Professional learning communities (PLCs) are gaining more popularity in education, as a result, professional learning centered around adoption of PLCs is abundant. The aim of this research project is to gain a deeper understanding of how teachers' perceptions of professional learning influence their willingness to implement a school initiative,…

The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore the decision-making process of a group of core elementary teachers in Illinois Metro East districts around attending professional development. 10 teachers from two Metro East districts were interviewed about their motivations, choices, and factors when considering what professional development to…

Teachers are responsible for providing opportunities to use learning strategies in the classroom. The students' engagement shows an observable reflection of the educator's teaching practice. This qualitative case study highlights teachers' perceptions of student engagement in the urban elementary classroom. The research questions asked about…

Teachers today feel pressure to maximize student engagement and learning. With an increased focus on student scores on end of grade test measures and their association with school performance grades, educators are forced to consider how to yield results. Limiting the disruptions and distractions throughout the school day shifts the focus to…

This dissertation was designed to better understand the perceptions of elementary teachers that use a digital platform to implement STEM. There was limited information about how and why elementary teachers lack the pedagogical practice and instructional tools needed to implement STEM in elementary school. In addition, the idea of STEM education is…

To meet the demand for STEM-literate workers, elementary and secondary schools are integrating STEM curriculum and pedagogy into their daily routines. According to the National Academy of Engineering and National Research Council (2014), STEM literacy entails understanding the roles of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in modern…

The purpose of this study was to engage veteran mentor teachers in a professional development experience through the use of stimulated video recall (SVR) sessions to explore and enhance mentor teacher learning processes and outcomes during a student teaching practicum in an elementary school context. The concept of "mentors as learners"…

The purpose of this capstone was to investigate how the experiences and attitudes of educators at international schools and how they impact their perceptions of inclusive education. In this mixed methods study, 52 elementary teachers at an international school in China were surveyed on their demographics, attitudes, and experiences with inclusion…

There are very few Black male educators who work in the elementary setting. In fact, most Americans will never experience having a Black male as a teacher during those formative years. Existing research around Black male educators heavily revolves around why Black men do not become educators, but there is little research on the motivations for why…

This study aimed to identify the perceptions of differentiated mathematics instruction among educators in an inner-city tutoring program. The researcher conducted this study in a private tutoring program that works with a Title 1, struggling school in a large metropolitan city. Qualitative research methods were applied to identify perceptions…

This report describes a problem based learning project examining the roles and responsibilities of teachers in building parent engagement, the training elementary teachers within the Archdiocese of St. Louis have had regarding these roles and responsibilities and the perceived adequacy of the training they have received regarding these roles and…

This report describes a problem based learning project examining the roles and responsibilities of teachers in building parent engagement, the training elementary teachers within the Archdiocese of St. Louis have had regarding these roles and responsibilities and the perceived adequacy of the training they have received regarding these roles and…

In 2018, the elementary school where I serve as an instructional interventionist adopted a data-based multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS). Although our process has evolved over the years, I saw room for improvement. Therefore, the purpose of this action research study was to improve the MTSS process at my school, specifically by addressing…

The purpose of this study was to examine the current state of literacy coaching in Florida elementary schools and contribute its findings to the growing body of research associated with the position. Research to date demonstrates how this position holds potential for bridging the gap between teachers' knowledge and teachers' instructional…

Music education does not look the same in Hawai?i as in other states or parts of the world. This study paints a picture of the range of elementary music teacher positions in O?ahu schools and identifies the current needs of music educators. How are O?ahu elementary music teachers prepared to fulfill their professional roles and responsibilities?…