Special Education and Teaching Commons^™

Special Education Teachers And Burnout: The Factors That Contribute To It And Effective Strategies That Combat It, Sydni M. Fancher

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis will explore the reasons behind teacher burnout in special education. The field of special education has increased dramatically throughout the years. As more research is being done to determine the various disabilities out there, the need for special education teachers increases. There is a gentleman by the name of Maslach that discovered the term “burnout”. According to Maslach there are three different components of burnout: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and lack of personal accomplishment. After researching this topic the four findings that contribute to teacher burnout include: stress management, workplace characteristics, benefits of mindfulness, and identifying the disabilities that …

Impact Of Relative Age On Need For Special Education Services, Leonie Giles

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This thesis consists of a literature review of research on a potential correlation between a student's birthdate, age upon entry into kindergarten, and the potential need for special education services while in elementary school. Results were mixed on the benefits of delaying entry into school. While results appeared contradictory at times, closer analysis indicates that benefits depend on the individual, on the presence of a disability, the gender, and socio-economic status, and on when a student is born. Students born in the months directly preceding kindergarten eligibility are at a disadvantage when compared to those born right after the cut-off …

Understanding The Needs Of Children In Poverty To Improve Academic Achievement: A Literature Review, Christy Michele Lothrop

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Poverty affects one in five children in the U.S., where 50% of public schools identify as mid-high or high-poverty schools. Decades of research confirms a significant and constant economic academic achievement gap. This literature review sought to determine how poverty impacts children’s development and ways educators can improve educational outcomes for students in poverty. Researchers illustrate how poverty impacts children environmentally and neurologically, leading to brain changes associated with language, memory, socioemotional, and executive functioning skills. Researchers offer a multitude of ways that educators can improve educational outcomes for students in poverty including: improving school climate and teacher-student relationships, implementing …

The Impact Of Visual Schedules For Students With Disabilities: A Literature Review, Kristine L. Mcdonald

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The purpose of this empirical research literature with application emphasis was conducted so I could better understand the effects of visual schedules and video modeling. Visual schedules and video modeling showed an increase of independence with transitions between classroom settings and daily routines had on students with autism. These studies reviewed students from elementary aged to young adults. The majority of students who participated in the reviewed research had no previous exposure to visual schedules. 20 peer reviewed publications were studied and analyzed on these simple interventions and the impacts and success students encountered. The documented success of a simple …

The Impact Of Mindfulness Practice On Adolescents With Special Needs And Mental Health Diagnosis, Rebecca Jean Mcquiston

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Students with mental health diagnosis, trauma or special education labels such as emotional behavioral disorder or learning disabilities often show signs of distress, and/or dysregulation in the classroom. They are referred to providers and evaluated based on the behaviors or symptoms that are presented. Many times, these behaviors impact their ability to learn, regulate emotions and function when compared to their typically developing peers. These students have developed maladaptive behaviors to cope with strong feelings. Within the last ten years, clinics, schools and districts have increased their attention and efforts to develop social emotional learning programs to teach students essential …

Student Anxiety And Practical Strategies For The School Setting: A Literature Review, Cassie M. Ott

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Since 2010, anxiety levels have risen worldwide. Children and adolescents are particularly susceptible to anxiety as they experience varied life challenges. Considering anxiety disorders most common in youth (generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), separation anxiety disorder (SAD), social phobia (SP), and test anxiety), this thesis delves into research focused on diagnoses with comorbid anxiety (including Depressive Disorders (DD), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)), and the underlying causes of anxiety. To clarify the research questions regarding symptom identification and successful strategies to use in school settings, the literature review provides information about symptoms, anxiety behaviors, and the impact on …

Students With Special Needs And Their Ability To Self-Monitor Goals, Erin L. Schmitz

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Self-monitoring behavior is one way students can be involved in their learning. Research shows that desired behaviors increase, and academic performance improves, when students monitor their behavior during class. This action research project reviews self-monitoring literature and examines how accurately fifth-grade male students who are receiving services for Autism Spectrum Disorder can self-monitor their Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals and how self-monitoring affects their progress toward their IEP goals. The results suggest these students were able to accurately self-monitor and show progress toward their IEP goals.

Using Arts To Improve Academic Outcomes For Students With Disabilities, Melissa Jean Briggs Wood

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Theatre is often used as a tool in the classroom to target specific skills in language arts classes. More and more, it is being woven into curriculums outside of the language arts classroom to explore multi-disciplinary teaching. Theatre arts have the potential to reach a wide array of students in order to increase academic achievement, engagement/attainment, and social-emotional skills. Not only can theatre arts improve skills for students as a whole, but it can positively impact students with learning disabilities and special needs, too. Research indicates through empirical data that students generally show improvements in academic achievement, engagement and confidence …

The Effects Poverty Has On Students In Special Education, Morgan Marie Auge

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Poverty is an issue around the world that affects children and their academic achievement. In the United States 21% of children are raised in poverty. Children from poverty have a higher risk of mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders in children and youth. Children from homes of poverty are affected by stress causing the brain to not fully develop. This thesis is a summary of academic literature on poverty and its relationship with special education which includes the placement of special education students in Minnesota, United States, and other developing countries. Special education has continued to be researched over the last …

Restorative Justice In Schools - The Impact And Implementation, Chad Edward Felty

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Are restorative practices producing fewer negative outcomes for students and improving relationships within schools? The following literature review and application looked at the effectiveness of restorative practices in schools. The evidence showed that restorative practices are an effective way to decrease the number of negative behavior outcomes for students. Intentional relationship work was defined as a major theme in the effective implementation of restorative practices. The literature described the main themes that were imperative in implementing effective restorative practices in schools. The gathered evidence led to the application which defines a specific way to enhance the restorative practices within a …

Response To Intervention In Child Find, Eucabeth Kimaiga

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This thesis highlights RTI and child-find under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA) federal law, revised in the special edition of 2011. In 2011, the child find mandate was the focus of the IDEA regarding the education for learners with special needs. This concept mandated school districts in each state to acknowledge, find, and assess allchildren, from birth to 22 years of age with special needs and disabilities, who could need early care or special educational services. Children who were perceived to have a Specific Learning Disability (SLD) used to be found eligible for special education services after …

Impacts Of Social And Emotional Learning Interventions In Special Education Students, Cassandra R. Drusch

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Social and emotional learning is educational programming that can help the student learn to recognize emotions, set goals, perspectively think, maintain positive relationships, make decisions and learn conflict resolution (McCormick, 2019). Research has shown that social and emotional learning is beneficial to not only the general education population but also special education students. The author of this thesis researched the impact of social and emotional learning on students with disabilities in the five disability categories; emotional behavioral disorders, autism spectrum disorders, developmental cognitive disorders, specific learning disability, and other health disabilities. A literature review was conducted to determine the impacts …

Impacts And Strategies In Positive Student-Teacher Relationships, Cassandra C. Eckart

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Researchers, educational professionals, and classroom teachers consistently seek out ways to engage students in the classroom. For some students, engagement comes naturally. They connect easily with people and are by nature, curious and active learners. For these students, traditionally taught textbook engagement strategies are often very effective and lead to a vibrant classroom experience. Conversely, in almost every classroom there are one, or two students. The one who the classroom teacher struggles to connect with. The student is disengaged in the classroom, does not complete work or participate in class lectures and discussions. Though well educated in engagement strategies, classroom …

Benefits Of Physical Activity For Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Trey Lewis Benhart

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Adolescents with autism live a more sedentary lifestyle than those without an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis. Lack of exercise results in increased health risks, obesity, and decreased quality of life, exercise, motor skills, and peer interaction. Exercise can serve as a treatment for those with autism that increases quality of life, improves peer relationships, overall health, and increases expected behaviors. Special education providers should receive training about the benefits of physical activity along with strategies to best incorporate physical activity into daily routines, instruction, and goals. Due to lack of systemic resources and social opportunities, researchers cite many benefits to …

The Effect Of Classroom Physical Activity Breaks On Students' Academic Performance And Executive Functioning Skills, Barb J. Diemer

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Classroom-based Physical Activity (PA) has gained attention among teachers and schools due to the potential to enhance learning while also providing the opportunity for children to increase their physical activity level. Children are not meeting the recommended amount of daily physical exercise and the increase in obesity is alarming. Implementation of PA breaks at school has been identified as a way to address the need for more physical activity as well as providing an intervention to target learning. Classroom breaks that have been studied include active learning, which takes place by combining PA with academic material or breaks that are …

Developing Collective Teacher Efficacy To Help Secondary Teachers Feel Confident In Their Positions, Katherine E. Cabieses

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This study evaluates the resources available to develop the efficacy and the collective teacher efficacy of Secondary School Teachers in handling students’ misbehavior, resulting in effective teachers satisfied with their teaching positions and students succeeding socially and academically. This study also examines the reasons and factors that cause teachers’ stress, burnout, and dissatisfaction at work. This literature review focuses on and highlights how self-efficacy and collective efficacy influences teaching, learning, and achievements in school. The studies reviewed in this study provide great information that supports my thesis statement. They indicated that collective efficacy enhances job satisfaction in teachers, influences student …

Avoiding The Services Cliff: An Extensive Look At Effective Strategies To Prepare Students With Autism Spectrum Disorders (Asd) For Life And Work, Danielle Marie Carter

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A fundamental objective of the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) is to safeguard that all students with disabilities have available to them a Free and Appropriate Education (FAPE) that affirms special education and related services designed to meet their individual needs and prepare them for further education, employment, and independent living. This thesis addresses evidence-based efforts to prepare students on the autism spectrum for life and work. It provides an overview of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) which includes; a definition, common challenges that students on the autism spectrum experience as they grow, and evidence-based strategies to address those challenges. If …

The Lived Experience Of College Students With Intellectual Disabilities, Mary Lindell, Jessica Daniels, Mary Schulze Michener

Graduate School Faculty Publications

Within a private university in the United States, BUILD is a two-year program for individuals with intellectual disabilities. BUILD provides inclusive opportunities in coursework, employment, residential, and social activities with traditional students, as well as life skills and career training in courses specific to BUILD students.

This empirical phenomenological research study explored the lived experience of students with intellectual disabilities enrolled in the BUILD program. From interviews with six participants, the themes of social experience, independence, safety, and belonging emerged. The findings of this research indicate that the opportunity-rich environment, a network of support, and a community of belonging contributed …

The Educational Impact That Social Media Has On School Age Children's Mental Health And Educational Experiences, Kasondra Janc

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Studies have shown that school involvement and the policies that they have created can impact adolescents’ mental health. Social media is one of the most widely used online platforms and a reason why school-aged children want cell-phones, tablets and computers. There are several types of social media platforms, both online, on the TV, and advertisements posted on online and on billboards. However, the lack of power over the social media world is cause for concern. If school age students have access to social media twenty-four seven, and many school districts are turning a blind eye to it, this is unacceptable. …

The Effects Of Inclusive Classrooms On Students With Disabilities And Effective Inclusive Classroom Strategies, Erin Rose Welter

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The purpose of this literature review was to research the effectiveness of inclusive classroom strategies pertaining to academic achievement and social/behavioral achievement in students with disabilities along with which inclusive classroom strategies were more effective. Twenty-five research studies based on inclusive classrooms were reviewed and summarized throughout this literature review. While there were studies that saw a positive impact on a student’s academic success after being in an inclusive setting, a majority of the studies used in this literature review found no correlation between students with disabilities being included in an inclusive classroom and their academic achievement. It can also …

A Quantitative Study Of Factors Influencing Special Education Teachers’ Attrition: The Relationships Between Burnout, Personality, And Organizational Factors, Erin Lavery Wanat

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The purpose of this study was to examine if there is a relationship between independent variables—special education teachers’ emotional/interpersonal stressors, personality type, and worklife variables—and special education teachers’ burnout. Burnout is as complex as it is destructive for the special education teachers, who are likely to cite burnout as a major factor contributing to their pre-retirement departure from education. Burnout consists of three factors: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization/cynicism, and decreased estimation of personal contribution to the work. Six-hundred and ninety-two (n = 692) of Minnesota’s Tier Four licensed special education teachers participated in the study by completing a survey related to …

A Descriptive Study Of The Accommodations, Assistive Technologies, And Supports Chosen By Students With An Intellectual Disability Attending A Post-Secondary Institution, Lori Olson

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This study used a mixed methods approach to investigate the perceptions of students with intellectual disabilities (ID) attending a Transition Postsecondary Program for Students with Intellectual Disabilities (TPSID). This study explored what they perceived to be the most chosen and helpful accommodations, assistive technologies, and supports and why they chose them. The researcher sent out an electronic survey to students with ID attending a Transition Program for Students with Intellectual Disabilities (TPSID) to determine the most chosen and helpful accommodations, assistive technologies, and supports and why they found them helpful.The top ranked accommodations used and found most helpful in this …

Promoting Self-Management Skills Among Students With Disabilities Within The General Education Classroom, Elisabeth A. Pagel

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The purpose of this action research project was to determine how educators can promote self-management skills among students with disabilities in the general education classroom. Previous studies were used to summarize the current state of social-emotional learning in the American public-school system and to identify strategies that promote self-management skills in special education classrooms. The Delphi method was used to distinguish which of these strategies would promote self-management skills for students with disabilities in the general education classroom. Panelists (N = 18) generated and ranked strategies in three questionnaires, and they created consensus on the top 10 strategies with the …

The Relationship Between Inclusive Classroom Practice And Student Self-Perception Outcomes, Jenifer York

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The majority of students with special education needs spend of 80% their time in general education classrooms (National Center for Education Statistics, 2019c). While participation in general education classes is linked to positive outcomes for students with special education needs, little has been researched regarding actual practices occurring in inclusive classrooms and the impact of such practices. Academic and social gains for students in general education classrooms are unlikely without effective instruction and intervention. This quantitative study investigated whether there was a relationship between the degree of implementation of inclusive practices in classrooms and student self-perception of academic self-concept and …

All Students Are Worthy: A Comparison Of Special Education Within Countries, Makenna Brown

Library Research Prize Student Works

Dating back to the 1800’s, people with a disability have been thrown into mental institutions, beaten, abused, and underestimated. For those with a disability, having an opportunity to be educated was not thought possible. They have been deemed as unqualified or not worth the time to educate. It was not until the late 1960’s into the early 1970’s that parents and others started advocating for equal rights. Since this time, countries around the world are attempting to fix the inequalities of people with a disability by creating laws to allow for them to gain an education and create hope for …

Only You Can Prevent Burnout?: Factors Influencing Job Satisfaction Among Special Education Teachers, Alicia Michelle Alexander

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Special education teacher (SET) burnout is a complex problem impacting teacher health, student outcomes, and job satisfaction. This review examined burnout literature with special education teachers as participants in US studies between 1973-2020. Studies reviewed support SET burnout as an interaction between personal and occupational variables. Overall, it is likely that each burnout component is influenced by a different set of internal and external factors. The most supported factors for SET burnout were perception, role conflict, role ambiguity, and administrator support. Possible treatments should address the underlying factors of SET burnout rather than its symptoms. Future research should inform the …

Adding Movement To Enhance Learning In Special Education, Jennifer S. Ammermann

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Academic achievements, standardized tests, and school accountability have resulted in children spending more time with seatwork and less time in recess and physical education. Recent brain research shows that cognitive skills develop with motor skills and cannot be isolated; children need instruction and practice with both skills. Schools and classrooms are providing more opportunities for movement with physical activity breaks during instructional times. Students with learning disabilities often have persistent primary reflexes that do not develop into postural reflexes, which are necessary school readiness skills such as attention, balance, and coordination. The purpose of this research is to review literature …

Perspectives On The Quality Of The Student-Teacher Relationship Between Students With A Disability And Typically Developing Students And Developmental Outcomes, Hannah Rae Bast

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Little research has compared the student-teacher relationship between students with a disability and students with typical development. More specifically, the quality of the relationship between the student and the teacher. Measuring the amount of conflict, closeness, and how dependent the student is on their teacher within that relationship. Most relationships were viewed as negative by the teacher for students with a disability while most relationships with typically developing students were viewed as positive. These relationships showed less conflict, dependency, and higher levels of closeness. Developmental outcomes are examined in the present research in the areas of academic performance, behavior, and …

Identifying The Best Practices For The Twice Exceptional Learner, Edison Boelter

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The objective of this thesis is to find the best research-based practices available for the twice exceptional learner. Twice exceptional learners are a growing percentage of the population in the academic community, and yet educators are greatly unprepared to work with these students. Through literary reviewed studies and research, it became possible to identify useful information as to how to educate and prepare teachers to work with twice exceptional learners. These literature reviewed studies and research demonstrated that twice exceptional students need a person-centered approach that is also able to meet their unique social and emotional needs. These literature reviewed …

How Does Work-Based Learning Help Prepare Students For Life After High School, Frank A. Cacich

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Work based learning is part of career and technical education that can help students to be better prepared for life after highschool. There are many different types of programs that make up a work based learning programming. These programs are for both Special Education students and general education students. Programming can encompass job shadowing, youth apprenticeships, clinical internships or practicums, and work experience programming. Another part of Work-Based Learning (WBL) is career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSO). These are different student run organizations where youth can learn business, agriculture, health and other varying work based skills from professionals in the …