The intent of this study was to measure the perceived superintendents’ leadership practices in relation to student performance on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) in Region V Education Service Center, Texas. This is one of four cohort studies conducted in Region V that assessed the relationship between student performance and leadership practices. The study compared selected District Education Improvement Committee (DEIC) members and superintendent perceptions of superintendent leadership practices as measured by the Kouzes and Posner (2003) Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI). The study was also designed to determine if selected demographic variables impact the perceived leadership practices of the two identified groups. The research procedures included an analysis of the responses from superintendents and selected DEIC members to the Leadership Practices Inventory assessment of five identified leadership practices, Model the Way, Inspire a Shared Vision, Challenge the Process, Enable Others to Act. and Encourage the Heart. Twenty-eight of the possible 30 school districts participated in this study. Student performance data for each district were obtained from the Texas Education Agency Academic Excellence Indicator System. The results of this study indicate that neither a linear relationship nor a statisti-cally significant relationship exists between student performance, as measured by the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS), and leadership practices as per-ceived by selected DEIC committee members and superintendents. While the total LPI scores for the five identified leadership practices revealed no statistical signifi-cance; further statistical analysis revealed significance for two domains, Inspire a Shared Vision and Challenge the Process. The study also indicates that participating superintendents commonly perceived themselves higher in regard to leadership practices than did their observers (DEIC members); however, statistical significance for superintendent ratings was only realized in three of the five leadership practices: Model the Way, Challenge the Process, and Enable Others to Act. The frequency of use for each practice as ranked by superintendents and their observers indicate that Model the Way and Inspire a Shared Vision are practiced more frequently than Challenge the Process, Enable Others to Act, and Encourage the Heart.

This qualitative arts-based research study explores family literacy experiences that occur in homes with adults and children through interviews, observations, and the visual analysis of photographs that document such experiences. I employ visual methodologies to examine how families view, experience, and talk about family literacy and literacy in their social and cultural lives. This study is guided by the following questions: 1) What social and cultural practices do families employ as they engage in literacy experiences in their homes? 2) How and where are social and cultural family literacy experiences visually represented? 3) How can visual representations of family literacy experiences be interpreted? The research that investigates sites of family literacy within the home, is limited in general, and even less research has used visual methodologies to examine literacy within the home. I chose to study family literacy sites, practices and experiences because I want to understand how society and culture influence literacy skills. The narration and photographic interpretations produced themes that included: 1)family literacy is seen and examined by the adults in the families as "reading and writing"; 2) family literacy is seen and examined by the children in the families as "singing, playing, games and bedtime"; 3) the major place within the home for literacy is the bedroom and the site where literacy experiences occur is often the bed; 4) limited time is a factor for both personal reading and family literacy experiences; and last 5) multimodal forms are used throughout the day by all participants, both child and adult. The recommendations invite all families, community educators, policy makers, and artists to explore literacy with enthusiasm at the possibilities and avenues in which it can be viewed, used and lived.

The purpose of this study was to document the literacy practices of three 5-7 year old boys who were in the formative stage of formal schooling. The study took place in the British Virgin Islands, a group of 60 or so islands, cays, and islets located in the Caribbean. I examined these boys’ literacy practices in three contexts — home, community and school. Through observations, interviews and samplings of conversations at home, I found that school literacy dominated all three contexts and was used similarly in all three contexts. Additionally, parents were consciously reinforcing school literacy in the home. The three boys were reading, writing, speaking and listening at their expected grade level and appeared to be steadily progressing. Religion appeared to play an important role in supporting the children’s literacy development, consistent with the country’s Christian heritage. As previous research in other contexts (e.g., Marsh, 2003) has shown, home and community literacy practices remain largely unrecognized and untapped at school.

The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of high school principals? regarding the impact of a high stakes accountability system on instructional practices. The study assessed the differences in perception and influencing factors about the impact of a high stakes accountability system between and among high school principals based on campus ratings and selected demographic variables. The data for this quantitative study were obtained from a 59-question survey instrument given to high school principals from 37 school districts selected from Region I of the Texas Education Service Center and 42 school districts selected from Region XX of the Texas Education Service Center. The researcher collected 92 completed surveys, or 72% of the sample. An analysis of the data found that high school principals did indicate perceived changes to some instructional practices. The data showed a perceived increase in the use of problem-solving activities, open response questions, writing assignments, creative/critical thinking questions, peer or cross-age tutoring, interdisciplinary instruction, facilitating/coaching, collaborative/team-teaching, modeling, cooperative learning/group work, computers/educational software, calculators, computers, internet and/or on-line research service, lab equipment, and manipulatives. Principals also indicated a perceived decrease in the use of work sheets, true-false questions; textbook based assignments, lecturing, and the use of textbooks. In addition, the data showed that high school principals' perceived changes to instructional practices were influenced most by two factors: an "interest in avoiding sanctions at my school," and an "interest in helping my students attain TAKS scores that will allow them to graduate." The information obtained from this study can be used by researchers, educators and all stakeholders to ensure implementation of instructional practices leading to student achievement on high-stakes tests.

The intent of this study was to measure the perceived superintendents’ leadership practices in relation to student performance on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) in Region V Education Service Center, Texas. This is one of four cohort studies conducted in Region V that assessed the relationship between student performance and leadership practices. The study compared selected District Education Improvement Committee (DEIC) members and superintendent perceptions of superintendent leadership practices as measured by the Kouzes and Posner (2003) Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI). The study was also designed to determine if selected demographic variables impact the perceived leadership practices of the two identified groups. The research procedures included an analysis of the responses from superintendents and selected DEIC members to the Leadership Practices Inventory assessment of five identified leadership practices, Model the Way, Inspire a Shared Vision, Challenge the Process, Enable Others to Act. and Encourage the Heart. Twenty-eight of the possible 30 school districts participated in this study. Student performance data for each district were obtained from the Texas Education Agency Academic Excellence Indicator System. The results of this study indicate that neither a linear relationship nor a statisti-cally significant relationship exists between student performance, as measured by the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS), and leadership practices as per-ceived by selected DEIC committee members and superintendents. While the total LPI scores for the five identified leadership practices revealed no statistical signifi-cance; further statistical analysis revealed significance for two domains, Inspire a Shared Vision and Challenge the Process. The study also indicates that participating superintendents commonly perceived themselves higher in regard to leadership practices than did their observers (DEIC members); however, statistical significance for superintendent ratings was only realized in three of the five leadership practices: Model the Way, Challenge the Process, and Enable Others to Act. The frequency of use for each practice as ranked by superintendents and their observers indicate that Model the Way and Inspire a Shared Vision are practiced more frequently than Challenge the Process, Enable Others to Act, and Encourage the Heart.

abstract / Economics and Finance / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Cervix cancer is the cancer that causes most female deaths in South Africa. Little is known about the sexual and menstrual practices in high-risk communities in South Africa. Knowledge of the risks inherent in these practices might lead to changed behaviour. The purpose of this study was to investigate if there are inherent risk factors for cervix cancer in the Black women’s sexual and menstrual practices that could result in an increased incidence to provide an evidence base for future interventions. The design of the study was an exploratory, descriptive, contextual, quantitative survey. The context of the study was two urban areas in the Tshwane Metropolis. The target population was women from the age of 18 years in Ga-Rankuwa and Soshanguve extension 12. The sampling method used was convenient sampling (n = 279). A structured interview was conducted due to the high rate of illiteracy found amongst the women. The data were summarised using descriptive statistics. The results of the study highlight several risks that could increase the women’s chance to develop cervix cancer. The identified risks are inherent in their socio-economic situation, knowledge and awareness of cervix cancer, and practices during menstruation.

Abstract In this paper we document the advantages of utilising technology to enhance teachers’ instructional activities. In particular we showcase the potential and impact that the use of Geometer’s Sketchpad may have on the teaching and learning of geometry at school. A series of five, two-hour teacher development workshops in which Geometer’s Sketchpad was used were attended by 12 Grade 11 and 12 teachers. The findings revealed that teachers had a better understanding of the same geometry that they initially disliked. This finding was supported by a quantitative analysis which showed a positive change in the understanding of and beliefs about geometry from when the teachers started to the end of the workshops.

The purpose of this study was to document the literacy practices of three 5-7 year old boys who were in the formative stage of formal schooling. The study took place in the British Virgin Islands, a group of 60 or so islands, cays, and islets located in the Caribbean. I examined these boys’ literacy practices in three contexts — home, community and school. Through observations, interviews and samplings of conversations at home, I found that school literacy dominated all three contexts and was used similarly in all three contexts. Additionally, parents were consciously reinforcing school literacy in the home. The three boys were reading, writing, speaking and listening at their expected grade level and appeared to be steadily progressing. Religion appeared to play an important role in supporting the children’s literacy development, consistent with the country’s Christian heritage. As previous research in other contexts (e.g., Marsh, 2003) has shown, home and community literacy practices remain largely unrecognized and untapped at school.

No description available.