The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore the academic and social experiences of digital natives at Patrick Harrison High School (pseudonym) located in southern California. The research questions addressing the study were: (a) What are digital natives' academic and social experiences; (b) How does feeling understood…

Within the social nature of teaching and learning mathematics, language can be viewed as the principal resource for making meaning in the classroom. However, research has shown that facilitating classroom discourse can be a key challenge for prospective teachers. In response to this concern, my dissertation offers case studies of three secondary…

Recently there has been a call to disrupt the continuous cycle of (re)production from within university-based programs through the development of transformative approaches rooted in the cultural norms of traditionally marginalized populations. This study aimed to explore how one such approach, critical hip-hop pedagogy (CHHP), manifests within the…

Offering an in-depth exploration of the distinctive features of the play development and learning of toddlers, this book provides useful materials, strategies and tools that can be used by practitioners supporting toddlers at this significant age. The book explores the context and concepts of wellbeing and is ideal for early years practitioners,…

Children from low-income families are at greater risk for poor social-emotional development and physical health and may be in need of intervention. This study examined the extent to which the "Positive Action" ("PA") preschool lessons improved low-income children's social-emotional competence and health behaviors. Mixed…

The driving question for this brief is based on the most common question that teachers, principals, school leaders, coaches, and grant writers ask the Buck Institute for Education (BIE) about Project Based Learning (PBL): What evidence exists that shows the impact of Project Based Learning on student learning in core content areas? Research shows…

Previous research suggests that activating background knowledge immediately prior to read-alouds in Kindergarten is an important strategy for improving children's learning (e.g. Cervetti & Hiebert, 2015). But, because children's background knowledge varies considerably at the individual level, teachers are also often providing relevant…

Inquiry-based science education (IBSE) is a pedagogic strategy that combines scientific experimentation, observation and sense-making through collaborative learning. This chapter reports on the use of live snails to explore the extent to which hosting living organisms in the classroom might provide a productive context for promoting IBSE. Even…

Drawing on examples of teaching from elementary school classrooms, this timely book for practitioners explains why LGBTQ-inclusive literacy instruction is possible, relevant, and necessary in grades K-5. The authors show how expanding the English language arts curriculum to include representations of LGBTQ people and themes will benefit all…

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of constant time-delay instruction with error correction in teaching the skill of identifying the numerals (from 1 to 5) to students with light intellectual disability. The experimental design of this study was multiple-probe model with probe conditions across subjects which is one of…

Increasing complexity and rapid change associated with globalization and the knowledge economy have diminished the relevance of traditional linear models of leadership. Researchers have begun to view leadership not in terms of individuals and hierarchal exchanges but as a collective influence process among members of a group to achieve shared…

Pedagogy is at the heart of teaching and learning. Preparing young people to become lifelong learners with a deep knowledge of subject matter and a broad set of social skills requires a better understanding of how pedagogy influences learning. Focusing on pedagogies shifts the perception of teachers from technicians who strive to attain the…

In the current educational landscape where the use of technology is prominent, the present study was designed to examine how to effectively integrate iPads and open-content applications into early literacy instruction through the use of creation-based tasks: digital experiences where students have the opportunity to be creators of content and…

This research study focused on how technology-based tools have changed the 21st century education arena in elementary school mathematics classes. The research highlighted the inner city schools where many students in the class are achieving below state standards set for third grade level. The research question asked to what extent do students have…

The purpose of this qualitative exploratory case study was to explore how administrator and teacher perceptions affect their application of brain-based learning (BBL) professional development (PD) in schools, specifically an Atlanta suburb middle school. The research was framed around social cognitive theory (SCT), the premise that a person's…