Over the past two decades, U.S. states have widely adopted early literacy policies. These policies have shown short-term success in enhancing K-3 literacy skills. However, the reasons behind their widespread adoption and the factors driving their success are poorly understood. This three-paper dissertation focuses on Michigan's Read by Grade Three…

There is a lack of research on the parental involvement of urban African Americans with their children's summer break activity. Research shows that the learning gap between White and Black students widens each year after summer break from school. This systemic problem indicates academic failure, increased school dropout rates, and the potential…

The problem investigated in this study was decreasing annual reading proficiency among students in intermediate elementary grades (Grades 3-5). Deficiencies in reading proficiency can negatively impact overall student achievement. The purpose of this study was to investigate intermediate elementary teachers' perceptions of their instructional…

As the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in American children has increased over the past decade, many local and state agencies are seeking avenues to become more efficient in the type of training services they offer. One such training is referred as Autism Parent Training (APT). The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship…

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to better understand the resilience-building experiences of traditional incoming college students through semi-structured interviews. The study sought to identify themes or vulnerability factors associated with the phenomenon described as low resilience in this population. This study was…

Parenting stress not only correlates with child behavioral and emotional problems, it is also a risk factor for child abuse, child psychopathology, and students dropping out of school. Although in-person mindfulness programs have shown significant effects in decreasing parenting stress, the time and cost demands for participants may serve as…

As the share of young adults enrolled in four-year colleges has increased, first-generation college students have become a population of particular interest. First-generation college students, those whose parents have not attained a bachelor's degree, experience unique challenges and rewards throughout their journeys in higher education. Research…

This study explored the strategies used by student assistance counselors to build upon the strengths of children of substance-abusing parents. Before this study, strengths-based strategies used by student assistance counselors had yet to be explored. This qualitative phenomenological study examined participants' strategies, how they chose…

Understanding the nature of creativity and enhancing creative engineering practices, particularly within families, in making and tinkering learning settings has become an area that needs further research. In this dissertation, I developed Distributed Creativity across Everyday Expertise Framework to explore how families' sociomaterial experiences…

Parents are a child's first teachers. They are responsible for building children's social, emotional, physical, and intellectual foundations. The problem investigated through this dissertation case study was the inconsistent knowledge of child development and developmentally appropriate activities among parents of young and primary school aged…

The present study explored the learning challenges that African American female students experience in their algebra or biology courses. Existing literature does not fully explore this subject, as studies are often inclusive of all races (i.e., all girls in science, technology, engineering, or math [STEM] fields) or all genders (i.e., all Black…

In this study, the relationships between parental bonding, racial and ethnic identity, stress, and resilience were examined with respect to college adjustment across four domains: academic, social, personal-emotional, and institutional attachment. Participants included a sample of 152 Black/African American, Hispanic/Latinx, and White…

This dissertation focuses on children experiencing homelessness and the effects homelessness has on their academic achievement from the perspective of the children, their parents, and local homeless liaisons. More importantly, this research explores what educators can do to create a positive, supportive, and stable environment at school for…

There has been limited research on interventions with young children encompassing "interoceptive awareness," the awareness and perception of sensations from inside the body. The information in this phenomenological study examines how participants experienced a bidirectional, reflective, online intervention program on interoceptive…

In language learning, aided language modeling refers to the method by which communication partners provide models of the communication system used by individuals with complex communication repertoires that involving both symbols and speech. Providing aided language models creates opportunities for individuals with complex communication repertoires…