This dissertation investigates the semantics and pragmatics of two types of free choice items (FCIs) in Korean which employ a wh-indeterminate (i.e., wh-morphology. e.g., "nwukwu" "who/someone") and a non-deictic-indefinite (e.g., "amwu") respectively in combination with a suffixal particle--"na." Both wh-indeterminate-based FCI (wh-(N)-"na")…

The research in this dissertation examined the language and literacy practices of middle school children as they played Gamestar Mechanic, a game-based learning environment constituted by a flash-based multiplayer online role-playing game designed to introduce them to the Discourse of game designers, by exposing them to key principles and…

This dissertation examines the academic and social goals that three second-grade English language learners in a U.S. urban school bring to their blog-mediated academic writing practices, and the interrelated nature of those goals. This study aims to bridge the dichotomy between approaches to studying computer-mediated language and literacy…

This case study assesses the educational needs of the teachers, students and women of a remote, isolated school community in Azad Kashmir, Pakistan. It also addresses the cultural, social and religious obstacles that girls, women and teachers face, while identifying appropriate recommendations for girls, women and teachers to improve their level…

This study investigates equitable practices used by a Teach For America (TFA) corps member (CM) in her second year of teaching low income, minority students. This study's conceptual framework is based on a contemporary conceptualization of equity pedagogy that includes: (a) tools of power and access (Delpit, 1988); (b) culturally relevant…

The purpose of this case study was to discover the types of leadership policies and practices that make one-to-one laptop initiatives sustainable in three schools in South Dakota and Kansas. In order to implement a one-to-one initiative, administrators must determine what needs should be met ahead of the implementation. The needs may include…

The reduction and/or elimination of future disciplinary infractions and increasing positive school climate were the two goals of a junior high school in Eastern Pennsylvania, for the 2007-2008 school year. In order to accomplish those goals the administrative staff used two disciplinary consequences to determine which one had the greatest impact…

This case study examined ways elementary school students from diverse populations (minorities and children from low socioeconomic status environments) were included in a talent development program, and determined if that inclusion proved to be beneficial for gifted identification. With intentional regard for the idea of talent development, this…

The purpose of this study was to provide a clearer understanding of current Korean American adolescents under the recognition that their stories are barely told in educational research. Based on the literature that has described identity as a core concept in understanding adolescence and literacy practice as a dominant tool for identity…

A formative intervention was employed to expose children to a variety of words to increase the breadth, or size of their vocabularies, and to repeatedly and supportively expose children to words to increase the depth, or semantic understanding of vocabulary. Science content words were selected since they are less likely to be included in an…

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of selected demographic and school related variables on urban and rural middle school teachers' perceptions regarding the inclusion of students with learning disabilities in general education classrooms. Additionally, this study investigated the influence of the variables gender, age, ethnicity,…

This study examined the perceptions and the difference between perceptions of Texas school superintendents and school board members. In addition the study provided research to identify skills for superintendent preparation programs at the university level that are essential for strong superintendent and board relations. The study revealed ways to…

The purpose of this study was to examine if a relationship existed between principals' transformational leadership style and teacher retention examined by gender, ethnicity, and accountability ratings among principals in Southeast Texas. A review of the literature indicated that transformational leadership traits have been advocated for school…

A teacher's sense of {instructional} efficacy has been considered a critical variable in student academic performance. Researchers Tschannen-Moran and Hoy Woolfolk (2001, p.783) defined teachers' {instructional} efficacy as a teacher's judgment of his or her capabilities to bring about desired outcomes of student engagement and learning, even…

The purpose of this study was to investigate public school administrators' perceptions of their level of ethics with respect to the amount of turbulence perceived on campus. In addition, ethical decision making processes and ethics training, based on the recommendations of the participants in the study was investigated. Survey research was used to…