This dissertation examines the term legal literacy as it applies to the education field and looks at the legal literacy of educators across the country. The dissertation is organized into three separate papers. Paper 1 is a review of the research literature on the legal literacy of educators in the United States and how educators develop legal…

The current correctional education model provides educational access for students enrolled in educational programming. Nevertheless, some scholars argue that correctional education programming and teacher pedagogical practices do not align with the specific academic and emotional needs of the correctional education adult student population. In…

The purpose of the research was identifying how teacher training and knowledge in play impacts the use of play as an RtI behavior intervention. The study was designed to find possible correlations between the following four areas; teachers' training on play, teachers' knowledge of play, teachers' beliefs of play, and teachers'' use of play as a…

In almost 60 years, the requirements of educators to be knowledgeable about the law have barely changed. The concept of legal literacy first appeared in educational research in 1963 by Nolte & Linn. Their original work recommended that state legislatures and boards of education mandate legal coursework as part of every teacher certification…

This dissertation examines the skills, knowledge, and support needs of novice and experienced Languages for Specific Purposes (LSP) teachers in higher education in the United States. Using a critical ecological approach (CEA) framework, it aims to contribute to the global growing body of research on LSP teacher preparation that has thus far…

Reading skills assessments have demonstrated that middle-grade Mississippi school children are on average two full grade levels or more below grade reading levels. This qualitative case study in one urban county Mississippi school district with decreasing literacy scores examined teachers' perceptions of evidence-based literacy instruction…

Writing competence holds an important place in the language development of multilingual writers, and it is regarded as the gatekeeper for ELLs' academic success and advancement to higher-level courses. It is essential that all teachers, not just the English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers, recognize themselves as teachers of linguistically and…

Much research has been conducted regarding student alternative conceptions in chemistry, and a significant amount of work has focused on the areas of chemical equilibrium and reaction rates. Less research has focused on teachers' alternative conceptions in these areas, and most of this work has studied the conceptions of pre-service and novice…

Although research indicates that conditions for effective technology integration appear to be in place, teachers still face challenges in adapting their instruction to new technologies. As more technology is integrated, the added value for students will depend on how effectively a teacher integrates technology. Given that technology may not be…

The concept of conflict is replete in today's world and is a concept upon much social studies instruction is built, beginning in New Jersey's fourth-grade classrooms with the study of the American Revolution. Many elementary schoolteachers approach the teaching of social studies without subject-area certification and without subject-area materials…

In recent years, school officials have observed that many of the novice, alternate route teachers hired into the educational staff of schools around the country have struggled with various aspects of the teaching profession, such as classroom management, implementation of classroom instruction and motivating students. Many times, alternate route…

The purpose of this basic qualitative research study was to identify the extent to which kindergarten teachers understand and implement inquiry-based instruction in their science classrooms. This study was conducted in response to the indication that traditional didactic teaching methods were not enough to adequately prepare American students to…

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to examine teachers' knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about executive functions utilized in reading instruction of kindergarten through third-grade students. This research study used open-ended, semi-structured interview questions to gain a better understanding of what teachers know and…

Dual language and immersion (DLI) instruction at the secondary level is a particular challenge, as teachers are tasked with teaching abstract, cognitively complex content while supporting students in continuing to develop their partner language proficiency. This content and language integration requires a unique skill set and knowledge base, but…

Approximately 20% of students in the general education classroom have difficulty learning to read. Thus, elementary school teachers will encounter children with diagnosed or undiagnosed dyslexia in their general education classroom. Students with dyslexia may have trouble in the areas of reading, spelling, writing, and other language processing…