Education Commons^™

An Analysis Of Improving Teacher Efficacy To Enhance Student Learning By Developing An Evaluation Instrument For Special Education Teachers, Sollie J. Pinkston-Miles

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study is to design an evaluation instrument to reflect state standards and implementation of instructional performance criteria for special education teachers. It was designed to evaluate the performance of the specific job duties and instructional responsibilities required of special educators to determine if the instrument indicates teacher efficacy and provides adequate opportunities for feedback to improve performance. A total of 30 special education teachers from 4 different schools within the same school district participated in the study to evaluate the instrument. The respondents were categorized according to tenured or non-tenured status, and either co-teaching or self-contained …

Factors That Contribute To The Retention Of Mexican American Special Education Teachers, Michelle R. Koyama

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Every school year there are reports of the large number of teaching vacancies in the nation, particularly in the field of special education. Currently there are numerous studies addressing the factors that cause special education teachers to leave the classroom, however, there are few studies that suggest variables that contribute to teachers remaining for five years or longer. Further, there are no published studies to date that address the retention of culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) teachers, particularly, Mexican American special education teachers. Grounded surveys were constructed through guided interviews that were distributed to 114 participants in two urban school …

Effects Of Co-Teaching On Student Participation And Math Success On Students With Learning Disabilities In The General Education Classroom, Mia Karen Baldwin

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

A Numerous research studies have been conducted to determine the effects of inclusion on academics, few of these studies specify the method used. The purpose of this study was to determine whether co-teaching would increase student's participation in the regular math classroom. The study was conducted in a sixth-grade regular education classroom in which students with learning disabilities were included. The co-teaching consisted mostly of interactive teaching between the regular education and the special education teacher. The subjects were students identified with a learning disability in either math calculation or math reasoning. The results indicated that student participation was not …

More On The Role Of The Mandible In Speech Production: Clinical Correlates Of Green, Moore, And Reilly’S (2002) Findings And Methodological Issues In Studies Of Early Articulatory Development: A Response To Dworkin, Meleca, And Stachler (2003), James Paul Dworkin, Robert J. Meleca, Robert J. Stachler, Jordan R. Green, Christopher A. Moore, Kevin J. Reilly

Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders: Faculty Publications

Dworkin et al. comment: We would like to comment on Green, Moore, and Reilly’s article, which appeared in the February 2002 issue of this journal [Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research]. In that investigation, these clinical researchers examined upper lip, lower lip, and mandibular movements during repetitive bisyllable word productions by infants, toddlers, young children, and adults with normal developmental and neurologic histories. Kinematic traces from these articulators were analyzed using a computer-based movement tracking system. Results revealed that these oral structures may have sequential neuromotor developmental schedules, characterized by more mature movement patterns for speech emerging …

Assessing The Wraparound Process During Family Planning Meetings, Michael Epstein, Philip D. Nordness, Krista Kutash, Al Duchnowski, Sheryl Schrepf, Greg J. Brenner, J. Ron Nelson

Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders: Faculty Publications

Research and evaluation of the wraparound process has typically focused on outcomes, service providers, and costs. While many of these studies describe a process that is consistent with the wraparound approach, few studies have reported attempts to monitor or measure the treatment fidelity of the wraparound process. The purpose of this study was to assess the fidelity of the wraparound process in a community-based system of care using the Wraparound Observation Form-Second Version. Results from 112 family planning meetings indicated some strengths and weaknesses within the current system. Families and professionals were frequently involved in the planning and implementation of …

Transition From School To Adult Life: What Have We Done To Support Students With Disabilities?, Ann Theresa Adams

Theses and Dissertations

As a legal component of an individual's IEP, a transition plan essentially should represent and include activities to prepare individuals with disabilities for postgraduate experiences. Activities should be individualized and relevant to each individual intended post school environments. Though a legal requirement, much research reports negatively on transition planning implementation. Some negative findings listed in research are as follows: lack of collaboration among individuals involved in the transition process; lack of student involvement in planning; ineffective design of students' goals and objectives; lack of linking students with adult agency providers for post graduate support services, and overall negative post school …

Teachers' Perspectives On Grade Retention: Is It Effective?, Joseph Terch Iv

Theses and Dissertations

Grade retention has been a problem since the mid-19th century when the concept of individual grades replaced the one room schoolhouse. Extensive research was reported on grade retention, its effect, and impact on the referral of students with learning disabilities, parent and teacher perspectives. The research findings on retention are inconclusive and questionable. The purposes of this study are (a) to evaluate the teacher attitudes towards grade retention, and (b) to compare the differences of teacher attitudes at elementary, middle and high school levels. A survey was developed and approximately 150 were distributed to teachers. Of these 150, 120 were …

The Effect Of Social Skills Training For Elementary Students With Learning Disabilities, Patricia M. Swenson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of the social skills program "Skillstreaming the Elementary School Child" for elementary children with learning disabilities. Two first grade and two second grade students participated in the study. All students were classified as specific learning disabled and were included in the general education classroom with instructional support from a resource room. The intervention consisted of 12 sessions, using the "Skillstreaming" program 20 minutes per day, four days a week for 3 weeks, and weekly follow-up of review for 4 weeks with a total of 7 weeks.

A multiple baseline design …

Using Background Music To Reduce Off-Task Behaviors Of Students With Learning Disabilities, Lesa Deshield Givens

Theses and Dissertations

Many children with learning disabilities (LD) frequently exhibit attention and motivational problems as well as impulsive and physically aggressive behaviors (Hoy & Gregg, 1994). Thus, learning, for these students, is a great challenge and for teachers, providing effective instruction is a great challenge too. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of background music on the classroom behavior of students with learning disabilities. A sample of 7 students with learning disabilities from grades 4 and 5 participated in this study. They received instruction in the language arts and math in two (2) special education resource classrooms. A …

A Comparison Study On Self-Esteem Of Students With Learning Disabilities In Different Educational Placements, Kara A. Cooper

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to compare the self-esteem of students with learning disabilities who were being placed in different settings, such as inclusive classrooms, self-contained classrooms, and resource rooms. Students who were classified and eligible for special education under the category of specific learning disabilities participated in this study. Three groups of 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th, and 6^th grade students with a total of 82 students were surveyed. The survey consisted of ten statements related to the students' perceptions of themselves. The surveys were administered individually to the three groups of students. …

A Study In The Effectiveness Of The Three To Get Ready Program In Promoting Language Learning, Megan Crank

Theses and Dissertations

The purposes of this study were to: examine the effectiveness of a trimotoric approach using the Three to Get Ready program; to assist preschool children with disabilities to understand basic concepts and increase verbalization skills. Four students between the ages of 3 and 4 ½ years old participated in this study. They were identified as preschool disabled by school district personnel using state eligibility standards, according to the state administration code (2001). All participating children had IEP objectives in expressive language and communication. They attended a public school in Southern New Jersey and were enrolled in the class for children …

The Effects Of Self-Management And Positive Reinforcement On The Off-Task Behavior Of Students With Adhd, Cari Mcgaffney Bonner

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the effects of self-management strategies together with positive reinforcement to reduce the off-task behavior of children with ADHD. Three first and second grade students with ADHD and classified with a disability attending an elementary school participated in the study. Students were taught to self-monitor their behaviors in their special education classroom. They were trained to record their behaviors by completing a self-management form that consisted of 7 items at the end of each school day. Three off-task behaviors: out-of-seat, calling out and interrupting instruction were observed. The decrease of the student target …

Improving Children's Reading Comprehension Skills Through Parental Involvement, Aughtney D. Khan

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of parental involvement upon children's reading achievement. The study investigated whether children with learning difficulty would improve reading comprehension when parents became actively involved in their child's reading activities. Five 3rd and 4th grade students attending a small private school in southern New Jersey, together with their parents, participated in this family reading program. They were identified as average readers who were having difficulty in comprehension. Prior to the start of the family reading program, students were individually administered a pre-reading inventory. Each student read 3 selected books and answered …

Tongue-Surface Movement Patterns During Speech And Swallowing, Jordan R. Green, Yu-Tsai Wang

Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders: Faculty Publications

The tongue has been frequently characterized as being composed of several functionally independent articulators. The question of functional regionality within the tongue was examined by quantifying the strength of coupling among four different tongue locations across a large number of consonantal contexts and participants. Tongue behavior during swallowing was also described. Vertical displacements of pellets affixed to the tongue were extracted from the x-ray microbeam database. Forty-six participants recited 20 vowel-consonant-vowel (VCV) combinations and swallowed 10 ccs of water. Tongue-surface movement patterns were quantitatively described by computing the covariance between the vertical time-histories of all possible pellet pairs. Phonemic differentiation …

Adhd: What Educators And Parents Should Know, Jessica J. Foust

Honors Capstones

Capstone submitted as a graduation requirement for the BSU Honors Program.

Buckhannon, Special Education Disputes, And Attorneys' Fees: Time For A Congressional Response Again, Stefan R. Hanson

Brigham Young University Education and Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Reexamining Rowley: A New Focus In Special Education Law, Scott F. Johnson

Brigham Young University Education and Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Denying Special Education In Adult Correctional Facilities: A Brief Critique Of Tunstall V. Bergeson, Thomas A. Mayes

Brigham Young University Education and Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Subgrouping Poor Readers On The Basis Of Individual Differences In Reading-Related Abilities, Hugh W. Catts, Tiffany Hogan, Marc E. Fey

Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders: Faculty Publications

The present study investigated the use of the Reading Component Model to subgroup poor readers. A large sample of poor readers was identified in second grade and subgrouped on the basis of relative strengths and weaknesses in word recognition and listening comprehension. Although homogeneous subgroups were not identified, poor readers could be classified into four subgroups that differed significantly in reading-related abilities. Further analyses showed that poor readers’ strengths and weaknesses in listening comprehension, and to a lesser extent in word recognition, were foreshadowed by their abilities on related kindergarten measures. Follow- up testing in the fourth grade indicated that …

The Classroom And Beyond: The Teacher's Role In Collaboration For Children With Emotional And Behavioral Disorders, Sarah Altman

Graduate Student Independent Studies

While many interventions have been used to help children with emotional and behavioral problems, outcomes for children with emotional and behavioral disturbances continue to be poor. Identifying teachers as essential collateral participants in evidence-based, systems approaches to addressing the needs of children with emotional and behavioral problems, this manual is offered as a guide for members of the education community. Teacher cooperation with empirically supported interventions, interagency collaboration, and programs that accept families as equal partners, have all been clearly supported by research and this collaborative role is discussed in light of relevant literature. Exploring the issues related to emotional …

Sensory Integration Dysfunction In Urban Head Start Populations: Why Children Have This Disorder And What Teachers Can Do About It, Helen Frazier

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This paper addresses the environmental causes of and treatment for sensory integration disorder among children living in urban poverty. Established and current research is examined in order to provide a foundation for the practical aspects of this paper. This paper presents a general description of a Head Start program designed to support sensory integration and includes specific activities that support the tactile, proprioceptive and vestibular sensory systems. It concludes that, as a result of pre- and post-natal environmental factors that interfere with effective sensory integration, many Head Start children are not yet ready to learn to read.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Students In The Classroom : An Overview Of Strategies And Implications For Educators, Emily Olson

Graduate Research Papers

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is a very serious disease that is affecting more and more students in schools across America each year. Each of these students with FAS have different levels of severity of the disease and individual needs, but there are general and universal interventions and strategies that can be used by educators when working in the schools with these students. The following is an overview of some of these interventions and strategies that can be used with FAS students. Also included are implications for school psychologists and other educators for development and education in this area to better …

Disability Resources For The Educator, Pauline Aines Kimball

Theses Digitization Project

This thesis identifies what disability resources are currently accessible and needed by the educator in order to service the disabled student in the classroom. It is a compilation of medical, academic, financial and equipment resources currently available to the educator.

Teacher Training And The Implementation Of Reading Instruction For Students With Mild To Moderate Mental Retardation, Nancy Sharlett Thompson

Theses Digitization Project

This study was designed to investigate whether special education teachers are adequately trained to meet the literacy needs of students with mild to moderate retardation.

Six Parents Describe Ideal Adult Lives For Their Children With Significant Cognitive Disabilities, Barbara A. White

Faculty Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to investigate parents' perceptions of ideal adult lives for their children with significant cognitive challenges. Additionally, this researcher investigated what role disability played in participants' concepts of ideal adult lives for their children with disabilities. For the purpose of this dissertation, significant cognitive challenge was defined as a person having an IQ below 50 and an expected need of 24 hour a day care during adulthood. Six participants were chosen. Each participant received a copy of the interview protocol before the interviews. Each parent participated in two face-to-face interviews and one follow up telephone …

A Resource Guide To Support Minority Students At The Elementary Grade In The Kent School District With Learning Difficulties In The Area Of Reading, Patricia L. Drobny

All Graduate Projects

A literature review was conducted to illustrate that there is an achievement gap in education between minority and white students. Probable causes contributing to the achievement gap and possible solutions to the gap were studied. The knowledge that high standards, a challenging curriculum and good teachers (Haycock, 2001), increases student achievement of minority students, inspired a project geared toward providing teachers with strategies to support minority students with learning difficulties in the area of reading. A model reading strategy guide featuring reading strategies to meet the needs of diverse learners was developed for presentation to Springbrook Elementary School. The guide …

Supporting Reading Instruction Of High School Students With Learning Disabilities By Using Wynn Software, Linda Kilgore

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to create a student/teacher handbook, which contained information for the successful integration of the WYNN computer software into the general and special education classroom. Students with learning disabilities struggle with the general education curriculum and new technology provides an individualized approach to the accommodation of their needs. Research concerning learning disabilities and how the use of computers can support these students in the classroom was included.

Language Basis Of Reading Disabilities And Implications For Early Identification And Remediation, Hugh W. Catts, Tiffany Hogan

Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders: Faculty Publications

In this paper, we present a brief overview of the language basis of reading and reading disabilities. First, we describe the “Simple View of Reading,” a model of reading that comprises two primary components, word recognition and language comprehension. We then review research showing that language problems underlie most difficulties children have learning to read. Lastly, we discuss implications of these findings for early identification and remediation of reading disabilities.

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.

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.