This three-paper self-study dissertation explored the process of becoming a teacher with a focus on the emotional dimensions of teaching. Becoming a teacher is a complex, emotionally demanding process (Kelchtermans & Deketelaere, 2016) and teachers' emotions impact student achievement, motivation, and well-being (Balanescu, 2019). While…

The purpose of this study was to examine the role of school background and school process in closing achievement gaps between White and non-White students in science. To answer the research questions, a series of two-level hierarchical linear models (HLM) was performed on the fourth-grade U.S. portion of the 2015 Trends in International…

Student' achievement in science can be affected by teacher subject matter knowledge, ineffective instructional methods, and lack of student engagement. Although all schools provide professional development opportunities, not all teachers choose to engage in a program that provides teaching and learning through experiential techniques for the…

An important educational goal for the next generation is the ability to think computationally. Cultivating K-12 students' computational thinking (CT) requires the capacity building of teachers through teacher development programs. However, if students' learning outcomes were not assessed, it is not known whether the enhancement of teacher capacity…

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore effective classroom practices that improve student academic outcomes from the perspective of 12 classroom teachers who were employed in five Wisconsin Title I Elementary Schools of Recognition at the time this study was conducted. The research question for this study was: Which classroom-based…

The purpose of this qualitative, descriptive study was to explore how general education teachers described their self-efficacy in teaching students with disabilities in the inclusive classroom in a single district in New Jersey. Bandura's social cognitive theory served as the theoretical framework for the study. Three research questions focused on…

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore the instructional practices of elementary English language learner (ELL) teachers and how those practices are perceived by the teachers to be aligned with improved ELL academic performance. The study is grounded in Ladson-Billings' theory of culturally relevant pedagogy, which holds…

This qualitative single-subject case study investigated teachers' perceptions of what motivates them to pursue professional development. The research focused on one school district in New Jersey with participants from elementary, middle, and high schools. The district administrator in charge of professional development was also interviewed.…

When the members of a team of educators are confident they have the ability to make a difference in a school, it can have a significant impact on school culture and achievement. In this article, the authors discuss the ways that collective efficacy (or its absence) manifests in a school and offer suggestions for leaders on how to develop it. Key…

Because of the increase of the rigor of state standards and of accountability, the Lincoln County School District sought to become a part of the state Teacher Leader Network during the 2016-2017 school year as a way to provide teachers best practices for improving the culture and climate of their schools, participating in collaborative…

School ratings are important factors for school accountability, accreditation, state and federal funding and impacts the community view on a school. This qualitative case study was designed to address Professional Learning Community (PLC) for a Title I school in need of improvement. The problem was the lack of teacher retention, and ability to…

Nationally, collective teacher efficacy (CTE) has been correlated with higher levels of student achievement. The problem addressed through this study was that local school district leaders have been unsuccessful in cultivating CTE through the district's collaborative planning process. Guided by the enabling conditions of CTE, the purpose of this…

Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) have been recognized as a promising infrastructure for teacher professional development and student achievement. There has been increasing research interest in PLCs outside mainstream Western contexts. Based on literature and documentary analysis, this paper outlines the historical development of PLCs in…

Designed to overcome a common barrier to successful implementation of school improvement efforts--entrenched belief systems--this book digs deeper into the power of collective efficacy. Teams with a strong sense of collective efficacy devise ways to make "what's supposed to work" actually work, and find ways to exercise control over…

As teachers and building leaders work to help increase student academic achievement, any strategy that will increase student achievement is worth exploring as an option for helping increase academic achievement. Bandura's theory of collective efficacy, in which individuals working together towards a common goal achieve more than if they were…