Education Commons^™

What's The Sense In Nonsense Word Fluency Probes?, Maggie M. Habershaw

Honors Projects

A major focus of education in the United States has been for “optimal” literacy instruction for all students. To accomplish this goal, major initiatives have centered upon the early identification and prevention of reading difficulties. To this end, professionals in the field are using numerous literacy programs and assessments to promote optimal literacy instruction. One of these assessment programs is the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS). Across the United States, over 2,000,000 students are administered the DIBELS Nonsense Word Fluency probe each year. The purpose of this study is to reflect on teacher perceptions and experiences with …

College Mission Alignment: Lessons For Laboratory Schools, Sharon L. Carnahan Ph.D., Diane Terorde Doyle Ma

NALS Journal

This paper concerns the content, role, and purpose of mission statements in higher education and the the advisability of aligning the mission and activities of a laboratory school with the overall aims of the sponsoring college. We review strategic planning for alignment and share mission-driven activities that we have developed. We end with ideas about receiving recognition for doing the important job of a laboratory school, through disseminating and displaying examples of excellence.

The Effect Of Physical And Music Education In The Development Of Motor Skills In Children Between Six And Eight Year-Olds In An Inclusive Environment, José E. Betancourt, Marta Hernandez

NALS Journal

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate and compare the effect of the integration of music education and physical education programs on the development of locomotor skills in students who are between six and eight years old. Various activities were developed and implemented to assure the best quality of teaching in both academic subjects using 28 children –13 girls and 15 boys­. Fourteen children were in an experimental group and followed the integrated class of physical and music education for two months. The rest served as the control group and followed the physical education program, separate from musical …

The Practice Of Olympic Wrestling As A Mechanism Of Behavior Modification In Elementary School Special Education Students., José E. Betancourt

NALS Journal

The purpose of this study was the investigation of the effect of the practice of Olympic wrestling on the modification of the behavior of sixteen elementary school special education students between the ages of eight and twelve years old. Ninety two percent of this group was enrolled in a special education program of which eighty six percent were classified with ADHD. The investigation lasted ten-weeks during which the students were evaluated before and after their participation in the wrestling program. During this period the students participated in Olympic wrestling training sessions, which consisted of many motor skill activities including axial …

Parent-Teacher Partnerships In Special Education, Cassandra Braley

Honors Projects

There is an old African proverb that says, “It takes a village to raise a child (Buzzell, 1996, p.1).” In today’s society, this saying is applicable to the idea of parent-teacher partnerships in education. The underlying assumption of such partnerships is that everyone who has a stake in a child’s life, including the parents, teachers, and community, should work together to give that child the best education possible. In reality, however, key stakeholders in a child’s life may have many different ideas and beliefs, and, as a result, a disconnect in communication and relationships among them can arise. In such …

The Effects Of Adaptive Instruction On Developmental Rhythm Aptitude And Rhythm Achievement Of Preschool Students With Hearing Impairment, Danielle Marcene Carrier Trial

Honors Projects

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of adaptive instruction on the developmental rhythm aptitude and rhythm achievement of preschool students with a hearing impairment. Specifically, this study is designed to determine a) if the addition of body percussion and percussive instruments to music instruction affects the developmental rhythm aptitudes of 3-, 4-, and 5-year-old children with a hearing impairment and b) if the addition of body percussion and percussive instruments affects the rhythm achievement scores of 3-, 4-, and 5-year-old children with a hearing impairment. The results of this study may have implications for music teachers …

Improving Learning Disabled Student Performance Using A Web Based Training Module, Nadine Barnes, Rhoda Levine

NALS Journal

This project sought to determine an improved method for providing basic information about learning differences to a variety of learners. A web based format was chosen because it would allow for flexibility of information delivery. This flexibility would greatly benefit the working professionals, parents, and graduate students who need access to the information. Further, by using a web based venue, access to the information would also be provided to professionals and others in underserved areas of the country.

Collaborative Partnerships To Achieve Equity, Jeremy Winters, Craig Rice, Cindy Cliche

NALS Journal

The collaborative partnership between most campus laboratory schools and their university or college department of education differs from campus to campus. The dual purpose of this partnership is to provide an education to school aged children as well as to provide college education majors an opportunity to observe and teach in a laboratory environment. The focus on inclusion and providing a free and appropriate education in the least restrictive environment for students with disabilities is an additional benefit for all of the students. In order for the partnership to be most effective, conversations must occur between general and special education …

Determining Eligibility, Marie A. Lynch

Faculty Publications

This investigation examined the relationship between school-based evaluations and private-agency educational evaluation (IEEs) written reports regarding the identification of children with specific learning disabilities (SLD). Analyses included determining the level of agreement between evaluations, and the procedures used to evaluate the special educational needs of the students assessed. Satisfactory agreement between evaluations was found when a broader spectrum of disability categories was compared, while less agreement was indicated when identifying SLD. The private agency used almost twice as many assessment tools than school-based evaluators to determine eligibility. The need for definitive assessment criteria, and the importance of collaboration among evaluators …

The Relationship Between Assistive Technology State Standards For Teachers, Assistive Technology Implementation, And Student Performance In The Context Of Evidence-Based Practice, Elizabeth M. Dalton

Master's Theses, Dissertations, Graduate Research and Major Papers Overview

Identifies, through a national survey, states' formally-adopted assistive technology standards for teachers, the evidence on which these standards were based, and the extent of state support for the implementation of these standards by teachers. Applies descriptive analysis to the data collected for these three areas of study and compares the results with national performance measures for students with disabilities via regression analysis.