This mixed methods investigation sought to explore the effectiveness of a stuttering training module with preservice teachers. Stigmatizing attitudes about people who stutter (PWS) have been found not only in society at large, but also in specific groups including teachers. Misinformation about stuttering in educators can render early experiences…

Diversity is now an essential matter in US public schools. For the first time in America's history, students of color will constitute a majority of the public school enrollment; on the other hand, most early childhood and elementary teachers remain monolingual, white, middle-class females (Hussar & Bailey, 2019). The demographic mismatch…

Preservice educators are required to enroll in multiple methods courses to prepare them to effectively teach content to students. With the increase of online teacher preparation programs, methods courses are also being offered virtually. This study sought to investigate the overall attitudes, beliefs, and preparedness of candidates after…

This arts-based dissertation explored elementary preservice teachers (PST) beliefs around arts integration and how they plan and teach arts-integrated lessons during the Spring 2023 semester. Through an arts integration professional learning experience and study underpinned by Weems' Imagination-Intellect Theory (2002), the study analyzed two…

This qualitative study explored how a group of preservice elementary teachers conceptualized social issues and social action and how their conceptions were reflected in their ideas for teaching about social issues and action. This study utilized individual and focus group interviews, class observations, and class artifacts as data points. Using a…

A strong sense of identity and belonging in different communities can help mathematics teachers have more confidence in their first years of teaching and help their students have positive experiences in the mathematics classroom as well. My qualitative study sought to investigate identity formation within the context of preservice and early career…

This paper presents findings on research-based interventions that were employed as part of a semester-long PDSA (Plan-Do-Study-Act) cycle at Davis & Elkins College (D&E) aimed at decreasing math anxiety while increasing student achievement on high-stakes standardized assessments with a focus on growth mindset and productive struggle. Based…

This narrative inquiry study explored how emerging elementary educators perceived their understanding of mathematics learning and teaching as they became elementary educators. The study considered how past experiences influenced emerging educators' frames of reference as they began to teach elementary mathematics. Methods consisted of individual…

Students with disabilities and/or those who have difficulty learning mathematical concepts can be found in almost every classroom. Over the last several decades, the responsibilities and roles of general and special education educators have shifted, blurring the conventionally held boundaries between special education and general education…

Recently, the United States Department of Education and the main accreditation body of teacher education in the US have called for new teachers to be prepared to effectively use technology upon graduation. To accomplish this, the literature emphasizes targeting their beliefs about technology's value and their abilities to use it. Until now,…

Self-Determination Theory (Ryan & Deci, 1985, 2018) suggests that teachers' autonomy support and control practices (i.e., motivate students through internal motivational resources or through external pressure and control) directly impact student motivation, achievement, and well-being (Ryan & Deci, 2018). To prepare future teachers who…

This mixed methods study examined how preservice teachers developed awareness and beliefs about design features and academic language features when choosing and evaluating digital math games for English language learners. The overarching research question for this study was, "How do preservice teachers develop awareness and beliefs about…

The subject of teacher identity is problematized by a number of factors and is compounded by its relationship to various constructs, including liminality. To further explore the process of teacher identity development in preservice teachers, this interpretive case study addresses what the contribution of liminal experiences are to teacher identity…

Mathematics education reform documents consider mathematical mistakes to be vital for the teaching and learning of mathematics. Additionally, mathematical mistakes are viewed as opportunities for learning and catalysts for discussion. However, research has demonstrated that some teachers do not see mathematical mistakes as productive for learning…

Within this study, I explored English language arts (ELA) pre-service teachers' (PST) language beliefs, specifically the ways in which they align with and diverge from the standard language ideology (SLI) beliefs laid out in the language subordination model (LSM) (Lippi-Green, 2012). The participants were ELA PSTs in both middle grades and high…