Mathematical learning has an important role and is often prioritized in education. In K-16 education, algebra is one of the most vital mathematical content domains: it represents one of the top barriers for students pursuing a postsecondary education. Game-based learning has been effective in fostering classroom math learning environments that are…

This study examines the impact of an online math learning program on third through fifth grade math achievement in Louisiana. Employing Zearn Math usage metrics and administrative data from the Louisiana Department of Education, the results indicate that grade levels that programmatically used Zearn Math scored, on average, about .03 standard…

Early mathematics achievement is a strong predictor of later mathematics achievement, and student competence in fractions and division may be the strongest predictor of success in secondary-level algebra. We used a multisite cluster-randomized trial to estimate the impact of a mathematics teacher professional development (PD) program on student…

SARS-C0V-2, a coronavirus identified in 2019, was the cause of COVID-19, a respiratory illness that became a pandemic worldwide. The COVID-19 pandemic abruptly altered traditional in-person learning in Spring 2020, affecting educational systems across the globe. This resulted in school and university closures in the United States and disruptions…

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…

This research study focused on the effects of departmentalization in the elementary school setting. Previous research on the topic of departmentalization in elementary school settings presented inconclusive results. The purpose of this study was to collect and analyze data from self-contained and departmentalized classrooms in fourth and fifth…

Motivation is known to fluctuate, often declining, over time. Research on how motivation changes across school years is ubiquitous, yet little research examines changes in motivation within one school year. In this study, we model how third- through fifth-grade students' mathematics motivation (i.e., expectancies and values) changes over two years…

In this paper we consider how the integration of mobile technology apps into classroom practice can form an alternative pedagogical medium that influences the learning process in mathematics. We give an account of one aspect of a research project that examined the use of tablets and apps in primary school mathematics programmes and report teacher…

This dissertation is a mixed-methods study designed to examine relationships among the following constructs: teacher self-efficacy, teacher-student relationships, trust, student engagement, and student social capital. A conceptual framework was created in reference to the literature relating to each primary construct. Furthermore, six research…

Boys and girls sit together in most classrooms, but do they interact? Based on 40-year-old evidence, coeducational classes may not be coeducational but instead segregated by gender, which may undermine student success. Our goal is to answer this question in today's classrooms. We used longitudinal data to assess gender segregation in 26 classes in…

With accelerating advances in artificial intelligence, it is clear that introducing K-12 students to AI is essential for preparation to interact with and potentially develop AI technologies. To succeed as the workers, creators, and innovators of the future, we argue students should encounter core concepts of AI as early as elementary school.…

There is currently limited research detailing the effects of teacher greetings on increasing on-task behavior at a class-wide level in the general education setting. Teacher greetings are used as a feasible and effective classroom management strategy to improve rapport between students and teachers, increase on-task behavior, and reduce disruptive…

This quantitative study sought to identify the impact of a mathematics curriculum that does not incorporate homework on mathematics achievement. Based on recent standardized testing data, educational practices must be examined to improve mathematics results. This study focused on one district setting that at the start of the 2023 school year…

Teachers are subject to multiple stressors in their profession and often experience significant distress, which has been found to be linked with harsh and punitive behaviors. These behaviors have been found to influence students negatively, particularly those with vulnerable temperaments. Prior research has also found such negative teacher…

With the 2015 change in science standards to align more closely with the Next Generation Science Standards, as the district STEM coach, I saw a need for professional development that addressed the lack of understanding and skill needed to teach the Science and Engineering Practices, specifically the practice of Scientific Augmentation. This…