In a time of rapid change and uncertainty, the skills that students must acquire are becoming more focused on creativity. Correspondingly, the development of students' creative competency should be addressed and implemented in curriculum. The purpose of the study is to examine how the content of a curriculum material, specifically an elementary…

The traditional textbook model is problematic for students who either buy expensive textbooks and add to their already considerable student debt, opt out of buying expensive textbooks, or opt out of enrolling in courses known to require expensive textbooks. Switching to open textbooks directly addresses these problems by decreasing costs, removing…

Due to the life-altering effects reading ability has on one's life, the public, government, and educators have a vested interest in understanding how reading acquisition occurs and is most effectively taught. The body of research termed the 'science of reading' shows that at least 92 percent of children can read at grade level when given…

An educator's role is to create learning opportunities for students and provide them with tools to be successful in a global society. To do that, teachers need to be equipped with resources that support teaching and learning in every classroom. Equitable opportunities for all students result from culturally responsive teaching. Research has shown…

This explanatory sequential mixed methods study sought to understand the influences of teaching experience on perceptions of autonomy and competence on 7th through 12th grade English language arts teachers' text selection decisions through a survey and interviews. The findings of this explanatory sequential design survey study could affirm…

Common elements amongst all educational institutions are varying processes of selecting educational materials ("Choosing Blindly Instructional Materials", 2016). Whether they be textbooks, curriculum, access to internet-based platforms or other ancillary materials every educational institution participates in some manner of cyclic…

Language is central to education, being the core medium of instruction. Researchers and practitioners have long used manual methods to analyze instructional language like classroom discourse and instructional texts, with the goal of facilitating student-centered instruction. In this dissertation, I offer three studies demonstrating how natural…