The Early Development Instrument (EDI) was designed by McMaster University to measure the outcomes of childrens early years as they influence their readiness to learn at school. The EDI was piloted in several Canadian cities in recent years through two national initiatives. Building on these initiatives, Alberta Learning piloted the EDI as a…

This paper attempts to shed some light on the relation between educational opportunity, in terms of facilities, personnel, and services, and the type of community in which a student lives. (Author)

This article presents the findings of an online survey administered to Alberta elementary school teachers in 2000-2001. The survey explored the teachers' knowledge and use of Canadian children's literature and their thoughts about the role of Canadian literature in elementary school classrooms. Canadian children's trade books espouse particular…

There is a growing interest in the mathematics education community in the notion of abstraction and its significance in the learning of mathematics. "Reducing abstraction" is a theoretical framework that examines learners' behavior in terms of coping with abstraction level. This article extends the scope of applicability of this…

The difficulties experienced by a First Nations preservice teacher in a mathematics course illustrate how math teaching reforms may be culturally inappropriate and challenging to learners' belief systems and cultural norms. Open-ended and rich investigative approaches that enable students to use their cultural experiences may be more effective.…

This case study reports on the development that resulted when a Canadian elementary school teacher explored multiple intelligences theory and used it as a guide in curriculum planning and curriculum practice. The critical self-reflection made the teacher more adept at integrating many aspects of her professional knowledge. (SLD)

Collected teacher absenteeism data for 108 elementary teachers and 165 secondary teachers in Nova Scotia. Compared absences by sex, age, level of license, school level taught, and days of the week. The most significant predictor of short-term absences is the level of school taught. Elementary teachers are absent more than secondary teachers. (KS)

Interviews with 21 Canadian teachers of grades K-4 indicated that classroom observation was a predominant form of data collection for student assessment. Teachers felt that the purpose of assessment was to help students learn, and that assessment was formative and intimately embedded in teaching and learning. Problems with observation included…

Explored how the discourse of child-centered pedagogy both shapes and limits how teachers talk about issues of social difference in their teaching practice through the experiences of four inner-city elementary school teachers in Canada. Considers the concept of the child as a unique individual and the teacher as a neutral change agent in relation…

This thesis focuses on an educational partnership between the Canadian Centre for Architecture and Architects in Action, which explores the potential of utilizing professional arts practitioners in an outreach capacity to extend museum programming. It seeks to answer the following questions: How did the architects' experiences compare to their…

This mixed method study used survey research, open-ended questions, and interviews to identify transformational leadership qualities among principals of publicly funded schools in the Province of Alberta, Canada. Five-hundred-nine teachers (37.7%) from a random sample of schools in the province completed the Multifactor leadership Questionnaire…

This survey sought to ascertain the extent to which individual target schools were equipped with television facilities, and the frequency with which the available equipment was being used by the teachers. The principals in the Borough of York responded to a Television Survey and a random sample of teachers responded to questionnaires. The results…

Describes collaboration between a university researcher and six teachers during a special education project at a western Canadian elementary school. Identifies five major processes of teacher-researcher collaboration and the benefits of collaboration for the researcher, teachers, and students. Contains 41 references. (SV)

Implementation of mandatory professional growth plans for Alberta teachers was studied through interviews with 12 teachers, 3 principals, and 5 district administrators. Benefits included increased commitment to learning, collegiality, and self-affirmation. Tensions between organizational control and individual autonomy were apparent. With trust,…

Describes a project in which discussions were held between agriculturalists and elementary teachers in order to provide an opportunity for the participants to examine the ways in which science is developed and used in an occupational context integral to the community. Examines the views of science and school science expressed by the participants.…