Education Commons^™

Assessing The Reliability Of The Five-In-20 Classroom Observation Tool, Danielle Buechlein

Masters Theses

Effective classroom management practices are crucial to fostering a positive learning environment, student achievement, and student social-emotional development, as well as teacher job satisfaction. The Five-in-20 Classroom Observation Tool (FCOT) was developed from the 21 evidence-based strategies identified by Simonsen and colleagues (2008) to assess and support teachers’ classroom management; however, its psychometric properties are unknown. The present study looks at the interobserver agreement of the FCOT, specifically at how consistent observers’ ratings are with each other and how consistent observers’ ratings are with a standard coded copy of the FCOT. Forty-four participants, using the FCOT, rated the same 20-minute …

The Transition Into Higher Education For Students With Autism Spectrum Disorders, Tj Estabrook

Masters Theses

There are more students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in higher education now than ever before and these students need to be supported in ways that will guarantee their success. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the experiences of six students with ASD as they transition into higher education through the use of semi-structured interviews. What was discovered is that students with ASD typically overestimate the difficulty of academics and underestimate the amount of social interaction they will encounter at the college level. These students are able to identify aspects of themselves that help them to succeed …

Exploring The Special Education Classroom Context And Experiences Before And During Covid-19, Claire E. Smith

Masters Theses

During the last two and half years, school districts and special education programs have experienced a situation that turned the world of education upside down: the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the pandemic, teachers, administration, families, and students had to maneuver a new way of education and achieving student success with different learning modalities, such as remote learning. This thesis focuses on a functional life skills classroom and how the context of the classroom changed after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic using autoethnographic methods. This paper was written to display how students in special education and their teachers adapted to …

Teacher Perceptions Of Co-Teaching Effectiveness In Inclusive Elementary Classrooms, Ann Sims

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine if co-teaching is an effective strategy of inclusion for students with Individualized Educational Program (IEP). Specifically, students in the general education classroom for grade levels kindergarten to fifth grade in the state of Illinois. Co-teaching has been utilized in middle and upper-grade levels, but the implementation of co-teaching has started to integrate into elementary grades. Two questions guided the study; is co-teaching an effective inclusive strategy for students with an IEP in a general education classroom; and does the model of co-teaching impact the student's academic progress? A quantitative study utilizing a …

Examining The Effects Of Student-Centered, Project Based Teaching On Students With And Without Special Needs In An Elementary General Music Classroom, Charity J. Ozier

Masters Theses

The purpose of this action research is to study the effects of student-centered learning as compared to teacher-led instruction in an elementary general music classroom. This research study is framed by the conjunction of the lenses of sociology, specifically constructivism, in a music classroom with special learners. Students in fifth and sixth grade general music classes study the musical concepts of composition and reading notation in one of two manners. One group of students is instructed in a traditional format of teacher-led lectures and discussions, with guided practice following. The other group is instructed using a student-centered approach, in which …

Accommodating Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder In The Writing Center, Rebekah Barton

Masters Theses

This thesis explores how collegiate writing centers could better serve the needs of students with autism. As there is so little research that involves writing centers and college students with autism, scholarship was pulled from traditional writing center pedagogy, research concerning adults with autism, and the information that was available about teaching students with autism in the college composition classroom. A mixed methods approach was used to conduct my own research: my study involved surveys, interviews, visits, and website analysis. It became clear that not only are writing centers not ready to accommodate students with autism, but some writing center …

Types And Frequency Of Bullying, Victimization, And Defending Behaviors Among Special And Regular Education Students, Ashley Ann Potocki

Masters Theses

Bullying and victimization can have a negative impact on all students. This study compared frequency and types of bully, victim, and defending behaviors that occur in general education and special education. The three types of bullying and victimization include verbal, physical, and relational bullying, while the three types of defending include reporting, confronting, and helping. Due to the fact that the majority of research in the past has focused on the general education population of students, little is known about bullying, victimization, and defending behaviors among children in special education. An additional goal of this study was to compare the …

Special Education Teachers' Perspectives Of The Functional Behavior Assessment Process, Stephanie A. Woodley

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

High Stakes Assessments: Influencing Post-School Outcomes For Students With Disabilities, Lynn Holdheide

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Ratings Of Assessment Procedures By Learning Disabilities Teachers And School Psychologists, Raquel A. Williams

Masters Theses

This study surveyed the perceptions of school psychologists and learning disabilities teachers (LD teachers) on the frequency of use and usefulness of the following assessment procedures: Standardized tests, curriculum based measures (CBMs), classroom observations, interview with general education teachers, and analysis of class assignments for initial placement of a child, instructional planning, and evaluation of student progress. Further, this study investigated how proficient the two groups felt in administering each of the five assessment procedures. Fifty four school psychologists and 32 LD teachers completed the questionnaire. Results indicated that school psychologists and LD teachers agreed on the frequency of use …

Early Childhood Special Educators' Perceived Effectiveness And Use Of Behavioral Strategies Used With Challenging Behavior, Naomi Janet Lukomski

Masters Theses

The increased number of young children with disabilities exhibiting challenging behavior and the negative effects that these challenging behaviors can have on early childhood special educators and the children indicate the need for a careful examination of strategies currently implemented by early childhood special educators. This study surveyed the perceptions of 154 early childhood special educators in the State of Illinois specific to their perceived use and effectiveness of six strategies. The strategies included; positive reinforcement, communication training, time-out, adjustments to the classroom environment, response cost, and medication. Results suggested that early childhood special educators are currently implementing best practice. …

Best Practices In Transition: A Descriptive Study Of A Rural High School Grades 9 Through 12, Michelle A. Messerli Bolander

Masters Theses

This study examined and determined the practices in transition that were currently being implemented, what transition opportunities were available, and which practices could be utilized at Litchfield High School during Fall 2000 to support a smoother transition from middle school to high school for ninth grade students with and without special needs. The study did not establish a relationship of cause and effect, but rather compared cases (administrators, special educators, and regular educators) through qualitative data that were supported by quantitative measures. The population surveyed consisted of the 33 teachers and 2 administrators at the high school level, with different …

A World Wide Web Site Of Special Education Law For Educators In Illinois, Roger L. Epperson

Masters Theses

Any educational decision regarding evaluation, placement, or instruction of special education students involves legal liability and accountability for a school district. Without the special education legal knowledge from primary legal sources needed to make prudent education decisions, school districts are vulnerable to legal challenges. Too often, educators provide services to special education students without critical knowledge of the educators' role in the special education legal process.

In this study, just the preliminary phase of constructing a special education law World Wide Web (W3) site for Illinois educators was considered. There were two objectives in this study. The first objective was …

Report Card Grading And Adaptations For Students With Disabilities: A Survey Of Practices In East Central Illinois, Melissa L. Jones

Masters Theses

The issue of grading the academic performance of students with disabilities has become a challenge as the restructuring of special education has placed these students in general education settings. A survey was conducted within the Illinois counties of Clark, Coles, Cumberland, Douglas, Edgar, Moultrie, and Shelby in hopes of determining current policy, desired grading formats and practical grading adaptations for students with disabilities. One hundred responses, which questioned the attitudes and opinions of each group, as well as written policy and guidelines were solicited from each of four defined subgroups (teachers of special education, elementary level classroom teachers, secondary level …

Differences In Burnout Among Special Education Teachers, Mike D. De Boer

Masters Theses

A random sample of special education teachers in Iowa completed survey materials including the Maslach Burnout Inventory and a demographic and background information questionnaire (N=179). Results suggested that special educators in Iowa generally experience moderate levels of emotional exhaustion, low levels of depersonalization, and low levels of personal accomplishment. Demographic factors (e.g., age, gender, years of experience) did not predict burnout, nor did most job-related factors (e.g., number of students served, type of classroom setting) . The only factor found to predict burnout in this study was the type of student served. Future research should focus on individual factors that …

An Analysis Of Parental Involvement At Iep Conferences For Students With Hearing Impairments, Kristina S. Kroeker Parker

Masters Theses

Legislation of the 1970's and 80's mandated parental involvement in the development of special education plans for children with disabilities. The literature has indicated that parents are often passive recipients of information (Goldstein, Strickland, Turnbull, & Curry, 1980) even though parent involvement in a child's education has been associated with academic success (Epstein, 1990). An observational analysis of eighteen IEP conferences for children with hearing impairments receiving services through the Eastern Illinois Area Special Education Cooperative was completed. Observers recorded the frequency of verbal participation by the parents, and parents and teachers completed questionnaires addressing satisfaction and perceptions of involvement …

Training For And The Use Of Technology And Assistive Technology In Special Education: A Survey In The State Of Illinois, James D. Basham

Masters Theses

This study was designed to examine the training of special education teachers employed in public schools in Illinois regarding educational technology and their use of educational technology in the classroom. Surveys were sent to a randomly-selected sample of special education teachers from the school districts and a randomly selected sample of the special education teachers of half of all special education cooperatives in Illinois. All teacher training institutions in Illinois that provide coursework for special education certification were also surveyed. Analysis was performed on the data from schools and cooperatives because the return rates for these two groups were considered …

A Comparison Of Service Delivery Options In The State Of Illinois For Students With Behavior Disorders, 1987 To 1995, Shelli K. Jennings

Masters Theses

This study was a replication (Hipple, 1987) designed to ascertain the utilization of a service delivery continuum in the State of Illinois for students with behavior disorders. Responses were randomly solicited from teachers in various-sized community unit school districts throughout the state and compared according to the size of the teachers' school district. The findings were then compared to those from the original study. The results from this study revealed nine significant variables when statistically comparing the grouped responses of teachers according to the size of the district: (a) the teachers' levels of education, (b) the teachers' employer (school district …

Parental Attitudes On Sign Language Systems Used With Children With Hearing Impairments, Debra Marie Williams

Masters Theses

In the field of educating children with hearing impairments there has been a continuous debate over which is the most beneficial method of communication to use both in the classroom and in the home environment. The current debate concerns two main methods of communication through sign language, American Sign Language and Manually Coded English. The importance of the family in the decision over which sign language system to use in the child's environment has been documented throughout the research in this field. This study was designed to examine the attitudes of parents with no hearing loss who have children with …

An Evaluation Of Special Education And Remedial Services Within South Wisconsin District - Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod Elementary Schools, Jennifer S. Pflueger

Masters Theses

The availability of special education and remedial services within the South Wisconsin District-Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod elementary schools was investigated. A teacher and the principal from fifty-three schools were surveyed. The schools represented urban, suburban, and rural areas. Thirty-eight principals and thirty-seven teachers responded to the questionnaire. The principal questionnaire consisted of fifteen fill-in-the-blank questions and addressed information regarding remedial and exceptional education programs. The teacher questionnaire was a thirteen item rating format addressing the teacher's perceptions of his/her skills in remediation and exceptional education. The results indicated that a higher percentage of students received remedial services than exceptional education services. …

The Regular Education Initiative In Light Of Selected State And Federal Court Decisions, Frederick C. Kubicek

Masters Theses

This study begins with a general categorization of the various positions which comprise the ‘Regular Education Initiative.’ The first of these three categories, entitled the 'Little Change' model, calls for the least number of changes within the current delivery system of special education services. The second, the 'Extreme change' model, calls for the total dismantling of the present 'dual delivery' system. The third general heading is that of the 'Moderate change' model. This position calls for a substantial reduction in the number of students being served by 'pull out' programs. These three positions were then analyzed in light of twenty …

The Facilitation Of Students With Learning Disabilities To Postsecondary Education By Secondary Special Educators, Victoria A. Stephans

Masters Theses

This descriptive research was conducted to collect data concerning the attitudes and policies about transition to postsecondary education by secondary special educators in the State of Illinois. A survey was sent to 208 secondary special educators representing the independent high school districts in the state. The survey measured three variables in relation to size of school: special educators' awareness of postsecondary educational opportunities, special educators' expectations for students labeled learning disabled to pursue postsecondary education, and current practices for serving high school students labeled learning disabled. The findings showed that there were more likenesses than differences in the transition attitudes …

The Effectiveness Of One On One Tutoring And Reading Group Intervention In First And Second Grade Within Chapter One Reading Program, Kim L. Howrey

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Survey Of Microcomputer Access By Students With Mild Handicaps In East Central Illinois, William O. Searby

Masters Theses

This descriptive research was conducted to collect data concerning the accessibility of school microcomputers to students who have been labeled as having a mild (high prevalence) handicapping condition. One hundred thirty nine randomly selected school administrators in East Central Illinois were surveyed to determine the number of microcomputers in their schools and the types of programs that were offered to students with special needs. The schools were divided into seven categories depending on the type and size. Total school enrollment figures were divided by the total number of microcomputers available at the school to determine a student to microcomputer ratio …

Effective Practices Currently Used By Classroom Teachers To Facilitate Mainstreaming, Nicole M. Elsie

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Social Status And The Play Interactions Of Students Labelled Learning Disabled And Their Peers, Tammy S. Bryant

Masters Theses

The relationship between social status and play interactions of students labelled learning disabled and their peers is an area which has received much attention. However, most of the research has focused on students in resource settings. The current study focused on students labelled learning disabled in self-contained settings. The study involved administering the Play With Rating Scale to 41 second and third graders in regular classrooms and to 11 same-aged peers who were learning disabled in self-contained settings. The results were divided into popular/average and unpopular status groups. Thirty-three children were observed at play utilizing an observation tool developed by …

The Effect Of Collaborative Consultation Between The Regular Educator And The Special Educator On The Achievement Of Students Labelled Learning Disabled In The Mainstream, Lisa Ann Dewitt

Masters Theses

The effect of consultation on student achievement is an area in which much research is currently needed. This study addressed the issue of how collaborative consultation between regular and special educators effected student achievement. The study utilized a multiple baseline design across subjects to determine the effectiveness of the consultation program. The two-phased study (baseline and consultation) occurred over an eight week period in two third grade and one fourth grade classrooms.

The study involved three regular classrom teachers, one special educator and three students who were labelled learning disabled and who were mainstreamed into the regular classroom. The regular …

The Effects Of Educational Environments Upon The Academic Achievement Of Students Identified As Exceptional, Janet Y. Koch

Masters Theses

The effect of classroom setting upon the academic achievement of students identified as exceptional is an issue worthy of exploration. A plethora of research data tends to show that segregated settings are more effective for individuals who are moderately to severely handicapped in intellectual or physical functioning, whereas integrated settings are more favorable toward those who are mildly handicapped (e.g., learning disabled or behavior disordered, for instance). Numerous variables in the different delivery systems make it rather difficult for the research to pinpoint which type of setting contributes best to a child's learning.

Research in the past has put considerable …

Services In The State Of Illinois For Students Identified As Behavior Disordered, Christi D. Hipple

Masters Theses

Problems exist which interfer with the ability to provide consistent and appropriate educational services to students identified as behavior disordered. These problems involve the inability to provide an educationally relevant label and definition on the federal level, the inability to define and describe the types of services or interventions beneficial to these students and the inability of some districts to comply with minimum federal regulations due to demographic variables. This study obtained special educators’ responses regarding service delivery characteristics and compared these responses by average daily attendance of all students in a district. Results indicated that services provided by districts …

The Effect Of Early Childhood Special Education Teaching Theories On Their Classroom Environments, Cheryl L. Mortimer

Masters Theses

With passage of P.L. 99-457 educators in the United States are going to need to take a very close look at early childhood special education. There will be many new programs beginning in areas where teachers and administrators may be poorly informed. Early childhood special education is effective,but an examination of what part of these programs make it effective needs to be addressed. This study examined how a teachers theoretical orientation toward teaching can affect their preschool special education classroom environment. The environment was evaluated by a section on a survey in which points were accumulated for different environmental factors …