Language is a powerful tool authors use to construct meaning. To better meet the needs of their students, teachers need to learn about how language is used in text so that they can better help their students to comprehend the texts they read. This study investigated how a small group of pre-service teachers (PSTs) in an intermediate reading…

The purpose of this descriptive multiple case study was to examine the elementary education preparation programs of three universities, identifying essential components and features of each program, as well as across programs. As accountability and standards call for teacher preparation to take action and develop stronger programs, this study…

Students are not learning to read well in California public schools. This is particularly true for students in special education. If more of California's students in special education are to demonstrate literacy skills to state and national standards, it will require more of their teachers teaching those skills. With the plurality of California…

This dissertation uses the theoretical framework of Critical Whiteness Studies (CWS) across three discrete articles to examine teaching and teacher education. CWS offers a mechanism to highlight and critique the ways Whiteness operates within teaching and teacher education. Across the pieces, I argue that Whiteness is both pervasive and shifting…

At least one element of second language teacher education (L2TE) permeates contextual differences: reflection. Farrell (2012) suggests that the terms "reflection" and "reflective practice" are now mandatory terms used within in L2TE program curricula. Teacher learners (TLs) commonly engage in reflective assignments such as…

This dissertation examined possible factors that preservice teachers encounter during initial teacher preparation programs that may impact their attitudes towards the inclusion of students with disabilities in the general education classroom, their efficacy regarding teaching students with disabilities and their epistemological development. This…

The demographics of the education system are quickly shifting and demonstrating a significant increase in the number of English learners in schools. Due to the exponential growth across the country and the state of Texas, it is evident the linguistic diversity of students is an area of interest to educators and educator preparation programs.…

The purpose of this project was to determine if a self-directed, modern technology-based teaching method was as effective at teaching content as the traditional lecture and workbook teaching method. With the demographics of Living Word Baptist Church Elizabethtown being mostly Generation X and Millennials, it appeared prudent to tailor any teacher…

Research shows the number of paraprofessionals who provide support to students with exceptionalities is increasing (Data Accountability Center [DAC], 2010) and that special educators are becoming increasingly responsible for managing, training, and supervising paraprofessionals who support students with exceptionalities (Carlson, Brauen, Klein,…

Decades of scholarly work continue to document the marginalization of children from nondominant backgrounds in mathematics classrooms. Learning to equitably teach children from linguistically, ethnically, racially, and culturally diverse backgrounds remains a priority. This dissertation approaches this broader problem in society by understanding…

This study is primarily aimed to investigate beliefs and attitudes of Indonesian EFL preservice teachers toward the use of mobile devices such as smartphones or tablets for learning and instructional practice in Indonesia. Furthermore, this phenomenological study attempted to reveal the factors affecting these two constructs from 20 Indonesian EFL…

This dissertation examines the skills, knowledge, and support needs of novice and experienced Languages for Specific Purposes (LSP) teachers in higher education in the United States. Using a critical ecological approach (CEA) framework, it aims to contribute to the global growing body of research on LSP teacher preparation that has thus far…

Recent literature was reviewed to locate articles with perspectives and attitudes of cooperating teachers who work with preservice teachers at school sites in coordination with institutions that have teacher preparation programs in general and/or special education. The results showed an emphasis in reporting the external aspects of being a…

The following study examined the perceived developmental influence of the university supervisor-student teacher relationship during the student teaching phase of teacher preparation. Since the supervisor is viewed as the gatekeeper to eventual teacher certification and acts as an evaluator, mentor, and instructor (Borko & Mayfield, 1995;…

The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of first-year teachers regarding the use of Evidence-Based Practices (EBPs) within their teacher training programs. Participants in this study included 35 teachers from one of the 46 rural public-school districts in south-central Missouri. The 43 EBPs outlined in Robert Marzano's (2017)…