School Experiences Research Articles

A critical race feminist research-informed agenda that centres African American girls in school principal research and practice

ABSTRACT The purpose of this article is to present five areas for research and school leadership practice that centre African American girls. An analysis of critical race feminist research published in peer-reviewed articles yielded five themes for inclusive and affirming leadership research and practices: (1) Centring African American girls’ and their families’ voices, identities and lived experiences in school visioning and decision-making; (2) Enacting a school culture to ensure access to rigorous curriculum that centers African American girls’ lived experiences; (3) Cultivating emotionally safe school environments; (4) Dismantling inequitable discipline policies and practices and creating physically safe school environments and (5) Ensuring professional learning that centers critical race feminisms and builds educator capacity to affirm African American girls. To underscore the importance of centring African American girls in principal practice, these areas are aligned with culturally responsive school leader behaviours.

“Sometimes We Struggle, Sometimes We Push Back:” The Educational Experiences and Aspirations of Youth with Refugee Backgrounds from the Horn of Africa

This qualitative article focuses on the high school experiences and post-secondary education (PSE) plans of 57 youth with refugee backgrounds from the Horn of Africa living in Ontario. The article is guided by two conceptual frameworks. The first is an anti-oppressive approach, which helps us examine the structural barriers at school that prevent, impede, and discourage the youth from successfully transitioning to PSE. We then use Yosso’s (2005) community cultural wealth framework to highlight the cultural capital that the youth bring from their homes and communities to navigate the challenges at school and embark on a pathway to PSE. Our findings show that while a significant number of the youth continue to face challenges, some are pushing back on the common narrative that Black African refugees are not capable of attending PSE.

EXPLORING LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PRIMARY TEACHERS: THE CASE OF KNOWLEDGE FOR TEACHING EARLY ALGEBRA

Understanding how to constitute and develop opportunities for primary teachers teach early algebra to younger children is still an important research gap. In this paper, we bring results of a research program developed in Brazil over the past five years. We aim to discuss how professional learning opportunities emerged when teachers collectively planned, discussed, and analyzed lessons involving different meanings of the equality symbol and the development of functional thinking. Developed from the perspective of a qualitative-interpretative research, data analyzed consists of curriculum documents, protocols for the resolution of formative tasks, audios and videos collected during teacher education processes for in-service teachers. The results highlight that professional learning tasks, combined with the actions of teacher educators during collective discussions, favored in-service teachers to differentiate and understand the students’ reasoning. Some implications for teacher education as well as the professional development of primary teachers are discussed, especially regarding early algebra thinking, because teachers do not normally have the opportunity to study these contents on their own experiences in school.

Exploring the material-discursive relations in literacies and language instruction: A state-wide view of binary logics at work

ABSTRACT This article discusses the current Missouri (U.S.) socio-political landscape of literacies and language education pedagogies across PreK-12 settings. Specifically, our research focus explores the binaries that educators in schools experience which a/effects material-discursive relations of literacy teaching and learning. We understand how literacy education policies, initiatives, and practices as well as socio-political climate can produce unique conditions that shape schooling and how many of these can impact learning and teaching conditions as generative and/or paralysing spaces for educators and their students. We conceptualize pedagogies through material-discursive philosophies that shift away from humanist logics and present our research inquiry to foreground the conditions that produce our current U.S. literacy landscape. This paper draws on state-wide data from 1,550 surveys and 113 interviews with PreK-12 teachers. We employ two theoretical concepts as analytical tools: thresholding and eventicizing. These tools help us to explore how teaching and learning are dynamic constellations of material-discursive relations that put the current socio-political literacy education climate in conversation with the materials and texts teachers select and share. We discuss what is produced within these material-discursive binary conditions noticing how teachers resist and persist within the binaried worlds they find themselves in as educators.

Mind the Gap Between Chemistry and Outdoor Education: Primary and Lower Secondary Preservice Teachers’ Beliefs During an Outdoor-Based Introduction to Chemistry in Science Education

ABSTRACT Outdoor education is rarely used to teach chemistry, despite its potential benefits for students. This paper investigates preservice teachers’ (PSTs) beliefs about the domain of chemistry in science education. Sixteen primary and lower secondary PSTs were asked to draw their perception of chemistry in science education and mind maps about outdoor education before being exposed to a novel, student-active approach. This approach introduced chemistry outside the classroom, demonstrating how outdoor environments can be used with students to learn about basic chemical concepts. Six participants were selected for in-depth interviews after the introduction. An abductive approach was applied to analyze the data. Results indicate that prior beliefs about teacher-centered laboratory activities dominate, with few links to everyday or natural phenomena. The interviews showed that these beliefs stem from secondary school experiences, often associated with challenges such as difficulties in remembering the content of experiments. Some PSTs had prior teaching experiences and wished to include the outdoor environment in their future teaching practice. These unique and diverse beliefs influenced direct encounters with chemical phenomena outdoors. Activities that created visible links between familiar phenomena and chemistry were embraced, especially if they solved prior challenges from school. Nevertheless, the diversity of outdoor phenomena led some PSTs to question their prior chemistry knowledge. This challenge may hinder future integration of outdoor activities unless these questions are addressed. The findings suggest that regularly incorporating chemistry related outdoor activities in teacher education may prove beneficial. However, reflecting on emerging challenges is essential.

Household Food Insecurity Is Associated with Parental Perceptions of and Student Participation in School Meals.

School meals are an important source of nutrition for children and have been found to help mitigate food insecurity. This study evaluated the association between food insecurity and school meal participation and whether parental perceptions about school meals differ by food security status. In May 2022, 1110 Californian parents of K-12 students shared their perceptions about school meals, including meal quality, healthiness, stigma, and benefits, as well as their child's participation in school meals, in an online survey. Household food security was determined using the USDA 6-item module. Logistic and Poisson regression models were used for analysis. The prevalence of household food insecurity was 56.2% (69.6% in households of students eligible for free meals, 55.9% in reduced-price, and 38.3% in non-eligible). Many of the reported benefits of school meals (saving families money and time) were equally highly endorsed by parents with and without food insecurity (p > 0.05). Parents reporting food insecurity had less favorable perceptions of school meals and perceived more stigma (p < 0.05). Food insecurity was positively associated with breakfast participation, especially among elementary school students and students not eligible for free or reduced-price meals (FRPMs) (p < 0.05). Food insecurity is prevalent among California families with school-age children, even in families not eligible for federal FRPMs. Food-insecure households have more negative perceptions of school meals and experience more stigma, though they also report higher breakfast participation. Improving school meal quality and appeal, ensuring parents are familiar with meal quality and healthfulness, and reducing stigma may ease food insecurity while improving children's health.

Exploring elementary school student's understanding and experience of pancasila values in using the tiktok application: a qualitative study

This research aims to explore elementary school students' understanding and experience of Pancasila values in using the TikTok application. The background to this research focuses on the increasingly dominant influence of social media in children's lives and the need to understand how Pancasila values are internalized in the digital era. The research method used is a qualitative approach with data collection techniques in the form of in-depth interviews, focus group discussions (FGD), and participatory observation. Participants in this study consisted of 30 students in grades 4 to 6 from three elementary schools in Indonesia, as well as their parents and teachers. The research results show that students have a theoretical understanding of Pancasila values, but their application in using TikTok is still limited. Students are more likely to be exposed to entertainment content than educational content that reflects Pancasila values. Parents and teachers play an important role in supervising and guiding students' use of TikTok. However, further efforts are needed to bridge the gap between understanding and practicing Pancasila values on social media. The conclusions of this research emphasize the importance of a holistic approach in teaching Pancasila values, by using social media wisely. Social Learning Theory highlights the importance of observation, imitation, and self-efficacy in this learning process. With collaboration between educators, parents and content creators, TikTok can be used as an effective tool to educate and internalize Pancasila values in students.

Hear, act, connect, support: Youth recommendations for educators who administer school climate surveys

AbstractSchool climate surveys are commonly used to solicit youth perspectives about their experiences in schools. However, to move climate surveys from solicitation towards a more youth‐centered, partnered practice for school improvement, guidance is needed from the youth themselves about how and in what ways they hope adults respond to their survey responses. In the present study, we analyzed data from four focus groups conducted with middle school and high school students. Findings reveal that, following the administration of climate surveys, youth want adults to: recognize their voices, take action based on their responses, cultivate opportunities for connection, and increase mental health supports. These student‐generated insights can help inform how adults in schools—from educational leaders to licensed mental health professionals—use student data to inform decision‐making.

Person-Environment Fit and Socioeconomic Status in Medical School

Abstract Purpose This study examined the impact of socioeconomic status (SES) on medical education in the context of person-environment fit (PE fit) theory, and specifically focused on the medical school experiences of students from lower-SES backgrounds. Method A constructivist approach was used in this qualitative study of 48 medical students from 27 US medical schools, all of whom self-identified as first-generation college graduates and/or being from a lower-income background (30 were both). Semi-structured audio-only interviews were conducted with these demographically and geographically diverse students from November 2021 through April 2022. Themes were identified using open coding and content analysis software. Results Almost all, 44 of 48, interviews included themes related to PE fit. Medical students indicated three interacting domains in which PE fit is relevant for them: (1) school, (2) clinical, and (3) professional environments. Learners from lower-SES backgrounds describe struggling to navigate multiple environments that are unfamiliar, culturally complex, and both personally and financially costly. They also describe ways they are addressing gaps, generating positive changes, supporting underserved patients, and broadening the perspectives of peers and educators. Conclusions PE fit theory provides a lens to understand unique aspects of lower-SES medical student experiences, including navigation of professional identity formation. It is critical for medical schools, funders, peers, and professional communities to sustain learning environments that support the flourishing of medical students from lower-SES backgrounds. This support includes transferring the burden of addressing fit from individual learners and marginalized classes of learners to educational, clinical, and professional organizations.

Factors Influencing Students’ Academic Self-Efficacy in Related Domains

The importance of a person’s belief in their own academic abilities cannot be overstated when it comes to pursuing further education and selecting a career aligned with their studies. This research investigates the influence of family dynamics and background, behavior and values, school experiences and out-of-school experiences on academic self-efficacy (ASE). The study also examines how sub-variables of behaviors and values mediate the development of self-efficacy. The research employs a quantitative cross-sectional survey with a convenience sample of 350 intermediate students from various academic domains. The data analyzed using Smart PLS 4 software, revealed that students’ behaviors and values, as well as their out-of-school experiences have a significant impact on the development of self-efficacy. All variables related to behaviors and values show a significant positive impact, except for decision-making skills, which have no significant effect. However, the indirect influence of technology is also noticed. On the other hand, most background factors and school experiences have no direct influence on ASE. This study offers valuable insights into the multifaceted factors that play a crucial role in family education, teacher education, and career counseling. Additionally, it provides a foundation for future research in this area and contributes to the understanding of adolescents; self-efficacy in academic domains.

Discipline as Context: Arts and Science Students' Views on Key Concepts in the ACRLFramework

ABSTRACTThe introduction of the Association of College and Research Libraries' (ACRL, 2016) Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education, or “the Framework,” has fostered efforts to apply the document's concepts to information literacy instruction (ILI) to meet the needs of post‐secondary students across faculties. However, little research has directly compared students' perspectives on the Framework's concepts by discipline. This poster presents findings from a larger, mixed‐methods project investigating student perspectives on the Framework in which participants in the faculties of arts (n = 123) and science (n = 90) expressed distinct views and rankings. Their perspectives particularly diverged around perceived roles in assessing the authority of information sources and how “relevant to their experience in school” they found most Framework frames. This project expands upon emerging learner‐centered research aiming to meaningfully improve Framework‐based ILI through its direct disciplinary comparisons and use of the recently developed Information Literacy Reflection Tool (ILRT; Robertson et al., 2022).

Authority and Power in the Classroom: Implications of Schooling on Life Script

The authors present a series of ideas about the intrapsychic and interpersonal dynamics of the classroom. The premise of the paper is that individuals’ early experience of schooling, including their relationships with teachers, can have a longstanding impact in relation to navigating relations with authority and power as well as attitudes and beliefs about the capacity to learn and to be successful. A new model introducing the notion of parallel private and public spheres in relation to structural ego states is presented. The authors introduce the concepts of the teacher archetype, educational relational units, and working with the Child ego state in educational work.

Impact of school experiences on the beliefs and instructional practices of future mathematics teachers

This study examines the impact of cumulative experiences and beliefs during the school career on the pedagogical development of future mathematics teachers in Chile. A sample of 252 pedagogy students from 18 higher education institutions participated in the study, completing a questionnaire that focused on instructional paradigms, teaching experiences, and pedagogical practices. The research employed latent class analysis to identify distinct profiles based on the teaching paradigms experienced by the participants. A logistic regression model further corroborated these profiles. The findings indicate a prevalent inclination towards constructivist beliefs and practices among future teachers, which are significantly shaped by their secondary education experiences, often devoid of a constructivist approach. This study emphasizes the critical role of prior educational experiences in shaping professional competencies in teaching mathematics.

Schooling in camp: Incarceration camps and the Japanese American school experience during World War II

AbstractObjectiveThis study aims to explore the school experiences of Japanese American children and teenagers who were incarcerated in camps during World War II following the issuance of Executive Order 9066 on February 19, 1942.MethodsThe study examines video interviews available in Densho's online archive, focusing on the educational experiences of second‐generation Japanese Americans who resumed their education in the camps.ResultsThe analysis reveals that many interviewees reported positive experiences in camp schools, despite the poor conditions. A key factor contributing to these positive experiences was the dedication of teachers, who not only promoted academic success but also addressed the psychological and emotional needs of the incarcerated students.ConclusionWhile many interviewees highlighted the supportive role of teachers, the negative effects of incarceration on their school experiences cannot be overlooked, as a significant number recalled unpleasant aspects of their education in the camps. Moreover, the incarceration of Japanese Americans still has contemporary implications.

Factors Associated with Homosexual Adolescents in South Korea

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate factors related to homosexual adolescents in South Korea. Methods: Using statistics from the 12th (2016) Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey, hierarchical logistic regression analysis was conducted. The study sample comprised 65,528 middle and high school students aged 12 to 18 years. Results: The significant predictors of homosexual intercourse were gender, attempted suicide, bullying at school experience, ever drinking, ever smoking, habitual or purposeful drug use, cohabitation with family, weekly allowance, and mother’s education levels. Conclusions: The results suggest that gender-related interventions should be considered in school health education programs and that sexual health interventions for high-risk groups may be needed, given the factors predicting homosexual intercourse.

전남 초등학교 교사들의 소규모 학교 근무 경험 탐색

This study explored the experiences of primary school teachers working at small schools and their meanings by using the method of narrative inquiry. The participants were Mr. Park Seung-jin and Mr. Cho Bu-jang, mid-career male teachers with 14 and 19 years of teaching experiences respectively, working at small schools. Mr Park taught at a small school on an island, while Mr. Cho worked in a rural village area in Jeollanam-do. Data were collected through unstructured interviews and analyzed using the three-dimensional space narrative structure proposed by Clandinin and Connelly (2004). The results of the study revealed that Mr. Park Seung-jin's narrative encompassed both negative experiences such as conflicts with colleagues, a heavy workload, and challenges in adapting to a unique culture, and positive experiences related to an effective small school organizational culture. Meanwhile, Mr. Cho Bu-jang's narrative highlighted the difficulties of working as the head teacher of the administrative department (Gyo-moo-boo-jang) in a school where most teachers were less experienced, his aspiration for the ideal small school, and his growth process as a head teacher trying to realize the ideal. From the narratives of the two teachers, it can be inferred that teachers in small schools generally experience the burden of a heavy workload, as well as unfamiliarity and discomfort with unique cultural characteristics. Decision-making processes often involve discussion and consensus among all the teachers. Additionally, teacher experiences in small schools are significantly influenced by administrators and colleagues, while each teacher’s professionalism and attitude have a substantial impact on the entire school. Based on these results and discussions, recommendations have been made to improve the experiences of current and future teachers in small schools.

Problems Encountered in the Counseling Process in the Context of Cultural Sensitivity and Coping Methods: Opinions of School Counselors

This study, it is aimed to examine the problems that arise in the context of cultural sensitivity in the counseling process and the methods of coping with these problems based on the views of school counselors. For the data obtained using the interview technique, which is one of the qualitative research methods. The study included a total of 35 participants, with 25 women and 10 men, who had a minimum of three years of professional experience in private and public schools during the 2021-2022 academic year. Interviews were conducted digitally on the Zoom platform using a semi-structured form developed by the researcher. All interviews were subjected to content analysis. According to the results of the data analysis conducted with the Maxqda 2020 program, the participant's perspective on the concept of cultural sensitivity consists of self-awareness, respect, and acceptance of different cultures. The most important cultural challenges reported by the participants were gender and sex, different value judgments, socioeconomic status, and language. Feelings of inadequacy and desperation were reported as the most intensely felt emotions in the face of these challenges. Participants reported using various methods to overcome cultural challenges, such as consulting colleagues gaining knowledge, and making various suggestions to overcome cultural inadequacies. It is thought that the findings obtained in this study will create an important awareness as it is a first in the literature, and it is hoped that it will contribute to policymakers, counselor educators, counselor candidates, and all counseling professionals in this field.

Indigenous Methodologies in International Research on Indigenous Family and Community Engagement

Indigenous research methodologies have been theorized by prominent Indigenous scholars over the past few decades and advocated for in research focused on Indigenous communities for their emancipatory power to reestablish Indigenous peoples’ expertise and self-determining and sovereignty rights over education and research. Western intrusion in Indigenous education and community focused research through colonial schools and Western research methodologies has negatively impacted the schooling experiences of Indigenous children, their families and communities, as well as the ways they are studied and depicted in research. Responding to calls for Indigenous methodologies in research focused on Indigenous communities, this literature review introduces an Indigenist Methodological Framework, developed from canonical scholarship on Indigenous methodologies, that we use to explore the applications (and potential misapplications) of Indigenous methodologies in 20 international studies about Indigenous family and community engagement. We aimed to determine if adherence to the elements of an Indigenist Methodological Framework served to disrupt extractive, exploitative, and damage-centered practices in and portrayals of Indigenous communities (common in Western research methodologies). Further, we critically analyzed the findings of these studies to see if they offered more culturally responsive and strength-based conceptualizations of Indigenous families and communities. We uncovered applications and misapplications of Indigenous methodologies that impacted researchers’ commitments to and actions towards establishing and maintaining relational accountability throughout and beyond the research while also influencing findings that, in most cases, challenged narrow and deficit-based perceptions and portrayals of Indigenous students, families, and community members.

Creative Maladjustment and Creative Subversion of Kazakhstan’s English Teachers: Doing Translanguaging in Concealment

ABSTRACT Kazakhstan’s government has been pushing for English proficiency to become globally competitive. Rhetoric about global competitiveness has resulted in various policies to promote English teaching and learning in primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions. English has eventually evolved as the language of instruction in many universities. The direct language teaching approach has been the mainstay for teaching English as a foreign language (EFL), whereby school administrators do not permit teachers to use the mother tongue. Instead, they are to teach English monolingually. With the monolingual approach to teaching, the teacher does not need to know the local languages of the students and is supposed to be a native speaker or have native-like proficiency in the English language. Most of the English teachers in Kazakhstan are local. This qualitative study explored English teachers’ experiences in elementary and secondary schools in Kazakhstan and how they navigated their daily lives in the classroom teaching EFL. The findings indicated that teachers have long been practicing creative maladjustment and creative subversion by utilizing a translanguaging approach to teaching English without knowing the efficacy of translanguaging in language learning. This article suggests introducing and developing translingual art-based practices for teaching and learning English in Kazakhstan.

Student perspectives on school-based social workers: a mixed-methods study

PurposeSchool social work, in various forms, is well established internationally and has a growing evidence base. Yet existing research focuses on professional perspectives rather than those of students. This study aims to fill this gap by exploring secondary school student perspectives of having social workers in schools (SWIS). It was undertaken in England as part of the SWIS trial, which tested whether secondary school-based social workers could improve child safety and well-being, identify issues more quickly and reduce the need for statutory services.Design/methodology/approachA mixed-methods approach comprised a survey (n = 1,998 students) and interviews (n = 27 students). Surveys included questions on awareness, understanding, interaction with and attitudes towards the school-based social workers. Interviews involved a Q-sort activity followed by semi-structured questions on general attitudes and experiences. The Q-sort characterised prominent perspectives and how many students subscribed to them.FindingsStudents were broadly positive about having a social worker in their school in the survey and interviews. Two prominent perspectives on SWIS were identified. The first (n = 17) was defined by students feeling positively overall and strongly agreeing that they trusted the social worker. The second (n = 4) was mixed in sentiment, defined by some anxiety about working with the social worker. In interviews, students relayed that social workers were easily accessible, offered emotional support and acted as a bridge between school and home.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to quantify student perspectives on having social workers at school and evidence attitudes and experiences about school-based social work as practiced during the SWIS trial.