Improving STEM education is pivotal to our country's economic future and security. Unfortunately, most young students have limited access to standards-based science education. Science instruction is notoriously difficult to implement in the early grades. This dissertation explored the root causes for the lack of effective science instruction in…

Far too many students worldwide are trapped in a cycle of low performance. The problem addressed in this study was that many third-grade students struggle with achieving the reading comprehension skills needed to be successful academically. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore teachers' perceptions of integrating Istation…

This is a randomized controlled experimental, sequential explanatory mixed-methods study that evaluated the effectiveness of an early childhood mental health professional development program, Caring with Caring, that was offered to early childhood educators working with infants and toddlers in a licensed group early childhood care and education…

We place deficit-model labels on students who fall behind educational expectations and standards. Public discourses about underserved students pervade U.S-American politics and popular culture and tend to portray these students in a negative light. This study aims to uncover similarities between the dominant societal narratives about underserved…

The U.S. federally funded Head Start programs serve more than one million low-income children and their families each year in education and health programs. Historically there have been few requirements for formal education for Head Start teachers. In response to research linking teacher education and outcomes for children, increased educational…

Objectives: There were three aims in conducting this pilot study. First, determine the Plus Minus Task assessment's reliability to measure the executive function of shifting. Second, determine the feasibility and acceptability of CPAB by students and teachers. Third, determine the preliminary dose-response of acute physical activity on shifting in…

A qualitative multiple-case design was used to answer two research questions regarding the perceptions of early childhood educators concerning the implementation of mindfulness practices and/or social emotional curricula and the impacts on positive social-emotional behaviors amongst early childhood students. The conceptual framework of this study…

Low achievement in mathematics begins long before students arrive at college. National data shows that between 60% and 75% of high school seniors in the U.S. are underprepared for college-level mathematics and may end up enrolling in developmental mathematics. Developmental mathematics refers to mathematics courses taken in college that are…

The purpose of this study was to explore parent opinions of the teaching of social-emotional learning (SEL) competencies in middle school. Three over-arching questions were examined. First, do parents believe that it is important for SEL competencies to be taught? Next, do sixth grade parents have a different opinion of the teaching of SEL than…

The purpose of this mixed methods study was to evaluate the impact of a growth mindset theory (GMT) intervention on struggling 9th grade math students. The intervention consisted of training students on GMT concepts and teaching through four GMT strategies. This study examined the perspectives of the students through a survey about mistakes in…

Providing students with access to mentoring is now a national priority, as demonstrated by the prevalence and diversity of formal mentoring programs at postsecondary institutions (Crisp, 2017). The proliferation of formal mentoring programs has resulted in postsecondary institutions designing and implementing eMentoring programs. Despite their…

This study aimed to identify students self-reported growth after participating in a Social Skills Group program and explore what factors of the program students perceived as having the greatest and least impact on their social skills knowledge. As prevalence rates for ASD continue to rise, the Autism Tsunami of college students will soon be…

The purpose of this study was to examine and understand the perceptions and experiences of English Language Learners (ELLs) who were or are currently enrolled in online credit recovery programs at one rural traditional high school. The U.S. Department of Education reports that over half a million students drop out of high school each year. The…

In recent years, there have been efforts by educators and policymakers to address disparities in the use of suspensions and expulsions. These students are at risk for further academic difficulties, successive suspensions, school drop-out, unemployment, and arrests. To address these concerns, the use of evidenced-based behavior supports are being…

At The Hockaday School, a private, single-sex school in Texas, many students struggle as they make the transition from eighth to ninth grade. Students feed into the ninth grade from within the school, or from other public and private schools, and come from either boarding or day-school backgrounds. Students may be local, domestic, or…