Special Education and Teaching Commons^™

The Effects Of Block Scheduling On Students With Learning Disabilities, Karen Markart-Garofalo

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects that block scheduling has on students with learning disabilities, specifically high school students. In retrospect, the surveys offered a comparison between the regular students and the learning disabled. Staff surveys provided insights to areas that need to be addressed relating specifically to the learning disabled student and block scheduling.

Surveys were distributed to 64 learning disabled students, 60 regular education students, and 38 staff members. The surveys were designed to elicit their opinions about block scheduling and how it has had an effect on the students' learning.

It was determined …

The Effects Of Participation In Athletics On The Development Of High School Students With Special Needs, Derryk Sellers

Theses and Dissertations

This study looked at the effects of participation in athletics on the development of high school students with special needs. Specifically, this study examined classroom behavior, academic performance, and social development. This study also explored some of the aspects of the development of these students by studying classroom behavior, academic performance, and academic achievement. Students with special needs who participate in athletics were compared to those who do not participate. The results of this study suggest that athletics are beneficial to the development of the special needs students. This study will help administrators, teachers, parents, and students understand the role …

The Effect Of Educational Placement On Self-Concept, Karin Dech Pescatore

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine self-concept of students from different placement settings. Academic, social, and general self-concepts were considered. Subjects were chosen from four placement settings: regular education classroom, basic skills instruction (BSI), resource room instruction, and self-contained special education classroom. A sample size of forty-eight students from grades five and six was used. Data was collected through the use of a self-concept scale as well as several student interviews. Data was recorded and analyzed on a computer using the StatView program. Mean scores and standard deviations were compared to determine differences in self-concept scores among the …

The Effectiveness Of The "Making Words" Program On Reading Decoding, Mandy E. Fisher

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if the Making Words Program when incorporated into the whole language curriculum will help children with special needs improve their reading decoding. Meaningful growth on reliable instruments would indicate a possible correlation between the use of the Making Words Program and reading decoding development.

The study consisted of five second grade students ranging in age from 7 years to 8 years. All students were given instruction through a whole language based approach in addition to the Making Words Program. The treatment program consisted of one session per week for a duration of …

The Effects Of Peer-Tutoring Learning Disabled Students In A Resource Center Setting On Generalization Of Skills, Patricia L. Grieves

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of peer tutoring on the comprehension of science vocabulary and terms and determine if those study skills methods taught would generalize to the studying of social studies vocabulary and terms. A cross-age peer tutoring program pairing seven seventh grade learning disabled students with seven eighth grade regular education tutors was used. Tutors worked with tutees for an eight week program tutoring in science vocabulary and terms through two study skills methods, Self-testing Techniques and Survey, Question, Read, Recite, Review. Two methods were used to determine results. The first was a …

Participation Of Special Education Students In Extracurricular Activities: Motivation And Effects On Academic Performance And Social Skills, Carolynn J. Cassaday

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines special education students' participation in extracurricular activities. This study involves 40 special education students in seventh and eighth grades. Each student was interviewed individually during one class period to answer a survey to determine their participation rate in extracurricular activities inside and outside of school. Their responses were recorded and analyzed to determine the rate of participation in extracurricular activities. The students were interviewed again during a forty-two minute class period to determine if they demonstrate appropriate social skills. These questions were answered with always, sometimes, or never. The results of this research study showed no significant …

The Effectiveness Of A Social Skills Program Used With Children With Learning Disabilities, Sandra L. Dalton

Theses and Dissertations

This research study investigated the effectiveness of a social skills program both inside and outside of the classroom. Its purpose was to see of positive behaviors increased and negative behaviors decreased both inside and outside of the classroom. The results showed that overall, for the class, positive behaviors increased and negative behaviors decreased. Individual results varied. The implications of this are great. If we teach our students with learning disabilities the necessary social skills now, they will be able to take these skills outside of the school setting and successfully integrate into society.

Family Support Of Emergent Literacy In Students With Moderate And Severe Cognitive Delays, Dianna M. Higgins

Theses and Dissertations

This study sought to explore family support of emergent literacy of students with moderate and severe cognitive delays. The research question addressed was "Does family support of emergent literacy differ on the basis of the severity of the student's cognitive delay?" Data were gathered by means of a parent survey of home literacy experiences.

Research showed that students with moderate cognitive delays participated in more emergent literacy activities and exhibited higher level responses to emergent literacy activities than students with severe cognitive delays, and the parents of moderately delayed students perceived more academically oriented benefits to home literacy activities. Results …

Incorporating The Wilson Reading System Into A First Grade Reading Curriculum, Barbara Colton

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to examine the ability of the Wilson Reading System, when incorporated into a regular education inclusion classroom curriculum, to support the reading needs of all learners, particularly special needs students. Subjects for this study were first grade students from two regular education classrooms. The experimental classroom was an inclusion setting containing two students eligible for special education and related services, and two students supported with basic skills for reading. The control classroom had one student supported in basic skills for reading. Results reveal that students in the inclusion or experimental classroom provided with supplemental …

The Effects Of Use Of A Metacognitive Strategy On The Language Anxiety Of Missionaries At The Missionary Training Center, Laura Millet Bichon

Theses and Dissertations

Language anxiety is a form of anxiety that can negatively affect language learners by disrupting their cognitive processing, by rendering their learning experience unpleasant, and by reducing the quantity and quality of their language production. The language anxiety research contains many suggestions for anxiety reduction, one of these being the use of metacognitive language learning strategies. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a self-monitoring, metacognitive strategy called ASWE on the language anxiety levels of young male and female missionaries in the intensive language learning program at the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah. The ASWE …

A Study Of The Impact Of The Picture Exchange Communication System On Verbal Language And Stereotypic Behavior In Preschool Children With Autism, Theresa Caratozzolo

Theses and Dissertations

The Picture Exchange Communication System was designed to give children with autism, developmental disorders, and social-communication disorders a way to communicate with the world around them. It is a picture based communication device that puts emphasis on the child initiating interactions. PECS utilizes many behavioral teaching techniques such as shaping, fading, backward chaining, and delayed prompting to teach children to make requests and communicate with others.

Even with the emphasis on spontaneous interactions without the use of speech, verbal language is likely to develop as a secondary outcome for those children who have the ability to develop and use speech. …

Using "Social Stories" To Enhance The Social And Behavior Skills Of Preschool Children With Autism Or Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Amy F. Wiesen

Theses and Dissertations

Autistic or Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD) children may exhibit impairments with communication skills, social skills, and cognitive skills. A treatment strategy called social stories may be an effective visual aid that provides individuals with autism/PDD accurate information regarding situations they encounter or skills they are working on. This thesis examined whether the use of social stories would increase the academic, social, and behavior skills of autistic/PDD children. A study was conducted over a three month period on three preschool students from the Bancroft Preschool. The purpose of writing a social story for each child was to teach the students to …

Social And Emotional Effects Of Inclusion In Special Education And Inclusion Classes, Ava Boyce

Theses and Dissertations

This study sought to determine whether students with learning disabilities benefited socially and emotionally from inclusion placement when compared to placement in a special education class.

Forty-eight high school students were included in a 17 item attitude scale questionnaire which measured their motivation toward school as well as their self-esteem. Students were surveyed from two inclusion and two special education classes. A second questionnaire measured the attitudes of three special education teachers and three regular education teachers.

The data was analyzed by evaluating the frequency distribution for each question and then comparing the inclusion group to the special education group. …

Teachers' Perceptions Of The Benefits And Challenges Of Instruction In Collaborative And Resource Room Settings, Dawn M. Ewing

Theses and Dissertations

This study sought to pinpoint problems special education teachers face in resource centers and collaborative classes. With this information, teachers will be able to instruct their students with a higher degree of success. In this study of special education teachers who instruct in both a collaborative team-teaching class and a resource center, educators were asked to list and explain the challenges they face in each setting, and how they compared with one another. Special education teachers completed open-ended surveys, as did regular education teachers who teach collaborative classes. Teachers reported that their biggest challenges in both settings were time constraints …

Visual-Motor Integration Training And Its Effects On Self-Help Skills In Preschool Students With Disabilities, Kimberley L. Maneval

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine whether structured visual-motor integration training activities aid in the acquisition and refinement of self-help skills in preschool children with disabilities. Research has shown that visual-motor integration training can be beneficial in the remediation of some reading and math difficulties, however, not all researchers agree on the merits of structured training for young children. The experimental group for this study received twenty-three visual-motor integration training sessions over the course of thirteen weeks, in addition to the regular visual-motor integration training activities presented in the regular daily curriculum. The control group only received visual-motor …

The Effect Of Participation In A Preshool Disabilities Class On Future Academic Placement, Barbara E. Zuber

Theses and Dissertations

This research hypothesized that students who received help in a preschool disabilities program would be less likely to remain classified as eligible for special education services. The study looked at eleven children who had previously attended a preschool disabilities program. It was found that seven of the eleven children were still classified in special education. The functioning of the students was examined based on their scores on the BASC(Behavior Assessment Scale for Children) Teacher Rating scale. It was found that the majority of students scored high in the area of learning problems and had low scores in study skills. These …

A Study Of The Use Of Computer Technology By Students With Special Needs, Debra A. Mercincavage

Theses and Dissertations

A study was conducted to investigate the use of computer technology during the instruction of students with special needs. The study examined how computer technology was used during instruction by special education teachers and by students with mild disabilities and students with severe disabilities. The relationship between the category of student with special needs, the academic areas of Language Arts and Mathematics and the computer application used during instruction were the focus of the research. Special education teachers of students with mild and students of severe disabilities teaching in a variety of classroom setting were surveyed. Teachers of students with …

The Effect Of An Alternative In-School Suspension Program On The Suspension Rate Of Special Education Students As Compared To A Program Of Out-Of-School Suspension, Kelly Brydges

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if an alternative in-school suspension program will reduce the suspension rate of special education students as compared to an out-of-school suspension program. Thirteen special education students were selected to be the subjects of this research. The discipline records of these thirteen students from the 1997-98 school year were compared to the 1998-99 school year. The alternative in-school suspension program for the 1998-99 school year differs from the 1997-98 school year. The discipline policy for the 1998-99 school year includes a Learning Center which is attended from three in the afternoon to seven …

Transition Services For Students With Severe Disabilities, Valerie A. Gardner

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine transition services that schools provide students with severe disabilities and their parents prior and beyond the students' high school graduation. The researcher hypothesized that local educational agencies provide an adequate curriculum and instruction for transition from school to adult life, but once the students graduate, the funds and services diminish, therefore providing inadequate service to support transition planning. The research involved informal interviews and surveys with public and private schools and the parents of students with severe disabilities. A total of nine public and private schools, and four parents who had a …

Increasing The In-Seat Behavior Of A Third Grade Boy With Adhd Using Positive Reinforcement And Self-Reinforcement, Michael J. Miltenberger

Theses and Dissertations

An ongoing challenge for all teachers, especially special education teachers, is developing intervention programs to control the behavior of their students. The author of this research project attempted to improve the in-seat behavior of a third grade boy with ADHD by implementing a behavior modification program using positive reinforcement and self-reinforcement. The author used positive reinforcement for five weeks before moving on to the self-reinforcement portion for an additional twelve weeks. The purpose was to increase the subject's in-seat behavior while also having him become actively involved in his behavioral program. The results show that the subject's in-seat behavior did …

The Use Of Performance Assessment In The Middle School Resource Room, Kimberly Ann Powell

Theses and Dissertations

This study focused on the use of performance assessment in the middle school resource room. I hypothesized that formally stating criteria used for evaluation would increase student performance and positively affect students' finished products. The size of the subject sample was ten students, ranging in age from 10 to 15 years and enrolled in grades four through eight. The students were all designated as Eligible for Special Education. Methods included observation, creation of materials, data collection, and formal evaluation through the use of rubrics. There were two phases of research throughout this study with results compiled for each term. Students …

The Use Of Social Skills Training And Its Impact On The Behaviors Of Elementary Students With Multiple Handicaps, Stephanie L. Winkler

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the use of social skills training and its impact on the behaviors of elementary students with multiple handicaps. The two main areas of focus were to improve social conformity and ego strength. Deficits were discovered in these two areas after a pre-test was given to the eleven subjects using the Burk's Behavior Rating Scale and after reviewing the students' Individual Education Plans (lEP's). The students then underwent a ten lesson unit that attempted to increase their social and peer interactions and therefore their self-esteem. The students were taught through modeling, prompting, discussion, direct instruction, role-playing, and discovery. …

Effect Of Participation In A Daily Reading Log On The Reading Attitude And Achievement In Low To High Achievers, Jody M. Strauss

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of a daily reading log on the attitude and comprehension of sixth grade low to high achieving students. The study consisted of forty-eight students divided among two classes. Half of the students used the daily reading log and were compared with the other half who did not use daily reading logs for a sixteen week period. The spring 1997 standardized testing placed students in the low to high ranges in reading.

The students were tested in September and again in March after participating in the daily reading log program. Students' …

Educators' Knowledge And Attitude Regarding Nj's Core Curriculum Content Standards, Amy H. Crossley

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the knowledge of teachers regarding NJ's Core Curriculum Content Standards and their attitudes towards those standards. A survey was distributed and collected from 35 participants. Items on the survey were factored into three categories. These categories described how well-informed educators were regarding NJ's CCCS, their feelings towards the standards and how well-prepared they as educators felt they were. Results reveal that educators have "some" knowledge regarding NJ's CCCS, however, that knowledge-base must be broadened. Results also showed that the majority of educators have either a "positive" attitude or an "indifferent" attitude towards implementing NJ's CCCS and that …

Scotopic Sensitivity/Irlen Syndrome And The Adult Graduate Student, Patricia Haas Berry

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to establish the prevalence of SS/Irlen Syndrome in adult graduate students. SS/Irlen Syndrome is a perceptual dysfunction that causes 14 to 16 percent of the general population physical discomfort such as headache, eye strain and blurry vision and academic difficulties such as poor background accommodations and print resolution resulting in inefficient reading (Irlen, 1997).

The 16 subjects were adult graduate students in a university program. Data collection was achieved through the utilization of questionnaires. The first questionnaire, the Irlen Observation Form, surveyed the subjects for characteristics of SS/Irlen Syndrome. The second questionnaire, Parts A …

The Effects Of Self-Monitoring, An Action List, And Graphing On On-Task Behavior, Paula Chamberlin

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if self-monitoring, graphing of on-task behavior time, and the use of a predetermined written action list with self-evaluation of adherence to that action list would increase on-task behavior time during independent study time. The hypothesis was that students in the supplemental instruction program would decrease their incidences of off-task behavior by bringing a predetermined written action list with them to class, self-evaluating adherence to their action list, self-monitoring and graphing their on-task behavior time.

The fifteen students who participated in this study are students who attend Delsea Regional High School, located in …

A Quantitative Analysis Of Educational Resources On The World Wide Web, Nicole A. Fedeli

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to provide educators with a sampling of the educational resources that are available on the world wide web. It was also designed to determine the different categories of web sites available. The study was conducted by using the Yahoo! search engine. A search was entered for areas such as Social Studies and Special Education. The resulting web sites were then navigated to determine their relevancy to the study. Relevant web sites were placed into the following categories: Information sites and Lesson Plan sites. The sub-categories of Information sites are: For the Classroom, Special Education, …

A Comparison Of Perceived Satisfaction With Quality Of Life For Adults With Traumatic Brain Injury And Mental Retardation, Todd Jarger

Theses and Dissertations

An exploratory study was conducted to examine the possible differences in satisfaction with specific quality of life indicators developed by Schalock (1996) between persons with mental retardation and those with acquired traumatic brain injuries. A survey comprised of a Likert-type scale was utilized to interview 41 adults with mental retardation and 27 adults with traumatic brain injury to obtain their perceived satisfaction with their quality of life. The analysis of the data suggests that a significant difference exists between the two groups. The sample of persons with brain injuries expressed lower levels of satisfaction on 10 of the 11 items …

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder In Adolescents And The Use Of Ritalin, Joanne Nelson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to see if a combined stimulant intervention/behavior improvement system facilitated greater gains on achievement tests and on a behavior improvement level system than a behavior improvement system alone with ADHD adolescents. The sample used consisted of 10 subjects classified with ADHD. Subjects were matched for IQ, age, educational classification and placement, socioeconomic status, and family type. Five subjects received stimulants and five received no medication, but all subjects were involved with the behavior improvement system at school. Pretest results were gathered using the KTEA (Kaufman Test of Educational Achievement, brief form) and the student's …

The Effects Of Cooperative Learning On Social Interactions And Attitudes Toward English Class In At-Risk Students, Catherine A. Mikionis

Theses and Dissertations

This research study examined the effects of cooperative learning methods on social interactions and attitudes toward English class in 18 at-risk high school students enrolled in a small alternative education program located on a college campus. The findings suggested cooperative learning methods increased students' positive social interactions, increased students' reported number of friends, and decreased students' cut classes. Although no significant difference in overall mean was found on the attitude toward English class survey, students' dislike for participating in class discussions decreased measurably. The implications for this study are such that cooperative learning methods can be effectively used with at-risk …