Education Commons^™

The Effects Of Extended School Year On Students With Mild Disabilities And Its Relationship To Regression Rate, Whitney C. Sears

Theses & Honors Papers

This study is an historical study comparing the spring and fall test scores of students who attended summer academic program of one particular private school for students with learning differences, including autism, Asperger's Syndrome, dyslexia, attention deficit disorder, and nonverbal learning disabilities. This study concluded that there was a statistical significance between the regression rates in both reading vocabulary and reading comprehension among those who attended the summer program and those who did not attend the summer program. Those students who did not attend the summer program regressed in skills significantly. Those students who attended the summer program maintained or …

The Effects Of De-Tracking On Students And Teachers, Jacob M. Bultema, Kristen M. Scranton

Honors Theses

School districts use an array of methods to group students for their academic needs. In years past, many schools have tracked their students. This practice involves placing students in different classes according to their ability levels and past academic record. However, in recent years, some schools have decided to do away with this homogenous grouping and instead "detrack" their schools, grouping students heterogeneously. Proponents of tracking argue that homogenous grouping is advantageous to higher-ability learners. Teachers sometimes find it difficult to teach students with the broad range or achievement levels typically found in a heterogeneous environment. It is also argued …

The Identification Of Best Practices For Teaching Students With Limited English Proficiency And Degree Of Implementation In Salem And Cumberland Counties, Alice Nezu Peterson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine best practices for teaching students with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) and to investigate the extent to which these are implemented in two Southern New Jersey Counties. An analysis of current educational research revealed eleven characteristics of successful programming and instruction for students with LEP.

A total of 113 questionnaires were sent to randomly selected schools within Salem and Cumberland counties and 56 were completed and returned. Of the 56 schools that returned questionnaires, 20 contained significant populations of students with LEP. Ninety percent of the schools were in compliance with state mandates …

The Effect Of Sports On Self-Concept: A Comparison Of Students In A Special Education Resource Room Who Participate In Sports And Students In A Special Education Resource Room Who Do Not Participate In Sports, Meredith Fiori

Theses and Dissertations

Research indicates that students in special education have a lower self-concept than their non-disabled peers (Manhattan College, 1998). Manhattan College also states that students with disabilities who play sports have a self-concept equal to or higher than individuals without disabilities. Identifying the degree to which participation in sports may raise the self-concepts of students in special education is an important strategy in educational programming. Discovering techniques to improve the self-concepts of students in special education has been a difficult task for both teachers and parents.

The purpose of this study was to determine if a difference exists between the self-concepts …

Effective Classroom Strategies For Students With Adhd, Jennifer A. Berenguer

Theses and Dissertations

The purposes of this exploratory investigation were to (a) identify practical strategies for ameliorating Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder currently being implemented by teachers in the classroom setting; and (b) identify the strategies found to be most effective. Diagnostic criteria for the identification of students with ADHD are identified. Empirically validated treatments are identified and discussed. The role of educational professionals is delineated, demonstrating the need for identification of effective practical strategies for classroom utilization. Teachers demonstrated a high rate of frequency for utilizing practical strategies that they identified to be most effective. Implications for teaching students with ADHD in the …

Implementation Of Effective Practices By Special Education Teachers In The Classroom, Rae Malkiewicz

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which teachers were aware of and using effective practices in their classrooms. Reasons why they did not use a particular practice were also obtained. Fifty-five teachers were sent questionnaires and thirty-one teachers returned the questionnaires. From this data, the percentage of usage of each practice was determined as well as the percentage of implementation of each practice in five different subject areas. The results of this study showed that teachers are aware of and are using the best empirically validated practices.

A Study Of How School Board Members Acquire Their Knowledge Of Educational Issues, Susan L. Rice

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine how School Board Members acquire their knowledge of educational issues. A questionnaire was used to examine the socio-economic background of Board of Education members, along with their acquisition of knowledge. The questionnaire was distributed to Elementary and High School Boards of Education in the Southern New Jersey area. The data collected from the questionnaires, research on Boards of Education and conclusions drawn from the summary of the data are presented.

The study of the data indicates Boards of Education consist predominantly of white males, age 40 - 49, who have attended college, …

The Effectiveness Of Teaching Moral Development On The Ethical Decisions Of First And Second Grade Children, Anna M. Grant

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a program of character education administered to a group of first and second grade children over a six-month period. The subjects for this study attended or are presently attending Atlantis Elementary School, located on McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey. This information can help determine whether or not an unstructured character education curriculum can lead to improvement in moral and ethical decisions. Participants were administered two forms of an assessment over a six-month period. The first assessment was executed in September of 2001. The participants were then introduced to …

An Evaluation Of The Effectiveness Of The Mcgraw-Hill Mathematics Series For Use With Inclusion Students, Margaret C. Green

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the effectiveness of using the McGraw-Hill Mathematics Series with second grade inclusion students. Two students were pretested in October of 2001, using the final test from the Silver Burdett Mathematics Series for first graders. In March of 2002, they were tested again using the same test. The tests were compared to see what areas the students made improvement in since October. The students were also given the McGraw-Hill Cumulative Test for second grade on chapters 1-6. This was given in order to further assess the their competence on the skill areas presented in this series so far …

The Effects Of Character Education On The Moral Decision Making Of A Selected Sample Of High School Students, Carol E. Lively

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if a program of character education implemented in a public high school over a 6 month period would lead to measurable changes in value judgments as measured by the Student Survey of Social and Emotional Learning. The instrument contained 21 items requiring value based judgments to be responded to using a 5-point likert scale. One sample T-test showed no difference at the .001 level of confidence across the 21 items assessed. Also measured were teachers' perceptions of change in student behavior and attitudes toward school. Teachers felt there had been some improvement …

Comparison Study Of The Reading Achievement Of Students Who Have Participated In The Fast Forword Program With Students Who Have Not Participated In The Program, Nancy A. Werner

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine whether participation in the Fast ForWord Reading Program had an effect on reading achievement. Fast ForWord is a computer-based program that utilizes a CD-ROM as well as the Internet to enable students to learn and practice skills that are critical to language comprehension and reading development. According to Scientific Learning, the developer of the Fast ForWord Program, 40% of students need to improve their reading skills. Therefore, Scientific Learning developed a computer program that can alter speech sounds, enabling students to differentiate between phonemes, increase language skills, increase phonological awareness, expand working …

Average Effort Extended In Person Hours To Complete An Initial Child Study Team Evaluation, Lisa Hak Licciardello

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the number of person hours necessary to complete a Child Study Team initial evaluation by School Psychologists and Learning Disabilities Teacher Consultants in a random sample of school districts in Southern New Jersey. Sixteen components of an initial evaluation were identified and respondents were asked to report the time in minutes devoted to each component. Thirty questionnaires were distributed and twenty-four were returned. On the basis of the responses, it was found that School Psychologists spend fourteen hours completing an initial evaluation, and Learning Disabilities Teacher Consultants spend ten hours completing an …

Music Of The Mind: An Examination Of Music As A Communication Conduit For Autistic Children In An Educational Atmosphere, Sarah A. Mcgovern

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Topics covered in this investigation are autism, music therapy, and education. Music has a unique way to communicate and touch people like no other medium. It knows no racial, ethnic, or social boundaries and can be used for various therapeutic reasons, such as autism. This study investigates whether music is an effective form of communication for autistic children in and educational environment. Books, journal articles and websites related to these topics were used as sources in this research project. In addition, the author conducted a survey to receive a better idea of how the public views the affect music has …

A Study Of The Effectiveness Of A Structured Tutoring Program On Student Reading Skills, Rita M. Neyer

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if the students in the after school tutoring program made greater gains when receiving tutoring by certified teachers in a consistent structured program when compared to students not enrolled in the program as measured by a pre and post assessment using the Macmillan/McGraw-Hill Informal Reading Inventory and Decoding and Phonics Inventory.

The population for the study consisted of two groups of first and second grade students. Group one (treatment group) attended the tutoring program, which met two times per week. A certified teacher tutored students, one on one. Group two (control Group) …

The Impact Of A Congenitally Blind Child Upon Family Functioning And Interaction, Pamela S. Berryman

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine whether there was an impact of congenital blindness upon family functioning and interaction. This research investigated the level of blindness upon family adaptability, cohesion, satisfaction, and social family climate from a family systems perspective. The study analyzed data from a sample of 56 participants who were parents/care-givers of children age 0-12 years with either no vision, partial vision, or full vision. Chi-squares were computed to determine if any of the demographic variables differed among the three groups. Respondents’ gender, relationship to child, age, child’s level of blindness, number of siblings, and household …

Using Measures Of Intervention Integrity, Intervention Acceptability, And Intervention Effectiveness To Evaluate A Toilet Training Program In A Preschool Classroom For Children With Special Needs, Katherine M. Holverstott-Cockrell

Dissertations

The primary objective of this study is to use measures of intervention integrity, intervention acceptability, and intervention effectiveness identified by Witt and Elliott (1985) to evaluate the toilet training program in a preschool classroom. The second objective is to assess the effects of parent participation with the toileting program. The third objective is to assess the effects of the toilet training intervention. Specifically, this study investigated (a) the relationship between intervention integrity, acceptability, and effectiveness of a toilet training intervention implemented in a preschool setting and at home; (b) the relationship between parental participation with the intervention and the efficacy …

A Model Curriculum For Selected Physical Adaptations For Students With Special Needs, In Alignment With Washington State Essential Academic Learning Requirements (Ealr's), Eric Davis

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to develop a model curriculum for selected physical education adaptations for student with special needs, in alignment with Washington Essential Academic Learning Requirements (EALR's). To accomplish this purpose, a review of selected literature was conducted. Additionally, related information from selected sources was obtained and analyzed. The model curriculum was developed for implementation in the Ellensburg School District in the 2002-2003 school year.

Matching Effective Methods Of Teaching To Modes Of Learning: A Presentation For Educators Of American Indian Students, Lynn Marie Gellerson

All Graduate Projects

Reading is a skill necessary for social, academic, and economic achievement in our society. Research shows that minority children, such as American Indians, often struggle to become successful readers. It is necessary to understand causes that may contribute to the difficulties that American Indians have with effective acquisition of literacy skills. This presentation for educators of American Indian students will present information that will increase educators' knowledge of American Indian culture, and the culture of the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation. In addition, the effect culture has on an individual, the classroom, and reading instruction will be …

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.

Suburban And Rural Elementary Teachers' Knowledge Of The Role Of Ritalin In The Treatment Of Elementary Students With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Vicki R. Barrett

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The present study examined teachers’ knowledge concerning the effects of Ritalin of children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Two school districts were studied with the premise that a school district’s wealth had an effect on the level of teachers’ knowledge of students with ADHD. The Maryland Avenue Elementary School, which is part of the Bexley School District, located in a suburban area in Franklin County Ohio, was selected as the wealthy school district in this study. The Eastern Elementary School, which is part of the Meigs Local School District, located in rural southeastern Ohio in Meigs County was selected as …

Gender Equity And Computer Use, Raymond Rubalcava

Theses Digitization Project

The literature review shows that gender inequality in computer use exists today. The inequality begins at birth with society giving boys and girl's roles that they have to play. One possible solution to gender inequality in computer use is to put a gender equity program in place at public schools. Such a program would have to be woven into teaching practices and school activities to strengthen girls' confidence and their ability to achieve in computers.

California's "Long-Standing, Serious Noncompliance" In The Delivery Of Special Education And Related Services, Margaret Ann Kaspar

Theses Digitization Project

The intent of the review, and the list of programs appended to this paper, is to compile examples of successful programs that may serve as models for those in California who have been charged with the development and implementation of programs that will bring the California Department of Education/Office of Special Education and its local education agencies into substantial compliance with the requirements of IDEA.

A Case Analysis Of Three Middle-School Boys Who Have Down Syndrome And Have Been In Regular Education Classes Since Preschool, Eileen Frances Luddy

Dissertations

This study investigated the experiences of three middle-school boys who have Down syndrome and have always attended regular education classes.

Despite the existence of policies and initiatives in support of inclusive education, research on the implementation of inclusive practices in middle schools is sparse.

This study is organized in nine chapters. A review of literature revealed that significant research conducted during the past decade supports the practice of including students with disabilities in regular education and the benefits of inclusion outweigh the benefits of separate instruction.

A case study approach investigated the phenomenon covering contextual conditions surrounding the experiences of …