Education Commons^™

Praise And Its Effects On Trust, Help-Seeking Behavior, And Self-Perception Of Students With Disabilities, Regina L. Rice

Theses & Honors Papers

The purpose of this investigation was to examine praise and its effects on help-seeking behavior, trust, and self-perception as well as how different age groups respond to praise. the participants were 11 female students with disabilities and low achievers ranging in ages from 12-17 and up chosen through convenience sampling. Praise as a specific intervention was examined using a self-developed, Likert- type, 16 item questionnaire. The data were analyzed using Pearson 'r'. No significant relationship was found between praise and help-seeking (r=.36, P> .05) or praise and self-perception (r=36, p> .05). However, a significant relationship was found between praise and …

Final Report: Paraprofessional Support Of Students With Disabilities In General Education, Michael F. Giangreco

College of Education and Social Services Faculty Publications

This final report provides information about a model demonstration project (CFDA 84.324M) funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs. The project titled, Paraprofessional Supports for Students with Disabilities in General Education Settings, was awarded to the Center on Disability and Community Inclusion (UCEDD) at the University of Vermont and operated between October 1998 and September 2003. This project addressed an important need of national significance, namely the development, implementation, and evaluation of a model to advance the effective use of paraprofessionals to support students with disabilities in general education classes. The model includes a ten …

Social Competence, Transition Plans And Children With Learning Disabilities, Erica Ruegg

Essays in Education

Social competence is the ability to use the appropriate social skills in every aspect of life. For children with learning disabilities, it is a difficult skill to master. These children have trouble with communicating, following directions, listening and completing a task, which can cause problems in the classroom and in adulthood. Yet, these skills are rarely addressed on the individual education and transition plans for these students. The purpose of this paper is to explore the characteristics of children who have learning disabilities and social competence deficits. The difficulties of social competence are examined through the definition of this skill, …

Comparison Of Grade Point Average Of Honor Senior Students And College Of Liberal Arts Senior Students At A Florida University, Iwasan D. Kejawa Ed.D

Department of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Attrition rates in theHonor College program division of Florida Atlantic University have risen in recent years. It has been determined that even though a higher high school grade point average is required for admission into the honor program of the university, many applicants to the program were under-prepared to asumme the workload demanded of the students by the Honor College. The requirements for admission into the honor program of the Florida Atlantic University is an overall high school grade point average of 3.5 and a score of 1000 points on the SAT examination while the requirement into the College of …

University Of Maine Diversity Action Plan 2003-2005, University Of Maine President's Office

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

This Plan is divided into four parts: diversity within the context of the University's Strategi Plan, assessment of progress toward goals in the 1999 Diversity Action Plan, the process of developing the 2003-2005 Diversity Action Plan, and the 2003-2005 diversity goals, action steps, and financial commitments.

An Exploratory Study To Determine Procedures For Implementation And Evaluation Of Pupil Assistance Committees, Joyce E. Klemic

Theses and Dissertations

Literature related to Pupil Assistance Committees indicates they were established to increase the capacity of regular education to serve pupils with learning and behavior problems without labeling them as handicapped. New Jersey mandates the establishment of Intervention and Referral Services which are "a coordinated system in each building for the planning and delivery of intervention and referral services designed to assist students who are experiencing learning, behavior and health difficulties and to assist staff who have difficulties in addressing students' learning, behavior or health needs." (N.J.A.C. 6A: 16-7.1)

The purpose of this study was to identify an effective model of …

The Effects Of Writing Process Instruction On Student Compositions, Kelly K. Letcher

Theses and Dissertations

Writing instruction has undergone many changes throughout the years. In the 1970's, instruction involved repetitive grammar drills. During the 1980's, instruction moved completely away from these drills and instead focused on creative writing. Currently, writing instruction seems to incorporate both philosophies, often times, through implementation of the writing process.

This study was designed to accomplish three purposes: first to clearly delineate and describe each stage of the process, second, to provide procedural suggestions for its implementation, and third, to document the effectiveness of such an approach on student writing.

The subjects of this study were 42 third and fourth grade …

Effective Vocabulary Development For Secondary Students In Weekly Small-Group Sessions, Susan L. Lange

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this quasi-experimental one group study was to (a) ascertain the vocabulary acquisition of low-achieving language students in grades 9-11 (n = 14), and (b) to determine if implementation of a program of explicit instruction would lead to a significant improvement of the volume of knowledge of a controlled list of vocabulary words. Results revealed that all participants showed positive change in the number of vocabulary items answered correctly from initial pretest to final posttest (M = +15 items), with an average 97% improvement. The time to acquire one new vocabulary word was approximately 10.6 minutes. Implications for …

Effects Of A Metacognitive Think-Aloud Strategy Used To Improve Reading Comprehension In A Group Of Third Graders, Megan C. Scully

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the effectiveness of a metacognitive think-aloud strategy used to improve reading comprehension in a group of third grade students. Fourteen general education students were pre-tested using an individual reading inventory to determine baseline independent, instructional, and frustration reading levels. Explicit and systematic instruction in the strategy, as well as hands-on practice with each component of the strategy, lasted for twelve consecutive weeks. Subjects were then post-tested with different forms of the initial reading inventory. Comparisons of pre-test and post-test scores indicate an average of one year's growth in the independent, instructional, and frustration reading levels for all …

The Effect Of Daily "Sustained Silent Reading" In Improving Fluency, Word Recognition, And Reading Comprehension Skills For Mild Cognitive Impaired Students, Elizabeth Kandabarow

Theses and Dissertations

This study evaluated the effectiveness of Sustained Silent Reading (SSR) when used daily with Mild Cognitive Impaired students. The purpose of the study was to measure strengths, deficits, and gains in fluency, word recognition, and reading comprehension abilities through pre and post-test procedures. Seven intermediate level students between the reading levels of two and three participated in this study. The experimental group consisted of four students, and the control group consisted of three students. The treatment group participated in Sustained Silent Reading (SSR). Forms A and B of the Jerry John's Basic Reading Inventory were administered to the students. Form …

A Study Of The Effectiveness Of The Wilson Fundations Program When Applied To A Group Of Children With Mild To Moderate Special Needs, Annette J. Sessa

Theses and Dissertations

A program that has addressed the needs of students with mild to moderate disabilities is the Wilson Reading Fundations Program for K-3. The targeted goal of the Wilson Language Training is to help students become fluent, accurate readers. It is a phonology, phonics, and spelling program that includes the basic components of the Wilson Reading System where emphasis is placed on systematic phonics and the study of word structure. Instruction is cumulative and scaffolds all presented skills.

The Wilson Fundations Program was administered to a small group of four children in grade 2, with mild to moderate learning disabilities. This …

The Effectiveness And Value Of A Character Education Program Administered To A Group Of Second And Third Grade Students With Learning Disabilities, Adriana Germano

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness and value of a character education program when administered over a six-month period to a convenience sample of second and third grade students eligible for special education. The subjects for this study attend Parkview Elementary School in Stratford, New Jersey, and are a part of the resource program there. This study can help determine whether or not a character education curriculum will lead to improved decision-making in morals and ethics. The design of the program is individual to the researcher, but each of the following nine character traits are covered: …

A Study Of The Effectiveness Of Saxon Phonics On Phonemic Awareness, Dawnmarie Bach

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a structured, systematic phonics program such as the Saxon Phonics 1 program in improving the phonemic awareness of first grade students. The effectiveness of this program was measured by a pre and post assessment using The Test of Phonological Awareness (TOPA).

The subjects for this study consisted of two groups of first grade students (ages six and seven). Group one consisted of twelve students: seven girls and five boys. Group two consisted of nine students: six girls and three boys. Teachers that are experienced in the use of the …

A Retrospective Analysis Of Factors Contributing To Successful Inclusive Placements, Erin L. Tibetts

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine variables that are associated with successful placement of children with disabilities into regular education classroom settings. Subjects were children with varying disabilities that were placed in regular education classrooms in a single elementary school building. In each setting, in-class support was provided by a special education teacher. Data was gathered by an examination of records including grades and child study team information. Also, teachers were interviewed to provide their perceptions of elements that are necessary for success in the regular classrooms. Teachers also expressed their overall impressions of the in-class support model …

Cognitive Writing Strategies, Arlene A. Paris

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of cognitive strategy instruction in teaching writing. Writing is a process that results in a product. The learning that takes place will be continually developing and changing. Our goal as teachers of writing is to have our students produce quality written products. How does one accomplish this? Strategy instruction which includes metacognition and self-regulation can empower the writer. Students develop as writers when cognitive strategy instruction is used in the classroom. It requires knowledge, strategies, motivation, and practice with constructive feedback. (Harris & Graham, 1996)

The individuals who participated in …

The Effect Of The Wilson Reading Program On Spelling Skills In An Inclusive Sixth Grade Setting, Kathleen A. Dellinger

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the use of the Wilson Reading program as a method for instructing spelling rules and principles in an inclusive sixth grade setting. The subjects included eighteen sixth grade students, four special education and fourteen regular education students. Post testing results indicated that in 76% of all the students there was an increase of approximately one year in spelling ability. Two of the four special education students had an increase in age appropriate ability, with the two remaining special education students decreasing in grade equivalence.

The Use Of Quality Indices For Successful Programs For Students With Emotional/Behavior Disorders In The State Of Michigan, Alice Brouwer Hoekstra

Dissertations

Recent research studies have determined that students with emotional and behavior disorders (EBD) are the most difficult to integrate into the general education environment. Students with EBD are most likely to be educated in separate settings and least likely to be found in traditional education environments. However, the mandate of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act reauthorized in 1997 (IDEA '97) and the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) regulation indicates all educators, including administrators, have the responsibility to challenge teachers and schools to be more inclusive regarding students with EBD and to provide services that better support students in this setting. …

Chronic Illness And Academic Accommodation: Meeting Disabled Students' "Unique Needs" And Preserving The Institutional Order Of The University, Karen E. Jung

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

People with disabilities are just one of the groups designated for special attention in relation to equity in postsecondary education. This paper explores the way in which policies that provide academic accommodation for students disabled by chronic illness unfold in practice. As part of the administrative regime of the university, these policies are typically designed to reconcile the interests and relevances of the law with the interests and relevances of the academy. When a disabled student "activates" the policy, regardless of whether or not services and assistance are provided or are useful, the student becomes situated within social relations that …

Guidelines For Selecting Alternatives To Overreliance On Paraprofessionals, Michael F. Giangreco, Stephen M. Broer Psyd

College of Education and Social Services Faculty Publications

The Guidelines for Selecting Alternatives to Overreliance on Paraprofessionals is a field-tested schhol-based planning process. Support for the preparation of this article was provided by the United States Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services under the funding category, Model Demonstration Projects for Children and Youth with Disabilities, CFDA 84.324M (H324M02007), awarded to the Center on Disability and Community Inclusion at the University of Vermont. The contents of this document reflect the ideas and positions of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the ideas or positions of the U.S. Department of Education; therefore, no official endorsement …

Including Students With Disabilities And Achieving Accountability: Educators’ Emerging Challenge, Martin J. Ward, Nicole Montague, Thomas H. Linton

Essays in Education

The nation-wide movement toward increased accountability in our schools has been implemented in large part through state-mandated standardized testing of students. The state assessments in Texas, as in many states, have a powerful influence on educators’ decisions and practices. Whether or not students with special learning needs are provided with an educational experience in the least restrictive environment is dependent upon the decisions and actions of educators. The high-stakes testing agenda in Texas influences decisions related to the inclusion of students with special learning needs. In this article, we examine the issue of how the inclusion of students with disabilities …

Alternatives To Overreliance Or Inappropriate Utilization Of Paraprofessionals In Special Education, Michael F. Giangreco, Stephen M. Broer Psyd

College of Education and Social Services Faculty Publications

This article describes 12 alternatives to overreliance or Inappropriate utilization of paraprofessionals in special education based utilization in American schools. Support for the preparation of this article was provided by the United States Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs, under the funding category, Model Demonstration Projects for Children and Youth with Disabilities, CFDA 84.324M (Project EVOLVE, H324M02007), awarded to the Center on Disability and Community Inclusion at the University of Vermont. The contents of this paper reflect the ideas and positions of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the ideas or positions of the U.S. Department of …

Parent Voices : A Study Of The Early Intervention, Cpse And Cse Experiences And Perceptions Of Parents Of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders, Suzy Jensen

Graduate Student Independent Studies

In recent years the number of children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) has skyrocketed. In New York City this influx of children needing special services and special education has coincided with changing special education priorities and a major overhaul of the public school system. Added to this has been a lack of knowledge or agreement about the most effective interventions and teaching approaches for children with these disorders.

Six parents, each with a child aged five to nine-years-old with an ASD diagnosis, were interviewed and asked to describe their experiences with Early Intervention, and with CPSE and CSE interactions, …

Title Ix Compliance: Non-Appalachian Versus Appalachian In Colleges And Universities, Monica Corbo

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to see if economic status of the region was related to a difference in Title IX compliance rates among schools. NCAA Division I-A and IAA schools were studied in non-Appalachian and Appalachian regions. The female and male ratings of students to student athletes were derived and compared according to three variables; (1) division, (2) region and (3) division x region. In order to be in compliance the overall female and male ratings should be similar. The outcome of the overall female and male ratings showed a significant difference, favoring males. Therefore, Title IX compliance …

Practicing Universality: The Inter-Disciplinary Imperatives Of Human Rights, Andrew Fagan

Human Rights & Human Welfare

A review of:

Human Rights: Universality in Practice by Peter R. Baehr. Hampshire, UK: Palgrave, 2001. 178pp.

Web Accessibility: Ensuring Access To Online Course Instruction For Students With Disabilities, Inez Celeste Everett

Theses Digitization Project

The number of instructors introducing web-based elements in the course curriculum is growing and students need to be able to access content on the web to participate. As such, a campus website with accessibility design standards for course developers at California State University showed potential to greatly assist in equalizing the educational playing field for students with disabilities.

Front Matter

The Journal of the Assembly for Expanded Perspectives on Learning

Editors' Message

Surrounded by the dead he had caused through his wanton murder of an albatross, the tortured mariner of Samuel Taylor Coleridge fame watches the water snakes beyond the shadow of his ghost ship and “blessed them unaware./The selfsame moment I could pray; And from my neck so free/The Albatross fell off, and sank/Like lead into the sea” (ll. 287-291). Without deliberately looking, he suddenly recognizes the beauty of all creatures and blesses them “unaware.” The sailor experiences a serendipitous moment, and through that accidental wisdom frees himself from his self-created purgatory.

Serendipity: Teaching for Accidental Wisdom serves as …

Spiritual Identities, Teacher Identities, And The Teaching Of Writing, Kilian Mccurrie

The Journal of the Assembly for Expanded Perspectives on Learning

Through a case study, this article examines the ways teacher identity and spiritual identity intersect in the teaching of writing. By showing that a teacher's pedagogy is prodoundly informed by a basic spiritual disposition, the author offers a view of teaching that is often neglected in studies of teacher identity.

The Experimental Art, Robert Root

The Journal of the Assembly for Expanded Perspectives on Learning

Nonfiction is an experimental art, as contemporary examples make clear, and writing teachers need to show students both how meaning arises from writers' experiments with material and also how form from writers' experiments at representing meaning.

Engaged Buddhism & Women In Black: Our Grief Is Not A Cry For War, Candace Walworth

The Journal of the Assembly for Expanded Perspectives on Learning

This paper explores principles, practices, and manifestations of engaged Busshism in the United States. It includes a personal narrative based on the author's participation in Women in Black (a silent, symbolic protest against war) and classroom stories based on the author's experience teaching at a Buddhist-inspired university.

Encounters: Relationship In The Study And Teaching Of Literature, Christina Vischer Bruns

The Journal of the Assembly for Expanded Perspectives on Learning

While trends in the teaching of literature of the last few decades may seem at odds with one another, the thread that can weave them together is a recognition of relationship among readers, text, author, and other readers.