The present study investigated the effects of "Primarily Math", an inservice elementary mathematics specialist program. "Primarily Math" sought to augment the mathematical knowledge for teaching of kindergarten through third-grade teachers using a longitudinal multiple cohort design. Two sets of analyses were conducted. The…

This study explored how four elementary teachers assessed the developmental appropriateness and importance of nine nature of science (NOS) aspects after participating in a yearlong professional development program. A multiple-embedded case study design was employed. The primary data sources included (a) Views of Nature of Science Elementary School…

This study draws on data from a 10-month critical narrative inquiry of science teaching and learning in a third grade, dual language, integrated co-teaching classroom. The teachers were participants in a 14-week science professional development seminar that enrolled inservice and preservice teachers and focused on enhancing science teaching and…

Geocaching is an inquiry-based activity encouraging creativity, active learning, and real-world problem solving. As such, it is an educational opportunity for students in all grade levels. Educators benefit by observing students using higher-order thinking instead of rote learning offered by using traditional worksheets, tests, or quizzes. Also,…

This paper examines the impact of two approaches to teacher professional development in arts integration--a summer institute model and a model combining the summer institute with instructional coaching. In an experimental design, the intervention trained third and fourth grade teachers to integrate visual arts and theater into reading curriculum.…

The purpose of this study was to investigate the formal mathematics educational training of elementary grade teachers as well as their perceived levels of self-efficacy regarding the Georgia Performance Standards for mathematics. This study investigated 129 first through fifth grade teachers in Northeast Georgia. The researcher administered a…

This study examined the effects of peer coaching on mathematics teaching practices and teacher beliefs about their capacity to have an impact on student learning. Twelve teachers in grades 3 and 6 participated in a brief but intensive professional development program over six months. The program focused on effective mathematics teaching strategies…

Writing samples from third grade classrooms in one site of the National Head Start/Public School Transition Demonstration Project were examined using a process scoring scheme providing holistic, text-level, and sentence-level writing scores. The children in the Demonstration third grade classrooms (both Transition study and non-study children)…

As reformers urge elementary and secondary school teachers to teach mathematics in new ways that highlight problem solving and engage students in important mathematical ideas, researchers have been pointing out that few public school teachers know mathematics in the ways that they would need to know it in order to teach in these new ways. These…

Reform proposals for mathematics teaching and learning have clear implications for significant change in curriculum and in traditional teacher roles. One contribution to the reform effort was the SummerMath for Teachers program, an inservice program committed to helping teachers develop constructivist orientations to teaching and learning by…