Though it is widely acknowledged that teachers' knowledge of mathematics is a cornerstone on which their instructional practices are based, little research exists documenting the impact of changes in teachers' mathematical content knowledge on their teaching practices. As proving is a central activity in the study of mathematics, a teacher's proof…

This study sought to understand the process of change elementary teachers experienced as they participated in mathematics professional development. This investigation explored the impact of mathematics professional development on teachers' content knowledge for teaching, their ability to implement innovative pedagogical practices, and the…

The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to determine how and to what extent educational programming affects the success of middle school students experiencing the contemporary phenomenon identified as gifted learning disabled (GLD). The research took place within the real-life context of the middle school these GLD students attended.…

The purpose of this study was to take an exploratory look at how university teachers come to understand their experience in educational practice and their professional role as teachers who integrate instructional technology into their coursework using the framework provided by Wenger's Social Theory of Learning. University faculty who teach in a…

In the United States, effective reading instruction has been a research priority from the federal to the local level. There is increased awareness on early literacy instruction in high-quality early childhood environments, with specific focus on advanced teacher preparation and professional development for early childhood educators. The purpose of…

Using relational and action oriented qualitative modes of inquiry (Cochran-Smith & Lytle, 2009; Gilligan, Spencer, Weinberg, & Bertsch, 2003; Raider-Roth, 2005), this research explores the trajectory of five veteran teachers' practice over two years. The participants were part of a group of teachers involved in an intensive Summer Teachers…

School systems must undertake change to facilitate student achievement. Teachers who serve as resources for teachers and administrators, the teacher specialists, are being used by some school systems to implement change despite a deficit of professional studies exploring their effectiveness for this purpose. This mixed methods case study utilized…

This study was an investigation of mathematics instruction and professional development at a rural elementary school. The Department of Education in a southern U.S. state implemented a new curriculum in 2007 that required major changes in mathematics instruction. The problems were that teachers engaged in different levels of training and many…

Featured prominently in recent federal education regulations, the term "job-embedded professional development" has come into increasingly common usage for more than a decade, yet rarely is it explicitly defined. But what exactly is job-embedded professional development? What types of teacher learning opportunities count as being job…

The need for sustainable, meaningful teacher professional development to support the rising professional demands remains an on-going challenge for education. The use of current technologies, such as online learning systems, to leverage the development of learning communities, including communities of practice (CoPs), where teachers with a common…

The purpose of this qualitative case study research was to ascertain the significance of the professional development programs workshops organized by a science museum and a science center in two Midwestern cities. The research investigated the effect the workshops had on the instructional practice of the participating elementary science teachers.…

The Superintendency is one of the most important jobs in America. The future of countless families depends on how successful superintendents are in their positions. Research shows that student academic achievement increases when superintendents remain in one district for as few as three years; however, there are many threats to long-term…

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the perceptions of collaboration between public and Catholic school administrators using the involvement in the federal Title II professional development program as the subject area. Volunteer participants were interviewed using a researcher-developed and pilot study tested-interview guide. Four…

Under the federal policy No Child Left Behind, school district central office administrators have been thrust into the role of orchestrating substantial increases in student learning. However, there is mounting research recognizing that most central office administrators are ill-prepared for the work of instructional improvement at a systems level…

To help achieve President Obama's stated goal of ensuring that all students will be able to contribute as citizens in the U.S. democracy and to thrive in a global economy, the administration has designed a blueprint for a reenvisioned federal role in education through the reauthorization of the "Elementary and Secondary Education Act"…