This dissertation examines the skills, knowledge, and support needs of novice and experienced Languages for Specific Purposes (LSP) teachers in higher education in the United States. Using a critical ecological approach (CEA) framework, it aims to contribute to the global growing body of research on LSP teacher preparation that has thus far…

There is an increasing need for equitable instructional practices that support diverse student populations. Equitable and inclusive teaching involves cultivating awareness of the dynamics that shape classroom experiences and impact learning. It requires an honest review of structures and supports in place and a commitment to being responsive to…

Why don't most well-meaning efforts to improve teaching and grow key teachers' capacity to act as instructional leaders show success? Kenneth Baum and David Krulwich think they know why: While we set up "collaborative" procedures and meetings in which teachers work together to explore effective instruction--critical friends groups, data…

Using a case-study approach, the structures, interactions and cultures in four teaching groups at a New Zealand university are explored. The aim of the research is to better understand the potential of teaching groups for assisting academic development. To contextualize this work, the case-study outcomes are compared to research on microcultures.…

To make progress toward ambitious and equitable goals for students' mathematical development, teachers need opportunities to develop specialized ways of knowing mathematics such as mathematical knowledge for teaching (MKT) for their work with students in the classroom. Professional learning communities (PLCs) are a common model used to support…

Capstone projects serve as the centerpiece for an assessment system that values problem-solving and frames assessment as learning opportunities for students and teachers. Every January and May for one week, Chelsea High School, in Chelsea, Massachusetts, breaks from their traditional, four- periods-a-day bell schedule and the fast pace of a…

We introduce a new metric for interdisciplinarity, based on co-author publication history. A published article that has co-authors with quite different publication histories can be deemed relatively "interdisciplinary," in that the article reflects a convergence of previous research in distinct sets of publication outlets. In recent…

Collective efficacy refers to the shared perceptions of educators that, through their combined efforts, they can "organize and execute the courses of action required to have a positive effect on students" (Goddard, Hoy, & Hoy, 2004, p. 4). Tschannen-Moran and Barr (2004) expand on this definition, describing collective efficacy as…

This article addresses the issue of transition from secondary to post-secondary education through collaborative research with teachers from both levels. It takes into account implicit elements in this transition. Research on the transition in mathematics education tends to focus more on the tertiary level, studying difficulties encountered by…

Education reform is inevitable; however, the journey of reform must ensure that educators are equipped to meet the diverse needs of all children within the classrooms throughout. Data-driven decision making is going to be the driving force for making that happen. This mixed model research was designed to show how implementing data-driven…

The beliefs of teachers can not only influence practice, but can also influence the more informal decisions teachers make on a daily bases--including how they treat and interact with students in their classrooms and the greater school community. Brand new teachers commonly begin their first year of teaching with idealistic and hopeful…

Mathematical reasoning features in curriculum documents around the world, but is understood and enacted poorly by teachers in classrooms. We explore teachers' noticing of reasoning during observed lessons. Two teams of primary teachers in Canada and Australia worked to plan, deliver, and observe lessons intended to include reasoning. They observed…

Much has been written over the past two decades about the value of coaching to teachers' professional growth. Many authors recommend specific coaching models while others primarily make recommendations for building strong, trusting coaching relationships. However, many of these models assume a deficit-based approach to teacher development that…

Principals work within a complex context where multiple stakeholders make many competing demands of them. Chief among these demands includes district initiatives, which serve to create leadership expectations but often do not contain clear methods or practices for implementation. Additionally, demands of the local community and interests of…

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore perceptions of teacher competency among cooperating teachers and teacher candidates using co-teaching models. The high stakes of standardized testing and teacher effectiveness have added to the demands of educators in the field and the knowledge and skills required of novice teacher candidates.…