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Full-Text Articles in Special Education and Teaching

A Phenomenological Study On The Lived Experiences Of High School Students With A Reading Disability, Ellen R. Ziegler Aug 2020

A Phenomenological Study On The Lived Experiences Of High School Students With A Reading Disability, Ellen R. Ziegler

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Reading is an essential skill for all students. However, students who do not grasp the basic reading skills during elementary school struggle through school. Without basic skills, many of these students are at risk for behavioral issues and a low self-concept. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of high school students with a specific learning disability in reading. The theory that guided this study was the social identity theory as it relates to high school students with a disability in reading to their identity to self and others. The central research question for this …


A Causal-Comparative Study Of Christian School Special Needs Student Test Scores Based On Teacher Degree, Daniel Lee Riley Jul 2020

A Causal-Comparative Study Of Christian School Special Needs Student Test Scores Based On Teacher Degree, Daniel Lee Riley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Special education is a field that is expanding at a rapid pace. A second field of education that has been in existence for only a few decades is the modern Christian K-12 day school. The merging of the two of these phenomena in education creates a research platform that few have studied in unison. There is little research when pairing these two fields, but the need to study them is great. This study will focus on the academic achievement of students with special needs, based upon standardized math and reading test scores, using the Stanford 10 (SAT 10) standardized assessment …


What Works? A Collective Case Study Of Effective Collaborative Practices In Elementary And Middle School Inclusion Classrooms In Southwest Virginia, Shellie Denise Brown Jul 2020

What Works? A Collective Case Study Of Effective Collaborative Practices In Elementary And Middle School Inclusion Classrooms In Southwest Virginia, Shellie Denise Brown

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The advent of inclusive educational practices in the United States in recent decades has prompted a need for increased and improved levels of collaboration among general and special education teachers. The purpose of this qualitative, holistic, collective case study was to develop an in-depth understanding of general and special education teachers’ best practices for effective collaboration in kindergarten through eighth grade public education inclusion classrooms in Southwest Virginia. This study investigated two teams of general and special education teachers who were demonstrating effective collaborative practices. This study sought to answer the central research question: What are general and special education …


A Comparison Of Perspectives Of Special And Regular Education Teachers On Inclusive Education, Bryanan Stefanie Salita Callicutt May 2020

A Comparison Of Perspectives Of Special And Regular Education Teachers On Inclusive Education, Bryanan Stefanie Salita Callicutt

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Many teachers feel unprepared to meet the educational needs of students with disabilities in the general education classroom setting. Presently, limited information exists about the separate viewpoints general and special education teachers hold about providing inclusive education. The purpose of this causal-comparative study is to compare the perspectives of inclusive education held by general and special education teachers located in the state of North Carolina. The perspective about inclusive education will be measured using the Multidimensional Attitudes toward Inclusive Education Scales (MATIES). The framework guiding this study is the Ajzen theory of planned behavior which explains that one’s beliefs, attitude …


Classroom Teachers And School-Based Mental Health Professionals: A Multi-Case Study, Andrea Spangler Leonard May 2020

Classroom Teachers And School-Based Mental Health Professionals: A Multi-Case Study, Andrea Spangler Leonard

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative, multiple-case study was to understand the pedagogy and attitudes of teachers when faced with the presence of school-based mental health professionals in the classrooms in two schools in southwestern Virginia. Semi-structured interviews, with open-ended questions, document analysis, and participant observations were utilized to collect data. The theory that guided this study was Bandura’s (1993) theory of perceived self-efficacy as it related to an individual teacher’s sense of how capable he or she is of creating an environment conducive to learning. The research centered around understanding how a teacher addresses necessary changes to pedagogy and attitude, …


A Description Of The Lived Experiences Of Administrators Supervising Special Education Programs: A Phenomenological Study, Kristen Marie Richtberg Wilkins Mar 2020

A Description Of The Lived Experiences Of Administrators Supervising Special Education Programs: A Phenomenological Study, Kristen Marie Richtberg Wilkins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe how novice, public school administrators experience and learn to supervise special education programs. This study was founded in epistemological assumptions that specific knowledge is required to provide supervision for special education programs. This study was additionally framed using Knowles’ adult learning theory, which theorizes that adults bring their personal experiences to bear and are intrinsically motivated to learn information that they need (Knowles, 1970, 1973). For the purposes of this study, adult learning theory related to the lived experiences of administrators as they learn to supervise special education programs. The …


Autism Spectrum Disorders And Positive Familial Effects, Genevieve Weaver Dec 2019

Autism Spectrum Disorders And Positive Familial Effects, Genevieve Weaver

Senior Honors Theses

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) have been found to significantly impact familial structures and outcomes in various studies. The majority of the impact, however, has been primarily negative; effects like increased stress, marital discontentment, and stigmatization are commonly expressed by families. In this study data from a questionnaire, interview, and picture presentations were analyzed and triangulated to identify the positive familial effects of having a child or sibling with ASD. Parents and siblings shared that having a child or sibling with ASD has bettered their life through learning to enjoy the identity of the individual with ASD, through personal growth, and …


Special Education In China: Viewing Special Education Through A Cultural Lens, Melissa Hosek Nov 2019

Special Education In China: Viewing Special Education Through A Cultural Lens, Melissa Hosek

Senior Honors Theses

The purpose of this study was to understand the cultural perceptions of disabilities and the impact on special education for teachers at schools in China. Teacher education and knowledge of disabilities was studied through surveys and interviews with Chinese national teachers (N = 12). The two main themes found were the shift in view of those with disabilities from disgrace to honor and the need to use the values in collectivism to continue the positive changes in China. Many teachers were found to have a desire to help students with disabilities but felt they did not have enough knowledge. …


The Effects Within A Church Of A Music Program For Special Needs Students, Stephanie Jean Toepoel Oct 2019

The Effects Within A Church Of A Music Program For Special Needs Students, Stephanie Jean Toepoel

Masters Theses

This project investigated the effects that a faith-based music class for special needs students had upon the students, their families, and the participating church body. Two special needs students participated in a four-week faith-based general music class sponsored by their local church. Significant spiritual growth was demonstrated by the families of the special needs students and the church body and was reported in personal interviews and anonymous surveys. The study evaluated the physical, cognitive, and spiritual progress the students demonstrated during the four-week class. Data was collected through researcher observation and journaling, audiovisual recordings, personal interviews of the assistant teacher, …


Tech For Understanding: An Introduction To Assistive And Instructional Technology In The Classroom, Taylor Caldwell Aug 2019

Tech For Understanding: An Introduction To Assistive And Instructional Technology In The Classroom, Taylor Caldwell

Montview Journal of Research & Scholarship

This paper examines the different types of assistive and instructional technology available to students who are classified with one or more of the thirteen disabilities outlined in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (referred to as, IDEA). While the roles of assistive and instructional technology are different, there are many instances where their uses may overlap. Thus, while these two categories will be discussed separately, it should be noted that some information may be applied to each category and more than one piece of technology. The purpose of this paper is to provide an introduction to the world of assistive …


Self-Efficacy Among Special Education Teachers Who Teach Students Diagnosed With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Pamella Tracy Hosley Jul 2019

Self-Efficacy Among Special Education Teachers Who Teach Students Diagnosed With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Pamella Tracy Hosley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative study is to determine the relationship between perceived self-efficacy and work engagement among teachers of students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Self-Efficacy data will be gathered using the Ohio version of the Teachers’ Sense of Efficacy Scales (TSES-T) and the student engagement, classroom management and the instructional strategies sub-scales. Work engagement will be evaluated using the Utrecht Work Engagement Total Scale. Participants will be 66 special education teachers who teach students diagnosed with ASD. A bivariate correlational design employing a Pearson correlation analysis was used to determine if there is a significant relationship between …


In The Shadows Of Autism: A Collective Case Study On Life With A Sibling With Autism In A Military Family, Jennifer M. Henderson-Rudling Jul 2019

In The Shadows Of Autism: A Collective Case Study On Life With A Sibling With Autism In A Military Family, Jennifer M. Henderson-Rudling

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this collective case study was to understand the typically developing (TD) sibling's well-being and role in a military family with a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) on a military post through the parent and TD sibling perspective. The three theories which guided this research include the social cognitive theory (Bandura, 2001a), self-determination theory (Ryan and Deci, 2000), and family system theory (Bowen, 1966). These theories were utilized to evaluate and better understand the motivations, characteristics, and the social development within the family when one child has a diagnosis of ASD. The research questions were: (1) How …


Exploration Of Learning, Social, And Behavioral Experiences Of Female High School Graduates With Emotional Behavior Disorder From Public Schools In The United States: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Christie Renee Simpson May 2019

Exploration Of Learning, Social, And Behavioral Experiences Of Female High School Graduates With Emotional Behavior Disorder From Public Schools In The United States: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Christie Renee Simpson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental, phenomenological study is to describe the lived experience of public high school female college preparatory graduates diagnosed with an emotional behavior disorder (EBD) in the United States. The queries are: (a) how do female students with EBD describe their high school experience, and (b-d) what learning factors, behavioral supports, and environmental influences contributed to their ability to meet graduation requirements. The theory guiding this study is Bandura’s (1986) social cognitive theory as it is firmly grounded in behaviorism and explains the impact of complex interactions on behavior, learning, personal development, and social outcomes. Miller’s (1976) …


A Grounded Theory Study Explaining Teachers’ Instructional Decision-Making On Mathematics Fact Fluency For Students With A Mathematics Learning Disability, Awilda Soto Rudd May 2019

A Grounded Theory Study Explaining Teachers’ Instructional Decision-Making On Mathematics Fact Fluency For Students With A Mathematics Learning Disability, Awilda Soto Rudd

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this systematic grounded theory study was to explain the process teachers undergo when making instructional decisions on mathematics fact fluency for students with a learning disability in mathematics (MLD). The study focuses on revealing the factors, influencers, and knowledge that teachers negotiate to make instructional decisions. These constructs are necessary to understand and explain as the field of mathematics looks to improve the use of evidence-based instructional practices for students with MLD. There are currently no studies that provide an in-depth understanding of teachers’ decision-making within the construct of instructional decisions in mathematics fact fluency for students …


Self-Efficacy And Job-Related Tasks: Special Educators Who Teach Students With Emotional Disorder, Cheryl J. Andrews May 2019

Self-Efficacy And Job-Related Tasks: Special Educators Who Teach Students With Emotional Disorder, Cheryl J. Andrews

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe how special education teachers view their self-efficacy for teaching ED students and manage classroom tasks within the context of the self-contained setting. The theoretical frameworks that guided this study were Bandura’s social cognitive theory and Rotter’s locus of control theory as they related to self-efficacy and the management of tasks specific to teaching students with emotional disorder. The research questions that guided this study sought to describe how self-efficacy helped special educators manage ED students’ individualized instructional programs (IEPs), cope with student behavior, and the management of para professional personnel. …


A Transcendental Phenomenological Study On The Experiences Of Christian School Teachers Educating Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Gale Dionne Hall Apr 2019

A Transcendental Phenomenological Study On The Experiences Of Christian School Teachers Educating Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Gale Dionne Hall

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative transcendental phenomenological study is to describe the experiences of 13 Christian school teachers, who for at least six months, educated students with ASD in three Christian Schools in Hampton Roads Virginia. While information is available for the experiences of public school educators, the experiences of Christian school teachers who educate students with ASD has yet to be examined. Thus, the central research question addressed how Christian school teachers describe their experiences with students with ASD and was guided by the theoretical framework of Milton Rokeach’s theory of organization and change within value systems. I obtained …


Book It, Bullies: Using Children's Literature To Address Bullying In The Classroom, Kamryn Gottier Apr 2019

Book It, Bullies: Using Children's Literature To Address Bullying In The Classroom, Kamryn Gottier

Senior Honors Theses

Bullying is an ever-present issue rampant in schools and society today. It is incredibly eye-opening to consider the striking rates, harmful effects, and possible coping mechanisms associated with bullying. When considering this heavy topic from an educator’s point of view, it is critical that children’s literature be discussed as a powerful weapon to combat bullying. Educators should utilize literature to address bullying and initiate discussions concerning this challenging subject within their classes; prepare their students for being in an inclusion classroom among peers with and without disabilities; inform their students about disabilities that some of their classmates may be diagnosed …


The Impact Of Co-Teaching On Mathematics Achievement Of Middle School General Education Students, Jarrod Bingham Apr 2019

The Impact Of Co-Teaching On Mathematics Achievement Of Middle School General Education Students, Jarrod Bingham

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

To accommodate the presence of special education students in general education classrooms, many schools have implemented collaborative teaching or co-teaching, a model in which two or more teachers share responsibility for a group of students. While myriad research has demonstrated that this model benefits special education students, very little researchers have examined the effect of co-teaching upon the general education student, who often outnumber the special education students. The purpose of this quantitative causal-comparative study was to investigate co-teaching’s impact upon the mathematic achievement of general education students. The independent variable in this study was students’ placement into either a) …


A Comparative Study Of Special Education Teachers’ Inclusion Perceptions: The Role Of Certification Routes, Dannette Taylor Estes Apr 2019

A Comparative Study Of Special Education Teachers’ Inclusion Perceptions: The Role Of Certification Routes, Dannette Taylor Estes

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A primary goal of education is to increase student achievement. Many school districts are addressing increased student achievement by hiring and retaining effective teachers. Teacher effectiveness and student achievement are both influenced by teacher perception. Teachers with positive perceptions have been shown to contribute to increased student achievement and are perceived to be effective educators. Special education teachers hold both positive and negative perceptions about inclusion. In addition to varied perceptions of inclusion, teachers have taken different routes to obtain special education teacher certification. The purpose of this causal-comparative, quantitative study was to determine whether a statistically significant difference exists …


Dental Professionals' Preparedness To Manage The Behaviors Of Patients With Autism Spectrum Disorder During Dental Treatment: A Phenomenological Study, Kelli A. Trenga Mar 2019

Dental Professionals' Preparedness To Manage The Behaviors Of Patients With Autism Spectrum Disorder During Dental Treatment: A Phenomenological Study, Kelli A. Trenga

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental, phenomenological study was to explore the preparedness of dentists and dental hygienists to manage the behaviors of patients with ASD during their dental treatments. The research focused on 12 participants who were novice or experienced dentists or dental hygienists, representatives of three states, and chosen from snowball and criterion sampling. The study was grounded in the adult experiential learning theory and the disability model. Data collection included long interviews face-to-face or via phone, open-ended-online surveys, and document analysis. The data was analyzed through the process of Epoche, transcendental-phenomenological reduction, imaginative variation, synthesis of meanings, and …


Effect Of A Sensory Integration Intervention On Aggressive Behavior In Alternative School Elementary Students, Joshua Anthony Lutz Dec 2018

Effect Of A Sensory Integration Intervention On Aggressive Behavior In Alternative School Elementary Students, Joshua Anthony Lutz

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quasi-experimental time series designed study was to determine the effect of a sensory integration intervention on aggressive behavior of students enrolled in an alternative elementary school for students with disabilities. Twenty (20) students participated in the study. Data was collected through behavioral observations over the course of 16 consecutive school days with the individual student’s frequency of aggressive behaviors in four domains being recorded on 8 days with a weighted vest on and 8 days without a weighted vest on. The four observed and recorded domains were verbal aggression, aggression toward property, aggression toward self, and …


A Phenomenological Study Of The Experiences Of Middle School Teachers Working With Girls With High Functioning Autism, Kelly Parton Alves Nov 2018

A Phenomenological Study Of The Experiences Of Middle School Teachers Working With Girls With High Functioning Autism, Kelly Parton Alves

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the experiences of middle school teachers who work with girls with high functioning autism or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in eastern North Carolina. The theory guiding this study was disability theory, also known as critical disability theory (CDT). CDT, as described by Pothier and Devlin, Garland-Thomson, Glynne-Owen, Oliver, and Siebers was appropriate for this study as it sought to embrace individuals with disabilities rather than seeing disabilities as a deficiency to be cured. Because girls with ASD represent a seldom-studied group, this study may add to the literature by examining …


A Multiple Case Study Examining The Challenges And Successes In The Development And Implementation Of Transition And Post-Secondary Education Programs For Students With Intellectual Disabilities, Keli Michelle Fewox Sep 2018

A Multiple Case Study Examining The Challenges And Successes In The Development And Implementation Of Transition And Post-Secondary Education Programs For Students With Intellectual Disabilities, Keli Michelle Fewox

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this multiple case study was to examine the successes, challenges, and factors identified to mitigate or overcome the identified challenges, as experienced by program directors, faculty, and staff, in the development and implementation of transition and post-secondary education programs, for students identified with intellectual disability at 4-year post-secondary educational institutions. Theories guiding this study were program implementation theory (Weiss, 1997) and disability theory (Mertens, 2009). Sites included three transition and post-secondary education programs for students with intellectual disability, utilizing similarly designed program models at a four-year post-secondary institution. Multiple forms of data collected from each site included …


Job Satisfaction And Self-Efficacy Score Differences In General And Special Education Teachers As Measured By The Job Satisfaction Survey And Teachers' Sense Of Efficacy Scale, Angela Alford Jun 2018

Job Satisfaction And Self-Efficacy Score Differences In General And Special Education Teachers As Measured By The Job Satisfaction Survey And Teachers' Sense Of Efficacy Scale, Angela Alford

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Teacher turn over has been a concern over the last 30 years in the United States. The implementation of No Child Left Behind Act in 2002 impacted the accountability of teachers. This quantitative, correlation study endeavors to determine the relationship between teacher self-efficacy and job satisfaction. Within this study, teachers of a Title I school in the largest school district in a southern state were surveyed via hard copy. The Tschannen-Moran instrument, Teachers’ Sense of Efficacy Scale (2001), was used to identify three subscales: student engagement, instructional strategies, and classroom management. The Job Satisfaction Survey collected participants’ general satisfaction by …


The Relationship Between Perceived Sense Of Community And Self-Efficacy In Special Education Teachers: A Quantitative Correlational Study, Laura Sinkonis Apr 2018

The Relationship Between Perceived Sense Of Community And Self-Efficacy In Special Education Teachers: A Quantitative Correlational Study, Laura Sinkonis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Teacher attrition is a worldwide problem. Teachers leave education for reasons other than retirement, and many retire before the generally accepted retirement age of 65. Further, special education teachers are at an even higher risk of premature exit than their general education counterparts. Self-efficacy is related to teacher burnout and other reasons for leaving the profession. One missing piece in the literature is role of sense of community in special education on teachers’ self-efficacy. The purpose of this correlational study is to investigate possible predictive relationships between sense of community and self-efficacy in special education teachers. Further, relationships between group …


The Special Need Of The Local Church, Sarah Deacon Feb 2018

The Special Need Of The Local Church, Sarah Deacon

The Kabod

All around this world are individuals with special needs who are seeking to find a place where they truly belong: “According to a 2010 U.S. Census study, 56.7 million Americans, or about one in five U.S. residents have a disability” (Lee 40). With such a statistic, an individual with special needs is bound to be found in almost every church across the U.S. In her book Leading a Special Needs Ministry, Amy Fenton Lee states, “Congregations with a regular attendance from eighty to eight thousand are both impacted, as children with neurological and physical disabilities seek inclusion” (36). Many churches …


Comparing And Contrasting Special Education In The United States And Jamaica, Sarah Searle Nov 2017

Comparing And Contrasting Special Education In The United States And Jamaica, Sarah Searle

Senior Honors Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to define, compare and contrast special education services in the United States and Jamaica. Both the United States and Jamaica seeks to provide special education services and resources to students with disabilities. However, protective laws, training, and special services provided for citizens with disabilities range drastically between the countries. This thesis will define disabilities prevalent in the classroom and the services offered for the protection and provision of equal opportunity to all students. Recent laws and requirements for public schools have influenced the trajectory of special education in both countries. As this thesis progresses, …


A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Examining Parents' Perceptions Regarding The Enrollment Of Children With Learning Differences In An Nild Program In A K-12 Christian School, Wendy Wallis Bayer Apr 2017

A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Examining Parents' Perceptions Regarding The Enrollment Of Children With Learning Differences In An Nild Program In A K-12 Christian School, Wendy Wallis Bayer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study is to describe the experiences of parents who have a child with learning differences who has been enrolled in a National Institute for Learning Development (NILD) program in a K-12 Christian school. The central phenomenon is, “What are the experiences of parents who have a child with learning differences who has been enrolled in an NILD program in a K-12 Christian school?” Socio-cultural theory (Vygotsky, 1978) and social cognitive theory (Bandura, 1986) guide this study. Ten co-researchers, who have children with learning differences who have attended at least one K-12 Christian school and …


A Case Study Of An Office Of Disability Support Services In Higher Education For Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Bunnie Loree Claxton Sep 2016

A Case Study Of An Office Of Disability Support Services In Higher Education For Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Bunnie Loree Claxton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative case study is to identify the factors that impact learners with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) at a university in central Virginia. The theory guiding this study is disability theory as it seeks to explain the limitations placed on persons with disabilities. The central research question is: What factors of the disability support services impact learning in university students with ASD? The subquestions include: (a) How do students with ASD describe their experiences with the university’s disability support service offices? (b) How do university faculty describe their role in supporting students with ASD? (c) What factors …


Teaching Special Education In The Es/Fl Classroom, Melinda Koerth Apr 2016

Teaching Special Education In The Es/Fl Classroom, Melinda Koerth

Senior Honors Theses

English language learners (ELLs) are growing in number in the United States school system. With this increase in population comes the task of providing quality and appropriate education for these students. A great part of this responsibility falls on instructors of English as a Second/Foreign Language (ES/FL) courses. As with every other content area, the possibility of having students with disabilities and disorders in the classroom exists. However, in the context of language acquisition unique obstacles and pitfalls exist which are particular to this field. Providing services for ELLs with special needs is a major concern in the realm of …