Texas public high schools induct beginning science teachers each year; yet, little is known about how schools induct beginning teachers. The three studies included in this dissertation use a mixed methods approach to explore data collected by the Policy Research Initiative in Science Education (PRISE) Research Group during the 2007-2008 academic year. The first study focused on principals' perceptions of teacher induction. A content analysis of interviews collected from 50 principals examined principals' perceptions of teacher induction. Analyses indicated that high school principals had an overwhelmingly narrow focus of mentoring and provided mentor teachers with little support or training. Findings indicated that induction activities for beginning teachers were front-loaded before the school year began and were left in the hands of unprepared mentors during the school year. Further analyses indicated that the primary purpose of mentoring and induction for beginning teachers in Texas high schools revolved around orientation to campus policies and procedures. Beginning teachers' instructional needs appeared to be an afterthought. The second study explored beginning high school science teachers' evaluations of their induction experiences. Beginning teachers identified the best school-level induction supports received and recommended improvements for school-level induction. Teachers identified mentoring as one of the best received supports, yet also made recommendations for more structure in the mentoring experience. A comparison of beginning teachers' responses with teacher turnover found that: (a) Stayers (i.e., teachers retained at a campus) were most likely to report that they received induction support from other science teachers; (b) Movers (i.e., teachers who transferred to another campus) less frequently reported working conditions as a positive induction support; and (c) Leavers, (i.e., teachers not retained in the profession) most frequently did not identify induction support from the school. The final study compared principals' perceptions of induction and beginning teacher Movers and Leavers' evaluations of their induction experiences. Findings from this study indicated that principals were aware of induction components that were considered helpful by both Movers and Leavers. However, principals did not acknowledge what Movers and Leavers recommended for improvements to current induction practices. The final chapter provides a summary of all three studies. Recommendations are made for improving induction practices for high school science teachers. In particular, high school principals should discard their current "hands-off" approach to teacher induction and become more active in their induction experiences. Additionally, types of induction practices should increase to include more than mentoring. Moreover, policy makers should reform mentoring policies so that current practices, which have a narrow focus on school policies and procedures, are abandoned.

The purpose of this case study was to better understand the nature of the experiences of a preservice teacher, self-identified as having mathematics anxiety as she planned and implemented instruction during her internship by answering: What is the nature of the experiences of a preservice teacher, self-identified as having mathematics anxiety, as she planned for mathematics instruction during her final internship? What is the nature of the experiences of a preservice teacher, self-identified as having mathematics anxiety, as she implemented mathematics instruction during her final internship? Using an interpretivist approach to a case study inquiry, I used semi-structured interviews, observations, audio journals, and artifacts to collect data on a preservice teacher, cooperating teacher, and college supervisor. Member checking was used with interview data and a peer reviewer reviewed all data collection and analytic procedures. I analyzed the data using content and thematic analysis. The findings indicated that lack of planning, lack of instructional support, lack of content knowledge, and lack of transfer of what she learned in the mathematics methods course impacted the preservice teacher’s planning and implementation of mathematics instruction. In this way, the study identified the importance of instructional support for preservice teachers during K-12 classroom experiences, theory-to-practice connections between coursework and field experiences, and preservice teacher reflection to recognize weaknesses and seek out solutions to solve problems of practice. The study closed with a discussion from the viewpoint of reviewed literature, my interpretation of the findings and suggestions for future research.

It is often assumed that the introduction of computers will transform teaching and learning in a primary classroom. However, in many classrooms, the effective use of computers to support teaching and learning is yet to be realised. The study described in this thesis is premised on the notion that simply providing access to computers will not change classroom processes and that the agent of change is a teacher's pedagogy and practice. This study initially examined the practices of a group of primary school teachers who were considered to be exemplary in the use of computers in their classroom. It then progressed to a focus on one teacher for indepth investigation of the strategies she used as she supported children to complete an extended computer-based task. Particular attention was given to the use of " scaffolding" as a teacher support strategy for children working with computers. The study adopted a qualitative methodology and was based on a Constructivist Inquiry model (Guba & Lincoln, 1989) with a Grounded Theory approach (Strauss & Corbin, 1990) for data analysis. It incorporated three phases of investigation which included: (a) a theoretical immersion, which was based on the literature; (b) a functional immersion, which examined the practices and understandings of eight teachers; and (c) a practical immersion, in which the support strategies of the focus teacher were observed during the implementation of the task over a period of eight weeks. These observations were enhanced by " stimulated recall" interviews where video vignettes were reviewed with the teacher. A detailed coding of teacher support strategies was developed during the study and eleven research constructs emerged from the final analysis of the data. These constructs represented the outcomes of the study and were grouped into four themes: (a) teacher expertise, (b) teacher understanding of support strategies, (c) the nature of scaffolding, and (d) the role of the computer. The results of the study suggested that a teacher needs to conscientiously select and implement strategies in order to support students working with computers. They also indicated that a teacher should plan for opportunities where teacher scaffolding can be used to support and extend students. Further, the results suggested that classroom teachers would benefit from knowing about scaffolding and how it can be implemented with children working with computers. The introduction of computers into the classroom invokes the need for conscious and deliberate changes to teacher pedagogy and practice to sure that effective use is made of the opportunities provided by the technology. Although teachers do require a measure of computer confidence, it seems that a teacher who successfully implements computers in the classroom is essentially focused on the implementation of effective teaching and learning practices. Therefore, it is important that pedagogy is foregrounded in any consideration of using computers in the classroom.

In the study of positive psychology and mental health there has been greater emphasis placed on the presence of indicators of well-being, as opposed to previous models solely based on the presence or absence of psychopathological symptoms. This has yielded a model titled the Dual Factor Model of Mental Health (DFM; Suldo, 2016). Psychopathological symptoms have been conceptualized as a categorical variable encompassing an elevated level of symptoms of either externalizing or internalizing disorders. Complete Mental Health (CMH) is generally conceptualized as having low psychopathology (PTH) and high subjective well-being (SWB). Previous research has indicated more positive outcomes, such as academic achievement and supportive social relationships, are associated with CMH. The DFM has been examined in adolescents and young adults, however, only one study has identified the model in elementary school students (Greenspoon & Saklofske, 2008). The current study completed secondary analysis of an archival data set (Hearon, 2017) to examine the distribution of the DFM in a sample of 178 elementary school students (grades 4th and 5th) and the impact that mental health group status had on social functioning levels with teachers and classmates. Results from this study indicated the DFM was present in a sample of elementary school students, with the majority of participants being classified in the CMH group, consistent with previous literature. Additionally, regarding students’ perceived social support of classmates and teachers, those groups with elevated levels of SWB reported greater mean values than those groups that had decreased levels of SWB. Finally, between group differences in terms of psychopathology were present, whereas within group differences in terms of externalizing and internalizing behavior were not present in any group. Implications for school psychologists, such as the importance of assessing SWB in tandem with psychopathology are presented. Finally, limitations of this study (i.e., nested data) and avenues for future research (i.e., mental health status predicting peer networks, continued evaluation of DFM psychopathology make-up) are reviewed.

Immigrant adolescent learners are at risk for loneliness, isolation, rejection, and interpersonal distress from being perceived as outsiders or not belonging to the groups. This may be explained by host country or setting discriminating against them and also the immigrant adolescents' initial tentative engagement of host setting others. This study aimed to determine the relationship between psychosocial factors (psychological factors: emotional regulation, aggressiveness, sympathy, empathy; social support; and cultural differences), and peer interactions through demographic details (gender, age, and grade level) among francophone adolescent learners in the selected high schools in the Western Cape. It further purposed to determine the positive and negative factors that can affect their peer interactions at high schools. This study established the feasibility of recruitment procedures and developed a new model instrument of psychometric properties to measure the psychosocial factors scale and peer interaction scale for francophone adolescent learners in the selected high schools in the Western Cape Province.

The purpose of this study was to examine the mediation and moderation effects of classroom peer norms (CPN) on the associations of teacher support with student engagement and aggression during sixth grade (first year of middle school). Current literature suggests that early adolescence is a critical developmental period with many changes occurring, including a peak in aggression, decreased academic engagement, increased peer influence, and decreased teacher support. Despite these challenging changes, teachers often serve as a powerful yet “invisible hand” (Farmer, Lines, & Hamm, 2011) that can influence student behaviors directly or indirectly via CPN. However, these two routes of teacher influence have rarely been examined simultaneously. The current study investigated these two routes by examining the partial mediation and moderation effects of CPN on the associations of teacher support with four student behaviors (overt and relational aggression, involved and disruptive behavior) among a diverse sample of 312 students from 32 classrooms across the fall and spring of sixth grade. Students self-reported teacher support (academic, emotional) and engagement (involved, disruptive behavior) and peer-nominated aggression (overt, relational). CPN was computed as a class average of a certain behavior (aggression or engagement). Multilevel modeling was used to test the mediation and moderation effects, considering the nested nature of the data (i.e., students nested within classrooms). Results indicated full mediation effect of CPN on the relations of fall teacher support with spring overt aggression, relational aggression, and disruptive behavior, and a moderation effect on spring involved behavior. Interestingly, the average classroom perception of teacher support showed a significant direct negative effect on relational aggression and disruptive behavior, and a direct positive effect on involved behavior, all of which became smaller and non-significant when CPN was taken into consideration (i.e., when the indirect or mediation effect was considered). In terms of the mediation effects, classes which had high levels of average perception of teacher support in the fall tended to have low disruptive behavior CPN, which was further associated with low levels of individual student disruptive behavior in the spring. The same mechanism applied to overt and relational aggression, except that the significance level of the relations of CPN with overt and relational aggression was marginal (i.e., p < .10). The moderation effect suggests that students who reported high levels of teacher support in the fall (relative to his/her classmates, regardless of the class average) tended to report high levels of involved behavior in the spring only if the fall involved behavior CPN was also high. These findings highlight the importance to investigate both teacher and peer influence within a classroom in order to better understand student behaviors during the first year of middle school. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed, as well as limitations and future directions.

AN ABSTRACT OF THE DISSERTATION OFNdeye Helene Oumou Diack, for the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Curriculum & Instruction, presented on October 23rd, 2019, at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.TITLE: ADDRESSING THE CRITICAL STEPS OF BUILDING A CULTURE OF COLLABORATION IN A PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITY (PLC): A CASE STUDYMAJOR PROFESSOR: Dr. John McIntyre This case study examined PLC leaders and team members during their first year setting up their PLC collaborative process. It investigated the PLC design and activities, the team members lived experiences during the setting up of the PLC, and its impact on members’ interpersonal relationships and also their personal and professional growth. I collected the data by means of observations of team meetings, PLC documents analysis, an interview of an administrator, and a focus group of a team of three Caucasian American female experienced elementary teachers. The research took place in a school district at a semi-rural Midwestern town in the USA during the 2018-2019 school year. DuFour et al. (2016) model of a PLC provided the main framework for the study that took into account Situated Learning (Lave & Wenger, 1991) and Social Constructivism (Vygotsky, 1978). The findings showed that despite hindrances due to the design process, accountability measures of school improvement reporting weights, and the individual PLC members’ personalities, the team members I studied, unlike some other teams in the building, were doing a great collaborative work. They were driven by collective commitment to the PLC mission, values, visions and goals. They showed resiliency that is strengthened by mutual trust, mutual support, mutual respect, and protection for each other. They had a high level of dedication to improve their students’ achievements by means of common formative assessment of their academic and behavioral issues, intervention plans to address issues, and a very rigorous benchmarking of collectively designed instructional units. Vulnerability of both administrators and team members were evidenced, and the limitations of the study, recommendations for improvement, and implication for Policy Makers, as well as directions for future research are provided.

This descriptive case study examined the perceptions of 6 beginning teachers regarding the supports offered to them during their 1st year of teaching. Based on purposeful and convenience sampling through administrative recommendations, the participants included 4 middle school 6th, 7th, and 8th grade teachers in their 2nd year of teaching. I collected data from documents and multiple interviews to understand the needs of beginning teachers and how to best support them. Utilizing the social cognitive learning framework, I analyzed the results in terms of which supports provided vicarious reinforcements, self-reinforcements, and ultimately self-efficacy. These perceptions and understandings were then compared to what is recommended in the research literature. The results of the study provide insight into the perceptions and understandings of the participants as they transitioned to their new roles as teachers. Findings suggest (1) new teachers need to be formally assigned a mentor in close proximity to them, (2) administrators should explicitly schedule times for novice teachers to observe effective instructional practices, and (3) a lack of administrative support can be offset by other positive, collegial relationships. Such findings suggest multiple implications for both school building administrators and teacher preparation programs.

This study investigated the relationship between teacher support, internalizing symptoms, and academic achievement in a sample of English Language Learners (ELLs) and non-English Language Learners (non-ELLs). Participants were middle school students from a culturally and linguistically diverse suburban school district. Linear regressions were used to examine mediation, moderation, and moderated-mediation models of teacher support on internalizing symptoms and academic achievement. The results showed that increased teacher support was related to higher classroom grades, particularly for non-ELLs, and decreased internalizing symptoms for both ELLs and non-ELLs. Implications, limitations, and directions for future research are discussed. / School Psychology

The present study explored the direct influences of teacher classroom practices, including teacher support, conceptual teaching, and procedural teaching, on 9th grade students' mathematics achievement, and the indirect influences of these teacher variables on student mathematics achievement through students' mathematics self-efficacy and interest in mathematics courses. The base year data of High School Longitudinal Study of 2009 (HSLS: 09) was used for this study. Structural equation modeling method was used to estimate the relationships among variables. Results showed that teacher classroom practices influenced student mathematics achievement in different ways. Conceptual teaching positively, whereas procedural teaching negatively, influenced student mathematics achievement. Teacher support influenced student mathematics achievement indirectly through students' mathematics self-efficacy. It also had powerful influence on students' interest in mathematics courses. In addition, family socioeconomic status (SES) and student prior achievement were associated with teacher classroom practices. Students with higher levels of family SES and prior achievement were more likely to have teachers who use conceptual teaching strategies. Students with higher prior achievement were more likely to perceive higher levels of teacher support. / Ph. D.