Disability and Equity in Education Commons^™

The Effects Of Writing Process Instruction On Student Compositions, Kelly K. Letcher

Theses and Dissertations

Writing instruction has undergone many changes throughout the years. In the 1970's, instruction involved repetitive grammar drills. During the 1980's, instruction moved completely away from these drills and instead focused on creative writing. Currently, writing instruction seems to incorporate both philosophies, often times, through implementation of the writing process.

This study was designed to accomplish three purposes: first to clearly delineate and describe each stage of the process, second, to provide procedural suggestions for its implementation, and third, to document the effectiveness of such an approach on student writing.

The subjects of this study were 42 third and fourth grade …

Effects Of A Metacognitive Think-Aloud Strategy Used To Improve Reading Comprehension In A Group Of Third Graders, Megan C. Scully

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the effectiveness of a metacognitive think-aloud strategy used to improve reading comprehension in a group of third grade students. Fourteen general education students were pre-tested using an individual reading inventory to determine baseline independent, instructional, and frustration reading levels. Explicit and systematic instruction in the strategy, as well as hands-on practice with each component of the strategy, lasted for twelve consecutive weeks. Subjects were then post-tested with different forms of the initial reading inventory. Comparisons of pre-test and post-test scores indicate an average of one year's growth in the independent, instructional, and frustration reading levels for all …

The Effectiveness And Value Of A Character Education Program Administered To A Group Of Second And Third Grade Students With Learning Disabilities, Adriana Germano

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness and value of a character education program when administered over a six-month period to a convenience sample of second and third grade students eligible for special education. The subjects for this study attend Parkview Elementary School in Stratford, New Jersey, and are a part of the resource program there. This study can help determine whether or not a character education curriculum will lead to improved decision-making in morals and ethics. The design of the program is individual to the researcher, but each of the following nine character traits are covered: …

A Study Of The Effectiveness Of The Wilson Fundations Program When Applied To A Group Of Children With Mild To Moderate Special Needs, Annette J. Sessa

Theses and Dissertations

A program that has addressed the needs of students with mild to moderate disabilities is the Wilson Reading Fundations Program for K-3. The targeted goal of the Wilson Language Training is to help students become fluent, accurate readers. It is a phonology, phonics, and spelling program that includes the basic components of the Wilson Reading System where emphasis is placed on systematic phonics and the study of word structure. Instruction is cumulative and scaffolds all presented skills.

The Wilson Fundations Program was administered to a small group of four children in grade 2, with mild to moderate learning disabilities. This …

The Effect Of Daily "Sustained Silent Reading" In Improving Fluency, Word Recognition, And Reading Comprehension Skills For Mild Cognitive Impaired Students, Elizabeth Kandabarow

Theses and Dissertations

This study evaluated the effectiveness of Sustained Silent Reading (SSR) when used daily with Mild Cognitive Impaired students. The purpose of the study was to measure strengths, deficits, and gains in fluency, word recognition, and reading comprehension abilities through pre and post-test procedures. Seven intermediate level students between the reading levels of two and three participated in this study. The experimental group consisted of four students, and the control group consisted of three students. The treatment group participated in Sustained Silent Reading (SSR). Forms A and B of the Jerry John's Basic Reading Inventory were administered to the students. Form …

A Study Of The Effectiveness Of Saxon Phonics On Phonemic Awareness, Dawnmarie Bach

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a structured, systematic phonics program such as the Saxon Phonics 1 program in improving the phonemic awareness of first grade students. The effectiveness of this program was measured by a pre and post assessment using The Test of Phonological Awareness (TOPA).

The subjects for this study consisted of two groups of first grade students (ages six and seven). Group one consisted of twelve students: seven girls and five boys. Group two consisted of nine students: six girls and three boys. Teachers that are experienced in the use of the …

A Retrospective Analysis Of Factors Contributing To Successful Inclusive Placements, Erin L. Tibetts

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine variables that are associated with successful placement of children with disabilities into regular education classroom settings. Subjects were children with varying disabilities that were placed in regular education classrooms in a single elementary school building. In each setting, in-class support was provided by a special education teacher. Data was gathered by an examination of records including grades and child study team information. Also, teachers were interviewed to provide their perceptions of elements that are necessary for success in the regular classrooms. Teachers also expressed their overall impressions of the in-class support model …

Cognitive Writing Strategies, Arlene A. Paris

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of cognitive strategy instruction in teaching writing. Writing is a process that results in a product. The learning that takes place will be continually developing and changing. Our goal as teachers of writing is to have our students produce quality written products. How does one accomplish this? Strategy instruction which includes metacognition and self-regulation can empower the writer. Students develop as writers when cognitive strategy instruction is used in the classroom. It requires knowledge, strategies, motivation, and practice with constructive feedback. (Harris & Graham, 1996)

The individuals who participated in …

The Effect Of The Wilson Reading Program On Spelling Skills In An Inclusive Sixth Grade Setting, Kathleen A. Dellinger

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the use of the Wilson Reading program as a method for instructing spelling rules and principles in an inclusive sixth grade setting. The subjects included eighteen sixth grade students, four special education and fourteen regular education students. Post testing results indicated that in 76% of all the students there was an increase of approximately one year in spelling ability. Two of the four special education students had an increase in age appropriate ability, with the two remaining special education students decreasing in grade equivalence.

The Effect Of Sports On Self-Concept: A Comparison Of Students In A Special Education Resource Room Who Participate In Sports And Students In A Special Education Resource Room Who Do Not Participate In Sports, Meredith Fiori

Theses and Dissertations

Research indicates that students in special education have a lower self-concept than their non-disabled peers (Manhattan College, 1998). Manhattan College also states that students with disabilities who play sports have a self-concept equal to or higher than individuals without disabilities. Identifying the degree to which participation in sports may raise the self-concepts of students in special education is an important strategy in educational programming. Discovering techniques to improve the self-concepts of students in special education has been a difficult task for both teachers and parents.

The purpose of this study was to determine if a difference exists between the self-concepts …

A Study Of How School Board Members Acquire Their Knowledge Of Educational Issues, Susan L. Rice

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine how School Board Members acquire their knowledge of educational issues. A questionnaire was used to examine the socio-economic background of Board of Education members, along with their acquisition of knowledge. The questionnaire was distributed to Elementary and High School Boards of Education in the Southern New Jersey area. The data collected from the questionnaires, research on Boards of Education and conclusions drawn from the summary of the data are presented.

The study of the data indicates Boards of Education consist predominantly of white males, age 40 - 49, who have attended college, …

The Effects Of Character Education On The Moral Decision Making Of A Selected Sample Of High School Students, Carol E. Lively

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if a program of character education implemented in a public high school over a 6 month period would lead to measurable changes in value judgments as measured by the Student Survey of Social and Emotional Learning. The instrument contained 21 items requiring value based judgments to be responded to using a 5-point likert scale. One sample T-test showed no difference at the .001 level of confidence across the 21 items assessed. Also measured were teachers' perceptions of change in student behavior and attitudes toward school. Teachers felt there had been some improvement …

Implementation Of Effective Practices By Special Education Teachers In The Classroom, Rae Malkiewicz

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which teachers were aware of and using effective practices in their classrooms. Reasons why they did not use a particular practice were also obtained. Fifty-five teachers were sent questionnaires and thirty-one teachers returned the questionnaires. From this data, the percentage of usage of each practice was determined as well as the percentage of implementation of each practice in five different subject areas. The results of this study showed that teachers are aware of and are using the best empirically validated practices.

The Identification Of Best Practices For Teaching Students With Limited English Proficiency And Degree Of Implementation In Salem And Cumberland Counties, Alice Nezu Peterson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine best practices for teaching students with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) and to investigate the extent to which these are implemented in two Southern New Jersey Counties. An analysis of current educational research revealed eleven characteristics of successful programming and instruction for students with LEP.

A total of 113 questionnaires were sent to randomly selected schools within Salem and Cumberland counties and 56 were completed and returned. Of the 56 schools that returned questionnaires, 20 contained significant populations of students with LEP. Ninety percent of the schools were in compliance with state mandates …

Comparison Study Of The Reading Achievement Of Students Who Have Participated In The Fast Forword Program With Students Who Have Not Participated In The Program, Nancy A. Werner

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine whether participation in the Fast ForWord Reading Program had an effect on reading achievement. Fast ForWord is a computer-based program that utilizes a CD-ROM as well as the Internet to enable students to learn and practice skills that are critical to language comprehension and reading development. According to Scientific Learning, the developer of the Fast ForWord Program, 40% of students need to improve their reading skills. Therefore, Scientific Learning developed a computer program that can alter speech sounds, enabling students to differentiate between phonemes, increase language skills, increase phonological awareness, expand working …

An Evaluation Of The Effectiveness Of The Mcgraw-Hill Mathematics Series For Use With Inclusion Students, Margaret C. Green

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the effectiveness of using the McGraw-Hill Mathematics Series with second grade inclusion students. Two students were pretested in October of 2001, using the final test from the Silver Burdett Mathematics Series for first graders. In March of 2002, they were tested again using the same test. The tests were compared to see what areas the students made improvement in since October. The students were also given the McGraw-Hill Cumulative Test for second grade on chapters 1-6. This was given in order to further assess the their competence on the skill areas presented in this series so far …

Effective Classroom Strategies For Students With Adhd, Jennifer A. Berenguer

Theses and Dissertations

The purposes of this exploratory investigation were to (a) identify practical strategies for ameliorating Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder currently being implemented by teachers in the classroom setting; and (b) identify the strategies found to be most effective. Diagnostic criteria for the identification of students with ADHD are identified. Empirically validated treatments are identified and discussed. The role of educational professionals is delineated, demonstrating the need for identification of effective practical strategies for classroom utilization. Teachers demonstrated a high rate of frequency for utilizing practical strategies that they identified to be most effective. Implications for teaching students with ADHD in the …

The Effectiveness Of Teaching Moral Development On The Ethical Decisions Of First And Second Grade Children, Anna M. Grant

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a program of character education administered to a group of first and second grade children over a six-month period. The subjects for this study attended or are presently attending Atlantis Elementary School, located on McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey. This information can help determine whether or not an unstructured character education curriculum can lead to improvement in moral and ethical decisions. Participants were administered two forms of an assessment over a six-month period. The first assessment was executed in September of 2001. The participants were then introduced to …

Average Effort Extended In Person Hours To Complete An Initial Child Study Team Evaluation, Lisa Hak Licciardello

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the number of person hours necessary to complete a Child Study Team initial evaluation by School Psychologists and Learning Disabilities Teacher Consultants in a random sample of school districts in Southern New Jersey. Sixteen components of an initial evaluation were identified and respondents were asked to report the time in minutes devoted to each component. Thirty questionnaires were distributed and twenty-four were returned. On the basis of the responses, it was found that School Psychologists spend fourteen hours completing an initial evaluation, and Learning Disabilities Teacher Consultants spend ten hours completing an …

A Study Of The Effectiveness Of A Structured Tutoring Program On Student Reading Skills, Rita M. Neyer

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if the students in the after school tutoring program made greater gains when receiving tutoring by certified teachers in a consistent structured program when compared to students not enrolled in the program as measured by a pre and post assessment using the Macmillan/McGraw-Hill Informal Reading Inventory and Decoding and Phonics Inventory.

The population for the study consisted of two groups of first and second grade students. Group one (treatment group) attended the tutoring program, which met two times per week. A certified teacher tutored students, one on one. Group two (control Group) …

Perceptions And Experiences Of Middle School General Education Social Studies And Science Teachers With Respect To The Inclusion Of Low Reading Level Students In Their Classrooms, David Walls

Theses and Dissertations

P.L. 94-142, and subsequent laws, require that all students receive a free and appropriate public education provided in the least restrictive environment (LRE). When a child study team has determined that a child is eligible for special education services they decide which program will most benefit this child's academic progress. Numerous variables determine placement in the most appropriate and least restrictive environment, so that when a child is placed in the general education setting for content area classes it is in the best interest of that child.

This study provided documentation of the attitudes, perceptions, and concerns of general education …

The Relationship Of The Language-Based Characteristics Of A Selected Group Of Post-Secondary Esl Students To Pass Rates On The New Jersey Basic Skills Reading Test, Tina Previtera

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between selected language-based predictors of reading competence and the reading performance of a group of college-level ESL students receiving Basic Skills instruction. It appeared that a language barrier was preventing this group of students from passing their Basic Skills Reading requirement. It was hypothesized that this resulted in a lack of necessary skills for comprehending standard English. Based on theoretical perspectives obtained from a review of the literature, the language-based characteristics needed to obtain a passing score on the Basic Skills Reading are vocabulary, short-term verbal memory, and broad linguistic …

A Study Of The Effectiveness Of An After-School Peer Tutoring/Homework Help Program, Karen S. Symanski

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if the students in the after-school peer tutoring/homework help club made greater academic gains when compared to students who did not participate in the after-school program as measured by their grade point average.

The subjects of this study were 30 fifth, sixth, and seventh grade students from a one school district in a rural southern New Jersey town. Fifteen students were enrolled in the after-school program. Fifteen students did not attend the after-school program. Grade point averages were calculated for both groups at the end of marking periods one and two. A …

The Effectiveness Of Increased Support By Special Education Teachers On The Academic Achievement Of Learning Disabled Students In Main Subject Area Inclusionary Classes At The Secondary Education Level When Compared To No In-Class Support, Kelly A. Fitzhenry

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of increased support by special education teachers on the academic achievement of learning disabled students in main subject area inclusionary classes at the secondary level when compared to no in class support. This information can help analyze the effectiveness of an inclusion program, validate successful inclusive educational policies that should be continued, and pinpoint the need for revision. Grade point average data of included learning disabled students in Core English II, Core B Math, and Introduction to Earth Science during the 94-95 academic year when no in class support was …

An Evaluation Of First Grade Children's Progress In Reading Using The Success For All Program, Alphefia L. Blount

Theses and Dissertations

This study measured the gains made by students in the Success for All program in the areas of word recognition and reading comprehension. Also, the study examined whether the variables of attendance, student behavior, homework completion and family support affected the results of those gains. The students participated in the Success for All reading program for sixteen weeks. Every eight weeks they were given an assessment to measure progress or regression in word recognition and reading comprehension. The students' reading groups were adjusted accordingly. At the end of the sixteen weeks they were administered the Jerry John's Basic Reading Inventory …

Implementing Best Practices When Modifying An Early Childhood Curriculum To Facilitate Inclusion Of Children With Disabilities, Cordalia D. Sullivan

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify current best practices when modifying an early childhood curriculum to facilitate inclusion of children with disabilities. A questionnaire consisting of twenty items pertaining to the benefits and barriers to an inclusive preschool program was distributed to thirty-four educators who service preschoolers with disabilities directly or indirectly. Those surveyed strongly agreed that including young children with disabilities in typical preschool program is a viable model of service delivery. They stated that benefits outnumber the barriers in an inclusive program, that such programs can benefit children with and without disabilities, and staff training is …

A Case Study In Augmentative And Alternative Communication: Usage By An Eight Year Old Male With Developmental Apraxia Of Speech, Marie E. Maine

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of using a sophisticated electronic voice output augmentative communication device with an eight-year-old male who has been diagnosed with Developmental Apraxia of Speech. The design of this research was a case study. Data collection measured the subject's academic, language, and social status before and after implementation of the augmentative communication device. Measures included standardized and criterion-referenced tests, adaptive behavior rating scales, structured observations, anecdotal data, interviews, and review of school records. Findings indicated the subject was able to participate in several assessments during the post-treatment condition that could not be …

Effective Strategies For Managing Adhd Students In The Classroom, Merri Owen

Theses and Dissertations

With so many school-age children being identified ADHD or ADD, many teachers as well as administrators feel ill-prepared to handle these students in their classrooms. The purpose of this study was to determine procedures teachers use effectively to manage ADHD students' behavior in their classrooms. It was also used to determine if a differential relationship exists between the willingness of upper elementary teachers and lower elementary teachers to accommodate ADHD students in their classrooms.

Forty-five teachers completed a survey to determine how frequently specific strategies were used and their perception of the effectiveness of these strategies. The teachers identified how …

A Study Of The Amount Of Training That Pre-Service And In-Service Special Education Teachers Receive In The Teaching Of Reading, Virginia Egbert

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if special education teachers at the pre-service and in-service levels have received and are receiving enough training to proficiently teach reading to their students, This study attempted to reveal the level of knowledge and training that special education personnel possess in the area of teaching reading. Data was gathered through a questionnaire, and then the responses for all of the participants were analyzed and presented in graphs. The responses were classified as those from in-service teachers or pre-service teachers in order to compare the data between the two groups.

The findings for …

The Effectiveness Of Using Brain Based Strategies In Classroom Instruction To Enhance Student Learning, Stacey Agin

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of using Brain-Based strategies to teach science content. Data was gathered over a ten-week period, which encompassed the entire third marking period. The results were found using primarily the students' test scores. The scores were presented in two categories: whole class averages as well as the special education students' averages.

The subjects of this study include forty-six fifth grade students, ranging in ages from 10-11. Twenty-one are enrolled in the researcher's homeroom class, and twenty-one in a comparable fifth grade class in the same school. The researcher is the science …