This dissertation in practice will focus on gaining insights into the relationship between money spent on professional development and the Standards Assessment Inventory Scores. The Standards Assessment Inventory is an assessment tool aligned with the Standards of Professional Learning that provides insight into the perceptions of professional…

The early childhood field is increasingly beginning to recognize the importance of integrating science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematical concepts into preschool classrooms. Despite this recognition, preschool teachers often face challenges integrating these subjects due to insufficient knowledge, training, and resources. This…

This dissertation investigated the impact of two different coaching models on student achievement. The data collected was IREAD-3, Indiana's third-grade proficiency assessment tool, and Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) assessment data, a formative assessment measuring student growth over time. The study encompassed 13 elementary schools in…

The University of Washington's Early Childhood Education (ECE) teacher well-being hybrid and online courses for both pre-service and in-service teachers uses stress coping strategies to foster resilience, self- value, and confidence in ECE teachers. The present study employed a mixed-method research approach to investigate three questions…

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…

Throughout elementary education, foundational literacy has been one of the essential components of students' reading and writing abilities. For students to be successful in their literacy skills, it is necessary for them to be afforded systematic word study instruction through the intentional teaching of foundational skills along with multisensory…

Black students with disabilities receiving special education services provide unique challenges to the current education system that was designed for white, able-bodied, and minded individuals. Teachers, more specifically, special education teachers, who are often white, play a vital role in serving as a first level of support and having a…

This multiple-case study discusses Connecticut public preschool teacher's mathematics instruction practice and preparation across socioeconomic settings and divergent District Reference Groups. Through the use of qualitative methods of classroom observations, interviews, and document review this multiple-case study explored the mathematics…

Research (Ling, Sharifah & Hasnah, 2014; Rohaty, 2003) has shown that Malaysian preschool teachers, despite knowing and understanding the importance of visual arts and inquiry-based learning, lack the theoretical knowledge and practical training that would enable them to implement the approach in their teaching (Ling, Sharifah and Hasnah,…

This mixed methods study was conducted within a highly diverse K-12 public charter school setting to address a need for targeted professional development related to the development of intercultural competence for teachers in public schools, given the growing gap observed between the cultural backgrounds of K-12 public school teachers and their…

The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of general education teachers and capture how they differentiate instruction for students with special needs. The study ascertained teachers' understanding and implementation of differentiated instruction for elementary level students in first through third grade. The study will add to the…

Preschool teachers are expected to engage young children in challenging and supportive mathematics learning. Rich and responsive language experiences in mathematics support children's language acquisition and engagement related to mathematics, however, such engaging experiences may be minimally available to many young children. Professional…

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of multilevel support on first-grade teachers' accurate use of research-based strategies during beginning reading instruction and the extent to which teachers maintained use of these strategies. Teachers were trained to use research-based strategies, including choral responding, response…

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of a 2-year professional development model in math and science on the self-efficacy of the teacher and its effects on teacher practice and student outcomes. Further, this study sought to incorporate the instructional use of Inquiry-Based Learning methods of Problem-Based Learning, Japanese…

This descriptive case study examined the nature of talk a literacy coach used during coaching conversations to guide collaborative inquiry to support teachers' needs. The study provided a rich description of the type of talk used in the coach's conversations with three kindergarten classroom teachers by analyzing the content of conversation,…