In the U.S., state guidance to schools in response to the COVID-19 pandemic was politicized. We used state-level political affiliation to explore whether access to curricular resources differed pre-pandemic or during pandemic remote teaching and teachers' reported control over curricular resources during pandemic teaching. We found that…

A mixed-methods study was conducted to investigate Idaho's elementary school teachers' perceptions of the Idaho Evaluation Model as a motivator for teachers to improve their instructional practice, and to determine if teachers' experience level impacts these perceptions. The quantitative data was obtained from 157 Idaho kindergarten through…

Classroom-based physical activity (CBPA) can significantly benefit students' health and educational outcomes, but many teachers do not utilize CBPA. This study examined teachers' perceptions about the value and impact of several approaches to support CBPA implementation, and teachers' weekly self-reported CBPA use. Interviews were conducted with…

This study describes the development of a special education teacher observation protocol detailing the elements of effective decoding instruction. The psychometric properties of the protocol were investigated through many-facet Rasch measurement (MFRM). Video observations of classroom decoding instruction from 20 special education teachers across…

As part of a 12-state nationwide study, elementary teachers in small-town and rural Idaho were surveyed regarding their actual use of differentiation versus their desired use of differentiation in the classroom across five teaching-learning behaviors: classroom expectations of students; student objectives; student evaluations; teacher…

The purpose of the qualitative explanatory case study was to identify the barriers teachers encounter when integrating technology in the classroom. Twelve, Kindergarten-Grade 12 teachers working in the Lakeland Joint School District 272 and the Coeur d'Alene Public schools took part in the study. Study participants completed one questionnaire.…

More sustainable environmental behavior and management is necessary if we are to sustain human well-being; however, current educational practices are not well aligned to support the development of environmentally informed citizens, including adequate teacher preparation. Classroom teachers are in a unique position to develop student skills and…

This paper describes the effects of a professional development (PD) program--Developing Mathematical Thinking--on student achievement. Six Title I elementary schools with similar demographics, within one school district, were chosen to participate as either a treatment or comparison school. Three schools were chosen to participate in professional…

The focus of this research is bridging the achievement gap for students living in poverty through quality education. Such a study is important because the percentage of students affected by poverty is increasing and the persistent gap in achievement evidences that the right to quality education for students in poverty is not being met. This is…

Culturally responsive teaching (CRT) is a set of practices designed to build on students' cultural and linguistic backgrounds as teaching and learning occur. Although CRT can have positive effects on student outcomes, little research has examined teachers' self-efficacy to implement CRT practices. Using the Culturally Responsive Teaching…

Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professional development for K-5 teachers often includes engineering design as a focus. Because engineering applications provide perspective to both teachers and their students in terms of how mathematic and scientific principles are employed to solve real-world problems (Baine, 2004; Roden,…

Decreasing funding for staff and increasing expectations for teachers place additional pressure on schools to hire and retain the highest quality teachers. Recent studies have identified effective strategies for teaching, but little research has been conducted to identify those innate characteristics or talents unique to effective teachers. The…

The purpose of this article is to explore the concept of empowerment, reframing it in critical terms and in a precise and useful way. I approach this exploration through two participatory action research studies. "Why are our teachers racist?" took place over an 18-month period from 2012 to 2014 at a mid-sized high school in a rural…

The arrival of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) marks a new era in science education. However, like all education reform, the success of NGSS implementation lies with teachers. Effective and targeted professional development will play a key role in preparing teachers who work from the framework. This study sought to design and validate…

Recent literature indicates that low percentages of Idaho adolescents report being physically active on a daily basis. Research examines school PA, however, little focuses on Comprehensive School Physical Activity Programs (CSPAPs) from the perspectives of physical educators. This study explored Idaho physical educators' perceptions and…