Disability and Equity in Education Commons^™

A Study Of The Effects Of First Year Implementation Of The Everyday Mathematics Program In A Second Grade Classroom, Johanna Vicchairelli

Theses and Dissertations

The effects of the first year of the Everyday Mathematics Program for a group of 21 second graders was evaluated through a pre and post-test study during the 2000-2001 school year. The students in the study had not experienced the program in kindergarten and grade one. Math achievement was evaluated using the individually administered KeyMath Diagnostic Inventory of Essential Math Skills. Scores reflected progress in the areas of Basic Concepts, Operations and Applications. Student perceptions about math were measured using an Interest Inventory fall/spring. In addition, teacher perceptions and parent reflections were gathered to assess adaptability reactions. Standard scores, scaled …

Brain Gym And Its Effect On The Reading Comprehension Of Third Grade Students With Learning Disabilities, Stacey P. Bundens

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to research the effects of the Edu-K/Brain Gym program on the reading abilities of learning disabled students. Fourteen students who had been diagnosed as learning disabled and enrolled in a self-contained third grade classroom participated in this study. The experimental group received fourteen days of treatment twice a day for ten minutes. The control group received no treatment. Pre- and post-test measures on the Woodcock Reading Mastery Test were compared to determine the progress of the students.

The data shows that the experimental group made only slight gains in the area of Word Comprehension. …

Discipline For The Twenty First Century: Giving Back Dignity To Students With Severe Behavior Disorders, Kimberly S. Devers

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the "Discipline with Dignity" program in increasing appropriate behaviors in the classroom setting. The Revised Behavior Checklist was completed by the classroom teacher for four students in each classroom, to establish a degree or frequency of problem behaviors and to designate a target behavior for which to focus upon. After five months, the behaviors of the eight students were again rated by the checklist to determine if there was any change. The study revealed that on the pretest checklist the students scored the highest in the area of conduct …

An Evaluation Of The Major Barriers/Limitations Of Collaborative Teaching In The Middle School Inclusive Setting, Lisa Barcklow

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify the major barriers/limitations of collaborative teaching in the middle school inclusive setting and assist teachers and administrators in developing effective strategies to enhance successful collaborative teaching efforts. Professional educators working in a collaborative inclusive middle school setting were selected through the district of Gloucester Township. Regular education teachers and special education teachers were asked to respond to questions addressing the necessary elements needed for effective collaboration.

To accomplish the general purpose of this study, questions focused on the following factors: 1) the elements necessary for successful collaborative teaching, 2) areas in collaborative …

A Listing Of Modifications, Models, And Teaching Roles Utilized By Inclusion Teachers At A Secondary School, Bruce N. Krout

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine which modifications, teaching roles, and responsibilities the regular and special education team teachers use to give support in inclusive secondary classrooms. The co-teachers were asked to make recommendations to improve inclusion program effectiveness. The information was collected through a questionnaire disseminated to seven regular educators and five special educators who team-teach in grades seven to twelve. The percentages of the teachers' responses were reported along with a list of teacher recommendations.

The first part of the questionnaire included a checklist of classroom modifications related to classroom organization, instructional methodology, assignment adaptations, testing …

A Study To Determine The Basis Of Attrition Among Learning Disabilities Teacher/Consultants, Julie M. Mason

Theses and Dissertations

Fourteen certified learning disabilities teacher/consultants (LDT/C's) who are not working in that position were identified by the child study team director from their district. All fourteen responded to a survey that asked them to characterize their feelings about certain statements that pertained to the LDT/C position. A Likert rating scale was used to show how strongly the respondents agreed or disagreed with the statement.

Results were analyzed and it was revealed that five out of the fourteen who responded never worked as an LDT/C. Upon further review, it was also discovered that not one statement was answered the same by …

An Evaluation Of The Efficacy Of A Phonological Awareness Program For Learning Disabled Resource Students Of Average Intelligence, Edna H. Garrison

Theses and Dissertations

This study was designed to analyze the efficacy of a phonological awareness program on a group of learning disabled resource students of average intelligence. The participating group, consisting of five second and two third grade students, underwent phonemic awareness training sessions for six months, once daily for 15 minutes. The subjects were trained in the "Phonological Awareness Program"(1995). They were asked to complete pre and post tests using the Phonological Awareness Test (1997).

Average gains in the area of rhyming, segmentation, isolation, deletion, substitution, blending, graphemes, and decoding were calculated, totaled and analyzed. Results indicated that formal phonemic awareness training …

The Effects Of Block Scheduling On Students With Special Needs, Kimberly C. Seifring

Theses and Dissertations

This study surveyed the professionals from two schools in the southern New Jersey area regarding their views of block scheduling as well as their views on the effectiveness of block scheduling among students with special needs. A total of 243 surveys were distributed and 61 were returned. The survey questioned the teachers in regards to the changes they had to incorporate into their daily instructional time upon switching to block scheduling, the advantages and disadvantages of block scheduling, and how to ensure that students with special needs experience success while participating in a block schedule. A majority of the participants …

A Study Of Board Members' Knowledge Of Idea And New Jersey's Special Education Code, Susan Lynne Geverd

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to obtain information regarding the level of understanding that local school board members have in reference to IDEA and the New Jersey Special Education Code. A questionnaire was devised that contained twelve items in regards to least restrictive environment, free and appropriate education, the IEP process, evaluation procedures and parental rights. Thirty-six questionnaires were distributed to a convenience group composed of a school superintendent and board members. The sample represented four different counties in New Jersey. A total of 16 questionnaires were returned. It was found that out of the 16 respondents, 5 answered …

The Effect Of An Inclusive Program On Teachers, Anne Grady

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine how critical collaborative teams of regular education and special education teachers operate, what strategies are presently in use and what can be done to foster success in the future in inclusive settings. The subjects of this study consisted of eight pairs of regular and special education teachers forming collaborative pairs. All participants volunteered to complete the survey instrument. The responses were analyzed by using content analysis. Many of the educators' responses were positive concerning inclusion and in-class support. However, there are some concerns reported for the implementation of this program in the …

Teaching And Assessing The Writing Process, Gail H. Biros

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to provide valuable information regarding the assessment and teaching of writing skills. Although students spend time writing stories, they do not write frequently enough to learn the basic skills of writing. Just as teachers learned that children needed direct instruction in reading skills to make "Whole Language" successful, similarly writing must be taught utilizing direct instruction of specific skills.

There are few reliable and valid assessment tools in the written language domain. A comprehensive assessment tool is needed at the beginning of the school year to help the teacher focus on the individual student …

The Impact Of Early Screening On Preschool Children Attending Camden City Head Start, Beverly M. Clement

Theses and Dissertations

Extensive published research supports comprehensive preschool programs for children and their families, especially for "At Risk" populations often found within inner cities. Programs such as Head Start prepare children for school entrance, provide them with a caring and nurturing environment and empower families with the skills and resources necessary for successful living. The Camden County Council On Economic Opportunity (CCCOEO, Inc.), grantee for the Camden County, New Jersey Head Start Program, provides comprehensive services for "At Risk" preschool children, ages three to five.

Starting in September 1998 to March 1999, sixty-seven preschoolers attending various CCCOEO Head Start Centers were given …

Cochlear Implants, A Study Of Children Implanted Prelingually And Postlingually: What Age Best Facilitates Oral Language Development, Lisa A. Stillwagon

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the most appropriate age for young hearing impaired children to receive a cochlear implant that would best facilitate oral language development. The study compared the oral language skills of five hearing impaired preschoolers, before and after implantation. Information was obtained through student case files including both formal and informal records and reports. Records included: progress reports, IEPs, audiological evaluations, and speech and language assessments.

The results of the study indicated that the development of oral language skills in hearing impaired preschoolers who received cochlear implants at ages 3 and 4 varies due …

An Evaluation Of The Effects Of Project Read On The Reading Achievement Of Primary Age Disabled Learners, Susan L. Pennock

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a multisensory approach to reading being used in the West Windsor-Plainsboro School District's Special Services Department. Project Read, developed by Language Circle Enterprises, is being used to teach phonology, comprehension, and written expression to students with learning disabilities. A pull-out approach is used with the second and third grades in one elementary school. Students are mainstreamed for homeroom, lunch, science and social studies. They are pulled out and sent to a Learning Center in the school for reading, language arts, and math. Reading scores were used from the previous …

A Study Of The Effectiveness Of A Direct Instruction Program In Mathematics, Jennifer A. Laurrell-Klotz

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this project was to determine if participation in a year long mathematics direct instructional program would accelerate the rate of mathematical achievement in a group of learning disabled children. The subjects of this study were comprised of five eleven-year-old fifth grade students who were classified as Learning Disabled. Outcome measures utilized included teacher assigned report card grades, a basic skills test, a two-step word problem assessment and the Key Math Diagnostic Arithmetic Test-Revised as a functional measure.

The results of this study indicate that, when utilizing formal and functional measures, students make greater progress acquiring facts and …

An Evaluation Of The Efficacy Of The Glass Analysis Method Of Word Decoding With Second And Third Grade Disabled Learners, Leanne Bernosky

Theses and Dissertations

Glass Analysis for Decoding Only is one of the many methods available for teaching decoding skills to students with disabilities. This study was designed to examine the effectiveness of Glass Analysis for Decoding Only on the reading achievement of primary age students with learning disabilities. A convenience group of eight second and third grade students receiving instruction in the self-contained special education classroom served as subjects. For a period of five months, students received Glass Analysis as the primary method of decoding instruction. Research examined the effect of this instruction in the areas of word recognition, reading comprehension, listening comprehension, …

The Effectiveness Of The Use Of The Picture Exchange Communication System (Pecs) On The Development Of Functional Communication Skills In Preschool Children With Autism, Patricia M. Martin

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the use of the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) on the development of functional communication skills in four preschool children with autism. The students involved in this study were enrolled in two preschool disabilities-autism classrooms. The classrooms were very similar in the routine and schedule they followed in addition to the teaching and behavioral techniques that were used with each student. Three students were pretested in September 1998, the fourth student was pretested in November 1998. All four students were posttested in March 1999 to measure their individual growth …

Acquiring Automaticity Of Basic Math Facts And The Effect That This Has On Overall Mathematic Achievement, Sandra S. Robinson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to prove, through a systematic approach, that teaching addition facts to mastery would improve the mathematics scores of second grade students. This study attempted to demonstrate that if a desired level of automatic recall of basic facts was achieved students would show improved scores on a nationally standardized test.

Basic math facts were taught to a group of students over several months and they were tested daily on speed and accuracy. Standardized test scores were then compared from the end of first grade (prior to the intervention) and end of second grade scores (after …

An Analysis Of Individual Education Program Goals And Objectives For Preschool Handicapped Children And Their Relationship To Curriculum, Joann M. Mccormick

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to formulate a system whereby Individual Education Plan goals and objectives can be written, and curriculum adapted, to meet the unique needs of the preschool handicapped child.

Research of current literature on preschool IEP's and curriculum was conducted before surveying preschool handicapped programs in the Gloucester County New Jersey area. Thirty-two survey instruments were mailed to twenty-one school districts. The surveys included questions in two areas; first, respondents were asked to report on teacher and program information such as teacher certification, experience, number of children in the program, and hours spent in the program; …

An Analysis Of The Individual Education Plan For Preschool Handicapped Children And Its Relationship To Classroom Curriculum, Karlene E. Zimmerman

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to develop and implement an improved model for Individualized Education Plans which can be utilized in a preschool handicapped program. A questionnaire consisting of 12 questions pertaining to goals, objectives, curriculum and teaching strategies was distributed to twenty teachers of preschool handicapped children. Fifteen questionnaires were returned. Forty-six of the teachers stated that they felt a general satisfaction with the content of the IEPs especially when written by themselves. Dissatisfaction was expressed with the amount of time the Child Study Team spends visiting the PSH classroom. They also expressed dissatisfaction with the amount of …

A Comparison Of The Effectiveness Of Reading Instruction In A Resource Center Pull-Out Program Versus A Regular Education Program, Barbara Groff

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a resource center pull-out program and a regular education program with in-class support as reading instruction placement options for students with learning disabilities.

A criterion-referenced reading inventory was administered to each subject in September to assess word recognition in isolation and reading comprehension. The assessment tool was readministered in March to obtain data in order to establish the gains made by each student.

Eighteen students participated in the study. The subjects are boys and girls between the ages of ten and twelve who attend adjacent school districts. All students …

A Comparison Of New Jersey Certification Requirements For Educational Diagnosticians With Six Other States, Elizabeth O'Neill

Theses and Dissertations

This study compares the New Jersey certification requirements for educational diagnosticians with the requirements of six other states. Child Study Team compositions were also examined. The search was narrowed to six states when interviews with state licensing agencies and state universities did not yield comprehensive information. In order to obtain more in-depth information, the research was conducted via phone interviews with employees from counties within each of the six states. Information received was hand recorded. Raw data was converted to percentages. None of the other six states required additional certification for the educational diagnostician who determines eligibility for special education. …

A Study On Effective Inclusion And Its Academic And Social Impacts On The Mildly Learning Disabled, Maria Naugle

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis project was to determine the effectiveness of placing mildly learning disabled (LD) public elementary school students (grades three, four, and five) in a fully inclusive general education setting with necessary support services, specifically collaborative teaching. Students involved in the study were classified perceptually impaired in accordance with N.J.A.C. 6:28, and placed in an in-class support (ICS) classroom, instructed by both a general education and special education teacher. Academic achievement data, as formally measured on the California Achievement Test (CAT 5) and functionally measured through teacher assigned report card grades, was analyzed. Social functioning (self-concept and …

Inclusion In The Elementary Specialty Areas: Art, Library, Music And Physical Education, Dawn Danley

Theses and Dissertations

In compliance with providing the least restrictive environment, children with varying degrees of disabilities are being included into the general education classroom. This study focused on facilitating the inclusion of children with moderate to severe special needs into the elementary specialty areas including library, music, art and physical education. This study was conducted in a school district in southern New Jersey using inter-office mailings.

Data was collected by providing a completed student profile and a sample needs assessment to teachers in each specialty area. The teachers completed the sample needs assessment based on their perceived knowledge regarding the child that …

An Investigation Of Food Related Versus Socialization Deficits In A Group Of Prader-Willi Syndrome Adults, Janet T. Fioresi

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the frequency of behavior incidents of adults in a group home setting who have been diagnosed with Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS), to determine if the behaviors are more frequently related to food issues or socialization problems with peers and/or staff. It was hypothesized that documented behavior incidents were more frequently due to socialization problems.

The sample for this study consisted of eight adults medically diagnosed with PWS in a group home setting. All participants' Behavior Incident Forms (BIR's) were looked at throughout a two year period from January 1, 1996 to December 31, …

A Comparison Of The Effects Of Full Day Versus Half Day Kindergarten Programs, Deborah C. Gaw

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if the children in full day kindergarten programs made greater gains when compared to half day kindergarten programs as measured by an informal teacher made kindergarten screening test.

The subjects of this study were 81 kindergarten students (40 girls, 41 boys) from two elementary schools in southern New Jersey. Thirty-nine (39) students were enrolled in the full day program, and 42 were enrolled in the half day program. Both groups were pretested with a teacher made kindergarten screening test in the beginning of the school year (September/October) and then post tested in …

An Assessment Of Learning Disabilities Teacher Consultant Role Functions, Jacqueline Delisi D'Auria

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to survey currently employed Learning Disability Teacher Consultants in Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester counties for an assessment of their current job priorities, as related to the five role responsibilities, as well as their perceived competencies within their role functions. Thirty-six questionnaires were mailed; a 66 percent return was obtained. Percentages were computed to determine the rank order of importance assigned to the role functions. A rank order of the list of competencies was determined for both the average ratings of importance and the average ratings of proficiency.

The LDT-C ranked the role responsibilities as …

A Suggested Preschool Program For The Woodstown-Pilesgrove Regional School District, Dawn Schollenberger

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to suggest a type of preschool curriculum that would be effective for the Woodstown-Pilesgrove School District. This was accomplished in various stages. First, library research was conducted at EIRC and the Rowan University Library to find recent literature on the various types of preschool curriculums. Then, because the needs of the community should be considered when designing a public preschool curriculum, an informal survey was designed to solicit the opinions of present and past kindergarten teachers in the Woodstown-Pilesgrove School District. The results of this narrative survey were used to design the major components …

A Handbook Of Exemplary Training Activities To Improve Access And Success In Higher Education For Students With Learning Disabilities, Heidi M. Mcgarvey

Theses and Dissertations

The number of learning disabled students attending colleges and universities has increased dramatically in the last ten to fifteen years placing greater demands on college personnel to keep abreast of effective service models and educational interventions for this population.

This project attempted to develop an exemplary model to be used by campus disability service coordinators to provide information and technical assistance to members of the post-secondary and high school community in order to enhance educational opportunities for individuals with learning disabilities.

Information for the project was compiled, analyzed, and evaluated from current literature, professional and peer practices, and the writer's …

An Evaluation Of The Effectiveness Of Phonemic Awareness Instruction In A Multiply Handicapped Kindergarten Classroom, Janice A. Sanders

Theses and Dissertations

This study is an evaluation of the development of pre-reading skills in kindergarten children in a Multiply Handicapped program. Phonemic awareness activities from the Project ASSIST Kindergarten Curriculum were used to supplement traditional kindergarten instruction in the experimental group. Two kindergarten classrooms for children with Multiple Handicaps comprised the sample (N = 13). The control group had five students, while the experimental group had eight. Instruction in phonemic awareness was delivered to the experimental group for a period of approximately four months. A variety of multi-sensory activities were used daily in the classroom in addition to the kindergarten curriculum. The …