The demographic landscape of the elementary classroom continues to grow more diverse. Due to this increasing diversity, it is important that all educators, no matter the level of experience, are prepared to support all students, especially those from unique or under represented backgrounds. One way to assist educators in meeting these needs is to provide them with educational resources and effective teaching strategies that are culturally and linguistically responsive. A possible resource and teaching strategy is the literacy tool, Reader's Theatre. Considering this, the two studies contained in this dissertation provide readers with a glimpse of how Reader's Theatre may be used as a valuable resource to foster culturally and linguistically responsive classrooms. A content analysis (Berelson, 1952; Northrop et al., 2019; White and Marsh, 2006) of 141 Reader's Theatre scripts contained in the Best Class Collection (Young, 2019) was conducted to assess the cultural and linguistic authenticity of those resources. A thematic analysis (Braun and Clarke, 2006) was carried out accessing preservice teachers' perceptions and understandings of Reader's Theatre as a culturally and linguistically responsive teaching strategy gauging the value of combining the two teaching strategies. Overall, the findings from these two studies may serve as starting points for future research in respect to the value of implementing Reader's Theatre as a culturally and linguistically responsive teaching strategy as discussions about culturally and linguistically responsive teaching remain prevalent in today's elementary school classrooms. / Doctor of Education / Students in today's elementary classrooms come from a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and cultures. Due to this increasing diversity, teachers must be prepared to support these students in a variety of ways. One of the best ways to support these unique students is to use teaching strategies that are engaging and allow students to connect with what is being taught in the classroom. Reader's Theatre, normally used as a literacy strategy, could be used as a tool to address the different cultures and languages of students. In this dissertation, two research studies were conducted about the connection of Reader's Theatre and culturally and linguistically responsive teaching. The first study looked at a group of Reader's Theatre scripts to see if they were appropriate to use in the classroom to support students from multicultural backgrounds. In the second study, preservice teachers, or student teachers, were interviewed to get their thoughts as to any possible value using Reader's Theatre as a culturally and linguistically responsive teaching strategy. The preservice teachers expressed that there is value in combining the two strategies, but only when teachers plan carefully and use Reader's Theatre in a meaningful way. As elementary classroom populations continue to grow in the number of students from diverse backgrounds, the information from these two studies can provide teachers with an idea of what may be possible to support all students in being successful.

Teachers' perceptions of leadership are often based on the leaders' behavior, and what leaders model daily. The problem in this case study was that teachers' perceptions of school leadership were not well enough understood to leverage as a tool for school improvement. The purpose of this study was to explore how teachers' perceptions of school principal's leadership style, and behavior affect school culture. The conceptual framework was based on literature of 3 key dynamics: leadership styles, and approaches, school culture, and influences of leadership on teachers' perceptions of school culture. The primary research question explored how teachers' perceptions of school leadership style, and behavior influenced the culture, and work of the school. Purposeful sampling was used to recruit 15 elementary, middle, and high school teachers from across the United States who taught during the 2014-2015 school year. Data were collected using email interviews, and surveys. Data were coded using computer assisted data analysis and analyzed for themes using an inductive process. Emergent themes for school culture were identified as collaboration, teacher support, and professionalism. Leadership themes included equity and fairness, communication, and trustworthiness. Results suggest that teachers' perceptions of school principals influenced school culture and affected teacher's work. As a result, training is recommended for school leaders in the areas of ethics, professionalism, and school culture. Implications for social change are that leadership staff may become more knowledgeable and influence the teachers' perceptions of school leadership, thereby promoting school culture, resulting in improved student achievement, profiting both the community, and society.

This study investigated teachers' perceptions of African- American principals' leadership and the extent to which those perceptions varied according to their race, gender, years of teaching experience, and years working with the principal. The results of this exploratory study are intended to enhance the empirical data reflecting the leadership characteristics of the African-American principal and to contribute to the research on leadership in general. The participants in this study consisted of 32 African-American principals and 164 teachers in schools representing 12 states during the 2004-2005 school year. Each teacher participant completed either an electronic or paper version of the Leadership and Management of Schools Survey Instrument (LMSS) which addressed the leadership and management traits of the principal and the demographic data on the teachers. The findings indicated that African-American principals are perceived as using high levels of transformational and transactional leadership. Additionally, results indicated that race influences the leadership credibility of the African-American principal. There did not appear to be a significant relationship between teachers' perceptions and gender of a teacher, gender of the principal, or both, and no relationship was found between the years of teachers' experience and their perceptions of the African- American principals. However, teachers' perceptions of African- American principals' leadership and management qualities increased positively with the number of years of experience working with the principal. Indications from these findings can be useful to universities, colleges, and school districts in making informed decisions concerning the training, recruitment, and placement of African-American principals.

The purpose of this study was to examine the attitudes of teachers towards providing accommodations and modifications required for students with special needs in general education classes. The study also examined the differences between these educators’ willingness, preparedness, and selected demographic and descriptive characteristics, which included teacher education, educational setting, and support provided for inclusion. As such, it contributed to both the theory and the practice of teaching students with disabilities in inclusive settings. The sample included willing general and special education teachers in one suburban school district in the southeastern United States. The instrument was a modified version of the Teacher Acceptability and Use Scale (TAUS) (Boulton, 2003). Statistical analysis revealed little significant difference in willingness between special education and general education teachers, although special education teachers perceived themselves as slightly more prepared than general education teachers to make accommodations and modifications to the general curriculum for the student with special needs included in the general education classroom. In conclusion, the results of this study indicate that teachers’ perceptions of their preparedness for accommodating students with special needs has improved in recent years.

Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka och beskriva de uppfattningar några lärare i grundsärskolan årskurs 4-9 har av läsförståelseundervisning för elever med utvecklingsstörning.   Studiens teoretiska utgångspunkt och metod är fenomenografi vilken vill beskriva människors olika sätt att förstå fenomen i sin omvärld. I denna studie har sju lärare vid olika grundsärskolor intervjuats. Material till undersökningen har samlats in med hjälp av halvstrukturerade intervjuer och har sedan analyserats. Analysen är inspirerad av en fenomenografisk analysmodell i sju steg.   I studiens resultat synliggörs tre kategorier av uppfattningar av undervisning i läsförståelse för elever med utvecklingsstörning. Det rör sig om uppfattningar av vilka utmaningar det innebär för läraren, av syftet med undervisningen och av lärarens uppgift och roll. I den övergripande bild som framträder uppfattas elevers egenskaper i hög grad som en utmaning och lärarens uppgift handlar om att lära och stödja elever. Då det gäller syftet med undervisningen så finns även här inslag av att undervisning i läsförståelse är ett verktyg för att elever ska förstå hur undervisning och lärande går till samtidigt som eleven ska utveckla färdigheter. Syftet med undervisningen i läsförståelse handlar även om individens delaktighet och möjlighet att vara aktiv i skola, undervisning och samhälle. / The purpose of this study is to investigate and describe the perceptions some teachers in compulsory school grades 4-9 have about reading comprehension instruction for students with intellectual disability.   The theoretical basis and method is phenomenography which describe the different ways of perceiving the phenomenon in the world. In this study seven teachers at different special schools were interviewed. Materials for the study were collected using semi-structured interviews. The interviews were analyzed inspired by a phenomenographical analysis model in seven steps.   The study's results made visible three categories of perceptions of the teaching of reading comprehension for students with intellectual disability. These perceptions are the challenges it brings to the teacher, the purpose of teaching and the teacher's task and role. In the overall picture that emerges is students' characteristics largely a challenge and task of the teacher is about to teach and support students. Regarding the purpose of education, there are also elements of that the teaching of reading comprehension is a tool for students to understand how teaching and learning works but also for the student to develop skills. The purpose of the teaching of reading comprehension is also about the individual's involvement and the opportunity to be active in school, education and society.

This study investigated Lesotho junior secondary science teachers’ perceptions and use of laboratory work in teaching. Teaching is described as engagement in a relationship between a person called a teacher and another person called a student with the purpose of facilitating the student’s acquisition of content which the student previously lacked (Fenstermacher, 1986). Using the constructs of scientific inquiry and inquiry-based instruction and constructivism as theoretical lenses the study empirically explored the Junior School Science teachers’ perceptions of the aims of laboratory work and how the teachers used laboratory work in their teaching. At the centre, the investigation sought to understand whether there was any relationship between teachers’ perceptions of the aims of laboratory work and their use of laboratory work. The sample of the study consisted of fifty science teachers (n=50) conveniently selected from 12 schools in the Butha-Buthe district of Lesotho. Data were collected through closed and open ended questionnaires (n=50), semi-structured interviews (n=5), and laboratory lesson observations (n=2). Data were analyzed quantitatively using descriptive statistics and qualitatively using a combination of typological and interpretational analysis. The results show that as a group the sampled teachers held the view that the most important aim of laboratory work was to promote conceptual understanding. In their teaching, most of the sampled teachers use laboratory work to verify theory through largely verificationist, expository and non-inquiry laboratory instructional practices and strategies. The following barriers were reported by the teachers as limiting their use of inquiry oriented and student centered teaching strategies: limitations of resources; time constraints; large classes; pressure to complete the prescribed curriculum; safety issues; and preparations for external examinations. The results also suggest that the teachers’ seeing laboratory work as important for developing conceptual understanding is associated with their use of verificationistic teaching approaches. It is recommended that; Lesotho science curriculum be reviewed, and that teachers should participate in curriculum development to enhance successful implementation of inquiry instruction, professional development programmes be established, and the enactment of inquiry instruction be systematically monitored and evaluated. It is recommended that curriculum developers facilitate teachers’ transformation from expository to inquiry instruction.

Thesis advisor: Diana C. Pullin / The introduction of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) in 2002 and the reauthorization of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in 2004, resulted in numerous changes in the American education system. In particular, the IDEA reauthorization introduced an initiative entitled Response to Intervention (RTI) that has impacted both regular and special education practices and policies. RTI is a regular education initiative that involves a multi-tiered approach to service delivery and is based on student outcomes. The purpose of this qualitative, single case study is to examine and report teachers' perceptions of the RTI implementation process for reading in grades K-3 in a suburban elementary school. Additionally, this research seeks to identify themes that have influenced the success of the RTI model, and to provide a framework for key components for a successful reading RTI implementation process according to teachers. The data sources used in this qualitative study included: focus groups, individual semi-structured interviews, and artifacts. This data was analyzed and compared using constant comparison analysis. According to the teachers and principal, seven themes emerged from the analysis, including: communication, success, professional development, support/materials, challenges, implementation, and leadership. Every participant reported that communication among all members of the school community is essential within an RTI model. Most importantly, teachers expressed the significance of creating a shared vision among staff. Teachers defined successful RTI implementation and their perceptions of reading success in grades K-3. Teachers reported the need for authentic, purposeful, RTI professional development and support/materials to support each tier. The participants reported the challenges that are inherent in RTI implementation and how the model has changed since inception. Participants discussed the role of leadership and the qualities of a leader that promote success. Lastly, recommendations are made for teachers and school leaders who are beginning the RTI implementation process and for public policy officials who create and monitor regulations regarding reading RTI policies and procedures. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2012. / Submitted to: Boston College. Lynch School of Education. / Discipline: Educational Administration and Higher Education.

This study examined 180 matched pretest/posttest surveys of kindergarten teachers' perceptions of the transition children experienced upon kindergarten entry. Investigations of changes in the percentages of children perceived as not being ready for kindergarten and percentages of children who were rated as having had a very successful, moderately successful, or difficult transition from the pretest to the posttest were conducted. Additionally, changes in teachers' developmentally appropriate beliefs and practices from the beginning of the school year (pretest) to the end of the school year (posttest) were explored. Further analyses were conducted to find differences and associations between teacher and classroom demographics and changes from pretest to posttest. Teachers' developmentally appropriate beliefs were statistically significantly higher at the beginning of the school year (pretest) as compared to the end of the school year (posttest). Conversely, teachers' developmentally appropriate practices were statistically significantly higher at the end of the school year (posttest) when compared to the beginning of the school year (pretest). Even with the increase in teachers' developmentally appropriate practices at the end of the year, consistent with previous research, teacher's beliefs were found to be more developmentally appropriate than their reported practices. Study findings indicated that teachers reported a significantly higher percentage of children as having had a difficult transition at the beginning of the school year when compared to the end. At the beginning of the year, teachers rated 21.9% of children as having had a difficult transition, compared to 17.4% of children at the end of the school year. Some teachers reported 100% of the children in their class had a difficult transition at both the beginning and end of the school year. Overall, just under 60% of children were perceived as having some problems with kindergarten entry. Findings also indicated that teachers reported a significantly higher percentage of children were not ready for kindergarten entry at the beginning of the school year than at the end of the school year. Teachers perceived 27% of children were not ready for kindergarten at the beginning of the school year, with 22.4% of children rated as not ready at the end of the school year. Again, some teachers perceived 100% of their children as not being ready at both the beginning and end of the school year. Limitations, implications, and suggestions for future research were discussed.

The purpose of this study was to explore what the word "play" means and implies for Korean preservice kindergarten teachers in an early childhood teacher education program. The research questions under investigation were: (1) How do Korean preservice teachers with an early childhood emphasis view play? (2) How do factors such as culture and education influence the constructing of these views? The participants were ten Korean preservice kindergarten teachers enrolled in the Department of Early Childhood Education in one teacher education college in Korea. The data for this study was collected through in-depth qualitative interviews both individual and group and other qualitative methods. The findings of this study showed that Korean preservice kindergarten teachers had a conceptual conflict in the perception of general play and educational play. General play was considered as a fun, enjoyable, and spontaneous activity that is engaged in without concern for a specific outcome. General play was also thought as the opposite concept to work or study. Educational play was regarded as an ironical concept, since Korean preservice kindergarten teachers thought that learning occurs through working, not playing. Korean preservice kindergarten teachers theoretically advocated for the pedagogy of learning through play, just as they were taught in the teacher education program. However, Korean preservice kindergarten teachers did not agree with the practical effect of play on children's learning. Korean preservice kindergarten teachers were more supportive of a structured and pre-planned program for young children, believing that it resulted in better learning opportunities for children than a play-oriented program. The findings of the study revealed that personal experiences with play, the kind of education of the preservice teachers themselves received in their teacher training program, and Korean culture had significant roles in influencing the participant preservice teachers' ideas on play. This study implies that interpretations of play as an educational tool vary from culture to culture. Further research is needed to more deeply understand how views and attitudes on play are created and enacted.

The purpose of this study was to explore what the word "play" means and implies for Korean preservice kindergarten teachers in an early childhood teacher education program. The research questions under investigation were: (1) How do Korean preservice teachers with an early childhood emphasis view play? (2) How do factors such as culture and education influence the constructing of these views? The participants were ten Korean preservice kindergarten teachers enrolled in the Department of Early Childhood Education in one teacher education college in Korea. The data for this study was collected through in-depth qualitative interviews both individual and group and other qualitative methods. The findings of this study showed that Korean preservice kindergarten teachers had a conceptual conflict in the perception of general play and educational play. General play was considered as a fun, enjoyable, and spontaneous activity that is engaged in without concern for a specific outcome. General play was also thought as the opposite concept to work or study. Educational play was regarded as an ironical concept, since Korean preservice kindergarten teachers thought that learning occurs through working, not playing. Korean preservice kindergarten teachers theoretically advocated for the pedagogy of learning through play, just as they were taught in the teacher education program. However, Korean preservice kindergarten teachers did not agree with the practical effect of play on children's learning. Korean preservice kindergarten teachers were more supportive of a structured and pre-planned program for young children, believing that it resulted in better learning opportunities for children than a play-oriented program. The findings of the study revealed that personal experiences with play, the kind of education of the preservice teachers themselves received in their teacher training program, and Korean culture had significant roles in influencing the participant preservice teachers' ideas on play. This study implies that interpretations of play as an educational tool vary from culture to culture. Further research is needed to more deeply understand how views and attitudes on play are created and enacted.