Education Commons^™

Tier 2 Team Processes And Decision-Making In A Comprehensive Three-Tiered Model, Juli Pool, Deborah Carter, Evelyn Johnson

Juli Lull Pool

Three-tiered models of academic and behavioral support are being increasingly adopted across the nation, and with that adoption has come an increasing message that designing and implementing effective practices alone is not enough. Systems are needed to help staff to collectively implement best practices. These systems, as well as effective processes for collecting and using data for decision-making, are necessary at each tier. This article outlines the systems considerations and decision-making processes for Tier 2 adopted by one elementary school in the implementation of a combined response to intervention (RTI) and school-wide positive behavior support (SWPBS) model.

Self-Regulated Strategy Development As A Tier 2 Writing Intervention, Evelyn Johnson, Christine Hancock, Deborah Carter, Juli Pool

Juli Lull Pool

In a response to intervention framework, the implication of limited writing instruction suggests an immediate need for Tier 2 interventions to support struggling writers while at the same time addressing instructional gaps in Tier 1. Many schools struggle with implementing writing intervention, partly because of the limited number of evidence-based writing instructional approaches. This article documents one school’s journey through the process of identifying, implementing, and evaluating outcomes of a Tier 2 writing intervention using self-regulated strategy development (SRSD).

Play-Based Assessment And Interventions For Children With Pdd, Nancy Stockall, Lindsay R. Dennis, Jessica Rueter

Jessica Rueter

No abstract provided.

Roles And Responsibilities Of Paraprofessionals: In Their Own Words, Karen Patterson

Karen B. Patterson

This study focused on the perceptions of paraprofessionals regarding the roles they fulfill while working with children with disabilities in special education and inclusive settings. Students were in Grades K through 12 and represented a range of disability categories (e.g., autism spectrum disorder, serious emotional disturbance, developmental, and learning disabilities). Twenty-two paraprofessionals were interviewed using a semistructured interview guide to establish their understanding of their roles, responsibilities, teacher expectations, training needs, and challenges they experienced while working with others. Findings from this study indicate that paraprofessionals tend to assume high levels of responsibility for managing the academic and behavioral needs …

Culture Or Disability? Examining Deaf Characters In Children's Book Illustrations, Annie Moses, Debbie Golos, Kimberly Wolbers

Annie M. Moses

Picture books can influence how children perceive those from backgrounds and cultures different from their own. Studies have been conducted examining how the text of children's literature portrays multicultural characters or characters with disabilities. However, few have looked specifically at the portrayal of characters through illustrations, despite growing understanding of the importance that illustrations play in text comprehension. Fewer still have analyzed children's literature for depictions of deaf characters and characteristics of Deaf culture. One recent study examined children's picture books for portrayals of deaf individuals in the text; however, examining illustrations may provide additional information for both hearing and …

Confronting The Juggernaut: Establishing Pro-Diversity Initiatives At Institutions Of Higher Learning, Norman Powell

Norman W. Powell

As general and student populations become increasingly multicultural, institutions of higher learning have taken steps to implement diversity initiatives and programs. Regional and national accrediting bodies and councils have included requirements calling for the implementation of diversity initiatives at universities and colleges. In response, these institutions have established offices, created high-level administrative positions, and have developed campus centers that focus on diversity and intercultural issues. Based on previous and current experience, the author describes several diversity programs and strategies that have been implemented at post-secondary institutions. Much of the impetus for these institutions to develop diversity programs comes from the …

Patterns Of Service Utilization, Thomas Kochanek, Stephen Buka

Thomas T Kochanek

The purpose of this study was to examine relationships between service utilization patterns in early intervention programs and specific child, maternal, and service provider characteristics. Service utilization data for 133 infants and toddlers were gathered for 1 week out of every month for a 4 month duration. For each service encounter, the duration, location, type of service, and academic discipline of service provider was recorded. Findings revealed that families received an average of 1.7 hours per week of services (unduplicated hours). Older children (toddlers) and mothers with higher levels of education received significantly more service. Thirty-four percent of all services …

Influential Factors In The Utilization Of Early Intervention Services, Thomas Kochanek, Stephen Buka

Thomas T Kochanek

The purpose of this study was to examine utilization rates of scheduled early intervention services. Service utilization data reported for 1 week out of every month over a 4-month period were analyzed for a cohort of 146 infants and toddlers. Major findings included: (a) 69% of the families used the majority of their services; (b) child and maternal characteristics were not significantly related to service utilization; (c) providers who were younger and close in age to mothers evidenced significantly higher utilization rates; (d) families in which therapists served as the primary service provider had the lowest utilization rates; and (e) …

Fulfilling The Promise Of Early Intervention, Thomas Kochanek

Thomas T Kochanek

The purpose of this study was to examine utilization rates of infant-toddler services and to identify factors that significantly influenced the extent to which children and their families actually used planned services. This is an important policy implementation question for which there is scant information, and the authors of the study are to be commended for not only addressing the questions, but also using an existing, state-managed data base to probe for answers.

Digital Storytelling In The Middle Childhood Special Education Classroom: A Teacher’S Story Of Adaptations, Paige Michalski, Dodi Hodges, Savilla Banister

Savilla I Banister

This article chronicles one special educator’s process of implementing adaptive instructional strategies in her middle school language arts classroom. Paige Michalski crafted adaptations for her students with disabilities in the curricular area of digital storytelling (Banaszewski, 2002; Dunn, 2000). Digital storytelling involves telling stories using multimedia technologies, providing a format for students to put their thoughts together, visually, aurally, and kinesthetically. Ms. Michalski has found that incorporating the process of digital storytelling into her special education language arts classroom produced numerous benefits. Students appeared to be excited about their projects and committed increased effort in writing and verbal communication. They …

Lessons Learned From A Tiered Service Delivery Implementation Project, Evelyn Johnson, Juli Pool, Deborah Carter

Juli Lull Pool

Tiered models of service delivery for both academics and behavior are being increasingly adopted across the nation, and discussions of how to implement these models effectively and simultaneously are growing. In this article, the authors share some lessons learned from a 2-year implementation project to implement a comprehensive (both academic and behavior) model of tiered service delivery in an elementary school. The authors discuss four major issues that arose during implementation, including signs for predicting these challenges and insights into how they can be addressed.

A History Of Augmentative And Alternative Communication For Individuals With Severe And Profound Disabilities, Jack Hourcade, Tami Pilotte, Elizabeth West, Parette

Jack Hourcade

Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) is a prominent component in the development of support services for individuals with disabilities, especially those with severe disabilities. In this article we provide an overview of the historical development of AAC services, tracing their evolution over the past half-century through four specific themes: social change and legislation, assessment, intervention, and family and cultural issues.

Cooperative Teaching: Pictures Of Possibilities, Jeanne Bauwens, Jack Hourcade

Jack Hourcade

Cooperative teaching, in which a general educator and a special services provider (e.g., a special educator, Chapter 1 teacher, speech and language therapist) teach together simultaneously in a general education classroom composed of academically heterogeneous students, has rapidly emerged as an effective way to facilitate the inclusion of students with diverse curricular and instructional needs. In this article we provide an overview of cooperative teaching, note problems experienced by some participants moving into cooperative teaching, and offer practical suggestions for enhancing the effectiveness of cooperative teaching.

Family-Centered Assistive Technology Assessment, Howard Parette, Mary Brotherson, Jack Hourcade, Robert Bradley

Jack Hourcade

Outlines a family-centered, culturally sensitive approach to working with young children with disabilities and their families.

Funding Assistive Technology And Related Health Services In Service Settings, Crystal Kemp, Howard Parette, Jack Hourcade

Jack Hourcade

In 1997, amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act required IEP/IFSP teams in service settings (e.g., child care programs, schools) to consider whether a child requires assistive technology (AT) devices and services in order to receive a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment (LRE). AT includes augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems (from simple communication boards and wallets to sophisticated electronic communication devices), mobility aids (from long white canes for students with visual impairments to powered wheelchairs), and computer-based devices such as adapted keyboards, touch windows, and speech recognition systems. However, securing the funding …

Cooperative Teaching: The Renewal Of Teachers, Jack Hourcade, Jeanne Bauwens

Jack Hourcade

Little has affected American education as dramatically as the growing sense that the way education has been structured in the past is less than adequate today and will be even more inadequate in the future. The increasing cultural, linguistic, academic, and behavioral diversity of America’s classrooms is challenging long established approaches to curriculum and instruction. In terms of cultural and linguistic diversity, the state of California may be the best example of what America will look and sound like in the future. As of 1997, students with limited English proficiency composed 25 percent of California’s total school population, up from …

Students With Special Needs: State Of The Nation, Katherine Dix

Dr Katherine Dix

How Does The Collaboration Of General And Special Educators Improve The Progress Attainment Of Students With Disabilities?, Ketrina Jordan

Ketrina L Jordan Dr.

"I think that my kids have been very successful in the inclusion classroom this year. I have a seen a lot of growth" (SL). This statement was from a special education teacher who served students with disabilities in the general education math classroom. This teacher collaborates with the general education math teacher. For this co-teaching team, the experience has been a positive one. The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to research the collaboration of co-teachers, like SL and her team-mate, in a suburban elementary school, uncovering benefits and costs of collaboration. Data was collected over one school year utilizing …

How Does The Collaboration Of General And Special Educators Improve The Progress Attainment Of Students With Disabilities?, Ketrina Jordan

Ketrina L Jordan Dr.

"I think that my kids have been very successful in the inclusion classroom this year. I have a seen a lot of growth" (SL). This statement was from a special education teacher who served students with disabilities in the general education math classroom. This teacher collaborates with the general education math teacher. For this co-teaching team, the experience has been a positive one. The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to research the collaboration of co-teachers, like SL and her team-mate, in a suburban elementary school, uncovering benefits and costs of collaboration. Data was collected over one school year utilizing …

Best Practice News: School Psychologist Wins Book Award, Lee Wilkinson

Lee A Wilkinson, PhD

No abstract provided.

The Activist Classroom: Performance And Pedagogy, Kim Solga

Kim Solga

As teachers of theatre history, theory, and performance theory and practice we engage in crucial public work: the training of future audiences. Our labour, every day, is social activism, whether we call it that or not. The latest issue of Canadian Theatre Review celebrates this work, and explores its challenges from multiple perspectives. It includes contributions from performers, public arts workers, students, and scholars who work in theatre for education, performance studies, English literature, and more. The issue also features a forum on pedagogical innovation in the theatre studies classroom, as well as five short scripts developed by students at …

Pragmatics, Lee Wilkinson

Lee A Wilkinson, PhD

No abstract provided.

Mindblindness, Lee Wilkinson

Lee A Wilkinson, PhD

No abstract provided.

Capella University Sponsors Autism Event, Lee Wilkinson

Lee A Wilkinson, PhD

Systems Theory, Lee Wilkinson

Lee A Wilkinson, PhD

No abstract provided.

Grappling With The Intersection Of Language And Ability Differences: Equity Issues For Chicano/Latino Students In Special Education, Alfredo J. Artiles, Federico R. Waitoller, Rebecca A. Neal

Rebecca Neal

Special Educators And Mathematics Phobia: An Initial Qualitative Investigation, Michael Humphrey, Jack Hourcade

Jack Hourcade

Special educators are uniquely challenged to be content experts in all curricular areas, including mathematics, since students in their case loads may require academic instruction in any area. However, special educators with math phobia may be limited in their ability to provide effective instruction to their students with mathematical deficits and/or needs, and may experience additional challenges in their professional and personal lives. This qualitative study sought to better understand the nature of math phobia in two special educators through extensive interviews, journaling, and observations in math experiences, with a number of primary themes identified. Several potential resolutions for the …

A Best Practice Guide To Assessment And Intervention For Autism And Asperger Syndrome In Schools, Lee Wilkinson

Lee A Wilkinson, PhD

Filling a critical void in the autism literature, this authoritative yet accessible book provides expert guidance to psychologists, advocates, consultants, support professionals, and parents. Grounded in the latest research, special features include an index to 50 evidence-based best practice recommendations and real world case examples to illustrate best practice in the field. This book is certain to become a widely used resource in the field of special education.

Diane Adreon, Associate Director of the University of Miami-Nova Southeastern University Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD) comments that “Dr. Lee Wilkinson has produced a well-written, user-friendly, comprehensive guide to the …

Latinos In Special Education: Equity Issues At The Intersection Of Language, Culture, And Ability Differences, Alfredo J. Artiles, Amanda L. Sullivan, Federico R. Waitoller, Rebecca A. Neal

Rebecca Neal

Screening For Reading Problems In Preschool And Kindergarten: An Overview Of Select Measures, Juli Pool, Evelyn Johnson

Juli Lull Pool

No abstract provided.