Education Commons^™

The Impact Of The Arts For Students With Moderate To Severe Disabilities, Rebekah Fuss

All Master's Theses

Students with moderate to severe disabilities are often left out of arts programs, especially in rural areas where resources are limited and drama, music and art classes are often not available. This action research study focused on a small group of students in a self-contained classroom in a high school. The classroom teacher worked with a teaching artist to start an art program for students with moderate to severe disabilities. Even though there are limited resources in rural areas, it is still possible to create a quality arts integration program which requires planning and effective collaboration with other teachers and …

Music And Attention For Children With Developmental Disabilities, Mallory M. Bentley

All Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to measure the effects of the use of music in the form of a song with instructional lyrics on the attention of children with developmental disabilities. The study took place in a self-contained special education classroom, which served third through fifth grade students. A single-subject with ABA or reversal design (Creswell, 2012) was utilized, including five days of baseline, 15 days of intervention, and five days of reversal data collection. During the intervention phase, the teacher sang a cappella an original song with instructional lyrics that explain the type of attentive behaviors that students …

Effective Learning Strategies For College Students With Asperger's Syndrome, Jamie Susanne Gilbert

All Master's Theses

More and more students with Asperger’s Syndrome (AS) are being accepted into college without having the proper foundation in place to successfully graduate with a Bachelor’s degree. Students with AS need support systems in place to properly prepare them to face the challenges of college. The purpose of this study is to discuss the current research in regards to effective learning strategies that lead to academic success for college students with AS and to further discuss how to implement the learning strategies in higher education institutions. A single-subject study, using both qualitative and quantitative analysis, was performed. It involved one …

A Manual For Using Communication Strategies With Adolescents With Autism, Gayle J. Anderson

All Graduate Projects

Many students with autism lack the essential skills necessary to communicate effectively as adolescents and adults. They communicate in a nonproductive manner to get their "wants" or "needs" met. Some of these behaviors include crying, screaming, or having tantrums. Current research reviewed for this project indicates clearly the benefits of applied social skills such as social stories, augmentative strategies such as picture exchange systems, and alternative strategies such as gestures and sign language. These students need to communicate their wants and needs by using socially appropriate adaptive methods of communications. The purpose of the manual at the end of this …

A Motivational Strategy That Accommodates Middle School Special Education Students: Achieving Academic Success, Susan J. Koempel

All Graduate Projects

The project provides middle school teachers with a handbook for clarifying academic targets in the general education U. S. history classroom. This strategy clearly defines, in a pictorial manner, the interconnectedness that exists between report cards, progress reports, and quarterly curriculum assignments. The intervention of this organizational strategy will assist students in decisions, regarding the timely completion and turn in of assignments, by creating an overall awareness of the progress of time and assignment due dates during the quarter. Originally, the production of the intervention was done by the special education staff so that there would be minimal time energy …

Achievement Gains And Losses Of Integrated 5th Grade Resource Room Students: Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School, Yakima School District, 1989-1990, Patricia F. Kincheloe

All Graduate Projects

The achievement gains and losses of integrated 5th grade resource room students at Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School in the Yakima School District were studied. Nine resource room students were pre and post tested for achievement in reading, spelling, and mathematics. Teaching methods included cooperative learning, small and large group instruction, and peer tutoring. The results showed support for the integration of learning disabled students into a whole language, cooperative learning, regular education environment.

A Model Unit For Teaching Career Awareness To Fifth And Sixth Grade Special Education Students, Nancy H. Byers

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to provide teachers of fifth- and sixth-grade special education students with: 1. A career awareness unit on the fast food drive-in industry which includes specific lessons in the curriculum areas of reading, math, language arts, communication skills, health/science, social studies, and art. 2. A pre-postevaluation tool for measuring student's knowledge gained from the unit, student's self-concept, and student's attitude toward school.

Curriculum Outline – Health Education Handicapped, Grades 7-12 Woodside School, Elaine A. Elliott

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of the project was to develop a curriculum in the area of Health that would meet the specialized needs of the Woodside School population.

A Mobile Summer Camp For The Mildly/Moderately Mentally Retarded, Jerrianne C. Sorensen

All Graduate Projects

A mobile camp for the mildly/moderately mentally retarded was designed to provide first-hand experience in the essentials of obtaining food, shelter, and social skills of cohabitation along with their interdependency with flora, fauna, and the topographical environment. The camp design consists of 10 days of camping in tents and staying in motels. The campers travel by bus along the Washington coast, Puget Sound, and San Juan Islands. Areas of academic instruction include plants and animals along the route.

Utilizing The Special Education Training Program Of Central Washington University As A Model For Five-Year Normal Colleges In The Republic Of China, Jing-Yu Her

All Graduate Projects

The project (model) was primarily an audio/visual program which presented 118 slides to introduce the special education teacher training program of Central Washington University, Ellensburg, Washington. It consisted of the following parts: (a) introduction to Central Washington University and its campus, (b) introduction to the special education teacher training program, and (c) parent/teacher conference and the Student Council for Exceptional Children. It has been described and interpreted in English and Chinese. The purpose for describing a model of the special education teacher training program of Central Washington University is to suggest a more complete training program for Ping-Tong Five-Year Nonnal …

An In-Service Model For The Training Of Secondary Special Education Instructional Aides, Jane H. Evans

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of the project was to develop a workshop to provide on the job training for aides in secondary special education programs in Bremerton, Washington. A needs assessment was conducted to determine the validity of the perceived need and to identify and prioritize training areas. Existing training programs were examined and a literature search conducted. The resulting training model was designed to increase the effectiveness of aides and thereby maximize the delivery of instruction in special education.

A Service Delivery Model For A Handicapped Preschool In A Rural Area, Karen Louise Holenbeck

All Graduate Projects

A preschool model for 3-5 year old rural handicapped children is based on developmental skills in the areas of receptive and expressive language acquisition, fine and gross motor movement and beginning cognitive skills. Also included, to facilitate the establishment of a new rural preschool is a list of materials needed to begin the program and a list of free and low cost legal, medical, and assessment services. The need for rural preschool programs is discussed as well as reasons for growth of preschool in Washington state.

The Development Of A Comprehensive Preschool Screening Instrument, Jana Lee Johnson

All Master's Theses

The purpose of this paper was to research criteria for screening for young, handicapped children with the intent of developing a single, comprehensive screening instrument. Analyses of existing screening devices and data from educators in the field were also included in the study.

The resulting screening instrument was designed to assess the developmental acquisition of skills. Major developmental areas included in the screening instrument are language skills, motor development, perceptual skills, cognitive development, social skills, and self-help skills.

A Survey Of The Integration Of Exceptional Children In Regular Classrooms, Catherine A. Greene

All Master's Theses

Educational practice in the past has been to segregate exceptional children by placing them in self-contained special education classrooms. Recently, however, this method has been questioned by leading special educators. Proponents of segregation of exceptional children admit to inadequacies in the present situation, but they argue that such inadequacies can be remedied and do not justify placing exceptional children in regular classrooms. Proponents of integration maintain that exceptional children live in a heterogeneous world and as adults will live and work in a heterogeneous world; therefore, these children should have a school setting that is like the world in which …

Increasing The Verbal Response Rate Of A Mentally Retarded Girl, Preston W. C. Smith

All Master's Theses

This investigation was instigated to assess the effectiveness of a systematic application of reinforcement on the verbal response rate of a withdrawn, educable mentally retarded student in a junior high school special education class. The purpose of this study was to test the following hypothesis: There will be no statistically significant difference in the subject's verbal response rate between the baseline average and under conditions of systematic application of reinforcement.

Contingency Management In A Language Development Program, James E. Clark

All Master's Theses

The problem was two-fold. The first part of the problem was the investigation of whether a person with no formal training in speech could successfully administer Gray's (1970) language development program. The second part of the problem was the investigation of whether the two subjects involved would gain the ability to use new language structures.

Clarification Of The Role Of The Teacher Of The Elementary Educable Mentally Retarded Child In Tacoma, Washington, Stephen Melseth

All Master's Theses

The basic problem is what role expectations does the teacher of elementary EMR children think she has compared to what her principal thinks her role should be? Role expectation statements from four areas were considered: (1) Curriculum and Instruction; (2) School and Community Relations; (3) Administration and Organization; (4-) Guidance and Evaluation.

Three specific questions are cited:

(1) Is there consensus for selected role norm items, among teachers of the elementary EMR child?

(2) Is there consensus for selected role norm items among the building principals?

(3) Is there consensus for selected role norm items between the focal and counter …

A Description And Analysis Of Children With Learning Problems Referred To A Reading Teacher, Patricia M. Olsen

All Master's Theses

It was the purpose of this study (1) to analyze remedial classes in an average school for one school year, (2) to make as thorough a study as is possible of individual learners and to identify the factors present in their problems, (3) to describe the factors to make them more easily recognized, and (4) to find possible solutions for the problems found to be present most often.

The Experimental Use Of Operant Procedures With Language Delayed Children, Scott W. Nielsen

All Master's Theses

It was the purpose of this study: (1) To compare the amount of vocalization produced by each child before the experiment with the amount of vocalization during and after the application of operant conditioning techniques. (2) To compare the variations in the vocalization produced by the children. (3) To explore the possibility of shaping those vocalizations into meaningful words. The study sought to verify the following statement: Utilization of operant conditioning principles will increase the amount and variety of vocalization in language delayed children.

Spontaneous Use Of Manual Precision Skills By Trainable, Educable And Average Children, Sister Ellen Ward Snjm

All Master's Theses

Since manual precision skills are vital for some tasks and for successful manipulation of objects in the environment, it is important to ascertain whether or not young trainable mentally retarded and educable mentally retarded children are as apt to use these skills as are young average achieving elementary school children.

A Pilot Study On The Comparison Of The Effect Of A Traditional Physical Education Program And A Movement Exploration Program On The Self Concept Of The Special Education Student, Sherrie Ann Chrysler

All Master's Theses

The purpose of this pilot study, which was exploratory in nature, was to determine if the type of physical education program a special education student experiences affects his self concept.

Comparison Of A Movement Exploration Program To A Traditional Physical Education Program Using Junior High School Special Education Students, Dale W. Lanegan

All Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not a scheduled program of Movement Exploration would show an effective means of improving the physical fitness and motor skill abilities of a group of junior high school special education students. For means of analyses, the Movement program was compared to a traditional program of physical education for a Control group of junior high school special education students.

A Study Of The Influencing Factors Causing Experienced Special Education Teachers To Change To Regular Programs, Jon R. Gobiet

All Master's Theses

This study was done to determine basic reasons why qualified special education personnel in three similar school districts in Washington State have changed to the regular programs.

A Comparison Of The Self-Concept Levels Of Educable Mental Retardates In The Wenatchee Public Schools And The Lacey Public Schools, John Williams

All Master's Theses

It shall be the purpose of this study to determine the measured self concept of the educable mentally retarded enrolled in a secondary special education program and to compare it with the measured self concept of the educable mentally retarded enrolled in a normal secondary school program.

A Developmental Program For Trainable Mentally Retarded Pupils, Richard Matthew Ozanich

All Master's Theses

The purpose of the project was to apply a specified training program and test its results with eight pupils who constituted a class for trainable mentally retarded children. The children were placed in the group on the basis of evaluation by a school psychologist. The training program was the Social Education First Aid (SEFA) program (Gunzburg, 1964). Additional concrete materials were used to supplement the SEFA material. The children's growth in the following areas of social competence was evaluated: self-help, communication, socialization, and occupation.

Effects Of Contingency Management On Reading Achievement Of Junior High Special Education Students, Larry Busse

All Master's Theses

Historically, the approach to teaching the special education child, who has learning difficulties, has been one of following the regular course of study but going more slowly than with the academically able student. However, junior high school special education students need to be motivated by techniques that go beyond existing methods. The initial purpose of this investigation was to explore "new methods" as a means of improving teaching techniques.

Color Effect Of Teacher Attire On The Attitudes Of Educable Mentally Retarded Pupils, Herman B. Sowell

All Master's Theses

It was the purpose of this investigation to study the effects of teacher clothing color, specifically the color red and the color black, on attitudes of elementary age mentally retarded pupils. The attitudes studied were the attitudes directed toward the generalized concept of "school" as manifested by the sum of specific concepts.

The Effect Of Positive Reinforcement On The Attending Behavior Of A Distractible Child, Michael Lewis Ikard

All Master's Theses

It was the purpose of the study (1) to evaluate the use of a token reinforcement system in modifying the attending behavior of a distractible child; (2) to demonstrate a technique which a teacher may find useful in helping the distractible child learn to manage his own attention; and (3) to show the relationship between attending behavior and academic performance.

A Study Of The Current Trends Of Teaching Distributive Education To Students With Special Needs, Leroy A. Mccartney

All Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to identify distributive education programs for students with special needs. The identity and study of the programs would provide guiding principles for the organization, and administration of the programs. The study could provide basic information which would assist in planning the curriculum and initiating distributive education programs in school districts where the need to train the disadvantaged is a problem. This study could also aid in meeting one of the objectives of vocational education.

Hearing Loss Among Alaska Native Schoolchildren Of The Lower Yukon, Susan H. Henry

All Master's Theses

Schoolchildren in the Eskimo settlement of Mountain Village, Alaska, were studied to determine the extent of hearing losses incurred and ,the relationship between hearing loss and the middle ear pathology of otitis media.