The Sensemaking Experience of Newly Appointed District Teacher Leader Coordinators: A Case Study

In an effort to address diverse needs in K-12 education, policymakers have proposed initiatives to increase the leadership opportunities for classroom teachers. Although teachers have undertaken leadership roles in schools throughout history, the notion of teacher leadership spurred by policy is in the emergent stages. As educators and leaders in various roles implement teacher leadership policy, learning must ensue at both an individual and collective level to adapt schools to a new model of leadership. This study examined how district-level teacher leader coordinators in one Iowa region came to understand their role as leaders. A case study approach illuminated the experience of these individuals as Iowa teacher leadership policy was initially implemented. Data were collected through the use of interviews, observations, and document reviews. Participants included district-level teacher leader coordinators and regional leaders supporting teacher leadership to gain insights from multiple levels of policy implementation. The findings of this study identified themes for sensemaking and leading within the teacher leader coordinator’s role. The study revealed that coordinators were guided in learning their new teacher leadership roles through both formal policy guidance and informal interactions with leaders and peers. Coordinators enacted their leadership roles in a bridge building capacity, linking other teacher leaders to resources and modeling leadership processes and actions

Families, motivation, and reading: pre-adolescent students and their reading motivation and family reading habits

Research indicates that reading motivation declines as elementary students grow older. This reading motivation is multi-faceted with a variety of influences. Additional research indicates that when families are involved with students\u27 reading as well as with school activities, students can reap positive academic benefits. Involving families in reading, however, declines as students progress to the upper elementary and pre-adolescent years. There is a lack of research concerning family involvement in reading with pre-adolescent students, particularly in regard to the effect of family involvement on reading motivation.;The purpose of this study was to determine the reading motivation and family reading habits of sixth grade students at Prairie Elementary School (pseudonym) during the 2007--2008 school year. Throughout the school year, 36 families participated in a control group that completed the regular district independent reading curriculum. Additionally 34 families took part in an experimental group that completed the 15 independent reading homework assignments as family homework. A survey was utilized at the beginning and end of the study to measure students\u27 reading motivation as well as family reading habits in both the control and experimental groups.;The results of the research study indicate that family involvement homework tasks do affect specific family reading habits of older students. Particularly, those students and families who took part in the family homework tasks reported an increase in mean response scores given for how often they read together. In contrast, students and families of the control group all reported a decrease in mean response scores from pretest to posttest for how often they read together. The study did not, however, find a difference in reading motivation for either the control or the experimental group of students.;Because change was noted in the family reading habits of those participating in the experimental group, the study indicates that family involvement tasks may continue to play a positive role for pre-adolescent students and their families. Knowledge of the role that family involvement tasks may play with students in this age group may help educators to better design family involvement opportunities at Prairie Elementary School and similar school districts

A Comparison of the Color Stability of Certain Rosin Sizing Agents as Influenced by Light and Iron

A literature survey is presented concerning the yellowing of paper with age and the relationships of rosin, light, and iron as factors in inducing this discoloration. The recent chemical modifications of rosin which are applicable for use in the sizing of paper are investigated with the intent of discerning whether or not they exhibit sufficient improvement in color-brightness stability over that of natural rosin to warrant their use in certain high quality papers. The experimental results indicated only one rosin modification, Foral , a fully-hydrogenated rosin, having a marked advantage over natural rosin with regard to brightness stability as affected by light and iron under the conditions of this work. A partially-hydrogenated rosin, Staybelite , displayed only a slight improvement over the stability of the high grades of natural rosin, WG and WW

Community Leader Perceptions of the Social and Economic Impacts of Indian Gaming

The development of casino gambling in recent years whether through state-regulated or Native American gaming operations has resulted in increased concern over social and economic impacts. This study assessed perceptions of eight community leaders as to how the area was affected by a major expansion of a Native American casino. Leaders were interviewed prior to and several years after the completed expansion. Leaders felt the expansion had contributed positively to the community but noted increased social concerns. Overall, economic impacts were positive, however, the uniqueness of a Native American casino operation posed other challenges

Phase and amplitude scintillations of microwave signals over an elevated atmospheric path

Phase and amplitude scintillations of microwave signals over elevated atmospheric path for obtaining atmospheric density profile

Morphology and evolution of coronae and ovoids on Venus

Coronae and ovoids on Venus were first identified in Venera 15/16 data. They are distinctive and apparently unique to the planet, and may be important indicators of processes operating in the Venusian mantle. Magellan images have provided the first high resolution views of coronae and ovoid morphology. Herein, the general geologic character is described of coronae and ovoids, and some inferences are drawn about their geologic evolution. Coronae are circular to elongate features surrounded by an annulus of deformational features, with a relatively raised or indistinct topographic signature and, commonly, a peripheral trough or moat. Ovoids are circular to elongate features other than coronae with either positive or negative topographic signatures, associated with tectonic deformation and volcanism. The relationship of these two geologic features to each other and to Venusian geology is briefly discussed

The Association Between Health Care Staff Engagement and Patient Safety Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objectives: Despite decades of research, improving health care safety remains a global priority. Individual studies have demonstrated links between staff engagement and care quality, but until now, any relationship between engagement and patient safety outcomes has been more speculative. This systematic review and meta-analysis therefore assessed this relationship and explored if the way these variables were defined and measured had any differential effect. Methods: After systematic searches of Medline, CINAHL, PsycInfo, Embase, Cochrane Library, and National Institute for Health Research Journals databases, narrative and random-effects meta-analyses were completed, with pooled effect sizes expressed as Pearson r. Results: Fourteen studies met the inclusion criteria, 11 of which were suitable for meta-analysis. Meta-analyses indicated a small but consistent, statistically significant relationship between staff engagement and patient safety (all outcomes; 11 studies; r = 0.22; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.07 to 0.36; n = 30,490) and 2 patient safety outcome categories: patient safety culture (7 studies;r = 0.22; 95% CI, 0.01 to 0.41; n = 27,857) and errors/adverse events (4 studies;r = −0.20; 95% CI, −0.26 to −0.13; n = 2633). The specific approach to conceptualizing engagement did not affect the strength of the findings. Conclusions: This is the first review to demonstrate a significant relationship between engagement and both safety culture scores and errors/adverse events. Despite a limited and evolving evidence base, we cautiously conclude that increasing staff engagement could be an effective means of enhancing patient safety. Further research is needed to determine causality and clarify the nature of the staff engagement/patient safety relationship at individual and unit/workgroup levels

XO-5b: A Transiting Jupiter-sized Planet With A Four Day Period

The star XO-5 (GSC 02959-00729, V=12.1, G8V) hosts a Jupiter-sized, Rp=1.15+/-0.12 Rjup, transiting extrasolar planet, XO-5b, with an orbital period of P=4.187732+/-0.00002 days. The planet mass (Mp=1.15+/-0.08 Mjup) and surface gravity (gp=22+/-5 m/s^2) are significantly larger than expected by empirical Mp-P and Mp-P-[Fe/H] relationships. However, the deviation from the Mp-P relationship for XO-5b is not large enough to suggest a distinct type of planet as is suggested for GJ 436b, HAT-P-2b, and XO-3b. By coincidence XO-5 overlies the extreme H I plume that emanates from the interacting galaxy pair NGC 2444/NGC 2445 (Arp 143).Comment: 10 pages, 9 Figures, Submitted to Ap

A Longitudinal Study Understanding Interpersonal Behavior Changes from Recreation Student to Professional

Personality instrument have been used in college classrooms to help students understand how their interpersonal behaviors will effect their professional work. This investigation assessed 1) how students majoring in commercial recreation have changed in personality over a five year time frame, from traditional college student to practicing professional and 2) which demographic variables have influenced these changes. Forty-six students completed a self-assessment personality inventory, Fundamental Interpersonal Relations OrientationBehavior (FIRO-B). Five years later, the same individuals completed the FIRO-B and demographic questionnaire. Twenty-six responded. The findings suggest a majority of students who changed in personality categories, however, these changes were not statistically significant. Additionally, demographic variables showed no relationship with the changes in personality. These findings indicate the use of personality assessments in undergraduate courses may be a predictor of interpersonal behavior in the professional setting and may be helpful in preparing students to understand their professional style

Further Fall Prevention

Falls continue to occur in the acute care setting despite our best efforts. Decreased falls, increased patient safety, decreased cost, and decreased length of stays in the acute care setting are imperative. This is a benchmark study on the concept of an education pamphlet being presented to patients and family members educating on all fall precautions and interventions that are to be expected to be in use during their stay. Study also reflects fall interventions that are in use and have shown to decrease falls