Education Commons^™

A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study Of The Lived Experiences Of Elementary Teachers In Inclusion Classrooms, Julie Elise Brown

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of elementary teachers in inclusion classrooms. The theory which guided this study was Bandura’s (2006) social cognitive theory as it related to the lived experiences of teacher preparedness for teaching in inclusion classrooms. Successful inclusion-setting outcomes were attributed to a teacher’s perception and attitude toward disabilities and their ability to teach them. This study was designed to answer the following central research question: What are the lived experiences of teachers regarding their preparation for teaching in elementary-level inclusion classrooms? Three sub-questions were used to understand the lived …

Examining The Predictive Relationship Between Map Reading Scores And Instructional Setting Among Students With Disabilities, Erika Renee' Simpson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, correlational study was to examine if the English instructional setting and special education disability predict the reading achievement of middle school students with disabilities. The findings of this study are useful in determining the effectiveness of inclusion in the English general education classroom for students with specific learning disability (SLD), attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and speech and language impairment (SLI). The 116 participants of this study are middle school students enrolled in a public middle school in Georgia. All participants received special education services through the implementation of an Individual Education Plan (IEP). Archival data …

Increasing Student Achievement In English Language Arts At The Secondary Level, Melissa Randall

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

This school improvement paper aims to explore a comprehensive approach to enhancing English Language Arts (ELA) standardized test scores at the secondary level through the implementation of a literacy program. The research focuses on four essential components: differentiated instruction, co-teaching, and on-going assessments. The central question guiding this school improvement plan is: "How does the integration of a literacy program, encompassing differentiated instruction, co-teaching, and on-going assessments, and lead to improved ELA standardized test scores at the secondary level?" The proposed school improvement plan looks to provide educators with strategies and tools to effectively engage students in English Language Arts …

Inclusionary Practices For Elementary Students With Disabilities, Caroline Brandau

M.Ed. Literature Reviews

This research explores inclusionary practices for elementary-aged students with individualized education plans (IEP) for special education. Three themes were identified: academic achievement through push-in services, secondary benefits of special education services in the general education setting, and power dynamics of stakeholders of inclusion. The paper goes on to examine how practices at Western Washington School District could be aligned with research and then explores implications for future research and transform practice. The paper concludes with a call to action and a positive outlook for the future of special education.

Student Perceptions Of Co-Teaching, Megan Berg

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The purpose of this study was to attain information on middle school students’ perspectives of co-teaching based on their experiences in co-taught classrooms. Co-teaching is a commonly used practice, generally between a special education and general education teacher, to support and meet the needs of all learners in a diverse classroom. Because inclusive classrooms are composed of students with and without disabilities, the individual expertise of general and special educators is essential in constructing a harmonious co-teaching partnership (Jurkowski & Muller, 2018; Ritter et al., 2020). According to Kirkpatrick et al. (2020), when co-teachers work together to share their knowledge …

Improving Performance And Participation Of Elementary School Students Through A Coteaching Model, Carson Roberts, Angela Labrie Blackwell, Anna Fung

Spring 2023 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

This project explored the use of a coteaching program with a general education teacher and OTD student at an elementary school. The poster provides an overview of the methods used, an overview of the coteaching program that was implemented, and the significance and implications of this project. The purpose of this coteaching program was to develop a coteaching program in which occupational therapists and general education teachers work together in classrooms to improve performance and participation of students with and without disabilities.

Efficacy, Attitudes, And Collaboration Of Co-Teaching For Middle School General And Special Educators, Ellenita Blanton

Doctor of Education Dissertations

The purpose of this mixed methods study was to investigate how general and special educators’ attitudes, efficacy, and collaboration promote co-teaching relationships that benefit exceptional students in urban middle schools. The impacts of co-teaching on the attitudes, efficacy, and collaboration of secondary teachers were explored. A questionnaire was distributed to general and special education teachers, and focus groups were held. The methodology included using a quantitative phase and a qualitative phase research design to collect the data. The quantitative measure used was surveys. Participants, who were qualified, were chosen for the interview and focus group portions of the study. In …

A Review Of The Literature Concerning The Implementation And Efficacy Of Co-Teaching As A Means For Meeting The Needs Of Students With Learning Disabilities, Lee Shearer

LC Journal of Special Education

The purpose of this literature review is three-fold. First, the common definitions and practices associated with co-teaching will be briefly explored, in order to outline a framework, against which to examine empirical evidence. Secondly, I will briefly examine some of the experimental evidence that appears to provide support for the efficacy of this form of collaboration. Next, it will be beneficial to take a brief look at some of the qualitative evidence that appears to exist, supporting the benefits of co-teaching, in the development of effective teaching practices. Finally, I will attempt to piece together this information in a manner …

Inclusion At The Secondary Level: Ensuring Factors For A Successful Co-Teaching Program, Luke Saechao

LC Journal of Special Education

The purpose of this literature review is to identify and examine what inclusion delivery models are being implemented, what co-teaching looks like, how it is being implemented, what implications for practice are being suggested, and specifically what factors help to determine success of a co-teaching program. After reviewing this literature review, administrative and educational professionals may have a better understanding of what the current research suggests, what current practices are being implemented, and what factors will help to foster a successful co-teaching program. They can further use the information from the discussions and practice the implications that are suggested at …

Co-Teaching Effects On Algebra I Achievement Of Students With Disabilities, Valeree Williams, Peter Ross, Chukwuemeka Eleweke, Shereeza Mohammed

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of co-teaching versus inclusive non-co-teaching for students with disabilities (SWD) using algebra I end-of-course scores (EOC) and whether these effects differed by gender. Participants included 244 ninth-grade algebra I SWD. The research design consisted of a posttest only with a control group and a test group. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to analyze the results. Results showed that co-teaching did not significantly benefit either male or female SWD in algebra I. The fact that SWD in inclusive settings who did not receive co-teaching scored higher than those in inclusive …

Using Co-Teaching In Developing Reading Skills Among Female Students With Learning Disabilities And Their Regular Peers, Maha Hamad Alsheeha Phd

International Journal for Research in Education

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of using co- teaching on developing reading skills for students with learning disabilities and their regular peers on a sample of fourth grade students at primary school in Riyadh. The subjects for this study were (74) female students distributed into two groups (control and experimental), each group consisting of (30) regular students and (7) students with learning disability. A pre and post-test was applied to both groups to measure their achievement in the reading skills: reading accuracy, speed and comprehension. The two groups were taught (40) lessons, each session lasting …

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.

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 …

Improving Inclusion: The Ongoing And Transformative Process Of Improving Education Systems To Meet The Needs Of All Students, Robert Mistler

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

For this Capstone Project the researcher will investigate how instructors view the environment of the classroom when there is a mix of special needs students incorporated into the general population classroom setting and what they think could be done to improve the environment. The inclusion of special needs is necessary for fair and equal treatment; further, by separating the general population from special needs students, brings about a culture of segregation that can have lifelong impacts. Through an evaluation of scholarly literature and interviews conducted with teachers at an elementary school the findings uncovered three emergent themes: collaboration with teachers …

Teacher Perceptions Of Co-Teaching Effectiveness In Inclusive Elementary Classrooms, Ann Sims

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine if co-teaching is an effective strategy of inclusion for students with Individualized Educational Program (IEP). Specifically, students in the general education classroom for grade levels kindergarten to fifth grade in the state of Illinois. Co-teaching has been utilized in middle and upper-grade levels, but the implementation of co-teaching has started to integrate into elementary grades. Two questions guided the study; is co-teaching an effective inclusive strategy for students with an IEP in a general education classroom; and does the model of co-teaching impact the student's academic progress? A quantitative study utilizing a …

The Effect Of A Training Program On The Attitudes Of Teachers Of Students With Learning Disabilities Towards Co-Teaching, Thouraiya Al-Khatri, Suhail Mahmoud Al-Zoubi Smalzoubi, Yousef Abu Shindi

International Journal for Research in Education

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a training program on the attitudes of teachers who teach students with learning disabilities (LD) toward co-teaching. The sample of the study consisted of 60 female teachers who teach students with LD in general education schools at Al Batinah South Governorate, Oman. The participants were divided into two equal groups (experimental and control); each group was composed of 30 teachers. The researchers developed a training program and attitudes toward co-teaching scale (AS). The AS was administered as pretest and posttest to the teachers in both groups. The experimental group …

Effective Approaches In Reducing Reading Discrepancy Scores Between Students In General Education And Special Education, Jeannine M. Butler Ed.D., Karee O. Nasser Ed.D.

The Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship

This research study examined curricular and instructional approaches that help students who receive special education services meet common Illinois state standards as measured by annual state standardized testing. Despite having supportive accommodations and modifications, Illinois students who receive special education services have lagged behind their general education peers in meeting academic standards as measured by annual Illinois state testing. Participants included personnel from schools that were identified as being high performing while also having the smallest discrepancy between students in general education and special education. These schools were investigated to determine what approaches they use to have this reduced achievement …

Is The Setting Important?: A Systematic Review Of Academic Achievement In A Variety Of Educational Settings, Shannon Jeralds

Educational Specialist Scholarly Papers

Since the inception of Public Law 94-142, which we now know today as the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA), in 1975, the question of how and where to educate students with disabilities has been constantly examined and re-examined. Students with disabilities have gone from being placed in an isolated area of the school (out of sight, out of mind) to being included in regular education classrooms and being expected to perform at the same level as students without disabilities. This has caused educators and researchers to wonder what is the best educational setting for students with disabilities to be educated, …

Improving Co-Teachers’ Relationship: How Teaching Experience Affects Perceptions Of Teamwork, Asher Samuel

Theses and Dissertations

Co-teaching is an instructional strategy wherein two teachers, a general education teacher and a special education teacher, share instructional responsibilities in a general education class that includes students with disabilities (SWDs) (Friend, 2010). Co-teaching has emerged as a strategy for ensuring that SWDs are taught to the general education curriculum while receiving specially designed instruction within the least restrictive environment (LRE) appropriate to their needs. One of the most important components of co-teaching is the relationship between the two teachers (Kohler-Evans, 2006), which has been described as a professional marriage (Friend, 2010). However, there is limited information on the factors …

The Relationship Between Co-Teaching Partnerships And Student Achievement, Tikki N. Middleton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Due to legislative mandates schools are required to educate SWDs in the least restrictive environment alongside SWODs, which lead to the rise of co-teaching. However, enhancing the quality of co-teaching partnerships to impact student achievement poses a challenge for many school leaders due to the absence of quantitative data involving the impact of co-teaching on student achievement. The purpose of this study was to identify correlations among the qualities of co-teaching partnerships in grades six through eight as measured by The Colorado Assessment of Co-teaching (CO-ACT), and student growth percentiles from Spring 2019 Georgia Milestones Assessment (GMAS) data in middle …

Perceptions Of Co-Teaching In Secondary Inclusion Classrooms, Tori Hill

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This study examined secondary teacher and administrator perceptions of co-teaching practices as they relate to preservice and in-service training. In this mixed-methods study, general education math and English teachers and special education teachers in three suburban high schools were given a survey to provide input regarding co-teaching practices in their school/district. The survey results were analyzed to determine trends of variables relating to teacher perceptions. Additionally, interviews with four administrators (three schools and one district) were conducted to correlate expectations, strengths and weaknesses, and training with the results of the teacher survey. Multiple themes emerged, which included collaboration/planning, administrative support, …

An Examination Of Co-Teacher's Instructional Practices And Social Validity Following Participation In Professional Development, Jessica Sitton

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

Because co-teaching teams often lack the support to continue to implement the evidence-based strategy of co-teaching beyond initial training and coaching sessions, this project studies the affect of training and coaching on teacher implementation and social validity following participation in co-teaching professional development. The Utah State Board of Education – Special Education (USBE-SES), from years 2012-2019, along with the Utah Professional Development Network (UPDN), from years 2014-2019 provided training, support and coaching to secondary co-teaching teams tied to the content areas of secondary mathematics and secondary English language arts (ELA). This project studied the continued use of instructional components specific …

Co-Teaching: A Win-Win Situation For All, Kimberly Watson

Culminating Projects in Special Education

Eleven studies looking at the benefits of co-teaching for everyone involved, including all students, teachers, and administration. Also, the key strategies to consider to have a successful co-teaching experience.

Common Factors That Benefit And Hinder The Co-Teaching Partnership In The High School Setting, Kaitlyn Nicole Muller

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this narrative study was to explore the lived experiences of both general and special education teachers in co-teaching relationships at Red Bank Regional High School in order to discover common patterns that benefit and hinder co-teaching partnerships across general and special education teaching roles, departments, and grade levels. Four pairs of co-teachers, eight total teachers, agreed to participate in this study. The co-teaching pairs were selected from four different departments, English Language Arts, History, Science, and Mathematics. Descriptive research, such as having the participants complete a survey, produce graphic elicitation tasks, and participate in an interview were …

Teachers Use And Perceptions Of The Impact Of Response To Intervention (Rti) On Co-Teaching At The Secondary Level In General Education Classrooms, Hawazen Alasiri

Dissertations

When working together, Response to Intervention (RTI) and co-teaching can serve the needs of teachers and their students in a duet that Murawski and Hughes (2009) called “a logical combination for successful systematic change” (p. 267). According to the U.S. Department of Education, the number of students with disabilities, ages 6–21, who spent most of the school day in general classrooms in regular schools increased from 33% in 1990 to 62% in 2014 (U.S. Department of Education, 2016). With twice as many students with disabilities attending general education classrooms today, it is essential that all stakeholders in the education field …

The Impact Of Co-Teaching On Mathematics Achievement Of Middle School General Education Students, Jarrod Bingham

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

To accommodate the presence of special education students in general education classrooms, many schools have implemented collaborative teaching or co-teaching, a model in which two or more teachers share responsibility for a group of students. While myriad research has demonstrated that this model benefits special education students, very little researchers have examined the effect of co-teaching upon the general education student, who often outnumber the special education students. The purpose of this quantitative causal-comparative study was to investigate co-teaching’s impact upon the mathematic achievement of general education students. The independent variable in this study was students’ placement into either a) …

Critical Elements Of Effective Co-Teaching In The K-12 Classroom, Julie M. Gaffney

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Co-teaching is a common and significant practice that pairs a special education teacher with a general education teacher for the purpose of enhancing the education of all students. In addition to giving students with special needs access to the content of general education classes, all students get the social benefits of being closer to their peers. Since the introduction of the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) (1997), methods of inclusion for special education students have taken center stage. Teachers and administrators are experiencing the benefits and challenges of this relatively new but successful concept. Research is plentiful but there is …

Assessing Reading And Mathematics Achievement Of Students With Disabilities In A Suburban Middle School, Terri Melissa Toomer

Theses and Dissertations

Co-teaching classrooms consist of general and special education teachers working together to benefit students with disabilities (SWDs). Many parents and teachers believe the content knowledge provided by general educators in the regular education setting, combined with the instructional service delivery model (SDM) expertise of special educators, will result in the greatest academic growth for SWDs. However, it is not known if SWDs served in one SDM progress at a faster rate than SWDs served in another SWD. Therefore, the focus of this study was to compare the reading and mathematics achievement of male and female middle school SDWs in two …

Attitudes And Effectiveness Of Teachers In Diverse Inclusive Classrooms, Pamela Moore-Mckinley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Students with disabilities who participate in a fully inclusive educational program have failed to meet district or state goals for adequate yearly progress. This student population is explicitly recognized in state and federal accountability systems. The purpose for this study was to determine how certain factors affected the implementation of inclusive services at one school. This study investigated how teachers' attitudes and perceptions toward inclusion, level of education, exposure to people/students with disabilities, level of support, and knowledge of laws governing the education of students with disabilities affected inclusive classrooms. Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences was used as the theoretical …

The Relationship Between Roles And Responsibilities Of Co-Teachers And Co-Teacher Self-Efficacy, Janet Van Heck

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This study is a survey that was intended to measure the connection between what co-teachers actually do and what they think they should be doing as best practice. Second, it intended to study the roles and responsibilities that co-teachers report fulfilling. Finally, whether self-efficacy is a predictor of co-teacher roles and responsibilities is further reported.

Three hundred twenty co-teachers participated in the study: one hundred sixty special education and 160 general education teachers in a large urban school district in the southwestern United States. Bandura’s Teacher Self Efficacy Scale (1994) was used with a tool for co-teachers designed specifically for …