This phenomenological study investigated the lived experiences of how primary teachers (K-2) perceive and manage accountability pressures. Accountability pressures are the consequences of high-stakes and standardized testing. This can be overtly represented by inappropriately aligned standards or a fast-paced curriculum design to match tested…

The prevalence of autism is on the rise and this population of students is not academically thriving, thus leading to strained resources and more intervention services across the lifespan. The educational problem is that teachers report being ill-equipped to address the diverse academic needs of their students with autism. The purpose of this…

Purposeful play has many educational benefits that support the whole child. As academic rigor continues to rise, the need for developmentally appropriate practices that support both academic and social emotional learning increases. The purpose of this quantitative study was to understand principals' perceptions of the incorporation of purposeful…

The purpose of the current project is to explore ways to help older adults grow in their faith and live a life of discipleship. The subjects of the study are members of the Cornerstone Church. To do so, the researcher analyzed the current environment of the church and conducted surveys and interviews. The discipleship project with the elderly took…

Educational leaders and teachers interested in improving instructional practice in writing may want to consider examining what strategies are currently used by teachers who instruct students identified as economically disadvantaged. The present study used a single-site intrinsic case study design to examine Blue Creek High School, a school with an…

The purpose of this qualitative study was to gain understanding of how Midwestern kindergarten teachers use developmentally appropriate play-based practices to support the standards in their classrooms. Five participants were selected based on meeting the criteria of being a kindergarten teacher in a Midwestern school district who incorporates…

The purpose of this study was to determine current kindergarten teacher understandings of early phonics instruction and how teachers are meeting readers' early phonics needs during guided reading instruction. Using Vygotsky's (1979) social constructivist theory and Ehri's (1995) connectionist theory and by focusing on age-appropriate instruction,…

Incidences of school shootings have surged in the United States. The increases in school shootings and the implementation of active shooter drills in various formats in response to these incidences have been identified as causing psychological issues in many students, including fear, vicarious trauma, and anxiety, and as causing diminished…

Early childhood education is a dynamic field, constantly evolving with the introduction of new curriculums, initiatives and programs. The classroom teacher is the constant, providing essential early literacy instruction amidst all of these changes. Universal Pre-Kindergarten is a vital program that provides access to quality early childhood…

Statement of Purpose and Method of Study: This quantitative study aimed to investigate the influence of principal preparation on the leadership behaviors of elementary school principals who supervise, support, and evaluate prekindergarten teachers in Mississippi public schools. Specifically, the researcher sought to determine if statistically…

Despite changes in laws and access to education, individuals with disabilities continue to have fewer positive postsecondary outcomes than their non-disabled peers (Shogren et al., 2015). Negative secondary and postsecondary outcomes for individuals with disabilities include failure to graduate from high school, lack of postsecondary education,…

High-quality learning environments are critical to support students' learning and development. This study supported eight lead teachers of Starting Strong classrooms in four different early learning programs to try to improve teachers' knowledge, self-efficacy, and use of Developmentally Appropriate Practices (DAP) within their classrooms. Four…

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore how kindergarten teachers describe their use, as well as the effectiveness and value, of developmentally appropriate practices for teaching kindergarten curriculum in a mid-size urban school district in New Jersey. It was not known how kindergarten teachers describe their use, as…

The purpose of this study was to explore how middle school principals stay current with social media used by young adolescents. This study also explored middle school principals' developmentally responsive practices that guide young adolescent use of social media. Although middle school principals may believe their practices to be effective, these…

California's public-school system recently introduced another grade level, Transitional Kindergarten, as an opportunity to offer universal access to early education for all 4-year-olds. Elementary school teachers and administrators must be well prepared to support and education these young children. This dissertation focuses on four key principles…