Since 2016, third to fifth-grade students at a Title I elementary school have not met adequate yearly progress because 70% of students have not scored proficient on the end-of-grade mathematics assessment. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the instructional approaches that elementary school teachers use to teach mathematics…

Teachers in preschools and schools have a central role in detecting children at risk of maltreatment. The aim of this study was to provide a longitudinal understanding of teachers' temporary and prolonged concerns for children's home situations (CCHS), from preschool (age 3-5 years) to year 1-3 of elementary school (age 8-10 years). Teacher- and…

Given the dearth of technically adequate universal screening tools in the Greek language, the current study sought to examine the psychometric properties of a 67-item universal screener (i.e. Integrated Teacher Rating Form; ITRF), that was originally developed in American English and then translated and implemented in Greek primary schools. The…

Early numeracy skills are vital for kindergarten students because they provide the foundation for acquiring mathematics skills in both kindergarten and subsequent years. Teacher support to intervene on kindergarteners at-risk for poor mathematics learning outcomes is a promising approach to address this achievement gap. The current study…

Behavior specific praise (BSP) is widely regarded as an evidence-based classroom management strategy, with decades of research supporting its use. However, relatively few studies have examined the effect of BSP as a "targeted" intervention strategy, particularly for traditionally underrepresented students. The present study evaluated the…

The purpose of the qualitative descriptive study was to understand how teachers describe the affect violence has on student learning in the classroom when students attend an elementary school within the Detroit Metropolitan area where there is a high incidence of neighborhood violence. The theoretical foundation used was the environmental learning…

Systematic direct observations (SDOs) and behavior rating scales are integral to multimethod behavioral assessment approaches. The present study investigated the convergent validity of the Behavior Observation of Students in Schools (BOSS) form, a widely utilized SDO system, with the most frequently used teacher rating scales in schools, the…

Evidence-based programs (EBPs) delivered in elementary schools show great promise in reducing risk for emotional and behavioral disorders (EBDs). However, efforts to sustain EBPs in school face barriers. Improving EBP sustainment thus represents a priority, but little research exists to inform the development of sustainment strategies. To address…

Background/Context: Funders, researchers and developers share an interest in applying rapid cycle evaluation techniques in education (McNall & Foster-Fishman, 2007; Resch, 2016). Both rapid-cycle and other evaluation processes require monitoring the quality of implementation (Moir, 2018). By quickly monitoring and adjusting implementation,…

In 2013, a school district located in the northeastern region of the US implemented the Reading Street Common Core Program (RS), a highly structured and scripted reading program. The problem was that the program had an uneven effect on elementary level student reading achievement at Title 1 schools in the district. This qualitative case study…

The social climate in the classroom can impact students' mental well-being, behaviour and peer-learning opportunities. This article describes one way that elementary teachers can understand students' social networks using a sociogram. Findings show variation in classroom cohesion and reveal groups of students who are at higher risk of social…

When Dr. Tina Lupton and Dr. Timisha Barnes-Jones joined the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, Opportunity Culture implementation was happening in the midst of COVID. Lupton, the executive director of professional learning, and Barnes-Jones, the area superintendent for a network of 15 transformation schools, used their experience in other…

Systematic direct observations (SDOs) and behavior rating scales are integral to multimethod behavioral assessment approaches. The present study investigated the convergent validity of the Behavior Observation of Students in Schools (BOSS) form, a widely utilized SDO system, with the most frequently used teacher rating scales in schools, the…

This study aimed to identify teachers' perceptions about alternative education programs and whether they are appropriate to meet the needs of at-risk students in Grades 3-5. The teachers' perception provides insight into the needs of at-risk students in the age group. Moreover, the demand for elementary education following the COVID-19 pandemic…

Scholars have spent decades trying to determine the cause and solution to an overwhelming issue called the achievement gap. The achievement gap refers to the gaps in academic achievement among certain subgroups of students. One of the most prevalent determiners between those who achieve academic success and those who do not is race. The majority…