<p> The purpose of this phenomenological study was to discover how experienced teachers, new to a grade-level team within a public elementary school, perceive and make meaning of their organizational entry experiences. The rationale for this study lies in the need to better understand the environmental factors that influence a newly hired, experienced teacher&rsquo;s desire to remain in his or her current position and within the profession. </p><p> The literature review outlined the resulting effects of organizational entry processes on individuals, groups, and organizational culture, as well as the factors influencing the effectiveness of the process. The use of phenomenological interviews gathered descriptive data regarding the lived experiences of 15 newly hired, experienced public elementary school teachers to answer the question: In what ways did new team members experience the organizational entry process as they joined an existing grade-level team within a public elementary school? </p><p> In essence, newly, hired experienced teachers wanted to stay in their current positon when provided with the necessary supports so they could competently perform their newly assigned role without feeling overly dependent upon existing team members. Several themes emerged. Newly hired, experienced teachers spoke of needing support in three areas to make an effective transition to a new position: (a) instructional; (b) logistical; and (c) emotional. Both the new-hire and existing school personnel influenced the degree to which the felt needs of the newly hired teachers were met. Participants stressed having to self-advocate to their needs met. Participants suggested mentoring and the use of a common grade-level meeting time as key mechanisms school personnel could use to meet the needs of newly hired experienced teachers. </p><p> As a result of this study, schools may consider examining existing organizational entry processes at organizational, group, and individual levels. Newly hired experienced teachers may consider preparing lists of question prior to meeting with the administration and grade-level team to advocate for their needs.</p>

<p> Professional Development for technology integration into the elementary curriculum has been a costly and frequently ineffective endeavor. The idea for the Tech Buddy model came from this frustration. Teaming a teacher who had high comfort and self-efficacy levels with technology, however who still had much to learn, together with a teacher who was willing to learn, but had low comfort and self-efficacy levels seemed natural.</p><p> The study consisted of 13 educators and one Administrative Intern from the school of study. The study paired a mentor who had a high level of comfort and self-efficacy with ICT integration with a mentee who had a low level of comfort and self-efficacy with ICT integration as measured by a pre-study self-assessment. The pairs were formed using three types; two were same grade level pairs, two were adjacent grade level pairs, and two were nonadjacent grade level pairs. All participants attended one half-day release time per quarter, one two-hour planning time per quarter and one evening stipend time per semester. Three of the six pairs began the study using iPads. Three of the six pairs began the study using Chromebooks. Midway through the study, the pairs all switched in order to use the other devices. The researcher also conducted interviews of each participant midway and at the end of the study. At the conclusion of the study, each participant again took the self-assessment in an effort to determine if the study was affective in increasing comfort and self-efficacy levels with ICT integration into the curriculum. The conclusion of the self-assessment indicated an increase in comfort level and self-efficacy in all participants except one pairing. The results were mostly positive and expected, however, one of the pairing did not show anticipated growth in all areas of self-assessment.</p><p> The conclusion of the study indicated the Tech Buddy program is a viable option for increasing comfort and self-efficacy levels of ICT integration into the elementary curriculum. The use of one particular device over another did not seem of concern. Application of the model should pay particular attention to how each mentor perceives his or her role as mentor.</p>

<p>The study set out to investigate the relationship between parental literacy levels and the literacy abilities of their children who were Grade 3 learners at a primary school in an impoverished area. The study initially hypothesized that there is a correlation beteen the literacy level of parents and the literacy abilities of their children. More specifically, it assumed that the higher the lieracy leevls of the parents, the stronger the literacy abilities of their Grade 3 child would be.</p>

<p> Student retention has been consequential to students through an assortment of disparaging labels derived from the retention process. It served to marginalize the academic status of those students considered for retention through such practices as ability tracking, inferior labeling, and other discriminatory measures, as they moved through their respective academic journeys. And while both research current to the time of this writing and past research continued to be overwhelming in its stance that such policies and procedures were filled with negative unintended consequences, there was still little or no effort to abate such practices (Allensworth, 2004). This research explored whether student retention policies and procedures at the elementary level were addressed and exercised with consistency, practiced with fidelity, and fully understood by all who participated in the retention decision-making process. Furthermore, were those who are tasked with the decision to retain, doing so in a manner that provided each student considered for retention a process of fairness and equity. The researcher examined the impact of absence of systematic retention procedures through the lens of a mixedmethods research study of a large Midwest metropolitan school district. This study utilized two instruments to acquire data for the proposed research questions. The <i> Teacher Retention Belief and Knowledge Questionnaire,</i> used by Witmer, Hoffman, and Nottis (2004), followed by interviews of selected elementary principals and district assistant superintendents. The findings from this research proved inconclusive with regard to responses to intervention strategies, resource availability for retained students, and the employment of then-current research literature and practices as part of the student retention decision-making protocol.</p>

<p> In this mixed-methods study, the researcher investigated teacher fidelity of implementation with cooperative learning structures, according to the Kagan Framework, related to students&rsquo; academic achievement and perceptions of cooperative learning. An analysis of the variations in teacher implementation of cooperative learning structures utilizing the Kagan Framework, based on the fidelity checklists, was completed during the study. In addition, the researcher examined the differences in mean achievement scores during baseline (i.e., traditional teaching practices) and intervention (i.e., cooperative learning structures) weeks, a correlation of relevant data points, and a discussion of teacher interviews, surveys, checklists, observations, and student surveys. To investigate teacher fidelity of implementation the researcher employed an A-B-A-B, single-case research design to examine the outcomes of the three Kagan structures (Flashcard Game, Quiz Quiz Trade, and Numbered Heads Together) on pupil performance measured by formative and summative assessments and students&rsquo; self-assessments of their word knowledge. Three teachers (i.e., Teacher A, B, and C) with various levels of experience in using cooperative learning structures and 48 students served as participants. The findings indicated high student achievement with Teacher B&rsquo;s students, while student achievement in Teacher A or C&rsquo;s classrooms were inconsistent. Teacher B&rsquo;s implementation (98.4%) of cooperative learning structures, according to the Kagan Framework, resulted in statistically significant student achievement during intervention weeks. Furthermore, the researcher noted relationships between student confidence levels and student achievement scores for Teacher B&rsquo;s students for all baseline and intervention weeks. Teacher A&rsquo;s and Teacher C&rsquo;s implementation of cooperative learning structures deviated frequently and resulted in inconsistent student achievement during intervention weeks. In addition, for students in Teacher A and C&rsquo;s classrooms, the relationships between student confidence levels and student achievement scores were inconsistent and students lacked confidence in their own knowledge and actual achievement. Qualitative data showed overall teachers perceived the cooperative learning structures as valuable instructional strategies that engaged and motivated students to learn. The researcher suggested school districts must ensure high teacher fidelity of implementation according to the defined components of strategies and programs to guarantee consistent academic achievement for students.</p>

<p> <b>Purpose:</b> The purpose of this mixed-methods phenomenological study was to describe elementary school general education teachers&rsquo; perceptions of how their efficacy, as teachers, was affected by their experiences in implementing the PBIS framework. This study also sought to determine a better understanding of the skills necessary to impact all students while increasing teachers&rsquo; efficacy and their ability to carry out their obligations in facilitating student academic success and student discipline. </p><p> <b>Methodology:</b> Consistent with a mixed-methods approach, the instruments used in this study collected descriptive data and perceptual data from a group of elementary general education teachers from Riverside County, California. Through an electronic format, two different surveys were administered to participating elementary school teachers. In addition, principals of participating PBIS elementary schools referred teachers from their sites to participate in semistructured interviews. </p><p> <b>Findings:</b> Findings showed that the implementation of PBIS had positive effects on teachers&rsquo; efficacy, thus affecting their classroom experiences and student conduct. To understand teachers&rsquo; perceptions of how the implementation of PBIS was affecting their efficacy, the researcher first had to understand the teachers&rsquo; perceptions of how PBIS was being implemented at their sites. Findings demonstrated that teachers did not have a clear understanding of PBIS. However, teachers did understand and used the strategies learned through the implementation of PBIS. They included the opportunity to model, practice, and apply appropriate behavior and the strategies.</p><p> <b>Conclusions:</b> Teachers perceived that they were able to influence the three domains of teacher efficacy&mdash;student engagement, instructional strategies, and classroom management&mdash;and the skills within each; learn the strategies and supports to redirect student behavior; and influence classroom management. Findings from this study also revealed that teachers could redirect student behaviors by providing students with clear expectations, praise, positive student recognition, and rewards.</p>

<p>Makerspaces have experienced a surge in popularity in recent years, resulting in an influx of Maker education in K-12 settings. While Makerspaces have been studied abundantly in museums, libraries, and in after-school programs, little research has been conducted inside the K- 12 school day. The goal of this study is to discover insights of established Makerspaces inside the K-12 school environment. In this exploratory mixed methods study, educators were survived, examining school and participant demographics, Makerspace setup, as well as intersections of technology, content, and pedagogy. Next, the researcher conducted a follow-up interview with selected participants based on diversity in the following key demographic areas: teacher gender, professional background, and school environment. In order to better understand K-12 implementation of Makerspaces, the study examines seven characteristics of Makerspaces: setting, computational thinking, participant structures, teacher training, gender and racial issues, assessment, and sustainability. The data was examined through TPACK framework with a constructivist approach. Makerspaces can empower students to invent, prototype, and tinker with low-cost technology tools such as microcircuits and fabrication tools such as 3d printers. The goal of this study is to add to the body of literature regarding the role and potential value of Makerspaces in school environments. This exploration of Makerspaces in K-12 setting could be generalized to serve as a guide for teachers who want to establish their own Makerspace.

<p> Autism research continues to refine the exact rate of autism; it also attempts to approximate the undiagnosed rate of autism to capture the number of individuals functioning on the high-end of the spectrum without a formal diagnosis. Whether students exhibiting characteristics of autism have a formal diagnosis or not, many enrolled in public education classrooms are most appropriately served in the general education setting. This study examined the characteristics of students in general education settings to ascertain the number of students diagnosed with autism. Additionally, it investigated the educational practices regularly applied in the general education setting in conjunction with the classroom teacher&rsquo;s knowledge of those practices most beneficial to students with autism. This mixed methods investigation used a survey to examine practices in two Utah school districts. Reported rates of students who were served under an IEP or 504 and identified as having autism were consistent with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reporting rates of autism prevalence in the United States. Teachers identified instructional practices effective for students with autism 80% of the time. Additionally, teachers reported they &ldquo;always&rdquo; or &ldquo;often&rdquo; used 91.7% of the instructional practices in their classrooms that have been identified as effective for students with autism. Fisher&rsquo;s exact test yielded no statistically significant differences between groups of participants. Themes from open-ended survey responses revealed students with significant learning differences impact the delivery of the curriculum, but teachers believe the general education setting is most appropriate for students with learning differences. Teachers also report feeling inadequately prepared to teach students with autism. Data suggests that additional research is needed regarding the design and implementation of universal classroom instructional strategies to meet the needs of all learners in the general education setting.</p>

<p> This mixed-methods study included an in-depth look at the perceptions of first-grade teachers in southwest Missouri to gain insight into the knowledge, understanding, and perceptions of teachers when considering reading achievement and how it relates to Reading Recovery, student engagement, professional development, and socioeconomic status. A second piece to the study included a quantitative examination of the correlation between reading achievement and attendance. Focus groups were formed and an 11-question interview was conducted to gather insight into the perceptions of first-grade teachers across five different counties. Additionally, reading data and attendance from 249 students in those schools were used to determine if a correlation exists between reading achievement and student attendance. After completion of all focus groups, it was evident many commonalities exist among first-grade teachers across multiple districts. Most teachers find value in Reading Recovery, understand the importance of student engagement, see the disadvantages of those students who arrive from lower socioeconomic status families, and value professional development. Reading and attendance data revealed students with attendance greater than 94% have improved reading achievement over those with attendance below 94%. The results of this study can provide insight for administrators and district leaders when considering appropriate professional development in the area of reading achievement.</p>

<p> Delays in the development of early literacy skills are associated with a wrath of negative educational outcomes and so addressing such delays is one of the most pressing challenges in education. This study examines the effectiveness of the Orton-Gillingham (OG) Method, a multisensory reading program where instruction utilizes two or more senses simultaneously. Originally developed in the 1930s as a program for dyslexic students, OG has seen continual use since its creation and is endorsed by the American Dyslexic Foundation and the International Dyslexic Foundation. Over the past two decades OG has increasingly been incorporated into general education settings in the primary grades as a reading intervention for struggling readers regardless of whether they have dyslexia. However, there is a dearth of research demonstrating its causal effect as a reading intervention for children with dyslexia or who are experiencing reading delays for other reasons. Two quasi-experimental methods, Regression Discontinuity Design and Nonequivalent Comparison Group Design with propensity scores, are used to test the efficacy of an OG-based, general education reading intervention on a sample of over 700 kindergarten and first grade students who are experiencing reading delays from a large district in California. The Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) assessments were used to assign students to the intervention and measure their end-of-year reading outcomes. The results of both analyses revealed no effect for students enrolled in the intervention in either kindergarten or first grade. Within the year that students received the intervention, a small but non-significant gain on end-of-year DIBELS composite scores was found. Long-term outcomes showed that over half of the students in the intervention were still not meeting reading targets by the end of second grade. Moreover, while the treatment effect was found to vary significantly across classrooms and across schools, no available measures classroom or school characteristics where associated with that variation. These findings suggest that certain applications of the OG methodologies may not be effective in general education settings.</p>