Research literature focused on Black boys along the K-6 pathway objectifies them and results in their developmental capabilities and capacities being ignored while their acts of self-definition are impeded. This is evidenced by researchers solely focusing upon external factors and/or using adult-completed surveys and datasets as sources for data.…

This dissertation is comprised of two manuscripts resulting from a single study, which examines a) the types of graphics that appear, and in what frequencies, in children's informational texts, and b) the defining features of different graphics. Graphics are ubiquitous in children's informational texts and a lot is known about the impact…

Educators have been challenged for many years to engage their students, but often students still seem to be disengaged (Klem & Connell, 2004). Research indicates student engagement is critical to student achievement and success in school (Appleton, 2008; Connell, Spencer, & Aber, 1994; Easton, 2008; Fredricks, Blumenfeld, & Paris,…

This content analysis examined illustrations (n =3,357) in the core lessons of four top-selling publishers' social studies textbooks, grades one through three. The graphical (n =556) and pictorial (n =2801) displays were coded for typology, explanation (labels or captions), referential text connection, location of referential connection, function…

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore why some low-income minority students were academically successful in school using a three-tiered approach to research including individual student interviews, classroom observations, and photographs and follow up interviews on photographs to identify factors contributing to academic…