Special Education and Teaching Commons^™

Students’ Perspectives On Their Learning Experiences Within An Inclusive Secondary Mathematics Setting, Cleopatra Sorina Iliescu

Doctor of Education in Special Education Dissertations

Students’ perspectives in learning mathematics are important considerations in education yet few studies document their insights. The current investigation used a case-study design and interviews, drawings, clarifying discussions, and focus group interview data collection methods to capture detailed perspectives of high school students with disabilities while learning mathematics. Document data was used to substantiate students’ achievement information and the impact of their disability, if any, on their experiences in learning mathematics. The sample of participants consisted of four self-selected high school students, from two inclusive Advanced Algebra classrooms. Three major tenets of Vygotsky’s (1978) framework were used to analyze the …

Experiences With And Conceptions Of School Discipline And Pbis Implementation: A Phenomenography Of Fifteen Students With Disabilities In One Title I Middle School, Osman Khan

Doctor of Education in Special Education Dissertations

In this phenomenographical study, fifteen students with disabilities from one middle-grades setting were recruited to explore the qualitative different ways they experience and conceive of exclusionary discipline (i.e., in-school suspension (ISS), out-school suspension (OSS), and detention) and Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (PBIS). The participants engaged in interviews and produced two (2) visual representations to investigate the following research questions: (1) How do students with disabilities experience and conceive of school discipline?; (2) How do students with disabilities experience and conceive the implementation of Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (PBIS); and (3) In what ways can voices of students with …

The Effects Of Using Perseverative Interests Or Obsessions On Token Economies For Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Jennie N. Verive

Masters Theses, 2020-current

A single-subject, alternating treatments design with initial baseline testing was used to analyze the effectiveness of perseverative interests or obsessions as tokens within a token economy to change behavior. The literature examined in this paper presents several examples of how token economies are used to effect behavior change. Two research questions were addressed in this study; 1) What is the effect of incorporating perseverative interests or obsessions into a token economy designed to decrease problem behaviors? 2) What are the effects over time of incorporating perseverative interests or obsessions into a token economy compared to a traditional token (i.e., a …

Efficacy Of Response To Intervention For Students Struggling With Reading, Emily J. Warburton

Intuition: The BYU Undergraduate Journal of Psychology

Response to intervention (RTI) has increased in popularity in schools recently as a means of helping students according to their responsiveness to 3 different tiers of intervention: general classroom instruction, small group instruction, and individual instruction. Using a PsychInfo search, we examined articles to determine the how well the current RTI model fulfills its intended purpose in providing remedial reading instruction to struggling children, teacher perceptions of the system, and what changes could improve the model in coming years. For elementary aged students, we found that RTI has helped students achieve grade-level benchmarks. For secondary school students, there is much …

The Effectiveness Of Token Economy Interventions On High School Students With Emotional/Behavioral Disorders, Jordan R. Welle

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

With the advances in knowledge that we have had available to us as educators, we have shown that we are capable of making powerful differences in the lives of students. A major topic that has risen in education is the emotional and behavioral needs that some students bring to the school buildings across America. Our ability to recognize, be proactive, and address emotional and behavioral needs has shown great progress. The purpose of this research study was intended to investigate an intervention in particular. The intervention of a Token Economy System is the focus of this study. A token economy …

Teachers’ Perceptions Of Alternate Academic Standards And Alternate Testing In Northeast Tennessee, Jodie Bakely

Ed.D. Dissertations

In accordance with the Every Student Succeeds Act (2015), Tennessee developed alternate academic standards and an alternate assessment for students with significant cognitive disabilities. This study examined teacher perceptions of the alternate academic standards and alternate assessment in Northeast Tennessee. The researcher interviewed nine teachers of students with significant cognitive disabilities who had used the alternate academic standards and alternate assessment with their students in Northeast Tennessee. The study found that the teachers interviewed did not see the value in using the alternate state standards or alternate assessment with their students. The implications of this study included a need for …

An Exploratory Survey Of Teacher Candidate Knowledge Of Special Education, Emilee Spann

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) has played a critical role in providing educational opportunity to students with disabilities. As the principles of the IDEA are foundational to teaching students with disabilities, it is necessary that both general education and special education teachers have an understanding of special education policy. This study examines teacher candidates’ knowledge of special education policy and their attitudes and perceptions of special education. The survey was distributed to teacher candidates in their final year of their teacher preparation program at a public university in the Southeast. Results indicated that teacher candidates in all teaching …

The Effects Of Self-Regulated Strategy Development Instruction On Argument Writing Skills Of Adolescents With Mild Disabilities., Stacy Crawford Bewley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Recent data from the National Center for Education Statistics (2012) indicates that a large majority of students with disabilities continue to perform at basic proficiency or below in the area of writing, which has serious implications for post-secondary academic endeavors and successful transition into the workforce (US Department of Labor, 2014; Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2017). Therefore, it is imperative to identify and implement effective writing interventions for this population of students. Self-Regulated Strategy Development (SRSD) has been widely researched in elementary and middle school settings, but much less research has been conducted with high school students. The purpose of …

A Case Study Comparing Fingerspelling Production Between Two Interpreters With Eipa Scores Of 3.0 And 4.0., Morgan Miller

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

Approximately 14% of Deaf and hard-of-hearing (D/HH) students in K-12 educational settings use a sign language interpreter for access to the general education curriculum and the classroom environment . The Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA) is commonly used to evaluate the skills of an interpreter as a prerequisite of being hired. This case study analyzes and evaluates the fingerspelling (FS) production of two American Sign Language interpreters while interpreting a lesson. The two interpreters had different EIPA scores: one had recently attained a 3.0 and the other held a 4.0 rating. The data shows marked differences in fingerspelling production in …

Teaching Decoding Through Constant Time Delay To Students With Severe Disabilities And Verbal Difficulties, Julia Dean

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of constant time delay on decoding letter sounds within consonant-vowel-consonant words and to read constant-vowel-constant words skills for students with severe disabilities and verbal difficulties. This study used a multiple probe across participants design with four students with severe intellectual and/or development disabilities. Results indicated a functional relation between the use of constant time delay and decoding of CVC words. Additionally, students were able to maintain and generalize learning. Results were similar to other studies which implemented constant time delay to promote emergent literacy skills. Practitioners can use constant time …

Revisiting The Role Of Augmentative And Alternative Communication In Aphasia Rehabilitation, Aimee Dietz, Sarah Wallace, Kristy Weissling

Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders: Faculty Publications

Purpose — The purpose of this article is to revisit the role of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) in post stroke aphasia rehabilitation. The authors’ intent is to provide a viewpoint that expands the use of AAC in post stroke aphasia rehabilitation. Specifically, we seek to clarify the role of AAC in restorative and participation approaches to aphasia rehabilitation while also considering the role of AAC in a comprehensive treatment plan. The authors support their viewpoint with citations from both the historic and contemporary literature on aphasia rehabilitation.

Conclusions — A thought-provoking viewpoint on the role of AAC in post …

Inclusive Ensembles: Differentiating For The Singer On The Autism Spectrum, Natalie Wilkins, Natalie A. Wilkins

Honors College Theses

Exceptional children belong in music classrooms. Music ensemble directors need to overcome complex challenges to meet the goal of inclusion, because ensembles often include a mixture of ages, grades, social and intellectual development stages, musical skills, and a wide variety of diverse learning needs. This study focuses on how a choral ensemble director may create an inclusive environment for students on the Autism Spectrum.

This study reviewed the current research on inclusive rehearsal environments. Analysis revealed varied methods for differentiation that allows students with special needs to thrive in a music classroom and also revealed that music can be a …

More Seats At The Table: An Examination Of The Role Of Natural Supports In Promoting Postsecondary Transition For Students With Disabilities In Rural Maine, Elizabeth Stone-Sterling

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

Students with disabilities who receive special education services are entitled under federal law, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, to have an Individualized Education Program (IEP) that includes measurable postsecondary goals and identifies the transition services that are needed in order for the student to reach those goals. Transition planning for students with disabilities in rural areas can be uniquely challenging due to lack of access to transportation, service providers, and accessible programs. Failure to prepare for postsecondary education or employment is correlated with life-long challenges, including poverty, un/under-employment, and limited educational attainment. Natural supports, in the form of family …

The History Of Learning Disabilities And The Hidden Stories Of Students, Parents, And Teachers: How Traditional Classrooms Can Improve, Gabriella G. Catania

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This research will differentiate between the various learning disabilities and their history of when they were first discovered. This research reveals how classrooms have improved and what needs to be changed in order to guarantee every student can receive an equal education despite their learning disability. This paper is constructed through research and interviews with parents, teachers, and students about why the education system needs to move against conformity and standardization. This research demonstrates each learning disability and its effect on students learning. The main focus is on what issues need to be improved in the traditional education system to …

The Impact Of A Multisensory Intervention On Literacy Attitudes Of Students With Dyslexia, Lorena De La Cruz

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore the impact of a pull-out multisensory reading intervention on the attitudes towards reading and writing of fourth-grade students identified with dyslexia. Students identified with dyslexia must receive an evidence-based reading intervention as required by Texas educational state law. The multisensory reading intervention utilized in this study and known as Structured Literacy, included explicit instruction in phonological awareness, sound-symbol association, syllabication, orthography, morphology, and reading comprehension. The researcher focused on a variety of data sources including field notes, audio-recorded interviews, reading interest survey responses, and spelling assessments. The data collected …

Using Self-Monitoring And Positive Reinforcement To Increase On-Task Behavior And Independence., Jon Scott

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Off-task behavior is a major challenge. Various interventions have addressed this problem. Self-monitoring interventions are very effective, including the MotivAider, a self-timer that silently signals the student to observe his/her own Academic Engagement Time (AET). Studies of the MotivAider have reported increased AET., (Legge, DeBar, & Alber-Morgan, 2010; Morrison, McDougal, Black, & King-Sears, 2014) systematically faded the MotivAider to sustain increased AET. The present study replicated and extended this research using a response-dependent fading (Fox, Shores, Lindeman, & Strain, 1984) of the MotivAider to sustain the observe AET of a 6^th grade student with Learning Disabilities. A single …

Difference Between Principals’ Attitudes And Beliefs Of Their Preparedness To Support Students With Disabilities In The General Education Setting, Debra Delaine

Theses and Dissertations

The transformative role of the school principal has been the topic among several states for almost 40 years. Researchers have documented the disconnect between educational leadership programs and real-world experiences for principals. The push continues for principals to move away from solely focusing on the managerial aspects of the job to becoming the instructional leaders of their building with an emphasis on student outcomes, which has caused a sense of urgency among principals and educational leadership preparation programs. Students with disabilities were typically the responsibility of the special education director, until the passage of the No Child Left Behind Act. …

A Comparison Of Perspectives Of Special And Regular Education Teachers On Inclusive Education, Bryanan Stefanie Salita Callicutt

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Many teachers feel unprepared to meet the educational needs of students with disabilities in the general education classroom setting. Presently, limited information exists about the separate viewpoints general and special education teachers hold about providing inclusive education. The purpose of this causal-comparative study is to compare the perspectives of inclusive education held by general and special education teachers located in the state of North Carolina. The perspective about inclusive education will be measured using the Multidimensional Attitudes toward Inclusive Education Scales (MATIES). The framework guiding this study is the Ajzen theory of planned behavior which explains that one’s beliefs, attitude …

Classroom Teachers And School-Based Mental Health Professionals: A Multi-Case Study, Andrea Spangler Leonard

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative, multiple-case study was to understand the pedagogy and attitudes of teachers when faced with the presence of school-based mental health professionals in the classrooms in two schools in southwestern Virginia. Semi-structured interviews, with open-ended questions, document analysis, and participant observations were utilized to collect data. The theory that guided this study was Bandura’s (1993) theory of perceived self-efficacy as it related to an individual teacher’s sense of how capable he or she is of creating an environment conducive to learning. The research centered around understanding how a teacher addresses necessary changes to pedagogy and attitude, …

Using Standing Desks On Students With Adhd To Determine Its Effects On Task Engagement In The Classroom, Caitlin Paolucci

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the effects of a standing desk on academically engaged time during instruction. The study was conducted with two male students with a diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. The first participant was in first grade and the second was in eighth grade. The target behaviors for these participants were on-task engagement with academic content during instructional periods in the classroom. The intervention took place in the students’ general education classrooms by introducing a standing desk into the classroom. A traditional ABAB reversal intervention design was used for the first grader, while the eighth grade participant had an …