The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions and beliefs of selected faculty members about parental involvement during students' academic experiences at a private, baccalaureate college. The study asked a single research question, "How do faculty members experience and understand parental involvement in their students' academic…

High school students are quickly approaching adulthood and face significant life events and societal problems that challenge their social and emotional well-being (SEW). This qualitative study investigated high school educators' perspective of student social-emotional wellness within a large Midwestern school district. Eight high school teachers…

Mindfulness-based training of educators in our schools is a necessary skill for the success of young children. As a professional educator and a parent of three children, my interest is in exploring this topic and uncovering the "why" behind student executive functioning skills and the mindfulness-based strategies incorporated into their…

The professional development process for counselors begins during their formal training and extends throughout their careers. Reflective thinking is closely connected with ongoing professional development. When counselors reflect on their experiences, they can generate new insights to shape future practice. Feedback is another important tool for…

How instructors teach argumentation and research skills influences students' epistemic development and performance on critical thinking tasks. Therefore, it was necessary to explore the existing beliefs, values, and knowledge of university instructors to inform future research, faculty support, and curriculum development on how to support these…

The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological study was to explore faculty perceptions of barriers to academic literacy development for Hispanic students at a small, rural school district in North Texas. Specifically, the researcher sought to investigate the perceptions of faculty regarding the barriers to Hispanic literacy development that…

Spatial skills, the set of cognitive skills that are responsible for our understanding of objects in real and imagined spaces, have been identified as a potential gate-keeper for STEM success. Because of the recent emphasis on improving education to prepare for the increasing demand for workers in STEM fields, there is a rising interest in…

The purpose of this study was to examine the phenomena of play by exploring kindergarten teachers' perceptions of play, specifically investigating teachers' perspectives on the importance of play, the role of the educator in play, and the changing face of play in response to evolving academic standards. This study utilized the qualitative approach…

The overarching purpose of this research study was to develop a broader understanding of various forms of civic learning and democratic engagement activities that foster a student's development of civic-mindedness and their intentions for future civic participation. The goal of the research was to understand civic-mindedness through the lens of…

Teachers in my school district observed students struggling with their social and emotional skills in the classroom and on the playground; therefore, a group of teachers and administrators began to search for programs to help the school district strengthen student social and emotional skills prior to the COVID-19 global pandemic. The team…

Attending to students' mathematics identities is necessary to provide all students with the opportunity to learn mathematics. Studies of students' mathematics identities must consider the context of the mathematics classroom. My overarching research question was, "How does the teacher to student discourse that takes place in rural, secondary…

Special education teachers who provide educational opportunities for students in low-incidence programs within a Southern urban public school system in the United States faced challenges when trying to promote independence. The purpose of this project study was to understand the perceptions of teachers and the approaches they seek to best support…

The purpose of the study was to investigate alumni's and educators' perceptions of the ways social-emotional learning, as embedded through arts education, has influenced the post-secondary lives of high school students. While time constraints, differing values of stakeholders, and budgetary restrictions continue to challenge the role of…

Noncognitive factors, such as persevering, having grit and self-control, using metacognition and setting goals, and exhibiting a growth mindset, are considered intrapersonal characteristics necessary for lifelong success both in and out of school. However, most U.S. elementary schools do not concentrate specifically on developing most noncognitive…

Approximately 883 colleges and universities in the United States evidence connections to specific religious traditions. Yet, according to the literature, a perceived tension exists between faith and the contemporary academy, such that many universities that were founded as religiously affiliated institutions no longer retain their religious…