Special Education and Teaching Commons^™

Remixing Dialogue: A Case Study On Perceptions Of Hip Hop Pedagogy In A Professional Learning Course, Kelly J. Thelen

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

This qualitative case study examines how teachers’ decision-making and professional autonomy shift while participating in a Hip Hop Pedagogy Professional Learning course supported by structured FIXIT (Lo & Wachter, 2023a, 2023b, 2023c, 2023d; Wachter & Lo, 2024) game-facilitated dialogue in a rural, culturally and linguistically diverse Midwest community. Grounded in Freire’s (1970) Critical Pedagogy, Ladson-Billings’ (1995) Culturally Relevant Pedagogy, Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy (Paris and Alim, 2017), and Adult Learning Theory (Knowles et al., 2005), the study explores the reclamation of agency by teachers in a time of constrained creativity and educator autonomy shaped by strict policy environments, an emphasis on …

Building Preschool Teacher Confidence In Understanding Student Accommodations By Implementing The Multi-Tiered Systems Of Support (Mtss) Framework, Heather Briese

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Abstract

The overall goal of this paper is to highlight the crucial role that educators have with student development. Educators' knowledge and the ability to implement High-Leverage Practices (HLPs), Evidence-Based Practices (EBPs), and providing the Mutli-Tiered Systems of Support  (MTSS) are essential for student growth through effective student accommodations. This paper will examine how these practices can be implemented to support students in both academics and socially-emotionally. In order for early childhood educators to be successful in providing student support they need to have a comprehensive understanding of High-Leverage Practices (HLPs), Evidence-Based Practices (EBPs), Mutli-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) and …

Comprehensive Review Of Writing Instruction And Writing Curriculum, Brooklyn E. Vonbank

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

This capstone project provides a comprehensive review of writing instruction and writing curriculum, with focus on improving outcomes for students, particularly those with learning disabilities. Chapter 1 examines how students learn to write through the cognitive process model (Flower & Hayes, 1981), emphasizing the recursive nature of planning, translating, and reviewing, as well as the interconnected relationship between reading and writing. It also explores why students with learning disabilities often experience difficulty with writing due to challenges with foundational skills and increased cognitive load. Chapter 2 identifies key gaps in writing instruction, including limited instructional time, inconsistent implementation of evidence-based …

Sleep And Autism Spectrum Disorder, Jennie Carlin

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Sleep disturbances are highly prevalent among children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and may negatively affect daytime behavior, emotional regulation, learning, and overall family well-being. This quantitative research proposal examines the relationship between sleep difficulties, behavioral functioning, and family experiences among children with ASD. The study will explore how behavioral and environmental sleep interventions may influence sleep quality and nighttime behaviors, how improved sleep may contribute to changes in daytime behavior, and how parents and caregivers perceive the feasibility and effectiveness of implementing sleep-focused interventions at home. A quantitative research design will be used to collect caregiver-reported data through the …

Equipping The Church For Inclusion: Developing Training Strategies To Implement Accessible And Disability-Inclusive Ministry Practices, Allison Weinand

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Abstract

Individuals with disabilities are active and present members of society and deserve to be included in faith communities. One in four Americans and nearly one billion individuals worldwide are impacted by a disability (World Health Organization, 2023). Despite this, churches often fail to provide meaningful inclusion, as 90–95% of individuals with disabilities have no access to the gospel through in-person church services (Scheuermann, 2021). While many congregations intend to be welcoming, they frequently lack the training, resources, and adaptable materials necessary to implement inclusive ministry practices. Research highlights persistent barriers, including limited leader preparation, insufficient volunteer guidance, and inaccessible …

A Strong Start: Crafting An Onboarding Experience For Early Childhood Special Education Teachers, Dael E. Babb

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

A Strong Start: Crafting an Onboarding Experience for Early Childhood Special Education Teachers

Dael Babb

Minnesota State University Moorhead

SPED 696: Capstone Project in Special Education

Dr. Keri DeSutter

May 16, 2025

Abstract

Special education teachers face challenges in their early careers, such as burnout, heavy workloads, and lack of support. Previous research shows that well-structured induction programs, including mentorship, professional development, and administrative support, are critical in improving teacher satisfaction and retention rates. Findings from previous research also suggest that teachers who receive strong mentorship and structured onboarding are more likely to stay in the profession long-term. With the …

Bridging The Gap: Effective Training For Paraprofessionals Supporting Social-Emotional Development In Students With Sld And High-Leverage Practices For Inclusive Environments, Amanda R. Swendra

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Abstract

As inclusive education becomes increasingly prevalent, the roles of paraprofessionals in supporting students with Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD) have evolved significantly. Effective paraprofessional support hinges not only on daily assistance but also on meaningful training rooted in research-based strategies. High-Leverage Practices (HLPs)—core instructional, behavioral, and collaborative approaches—have emerged as essential tools in ensuring students with disabilities, including those with SLD, experience academic and social-emotional success. These students often require tailored support due to comorbid conditions such as attention difficulties, executive functioning challenges, and emotional-behavioral regulation issues (Chieffo et al., 2023; Al-Dababneh & Al-Zboon, 2018). However, the literature consistently points …

The Impact Of Educators’ Perceptions Of Neurodivegence On Their Self-Efficacy In Teaching Middle And High School Students With Adhd And Autism In Rural Minnesota, Nicolle D. Bettcher Erickson

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study was to explore how we can best support our teachers in matching our ever-changing educational landscape, specifically our neurodivergent learners. When educating neurodivergent students (students with autism or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), we must understand how to teach these creative, sometimes misunderstood individuals and unleash their full potential. To do so, we need educational practitioners who have healthy perceptions of what it means to be neurodivergent and educators who understand both the talents and hurdles that being neurodivergent may entail. This study examined how non-special education teachers' perceptions of neurodivergence correlated with …

Stigma In Special Education Services With Student Focused Solutions, Deion Heinen

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Stigma can impact groups in many different ways. Special education students have endured stigma and the effects of this stigma for decades as proven by years of research. However, student focused solutions have been lacking in the literature and this is critical to give our educators tools to use in order to promote a positive learning environment in their classroom. While in this study, stigma was not proven in students that I currently teach that have IEPs or receive intervention services it was indicated that students rate themselves lower than general education students about how they perceive school. While more …

An Overview Of The Behaviors That Can Occur For Special Education Teachers And Speech-Language Pathologists In The Absence Of Communication Devices To Assist Students With Developmental Disabilities, Katie Nold

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The purpose of this project was to research communication devices used in unique education settings with students with developmental disabilities, how the devices were accessed, and the benefits of these devices, as noted by the special education teachers and speech-language pathologists who worked with the students with developmental disabilities.The use of iPads in educational settings has proven particularly beneficial for teachers and students with developmental disabilities, especially those requiring alternative augmented and alternative communication (AAC) methods. According to Davidovich and Yavich (2019), these devices facilitate communication between teachers and students, fostering a more interactive and engaging learning environment.

By incorporating …

Descriptions That Tell, Katerina Sturgis

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

In special education evaluations, a common assessment is the Woodcock-Johnson IV Test of Achievement. Special educators struggle to write clear and concise subtest descriptions that allow future educators and support staff to read the students’ results and come away with a clear understanding of the student’s present levels at the time of the evaluation. When giving the Woodcock-Johnson Assessment the evaluator must be familiar with the assessment, how it is given, and how to write the results. With personalized results for each sub-test, the reader should be able to pull information to determine the student’s present levels of learning, recovery …

Collaborative Strategies For Inclusive Education, Jill Ortega

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Abstract

In education, the collaboration between general and special education is pivotal for fostering inclusive practices and addressing complex challenges. However, existing literature highlights a gap in comprehensive preparation for educators, particularly general-education teacher candidates, and the need for ongoing professional development in inclusive practices. I worked to address this gap by developing a training program aimed at equipping general education teachers with the knowledge and skills necessary for effective collaboration with special education colleagues. Drawing upon peer-reviewed research, Cochran-Smith and Dudley-Marling (2012) underscore the necessity of addressing issues that divide general and special education and promoting inclusive practices through …

Gifted Students With Physical And Health Disabilities: Characteristics, Identification, And Programming, Terence Friedrichs

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The public has long known about famous gifted persons with physical and health disabilities (P/HDs). However, many school-based gifted or special educators may not believe that such K-12 youth can be gifted or have these disabilities, or they may not know how to serve these students exceptionalities. This capstone paper, a 1995-2023 update of a 1977-94 literature search from gifted P/HD educational and psychology journals which led to the author’s Distinguishing Traits of Gifted Students with Disabilities (Friedrichs, 2001), strives like the preceding paper to illuminate reader understanding of gifted P/HD students. The new document specifically conveys to special and …

Optimizing Special Education With The Use Of Technology In The Classroom, Briana Sundet

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

In our fast-evolving world technology is very quickly becoming an essential part of daily life. Teachers being able to utilize technology in the classroom is going to benefit all students, especially those with disabilities. Through research, case studies, and experiments we have learned how important technology is in the classroom and how much it enriches lessons, improves student engagement, and increases testing scores. Then on top of the “usual” technology in the classroom, our educators are now battling with AI resources that are being improperly utilized. Instead of training teachers how to use AI sites, it seems the school system …

Contributing Factors To Special Education Teacher Burnout And Retention, Amy Schulz

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Teacher burnout is an increasing concern as Minnesota state data indicates more teachers leaving the profession in the first five years of their career and fewer individuals emerging from teacher preparation programs. The area of special education continues to be an area of need as the state continues to report special education licenses as areas of deficit to meet the need across the state. The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a correlation between burnout and attrition in special education teachers and to analyze the factors contributing to these issues. A voluntary questionnaire was emailed to …

A “How To Guide” Of Tier 2 Reading Interventions, Nolan Coyle

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

My topic is a “how to” guide in the area of tier 2 classroom interventions for literacy focused particularly for grades 4-6. As someone who has worked in special education for 5 years, I occasionally get students on my caseload and I wonder if they could have succeeded in the general education classroom with appropriate interventions. At other times, students have progressed so rapidly that I wonder if interventions were ever implemented. Perhaps the wrong interventions were implemented, or maybe interventions were not implemented properly. In my own practice the number of students receiving reading services on my own caseload …

How Will Having A W.I.N Room For Our Emotional And Behavioral Disorder Students To Access When They Are Needing A Break Affects The Number Of Room-Clearing Behaviors In A Week?, Samantha Streed

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Having the power to create the behavior program from the ground up, starting a “What I Need” (W.I.N) room at the elementary school where the researcher works. This is a sensory type of room with different tools and strategies that the students can use to calm their bodies or as we say have a safe and calm body. This room will be run by the researcher along with a paraprofessional that will be in the room all day to help support the students. This paraprofessional will also supervise the W.I.N Room if the researcher needs to leave to handle a …

Avoiding Burnout: Newsletters That Promote Special Education Teachers Well-Being, Kayler Knott

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

With the alarming rate of teachers leaving the educational field, there is a definitive shortage of people entering the field of special education. Educators need access to different tools and resources that will allow them to know about other things that can help limit or reduce the strain of things causing teacher burnout. By sending out these resources to educators and informing them of different tools they can use, we can help alleviate teacher burnout, keep more educators in the fields, and stop losing our young teachers just entering before they have even completed student teaching experiences. Each of these …

Manipulating The Distance Of Inter-Letter And Inter-Word Spacing To Improve Reading Accuracy And Speed In The Dyslexic Student, Jon Roemmich

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Abstract

Recent research studies have shown that increased inter-letter and inter-word spacing has a positive effect on the reading speed and accuracy of students with dyslexia. A few of these studies also included the use of increased font size. Research that has included using fonts designed for dyslexics in addition to increased font size has not produced favorable results in increasing reading accuracy and speed. In relationship to previous research our results have shown that a .5 inter-letter and inter-word spacing has a marginal positive effect on reading accuracy and speed. The use of .3 and .7 inter-letter and inter …

Video Coaching For First-Year Special Education Teachers, Katherine Gadient

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Topic:

Video Coaching for First-Year Special Education Teachers

Abstract:

There is a shortage of special education teachers, especially in rural areas (Hopkins, 2023). School districts have attempted to address this shortage by hiring people on a variance and providing them with a specific timeline to obtain a special education teaching license (Tier Requirements, n.d.). Based on my school district and my experience, many of these teachers are hired without formal training in education and/or experience teaching in a special education setting. They may not have background information regarding due process and may need guidance on special education paperwork as well …

P-12 Teachers' Perceptions And Knowledge About Students' Mental Health And Their Willingness To Provide Mental Health Supports Within Their Classroom, Tamara Engel

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

P-12 students are experiencing higher rates of mental health needs, which generates a growing concern among teachers, parents, and educational leaders. Students with mental health challenges may struggle socially, emotionally, behaviorally, and academically and become at a risk for lower academic achievement, reduced graduation rates, and increased school suspensions and expulsions. While most of the literature is qualitative and has consistently identified schools as the ideal location to provide targeted mental health supports to students, teachers have reported having insufficient knowledge, skills, and resources to provide these supports to students. This correlational study aimed to move forward the quantitative methodology …

Recognizing Teacher Burnout: Utilizing Teacher Retention Strategies To Help Work Life Balance Of Educators, Meghann Downer

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The ongoing shortage of special education teachers coupled with an increasing attrition rate has prompted many researchers to investigate why teachers are choosing to leave the field. Multiple studies (Lehmann 2008, et al Cheng 2022, et al Bryant 2023) have been conducted to determine the rates of attrition at multiple levels in education. Results of studies (Hughes 2012, et al Robinson 2019, et al Ogakwu 2022) indicate that there has been a statistically significant relationship between job satisfaction and burnout among special education teachers. This project provides a literature review focused on special education teacher burnout and attrition along with …

Executive Functioning And Self-Regulation Learning In The Early Childhood Years, A Calming Safe Space To Support The Emotional Development Of Young Children., Amy Strunc

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Early childhood special education (ECSE) teachers often serve as a resource for classroom teachers, assistants, parents, paraprofessionals, and administration seeking behavioral guidance. Children need to be equipped with strategies to regulate their emotions before they reach the point of outbursts, elopement, shutdowns, or aggressive behavior. Classroom calm-down spaces are essential for all children to take a break and practice self-regulation, initially learning through co-regulation with teachers. This project aims to provide a framework for providing explicit instruction to children to manage their emotions at the earliest signs of dysregulation, enabling them to remain in the learning zone. The project also …

Steps Toward Success: Mentoring Novice Teachers, Megan Thompson, Megan Elizabeth Thompson

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Abundant empirical research points to the positive outcomes of teacher retention rate when having mentor teachers. When looking at the mentoring program the research has shown a decline in teachers leaving the teaching field when they have a mentor for one to two years. States have started implementing their own mentoring programs with different requirements. There is not a standard set of requirements that multiple states have adopted. There is not law requiring first-year teachers to have mentoring. Research however has been inconclusive on the exact patterns that have been the underlying predictor of the program’s success. They have some …

The Relationship Between Parental Engagement In Early Intervention, Part C Special Education Services, And Parental Barriers To Engagement Through The Perspective Of Parents, Zach Selnes

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Parental engagement is a critical component to child development and an essential part to Early Intervention (EI). Parental engagement is especially important for EI services that provide an in-home parent coaching service delivery model. Without parental engagement between EI services, the child will have less of a chance to make gains in their social-emotional, adaptive, physical, language, and cognitive development. This research interviewed nine parents who have a child that received early intervention, Part C special education services, in a rural, southeast MN educational district. The educational district consists of 13 school districts that serve roughly 65 children between the …

Goal Setting And Self Monitoring Among High School Students With Exceptionalities, Madison Worms

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Many students with learning difficulties struggle to maintain focus which leads to off-task behavior and missing assignments. This occurs with students of all ages but is most prevalent with students in middle school and high school. This project investigated the effects of goal setting and self monitoring among high school students with exceptionalities. It also includes research, evidence, and summaries of other studies conducted related to goal setting and self monitoring. These case studies include strategies used to increase student productivity in the classroom. All published literature used in this text have been published within the last nine years and …

Student Perceptions Of Co-Teaching, Megan Berg

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The purpose of this study was to attain information on middle school students’ perspectives of co-teaching based on their experiences in co-taught classrooms. Co-teaching is a commonly used practice, generally between a special education and general education teacher, to support and meet the needs of all learners in a diverse classroom. Because inclusive classrooms are composed of students with and without disabilities, the individual expertise of general and special educators is essential in constructing a harmonious co-teaching partnership (Jurkowski & Muller, 2018; Ritter et al., 2020). According to Kirkpatrick et al. (2020), when co-teachers work together to share their knowledge …

How Doctoral Students In A Formal Leadership Program Conceptualize Followership: A Mixed-Methods Study, Katy J. Johnson

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The purpose of this exploratory mixed-methods study was to determine how doctoral students in a formal leadership program conceptualize followership. The methods used to conduct this analysis included distributing a Qualtrics (released in August 2022) survey and conducting one-on-one interviews with a sample of degree-seeking doctoral students within a formal leadership program. The researcher collected quantitative and qualitative data addressing students’ followership style, leadership attitudes and beliefs, and perceptions of followership. These data were analyzed concurrently using a triangulation design. A total of 67 students completed the survey, and seven students were interviewed. The findings revealed that the participants employ …

Reflecting On Ecse Parent Coaching: Integrating High Leverage Practices 2, 11 And 16 With Parents Of Children Birth Through Age 2, John Muhlenpoh

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The purpose of this study was to gather information on Early Intervention (EI) practices and the implementation of the Special Education High Leverage Practices (HLPs) with parents and children ages birth through age two. In the past, EI staff took the lead as they provided a medical model of services where the staff went into the homes of parents and “fixed” problems the child was having, essentially leaving the parent out of the equation (NICHCY, 2022). The programs involved parents, but many of the parents seemed to take a back seat and watch what was going on with their child …

Beginning Special Education Teachers’ Perceptions Of Impactful Self-Resiliency Skills: A Qualitative Study, Kjersten Skatvold

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Special educators are in high demand and greatly needed to meet the growing population of special education in public schools today. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to gain an understanding of how beginning special educators lived experiences and utilized their self-resilience skills which impacted their retention in the field of special education. With an increasing rate of attrition in the field of special education, exploring self-resilience factors that impact the retention of beginning special educators was imperative to understanding how to best support these early career educators. The increasing demands and pressures that beginning special educators are required …