Education Commons^™

Speech And Language Development Of Bilingual Deaf And Hard Of Hearing Children, Joanne J. Ryu

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Due to gaps in literature exploring communication outcomes in Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) children with access to more than one spoken language, limited agreement on optimal language use for DHH children, and an ongoing cultural and linguistic loss in this population, the aim of this pilot study was to further the literature and comprehensively explore the impact of oral bilingualism in DHH children. Participants were self-selected and recruited primarily through relevant social media. Speech and language development in children were observed and quantified at two time points (at the time of enrollment into the study and subsequently after …

The Importance Of Administrative Support For Special Education Teachers, Shari E. Lujan

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Since the inception of special education laws in the 1970’s, special education teachers have been given the responsibility of educating children with exceptional needs. Those needs range from children with mild to moderate disabilities to children with moderate to severe disabilities. There are 13 categories that a child can qualify for special education services through an Individual Education Program (IEP). The majority of children with exceptional needs are educated on general education campuses. With high stakes testing and the push for academic excellence, one may wonder how a child with exceptional needs fits into a general education campus. The Education …

Instructional Decision-Making For Students In Community-Based Transition Programs, Rachel Knoepfle

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Per the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA), students with moderate to severe intellectual disabilities are eligible to receive transition services beyond twelfth grade, if they have not met the requirements for a high school diploma. There is not a formal model for how transition services should be implemented and there a number of factors in play when considering instruction for students in transition classrooms. Thus, the following questions arise: what does teaching and learning look like in such a classroom? How do teachers of CBT programs explain and understand their curriculum decision-making processes?

This study employed the methods …

The Relationship Between The Cefi, As A Measure For Executive Function, And The Basc-3, As A Measure Of Externalizing Behavior, On School Problems For Children Receiving Special Education Services, David Looney

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the relationship between executive function and externalizing behaviors within a student population that was assessed for special education services. Executive function was measured by using the Comprehensive Executive Function Inventory (CEFI). Externalizing behaviors and school problems was measured using the Behavior Assessment System for Children, Third Edition (BASC-3). Four separate structural equation models were produced and analyzed to examine this relationship. The results from this study indicate that there is a significant direct effect from executive function on externalizing behaviors and school problems, such that higher scores in executive function yielded lower externalizing behavior and school problems …

Co-Teaching: Loss Of Professional Space From The Perspective Of Special Education And General Education Teachers, Cordelia Azumi Yates

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the perspectives of special and general education teachers on the loss of their professional space because of the co-teaching program. This was accomplished through the qualitative methods of data collection and analysis, by in-depth semi-structured face-to-face interviews that were recorded using an electronic device and note taking. The interviews were conducted individually with six high school teachers from public schools, of which four were special education teachers and two were general education teachers. These interviews revealed that teachers defined professional space as personal identity and felt that the loss of their professional space emotionally impacted them. The …

Developing Individualized Education Programs With Culturally And Linguistically Diverse Families From Low-Income Homes : A Heuristic Inquiry Of Special Education Teachers, Kristen E. Clark

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Research shows evidence of overrepresentation of culturally and linguistically diverse children enrolled in special education services, a positive correlation between parent involvement and academic success, and a plethora of barriers impeding active 6 parent participation in IEP development. Barriers include language, culture, low income, . and school climate and team dynamics. The aim of this study was to explore: (a) In what ways do special education teachers engage with culturally and linguistically diverse families from low-income homes in the IEP development process? (b) In what ways do special education teachers address culturally and linguistically diverse children's educational needs while also …

The Effect Of Conversational Skills And Self-Monitoring Training On The Acquisition, Generalization And Maintenance Of Conversational Behaviors Of Elementary Students With Learning-Disabilities, Gail Peterson Craig

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

This study was designed to investigate the effectiveness of a conversational skills training package (i.e., instruction, modeling, behavior rehearsal and feedback) with elementary students with learning disabilities. Self-monitoring techniques were incorporated into the training program in an attempt to actively program for generalization and maintenance. It was hypothesized that training in self-monitoring techniques would enhance the transfer of the behaviors to the natural environment and increase their durability. Question-asking, information-adding, and use of minimal encouragers were chosen as the conversational skills to be trained as they had been shown to be important for performing successfully within a conversation. A multiple …

The Effects Of Peer Administered Methods For Increasing Social Interaction Between Young Handicapped And Nonhandicapped Children, Marilyn Kathleen Errett

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to compare the use of peer administered contingent reinforcement for social interaction with the use of play materials that facilitate interaction. The subsequent effects on the social interaction of mainstreamed preschool handicapped children with their nonhandicapped peers was examined. Three nonhandicapped kindergarten children were paired with three moderately mentally handicapped preschool children and trained to initiate play. A single-subject, alternating treatment design with a withdrawal phase was used to compare the effects of the two treatments. Generalization immediately following each treatment was also examined as was maintenance over time. Observers used an interval recording …

Effects Of Parent Training Resource Specialist Inservice Upon Parent Participation During Iep Development, Sandie Lalack Nutter

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

PROBLEM: The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of direct and indirect parent training and of Resource Specialist inservice upon parents' participation during the IEP review meeting, parents' knowledge of the IEP process and parents' satisfaction with the IEP and IEP meeting.

PROCEDURE: Parents of 98 children being served in Resource Specialist Programs in one school district were observed during annual IEP review meetings. Parents were randomly assigned to one of six treatment groups. Six Resource Specialists volunteered to receive inservice and five others comprised the control group. Thirty-two parents participated in direct training conducted by the …

The Role And Primary Responsibilities Of The Program Specialist In The California Special Education Local Plan Areas: A Consensus Model, Cheryl Ann Mcelhany

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role and importance of the program specialist's position in the California Special Education Local Plan Areas and to ascertain the primary responsibilities of the program specialist's position.

Procedures. Ninety-seven California Special Education Local Plan Areas (SELPAs) were surveyed. Due to the variations in geographic size, average daily attendance, and actual years (0-5) of the SELPAs, subgroups of the study focused on the variables of size and longevity. Individuals selected to provide the data from each SELPA were its director and one program specialist designated by the director. Eighty-one SELPAs completed …

The Resource Specialist Role In California: An Analysis Of Perceptions, Eleanor Marie Landon

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Problem. The Resource specialist is responsible for California's primary program to mainstream handicapped students. The Resource Specialist role is not comprehensively defined in state law or regulation and divergent expectations for Resource Specialists appear to impact upon successful program implementation. Purpose. The purpose of this study was to provide a comprehensive, prioritized description of the major tasks of the Resource Specialist role, as perceived by three groups of educators involved with pilot Resource Specialist Programs in Master Plan Region schools. These groups were: (1) site administrators responsible for regular and Resource Specialist Programs, (2) classroom teachers with Resource Specialist Program …

The Effects Of An Enriched Educational Program On The Academic, Intellectual, And Behavioral Functioning Of Underachieving, Culturally Disadvantaged, Mentally Gifted Minors, Douglas Charles Widdup

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Purpose. This study was designed to investigate the effects of a special remedial program on the intellectual, academic, and behavioral functioning of underachieving, culturally disadvantaged, mentally gifted minors. The study also concerned itself with student school attendance and parent attendance at parent-teacher conferences. Variables. The selected variables for this study were IQ, academic achievement, student behavior, student attendance, and parent attendance at teacher conferences. IQ was measured with the Stanford-Binet LM intelligence test. Academic achievement was measured with two instruments, the Comprehensive Tests of Basic Skills in Reading, Language, and Arithmetic, and the Peabody Individual Achievement Test in Reading Recognition, …

Educationally Handicapped Children: A Comparative Study Of Academic Achievement, Creativity And Locus Of Control With Students In Learning Disability Groups And Special Day Classes, Grades Three And Four, Rodney Tognetti

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to survey ·learning disability students and students in special day classes and to compare them on select characteristics to each other and to children attending regular day classes.

VARIABLES: The selected variables. for this study were creativity, locus of control, and academic achievement. Each of these variables was divided into sub-parts permitting a more inclusive consideration. Creativity was measured for the factors of fluency, flexibility, originality, and elaboration. Locus of control was separated into three parts, each measuring one of the following: student responsibility for academic failure, (I-); responsibility for academic success, (I+); …