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Full-Text Articles in Education

Knowledge And Skills Of Special Education Teachers In Implementing Evidence-Based Practices, Fatmah R. Almutiri, Sultanah F. Alotaibi, Norah A. Albaz, Sarah S. Alfawaz Jan 2024

Knowledge And Skills Of Special Education Teachers In Implementing Evidence-Based Practices, Fatmah R. Almutiri, Sultanah F. Alotaibi, Norah A. Albaz, Sarah S. Alfawaz

International Journal for Research in Education

This study aimed at knowing the reality of special education teachers’ knowledge and skills in implementing evidence-based practices, the factors contributing to this knowledge, and its impact on implementing these practices. The mixed-methods sequential explanatory design was used with its two phases: In the quantitative phase, a descriptive survey was used through a questionnaire that was distributed to (311) male and female teachers in the three school levels in Riyadh. Results showed that the teachers’ knowledge of evidence-based practices was medium. However, the results revealed that their implementation skills level of evidence-based practices was low. There were statistically significant differences …


Paraprofessionals In A Special Education Setting: A Qualitative Exploration Of Their Perceptions, Chana S. Max, Keisha Mccoy-Dailey Jan 2024

Paraprofessionals In A Special Education Setting: A Qualitative Exploration Of Their Perceptions, Chana S. Max, Keisha Mccoy-Dailey

The Qualitative Report

Paraprofessionals support teachers and students in the classroom. Their roles and responsibilities vary; however, their goal is always to improve student achievement. The purpose of the study was to fill a gap in the literature related to special education paraprofessionals’ perceptions, attitudes, and beliefs on the support and trainings they receive prior to and during their job as a paraprofessional for students in a special education setting. Generic qualitative methodology was used to capture the thoughts, experience, and perceptions of 42 paraprofessionals across the United States. Data collection included an eight-question online questionnaire. Results of the study revealed five patterns …


The Other Fifty Percent: Expressions From Special Education Teachers About Why They Persist In The Profession, Laron A. Scott, Christine Powell, Lauren Bruno, Christopher J. Cormier, Kendra Hall, Old Dominion University, Joshua P. Taylor, Katherine Brendli Nov 2023

The Other Fifty Percent: Expressions From Special Education Teachers About Why They Persist In The Profession, Laron A. Scott, Christine Powell, Lauren Bruno, Christopher J. Cormier, Kendra Hall, Old Dominion University, Joshua P. Taylor, Katherine Brendli

Excelsior: Leadership in Teaching and Learning

We examined reasons special educators are motivated to persist in the profession despite challenges that often lead to attrition for this group. Participants were 21 special education teachers with six or more years of teaching experience across multiple grade levels. Data were collected via the Zoom virtual meeting platform with four focus groups. Semi-structured interview techniques were used, and data were analyzed using deductive coding procedures. Participants shared external, employment, and personal factors associated with Billingsley’s (1993) career decision framework that influenced their persistence, such as supports from school administrators with expertise in special education law, passion for students and …


Revisiting Secondary Education Reform In China: Comparing The Perceptions Of Teachers And Students Between 2012 And 2022, Yixiang Jin, Yee Han Peter Joong, Rose Gibbs Nov 2023

Revisiting Secondary Education Reform In China: Comparing The Perceptions Of Teachers And Students Between 2012 And 2022, Yixiang Jin, Yee Han Peter Joong, Rose Gibbs

Chinese/English Journal of Educational Measurement and Evaluation | 教育测量与评估双语期刊

This mixed methods study compares how secondary school teachers implemented Education Reform in China in 2012 and 2022. The survey asked how often a teaching or evaluation strategy was used. The conclusions of the current study indicate that even though teacher-directed lessons (teacher talk, questioning, and discussions) still dominated, sample teachers were able to use a variety of student-centered learning (SCL) methods (activities and group work) in accordance with the Reform initiatives. A significant obstacle for the reform remains high-stakes examinations, which rely heavily on rote memorization, rather than the creative application of knowledge.


Preparing Aspiring Leaders To Address Special Education Needs In An Embedded Principal Residency Program: A Content Analysis, Dusty L. Palmer, Linnie Greenless, Fernando Valle, Cathy Palmer Sep 2023

Preparing Aspiring Leaders To Address Special Education Needs In An Embedded Principal Residency Program: A Content Analysis, Dusty L. Palmer, Linnie Greenless, Fernando Valle, Cathy Palmer

School Leadership Review

This content analysis aims to investigate the effectiveness of a job-embedded principal residency program in addressing special education needs within schools. By analyzing various sources such as action plans, participant reflections, and student outcomes, this research seeks to provide insights into the impact of the program on improving special education practices, fostering inclusive environments, and enhancing overall student achievement. The findings of this study have the potential to inform principal preparation programs, school administrators, and educators about the benefits and challenges of implementing best practices to support support students with special education students.


Interprofessional Practice Aligns With New California Teacher Performance Expectations For Students With Complex Communication Needs, Kai J. Greene, M.C. Kate Esposito Jun 2023

Interprofessional Practice Aligns With New California Teacher Performance Expectations For Students With Complex Communication Needs, Kai J. Greene, M.C. Kate Esposito

The Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship

Educators are bound to encounter students with a broad range of speech-language and communication needs in their respective classrooms. According to federal mandates, current and future teachers are required to implement inclusive practices, which involves providing access to communication for all students. This practitioner-focused article shares an interprofessional practice collaborative project developed between a university teacher preparation program and the speech-language pathology division of a large urban school district. As part of a requisite credential course on language development and early literacy skills, pre-candidate students in the education specialist credential program complete a course assignment led by a school-based speech-language …


Creativity In The Virtual Classroom: Engaging Online Special Education Teacher Candidates In Their Own Learning, Rob Shauger, Kathleen A. Boothe, Marla J. Lohmann Jun 2023

Creativity In The Virtual Classroom: Engaging Online Special Education Teacher Candidates In Their Own Learning, Rob Shauger, Kathleen A. Boothe, Marla J. Lohmann

The Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (2022), the number of college students enrolled in at least one online course was approximately 11 million during the 2021-2022 school year. Knowing that institutes of higher education (IHEs) are responsible for teaching students who are primarily online learners, special education teacher preparation programs at IHEs need to change their focus on how to meet these online learners' needs. There is plentiful research on what faculty should include in their online classes, but finding specific strategies and activities that engage students in their own learning can be challenging. This article provides teacher …


Ready Or Not, Here We Go! Preparing For The Education Specialist Teaching Performance Assessment, Rosalinda J. Larios, Calli Lewis Chiu, Rohanna Ylagan-Nicanor Jun 2023

Ready Or Not, Here We Go! Preparing For The Education Specialist Teaching Performance Assessment, Rosalinda J. Larios, Calli Lewis Chiu, Rohanna Ylagan-Nicanor

The Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship

In the state of California, the Education Specialist Teaching Performance Assessment (EdSp TPAs) is the latest accountability measure to be required of aspiring education specialists. Existing literature has been overwhelmingly critical of the TPAs (Dover, 2022; Valdez et al., 2020). And now, in the dawn of the EdSp TPAs, there must be a candid conversation about preparing candidates sufficiently for the TPAs in order to avoid exacerbating the field that is struggling to recruit teachers. This article discusses three significant obstacles in preparing candidates for the assessment: challenges associated with identifying focus students, insufficient preparation among mentor teachers, and program …


Differential Access Of Young Children Of Immigrants To Special Education In Massachusetts, Cady Landa Feb 2023

Differential Access Of Young Children Of Immigrants To Special Education In Massachusetts, Cady Landa

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

Accessing services for children with special needs is complex and challenging for even U.S.-born parents. Is it even more difficult for immigrant parents, and what are the consequences for their children? This article reports on a mixed methods approach to examining the access of immigrants’ children to special education and inclusive placement. A multivariate analysis of Massachusetts education data finds that children of immigrants are significantly less likely than children of U.S.-born parents to participate in special education. It also finds that among children who do participate in special education, children of immigrants are more likely to be in substantially …


Role Play: Actualizing The Iep Meeting For Pre-Service Teachers, Courtney A. Toledo Jan 2023

Role Play: Actualizing The Iep Meeting For Pre-Service Teachers, Courtney A. Toledo

The Qualitative Report

Teacher preparation programs provide numerous teaching and learning opportunities for pre-service teachers; however, participating in an Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting is not an experience that can be guaranteed. Leading and participating in IEP meetings are a responsibility that all special education teachers will be held accountable for, but many pre-service teachers will never be able to observe a real IEP meeting before entering the field. In this qualitative case study, the researcher utilizes a simulated IEP meeting to provide pre-service teachers with experience in participating in an IEP meeting prior to entering the profession. The case study method is …


Rural Inclusive Education For Students With Disabilities In The United States: A Narrative Review Of Research, Katie Mae Mccabe, Andrea L. Ruppar Jan 2023

Rural Inclusive Education For Students With Disabilities In The United States: A Narrative Review Of Research, Katie Mae Mccabe, Andrea L. Ruppar

The Rural Educator

Despite a long history of overrepresentation in segregated settings (Brock, 2018), students with disabilities who require extensive supports are more likely to receive inclusive placements in rural schools. In this paper, we present findings from a narrative literature analysis of inclusive education for students with disabilities in rural schools located in the United States. Our search yielded 24 articles, published between 2002 and 2019, which reveal three storylines: (a) perceptions about inclusive education in rural schools and communities, (b) inclusive placements are common for students with disabilities, and (c) access to resources is a factor for rural schools to provide …


Awareness Of Universal Design For Learning (Udl) Among Teachers In India, Som Krishan, Navneet Sharma Jan 2023

Awareness Of Universal Design For Learning (Udl) Among Teachers In India, Som Krishan, Navneet Sharma

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

The present study investigates the awareness of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) among special and general teachers working in inclusive settings. UDL is a framework used to design a curriculum reachable to students with all abilities. UDL assists teachers to increase meaningful access to the curriculum and remove barriers for students with all abilities in learning. The roles and responsibilities of the teachers play an important role in implementing and transacting any curriculum to the learners. In the present study, the sample consisted of 429 teachers, teaching in primary, upper primary, secondary, and higher secondary stages of regular schools in …


Understanding Novice Special Education Teachers’ And Paraeducators’ Mentorship Relationships: A Comparative Case Study, Maya Evashkovsky, Anna V. Osipova Jan 2023

Understanding Novice Special Education Teachers’ And Paraeducators’ Mentorship Relationships: A Comparative Case Study, Maya Evashkovsky, Anna V. Osipova

The Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship

Novice special education teachers (SETs) often report on stress and burnout in their jobs, identifying collaboration with colleagues as a factor that supports them during the first years (Belknap & Taymans, 2015). While previous research focused on teachers' support from their mentor teachers, administrators, and colleagues, in this study we examined the mentorship relationship between SETs and their classroom paraeducators. We analyzed interviews of three novice SETs who taught in a large urban school district. All participants taught in Special Day Classrooms (SDC) and worked closely with paraeducators. The findings of this comparative case study suggest that these relationships are …


Dordt Adds Master In Special Education, Bethany Van Voorst Dec 2022

Dordt Adds Master In Special Education, Bethany Van Voorst

The Voice

No abstract provided.


Emotional And Behavioral Disorders: Current Definitions, Terminology, And Prevalence, Edward A. Polloway, Rosel H. Schewel, James M. Kauffman, Antonia Charles, Tom E.C. Smith, James R. Patton, Lihua Yang Aug 2022

Emotional And Behavioral Disorders: Current Definitions, Terminology, And Prevalence, Edward A. Polloway, Rosel H. Schewel, James M. Kauffman, Antonia Charles, Tom E.C. Smith, James R. Patton, Lihua Yang

LC Journal of Special Education

This study provides an analysis of state guidelines with respect to terminology and definitions in emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) as well as demographic trends. The data were analyzed from the web-based state guidelines for terminology and definitions for all 50 states and the District of Columbia and then from mining data from the most recent reports of the United States Department of Education on IDEA (USDOE, 2015, 2016). Significant findings included current information on state-based terminology, state definitions, and school prevalence. Implications are made with special attention to these factors as identified above as they relate to educational programs …


Graphic Models And Instructional Tools For Students With Special Needs (Revised), Edward A. Polloway, Jacqueline Lubin Aug 2022

Graphic Models And Instructional Tools For Students With Special Needs (Revised), Edward A. Polloway, Jacqueline Lubin

LC Journal of Special Education

This document is intended for educators with interest in students with special needs. It provides various graphical models and instructional tools that relate to teaching reading, writing, math, and social studies and science to students with disabilities. The paper is divided into four sections: reading, writing, math, social studies and science. In each section, multiple examples of models are provided. The information provided can be used for general knowledge, as part of course content in special education classes and/or as reference material. The authors acknowledge the work of Allison Meade and Wendy Bailey-Joseph in developing an earlier edition of this …


Demographic Trends In Educational Programs For Students With Emotional And Behavioral Disorders, Edward A. Polloway, Rosel H. Schewel, James M. Kauffman, Tom E.C. Smith, Antonia Charles Aug 2022

Demographic Trends In Educational Programs For Students With Emotional And Behavioral Disorders, Edward A. Polloway, Rosel H. Schewel, James M. Kauffman, Tom E.C. Smith, Antonia Charles

LC Journal of Special Education

This study analyzes demographic data in the field of emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD). The data are from the most recent reports of the United States Department of Education on IDEA (USDOE, 2015, 2016). Findings focus on school prevalence, ethnicity, placement in educational environments, and school exit patterns. Implications focus in particular on attention to these respective demographic areas identified above as they relate to educational programs.


Alternatively Certified Special Education Teachers’ Implementation Of Pbis, Mandy Lusk, Donna Sayman, Calli Lewis Chiu Aug 2022

Alternatively Certified Special Education Teachers’ Implementation Of Pbis, Mandy Lusk, Donna Sayman, Calli Lewis Chiu

The Advocate

Teachers are the primary conduit through which positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) are implemented. The purpose of this qualitative study is to investigate alternatively certified special education teachers’ implementation of PBIS. All participants were in their first or second year as teachers in classrooms for pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade students with disabilities. This study examines how alternatively certified special education teachers perceive and implement PBIS within their classrooms.


Homework Problems And Remedies, Antonia M. Charles Aug 2022

Homework Problems And Remedies, Antonia M. Charles

LC Journal of Special Education

This literature review provides a summary of some of the homework problems experienced by students with learning difficulties documented in previous research. It also seeks to outline some practical suggestions which can be utilized to remediate the homework problems experienced by this group of students. Finally, this review examines the role of teachers in assisting this group of students become successful in this regard.


Phonemic Awareness: An Important Piece Of The Reading Puzzle, Brandi Booker Aug 2022

Phonemic Awareness: An Important Piece Of The Reading Puzzle, Brandi Booker

LC Journal of Special Education

The purpose of this paper is to provide research findings on phonemic awareness. The major topics to be discussed are assessment, strategies, and effectiveness. This paper will conclude with a discussion on the major topics and its importance for special education.


Choice Making And Individuals With Significant Disabilities, Jacob Wolf, Kristin Joannou Aug 2022

Choice Making And Individuals With Significant Disabilities, Jacob Wolf, Kristin Joannou

LC Journal of Special Education

This literature review addresses issues and trends pertaining to choice making for individuals with significant disabilities. The benefits and development of choice making will be addressed, followed by a summary of several barriers to choice making. The review concludes with a synthesis of strategies and interventions for increasing effective choice-making opportunities, including choice-making formats, teaching choice making, and building choice making into daily contexts.


Communicative Competence And Self-Determination, Sonya Spolsky, Gina Debarthe Aug 2022

Communicative Competence And Self-Determination, Sonya Spolsky, Gina Debarthe

LC Journal of Special Education

Self-determination describes people acting as the primary causal agents in their lives through their own volition (Wehmeyer, 1998; Wehmeyer, 2005). Volition means making choices with intention and consciousness. Self-determination consists of four essential characteristics related to volition: Autonomy, self-regulation, psychological empowerment, and self realization (Wehmeyer et al., 2007). Acting autonomously, in a manner to achieve specified goals, problem solving to meet those goals and being aware of the possible outcomes describe some of the activities related to volition and the characteristic of self determination (Light & Gullens, 2000; Wehmeyer et al., 2007). Self-determined people influence their own lives. People with …


Parent Autonomy Support For Children With Low Achievement And Disabilities, Caya Chiu, Shana Haines Aug 2022

Parent Autonomy Support For Children With Low Achievement And Disabilities, Caya Chiu, Shana Haines

LC Journal of Special Education

Only a limited amount of research focuses on building skills leading to enhanced self- determination for children with disabilities within the home environment (Abery & Stancliffe, 1996; Shogren & Turnbull, 2006), even though families play a critical role in developing the self-determination of their children (Abery & Zajac, 1996; Palmer et al., 2012). According to Shogren and Turnbull (2006), this lack of attention on developing the self-determination of children with disabilities at home, within families, “may detrimentally limit the field’s ability to support children, and families, in developing the capacity for, or for promoting, self- determination” (p. 341). Some research, …


Introduction To Special Topic Issue On Self-Determination, Michael L. Wehmeyer Aug 2022

Introduction To Special Topic Issue On Self-Determination, Michael L. Wehmeyer

LC Journal of Special Education

Over the past two decades, promoting the self-determination of students with disabilities has become a best practice in secondary education and transition services (Wehmeyer, Abery, Mithaug, & Stancliffe, 2003; Wehmeyer, Agran, Hughes, Martin, Mithaug, & Palmer, 2007). Self-determination refers to self- (vs. other-) caused action—to people acting volitionally, based on their own will. Volition is the capability of conscious choice, decision, and intention. Self- determined behavior is volitional, self-caused or self-initiated action.


Self-Injury And Behavior Supports For People With Intellectual Disability, Lihua Yang Aug 2022

Self-Injury And Behavior Supports For People With Intellectual Disability, Lihua Yang

LC Journal of Special Education

The purpose of this paper is to seek strategies that can be effective to support behaviors of individuals with ID. The major topics will be addressed include the characteristics of people with ID, concerns and causes of SIB, and interventions used to address this behavior. The paper then concludes with a discussion of choosing different strategies for individuals with ID to accommodate individuals’ needs.


Effective Reading Comprehension Strategies For Individuals With Learning Disabilities: A Research Synthesis, Gordon B. Worcester Ii Aug 2022

Effective Reading Comprehension Strategies For Individuals With Learning Disabilities: A Research Synthesis, Gordon B. Worcester Ii

LC Journal of Special Education

This paper will explore and synthesize the body of current research on effective reading comprehension instruction and strategies. Beginning with a survey of several variables that affect working memory and executive processes, this paper will discuss how the mind’s ability to interpret text and derive meaning is a critical component for reading comprehension. The article will also explore how the elements of the working memory affect student with learning disabilities (LD). Furthermore, the working memory’s executive process is essential for the “simultaneous process of extracting and construction meaning” from text (Garcia-Madruga et al., 2013, p. 155). In addition, this paper …


From Sheltered Workshops To Integrated Employment: A Long Transition, Jessica L. Nettles Aug 2022

From Sheltered Workshops To Integrated Employment: A Long Transition, Jessica L. Nettles

LC Journal of Special Education

This literature review will examine the policy history of sheltered workshops and integrated employment and discuss the successes and limitations of the current legislation surrounding the employment of individuals with disabilities. The review will also explore the research that reveals the negative impacts of segregation and the benefits of integration both for the individual and community at large. It will review cost-efficiency of both sheltered and integrated employment and some of the barriers to organizational change that have slowed the transition. This literature review will conclude with summaries of current research as well as suggestions for policy and philosophy changes …


Elementary Special Education Teachers’ Attitudes Regarding Inclusion, Tara Ridarick, Ravic Ringlaben Aug 2022

Elementary Special Education Teachers’ Attitudes Regarding Inclusion, Tara Ridarick, Ravic Ringlaben

LC Journal of Special Education

This study looked at the attitudes of elementary special education teachers in a school district in the Southeastern United States that has been regularly including students with disabilities in general education classrooms for the past ten years. Teacher attitude has been shown to be an important indicator of the success of inclusion. However, students with disabilities as a group continue to not meet expectations on state standardized testing. Clearly, even though schools are practicing inclusion, they may not be experiencing success. The success of inclusion has been linked to the support of the special education teachers (Cook et al., 1999). …


Implementation Of Token Economies In School Settings, Shayla Mcdonnell Aug 2022

Implementation Of Token Economies In School Settings, Shayla Mcdonnell

LC Journal of Special Education

Token economies can be a useful classroom management strategy. A token economy typically involves certain rules for how students may gain and/or lose tokens, and the tokens may be redeemed for a reward, which should be reinforcing for the student (Alter, Wyrick, Brown, & Lingo, 2008). Token economies allow teachers to ‘reward’ students symbolically with tokens to represent the actual reinforcement, which the student will receive in the future, so that the rewards are not frequently disrupting instruction or interfering with other students’ learning. There are many different variations, which may be used for implementing token economies and they can …


Reading And Students With Intellectual Disabilities: Using The Readers Workshop Model To Provide Balanced Literacy Instruction, Rebecca Mahlburg Aug 2022

Reading And Students With Intellectual Disabilities: Using The Readers Workshop Model To Provide Balanced Literacy Instruction, Rebecca Mahlburg

LC Journal of Special Education

The purpose of this paper is to explain how reading skills benefit students with intellectual disabilities in multiple areas of their lives and to propose that Readers Workshop, a model used in many educational settings, may also be used in literacy instruction for students with intellectual disabilities. The major topics that will be addressed include the importance of reading for students with intellectual disabilities, historical approaches to teaching reading to students with intellectual disabilities, and an overview of reading instructional methods. Readers Workshop is described as it is commonly used in general education classrooms and benefits of using this model …