We examined how six gifted boys perceived the onset and development of their academic underachievement and what they identified as contributing aspects. Across the six boys' experiences, a similar pattern of onset and development of academic underachievement emerged. The boys discussed a lack of academic challenge, investment in hobbies, issues…

While many researchers have addressed the topic of academic resilience, studies on the individual protective factors in high-risk middle school students from urban settings are limited. In this qualitative interpretive study, we interviewed and obtained academic records from 20 eligible students in grades 7-8 to delve into the perceptions and…

Reforms to support and increase personalized learning approaches are increasingly being introduced in middle schools around the country. Personalization as enacted in response to these reforms encourages teachers to implement many practices that have long been advocated for among middle grades reformers. However, middle grades teachers working…

This study documents the process of implementation of an adolescent reading intervention. Using data from observations of teachers (n=17) during the 2013-14 school year, I conducted a nuanced descriptive analysis of fidelity of implementation (FoI). I also analyzed weekly logs completed by literacy coaches (n=3) to examine variation in quantity…

The purpose of the current study is to estimate reliability, internal consistency, and construct validity of the Measure of Instruction for Creative Engagement (MICE) instrument. The MICE instrument used an iterative process of evidence collection and scoring through teacher observations to determine instructional domain ratings and overall…

In the study of focus in this paper, I analyze the curricular experiences of fifth- through eighth-grade culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) Latina learners in their English Language Arts (ELA) dual language gifted and talented education (GATE) program. This research aims to understand the curricular experiences of CLD students…

This paper highlights the year-one (pilot) findings of a three-year project on emerging technologies where students engaged in computer modeling, 3D printing, flight simulation, and drones during summer camps and afterschool programs in rural and urban districts. The pilot was iterative as different interventions were field-tested in specific…

In this qualitative study, semi-structured interviews were done with middle school students. Questions were asked about their teachers' classroom management. Coded transcriptions showed that participants primarily described talk in the classroom. Analysis of talk in the transcripts resulted in four themes: Controlling the talk, Getting Off-Task…

When should students collaborate during inquiry learning using an online learning environment? We compare "continuous collaboration" to "individual predictions" followed by collaborative exploration of natural selection and evolution in a unit featuring interactive models illustrating the marine biodiversity crisis. In the…

The current investigation examined self-regulation of mathematics homework behavior (i.e., mathematics homework management). The participants consisted of 796 8th grade students (46 classes) in China. Multilevel results showed that mathematics homework management was positively associated with value belief at the class and individual level. At the…

The potential benefits of teacher leadership are widely acknowledged; however, the conceptualization of this construct is in need of theoretical development and analytic clarification. The purpose of this mixed methodology study was to operationalize distinct types of teacher leadership into an organized typology, based on case studies of teacher…

Principals are increasingly held accountable for school achievement. This paper reports the results of a mixed methods sequential Quan --> Qual research study to explore how middle school principals created a culture of academic optimism (AO) that promoted high student achievement (SA). Based on the analysis of AO scores from 26 schools, mostly…

This paper discusses the implementation and evaluation of an innovative professional development program that supported 8th grade mathematics teachers in designing learning activities that assisted students in developing a conceptual understanding of mathematics. Funded by an Investing in Innovation (i3) grant from the U.S. Department of…

The purpose of this quantitative study was to develop and test a survey instrument to measure pre-service teachers' Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) framed by a transformative lens. The "Survey of Teaching Knowledge with Curriculum-Based Technology" was developed and administered to 124 pre-service teachers within the…

Both of the national efforts to reform education (AAAS, 1993; NRC, 1996) promoted professional development experiences that engage teachers in authentic scientific research. This qualitative multiple case study used legitimate peripheral participation (LPP) as a way to examine the process by which teachers became a part of the laboratory community…