bilingual teachers during the act of teaching mathematics in elementary grades. Four first year teachers in a large urban school district in central Texas participated in the study. At the time of the study two participants were fully certified and had attended four-year teacher preparation programs. The additional participants had completed all certification requirements including content examinations and the Texas Oral Proficiency Test (TOPT); they were completing their certification requirements through alternative certification programs. The study sought to identify the moments in their teaching of mathematics in Spanish when their instruction broke down, i.e. when they appeared unable to communicate ideas to students, and the reasons for these breakdowns. Findings revealed that the teachers in the study demonstrated linguistic and/or pedagogical breakdowns and that certain factors influenced their knowledge and language competencies. Linguistic breakdowns were manifested when teachers switched to English, used repetitive language when teaching, or provided limited academic language. Pedagogical breakdowns were identified as a lack of: student talk or discussion, effective teacher questioning, or diverse presentation of content. Overall, the teachers struggled with limited language in Spanish and limited pedagogical reasoning skills while teaching mathematical concepts to their students. These limitations were exacerbated by the pressures of high stakes testing and countered by the fact that all four teachers shared linguistic and cultural affiliation with their students. This collective case study was conducted from within a constructivist theoretical framework focusing on theories of academic language, communicative competence, and Vygotsky’s sociocultural perspective of learning. Recommendations for future training and practice of bilingual teachers are provided specifically on the importance of Spanish language proficiency of this group of educators. / text

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

Understanding the patterns and processes that create differences among individuals in components of fitness, like the probability of survival or reproductive rates, is essential to our knowledge of population dynamics and for informing conservation efforts. For organisms in seasonal environments, early-breeding individuals regularly attain higher fitness than their late-breeding counterparts. Two primary hypotheses, related to quality and date, have been proposed to explain lower reproductive success of late breeders, but the veracity of these ideas has not been fully resolved. I tested predictions associated with these hypotheses to assess the effects of indices of parental and environmental quality on nestling quality and survival in an insectivorous passerine, the tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor), at two widely separated breeding locations in western Canada. I combined experiments and statistical modelling of observational data to evaluate two mechanisms proposed to contribute to seasonal decline in environmental quality: an increase in nest parasite abundance and a decrease in food abundance with later breeding dates. A parasite reduction experiment revealed a disproportionate benefit of parasite removal on length of primary feather for early-hatched nestlings, suggesting greater energetic constraints early in the breeding season. Furthermore, late-hatched nestlings from parasite-reduced nests had longer head-bill lengths than their control counterparts, and developed head-bills of similar length to those of early-hatched nestlings. Other than these findings, there were few detectable effects of parasites on nestling size, growth and immunity, as has been reported from several previous studies. Indeed, negative effects of parasites were only apparent when food (i.e., insect) biomass was considered. In a second series of experiments in which parental quality was controlled, I also tested whether food abundance declined during the breeding season, as predicted if environmental conditions deteriorate seasonally (i.e., date). Reduced reproductive success of late-breeding individuals was causally related to a seasonal decline in environmental quality. Declining insect biomass and enlarged brood sizes resulted in nestlings that were lighter, in poorer body condition, had shorter head-bills, shorter and slower growing ninth primary feathers and that were less likely to survive to fledge. Next, I asked whether results obtained from long-term mark-recapture data corroborated findings of short-term manipulations. I examined seasonal variation in first-year apparent survival to investigate the relative influence of large-, small- and individual-scale factors associated with the quality and date hypotheses. Although parental quality was an important predictor of first-year apparent survival of tree swallows, my results further suggested that quality of parents was not the primary factor influencing seasonal variation in first-year apparent survival. Rather, findings were most consistent with the date hypothesis. The relationship between apparent survival and a direct measurement of environmental quality indicated that annual variation in moisture had important consequences for first-year apparent survival of tree swallows in Saskatchewan. First-year apparent survival probabilities were higher during wet years and wetter conditions are generally linked to greater insect abundance. In British Columbia, nestlings from larger broods were less likely to survive, possibly as a result of receiving less food. Apparent survival probabilities were also higher when food was more abundant. I demonstrated that both parental and environmental quality influenced seasonal variation in fitness-related traits of tree swallows. However, the strongest evidence suggests that environmental quality, and in particular food abundance, had the greatest effect on seasonal variation in nestling quality, reproductive success and first-year apparent survival in tree swallows. My results highlight the importance of considering regional precipitation trends when projecting effects of climate change on demography of aerial insectivores.

Thesis (DAppLing)--Macquarie University, Faculty of Human Sciences, Department of Linguistics, 2009. / Bibliography: p. 167-188. / Introduction -- Contextual background -- Literature review -- Methodology -- Pre-service teachers' beliefs about being a teacher -- Practicum students' beliefs about the teaching experience -- Teachers' first year experience: beliefs and reflections -- Conclusions. / This research focuses on the analysis of the beliefs of pre-service Mexican student-teachers from a public university in central Mexico who have learned English as adolescents or young adults. Specifically, it examines their beliefs about teaching and about themselves as English teachers in different stages of initial professional development. The participants reflected on their experiences as English language learners, students, teaching practicum students and as first year teachers in a follow up study. -- This thesis is composed of three studies that are linked by involving the same participants. The studies follow these participants through different stages in their initial development as teachers.The research is set within the qualitative research paradigm and draws on qualitative data and interpretive analysis. The data were retrieved using the following procedures: autobiographies, a focus group interview, journals, personal interviews and short narratives. -- Responses to the following research questions emerged through the different stages of this thesis. 1. What initial beliefs do pre-service and beginning students hold about being a teacher? 2. Do these beliefs evolve or change during the initial stages of their teacher development? 3. Do their experiences during their initial stages of their development influence their beliefs? -- There is little research on English language teacher beliefs in Mexico. It is considered that research in this area can contribute to the understanding of the processes of what English language teachers' beliefs are and how they evolve or develop over time and the influences that they may have on the actual teaching process. This research may contribute to bring to the attention of English language teacher preparation programs the necessity of providing opportunities for student-teachers to unpack their beliefs and reflect and view them in the light of the courses and their practice in order to create an understanding of the Mexican educational context of which they will be a part. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / viii, 265 p

O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar as oportunidades de estimulação motora em quatro diferentes contextos (Ambiente familiar, Escolas de Educação Infantil/creches, Instituições/abrigos e um Presídio) (artigo 1), descrever o desenvolvimento motor e social das crianças no quatro contextos (artigos 2 e 3) e verificar a associação entre as oportunidades de estimulação presentes nos contextos com o desenvolvimento motor de crianças no primeiro ano de vida (artigo 4). A amostra desta pesquisa foi de 89 crianças com idades entre 0 e 12 meses incompletos (25 crianças no ambiente familiar, 26 crianças nas creches, 23 crianças nos abrigos e 15 crianças no presídio). Os instrumentos utilizados na coleta de dados foram: 1) Affordances in the Home Environment Motor Development (AHEMD-SR); 2) Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS); 3) Questionários estruturados com questões referentes a caracterização das mães, educadoras/cuidadores e responsáveis legais das crianças. Os resultados apresentados no artigo 1, dos quatro contextos de desenvolvimento infantil avaliados, a creche foi o ambiente que ofereceu mais oportunidades para o desenvolvimento conforme avaliado pelo instrumento em todos os quesitos apresentados pelo instrumento e também na quantidade de itens de cada quesito, em relação aos demais contextos avaliados. Em relação ao artigo 2, que avaliou o desenvolvimento motor das crianças nos quatro contextos de desenvolvimento, foi possível verificar que a prevalência de atraso no desenvolvimento motor da amostra estudada foi no ambiente das creches, onde 39% das crianças apresentaram atrasos, seguidas das crianças dos abrigos (30%). As crianças avaliadas no ambiente familiar e no presídio apresentaram maiores percentuais na classificação de normalidade no desenvolvimento motor sendo 48% das crianças do ambiente familiar e 47% do presídio. Em relação ao artigo 3, em que avaliou o perfil social das crianças, foi possivel constatar que as crianças que as mães estiveram presentes (ambiente familiar e presídio) e com quem permaneciam a maior parte do tempo obtiveram melhores desempenhos nas áreas motora e social, quando comparados com crianças que permaneciam em ambientes coletivos na maior parte do dia (creches) ou o dia todo (abrigos). E no artigo 4, foi verificada que houveram poucas associações entre os contextos de desenvolvimento e as variáveis avaliadas pelo AHEMD-SR. O ambiente familiar foi o local que apresentou mais associações entre o desenvolvimento motor e as oportunidades de estimulação motora, e foi o local onde as crianças obtiveram melhor classificação relacionada ao desempenho motor. Conclui-se que os contextos de desenvolvimento (Ambiente familiar e Presídio) em que as relações da criança com um adulto sensível (no caso as mães), capazes de reconhecer as necessidades das crianças e responder a elas adequadamente, constituiram o ambiente mais favorável para o para o desenvolvimento. Questiona-se a adequação das creches e abrigos como ambientes de desenvolvimento, por causa dos possíveis riscos para as crianças, determinados pela incapacidade de prover os tipos de cuidados requeridos para crianças, em especial no primeiro ano de vida. / The purpose of this study was to verify motor stimulation opportunities in four different contexts (Family environment, Child Educational School, Shelters and a Prison) (article 1), to describe motor and social development of children in each context (articles 2 and 3) and to verify association between stimulation opportunities found in the contexts and motor development of children at their first year of life (article 4). The sample of this research was composed of 89 children aging between 0 and 12 incomplete months (25 children in a family environment, 26 children in child educational schools, 23 children in shelters and 15 children in a prison). The instruments used to collect the information were: 1) Affordances in the Home Environment Motor Development (AHEMD); 2) Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS); 3) Structured questionnaires with questions regarding to mothers, educators/child care providers and legal responsible adults of the children. In article number 1, the results showed that from the four evaluated contexts of child development, the child educational school was the one that offered more opportunities to development as assessed by the instrument in all categories showed by the instrument and also the items quantity in each category, regarding to the other evaluated contexts.Regarding to article number 2, that evaluated motor development in children in four different development contexts, it was possible to verify that motor development delay prevalence in the studied sample was found in the child educational schools, where 39% of the children showed delays, followed by children in shelters (30%). Children evaluated in family environment and in the prison showed higher percentage in classification of normality in motor development, 48% of the children in family environment and 47% in the prison. Regarding to article number 3, that evaluated social profile of children, it was possible to detect that children whose mothers were close (family environment and prison) and who spent a lot of time with them had better performance regarding to motor e social development, when compared to children who remained in common environments most of the day (child school) or the whole day (shelters). In article number 4 it was verified that there were few associations between development contexts and variables assessed by the AHMED-SR. Family environment was the place that showed more associations between motor development and motor stimulation opportunities, and it was the place where children had a better classification related to motor development. It’s possible to conclude that development contexts (Family environment and Prison) where there was a relationship between the child and a sensible adult (in this case the mothers), who was capable of recognizing the child’s needs and answer them appropriately, were environments more suitable to development. Making child schools and shelters environments more appropriate for child development is something questionable, because of possible risks to children, determined by incapability of providing required care and attention to children, especially in their first year of life. / El objetivo de este estudio fue verificar las oportunidades de estimulación motora en cuatro contextos diferentes (Ambiente familiar, Guarderías/Escuelas de Educación Infantil, Instituciones de Albergue y Presídio) (artículo 1), describir el desarrollo motor y social de niños en cuatro contextos (artículos 2 y 3) y verificar la asosociación entre las oportunidades de estimulación presentes en los contextos con el desarrollo motor de niños en el primer año de vida (artículo 4). La muestra de esta pesquisa fue de 89 niños con edades entre 0 e 12 meses incompletos (25 niños en el ambiente familiar, 26 niños en guarderías, 23 niños en albergues y 15 niños en presídio). Los instrumentos utilizados en el levantamiento de datos fueron: 1) Affordances in the Home Environment Motor Development (AHEMD); 2) Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS); 3) Cuestionarios estructurados con cuestiones referentes a la caracterización de las madres, educadoras/cuidadores y responsables legales de niños. Los resultados presentados en el artículo 1, de los cuatro contextos de desarrollo infantil evaluados, la guardería fue el ambiente que ofereció más oportunidades para el desarrollo conforme lo evaluado por el instrumento en todas las cuestiones presentadas por el instrumento y también en la cantidad de itens de cada cuestión, en relación a los demás contextos evaluados. En relación al artículo 2, que avaluó el desarrollo motor de niños en los cuatro contextos de desarrollo, fue posíble verificar que la prevalencia de atraso en el desarrollo motor de la muestra estudiada fue en el ambiente de las guarderías, donde 39% de los niños presentaron atrasos, seguidos de los niños de los albergues (30 %). Los niños evaluados en el ambiente familiar y en el presídio presentaron mayores percentuales en la clasificación de normalidad en el desarrollo motor siendo 48% de los niños del ambiente familiar y 47% del presídio. En relación con el artículo 3, en que se evaluó el perfil social de los niños, fue posible constatar que los niños que las madres estubieron presentes (ambiente familiar y presídio) y con quien permanecían la mayor parte del tiempo obtuvieron mejores desempeños en las áreas motora y social, cuando comparados con niños que permanecían en ambientes colectivos en la mayor parte del día (guarderías) o todo el día (abrigos). Y en el artículo 4, fue verificado que hubieron pocas asociaciones entre los contextos de desarrollo y las variables evaluadas por el AHEMD-SR. El ambiente familiar fue el local que presentó más asociaciones entre el desarrollo y las oportunidades de estimulación motora, y fue el local donde los niños obtuvieron mejor clasificación relacionada al desarrollo motor. Se concluye que los contextos de desarrollo (Ambiente familiar y Presídio) en que las relaciones del niño con un adulto sensible (en este caso de las madres), capaces de reconocer las necesidades de los niños y responder a ellas adecuadamente, constituyeron el ambiente más favorable para el desarrollo. Se cuestiona la adecuación de las guarderías y los albergues como ambientes de desarrollo, por causa de los posibles riesgos para los niños, determinados por la incapacidad de proveer los tipos de cuidados requeridos para niños, en especial en el primer año de vida.

This study focused on the peer observation of teaching [POT] on the pedagogical content knowledge [PCK] of mathematics novice teachers in the teaching of grade 11 statistics. A case study research method was conducted on this qualitative study. Two mathematics novice teachers were purposively selected from a population of five novice teachers from a circuit in Mpumalanga Province. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews, classroom observations and document analysis. Pre-lesson and post-lesson semi-structured interviews were conducted to obtain information about each teacher’s views. The POT process began with pre-observation meeting with the two novice teachers to discuss the modalities of the POT process and ended with the post-observation feedback meeting in which general evaluation and reflection of the process took place. Results show that the two mathematics novice teachers’ classroom management skills improved. Furthermore, findings reveal that the two novice teachers improved in the use of instructional strategies as they moved from using teacher-centred strategies like the lecture method to using learner-centred instructional strategies such as oral probing and group work, among others, in which they interacted more with learners. The novice teachers also improved in identifying learners’ misconceptions and learning difficulties. At the end of the study, the two novice teachers openly expressed that the POT process gave them the opportunity to improve in studying and teaching statistical content in depth. / Mathematics Education / M. Ed. (Mathematics Education)

This study focuses on the induction of novice teachers in Community Junior Secondary Schools (CJSS) in Gaborone, Botswana. The point of departure is that induction is an important factor that is essential to the success of every beginner teacher. It is the responsibility of the school management to provide comprehensive induction programmes that will support beginner teachers and retain them in the teaching profession. This problem was investigated by means of a literature study and an empirical investigation using a qualitative approach. A small sample of beginner teachers in six selected schools in Gaborone formed the sample for this study. Findings indicated that the extent to which novice teachers are given professional guidance and support in schools is not enough. It is recommended that induction programmes receive more priority in schools since the first year of teaching is the most important determiner in the teaching career of an individual. / Education management / M.Ed. (Education Management)

xii, 149 p. A print copy of this title is available through the UO Libraries under the call numbers: KNIGHT LB2831.93.O7 M45 2008 / Principals of schools have a unique set of responsibilities that range from the transactional to the transformational. Principals are expected to set a clear vision for the school community, support teachers in their work, while at the same time being responsible for all the details that allow a school to function smoothly. Thus, the first year of a novice principalship is a complex challenge. The first year in a high performing school carries with it an added set of challenges that a novice principal must come to understand and navigate. First-year principals work to not only gain understanding of their role in the school community, but also to develop a personal leadership style that supports teachers, children, parents and the larger community. It is through their experiences and reflections that novice principals begin to develop their unique voice as a leader. These experiences lay the foundation for their coming years in the principal's office. / Committee in Charge: Dr. Diane Dunlap, Chair; Dr. Gerald Tindal; Dr. Philip McCullu;m Dr. Jean Stockard, Outside Member

The focus of this study was to investigate the experiences of novice teachers of induction in three selected schools in Oshana region, Namibia. The point of departure is that the experiences of novice teachers of induction and support are not known. The problem was investigated by means of a literature study and empirical investigation, using a qualitative, phenomenological approach. Findings revealed that novice teachers do not have the same needs and do not have similar experiences of support. Key findings reveal that novice teachers’ problems can be solved better if support is given timeously and over a longer period, with all the stakeholders’ equal involvement in the induction process. Novice teachers are capable of making meaningful contributions to schools, and schools can benefit from them. The study recommends that novice teachers’ voices be heard and their views be incorporated when planning future induction programmes, to suit their individual and contextual needs. / Educational Leadership and Management / M. Ed. (Education Management)