Education Commons^™

Elementary Teacher Experiences With English Language Learners With Special Education Needs In New York, Colleen Ann Cahill

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study aimed to understand teacher experiences working with English language learners (ELL) with or suspected of having a learning disability. This study also addressed the current problem of ELL students concurrently being under and over classified as needing special education services. This study explored the experiences of elementary school teachers in the state of New York. The participants were from different school districts within New York State. The participants all had experience teaching students who were designated ELL who were currently in the process of response to intervention (RTI) or had already been referred and classified as having …

The Reality Of Vocational Maturity Among Talented And Normal Students In Ajloun Governorate, And Its Relationship With Some Variables, And The Academic Achievement, Faisal Al-Nawasra

Journal of the Arab American University مجلة الجامعة العربية الامريكية للبحوث

The study aimed to investigate the reality of vocational maturity among a sample of talented and normal students at the schools of Ajloun Governorate, Jordan, and its relationship with some demographic variables (gender, grade, educational level of the parents) and academic achievement. To achieve the study objectives, the researcher used the vocational maturity test developed by Krits, and translated into Arabic by Alsafasfeh (1993). The validity and reliability of the test were acceptable. The sample consisted of 291 students, 96 of whom were talented students, and 195 were normal students. It was a stratified random sample selected from the high …

The Predictability Of Positive Thinking Of The Gifted Students’ Psychological Well-Being Level, Majed Aldalham, Dr.K.Hammuri Abudallah Hammuri

Journal of the Arab American University مجلة الجامعة العربية الامريكية للبحوث

The current study aimed to identify the predictability of the positive thinking of the level of psychological well-being among gifted and talented students. This study consisted of (170) students, who were identified as gifted students and integrated into secondary schools in Abha city, Saudi Arabia. The descriptive and correlational method was applied. The Positive Thinking scale (developed by the researchers) and the Rosemary Psychological Well-being scale (translated and prepared by the researchers) were applied to the study sample. The results indicated that the levels of both positive thinking and psychological well-being were high among gifted students in Abha city. There …

Increasing Awareness Of Inclusive Stem Education Through A College-Level Student Research Group, Sami Kahn, Tiffany Agyarko, Grace Lanouette, Sean Lee, Courteney Wiredu

Journal of Science Education for Students with Disabilities

The underrepresentation of persons with disabilities in STEM reflects not only a moral failing in society’s commitment to equity but also a practical dilemma as science benefits from the contributions of people with diverse perspectives. While teacher education programs attempt to address equity at the K-12 level, societal biases and misconceptions about who is “able” in science present persistent barriers for people with disabilities throughout the STEM pipeline, in higher education, employment, and beyond. How can we ensure that students with disabilities will encounter professors, employers, coworkers, and peers who are supportive of their efforts in STEM? To address this …

A Special Educator’S How-To Guide To Visual Activity Schedules, Mary Elliott, Rasheeda Swain

Kentucky Teacher Education Journal: The Journal of the Teacher Education Division of the Kentucky Council for Exceptional Children

Students with disabilities often struggle with the transitions throughout the school day, which can lead to prompt dependency and the emergence of challenging behaviors. One evidence-based practice is the use of visual activity schedules (VAS). VAS provide a visual list of what will occur throughout the day, in the student’s mode of receptive communication (objects, picture symbols, words). VAS provide predictability to decrease the anxiety that can arise with transitions. The following practitioner’s piece provides guidance geared toward new special education teachers in how to choose the correct VAS symbols and create a VAS that is appropriate for your student’s …

Co-Teaching Strategies: Improving Student Engagement By Increasing Opportunities To Respond, Janet E. Nutt

Kentucky Teacher Education Journal: The Journal of the Teacher Education Division of the Kentucky Council for Exceptional Children

Research indicates that effective co-teaching using high leverage practices can maximize outcomes across content areas and positively affect student engagement. This paper discusses practical ways to increase student engagement by increasing opportunities to respond in a co-teaching setting. Specific examples are included for a secondary mathematics co-taught classroom, but the principles can be applied in any subject or setting. A proposed model of professional development and coaching to support effective questioning techniques and increase opportunities to respond is also discussed for the purposes of teacher training and professional development.

Using Cec High Leverage Practices To Prepare Teacher Candidates To Meet Individual Student Learning Needs, Michelle A. Gremp Ph.D, Ced, Julie Harp Rutland Ph.D., Maria L. Manning Ph.D., Mary Jo Krile Ph.D.

Kentucky Teacher Education Journal: The Journal of the Teacher Education Division of the Kentucky Council for Exceptional Children

Whether instruction is happening in traditional classroom settings or through a variety of virtual platforms, successful teaching requires that all teachers possess the ability to collaborate with others, evaluate student performance, establish quality learning environments, and individualize instruction. Drawing on the 2017 Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) publication, High-Leverage Practices for K-12 Special Education Teachers (McLeskey et al., 2017), the Special Education faculty at Eastern Kentucky University describe ways in which four intertwined components of collaboration, assessment, social/ emotional/behavioral practices, and instruction are incorporated into teacher preparation courses to equip candidates with skills to meet the individualized learning needs of …

The Why, The Who, The How… A Guide To Planning Effective, Collaborative, Person-Centered Transition Services For Students With Disabilities, Kristie Covington, Lorita Rowlett

Kentucky Teacher Education Journal: The Journal of the Teacher Education Division of the Kentucky Council for Exceptional Children

Providing effective transition services and plans for students with disabilities can seem like a daunting task to special education teachers and supporting agencies. Planning effective collaboration and coordination between stakeholders increases the likelihood that students with disabilities will graduate high school and participate in desired postsecondary activities, be it paid employment or postsecondary education (NTACT, 2019). Many special education teachers and supporting agencies are unsure where to start when planning and coordinating transition services; in response we created a document that can be used as a guidance and planning tool to design effective, person-centered, collaborative transition services. The planning tool …

Muscle Assessment System And Method, Steven M. Barlow, Jacob L. Greenwood

Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders: Faculty Publications

A system and method are described for assessing muscle parameters (e.g., force(s) exerted, force dynamics, strength, voluntary muscle movement, etc.) in a diagnostic or therapeutic environment. The muscle parameter assessment system includes a force-gauging device and a computing device. The force-gauging device includes at least one pressure-sensing component (e.g., transducer, pressure sensor, etc.) configured to respond to a force applied by a subject and produce one or more output signals. The force gauging device can further include electronic circuitry con figured to convert the output signals into data indicative of a muscle parameter. The computing device is configured to build …

Scoring Measures Of Word Dictation Curriculum-Based Measurement In Writing: Effects Of Incremental Administration, Apryl L. Poch, Abigail A. Allen, Erica S. Lembke

Special Education and Communication Disorders Faculty Publications

Spelling has been identified as a key transcription skill that emerges during the elementary years as students learn how to write and subsequently develop fluency with writing, making the assessment of spelling a critical component of evaluation systems within schools. This includes the use of curriculum-based measures of writing (CBM-W). This study examined the extent to which word dictation CBM-W administered during the Fall, Winter, and Spring of an academic year maintained technical adequacy across 1-min time intervals in grades 1–3. Results revealed moderate predictive and concurrent validity estimates with the Spelling subtest of the Weschler Individual Achievement Test-III. Statistically …

Does Speech-To-Text Assistive Technology Paired With Graphic Organizers Improve The Written Expression Of Students With Traumatic Brain Injuries?, Kayla Cuifolo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can range from mild to severe and can cause debilitating outcomes that require children to need specialized medical or educational services post-injury. Outcomes vary and are dependent on the location of injury, age, severity, and environmental factors. Some common deficits that happen as a result of a brain injury are fine motor and executive functioning skill difficulties. Fine motor and executive functioning skills are an important component of written expression. Therefore, this current study utilized a brief experimental analysis in order to determine the effects that speech-to-text assistive technology along with a graphic organizer has …

Challenging Behavior In The Classroom: Effective Strategies To Implement To Support The Needs Of All Learners In The Early Childhood Special Education Setting, Kassandra Otto

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

When examining how to meet the needs of children in the Early Childhood Special Education classroom with challenging behaviors, an essential component is addressing the behavior at an early age and preventing challenging behavior in young children. Setting up a classroom environment conductive to learning is essential (Alter & Conroy, 2005). Creating a positive teacher-student relationship creates mutual respect (McGuire, 2017). How educators respond to challenging behavior reflects the overall classroom environment (Strain, 2017). Literature was reviewed in two disability categories, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Emotional Behavioral Disorder (EBD), focusing on challenging behaviors in the Early Childhood Special Education …

Preschool Whole Group Circle Time: Does More Comfortable Seating Give Rise To Preschooler Engagement?, Roberta Kopel

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Flexible and alternative seating in the classroom has been a topic of research and implementation in the classroom in recent years. At this time, much of the research discovered looked at inflatable cushions, therapy balls, or even low tables using pillows as seats. It has been observed in practice by this researcher that many times what is sometimes labeled as flexible seating is just something that is “cute” and not a regular chair with a back and legs or flexible seating as noted in research findings such as a therapy ball. Thus far, it has been difficult to determine the …

Yoga As A Positive Behavior Intervention, Kristen Kadrie

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

This study explored teaching preschool age students how to use yoga strategies to calm their bodies, reducing the number of times a student demonstrates negative behavior. The fifteen participants were three through five year olds from one of the preschool classrooms at the Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM) Early Learning Center. Baseline data was collected for five days, resulting in a determination that four of the students would be considered the subjects for the study, one who received special education services. Additional baseline data was collected for these students for ten days. All fifteen participants and the classroom teachers were …

In This Together- A Collaborative Family Support Group Project, Gena Dempsey

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Abstract

According to a recent United Nations report, “the COVID-19 pandemic has created the largest disruption of education systems in history, affecting nearly 1.6 billion learners in more than 190 countries and all continents. Closures of schools and other learning spaces have impacted 94 percent of the world’s student population, up to 99 percent in low and lower-middle-income countries” (United Nations Policy Brief, 2020). The closing of schools and distance learning has disrupted the communication and collaboration between families and school staff in our local communities, causing damage to parent and teacher partnerships. The need is great to re-establish connections …

Professional Role Of Paraprofessionals: A Literature Review, Karli Kirkwood

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Abstract

Paraprofessionals are an integral component to the learning and growth of students with unique needs. While paraprofessionals are heavily relied upon to provide guidance, communication, instruction, and behavior management amongst other things, studies have found that many individuals working within this field feel underprepared expressing lack of training necessary to carry out the duties to which they are assigned. Professional development for paraprofessionals is limited, and the acknowledgement of such training lacks attention. Research shows that the roles, duties, and responsibilities of paraprofessionals are blurred and often overlooked. This literature review aids in defining the needs of paraprofessionals to …

Professional Role Of Paraprofessionals: A Literature Review, Emily Martin Thompson, Karli Kirkwood

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Abstract

Paraprofessionals are an integral component to the learning and growth of students with unique needs. While paraprofessionals are heavily relied upon to provide guidance, communication, instruction, and behavior management amongst other things, studies have found that many individuals working within this field feel underprepared expressing lack of training necessary to carry out the duties to which they are assigned. Professional development for paraprofessionals is limited, and the acknowledgement of such training lacks attention. Research shows that the roles, duties, and responsibilities of paraprofessionals are blurred and often overlooked. This literature review aids in defining the needs of paraprofessionals to …

The Pow+Tree Strategy’S Effects On The Argumentative Writing Of Struggling Secondary Students, Matthias Grünke

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

The present study aims to evaluate the effects of an argumentative writing strategy (POW+TREE) on four struggling ninth graders’ ability to produce persuasive texts regarding their point of view on different questions. I applied a multiple-baseline design to evaluate outcomes across participants. The results indicate the intervention helped students to write more extensive essays, and evidence shows an increase in quality. Follow-up data suggest the effects remained after the treatment ended. I also discuss future research and the findings’ implications for practitioners.

Peer Mentoring Programs For Students With Disabilities Attending Center-Based Schools, Andrea L. Vargo

Culminating Experience Projects

Due to the level of support needed to become successful, students with moderate to severe disabilities may be placed in a center-based program separate from their typically developed peers. In this placement, students with disabilities, who often have deficits in the areas of communication and social interaction, have little to no access to their peers without disabilities. Therefore, developing and implementing a program that encourages both access to same-age peers and opportunities to improve social interaction skills would be ideal. One of the best ways to provide strategies for these opportunities is through peer-mediated instruction, specifically peer mentorship. The goals …

Strategies For Teaching Based On Autism Research (Star Program) Curriculum Review And Implementation, Cassidy Harrington

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is becoming more prevalent in school systems. Researchers began tracking the prevalence of ASD in the year 2000. It is estimated that 1 in 68 children have ASD in the United States of America (1 in 42 prevalence for boys and 1 in 189 prevalence for girls) (Landa, 2018). Medically a child can be diagnosed with ASD but school systems themselves are not able to formally diagnose ASD in children. (ECTA, 2012). ASD can be hard to diagnose as some cases are more severe than others and the earlier that a child is found to have …

Co-Teaching: How And Where To Begin In A Middle School, Janaya Fugleberg

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

In 2004 the Individuals Education with Disabilities Act (IDEA) provided a directive that public agencies needed to educate children with disabilities alongside children who do not have a disability. This needed to occur in the least restrictive environment possible. The purpose of this was to allow students with disabilities to be in the general education classroom as much as possible because when students are pulled out of class they are missing academics and social opportunities with their peers. Co-teaching is an instructional strategy that allows for students with disabilities to stay in their classroom while still receiving the support they …

Effects Of Inclusive Social Skills Training On Preschoolers, Lauren E. Weiss

Special Education ETDs

Social interventions for children with disabilities are generally conducted in small groups and outside of the classroom; therefore, little is known about inclusive and classwide social interventions in early childhood educational settings. This study evaluated the effects of inclusive social skills training (ISST), a program delivered remotely to inclusive preschool classrooms via direct instruction, video modeling, rehearsal, and feedback, to teach social skills. Educators rated preschoolers' social skills in a nonequivalent pretest-posttest design and evaluated the social validity of ISST. I examined the differences in scores. A significant interaction effect was detected in the program group between abilities. Overall, educators …

Avmr One Intervention Implementation, Seth Kaiser

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

There are a variety of ways to identify a student who may have a specific learning disability in math, or who is just struggling with math. Whether it is cognitive, social / behavioral, or physical characteristics, or through assessment, all these students have one common need, they need a strong intervention to improve their mathematical skills. This intervention should be one that is research-based and supports students who are struggling with math or have a math learning disability. AVMR uses a variety of evidence-based practices including explicit instruction, visual support, and formative assessment to act and adjust to students' needs. …

Comparing Special Education Teachers’ Personality Profile With Their Choice To Teach, Laron A. Scott, Lauren Bruno, Philip Gnilka, Lindsay Kozachuk, Katherine Brendli, Vivian Vitullo

Excelsior: Leadership in Teaching and Learning

Researchers have yet to examine the association of Holland personality profiles as it relates to special education teachers. In response to this need, we report the personality and vocational profiles (Holland Codes) of 134 special education teachers across a special education training program. The purpose of this paper is to summarize findings from the Self-Directed Search measure commonly used to assess the personality of participants in an occupation and suggest implications for participants’ choice in becoming a special education teacher. Our focus was on personality match with vocational choice to include participants’ demographic (e.g., gender, race/ethnicity, and geographical location) profile. …

Is There A Disproportionate Representation Of African American Males In Special Education? A Causal-Comparative Investigation, Kiena S. Hughley, Karen H. Larwin

Journal of Organizational & Educational Leadership

African American male students are disproportionately represented in special education. The purpose of the current study is to examine the disproportionality of African American male students who are referred to special education programs and are identified special education services, specifically in the areas of Emotional Disturbance (ED), Specific Learning Disability (SLD), and other low incidence disabilities (OTH), which includes Speech & Language Instruction, Other Health Impaired, Autism, and Traumatic Brain Injury, in Northeast Ohio’s suburban school district for the 2017-2020 school year. The sample was drawn from a suburban school district in Northeast Ohio which consisted of six schools. Findings …

Missing Pieces And Voices: Steps For Teachers To Engage In Science Of Reading Policy And Practice, Kathleen S. Howe, Teddy D. Roop

Michigan Reading Journal

The current wave of dyslexia legislation backed by the science of reading is the latest literacy policy added to a decades-long list. Teachers, whose voices were largely excluded, are key stakeholders in any literacy policy initiative and are well-suited to inform policymakers about the complexities of teaching readers who struggle, including those diagnosed with dyslexia. This article previews the implications of legislation that narrowly focuses on “science” and disregards unique individual reader profiles. This article encourages teachers to get involved with policy that impacts their practices and provides suggestions to ensure their voices are included in this and future initiatives.

Rural Leaders’ Experiences Implementing Fape For Students With Intellectual Disabilities, Jessica J. Vogel

Dissertations and Theses

To provide effective leadership and ensure students with intellectual disabilities are receiving an appropriate education, principals must understand the substantial needs of these students. The experiences of rural principals’ leadership in providing a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) for students with intellectual disabilities are not well known. In this study, I sought to describe the experiences of remote rural principals in South Dakota in providing FAPE for students with intellectual disabilities. Eight principals of remote rural school districts, with at least one year of leadership experience, participated in this study. This phenomenological study utilized structured interviews to collect data. …

Balance Control And Exercise-Based Interventions In Older Adults, Youngwook Kim

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Loss of balance and consequential falling, caused by natural degenerations in the sensory and motor systems with aging, are critical issues that require constant research exploration to ultimately improve the quality of life in older populations. Balance can be simply classified into static and dynamic balance, and the latter is more associated with common causes of falling in older adults. There are numerous ways to improve dynamic balance, and exercise training has been considered the most beneficial intervention for that purpose. Specifically, aquatic exercises have been suggested as a promising modality because several properties of water, including buoyance and hydrostatic …

A Parent Survey On Discrete Trial Teaching Versus Naturalistic Teaching And The Use Of Behavioral Terminology, Mckenzie Steele

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Children receiving special education are often exposed to a variety of learning strategies. Care providers may use an array of different strategies when describing therapeutic approaches to parents (including the use of technical or layman terminology), and research has indicated that the use of technical terminology may influence individuals’ perceptions of behavior therapy. This study examined the use of behavioral and layman terminology and video models to see if it affected parents’ preference between Discrete Trial Teaching, and Naturalistic Teaching. Participants were parents with children receiving special education services between the ages of 2-5 years old. Data were collected by …

An Investigation Into The Feasibility Of Streamlining Language Sample Analysis Through Computer-Automated Transcription And Scoring, Carly Fox

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of the study was to investigate the feasibility of streamlining the transcription and scoring portion of language sample analysis (LSA) through computer-automation. LSA is a gold-standard procedure for examining childrens’ language abilities that is underutilized by speech language pathologists due to its time-consuming nature. To decrease the time associated with the process, the accuracy of transcripts produced automatically with Google Cloud Speech and the accuracy of scores generated by a hard-coded scoring function called the Literate Language Use in Narrative Analysis (LLUNA) were evaluated. A collection of narrative transcripts and audio recordings of narrative samples were selected to …