This paper examines how the rural identity of teachers shapes their teaching practices. It found that rural out-migrant teachers' re-storying of their (non)rural identity influenced their beliefs surrounding the inclusion of rural stories in their reading instruction. They faced challenges in recognizing rural stories as worthy of teaching, in…

Successful implementation of academic standards depends on teachers' understanding of the intended policy and their interpretation of what the policy means for their instruction (Spillane et al., 2002). This study examines the writing tasks fourth- and fifth- grade teachers understand as being aligned with the CCSS [Common Core State Standards],…

Project based learning (PBL) provides opportunities for teachers and students to create learning spaces that are authentic and relevant. Much of this work is taking place in STEM contexts, with few studies exploring PBL integration in English language arts (ELA) classrooms. In this co-design project, we collaborated with 13 9th grade ELA teachers…

This interpretive research was at the intersection of language acquisition, literacy development, and social education. The multisite study of literacy instruction that addressed compassion as a conflict response involved qualitative analyses of data gathered from lesson artifacts, observations, interviews of the participating teachers, and survey…

Interactions between teachers and students contribute to the quality of the classroom setting and growing evidence that the affective undertone of these interactions matters when considering outcomes for both the students and the teachers they serve. Although numerous measures of teacher-student interactions exist, relying on self-report or…

This study examines teachers' initial conceptions of an integrated STEM-PBL approach and their perceptions of what facilitates or hinders implementation in their schools. This study took place within the first year of a three-year STEM Professional Development (PD) program for middle school math, science and English language arts teachers. The two…

This paper presents the results of a study aimed at investigating how and why secondary school students use spelling and grammar checkers to aid them in their English writing. The study was a result of close observation over many years of how some students use computers effectively to support their writing, while others make just as much use of…

The implementation of the Houghton-Mifflin K-5 "Invitations to Literacy" language arts program was studied during its first year in California's Moreno Valley Unified School District. A sample teacher survey was developed, pilot tested, and sent to the District. The sample consisted of 658 regular, 20 special day, 19 resource specialist, and 118…

The purpose of this ethnographic study was to analyze seventh grade students' and teachers' perceptions of literacy learning in language arts and reading classes. This paper includes a report of a section of this study that focused on discussions about literature. The impact of this diverse school culture on teachers' literacy instruction and…

California high school English language arts teachers (n=467) representing 79 high schools and 49 school districts responded to a survey regarding their classroom assessment practices. A random sampling of 115 teachers completed a follow-up survey that focused on beliefs and values relative to assessment. Research questions were: (1) What are the…

This paper discusses minicomputer-based ILSs (integrated learning systems), i.e., computer-based systems of hardware and software. An example of a minicomputer-based system in a school district (a composite of several actual districts) considers hardware, staffing, scheduling, reactions, problems, and training for a subskill-oriented reading…

Test publishers have promoted their commercially available norm-referenced achievement tests as viable solutions to assessment challenges faced by states. They argue that their tests are developed professionally and therefore possess sound psychometric properties not often found in state-specific efforts. This study compared judgments from two…

Presents the author's acceptance speech when named 2000 Outstanding Educator in the Language Arts by the Elementary Section of the National Council of Teachers of English. Shares her life story to argue that teachers' actions have the potential to add, deepen, or change current trends and events within the struggle for educational justice. (SG)

A discussion is presented of a semester-long collaborative project in whole language at the college level. Eight preservice teachers, seven inservice teachers, a school principal, and a university instructor worked together in Friday afternoon seminars. This paper gives an overview of multiple theoretical foundations: learning theory, critical…

A study investigated the beliefs and practices of high school language arts teachers regarding mandated multicultural education in the language arts. Subjects, five tenured faculty in the language arts program of a midwestern high school, volunteered to be interviewed and have their classrooms observed while they conducted multicultural…