We share our experiences with the doctoral study process from the views of both students and professors. In a linear fashion, we offer our perspectives on the various decision points and pain points inherent in the modern doctoral dissertation, with an eye toward the strategies, resources, and personal touches that made it work. We conclude with…

This case study describes an action research project aimed at improving the writing skills of disadvantaged background students and first-generation immigrants at the elementary-school level. This research was based on the hypothesis that poor writing skills may have negative effects on the academic outcomes for disadvantaged background students…

This case study relates to my PhD research which I undertook at the University of Leeds between 1998 and 2003 to examine classroom interaction in second/foreign language classes. The aim was to analyze teacher and student talk to find out how communication takes place between a native speaker/non-native speaker teacher and limited proficiency…

In 2009, I began my journey to earn an EdD with determination and passion but found the road included twists and turns that required perseverance and patience. By examining middle school students' perceptions about the role their relationship with a teacher has in the learning process, I listened for elements of their experiences that might inform…

While few question the importance of teacher-student relationships, less is known regarding which aspects have the most impact on students. However, exploring these aspects requires distinct measures to assess the various domains of these relationships. Several years ago, we embarked on an endeavor to create a new survey instrument to measure…

In the course of a typical week of graduate study, which interactions with faculty are meaningful to students? Having previously studied meaningful academic relationships, we wanted to focus specifically on the incident level of interactions between students and faculty. We wanted to record not only the obviously significant conversations but also…

Studies that follow teachers for multiple years are unfortunately rare in educational research. To help "connect the dots" between teachers' participation in professional development meeting and student learning, I conducted a mixed-methods study that followed high school teachers in and out of a school-based professional development…

In this study, 11 doctoral students and I as the course instructor employed a narrative framework to uncover our perceived truths about our experiences as we interacted, studied, pondered, and journeyed through a qualitative research methods course. Data were my chronologically ordered notes documenting my thinking and perceptions about my…

This case presents a study of elementary pre-service teachers in the School of Education at Louisiana State University where the majority of the elementary education candidates are White, female, and from middle-income households, but are preparing to teach in public school districts that enroll students who are overwhelmingly poor and Black. This…

This case describes an observational video study of an upper elementary science classroom. Through our study, we explored the ways in which the role of a good science student is portrayed in the language used by students and their teacher. The analysis focused on probing how pronouns were used by students and teacher to position each other and…

Researchers studying complex phenomena with qualitative or mixed methods often triangulate findings (i.e., use multiple methods and sources of data that converge to support claims). When researchers have limited time and money, how is it possible to triangulate findings? This case addresses this question in the context of the researchers' efforts…

In 2002, I began a PhD program in curriculum and instruction to study second language literacy development, with a particular interest in students who don't speak English as their first language. Having been an elementary classroom teacher and English as a Second Language specialist, I became increasingly interested in how state mandates regarding…

In 2014, we embarked on a research agenda focused on raising up the voices of urban youth who had disengaged from school before graduating high school. The youth communicated events that not only contributed to their disengagement but also to a sense of mistrust for individuals in traditional "helping roles" (e.g., teachers or parents).…

Virtual Exchange (VE) is of great import to language and culture teachers and researchers but is also gaining popularity in other fields. However, around the world and in the Asia-Pacific region in particular, the number of exchanges is not high and the quality of those that exist needs to continue to improve. It is essential that the latest…

This case study reports on a doctoral research project conducted in a school using critical discourse analysis to examine the discourse of youth 'disaffection'. The study aimed to identify how some students acquired the label 'disaffected' and considered the extent to which the quality of relationships between teachers and students contributed to…