Education Commons^™

Literacy: The Shape Of Something Possible, Miles Caudesch

Student Published Works

This article discusses the author's experience utilizing library resources to bond with a student as a substitute special education paraprofessional.

Literary Devices: Effects Of Classroom Management On Student Engagement With 1:1 Devices, Elizabeth Parker

All Master's Theses

The study compares two different classroom management strategies in a 5th and 6th grade classroom using an iPad based intervention. The students participated in 10 sessions of a language and grammar intervention on the Moby Max program. During five of the sessions, the teacher actively monitored the classroom, walking around the room, and redirecting students as necessary. For the other five sessions, the teacher used data from the intervention and monitored and redirected students from her computer screen. The data collected included the number of corrections given to each student by the teacher, the number of minutes the program considered …

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 …

Effective Methods Of Supervising Student Teachers In Special Education Environments, Tina Georgeson, Cory Gann, Steve Nourse

All Faculty Scholarship for the College of Education and Professional Studies

Although cooperating teachers design and implement model programs of inclusion and special instruction, the supervision of student teachers requires an entirely other "trunk full of unique tools." Successfully facilitating the student teacher's development requires not only good modeling, but also meaningful feedback that is honest and constructive. Such mentoring holds the most promise when the intern receives maximum experience with the tenets of a constructivist teaching philosophy and the implementation of best instructional and management practices. The cooperating teacher is ideally situated to interpret the contours of constructivist theory as it is manifested in daily classroom discourse and activity. Careful …

An Instructional Manual For Implementation Of Voice Recognition (Vr) In Written Communication, Lori Odagiri

All Graduate Projects

This project investigated the use of voice recognition for written communication. The literature review revealed a lack of research in using voice recognition with individuals with disabilities. An instructional manual consisting of a step-by-step process to guide students through the general training process and teaching students the additional features of the program to promote independent use of Dragon Naturally Speaking Version 5 for written communication. Field tests were completed with 3 students, two with physical disabilities and one with a learning disability.

A Manual For First Year Special Education Teachers, Billye June Dillard

All Graduate Projects

Special education faculty and staff face specific problems in educating children with distinctive needs. Overly high workloads for new teachers and paraprofessionals increase the amount of pressure placed on indi victuals faced with inclusion. This manual is designed to be used as a guide to help teachers through their initial introduction to the classroom. Special Education Law, Inclusion, Motivation Techniques for Special Children, and Parent Involvement are discussed. In addition, valuable resources for further exploration are provided.

A Recipe For Successful Inclusion, Holly Kay Dunham-Wheeler

All Graduate Projects

A model to assist in the process of including students with disabilities into general education classes for sixth and seventh grade students at West Valley Middle School in Yakima, Washington was developed. A literature review of current research supports inclusion as a model that addresses the school culture in the Untied States at this time. The literature review also indicated the need for schools to provide and teach study skills to better prepare students for their future.

A Handbook For Students With Dyslexia Learning To Understand It And Learning How To Help Themselves, Vikki L. Dolman

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to expand upon a current workshop that taught students about positive self-esteem and how to self-advocate for themselves, by creating a handbook of information about dyslexia and some strategies to pre-expose them to the workshop content. The handbook includes an appendix with all required material to complete the workshop. The project also contains, a review of current literature and research related to dyslexia including the definition, diagnosis, testing, remediation, and self-esteem in regards to dyslexia was conducted.

Promoting Self-Advocacy Skills For Students With Mild Disabilities, Loretta Lynn Franz

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to develop a unit plan for teachers to help promote self-advocacy skills in the Individual Education Program (IEP) for students with mild disabilities. The results of this study indicate that students with mild disabilities are required to be invited to their IEP when consideration of services are to be discussed. Students are often not successful in the IEP process because they are dependent on others to make decisions for them. They are not given the opportunity to make their own choices and decisions. They have a poor self-concept, lack of understanding, self-acceptance and motivation. …

An Adaptive Curriculum Students With Special Needs, John E. Janke

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to adapt existing social studies program materials for use with students with special needs in selected Washington State middle/junior high school. To accomplish this purpose, a comprehensive literature review of research related to social studies curricular and students with special needs was conducted. Existing curriculum was adapted, with special attention given to Washington State Essential Academic Learning Requirements (EALR) requirements. The project materials relate to European history from ancient to modern times, and may be a model for adapting other materials by other teachers.

An Alternative Residential Education Program: An Evaluative Study, Marc A. Kincaid

All Graduate Projects

Schools today are trying to make an adaptation to accommodate all children and their disabilities. For many, the problem does not lie in a child's learning ability, but rather in their behavioral disability. According to its mission, The Ranch is committed to not only accommodating at-risk boys, but is trying to help them re-adjust and re-enter society with the skills necessary to function in every day life. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate The Ranch by examining the effectiveness of the program and its goals. Evaluation was done both Formatively and Summatively, through interviews and documentation. The researcher …

A Guide Of Motivational Activities And Supplementary Materials For Use With Selected Reading Texts Appropriate For Use With Middle And High School Male Students With Learning Disabilities, Dianne Harmon Owens

All Graduate Projects

This project was designed to identify instructional strategies and activities to be used concurrently with selected literature for students with specific learning disabilities. As students progress through the middle and high school grades, specific strategies for reading are essential if students are to successfully comprehend narrative as well as expository text. Instructional strategies and activities were compiled for teacher use for male students at the middle and high school level.

A Model Inclusion Program For Primary Level Students, Greg S. Brown

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this study was to develop a model inclusion program for primary level students. To accomplish this purpose, a review of current literature and research related to integration of special education students into a "regular" classroom was conducted. Additionally, information from selected schools and districts related to primary inclusion programs was obtained and analyzed.

A Handbook Of Strategies For Serving Students With Special Needs In A General Classroom Setting, Susan E. Carthum

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to design and develop a handbook of strategies for serving students with special needs in a general classroom setting at Green Mountain Elementary School. To accomplish this purpose, a review of current literature and research related to special education and related instructional and behavioral strategies for elementary level students was conducted. Additionally, information and materials related to instructional and behavioral strategies used in the Central Kitsap School district was integrated into the project.

Selected Stragegies For Treating The Autistic Child In Elementary Schools In Taiwan, Yueh-Yun Chu

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to identify selected strategies for treating the autistic child in elementary schools in Taiwan. To accomplish this purpose, a review of current literature regarding autism and treatment of the autistic child was conducted. Additionally, related information from selected authorities on the treatment of autism was obtained and analyzed.

Special Recreation: A Manual For Theraputic Riding Programs, Robin R. Ryan

All Graduate Projects

Recreational opportunities are limited to individuals with disabilities. Recreation and learning how to utilize leisure time can be more important to individuals with disabilities than to others. Therapeutic riding was studied as a means to meet this perceived need. A manual was developed describing a professionally directed service designed to meet the recreational needs of individuals with disabilities in a therapeutic riding program.

Establishing A Positive School Climate On The Playground For Students With Serious Behavioral Disabilities: A Collaborative Effort, Mildred Carol Fletcher Garcia

All Graduate Projects

Social skills deficits of students with serious behavior disabilities are often an obstacle to integration into the regular education system. Many of the most troublesome problems occur outside the classroom on the playground due to the lessened structure constraints of the playground environment. As a result, the students are labeled "bad kids" by the teachers and paraprofessionals, are socially rejected by nondisabled peers, and the downward spiral of a negative social "trap" is begun.

The purpose of this study was to create an inservice training packet promoting collaboration between teachers and paraprofessionals providing students with serious behavior disabilities a positive …

Utilizing Applied Behavior Analysis: A Handbook For Teachers Who Are Dealing With Developmentally Delayed Children, Cleresse Sprague

All Graduate Projects

The author's perception is that a need exists for a classroom behavior management handbook targeting developmentally delayed children ages three years through first grade. Several occurrences have prompted this perception: 1. Approach by other teachers asking how to handle certain behaviors 2. Author's own experiences and frustrations 3. Participation in group discussions regarding behaviors The author has chosen to do this study and develop a handbook to meet this perceived need.

Inclusion: A Case Study At Coe Elementray School, Loretta L. Kimball

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to evaluate perceptions of the effectiveness or ineffectiveness of inclusion on the achievement of special needs students and to use this information to increase effectiveness in inclusion programs through the design and implementation of specific teaching strategies. To accomplish this purpose, current literature and research related to inclusion was reviewed. The writer examined how special needs and regular education students are affected and analyzed the variables, strategies and programs which increase effectiveness. The project that follows is a case study of what has been done in the past, what attitudes and perceptions exist and …

Staff Development Model For A Special Education Inclusion Program In The Northshore School District, John E. Deforest

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to design a staff development model for a special education inclusion program for the Northshore School District, Bothell, Washington. The inclusion model developed was intended for use by regular and special education teachers at the secondary level. To accomplish this purpose, a review of current literature and research regarding the special education inclusion concept was conducted and selected education inclusion models were studied.

Applied Science: Integrating Science And Vocational Education For Students With Mild Disabilities And Students Without Disabilities, Maurene R. Fink

All Graduate Projects

The study addresses the educational needs of students with disabilities and students without disabilities in the vocational and scientific fields while meeting the business community's needs for skilled employees. The project allows students to receive the advanced science credit as well as prepare students transitioning directly from school to work. Interviews of employers indicated that current educational systems do not adequately address the needs of the business community. Bellingham businesses are eager to participate with Bellingham High School in cooperative education programs.

A Guide For The Implementation Of A Commnity-Based Instructional Model To Teach Students With Severe Handicaps, Kenneth L. Skaley

All Graduate Projects

The need for and implementation of a community-based model for teaching language and communication skills to students with severe disabilities was studied. A guide was presented that includes a list of critical issues and solutions for a school district to consider prior to the implementation of a community-based instructional model. Suggestions and resources were included to be used by teachers to help make decisions about selecting appropriate instructional materials and strategies for teaching students with severe disabilities.

Increasing Reading Fluency In Students With Reading Difficulty, Kathryn Balabanis Peabody

All Graduate Projects

Four methods designed to increase reading fluency were employed in a primary level Special Education resource room. The methods were implemented in accordance with the theory and research regarding reading fluency. Each of the four methods effectively increased the students' ability to read fluently. However, the implementation of these methods varied in cost and time.

Supplimental Functional Reading Materials For Secondary Moderately Retarded Students, Kimberlie Ann Baglau

All Graduate Projects

Reading materials were compiled that would help secondary moderately retarded students develop reading skills needed to function at a more independent level than in the past. Materials were developed in the form of worksheets. These worksheets were designed to be supplemental materials to be used to reinforce the learning of functional sight words. Materials were produced for two types of functional reading: reading labels on medicine bottles and reading bus schedules.

Silent Reading Before Oral Reading On The Iri: Implication For Diagnosis And Instruction, Catherine P. Benedetti

All Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to test the effect of silent pre-reading on the number of oral reading errors a student makes on an IRI. Twenty children read passages silently and then orally read passages without pre-reading. The results supported the null hypothesis that there would be no statistically significant difference on oral reading performances for disabled second and fourth graders. Implications for diagnosis and instruction are discussed.

Notification Of A Commercial Reading Program Presented As Learning Activity Packets For Learning Disabled Students, Edna M. Meyers

All Graduate Projects

This project represents a modification of a commercial reading program, with individual learning activity packets as the management tool for the program. The project plan provides for:

1. Program goals and objectives

2. An initial placement test

3. Unit criterion tests

4. Mastery level tests

5. Individual learning activity packets

Each learning activity packet includes:

1. Individual student record and assignment page

2. Individual story report forms

3. Vocabulary words

4. Detailed comprehension questions

5. Individual student/teacher reading contract

This project provides a reading program that meets the unique instructional needs of the learning disabled student in a financially feasible …

Basic Living Skills Curriculum For Special Needs Students At The Secondary Level, Pamela Sue Hardy

All Graduate Projects

This curriculum provides guidelines to aid secondary regular home economic and special education teachers in preparing special needs students for independent living. The project included units on cooking skills, money management, and family planning. Each unit was sequenced into skills and included a pretest/posttest, suggested learning activities, monitoring procedures, and possible resources. A follow-up evaluation form, to be filled out by the teachers and students that utilize this course design, will measure the success of the project.

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.

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.

Prevocational Learning Kit For Those Using The Brigance Inventory Of Essential Skills, Anne Marie Ireland

All Graduate Projects

The problem was that the Brigance Inventory of Essential Skills gives a good assessment of skills a student possesses, but it does not provide activities or materials necessary to teach the objectives. A special education teacher who instructs a wide range of students with different handicapping conditions could benefit from an assessment tool that coordinates objectives with activities and materials.