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Full-Text Articles in Education

Roles And Responsibilities Of Paraprofessionals: In Their Own Words, Karen Patterson Aug 2012

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 …


The Co-Teaching Journey: A Systematic Grounded Theory Study Investigating How Secondary School Teachers Resolve Challenges In Co-Teaching, Sharon Gerst Jul 2012

The Co-Teaching Journey: A Systematic Grounded Theory Study Investigating How Secondary School Teachers Resolve Challenges In Co-Teaching, Sharon Gerst

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this systematic grounded theory study was to explain how problems inherent in co-teaching relationships are resolved by secondary school special education and general education teachers at an urban school district in Eastern Iowa. The participants were general and special education secondary school teachers involved in effective co-teaching partnerships. Data was collected from five partnerships, utilizing focus groups, interpersonal behavior theory questionnaires, classroom observations, and individual interviews. The researcher analyzed the data using systematic grounded theory procedures of open coding, axial coding, and selective coding to develop a theory grounded in the data collected about the process by …


Overcoming Co-Teaching Challenges, Sharon Gerst, Lucinda Spaulding Apr 2012

Overcoming Co-Teaching Challenges, Sharon Gerst, Lucinda Spaulding

Lucinda S. Spaulding

This presentation provides research results from a systematic grounded theory study conducted in an urban school district in Eastern Iowa. The study sought to explain the process by which general education and special education teachers overcome challenges inherent in co-teaching. The theory developed by the study explains how teachers can overcome problems frequently encountered in co-teaching. Recommendations for how administrators and teachers can apply this theory to improving and facilitating co-teaching partnerships are provided.