Special Education and Teaching Commons^™

Impact Of Relative Age On Need For Special Education Services, Leonie Giles

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis consists of a literature review of research on a potential correlation between a student's birthdate, age upon entry into kindergarten, and the potential need for special education services while in elementary school. Results were mixed on the benefits of delaying entry into school. While results appeared contradictory at times, closer analysis indicates that benefits depend on the individual, on the presence of a disability, the gender, and socio-economic status, and on when a student is born. Students born in the months directly preceding kindergarten eligibility are at a disadvantage when compared to those born right after the cut-off …

Understanding The Needs Of Children In Poverty To Improve Academic Achievement: A Literature Review, Christy Michele Lothrop

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Poverty affects one in five children in the U.S., where 50% of public schools identify as mid-high or high-poverty schools. Decades of research confirms a significant and constant economic academic achievement gap. This literature review sought to determine how poverty impacts children’s development and ways educators can improve educational outcomes for students in poverty. Researchers illustrate how poverty impacts children environmentally and neurologically, leading to brain changes associated with language, memory, socioemotional, and executive functioning skills. Researchers offer a multitude of ways that educators can improve educational outcomes for students in poverty including: improving school climate and teacher-student relationships, implementing …

The Impact Of Visual Schedules For Students With Disabilities: A Literature Review, Kristine L. Mcdonald

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this empirical research literature with application emphasis was conducted so I could better understand the effects of visual schedules and video modeling. Visual schedules and video modeling showed an increase of independence with transitions between classroom settings and daily routines had on students with autism. These studies reviewed students from elementary aged to young adults. The majority of students who participated in the reviewed research had no previous exposure to visual schedules. 20 peer reviewed publications were studied and analyzed on these simple interventions and the impacts and success students encountered. The documented success of a simple …

The Impact Of Mindfulness Practice On Adolescents With Special Needs And Mental Health Diagnosis, Rebecca Jean Mcquiston

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Students with mental health diagnosis, trauma or special education labels such as emotional behavioral disorder or learning disabilities often show signs of distress, and/or dysregulation in the classroom. They are referred to providers and evaluated based on the behaviors or symptoms that are presented. Many times, these behaviors impact their ability to learn, regulate emotions and function when compared to their typically developing peers. These students have developed maladaptive behaviors to cope with strong feelings. Within the last ten years, clinics, schools and districts have increased their attention and efforts to develop social emotional learning programs to teach students essential …

Student Anxiety And Practical Strategies For The School Setting: A Literature Review, Cassie M. Ott

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Since 2010, anxiety levels have risen worldwide. Children and adolescents are particularly susceptible to anxiety as they experience varied life challenges. Considering anxiety disorders most common in youth (generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), separation anxiety disorder (SAD), social phobia (SP), and test anxiety), this thesis delves into research focused on diagnoses with comorbid anxiety (including Depressive Disorders (DD), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)), and the underlying causes of anxiety. To clarify the research questions regarding symptom identification and successful strategies to use in school settings, the literature review provides information about symptoms, anxiety behaviors, and the impact on …

Students With Special Needs And Their Ability To Self-Monitor Goals, Erin L. Schmitz

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Self-monitoring behavior is one way students can be involved in their learning. Research shows that desired behaviors increase, and academic performance improves, when students monitor their behavior during class. This action research project reviews self-monitoring literature and examines how accurately fifth-grade male students who are receiving services for Autism Spectrum Disorder can self-monitor their Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals and how self-monitoring affects their progress toward their IEP goals. The results suggest these students were able to accurately self-monitor and show progress toward their IEP goals.

Using Arts To Improve Academic Outcomes For Students With Disabilities, Melissa Jean Briggs Wood

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Theatre is often used as a tool in the classroom to target specific skills in language arts classes. More and more, it is being woven into curriculums outside of the language arts classroom to explore multi-disciplinary teaching. Theatre arts have the potential to reach a wide array of students in order to increase academic achievement, engagement/attainment, and social-emotional skills. Not only can theatre arts improve skills for students as a whole, but it can positively impact students with learning disabilities and special needs, too. Research indicates through empirical data that students generally show improvements in academic achievement, engagement and confidence …

The Effects Poverty Has On Students In Special Education, Morgan Marie Auge

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Poverty is an issue around the world that affects children and their academic achievement. In the United States 21% of children are raised in poverty. Children from poverty have a higher risk of mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders in children and youth. Children from homes of poverty are affected by stress causing the brain to not fully develop. This thesis is a summary of academic literature on poverty and its relationship with special education which includes the placement of special education students in Minnesota, United States, and other developing countries. Special education has continued to be researched over the last …

Restorative Justice In Schools - The Impact And Implementation, Chad Edward Felty

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Are restorative practices producing fewer negative outcomes for students and improving relationships within schools? The following literature review and application looked at the effectiveness of restorative practices in schools. The evidence showed that restorative practices are an effective way to decrease the number of negative behavior outcomes for students. Intentional relationship work was defined as a major theme in the effective implementation of restorative practices. The literature described the main themes that were imperative in implementing effective restorative practices in schools. The gathered evidence led to the application which defines a specific way to enhance the restorative practices within a …

Response To Intervention In Child Find, Eucabeth Kimaiga

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis highlights RTI and child-find under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA) federal law, revised in the special edition of 2011. In 2011, the child find mandate was the focus of the IDEA regarding the education for learners with special needs. This concept mandated school districts in each state to acknowledge, find, and assess allchildren, from birth to 22 years of age with special needs and disabilities, who could need early care or special educational services. Children who were perceived to have a Specific Learning Disability (SLD) used to be found eligible for special education services after …

Is Special Education A Life Sentence? Examining Disproportionality In The Declassification Rates Of Students Of Color In An Urban School District, Rasheed Bility

Theses and Dissertations

Federal law states that any student suspected of having a disability must meet initial eligibility requirements to qualify for special education services. Furthermore, an individual education program (IEP) team is required by federal law to re-evaluate each student with a qualified disability tri-annually to assess his or her ongoing need for such services. The pathway toward initial eligibility is explicitly outlined within federal legislation; however, the law does not explicate an avenue for declassification or exiting from special education. As a result, many students may remain in special education and are labeled as students with a disability when they may …

Employer Perspective On Augmenting Work Experiences For Individuals With Disabilities, Liza A. Laurino-Siegel

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate employer perspective on augmenting work experiences for individuals with disabilities in the workplace through a qualitative case study approach. This study utilized two specific workplaces that are structured, have core values, are mission-driven and support individuals with differing abilities. The goal was to develop an understanding on how these workplaces continue to help individuals gain meaningful employment while supporting their differences and unique learning approaches in the workplace. Data collection included employer interviews, employee insight, an employer focus group, observations of employees at the work sites, artifacts, photos and the researcher’s journals. …

A Latinx Critical Race Theoretical Approach To Testimonios Of Latinx School Psychologists, Karen Yulieann Ramírez

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

As a Latina school psychologist, I use Latinx Critical Race framework with testimonios as methodology to document the individual and collective experiences and perspectives of six Latinx school psychologists in urban and suburban school settings regarding the role that race plays in the special education process. Their testimonios reveal how they are racialized in their profession through their intersecting identities of race, ethnicity, culture, and language. In particular, they testify to their everyday experiences of racial microaggressions, in which they are viewed through a deficit lens by supervisors, colleagues, and the parents of the students they serve. In addition, their …

Impacts Of Social And Emotional Learning Interventions In Special Education Students, Cassandra R. Drusch

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Social and emotional learning is educational programming that can help the student learn to recognize emotions, set goals, perspectively think, maintain positive relationships, make decisions and learn conflict resolution (McCormick, 2019). Research has shown that social and emotional learning is beneficial to not only the general education population but also special education students. The author of this thesis researched the impact of social and emotional learning on students with disabilities in the five disability categories; emotional behavioral disorders, autism spectrum disorders, developmental cognitive disorders, specific learning disability, and other health disabilities. A literature review was conducted to determine the impacts …

Impacts And Strategies In Positive Student-Teacher Relationships, Cassandra C. Eckart

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Researchers, educational professionals, and classroom teachers consistently seek out ways to engage students in the classroom. For some students, engagement comes naturally. They connect easily with people and are by nature, curious and active learners. For these students, traditionally taught textbook engagement strategies are often very effective and lead to a vibrant classroom experience. Conversely, in almost every classroom there are one, or two students. The one who the classroom teacher struggles to connect with. The student is disengaged in the classroom, does not complete work or participate in class lectures and discussions. Though well educated in engagement strategies, classroom …

Benefits Of Physical Activity For Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Trey Lewis Benhart

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Adolescents with autism live a more sedentary lifestyle than those without an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis. Lack of exercise results in increased health risks, obesity, and decreased quality of life, exercise, motor skills, and peer interaction. Exercise can serve as a treatment for those with autism that increases quality of life, improves peer relationships, overall health, and increases expected behaviors. Special education providers should receive training about the benefits of physical activity along with strategies to best incorporate physical activity into daily routines, instruction, and goals. Due to lack of systemic resources and social opportunities, researchers cite many benefits to …

The Effect Of Classroom Physical Activity Breaks On Students' Academic Performance And Executive Functioning Skills, Barb J. Diemer

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Classroom-based Physical Activity (PA) has gained attention among teachers and schools due to the potential to enhance learning while also providing the opportunity for children to increase their physical activity level. Children are not meeting the recommended amount of daily physical exercise and the increase in obesity is alarming. Implementation of PA breaks at school has been identified as a way to address the need for more physical activity as well as providing an intervention to target learning. Classroom breaks that have been studied include active learning, which takes place by combining PA with academic material or breaks that are …

Developing Collective Teacher Efficacy To Help Secondary Teachers Feel Confident In Their Positions, Katherine E. Cabieses

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study evaluates the resources available to develop the efficacy and the collective teacher efficacy of Secondary School Teachers in handling students’ misbehavior, resulting in effective teachers satisfied with their teaching positions and students succeeding socially and academically. This study also examines the reasons and factors that cause teachers’ stress, burnout, and dissatisfaction at work. This literature review focuses on and highlights how self-efficacy and collective efficacy influences teaching, learning, and achievements in school. The studies reviewed in this study provide great information that supports my thesis statement. They indicated that collective efficacy enhances job satisfaction in teachers, influences student …

Avoiding The Services Cliff: An Extensive Look At Effective Strategies To Prepare Students With Autism Spectrum Disorders (Asd) For Life And Work, Danielle Marie Carter

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A fundamental objective of the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) is to safeguard that all students with disabilities have available to them a Free and Appropriate Education (FAPE) that affirms special education and related services designed to meet their individual needs and prepare them for further education, employment, and independent living. This thesis addresses evidence-based efforts to prepare students on the autism spectrum for life and work. It provides an overview of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) which includes; a definition, common challenges that students on the autism spectrum experience as they grow, and evidence-based strategies to address those challenges. If …

The Lived Experience Of College Students With Intellectual Disabilities, Mary Lindell, Jessica Daniels, Mary Schulze Michener

Graduate School Faculty Publications

Within a private university in the United States, BUILD is a two-year program for individuals with intellectual disabilities. BUILD provides inclusive opportunities in coursework, employment, residential, and social activities with traditional students, as well as life skills and career training in courses specific to BUILD students.

This empirical phenomenological research study explored the lived experience of students with intellectual disabilities enrolled in the BUILD program. From interviews with six participants, the themes of social experience, independence, safety, and belonging emerged. The findings of this research indicate that the opportunity-rich environment, a network of support, and a community of belonging contributed …