This qualitative, ethnographically informed case-study examines how social, psychological, and organizational factors of a culture impact writing instruction and practice within an English Language Arts middle school class. In order to explore possible reasons for stagnant writing instruction in middle schools, two research questions guided this study: (RQ1) What do the components of writing instruction look like in one middle school class?, and (RQ2) How does one middle school ELA class exhibit identity distinction, writing development, and discourse surrounding writing instruction? I examined how one middle school class exhibits identity distinction among students and teachers within writing, development of writing, and discourse surrounding writing instruction and practice. Data were collected through observations, field notes, interviews, and cultural artifacts (i.e., lesson plans, student data, student work samples, and district curriculum) over a five week period for a total of 18 data collection days (16 of which were observations). Observations were conducted in one seventh grade teacher's class period and lesson planning meetings. The seventh grade teacher, students, and Testing Coordinator were interviewed for member checking sessions pertaining to observations and student work. Semi-structured interview verbatim transcripts were audio recorded and transcribed, after which the following themes emerged: understanding of writing instruction, understanding of writing workshop, confidence in students' writing abilities, establishing spaces for student engagement, feedback on student writing, and teacher and student identities. Also included are recommendations for establishing a positive writing culture through improved middle school writing instruction.

The purpose of this study was to investigate how the lived experiences and views of fourth- and fifth-grade math teachers who implemented project-based learning (PBL) addressed the needs of their at-risk students in urban schools. The researcher examined the use of PBL in mathematics-impacted instruction, seeking to understand teacher beliefs related to the influence of exposure to PBL experiences on students' academic outcomes. When deliberately planned and embedded into teaching, the implementation of PBL helps students retain content, improve attitudes about learning, and improve their ability to collaborate with others (Cervantes et al., 2015). A literature review was conducted to explore PBL and its relationship with constructivism, growth mindset, and cooperative learning and the degree to which these teaching methods affect student learning. A growth mindset enables students to consider inquiry, exploration, and student collaboration (Larmer et al., 2015). Also present in PBL are cooperative learning activities, which Slavin (2015) found encouraged students to work together on projects that required the inclusion and student application of content standards. Qualitative research methodology using the phenomenological method was implemented in this study. The study investigated the lived experiences of fourth and fifth-grade math teachers who implemented PBL in urban schools. The researcher interviewed teachers who have participated in project-based learning with their students. Results and discussion are included for the research question as well as implications of the findings, recommendations, and suggestions for future research.

High-quality and effective professional development is necessary and "…should be made available to all teachers" (Borko, 2004, p. 3). This dissertation focuses on teacher professional development (PD) and an exploration into the meaning teachers attribute to a PD experience. Stemming from interdisciplinary questions such as, how do we align PD to meet teachers' needs and expectations? and how do teachers learn?, this study aims to examine the experiences and meanings of specific sixth grade ELA teachers in their participation in District PD, a district-led PD series using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). IPA stems from qualitative and ontology research perspectives and captures the context of human experience, phenomena, and life. After thorough analysis of each participant interview transcript and reflection, the results of this dissertation shed light about the reality of the District PD experience for each of the three participants. Moreover, these findings indicated five themes: Teacher Embodiment, the District PD Experience, the Meaning of PD, the Success and Value of District PD, and Unexpected Findings. These themes demonstrated the need for teachers to be heard, their epistemological beliefs to be acknowledged, their meanings of a PD experience, and the design of PD that enhances task value, expectancies for success, and cost across all PD experiences. Results suggested the flexibility of IPA and its application to current PD practices of teachers' experiences and meaning. Implications and recommendations such as, a prescreening survey given to future participants would aid the development of an aligned PD for teacher participations and collecting data across all four sessions of District PD would better inform this phenomenon. Further research into teacher PD and IPA across other disciplines are also presented and discussed. These include researching participatory research approaches, a longitudinal study of District PD over a course of two years, and the intersectionality of teacher PD, Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, and Expectancy Value Theory (EVT).

Abstract Title: “Reading aloud fiction gives students a rich vocabulary”Author: Dilara AkcaySupervisor: Jenny MagnussonThe purpose of this study is to find out how teachers work with students' vocabulary development in reading aloud activities in fiction within the subject of Swedish.Furthermore, the purpose is to find out how teachers’ reason about their work to develop students' vocabulary in fiction reading aloud. The study’s questions are the following: What strategies do teachers use when reading fiction aloud in the Swedish subject to develop the students' vocabulary? How do the teachers reason about their work of developing students' vocabulary in fiction reading aloud?The material was analyzed based on Beck et al.'s (2013) teaching model on strategies for vocabulary development. This study is based on a qualitative method for answering the questions. A qualitative method is relevant to the study because the study examines what strategies teachers use to develop students' vocabulary in fiction reading aloud. To find out this, it is essential to observe and interview teachers. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with three teachers from three different schools.The results of the observations showed that the two teachers, Jessica and Tina used the strategy of asking questions to the students and explaining words using everyday language. Jessica also worked with the strategy that the students are allowed to use the word themselves. In addition, Tina uses visual aids to deepen students' understanding of words and she uses body language and exemplifies the word by changing her voice, so the pupils get a better understanding of the words. Jessica uses visual aids to help students gain a deeper understanding of the word.The third teacher, Katarina, does not explain any words to the students, despite the fact that there were some difficult words in the book that could have been explained. Strategies such as pronouncing words and presenting words in new contexts did not appear in the observations. The teachers say in the interviews that they work on vocabulary development in fiction reading aloud. The strategies teachers use in reading aloud are to ask students questions about the meaning of the word and define the word in everyday language. Tina uses visual support to give students a deeper understanding of the word. Jessica uses a lot of body language to shape some difficult words, and Katarina says that she works with the three-cup method, where students find synonyms for the word. Tina and Jessica talk about how important reading aloud is for students' vocabulary development, and they read aloud for students to learn new words. Katarina believes that reading aloud is more for them to be a cozy moment for the students. Keywords: Vocabulary development, middle school, Swedish teaching, reading aloud. Nyckelord: Ordförrådsutveckling, mellanstadiet, svenskundervisning, högläsning.

The purpose of this dissertation was to determine if the foundational constructs (student engagement and ethical care) were experienced by the 8th grade students that participated in a morning tutoring program: Future Problem Solvers. A mixed methods design was adopted for the purpose of this study including raw data, survey data, informal observations, and face-to-face interviews. The goal was to determine if the 28 participants (male and female) demonstrated academic success on the Florida Comprehensive Achievement Test (Science). The study was also conducted in order to explore the level of student engagement and the development of reciprocating relationships based ethical care between the teacher and the students. The findings from the quantitative analysis using the Mann Whitney U indicated that the FSP participants did make academic gains on the FCAT (Science) test to a higher degree than non-participants: Non-Participants (Mean Rank = 182.37) and Participants (Mean Rank = 332.96). The significance was established where p = .00. The quantitative analysis using frequency data also revealed that the majority of the participants reported that they were engaged in learning and made strong efforts when doing and completing their schoolwork. They also participated in class, as well as school based activities. Furthermore, they reported that they felt a sense of belonging and were supported by the staff. The findings from the qualitative analysis indicated that the teacher did model care to the students. He engaged them in dialogue about caring relationships and confirmed and encouraged the best in them. The responses on the interviews completed by the teacher and the principal, as well as the students give evidence that strong relationships developed between the students and the teacher. Moreover, that these reciprocating relationships were built on trust and care. The discussion and interpretations emphasizes the need for professional development, and the need for policy that strives to support student engagement and ethical care above high stakes testing.

The objective of the study was to research the impact 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) has on Title 1 middle school students in Seminole County. A mixed methods design was used to interview and survey teachers working for the after-school program, and student data was collected to assist in identifying the impact of the program. Initially, interviews were conducted to research the implementation of the program. Following interviews, willing participants completed the survey sent out to all middle school teachers who work for 21st CCLC. The survey investigated how the vision of the program was presented to staff and students. Data was then collected from middle school students attending the program from 2015 to 2017. The data collected was used to research whether there was a correlation between students' attending the after-school program and their Florida State Assessment (FSA) scores as well as their grade point average (GPA) in school. Qualitative data was collected and coded from teachers. There was a variance between each site on the implementation and vision of the after-school program as stated by the grant. Student data displayed that there was no correlation between students' attending the program and FSA scores. There was a correlation between students' GPA and their attendance at the after-school tutoring program. Further investigation is necessary to research larger sample sizes outside of Seminole County.

This study is an examination of whether a project-based mathematics curriculum would influence students' intended career paths related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) endeavors; perceived usefulness of mathematics; and perceived competence in doing mathematics. A review of the literature revealed that there are many shortages of professionals in STEM fields. United States women and men are not pursuing STEM endeavors in great numbers and the U.S. relies heavily on international students to fill this gap. The literature revealed that the girls who do not pursue STEM endeavors in great numbers do not perceive mathematics as a useful endeavor and do not think they are competent in doing mathematics. Boys who do not pursue STEM endeavors in great numbers also do not perceive mathematics as a useful endeavor. The study involved 7th and 8th grade school students enrolled in algebra classes in a private college-preparatory school. The students in the experimental group participated in a problem-based curriculum that integrated lecture-based methods with four major projects designed to have students apply mathematics out of the context through hands-on real-life problems. This particular quasi-experimental design was a nonequivalent pre-test/post-test control group design. Statistical analyses were done using a general linear model repeated measures. The results of the statistical analyses indicated that the students in the project-based group showed a statistically significant positive change in their perceived usefulness of mathematics when compared to the control group. A t-test revealed no statistically significant differences in academic achievement. Qualitative data analysis uncovered three emergent themes. Students indicated that they saw the usefulness of mathematics more clearly; students' independence from the teacher while doing the projects was unsettling; and students enjoyed the change of pace in class. The results of the study indicated that a project-based mathematics curriculum can help students see the usefulness of mathematics and can help students enjoy the pursuit of mathematics by this particular change of routine.

The goal of the research study was to explore the cognitive, social, and affective factors that contribute to the development of 8th grade writing skill. The central research question for this study was: How does a collaborative model of teaching writing prepares students for high achievement on Florida Writes? The researcher successfully answered this inquiry by asserting the following supporting questions: How does school culture impact teacher collaboration and student engagement in teaching writing? What is the relationship between engaging in a collaborative model of teaching writing and improvement of writing skill in middle level students? The study determined how and why the writing skill was developed at an urban, rural middle school in a Central Florida School District. The rationale for completing research at Horizon Middle School was to provide an exemplar in the teaching of writing skill, a phenomenon. Horizon Middle School presented a learning community that was entrenched in the same challenging demographics, but distinctly showed a high level of academic achievement in writing. Instead of teaching through a formulaic, test-generated approach, students learned through discovery, personal relationship, and engagement. Not only did 97% of 8th grade students passed the Florida Writes examination, but in the process of preparing for the standardized assessment was an embedded foundation laid for students and their future learning. The review of literature focused on: school culture, models of teaching at the middle level, models of teaching writing at the middle level and the standardization found within the FCAT Writes. Data collection was completed through classroom observations, one-on-one interviews and participation in faculty meetings. Data analysis was completed by addressing each research iv question through the conceptual framework. The study determined that this was a model for developing the writing skill for all middle level students, an exemplar within the field. Suggested uses for the study included the development of future studies focus on successful schools that were challenged by the same demographics and consideration of the partnership that Horizon had with the University of Central Florida as a model for other educational communities to consider.

This study was developed to produce data about the prevalence of bullying in Central Florida middle schools. The research was intended to contribute to the existing body of knowledge on bullying and victimization. The focus for this study was provided through research questions: (a) to determine if there is a mean difference in perceived victimization among Central Florida middle school students based on grade level, gender, and ethnicity; (b) to determine if there is a mean difference in perceived bullying among Central Florida middle school students based on grade level, gender, and ethnicity; (c) to determine what support do students perceive Central Florida middle school staff provide to students who are bullied;(d) to determine what school locations, if any, do Central Florida middle school students perceive to be the most prevalent for bullying activities; (e) to determine if there is a relationship between skipping school and perceived victimization among middle school students in Central Florida; (f) to determine what is the average number of school days skipped by middle school students in Central Florida due to perceived victimization; (g) to determine if there is a relationship between feeling safe at school and perceived victimization among middle school students in Central Florida; (h) to determine if there is a relationship between student perceptions of whether teasing and bullying harms their grades and perceived victimization for middle school students in Central Florida; and (i) to determine if there is a relationship between students showing interest in their school work and perceived victimization by Central Florida middle school students. The population of this study was comprised of students in grades 6-8 in three Central Florida school districts during the 2007 - 2008 school years. Data were generated from the 13 schools located in Brevard, Osceola and Volusia counties using a self-reporting survey. Based on the research findings, it was determined that bullying is prevalent in Central Florida schools, with 21% (n = 133) of the students perceiving themselves as a victim of teasing and bullying. Students who perceive themselves as a bully was 5% (n = 30). Minority students perceived themselves as victims the most. Minority students in the sixth grade and non-minority students in the seventh grade, regardless of gender, perceived themselves as victims the most. Students in the sixth grade, regardless of race and gender, perceived themselves as bullies more than students in other grade levels. Students, who perceived themselves as victims, feel it is because they had good grades and show interest in their school work. Perceived victims of teasing and bullying also have poorer grades. Most students, who are victims of bullying, do feel somewhat safe at school and feel what the school is doing about the teasing and bullying problems was sufficient. When asked about attendance, a majority of students reported they have not skipped any days of school as a result of being teased or bullied. Students also identified all campus locations as areas where teasing and bullying takes place, with the gym having the most occurrence

This study attempted to verify points of intersection (POIs) between mathematics and science in the eighth grade Sunshine State Standards (SSS), and to develop a valid and reliable instrument to evaluate these POIs as they were presented in the respective mathematics and science textbooks approved for use in Florida public schools. Shannon and Weaver (1998) delineated a process for content analysis that informed the design of this analysis. The process began with an analysis of the SSS to uncover POIs between mathematics and science; considered effective strategies for presenting these points of intersection in the classroom; and examined the textbooks for a mutually supportive presentation of the POIs between the two domains. The criterion for textbook evaluation was synthesized from documents used by the National Research Council (NRC, 2004) and Project 2061 (Roseman, Kulm, Shuttleworth, 2001. These criteria were examined in terms of measureable elements of textbook design, vocabulary, inquiry and problem solving in order to create integrated objectives, which were then operationalized so that each objective could be evaluated using the Textbook Evaluation Document (TED). The validity of the TED was insured by the transparency of the process. Reliability was determined in two steps, first to determine the most reliable segments of the document and finally to confirm the reliability of those segments. It was determined that the vocabulary section of the TED consistently produced reliability scores above 70% with variation of Supportive Curriculum Scores (SCS) between textbooks. This indicated that a measure of supportive vocabulary could be generated for use in future studies for example correlating supportive curriculum with student achievement.