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Table Of Contents

The Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship

No abstract provided.

Editors' Note

The Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship

No abstract provided.

The Career Advancement And Working Conditions Of Multilingual Paraprofessionals In Special Education, Jamie Day, Kelley S. Regan

The Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship

ABSTRACT

There is a critical issue of special education teacher shortages in the United States. Student populations, many of whom are multilingual and have disabilities, continue to grow while there is a decrease in the teaching workforce. One policy initiative developed to combat the teacher shortage is the Assistant to Teacher Program. The Assistant to Teacher Program is a school district policy that aims to fill high-need teacher vacancies by supporting paraprofessionals to become certified teachers in a career advancement cohort. This qualitative study examines the working experiences of multilingual paraprofessionals in special education and their perceptions of the Assistant …

Using Behavior Skills Training And Virtual Simulations To Train Preservice Practitioners In Behavior Management: An Exploratory Comparison Study, Kathleen M. Randolph, Glenna M. Billingsley, Cathy N. Thomas

The Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship

This study investigated the efficacy of two distinct virtual training platforms, TeachLivE™ and Zoom with actors, in preparing preservice practitioners for behavior management in real-world settings. This exploratory study aimed to investigate individual participant skill acquisition and assess which platform better equipped participants with the necessary skills and strategies. This study employed Behavior Skills Training as the foundational pedagogical framework, utilizing structured training and feedback to foster skill acquisition and retention. The two groups, one using TeachLivE™ and the other Zoom with actors, received identical training modules and practice scenarios. After the training, participants were assessed on their ability to …

Experiences Of Rural Teachers Of Students With Visual Impairments During The Pandemic, Tiffany A. Wild, Tina Herzberg, Danene K. Fast, Jennifer Rodocker, Mehmet Kart

The Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship

Students who are educated by schools in rural areas experienced challenges around the world even before the COVID-19 pandemic, such as lack of resources and inadequate infrastructure (Çiftçi & Cin, 2018; Dube, 2020). The COVID-19 pandemic drew attention to the inequities of the conditions facing students in rural areas (EDC, 2020). These unique challenges were evident for those serving low-incidence disability populations, such as those children with visual impairment. There are unique challenges in providing support to students and their families with visual impairments in rural areas of the country. Those challenges included need for additional supports in technology, internet …

Navigating Home Language Practice For Children With Disabilities: Insights From Korean-American Mothers' Online Communications, Jemma Kim, Young Suk Hwang, Yeon Kim, Sang Seok Nam

The Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship

This study explores the home language practice (HLP) of Korean-American mothers with children who have developmental disabilities, including autism spectrum disorder. Data was collected from an online forum where these mothers discussed their experiences and decision-making processes following their child's diagnosis. Thematic analysis was conducted on the collected data to identify and develop themes related to their experiences. The study's framework is based on family-centered practices, emphasizing the importance of equal partnerships, cultural responsiveness, and information sharing between families and early intervention and early childhood special education (EI/ECSE) professionals. Factors that influence HLP decisions include mothers' perceptions of disabilities, professional …

Navigating Iep Meetings: Effective Approaches For Supporting Asian Families Of Children With Idd In Special Education, Kristina Rios, Wei-Mo Tu

The Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship

Family involvement is an essential component of the special education process for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). In addition to the legal requirement that parents should be equal partners in the decision-making of the student’s IEP program (IDEA, 2004), a bulk of empirical research demonstrates the positive impact of parent involvement on student outcomes. However, many families face barriers to participation in the special education process. Culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD), including Asian families, especially face systemic barriers when accessing services for their children with disabilities. In order to better understand parents’ perceptions of stress in relation to …

A Group Reading Intervention With Individualized Error Correction For Middle School Students With Reading Difficulties, Shengtian Wu, Kasee K. Stratton, Daniel L. Gadke

The Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship

Reading difficulties are common among middle school students in the US, especially among those with disabilities. Unfortunately, there is a significant shortage of professionals (e.g., special educators) who can provide high-quality reading interventions. Small group (SG) intervention is a group instruction that helps more students in need per intervention session and may mitigate the aforementioned shortage. SG intervention packages often include various intervention components that address skill and performance difficulties. However, SG reading intervention research has mostly focused on helping elementary school students without disabilities. Also, many SG reading interventions used one-size-fits all approach which restricted individualization of error correction …

Editor's Note

The Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship

No abstract provided.

Table Of Contents

The Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship

No abstract provided.

Using Behavior Skills Training And A Group Contingency To Promote Mask-Wearing In An Early Childhood Special Education Classroom, Kaitlyn Smith, Hannah Macnaul, Marie Kirkpatrick

The Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship

Coronavirus (COVID-19) and the resulting pandemic had widespread implications on the safety of the job tasks teachers are charged with each day. The Center for Disease Control (CDC, 2020) recommends people age 2 years and older should wear masks in public settings; however, for children with disabilities, wearing a mask may be difficult and as such, is not required. Special education teachers and students in particular are at high risk for exposure and contracting COVID-19. Therefore, behavior-analytic strategies that can teach and reinforce appropriate mask-wearing should be evaluated. Given the environment of schools at the time of the study, mask-wearing …

Editor's Note

The Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship

No abstract provided.

Creativity In The Virtual Classroom: Engaging Online Special Education Teacher Candidates In Their Own Learning, Rob Shauger, Kathleen A. Boothe, Marla J. Lohmann

The Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (2022), the number of college students enrolled in at least one online course was approximately 11 million during the 2021-2022 school year. Knowing that institutes of higher education (IHEs) are responsible for teaching students who are primarily online learners, special education teacher preparation programs at IHEs need to change their focus on how to meet these online learners' needs. There is plentiful research on what faculty should include in their online classes, but finding specific strategies and activities that engage students in their own learning can be challenging. This article provides teacher …

Interprofessional Practice Aligns With New California Teacher Performance Expectations For Students With Complex Communication Needs, Kai J. Greene, M.C. Kate Esposito

The Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship

Educators are bound to encounter students with a broad range of speech-language and communication needs in their respective classrooms. According to federal mandates, current and future teachers are required to implement inclusive practices, which involves providing access to communication for all students. This practitioner-focused article shares an interprofessional practice collaborative project developed between a university teacher preparation program and the speech-language pathology division of a large urban school district. As part of a requisite credential course on language development and early literacy skills, pre-candidate students in the education specialist credential program complete a course assignment led by a school-based speech-language …

Chronic Health Conditions, School Attendance, And Socioeconomic Factors: A Literature Review, Kristin Wikel, Andrew M. Markelz

The Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship

Students with chronic health conditions experience many challenges, such as increased school absences, that may impact academic success. Additional academic problems exist for students with chronic health conditions who also have socioeconomic status (SES) factors. A systematic literature review as conducted to study the interactions between chronic health conditions, absenteeism, and factors associated with SES. Findings suggest that asthma, the most common chronic health condition in children, is the leading cause of health-related school absences. Findings also suggest that factors associated with SES, such as family income, also impact school attendance for students with chronic health conditions. Although the results …

Ready Or Not, Here We Go! Preparing For The Education Specialist Teaching Performance Assessment, Rosalinda J. Larios, Calli Lewis Chiu, Rohanna Ylagan-Nicanor

The Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship

In the state of California, the Education Specialist Teaching Performance Assessment (EdSp TPAs) is the latest accountability measure to be required of aspiring education specialists. Existing literature has been overwhelmingly critical of the TPAs (Dover, 2022; Valdez et al., 2020). And now, in the dawn of the EdSp TPAs, there must be a candid conversation about preparing candidates sufficiently for the TPAs in order to avoid exacerbating the field that is struggling to recruit teachers. This article discusses three significant obstacles in preparing candidates for the assessment: challenges associated with identifying focus students, insufficient preparation among mentor teachers, and program …

Examining The Effectiveness Of A Multimedia Video On Pedestrian Safety With Postsecondary Individuals With Intellectual Disabilities, Kristina N. Randall, Shanna E. Hirsch, Abigail A. Allen

The Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship

Prior research suggests that the use of multimedia instruction along with video modeling increases the ability of individuals with intellectual disability (ID) to independently complete tasks. However, the previous research has not always included instruction of the underlying vocabulary, nor has it always resulted in skill maintenance. The purpose of the current study was to compare the effectiveness of multimedia instruction using video modeling to teach pedestrian safety signs to participants with ID to support skills needed for community. The effectiveness of the multimedia intervention was measured using a randomized control trial utilizing a pre-/posttest design. Participants’ knowledge grew significantly …

Early Childhood Educators’ Readiness Embrace Inclusion For Preschool-Age Children With Disabilities In California, Sachi Kondo, Andrea Golloher, Lisa A. Simpson, Peg A. Hughes

The Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship

Despite the push to increase inclusive early childhood (EC) care and education programs to support the learning and development of all children, such programs remain rare in California where most preschoolers with disabilities receive special education services in special day classrooms. Developing inclusive programs requires EC educators who are committed to supporting inclusion. Using a survey of EC teachers in public and private programs, this study sought to identify factors that influenced the teachers’ attitudes toward and self-efficacy for providing inclusive programs for young children with disabilities. While most of the teachers reported positive views of inclusion, they reported less …

Table Of Contents

The Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship

No abstract provided.

Comparative Effects Of Presession And Interspersed Attention On Disruptive Behavior In An Inclusive Elementary Classroom, Kerry Kisinger, Charles L. Wood

The Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship

This study evaluated the comparative effects of presession and interspersed attention on the disruptive behavior of an at-risk student in an inclusive fourth-grade classroom. Data indicated a decrease in disruptive behavior during both presession and interspersed attention conditions with the interspersed condition producing the lower level. Social validity measures also indicated the student was satisfied with the intervention and felt that it had a positive impact on his behavior. Additionally, social validity measures completed by the teacher indicated that while both interventions were reasonable to implement, appropriate for addressing the student’s disruptive behaviors, did not detract from the learning environment, …

Editor's Note

The Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship

No abstract provided.

Table Of Contents

The Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship

No abstract provided.

Characteristics Of Special Education Field Placements: An Exploratory Study, Karin M. Fisher, Angela Norris

The Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship

Research and policy in the field of teacher education recommend that special education (SPED) programs include opportunities for candidates to practice in supervised field experiences. Such field experiences (a) engage candidates in professional practice, (b) reduce their anxiety, (c) gain confidence, and (d) allow them to view themselves as educators. However, there is a lack of research on the characteristics of field placements in SPED. As a result of the dearth in the literature, the researchers discussed the results of an exploratory single survey study of 42 faculty members from institutes of higher education (IHE) from across the United States …

Peer-Mediated Instruction And Intervention To Support The Academic Achievement Of Secondary Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review Of The Literature, Michael W.M. Mahoney Ph.D.

The Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship

The purpose of this paper is to review peer-mediated interventions (PMI) as an effective teaching strategy in supporting the academic achievement of students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and additional learning needs. Using a systematic review of the literature, eleven (11) peer-reviewed articles met the criteria for inclusion. Results of this search identified four models of PMI that were used to promote on-task academic achievement and increases in correct academic responding. This paper concludes with suggestions for future research and recommendations for implementing peer-mediated interventions in larger inclusive secondary classroom settings.

A Practical Guide To Writing Behavior Intervention Plans For Young Children, Johanna P. Higgins, Samantha Riggleman, Marla J. Lohmann

The Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship

Early childhood special education (ECSE) teachers support children who qualify for Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) mandated by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA, 2004). ECSEs generally serve children under the age of five and are often asked to guide the development of a plan to decrease persistent challenging behaviors of children in classrooms. IDEA indicates that a Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP), based on the results of a Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA), be developed, written, and implemented when a child engages in behaviors preventing him/her or children in the classroom from learning. This article is designed to guide ECSEs and …

Understanding Novice Special Education Teachers’ And Paraeducators’ Mentorship Relationships: A Comparative Case Study, Maya Evashkovsky, Anna V. Osipova

The Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship

Novice special education teachers (SETs) often report on stress and burnout in their jobs, identifying collaboration with colleagues as a factor that supports them during the first years (Belknap & Taymans, 2015). While previous research focused on teachers' support from their mentor teachers, administrators, and colleagues, in this study we examined the mentorship relationship between SETs and their classroom paraeducators. We analyzed interviews of three novice SETs who taught in a large urban school district. All participants taught in Special Day Classrooms (SDC) and worked closely with paraeducators. The findings of this comparative case study suggest that these relationships are …

Functional Analysis In Simulated Environments, Claire Donehower Paul, Jennifer Walker, Cathy Thomas, Matthew S. Taylor, Jamie Best, Morgan Diaz, Chad A. Rose, Eleazar Vasquez

The Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship

The need for highly effective and qualified special educators continues to be a national concern. One of the primary reasons why teachers leave the profession is a lack of effective behavior management skills. Learning how to assess challenging behavior and its causes through functional analysis is one method to enhance teacher skillset in this critical area. The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of a simulation environment to train pre-service and in-service general and special education teachers to conduct functional analysis procedures with fidelity and compare those results to traditional didactic instruction. The results of the study …

Table Of Contents

The Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship

No abstract provided.

A Paragraph Text-Writing Intervention For Adolescents With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities, Derek B. Rodgers, Shawn M. Datchuk, Lanqi Wang

The Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship

Paragraph text-writing refers to constructing multiple words and sentences into the form of a paragraph. It is critical to overall written expression; unfortunately, many students with disabilities struggle to develop it to fluency. The present study investigated the effects of a multicomponent intervention on the accuracy and fluency of paragraph text writing skills of three adolescents with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The intervention procedures featured a combination of explicit instruction and timed practice delivered through a series of short, supplemental lessons. Intervention was delivered one-on-one, and a multiple probe across participants designed was used. Results were mixed, with two of …

Together We Go Far: Helping Doctoral Scholars Develop Collaborations In Special Education Research, Shanna E. Hirsch Ph.D., Nathan A. Stevenson Ph.D., Kaci Ellis M.Ed., Rhonda N.T. Nese Ph.D.

The Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship

Collaboration is an undeniably important part of academic work, making challenging, ambitious research possible and more efficient. Collaboration also serves as a foundation for scholarly networks of individuals with shared interests, values, and goals that support one another in many ways. In addition, collaboration is described as a critical component in recent doctoral funding calls (i.e., U.S. Department of Education, Personnel Development to Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities). Despite its importance, few special education scholars receive any formal guidance or training on practical, sustainable collaboration in academia. The need for a framework to support collaborations within special …