The purpose of this research was to determine how an inquiry-based, whole-plant instructional strategy would affect preservice elementary teachers' understanding of plant science principles. This study probed: what preservice teachers know about plant biology concepts before and after instruction, their views of the interrelatedness of plant parts…

In an age of scientific method much of any individual's thinking is quantitative. He lives in a world in which every situation involves concepts of quantity, amount, size, or number. He employs number language, that is, number names and signs to express his quantitative ideas. These various number names and signs constitute the medium for his…

The 1990's have seen a nationwide development of initiatives designed to provide school-linked comprehensive services to children and families. The level of collaboration among schools and community-based agencies required by such initiatives is unprecedented and offers an opportunity for systemic changes in the way professionals, families, and…

The purpose of this study was to determine if an association existed between student achievement scores and classroom practices used among third-grade teachers in Upper East Tennessee. The variables included classroom environment, instructional context, and social context, employing developmentally appropriate practices (DAP). Teacher…

This dissertation examined the efficacy of using minimally trained college undergraduates to tutor third- through fifth-grade students with reading difficulties. Tutors receiving four hours of training in scripted reading program based on the principles of Direct Instruction and emphasizing explicit instruction in phonological awareness and…

The purpose of this study was to determine if there was any quantitative or qualitative evidence indicating a need for science curriculum review in aligning district outcomes with the New Hampshire State Science Frameworks. Also examined were such exogenous factors as teachers' perception, attitudes and background preparation pertaining to science…

The passage of the federal educational legislation, No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, established foreign languages as a core curricular content area. Nonetheless, educational policy makers at the state and local levels often opt to allocate greater resources and give instructional priority to content areas in which students, and ultimately the…

This study was designed to examine the associations and differences that exist in the NCE scores of students on the "Terranova" portion of the Tennessee Comprehensive Exam, as well as the possible influence of variables such as initial scores, grade level, gender, and free or reduced lunch status. The population consisted of a stable…