Education Commons^™

The Effects Of Art Therapy On Students With Emotional/Behavioral Disorders, Amy V. Krueger

Theses and Graduate Projects

The process of creating art is considered to be a therapeutic method for students with emotional behavioral disorders (E/BD) to non-verbally express their thoughts and feelings. It has also been used by therapists and at times collaboratively with special education teachers to assess thoughts, feelings and also state of mind. Research suggests that art assessment offers an uncensored view of a child's thoughts and feelings and is a nonverbal method of assessment for children who are still developing language skills or who are unwilling to verbalize their feelings or emotions (White, Wallace, Huffman, 2004). Art psychotherapy with students with E/BD …

Increasing Student Participation At Iep Meetings: A Case Study, Jerrilyn K. Henderson

Theses and Graduate Projects

At age 14, students in special education are expected to participate and contribute to decisions concerning their Individualized Education Plan (IEP) yet most do not understand the IEP. Nor do they understand how the IEP process works. This study is an effort to see if student participation in the IEP can be influenced by the direct teaching of the IEP process to the student before the IEP meeting. The study follows one student from the beginning of the IEP instruction through his IEP meeting and ends with his transition meeting into high school. The findings show that the student increased …

Impact Of Service Learning On Students With Emotional And Behavioral Disorders (Ebd), Anne Jenkauski

Theses and Graduate Projects

Service learning is "an education experience that provides students with the opportunity to participate in community-based activities and integrated classroom experiences" (Frey, 1999, p.337). Service learning is an approach that can be used to teach social skills in the "real world setting" to students with Emotional and Behavioral Disabilities (EBD) (Seitsinger, 2005). This research examines the question, "how effective is the use of service learning in teaching social skills to students with EBD?" I piloted service learning projects in two of my social skills classes for students with EBD in a suburban middle school. Following the projects, I conducted in-depth …

How General Education And Special Education Teachers Perceive The Behaviors Of African American Students In Their Classrooms Within A Suburban School Setting, Claudia Powers

Theses and Graduate Projects

This study was to explore the perceptions of general education and special education teachers and their perceptions of behaviors in their classrooms. A qualitative design using structured interview and observation was used to collect the data in the winter and spring of 2007. A sample of twelve teachers consisting of six general education and six special education teachers were recruited from Irondale High School in New Brighton, MN. Data collection and analysis were concurrent. Three themes emerged from the collected data. The themes regarding how the teachers perceived behaviors in their classes are teacher-student relationship, student's dress and the jargon …

Pairing Social Stories And Contingency Mapping: Reducing Social Anxiety In Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Holly C. Eisen

Theses and Graduate Projects

Students who receive special education services for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) all share similar characteristics, but to different degrees. These characteristics include impaired social interaction, impairment in communication, and restrictive and repetitive interests and activities. The challenges students with ASD have can often result in stress and anxiety in school. This stress can cause students to have negative behaviors such as verbal and/or physical escalations or shutdowns. (Mesibov et al. p.26) Students with ASD learn differently than typical students. They also interpret the school environment and the situations that arise very uniquely. Because of this, some authors have said that …

Understanding Secondary Students' Reading And Writing Records: A Study Of Curricula In Literacy Achievement, Kathleen M. Kinney

Theses and Graduate Projects

In accordance with the new federally mandated No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, states, districts, schools, and educators must set and implement a plan that ensures all students are academically proficient in the areas of reading, math and science by the year 2014. According to The National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP), the "national average reading scores of 4th and 8th graders have varied little over time, though both were 2 points higher in 2005 than in 1992. However, the scores of 12th graders declined 6 points during this period" (Livingston, 2007, p.6). As part of this research, I …

The Impact Of Animals With Struggling Readers, Jennifer Heyer

Theses and Graduate Projects

The purpose of this thesis was to evaluate the impact that dogs have with students that struggle with reading. Several programs have been implemented where students spend time reading books to dogs. During these reading sessions, students tend to be more relaxed and confident with their reading. For this thesis, the researcher collected evidence from six students to assess if reading to a dog assists student's reading achievement. Three students met with the researcher for sixteen weeks and worked on their reading skills. The other three students worked with a dog-reading team. Research was collected by using reading assessments, field …

Participation In Extra-Curricular Activities By Suburban High School Students With Emotional Behavior Disorders, Karin Dye

Theses and Graduate Projects

This study analyzes the current status of the involvement of suburban high school students with Emotional/Behavior Disorders (EBD) and their participation in extra curricular activities. Individuals who participate in extra-curricular activities are positively associated with a reduction in delinquent behaviors and show an increase in both academic and social performance. Results of studies with high school students across the United States have demonstrated that those students who become heavily involved in extra curricular activities tend to be model students and seldom get involved in delinquency and crime (Cassel, 2000). Students who are diagnosed with EBD, however, are more likely than …

Patient Education And Disabilities: What Works, Rachel F. Carroll

Theses and Graduate Projects

In the United States, up to 44 mlllion people, (about 20-25% of population), are estimated to have deficiencies in readirg, writing, spelling or math. This not only effects their education, but their ability to receive adequate health care. Effective patient education is essential for all patients, but special attention may need to be paid to those patients who have additional learning challenges. This project will show the development of an "educator guide" for patient education specialists,emphasizing strategies to work with people with disabilities for an effective patient education outcome. The educator guide will focus on several areas including the history …

Perspectives Of Teachers Who Choose To Leave The Field, Kirsten L. Dunstan

Theses and Graduate Projects

This is a qualitative research project focusing on seven experienced teachers perspectives of why they chose to leave the classroom. For this project, an experienced teacher is defined as a person who has taught for at least four years. Seven participants were interviewed on a variety of issues related to their perspectives on teaching based on their background as related to education and teaching experience, their perceptions of the teaching profession, whether they participated in a mentor program, their views on the support they received as teachers and finally, what their own reasons were for leaving. Identifying why experienced teacher …

How Do We Help Students With Autism Become More Proficient Writers?, Mary Floto-Thompson

Theses and Graduate Projects

This study explored the experiences of writing and examined the effects of incorporating a model of writing instruction that integrated strategy instruction and word processing into the writing curriculum of a small group of adolescent students with autism. The research project examined the effect on individual students of the use of Self-Regulated Strategy Development (SRSD) writing strategies on both the individual student's experiences of writing, and the quality and quantity of student writing output. In addition, the study examined the effect on individual students of the use of SRSD strategies followed by the use of word processing on both their …

A Schweitzer Approach To Higher Education: Utilizing Principles Drawn From The Life Of Albert Schweitzer To Develop A Holistic And Comprehensive Educational Model, John B. Miller

Theses and Graduate Projects

While quite young, Albert Schweitzer was already a well regarded philosopher, a gifted musician, and a groundbreaking theologian when he became a medical doctor and devoted his life to service in equatorial Africa where he received the inspiration for his central ethic of Reverence for Life. A Schweitzer-based higher educational approach draws upon Schweitzer's life example in interweaving elements of academics, arts, spirituality, service, and the direct experience of nature. The academic content is grounded in complexity theory, a post-moderm discipline which expands upon Schweitzer's recognition that, "l am life that wills to live in the midst of life that …

The Effects Of Sensory Integration Techniques On The Behaviors Of Students With Emotional And Behavioral Disorders In An Educational Setting, Christine Gutterman

Theses and Graduate Projects

OBJECTIVE,: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of the use of sensory integration techniques on the behaviors of students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) in an educational setting. Specifically, this study looked at the behavioral effects of the use of sensory intervention techniques, as well as, student opinions and views of using the sensory interventions.

METHOD: Data was collected from five students, between the ages of eight and 12, whom have emotional and behavioral disorders and attend a separate day school educational setting. Students were observed and their behaviors documented proceeding, during, and concluding each …

The Evaluation Of Prescribed Learning Periods In Middle School, Patricia Heldt

Theses and Graduate Projects

The Prescribed Learning Period (PLP) is a period replacing study hall in which students personal learning needs are met. During the learning period students are taught math, language arts, and other needed skills to enhance the students' education. Remedial, challenge, and midrange classes are offered. The purpose is for all students needs to be met at their level for one period of the day. The students may change groups as the teachers deem appropriate. These research findings determine the success and the future needs of the program. The findings demonstrate that the PLP program meets the needs of Response To …