abstract: Peer coaching is an emerging approach higher education institutions are using to increase student success outcomes for first-year students. This study examined how peer coaches use their community cultural wealth with the students they coach and how coaching encouraged first-generation students to access the community cultural wealth they bring with them to college. The theoretical framework guiding this study was Yosso’s theory of community cultural wealth. I used a qualitative approach and interviewed five peer coaches and conducted focus groups with 15 first-generation, first-year students who had received coaching. Findings indicate peer coaches used the six dimensions of community cultural wealth with students they coach, including aspirational, familial, linguistic, navigational, resistant, and social capital. Students also reported peer coaching helped them access their community cultural wealth, especially as compared to advising and faculty interactions. Three key differentiators emerged when comparing coaching to other forms of support: relatability, sense of belonging, and self-confidence. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Educational Policy and Evaluation 2020

Research suggests a compelling correlation between teacher behavior and effective learning environments (Sutherland & Morgan, 2003; Brophy & Good, 1986). Focusing on the evidence-based teaching skill of offering behavior-specific praise (BSP), the researcher worked with 3 elementary-level general educators in a tiered model of instruction, commonly known as response to intervention (RtI). Although RtI commonly provides targeted instructional support to students, this study, a systematic replication of Myers, Simonsen and Sugai (2011), used the RtI framework to provide professional development to teachers. The researcher also tracked the behavior of 3 students, identified by the teachers as having behavioral difficulties, who became the focus of each teacher's BSP. Results showed rapid and somewhat sustained increases in rates of BSP following the Tier 2 and 3 interventions (video self-monitoring and peer coaching), but not following the Tier 1 intervention (schoolwide in-service training). Averages for all 3 students' on-task behavior increased with increased teacher BSP. Implications for educators, administrators, and researchers are discussed.

Educators and policymakers have demonstrated interest in finding ways to better equip mathematics teachers so they can help students achieve at a higher level. Academic coaching has been identified as an effective professional development activity for teachers. The purpose of this study was to investigate the difference between students’ achievement levels before and after a mathematics initiative in a Northeast Tennessee school district. In this study I analyzed grades 3 – 6 students’ Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program or TCAP scores in the year prior to the hiring of a mathematics coach and their respective scores 2 years after the placement of the mathematics coach. All statistical analyses were analyzed at a .05 level of significance. All null hypotheses under both research questions were analyzed with a pairsampled t-test using repeated-measures design. The results indicate significant difference in students’ TCAP scores prior to and after specialist. Scores after specialist were significantly higher than scores before specialists. The difference was present for students who attended Title I schools as well as for students who attended non-Title I schools. School administrators and school district leaders can benefit from such a study because it presents academic coaching as a viable means to equip teachers so they can help students increase their achievement in mathematics.

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O foco deste trabalho é a realização de estágio supervisionado em grupos na formação inicial de professores. A pesquisa acompanhou quatro equipes, formadas por dois a quatro estagiários, em duas situações: nas aulas da disciplina Metodologia do Ensino de Inglês, do curso de Licenciatura da Faculdade de Educação da USP, e nas aulas no estágio supervisionado dessas equipes nos minicursos de inglês, nessa mesma instituição. Os dados apresentados aqui foram coletados em 2006 por meio do contato prolongado com os sujeitos da pesquisa, utilizando instrumentos tais como observações de aulas, conversas informais, entrevistas semi-estruturadas e questionários, dentre outros. Buscou-se assim delinear uma descrição qualitativa e detalhada dos sujeitos e de sua experiência de estágio, tendo como interesse principal aspectos relacionados ao próprio trabalho em grupo. Foram observadas quatro principais dimensões do estágio em equipe. A primeira dizia respeito à escolha dos parceiros para formar o grupo. O contato prévio com os colegas e também a conveniência de horários foram identificados como sendo os principais fatores considerados nessa decisão. O segundo aspecto observado na pesquisa foi o da organização das equipes para a preparação das aulas. Como tal atividade não era prevista na grade curricular, devendo ser realizada pelos estagiários em suas horas livres, eles geralmente articulavam a preparação dos materiais a distância, por telefone e e-mail. A terceira característica do trabalho em grupo nos minicursos estava relacionada ao ensino em equipe nas aulas propriamente ditas. Nessa situação, a ansiedade ao ser observado pelos pares foi notada, assim como a dinâmica dos grupos no que se refere à divisão de papéis em sala de aula. A última dimensão do trabalho em grupo analisada na pesquisa foi a existência de líderes informais nas equipes. Mostrou-se que a emergência de líderes não poderia ser explicada por apenas uma única motivação, como maior experiência profissional ou maior conhecimento do conteúdo, estando, em vez disso, inter-relacionada com características do líder propriamente dito, dos demais integrantes do grupo e do contexto como um todo. / The focus of this study is group work in the teaching practicum in initial teacher education. The research observed four groups, made up of two to four student-teachers, in two situations: during classes in the discipline English Teaching Methodology, which is part of the Teaching License course of FEUSP (School of Education of the University of São Paulo), and during the practicum classes of these groups in the English minicourses, in that same institution. The data presented here were collected in 2006 by means of extended contact with the research subjects, using tools such as class observations, informal conversations, semi-structured interviews and questionnaires, among others. The aim was to make a qualitative and detailed description of the subjects and their experience in the teaching practicum, the main interest lying on aspects related to group work. Four main dimensions of group work were observed in the practicum. The first was related to the choice of partners to form a group. It was observed that previous contact with colleagues and also schedule constraints were the main factors taken into account in this decision. The second aspect observed in the research was the organization of the teams to prepare classes. The student-teachers had to use their free time for this activity, since it was not included in the regular class timetable. For this reason, they usually arranged the preparation of materials by phone or e-mail. The third characteristic of group work in the minicourses was connected to team teaching in the classrooms. In this situation, feelings of anxiety for being observed by one\'s peers were detected and the group dynamics regarding the alternation of roles in the classroom were also analyzed. The last dimension of group work investigated in the research was the existence of informal leaders in the teams. It was shown that the emergence of leaders could not be explained by a single motivation (such as greater professional experience or greater knowledge of the content); instead, it was interrelated with characteristics of the leaders themselves, of the other group members and of the context as a whole.

O foco deste trabalho é a realização de estágio supervisionado em grupos na formação inicial de professores. A pesquisa acompanhou quatro equipes, formadas por dois a quatro estagiários, em duas situações: nas aulas da disciplina Metodologia do Ensino de Inglês, do curso de Licenciatura da Faculdade de Educação da USP, e nas aulas no estágio supervisionado dessas equipes nos minicursos de inglês, nessa mesma instituição. Os dados apresentados aqui foram coletados em 2006 por meio do contato prolongado com os sujeitos da pesquisa, utilizando instrumentos tais como observações de aulas, conversas informais, entrevistas semi-estruturadas e questionários, dentre outros. Buscou-se assim delinear uma descrição qualitativa e detalhada dos sujeitos e de sua experiência de estágio, tendo como interesse principal aspectos relacionados ao próprio trabalho em grupo. Foram observadas quatro principais dimensões do estágio em equipe. A primeira dizia respeito à escolha dos parceiros para formar o grupo. O contato prévio com os colegas e também a conveniência de horários foram identificados como sendo os principais fatores considerados nessa decisão. O segundo aspecto observado na pesquisa foi o da organização das equipes para a preparação das aulas. Como tal atividade não era prevista na grade curricular, devendo ser realizada pelos estagiários em suas horas livres, eles geralmente articulavam a preparação dos materiais a distância, por telefone e e-mail. A terceira característica do trabalho em grupo nos minicursos estava relacionada ao ensino em equipe nas aulas propriamente ditas. Nessa situação, a ansiedade ao ser observado pelos pares foi notada, assim como a dinâmica dos grupos no que se refere à divisão de papéis em sala de aula. A última dimensão do trabalho em grupo analisada na pesquisa foi a existência de líderes informais nas equipes. Mostrou-se que a emergência de líderes não poderia ser explicada por apenas uma única motivação, como maior experiência profissional ou maior conhecimento do conteúdo, estando, em vez disso, inter-relacionada com características do líder propriamente dito, dos demais integrantes do grupo e do contexto como um todo. / The focus of this study is group work in the teaching practicum in initial teacher education. The research observed four groups, made up of two to four student-teachers, in two situations: during classes in the discipline English Teaching Methodology, which is part of the Teaching License course of FEUSP (School of Education of the University of São Paulo), and during the practicum classes of these groups in the English minicourses, in that same institution. The data presented here were collected in 2006 by means of extended contact with the research subjects, using tools such as class observations, informal conversations, semi-structured interviews and questionnaires, among others. The aim was to make a qualitative and detailed description of the subjects and their experience in the teaching practicum, the main interest lying on aspects related to group work. Four main dimensions of group work were observed in the practicum. The first was related to the choice of partners to form a group. It was observed that previous contact with colleagues and also schedule constraints were the main factors taken into account in this decision. The second aspect observed in the research was the organization of the teams to prepare classes. The student-teachers had to use their free time for this activity, since it was not included in the regular class timetable. For this reason, they usually arranged the preparation of materials by phone or e-mail. The third characteristic of group work in the minicourses was connected to team teaching in the classrooms. In this situation, feelings of anxiety for being observed by one\'s peers were detected and the group dynamics regarding the alternation of roles in the classroom were also analyzed. The last dimension of group work investigated in the research was the existence of informal leaders in the teams. It was shown that the emergence of leaders could not be explained by a single motivation (such as greater professional experience or greater knowledge of the content); instead, it was interrelated with characteristics of the leaders themselves, of the other group members and of the context as a whole.

In a globalized world, teaching English as a second language (ESL) or English as a foreign language (EFL) requires mastery of intercultural communicative competence (ICC). Deploying ICC has many benefits, especially with teaching and learning English, because it is a preeminent necessity for intercultural communication today. In ESL and EFL contexts at college and university levels, learners and instructors interface with other learners and instructors who have various languages and cultures, so there is a need for implementing ICC, because it encourages instructors and learners to communicate effectively with others using both their native and target languages, as well as their native and target cultures. Hence, there is a need for ICC, mediational tools, such as translanguaging pedagogy, as well as use of a peer-coaching process. Also, there is a need to evaluate ICC use through various kinds of assessment, such as self-assessment (which includes self-reflection), identity assessment, formative assessment, and summative assessment. In order to find the validity of various aspects of ICC, the mediational tools, the peer-coaching process, various kinds of assessment, and self-reflection, the researcher used a mixed-method study that contained quantitative and qualitative data. The study was conducted over the summer of 2016, and the participants were graduate students in the Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) program at California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB). This thesis validates aspects of ICC, mediational tools, and assessments, as well as the importance of self-reflection in evaluating and improving individuals’ ICC.

The transition from apartheid to democracy in South Africa, which began in 1994 led to a change in a plethora of policies and/or legislation. In recent years there has been much debate on how the standard of education provisioning in schools could be raised in the light of the introduction of the much debated Revised National Curriculum Statement (RNCS) and thereafter the National Curriculum Statement (NCS). These reform initiatives have brought about confusion and a sense of unsettledness amongst educators, including principals as well as their School Management Teams. Furthermore, the abovementioned and other policies required educators to acquaint themselves with either the materials that are used or the content of the curriculum and the planning and presentation of lessons. This entails in some occasions that educators who are more experienced have to assist the less experienced ones since they understand the RNCS and more recently the NCS better than the others. According to me this emphasises the importance of educator development towards raising the standards in schools. Continuous Professional Development (CPD) is a process that fits the role of an educator as a lifelong learner. The aforementioned is captured in the Norms and Standards for Educators (2000). The need for more attention to be accorded to the professional development of practising educators is emphasised in the Report of the Ministerial Committee on Teacher Education (2005). This report led to the development of the National Policy Framework for Teacher Education and Development which has as its aim to attempt to address the need for suitably qualified educators in South Africa. The National Policy Framework for Teacher Education and Development will be used in this study along with the Integrated Quality Management Systems (IQMS) as tools to achieve the continuous development of educators in South African schools. The Personnel Administration Measures (PAM) of 1999 are also used since they stipulate the roles and responsibilities of the educator, including those of the principal, deputy principal(s) as well as the heads of department. In particular it stipulates that the principal (Department of Education, 1999:10) is responsible for the development of staff training programmes, school-based, school-focused and externally directed, and to assist educators, particularly new and inexperienced educators, in developing and achieving educational objectives in accordance with the needs of the school. This research project deals with the challenges experienced by educators regarding their own Continued Professional Development (CPD). It thus aims at coming up with an empirical account of the challenges experienced by the said educators. The study will focus on, among others, the educators’ experiences in the implementation of the IQMS as a developmental tool for educators in schools. It looks at the roles that different staff members in senior positions in terms of the CPD of the educators. These include the developmental opportunities available in the sampled schools. Carefully selected and drafted interview questions assisted me in soliciting answers from the sampled educators. / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Education Management and Policy Studies / unrestricted

The objective of education authorities worldwide is to enhance teachers’ professional capacities and practices through the supply of quality continuous professional development (CPD) activities. The South African education system has been subjected to many changes during the past two decades which have seriously affected the quality of education provided in schools country wide. Professional development (PD) of teachers has been found to be a key factor in raising standards in South African schools. Although the National Department of Education has identified teacher development as important, very little has transpired in the education system. School leaders should, therefore, take on the responsibility of providing their staff with PD opportunities. To support teachers in special schools and to enhance their professional capacity, the researcher designed, implemented and evaluated a collaborative PD model in six special schools in Gauteng. The aim of the study was to establish the value of the CPD programme on teachers’ learning, learners’ outcomes and whole school change. This multi-phased case study research was positioned within a bigger study conducted by the Gauteng Department of Education and in particular the Early Childhood Development Institute (ECDI). This larger study was based on the fact that most of the burn related accidents in South Africa occur in the 0-4 age group, which served as the rationale for including the fire safety programme in the ECD curriculum. The focus during the research was on the adaptation of fire safety activities and learners and teacher support materials for an inclusive classroom. This research reports on a two year study on the implementation of a CPD model based on collaboration and peer coaching. The theoretical framework for this study links to theories of constructivism, organisational theory of Senge, network and social capital. This research serves as an example of where valuable internal and external networks were formed for the benefit of all involved with the study. During this research theory and practice were successfully integrated for the benefit of the individual, the school and external organisations. / Department of Educational Leadership and Management / D. Ed. (Education Management)

The objective of education authorities worldwide is to enhance teachers’ professional capacities and practices through the supply of quality continuous professional development (CPD) activities. The South African education system has been subjected to many changes during the past two decades which have seriously affected the quality of education provided in schools country wide. Professional development (PD) of teachers has been found to be a key factor in raising standards in South African schools. Although the National Department of Education has identified teacher development as important, very little has transpired in the education system. School leaders should, therefore, take on the responsibility of providing their staff with PD opportunities. To support teachers in special schools and to enhance their professional capacity, the researcher designed, implemented and evaluated a collaborative PD model in six special schools in Gauteng. The aim of the study was to establish the value of the CPD programme on teachers’ learning, learners’ outcomes and whole school change. This multi-phased case study research was positioned within a bigger study conducted by the Gauteng Department of Education and in particular the Early Childhood Development Institute (ECDI). This larger study was based on the fact that most of the burn related accidents in South Africa occur in the 0-4 age group, which served as the rationale for including the fire safety programme in the ECD curriculum. The focus during the research was on the adaptation of fire safety activities and learners and teacher support materials for an inclusive classroom. This research reports on a two year study on the implementation of a CPD model based on collaboration and peer coaching. The theoretical framework for this study links to theories of constructivism, organisational theory of Senge, network and social capital. This research serves as an example of where valuable internal and external networks were formed for the benefit of all involved with the study. During this research theory and practice were successfully integrated for the benefit of the individual, the school and external organisations. / Department of Educational Leadership and Management / D. Ed. (Education Management)