Math anxiety is a problem in the United States which impacts 93% of the population including elementary teachers. Since elementary teachers can pass their math anxiety onto their students, it is important that they reduce their own math anxiety. If time were taken to develop the math identity of elementary school teachers, would it reduce math…

The virtual school board (VSB) offers teachers a browser-based platform to support a multilevel, evidence-based educational plan. The present study examines teachers' use of the VSB. Based on technology acceptance model (TAM), 17 teachers from nine schools were interviewed about their use of the VSB. The evaluation was based on qualitative content…

Background: Decades of research demonstrating the critical role of executive function (EF) and other regulation-related skills on children's short- and long-term outcomes has generated interest in measuring and cultivating these critical skills in early childhood and elementary school children (e.g., Bull et al., 2008; Moffitt et al., 2011). Most…

The construct of growth mindset has become an increasing focus of educators as they seek ways to promote goal attainment among students. The growth mindset framework suggests that attributes such as high performance, skill development, and ability can be developed through motivation, sustained effort, and grit. Allowing for the possibility of…

States, districts, and schools are seeking ways to ensure teachers remain in the profession. It is more common than ever for a novice teacher to leave the profession within 5 years. Therefore, building a strong teacher self-efficacy is critical to developing and retaining novice teachers. This study examined how teacher self-efficacy fluctuated…

There is an unknown trust relationship between teachers and administrative leaders in a Kindergarten through sixth-grade educational setting, particularly about the actions and behaviors of administrative leaders that lead to an increase or decrease in perceptions of trust in their teachers or followers. The purpose of this qualitative narrative…

This study utilized constructivist grounded theory to examine teacher candidates' STEM confidence, preparedness, and self-efficacy before and after participation in an elementary STEM methods course. The study aimed to identify characteristics of the course that impacted teacher candidates' growth. Twenty teacher candidates and the course…

The current longitudinal, mixed-methods dissertation explored how various Family Language Policy (FLP) factors (including parent and child language ideologies, practices, and management) influence "Español"-English (hereafter, "Españ"Eng) bilingual students' home language maintenance/loss and their bilingual development.…

During the COVID-19 pandemic, schools across the United States were closed for a significant period of time. During this closure, schools moved to a remote format and teachers tried to educate students to the best of their abilities. School principals had to be the glue that held the school together. This study was designed to examine principal…

As education evolves, stakeholders are looking for new ways of approaching differentiation of instruction and student engagement in learning tasks. The problem addressed in this study was the struggle teachers face to ensure all students successfully meet learning outcomes given the various learning abilities and performance levels. The purpose of…

Learning opportunities and academic achievement of English learners (ELs) continue to receive spotlight in the field. However, research in "new destination states" (e.g., Tennessee, Virginia)--where schools are experiencing unprecedented growth in ELs--remains limited. Additionally, subgroups within the EL population warrant further…

This dissertation is presented in a journal-ready format and aims to inform professional development designed to support blended teaching. The first is a qualitative study of the practices of secondary educators currently using blended teaching strategies. Thematic analysis of the interviews identified activities teachers use in the online space…

This modified e-Delphi study sought to gain consensus from a group of K-12 educational professionals on the intersection between essential components of connectivism, the next-generation digital learning environment, and the substitution, augmentation, modification, and redefinition model. Twelve participants, each having a minimum of five years…

Educational technology has shown an increase in use over the years as a method of remediating student academic deficits. While educational technology demonstrates various benefits for students in schools, there is still limited research depicting what amount of intervention students should receive through educational technology. To ensure schools…

Schooling, socioeconomic status (SES), and genetics all impact intelligence. However, it is unclear to what extent their contributions are unique and if they interact. Here we used a multi-trait polygenic score for cognition (cogPGS) with a quasi-experimental regression discontinuity design to isolate how months of schooling relate to intelligence…