This qualitative case study explores the story of celebration for kindergarten teachers at a suburban elementary school in northern New England. This study explored the reality of self-celebration in kindergarten teachers' current practices during staff meetings, planning meetings, response to intervention (RTI) meetings, with their colleagues,…

This study provides a thorough psychometric evaluation of construct and criterion validity and measurement invariance of the promising Florence Bullying-Victimization Scales (FBVS). A special focus was devoted to the concurrent criterion validity of the victimization scale with regard to well-being and social self-efficacy. Exploratory and…

While play-based learning is important for a high quality early education, only when teachers are confident and competent in enacting play-based learning in their everyday practice are expected benefits of play-based learning for whole-child development realized. A sample of 592 early childhood educators who assumed different job titles in Hong…

Research suggests that current teachers' writing instruction does not prepare students for the demands of college and career writing, a problem that has persisted for decades. The purpose of this survey study of third- and fifth-grade teachers (N=159) across the U.S. was 1) to determine changes in teachers' frequency teaching writing using a set…

There is not a great body of research that exists exploring literacy self-efficacy perceptions of teachers through a qualitative lens, and it was noted that the voices of teachers were missing in literacy self-efficacy research. This qualitative study investigates teachers' perceptions about their literacy self-efficacy, as well as what factors…

This dissertation investigates the issue of gender stratification within engineering and other STEM-related fields. The dissertation is divided into three articles that address different aspects of the problem and propose potential solutions. Article 1 explores the persistent gender imbalance within STEM fields, particularly in engineering and…

Elementary teachers in California were tasked to use cognitively guided instruction (CGI) strategies in mathematics classrooms, but it was uncertain if they had the self-efficacy, confidence, resources, and support to do so consistently. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to investigate K-5 teachers' perceptions about their…

Children's unexpected cardiac arrest warrants cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) by kindergarten teachers. Yet, recent research revealed trained personnel reporting poor transfer of acquired skills during real-world emergencies with conventional CPR training. Immersive virtual reality (IVR) training induces a greater sense of presence and agency…

Kindergarten and first-grade students who have been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may have additional learning needs impeding the learning of self and others. The purpose of the qualitative study was to investigate: (a) the successes, challenges, barriers, and needs of teachers working with students who have ADHD;…

According to national standardized test results, American students are failing at an alarming rate. Research suggests that teachers are not prepared to teach in inclusive classrooms. Research also suggests that a teacher's efficacy rating can impact student achievement. This study explores how teachers of inclusive classrooms are attempting to…

Background: The most effective approach to food allergy management is to avoid consuming the specific allergens that trigger an allergic reaction. It is crucial to make school environments prepared for the potential of food allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, which is a rare but documented outcome. The high prevalence of anaphylactic…

School counselors actively pursue postgraduate professional development to stay current with the best social-emotional learning (SEL) implementation practices. Professional development can vary depending on the school district. Despite these discrepancies, school counselors recognize how intentional professional development can further strengthen…

The study aims to investigate the influence of the online professional development (PD) program focused on precollege engineering education on science teachers' teaching engineering self-efficacy. A nested mixed research design was employed to conduct the study, in which the basic qualitative design was integrated into a weak experimental design…

Academic self-efficacy is an essential role in student's academic success. There are several factors that can contribute to student academic self-efficacy. Identifying student's self-efficacy can help their experiences in school. Understanding factors that can contribute to student's self-efficacy can better prepare them for academic success. The…

In a time of uncertainty, teachers have been the backbone of the educational world. They provide a sense of consistency to many students who may need positive role models in their life. Teachers take on roles as caregivers, educators, friends, and are often a "safe place" for students. Yet, how have teachers been supported during times…