Racial literacy is a skill and practice by which individuals can probe the existence of racism and examine the effects of race and institutionalized systems on their experiences and representation in US society. Students who have this skill can discuss the implications of race and American racism in constructive ways. Racially literate teachers…

A disconnect exists between the way teacher candidates learn to address the needs of students during teacher training-coursework and the actual teaching expectations in a subject/grade level where students take a standardized exam. Using phenomenological research this study examined novice teachers' perceptions about developing their instruction…

The problem addressed in this study is even though many early childhood educators participate in required professional development, they still lack the ability to transfer their professional development experiences into classroom practices. No program can impact what is learned from professional development if it is not appropriately implemented.…

This study explored the usefulness of incorporating technology into the college financial accounting course. Based on many years of experience in higher education, many traditional and nontraditional learners face challenges while attempting to pass the financial accounting course successfully. For instance, numerous studies by colleges and…

Ask teachers about their biggest challenges in elementary and middle school, and many will cite the teaching of writing. It is often difficult for students find the joy, discovery, and satisfaction writing can yield. Published programs abound, focusing on the study of genres, and students learn to emulate professional writers. What Lisa Eickholdt…

In this action research study, I designed, taught, and analyzed results of a unit in my eighth grade English language arts classroom. The unit focused on supporting students' critical reading of online texts. My research questions were: (1) Within a focal unit, how did I support my students' critical reading of online sources? (2) Within a focal…

Recent studies on student engagement suggest that students become decreasingly engaged as they proceed through their secondary-level school experience (Gallup Inc, 2015; Hodges, 2018; Washor & Mojkowski, 2014; Yazzie-Mintz, 2007). The consequences of low student engagement or disengagement in schools can be significant, leading to poor…

Mathematics anxiety can be a debilitating experience, and research shows that elementary-level preservice teachers experience high levels of mathematics anxiety. Current shifts in mathematics education from a procedural focus to a conceptual focus may exacerbate these high anxiety levels. The research reported in this study explored how preservice…

Chinese choral music has been developing for more than a century, as has higher choral music education in China. There is not yet a standard choral curriculum system in Chinese music colleges and universities. Furthermore, because of the language barrier and cultural differences, Chinese choral educators and conductors show a strong preference for…

In this dissertation I report findings from two studies of the literacy abilities of children with Williams syndrome (WS), a genetic disorder associated with intellectual disability. I had two overarching goals: 1) evaluate the applicability of theories of reading and spelling acquisition developed based on typically developing children to…

This study is an extension of Slutsky's (2016) dissertation about technology self-efficacy. The purpose of this study was to extend the generalization of the original study, considering the knowledge of teacher technology self-efficacy as it relates to integrating technology in the classroom. I built on previous research and added related…

Elementary general music focuses on the comprehensive development of skills over a wide range of musical possibilities. Even as elementary general music expands to embrace a myriad of ways of making music that do not involve traditional Western staff notation, teaching students to read staff notation still seems to be common in elementary general…

According to Duncan (1971), counselor educators who do not prioritize counseling practice may experience challenges in their teaching. For Duncan (1971), maintaining counseling practice "helps to keep the counselor educator alive to real-life counseling situations" (p. 157) and is beneficial to draw from in their teaching practices.…

Despite the fact that professional learning is the main means for maintaining quality educators and improving school instruction, professional learning does not guarantee teacher implementation of professional learning or increased student achievement. The inconsistency reflects the complexity of implementing professional learning with teachers…

In 2012, Northern Kentucky University began offering a Best Practices in College Teaching (BPCT) course. Prior to this program evaluation, the course had not been assessed in any formal manner. The gap in knowledge lies in understanding the unique aspects that the BPCT course offers. The Utilization-Focused Evaluation (UFE) developed by Michael…