Special Education and Teaching Commons^™

Teacher Acceptability Of Curriculum Based Measurement As A Universal Screener In Reading, Brooke Adams

All Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to extend the existing literature concerning teacher perception of acceptability of universal screening, specifically examining the use of Curriculum Based Measurements (CBM) as a universal screening tool in reading. Eighty-three first through fifth grade teachers from Washington State participated in an online survey utilizing the Acceptability Rating Profile – Revised (APR-R), a 6-point Likert scale measuring practitioner acceptability for a tool. The APR-R was revised to reflect the use of CBM measuring Oral Reading Fluency as a universal screener with response options ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 6 (strongly agree). In the present …

Preparing Those With Developmental Disabilities For Adulthood And Work: Parent Perspectives On Support Services Available In Washington State, Amy Mcalindon

All Master's Theses

Services designed to support the transition periods for individuals with special needs from high school to employment vary throughout the state of Washington. There is little information available regarding the opinions of parents and their experiences while navigating supports available in their area, and recommendations for system improvements. This paper derived from an in-depth study regarding these experiences and questions how the Diffusion of Innovation theory could be used to impact public policy, leading to improvements in high school to employment supports for individuals with special needs. This study presents the findings of a survey sent to parents of children …

Do Homework Trackers Affect Students’ Academic Performance?, Luisdaniel Barrera

All Master's Theses

With new state assessment requirements for high school graduation, teachers are focusing on different strategies to assist students to achieve those goals. Many teachers state that students who complete homework perform better academically. The current study analyzed whether homework planners (trackers) had any positive effect on the academic performance of 16 seventh grade students in a very small and rural school district. This was a mixed study (quantitative and qualitative). Students’ grades, district assessments, state assessments, and teacher surveys were analyzed. The results showed that students improved their math and English Language Arts (ELA) district assessment scores when compared from …

Literary Devices: Effects Of Classroom Management On Student Engagement With 1:1 Devices, Elizabeth Parker

All Master's Theses

The study compares two different classroom management strategies in a 5th and 6th grade classroom using an iPad based intervention. The students participated in 10 sessions of a language and grammar intervention on the Moby Max program. During five of the sessions, the teacher actively monitored the classroom, walking around the room, and redirecting students as necessary. For the other five sessions, the teacher used data from the intervention and monitored and redirected students from her computer screen. The data collected included the number of corrections given to each student by the teacher, the number of minutes the program considered …

Reducing Off-Task Behaviors In First Graders With Disabilities Through An Adaptation Of The Good Behavior Game, Chelsey Martin

All Master's Theses

The purpose of this mixed methods, single subject quasi-experimental study was to measure if an adaptation to a group-based contingency intervention, known as the Good Behavior Game, lead to decreases in off-task behaviors for first-grade students with disabilities during whole group instruction, and if the classroom teacher viewed the intervention positively. Three first grade, male students with disabilities, their first-grade teacher, and the first-grade class were participants in the study. The class was split into two teams and reminded of the expectations for on-task behavior. Positive reinforcement in the form of verbal praise and a team point were rewarded at …

Music And Attention For Children With Developmental Disabilities, Mallory M. Bentley

All Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to measure the effects of the use of music in the form of a song with instructional lyrics on the attention of children with developmental disabilities. The study took place in a self-contained special education classroom, which served third through fifth grade students. A single-subject with ABA or reversal design (Creswell, 2012) was utilized, including five days of baseline, 15 days of intervention, and five days of reversal data collection. During the intervention phase, the teacher sang a cappella an original song with instructional lyrics that explain the type of attentive behaviors that students …

The Impact Of The Arts For Students With Moderate To Severe Disabilities, Rebekah Fuss

All Master's Theses

Students with moderate to severe disabilities are often left out of arts programs, especially in rural areas where resources are limited and drama, music and art classes are often not available. This action research study focused on a small group of students in a self-contained classroom in a high school. The classroom teacher worked with a teaching artist to start an art program for students with moderate to severe disabilities. Even though there are limited resources in rural areas, it is still possible to create a quality arts integration program which requires planning and effective collaboration with other teachers and …

Using Behavioral Skills Training And Videotaped Vignettes To Teach Accurate Recording Of Behavior To In-Service Teachers Of Children With Autism, Nicole Marie Hoffman

All Master's Theses

Research on staff training demonstrates a need for better training of service providers in applied settings (Frazier, 1972; Love, Carr, LeBlanc, & Kisamore, 2013; Parsons, Rollyson, & Reid, 2012). Well-trained staff members increase the likelihood that instructional programs are implemented with a high degree of procedural integrity (Catania, Almeida, Liu-Constant, & Reed, 2009), that is, all people implement a given procedure exactly as designed. Four in-service teachers of children with autism observed several You Tube TM videos and were asked to record instances of a given target behavior using three interval recording strategies. The three interval recording strategies that were …

Effective Learning Strategies For College Students With Asperger's Syndrome, Jamie Susanne Gilbert

All Master's Theses

More and more students with Asperger’s Syndrome (AS) are being accepted into college without having the proper foundation in place to successfully graduate with a Bachelor’s degree. Students with AS need support systems in place to properly prepare them to face the challenges of college. The purpose of this study is to discuss the current research in regards to effective learning strategies that lead to academic success for college students with AS and to further discuss how to implement the learning strategies in higher education institutions. A single-subject study, using both qualitative and quantitative analysis, was performed. It involved one …

Silent Reading Before Oral Reading On The Iri: Implication For Diagnosis And Instruction, Catherine P. Benedetti

All Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to test the effect of silent pre-reading on the number of oral reading errors a student makes on an IRI. Twenty children read passages silently and then orally read passages without pre-reading. The results supported the null hypothesis that there would be no statistically significant difference on oral reading performances for disabled second and fourth graders. Implications for diagnosis and instruction are discussed.

The Role Of The Special Education Teacher At The Secondary Level, Susan J. Taylor-Pendergast

All Master's Theses

Professionals at the secondary level in public education were surveyed by a questionnaire to obtain information concerning the role of the special education teacher at the secondary level. The survey included questions concerning the referral and assessment process, consulting with staff, monitoring of students, behavioral management, the I.E.P. process, curriculum, and legal considerations. in the education of handicapped students. The literature was reviewed and discussed in terms of the various responsibilities of the special education teacher at the secondary level as that professional works to educate handicapped students.

The Effect Of An Intensive Study Skills Approach On Grade Point Average Of Secondary Learning Disabled Students, Jeanne Lancaster Vaughan

All Master's Theses

This study compared an intensive study skills approach with remedial instruction in basic skills for their effects on grade point average of secondary learning disabled students. The experimental group consisted of 12 students, as did the control group. Grade point was tabulated at the onset and conclusion of the study. The statistical analysis consisted of a t-test which showed no significance at the .05 level. The null hypothesis was retained. Discussion follows.

The Effect Of Intelligence Quotient Scores On Special Education Teacher Expectations For Job Success Of The Mildly Handicapped, Janice Ann Tornow

All Master's Theses

The primary purpose of this study was to determine whether intellectual deficiency connotes vocational deficiency in programming decisions made by educational personnel who work with secondary age mildly handicapped students. The influence of the two levels of job difficulty and teacher attitude toward the importance of academic skills for job success on educators' judgements of vocational potential were also evaluated. Questionnaires were sent to 30 educators identified as "leaders" in secondary special education in the State of Washington. Analysis of the data revealed that educators rate the vocational potential of a mildly handicapped person with a high IQ (IQ= 80) …

The Development Of A Comprehensive Preschool Screening Instrument, Jana Lee Johnson

All Master's Theses

The purpose of this paper was to research criteria for screening for young, handicapped children with the intent of developing a single, comprehensive screening instrument. Analyses of existing screening devices and data from educators in the field were also included in the study.

The resulting screening instrument was designed to assess the developmental acquisition of skills. Major developmental areas included in the screening instrument are language skills, motor development, perceptual skills, cognitive development, social skills, and self-help skills.

Using Special Education Students As Cross-Age Tutors, Judith Pearl Graham

All Master's Theses

The topic of this study is the use of Special Education students as cross-age tutors. Ten students, third through sixth graders, were trained to be tutors. Ten first and second graders were proteges. The experiment was divided into three eight week session. The E tutored all Ss for Session I. During Session II the tutors tutored their proteges. The E continued to tutor the tutors. Session III was the same as Session I. This research indicates that children in Special Education classes can benefit academically from being a cross-age tutor.

A Comparison Of Competencies Required By Special Education Prevocational Teachers In The State Of Washington, George Edward Harris

All Master's Theses

This study is a report of an attempt to identify the competencies which are important for teachers in special education prevocational programs in the state of Washington. The competencies, as listed by the authorities, were placed in rank order and then compared with their rank order as listed by the teachers, using the Spearman rank order correlation coefficient. The correlation of .284 was considered to be significant, therefore the null hypothesis was rejected.

Personal characteristics also were listed and rated as to whether they were more or less important to special education teachers than to regular classroom teachers. Three characteristics …

Do Seating Arrangements Affect Academic Learning In A Positive And Negative Classroom, Geraldine R. Offrink

All Master's Theses

This study compared the effectiveness of seating arrangements with academic learning in a positive and negative classroom. It was found that the relationship between the seating arrangement and academic behavior in the positive room was statistically significant, but not in the negative room. This study was limited by a small sample, one week durations of each seating arrangement, a test that had not been used previously, and possibly the "Hawthorne effect."

The Effectiveness Of A Gestural Cue Language Program For Children With Severely And Profoundly Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities, Meredith Jean Nicholls

All Master's Theses

This study proposed to teach a group of institutionalized children with profound intellectual and developmental disabilities, functionally non-verbal children a gestural-cue language system.

Techniques of shaping and imitation were employed in the training of the subjects. Daily assessments were taken and recorded on 6 cycle logarithmic graph paper.

Of the 17 subjects involved in the study, 3 showed measurable progress and retention and were retained in the gesture program.

Recommendations included studies to further investigate the "sign" language medium as a means of communication for the severely and profoundly intellectually and developmentally disabled population.

An Experimental Study Of The Effects Of Perceptual-Motor Training On First Grade Achievement, Susan Paul

All Master's Theses

Two matched groups of first grade students, one of which received a perceptual-motor training program, were compared by a series of tests to determine whether those children having received such training had higher achievement than those with no training.

In overall achievement, non significant differences were found between the two groups. Significant differences were found as the I.Q., perceptual-motor ability, and rating on teacher rating scales with the experimental group making higher gains. The average and slow children of the experimental group did show significantly higher gains in overall achievement than the control group. No differences were found with the …

Analysis Of Content Of Four Reading Programs For Students With Moderate Intellectual Disabilities, Susan D. Peters

All Master's Theses

This paper presents a content analysis of four reading programs being used by the moderately intellectually disabled in three Intermediate School Districts in the state of Washington. The four programs analyzed were Distar Reading I, Edmark Reading Program, Language Master Card Programs, and Programmed Reading--Webster. The learning characteristics defined for this educational group were perception, discrimi­nation, mediation, retention, concept learning, generaliza­tion, transfer, problem solving, and motivation. Each program was analyzed as to its incorporation of each of the specified learning characteristics.

The Effect Of Systematic Phonics Instructions On The Reading Ability Of An Intellectually Disabled Fifteen Year Old, Sherlive E. Edens

All Master's Theses

This paper presents a case study of the effect of systematic phonics instruction and systematic reinforcement on the reading ability of one intellectually disabled fifteen year old boy. This study way designed to see whether the subject could attain reasonable literacy in a two year period from non-reading status. Evaluation was made along the lines of grade level improvement; the results indicated that systematic phonics instruction with systematic reinforcement resulted in substantial reading improvement.

Recommendations included suggestions for additional research.

Critical Examination Of Outcomes For Emotionally Disturbed Boys In A Special Classroom, Betty F. Lauritzen

All Master's Theses

This paper presents a critical examination of outcomes for emotionally disturbed boys in the Special Learning Class. The classroom was designed to modify inappropriate behavior and remediate academic deficiencies.

Behavioral characteristics of thirty-one boys were divided into three categories: the overtly aggressive sub-sample, the passive-resistant subsample, and the infantile subsample. Case studies considered to be modal suggest the success of teacher-authority, token reinforcement, and behavior modification techniques depends on the quality of student-teacher interactions.

An Evaluation Of The Value Of Physical Education In Helping The Slow Learner To Achieve, Donald B. Eldred

All Master's Theses

This study investigated the effects of daily and bi-weekly physical education on physical fitness and development of motor skills in mentally retarded boys. It also investigated the relationship of physical education and improvement in reading ability.

Twenty boys were selected from children attending special classes whose chronological ages ranged from nine to twelve and whose grade level was classified as fourth grade.

Analysis of the data indicated that the experimental group made significant gains over the control group in the Washington State Physical Fitness Test and Johnson's Fundamental Motor Skill Test for Elementary Children. The gains on the Informal Reading …

Effects Of A Contingency Management Program On Reading Rate And Spread Of Effect With Primary Mildly Intellectually Disabled Children, Leo Carl Beck

All Master's Theses

This paper presents a study dealing with increasing reading rate, with primary, language delayed youngsters. The program was designed to see if rate could be increased with contingent (CRF) as opposed to differential (DRO) reinforcement with no drop in selected variables (comprehension, vocabulary, articulation and auditory discrimination). Reinforcement consisted of tokens paired with social praise. Rate did increase for the duration of the study and the selected variables remained essentially constant.

Recommendations include replication of the study with precise administration of schedules.

The Effects Of Counseling On Sociometric Status With Fifth And Sixth Grade Students, Dennis L. Cruchon

All Master's Theses

Thirty-two children, low in sociometric status, were placed in one of four treatment groups: Counseling, Teacher-Counseling, Teacher Feedback, and a Control for a period of ten weeks. Post tests were administered to determine differences in sociometric gains following treatment.

The results indicated that counseling was an effective means of improving sociometric status when compared to a control group.

Limitations of the study were discussed, and recommendations included measuring individual teacher effect on sociometric status.

The Effect Of Teacher Attention And Peer Approval Facilitated By Material Rewards Upon The Disruptive Classroom Behavior Of A Male Kindergarten Child, Brynne Flanagan Lane

All Master's Theses

The purpose of the present study was to operantly condition a kindergarten boy's classroom behavior. The study consisted of four stages: (1) baseline, (2) contingent teacher attention, (3) minimal contingent teacher attention, and (4) material reinforcement. During phase II, the subject's appropriate behavior was followed as immediately and frequently as possible with teacher positive attention. Disruptive behavior was ignored. During phase III, the teacher systematically decreased the level of positive attention until the "minimum level of reinforcement," i.e.. ten per cent teacher positive attention was reach. During phase IV, material rewards were delivered to all class members contingent upon co-operative …

Comparison Of Curriculum Proposals For The Tri-Cities Junior High School And Middle School Special Education Programs, Wayne T. Robertson

All Master's Theses

This paper presents a study which examines the curricula of the junior high and middle school special education programs of Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland, Washington. A questionnaire was circulated and the data were used to compile a comprehensive skill inventory to be proposed for use by the junior high and middle school special education teachers of these cities.

The Short-Term Effects Of The Yakima Valley School Language Development Program On Non-Institutionalized Persons With Developmental Disabilities Of Different Chronological And Mental Ages, Noreen F. Simonson

All Master's Theses

This paper provided a field test of the expressive and receptive language development program written by the staff of Yakima Valley State School for the persons with developmental disabilities, Selah Washington. The program is a progressive one which was based on the developmental theories of Gesell and Bayley. This study sought to define the parameters of applicability from the program. The subjects, both male, non-institutionalized, persons with developmental disabilities, represented a lower and higher level of functioning than had previously been instructed with this program. The results of the study indicated gains in language development for both subjects.

Prevalence Of Reading Disabilities In Delinquents Compared To Prevalence Of Reading Disabilities In Non-Delinquents, Kenneth C. Vanderhyde

All Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of reading disabilities in delinquents compared to the prevalence of reading disabilities in non-delinquents of the same age, sex, grade, and socio-economic background. The subjects where ninth and tenth graders enrolled at Mount Vernon High School, Mount Vernon Washington, during 1971-72 school year. They were divided into two major groups, delinquent and non-delinquent. The results indicated no significant difference between the reading scores of the two groups.

A Survey To Determine Employment Status Of The Graduates Of The Tri-City Special Education Work Experience Program, Rebecca Ames

All Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to follow-up graduates of the Tri-City Special Education Work Experience Program to determine: (a) employment status, (b) whether the graduates felt the program was adequate, (c) types of employment now held, (d) why they are not employed, and (e) if there is any relationship between employment status and classroom abilities.

A personal interview schedule was developed for use with the 17 students in the sample. Two more schedules were then developed for present and past employers. School records were used to determine academic achievement and I.Q. scores.

Eight of the 17 graduates are currently …