Special Education and Teaching Commons^™

The Effect Of A Self-Monitoring Program On Perceptually Impaired Students' Compliance To Class Rules, Michael A. Scully

Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of a self-monitoring procedure that was designed to increase compliance to classroom rules in a middle school setting. Four male seventh grade students classified as Perceptually Impaired with histories of discipline and academic difficulties served as subjects for this investigation. After a baseline period in which a rating scale was used to evaluate their behavior, the subjects were taught to use the same scale and were required to rate their compliance to a predetermined set of rules. Points to be used for participation in a reinforcement activity could be earned …

What Is The Prevalence And Effectiveness Of Teacher Versus Student Managed Approaches Of Classroom Management, Marshall Paul Edmonds

Theses and Dissertations

This study looked at two distinct classroom management styles: teacher versus student managed and their effectiveness and prevalence at three southern New Jersey high schools unique to each other via location and student composition. A twelve item questionnaire was given to ten ninth to twelfth grade students and a nine question survey to three teachers from each school. I personally administered the forms to all participants to clarify any questions they had. The majority of the students' questions dealt with their opinion of school and classroom rules and their effectiveness. The teachers' survey elicited input on what are the major …

The Effect Of Brushing On A Tactilely Defensive Child, Christine Graham

Theses and Dissertations

Previous investigations of sensory defensiveness seem to indicate a direct relationship between sensory defensiveness and the "sensory diet" approach as proposed by Wilbargar (1987). This study examined the implementation of the "sensory diet" or brushing technique begun with one mildly tactilely defensive subject. Brushing took place three times a day, every day, for approximately an eight week period. Pre and posttest instruments used to gather data were the Touch Inventory for Elementary School Aged Children (Royeen, 1986) and the Sensory Integration Inventory for Adults with Developmental Disabilities (Reisman, Hanscher, 1990).

The results indicated that there was no difference between pre …

The Effects Of A Career Awareness Program On The Recidivism Rate Of An Inmate Population, Bernardine Rochelle

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this ex post facto research, a two year follow-up, was to determine the effect of a Career Awareness Program on the recidivism rate of an inmate population. The participants in the study were sixteen male inmates, ages nineteen to forty-six, with less than three months before release who had attended the first Career Awareness class.

Using a cross-sectional design survey, a two-paged selected-response questionnaire was mailed to the subjects. The responses of the respondent group were summarized through descriptive statistics, frequencies and percentages.

After two years, eighty-seven percent of the studied population remained out of jail and …

A Study Of The Effects Of In-Class Support On Math Performance Of Regular Education Students, Classified Special Education Students, And At-Risk Students, Susan Wenger

Theses and Dissertations

In an effort to service special needs students, service delivery models have progressed from self contained classrooms and separate facilities for special needs children to resource center pull-out programs, in-class support, mainstreaming, and full inclusion.

The in-class support model, which provides a special educator or aide in the regular classroom, attempts to enhance the academic success of identified special education students in such placements.

This study focused on the effects of in-class support. The population consisted of 76 7 to 9 year old math students in a New Jersey school district. Curriculum-based pre and posttest math scores achieved by regular …

A Study Of The Relationship Between Special Education Emotional Support Behaviorally Disordered Students And Their Moral Reasoning, Frank G. Iacobucci

Theses and Dissertations

Very few studies have examined moral reasoning in students identified as having behavioral disorders and enrolled in a special education setting. Little attention has been paid to the impact of interventional education programs designed for behaviorally disordered youth on moral reasoning development. The research examined the moral reasoning of behaviorally disordered adolescents enrolled in a self-contained high school setting. The results indicate that behaviorally disordered emotional support high school students are significantly lower in moral reasoning compared to their nonbehaviorally disordered peers. The development of moral reasoning has been considered an important component of both social and cognitive growth in …

A Social Skills Training Program Emphasizing Roleplay Of Social Problem Solving Strategies For Learning Disabled Adolescent Males With Behavior Problems, Anne S. Garman

Theses and Dissertations

This study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of a social skills training curriculum for learning disabled adolescent males with behavior problems. The need for such intervention has been established, however, the empirical evidence to support educational programs and strategies which promote effective social skills is just beginning to emerge. Roleplay activities and instruction of social problem solving strategies have been combined in this intervention.

Cooperation, assertion, empathy, and self-control were taught during twelve lessons conducted over a period of six weeks. Five students from a self-contained class at a special services school were used for the study. Pre and …

Hands-On Support Materials For Schoolwide Science Project In Middle Schools, Jane Y. Grizzle

Theses and Dissertations

The establishment of a Chapter 1 Schoolwide Project middle school created a need to develop a hands-on science program for middle school students with academic deficiencies. This program considered the following criteria: (a) academic needs of adolescent learners, (b) validation of hands-on methods for middle school students, and (c} design of a classroom facility to accommodate hands-on activities. It was the purpose of this project to plan and implement such a program.

Calculators In Special Education Mathematics Classes In A Junior High School, Celia M. Hurley

Theses and Dissertations

Very little has been written about the use of calculators by children with exceptional needs, although calculators are already being used by most adults who seldom do any but the simplest calculations by hand (Thorpe, 1988). They use calculators for everything from balancing checkbooks to computing sales tax.

Yet there are teachers and many parents who believe, says Wheatley (1984), that using calculators will lessen the opportunity for students to master basics. They believe that calculators should not be used until children become proficient with paper-and-pencil calculations. Some say that students should become facile in the use of calculators. Still …

Survey Of Georgia's Public School Systems With Self-Contained Language Classrooms, Brenda J. Jones

Theses and Dissertations

Twenty-two teachers of self-contained language programs throughout the State of Georgia served as respondents for a survey of the operations of their programs in terms of students, teacher training, referral process, assessment process, entrance criteria, curriculum, and exit criteria. Results indicated that although the self-contained language programs are operating without standardized regulations, there is a great deal of similarity in their procedures, particularly in the areas of students, teacher training, referral process, entrance criteria, and exit criteria. The results of this study may be of benefit to state department personnel in developing regulations/procedures for self-contained language programs within the state.

A Handbook For Parents Of Children With Problem Behaviors Based On A Descriptive Study Of Treatment Strategies, Kay Dowis

Theses and Dissertations

Parents of children with problem behaviors in special education classes are not often knowledgeable concerning treatment strategies used with their children. Eight treatment strategies commonly used with children with problem behaviors attending behavior disorders classes are described in this study for the purpose of developing a handbook for parents of children with problem behaviors. The eight strategies described are: contracts, peer teaching, token systems, modeling, cognitive modeling, assertive discipline, time out, and self-management. The resulting handbook describes these strategies', their rationales, advantages, disadvantages, implementations, and examples. These strategies are presented in chapter form. This handbook has been developed to explain …

Case Study.Relating Self-Concept And Learning Disabilities To Athletic Success And Academic Achievement, J. Michael Stephens

Theses and Dissertations

Brad Dodson, a 21 year old male, served as the subject of this case study. The purpose of the study was to determine if self-concept in the learning disabled student can be improved after athletic success is realized and if an improved self-concept realized through athletic success can transfer to an improvement In academics.

Much of the data used in the study was collected through interviews with the subject. Additional data was collected through Interviews with family members, former teachers and acquaintances of the subject. The researcher's personal contact with the subject in a teacher-coach/student relationship was also utilized.

In …

Severity Of Articulation Disorders, Bobbie Greyer Richardson

Theses and Dissertations

Records, of thirty male and thirty female students, were surveyed to compare duration of time enrolled in articulatory therapy to the severity of the problem. The records were checked for severity rating, sex, race, age, and duration of time in program. Only students between the ages of five and seven years of age were included in this study. Students had to be enrolled for articulation only, no other exceptionality or abnormality, and on grade level equivalent to age. The Frisbie Educational Statistics Computer Program was used to compute means, standard deviations, and t test in computing the results, nonе of …

Attitudes Of Secondary Special Education Teachers Toward Using The Computer As An Instructional Aid, Mary Nell Nail

Theses and Dissertations

This descriptive study was conducted to determine the attitudes of special education teachers toward using the computer as an instructional aid. The subjects were 78 secondary special education teachers from a southern metropolitan school district of approxіmately 30,000 students. The data-gathering instrument used for the study was a 20-item questionnaire devised by the researcher which employed the Likert scale to register the extent of agreement or disagreement with particular opinion statements.

The results, subdivided according to secondary school areas in which the teachers worked, years of teaching experience, areas of exceptionality, and subject matter areas, indicated that teachers in all …

A Model Literature Curriculum Guide For The Secondary Learning Disabled Student, Peggy G. White

Theses and Dissertations

This Literature Curriculum Guide has been prepared for Learning Disabled Students enrolled in special English classes at Hardaway High School in Columbus, Georgia. It was motivated by the observation that curricular materials for secondary Learning Disabled pupils were limited to content in grammar and other aspects of written language. Literature as content for these pupils had been completely overlooked.

Secondary English instruction, when using grammar only as content, is restricted to productive aspects of English. This restriction would necessarily deprive the Learning Disabled pupil of experiences with the heritage of literature shared and enjoyed by their peers. And, Learning Disabled …

A Curriculum For The Moderately Mentally Handicapped For Recreational And Leisure Skills, Krista S. Lee

Theses and Dissertations

As a teacher of moderately mentally handicapped. students, I often ask myself, am I doing enough for my students? Am I giving them all I can? My answer at·3:45 p.m., as I walk out of my classroom on tired feet, is an emphatic yes. And I think, even in my rested moment, that I am giving much to my students. We all are. As we look back to where we've come from, we can see the great advances we have made in education for the handicapped. They are being given better education than ever in the ·history of education.

But …

Recruitment And Retention Of Special Educators For Rural School Systems, Margie Oliver-Hay

Theses and Dissertations

There is nothing new about teachers leaving their profession. Teacher turnover has always occurred. But when education loses its most experienced and mature teachers, there is cause for concern. When smaller rural districts lose their best teachers both in regular and special education teacher turnover may be a crises!

Recruitment and retention of special and regular educators is becoming an extremely serious problem for rural areas. Enrollments in college and in education departments are decreasing. Women, who once were the dominant force in the teaching ranks, are being attracted to other fields such as medicine, engineering, computer science, and law. …

The Implementation Of Teacher Assistance Teams As A Prereferal, Cathy C. Webb

Theses and Dissertations

The increasing population of special education is a problem. The framework of PL 94-142 guarantees a free and appropriate education to all children in the least restrictive environment. The U.S. Department of Education figures show that from 1976-1977 the states provided special education and related services to 8.2 percent of children enrolled in public schools. The figure for 1970- 1980 grew to 9.5 percent (Algozzine, Ysseldyke, & Christenson, 1983) which was a three percent per year growth rate. Further analysis of Algozzine, Ysseldyke and Christenson's studies (1983) showed that approximately 92 percent of those students referred were tested and 73 …

A Validation Study Of An Instructional Design Which Attempts To Teach The Concept Of Faith To Seventeen Mentally Retarded (I.Q.'S 50-75) Seminary Students Of The South Salt Lake Seminary District During The Spring Of 1970, Roger Hendrix

Theses and Dissertations

Recognizing a need to develop religious instructional material for mentally retarded seminary students of the L.D.S. Church, this study was designed to validate an instructional model set up to teach the concept of faith.

Thirty-four mentally retarded seminary students were randomly assigned to six control groups and six experimental groups. Each group was given a sixteen question pre-test. Then, the next day each experimental group was given instructional treatment and the post-test, while the control groups only received the post-test. The Study was geared for a two hour period of time. Results obtained from the analysis of covariance showed a …