In today's rapidly evolving technological landscape, digital literacy has become a fundamental skill for active participation in society. Maine's public libraries recognize this reality and have taken steps to provide digital literacy education to their communities. However, these efforts are hindered by a lack of resources necessary to meet the…

Building upon the foundational Home Literacy Environment (HLE) model, this study developed a contemporary framework that integrates digital literacy practices and the emerging role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies, such as ChatGPT, alongside traditional literacy activities. Utilizing hierarchical linear regressions, findings from 74…

The acquisition of reading skills is a critical component of early education in the United States, beginning with the introduction of pre-literacy skills to children as young as pre-school age. Students are tasked with developing the ability to decode and comprehend text across various subject areas. However, national reading data indicates that a…

This mixed-methods explanatory sequential study of K-6 classroom teachers and education technology leaders (ETLs) examined their technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK) and awareness of New York State's Computer Science and Digital Fluency (NYS-CS/DF) Learning Standards. Combined, the findings provide guidance for a successful rollout…

Providing early literacy training for children is a vital part of establishing the foundation for the learning they will do for the rest of their lives, so it is important that we do the right work from the start. Unfortunately, too many children are still reading below grade level by third grade, and instead of reading to learn new materials,…

This mixed-methods study examined caregiver engagement with literacy resources provided by the Governor's Early Literacy Foundation (GELF) in Tennessee. The research was rooted in Epstein et al.'s types of parental involvement, Hoover-Dempsey's parental involvement process model, and Gonzalez et al.'s funds of knowledge framework. The study…

This study explores university-based teacher educators' and undergraduate students' engagement with literacy coursework that meets the requirements of state accreditation while also developing instructional practices that honor the languages and literacies of racially, culturally, and linguistically diverse children. In this dissertation, the…

The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate the alignment of teacher preparation program courses on effectively teaching early literacy skills to best practices in foundational literacy instruction. This study identified current best practices for instruction on foundational literacy skills and compared course syllabi provided by…

Visual-spatial literacy is an essential component to developing STEM literacy, which is a primary focus of the three-dimensional Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) framework for science education. Because scientific data is frequently communicated through visual representations, it is important for members of the current science and…

This research investigated how a Critical Sociocultural Linguistics Literacy (CriSoLL) approach to authentic materials supports student literacy in a mixed Spanish heritage language (SHL) and additional language (L2) Spanish intermediate course at the university level. Using a qualitative approach (Cho, 2018; Esposito & Evans-Winters, 2021)…

Instructional coaches are facing challenges as they support our schools with the implementation of evidence-based practices. Tasked with helping teachers address learning gaps after the pandemic, coupled with providing general support to schools, coaches have a challenging workload. This study undertook a rigorous intervention designed to improve…

The problem addressed in this study was that many urban minority students in a Midwestern state begin school without the requisite emergent literacy skills. The purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore the instructional approaches used by early childhood education (ECE) teachers in an urban community in a selected Midwestern…

The purpose of this study was to gain insight into how elementary school leaders work collaboratively to foster Science of Reading instructional strategies to enhance early literacy. A multiple case study design was implemented whereby six elementary schools in the metro Birmingham area were purposely selected based on their documented increases…

This dissertation examines how first-grade children, as a community of learners, used technology in meaningful and authentic ways within their everyday literacy practices. Two research questions were posited: What are the literacy practices of first graders as they use digital technologies within their everyday community of learners; and how do…

This research project employs a case study design to examine how K-6 non-computer science (CS) trained teachers can be effectively prepared to teach CS, metaphorically unmasking hidden superheroes in the education system. Grounded in the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework, the study also integrates Bandura's Theory of…