Through a constructivist lens, this dissertation research (a case study) examines the problem of how elementary teachers' MKT might be related to their ways of implementing and adapting mathematical tasks to promote students' construction of multiplicative reasoning. In particular, this study addresses the following four research questions: 1.…

The reading abilities of students across the nation continue to be a concern. In fact, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reported that 67% of fourth graders read at or below grade level (National Center for Education Statistics, 2022). This study was predicated on the idea that the reading attitudes and literacy knowledge of…

With the changes in Common Core State Standards, it was essential to explore how elementary pre-service teachers' sense of fractions is developing and their thoughts about how to teach fractions. A gap in practice exists because it is unknown how pre-service elementary teachers, after student-teaching, perceive their level of in-practice knowledge…

As the adoption rate of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) continues to rise in the United States, there is an increasing need for the development of high-quality instructional materials that reflect NGSS and effectively prepare teachers for its implementation. The NGSS aim to foster an understanding of three interconnected dimensions in…

With the 2015 change in science standards to align more closely with the Next Generation Science Standards, as the district STEM coach, I saw a need for professional development that addressed the lack of understanding and skill needed to teach the Science and Engineering Practices, specifically the practice of Scientific Augmentation. This…

ADHD (Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) is a common neurological disorder that causes a person to have difficulty self-regulating (Daley & Birchwood, 2010a). A child displaying symptoms of ADHD may be impulsive, hyperactive, and/or inattentive, which increases the likelihood of academic failure and behavior difficulties. While symptoms…

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to understand how K-8 teachers in Nevada describe computational concepts, practices, and perspectives preparation in making them ready to teach computer science. Brennan and Resnick's computational thinking served as the theoretical framework for this study. Four research questions guided this…

There is an interconnected issue of lack of student achievement in reading and professional training around reading for teachers. This study sought to understand if self-reflective professional development in the area of the science of reading improves teacher confidence in teaching reading. The participants of the Cycle 1 process consisted of K-2…

Most elementary teachers (ETs) have majors in the humanities as undergraduates and much of the pedagogical training in a teacher preparation program tends to focus on literacy, so many ETs lack math pedagogical content knowledge and have a stronger knowledge of, and how, to teach literacy (Gonzalez-DeHass, et al., 2017; Bursal & Paznokas,…

The public education system in the United States has a racially, culturally, and linguistically diverse population that is rapidly increasing in diversity with the ongoing rise of diverse immigrants, as reported in 2019 by the National Center for Education Statistics, which projected 55% students of color enrollment by 2027. In contrast, there has…

Integrating technology in classrooms has been discussed in many countries. Technology integration in Lagos, Nigeria, faces significant challenges due to several factors, including inadequate infrastructure, limited access to technology, and insufficient teacher training. The lack of reliable electricity and internet connectivity hinders schools'…

The purpose of the study is to explore the relationship between a teacher's teaching methods and the social and emotional learning (SEL) of elementary classroom students during discussions about race. This is an urgent need in the U.S. as the silence about race has caused harm in various ways. By exploring ways of creating an environment in the…

This case study explores the introduction of a word study approach, Words Their Way (Pearson Education, n.d.), into 3 second-grade classrooms in the northeastern United States. Although phonics and spelling have been studied separately within classrooms (Cutler & Graham, 2008; Fresch, 2007; Graham & Santangelo, 2014; McCutchen et al.,…

This dissertation explores the perceptions and understandings of K-6 general education teachers regarding their role in intentionally developing students' emotional competencies. This research builds upon that which establishes the vitality of developed emotional competencies by including the perceptions of teachers who have been tasked with…

Numerous students across the United States are observed as being disengaged and bored in several of their learning experiences. Similarly, innumerable students also self-report being bored and disengaged. Over 40% of South Carolina (SC) students in Grades 3-8 report being compliant, disengaged, or mixed in all three domains (behaviorally,…