Special Education and Teaching | Open Access Articles

Asperger Syndrome: Literature Review, Jeanie Floyd

LC Journal of Special Education

This paper provides information centered on the general categories of academic and social functioning of individuals with AS. Prior to this review, a summary of important contributors in this field is deemed appropriate.

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Teaching Children With Epilepsy And Seizures: A Literature Review, Emily Driscoll

LC Journal of Special Education

This research paper has been done in order to inform teachers of what they should know about epilepsy. The areas of importance to an educator will follow in this paper. The causes of seizures and the differing types will be discussed. Different methods of treatments and how they affect the individual are covered. Teachers are likely to encounter an individual who has epilepsy during their career and it is important to know what to do in the case of a seizure, which will be covered later. Lastly, the previous points will be put into the educational setting and the importance …

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Facilitating Inclusion: A Team-Approach, Twila P. Burns

LC Journal of Special Education

Many schools have been faced with the task of including students with disabilities in general education class environments. IDEA 2004 has been at the forefront in making sure that these students are participating in same settings as those without disabilities. Also, IDEA 2004 mandates that students with disabilities be provided with the same educational opportunities as every other student. A significant part of this equality is granting students with disabilities access to the general education curriculum. According to a study by Muscott (1995), educational systems have had to revamp their educational approaches in order to improve education for all students, …

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Rett Syndrome: Characteristics, Causes, And Treatment, April Scruggs

LC Journal of Special Education

The purpose of this paper is to inform readers of what classic Rett syndrome is and what can be done to improve the lives of the people affected by it. This paper will address several aspects of Rett syndrome including its diagnostic criteria and stages, common characteristics, etiology, as well as possible treatment options.

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Recruitment And Retention Of Rural Special Educators, Gregory C. Zost

LC Journal of Special Education

Attracting and retaining qualified special education teachers is a problem many rural school districts are facing. Districts in rural areas suffer from a lack of qualified special education teacher candidates. Accordingly, the issue of having enough qualified special educators is not easily solved. It is not just a question of turning out enough graduates, but finding candidates that are capable of teaching and being successful in a rural setting. A partnership between school districts, colleges, and communities will provide a framework for future success. This partnership will benefit both future teachers and the rural students they serve.

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Defining Reading Disabilities: Multiple Deficits Behind One Problem, Kelley Jacobs

LC Journal of Special Education

The ability and lack of ability to read have been well-researched for over a century. Early research done by the French neurologist Dejerine in 1896, helped pave the way for further research in the area of reading disabilities (Wolf, 1999). Dejerine first spoke of alexia, or the inability to read, which seemingly resulted from brain lesions in the temporal lobe. Since then, psychologists and educational professionals have researched dyslexia as well as the broad category of reading disabilities to find possible causes. Many theories and possible causes have surfaced as a result of this research. Most notably, research has identified …

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Effective Reading Instruction Strategies For Students With Significant Cognitive Disabilities, April Scruggs

LC Journal of Special Education

Recent legislation and focus on research-based instruction has lead to a more unified drive to teaching students with significant cognitive disabilities how to read because we know now that most of these students can learn how to read through intensive instruction using a variety of different strategies to teach the essential components of reading (Browder et al., 2006). As reported by Browder et al. (2006, p. 393), the National Reading Panel (NRP, 2000), “identified five essential components of reading instruction: (a) phonemic awareness, (b) phonics, (c) fluency, (d) vocabulary, and (e) comprehension.” The purpose of this paper is to identify …

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Transitioning Young Children From Early Childhood Special Education Programs To Kindergarten: A Literature Review, Gerin Martin

LC Journal of Special Education

The purpose of this paper is to explore the issues that surround transitioning young children with special needs from early childhood special education (ECSE) programs to kindergarten classrooms in the public schools. IDEA 2004 mandates that families and service providers transitioning children from Part C to Part B begin individualized transition planning nine months prior to the transition. However, outside of Head Start regulations, there is no legal premise mandating individualized transition plans for children transitioning from ECSE programs to kindergarten (Rosenkoetter, Hains, & Dogaru, 2007). Although young children eligible for special education undergo many transitions prior to kindergarten, this …

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Effective Instructional Practices To Prepare Secondary Students For Transitioning Into A Postsecondary Setting: A Literature Review, Jennifer Bryant

LC Journal of Special Education

The focus of this literature review will be to discuss a sample of effective instructional practices and strategies that special education practitioners can teach while still aligning with state-standards for high school students‟ successful entry and participation in a postsecondary education environment. Specific research-based learning models will be examined to emphasize the importance of these prerequisite skills for postsecondary academic demands. Some well-documented instructional approaches and curricula will be examined such as the self-regulated strategy development, Strategic Instruction Model, and Self-Determination curricula to help practitioners facilitate effective teaching practices for high school students entering the postsecondary environment. A sample of …

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Video Modeling: An Effective, Evidence-Based Practice For Teaching Students With Autism Spectrum Disorders, Selina Field

LC Journal of Special Education

Video modeling is a promising behavioral intervention that has myriad applications for students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Video modeling uses visual cues, an effective strategy for instructing students with ASD, who are often visual learners, and modeling, an evidence-based strategy that is effective across ages and populations. Over the past three decades, research has demonstrated that video modeling can be a valuable tool for instructing children with ASD in a variety of skills, and that once a skill is learned through this process, it is maintained over time and generalized across settings. Recent research qualifies video modeling as an …

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Strategies For Helping Struggling Readers Comprehend Expository Text, Julie Beyer

LC Journal of Special Education

The purpose of this paper is threefold. First, it is to present the challenges that accompany comprehending expository texts for students who have learning disability. Second, it is to discuss the implication of these challenges for special educators. Third, it is to provide descriptions of pre-reading, during reading, and post-reading teaching strategies that educators can employ to develop comprehension strategies for expository texts used among students who are struggling to comprehend.

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