Special Education and Teaching Commons^™

Developing Augmentative Communication To Support Participation In General Education Classrooms, Michael Mcsheehan, Rae M. Sonnenmeier

Institute on Disability

No abstract provided.

The Relationship Between Loneliness And Social Skills In Learning Disabled And Regular Education Populations, Roberta Miller

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Loneliness in children has been associated with internalizing symptoms such as shyness, depression, and low self-esteem (Brage, Meredith, & Woodward, 1993; Renshaw & Brown, 1993; Rubin, LeMare, & Lollis, 1990) and externalizing symptoms such as aggression (Coie, Dodge, & Coppotelli, 1982; Cassidy & Asher, 1992; Dobson, Campbell, & Dobson, 1987). The later outcomes of both of these kinds of internalizing and externalizing symptoms include school withdrawal, criminality, and victimization (Rubin, 1985; Parker & Asher, 1987). We know that children who rate themselves lonely tend to be rejected by peer groups. We also know that children who are rejected by peer …

A Statewide Survey Of Special Education Administrators And School Psychologists Regarding Functional Behavioral Assessment, J. Ron Nelson, Maura L. Roberts, Robert B. Rutherford Jr., Sarup R. Mathur, Lisa A. Aaroe

Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders: Faculty Publications

The 1997 amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) mandate that schools evaluate, through the process of a functional behavioral assessment, those students with disabilities who are exhibiting significant behavior problems which may lead to suspension and expulsion. We conducted a statewide survey of special education administrators and school psychologists to examine their views of the relative effectiveness, usability, suitability, and practicability of functional behavioral assessment procedures for two types of problem behaviors (i.e., low-level chronic or low frequency unique problem behaviors). The results suggest that special education administrators and school psychologists are generally supportive of the use …

Improving Special Education Teachers' Use Of Data-Based Instruction, Steven D. Goodman

Dissertations

The data-based decision model involves frequent measures of student performance (i.e., 2 - 5 times per week), frequent analysis of performance data (weekly or bi-weekly), and the application of decision rules. In the first study, we surveyed 406 special education teachers state-wide. Results of the survey suggest that the databased decision model is not generally practiced by special educators in the field. Just over one quarter of the respondents report to assessing student performance frequently enough to qualify as using the model. Only 10% of respondents indicate that they generally graph student performance. Additionally, less than 23% of respondents who …

School-Based Functional Assessment For Adolescents With Adhd: Procedural Issues In General Education Settings, Pamela M. Radford

Masters Theses

Functional assessment is a structured problem-solving process that has been found to be an effective method for guiding the selection of classroom intervention for students who present a variety of problem behaviors (O'Neill, et al., 1997), including Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD; American Psychiatric Association, 1994). This study evaluated the utility of school-based functional assessments with 2 adolescent boys diagnosed with ADHD in general education settings utilizing resources typically available to school personnel to document information relevant to behavior function. Descriptive information (i.e., interviews, observations, record reviews) led to the development of potential intervention strategies that were implemented and evaluated by …

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 …

Effects Of Student Self-Management On Generalization Of Student Performance To Regular Classes, Lloyd Douglas Peterson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The use of a student self-monitoring and self-rating/teacher matching strategy to assist generalization of social skills use and decrease off-task behavior of five inner-city at-risk middle school students was investigated. A multiple-baseline design was used to assess the effects of the intervention in up to six different class settings. Results indicated that the self-monitoring and self-rating/teacher matching intervention led to an increase in correct social skills use and a decrease in off-task behaviors with all five students. These data add to the existing literature, suggesting self-monitoring with self-rating/teacher matching is an effective procedure to promote generalization of behavior. Implications for …

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. …

Teacher Knowledge And Attitudes Towards The Utilization Of Assistive Technology In Educational Settings, Theresa Ledger

Theses & Honors Papers

The purpose of this study was to determine the perceptions of special education teachers regarding the use of assistive technology in a school setting. This study also determined current information on teachers' knowledge levels of assistive technology. A survey questionnaire was sent to 120 elementary special education teachers in the Spring of 1999. The questionnaire was concerned wit h teacher knowledge and attitudes towards assistive technology. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results indicated teachers perceive themselves to have a good knowledge base in regards to assistive technology. However, less than half of those teachers are utilizing devices and services …

The Effects Of Inclusion Of Students With Learning Disabilities On Urban Fourth-Grade General Education Students, Brenda E. Cox

Theses and Dissertations in Urban Services - Urban Education

This study examined the impact of fully included students with learning disabilities on the academic achievement and classroom behavior of urban elementary fourth grade students. To achieve these purposes, data were collected by using the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills Multilevel Battery (ITBS) of general education students and students with at-risk profiles, Kaufman Tests of Educational Achievement (KTEA) of students with disabilities, completed Individualized Education Program (IEP) objectives of students with disabilities, report card grades of all students, and referrals to principal for inappropriate behavior of all students. Staff and parent surveys and student interviews were another source of data. …

Kindergarteners' Acceptance Of The Social Behavior Of A Child With Special Needs, Colleen A. Finegan Ph.D.

Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education

Positive relationships between children are a concern in inclusionary classrooms. This naturalistic study examines the relationship between children's perceptions of their peer's capabilities and its significance in making friendship choices It was found that young children utilize verbal and non-verbal language skills as the basis of decisions about friendship.

Can Everyone Make The Grade? Some Thoughts On Student Grading And Contemporary Classrooms, Jo M. Hendrickson, Robert A. Gable, M. Lee Manning

Communication Disorders & Special Education Faculty Publications

High school officials should consider alternative perspectives on grading in light of increasing student heterogeneity. Their challenge is to consider grading policies and practices that apply equally to students with and without diverse needs or disabilities. Schools should think about incorporating various combinations of percent, criterion-referenced, and norm-referenced grading into a more flexible policy on grading; ensure that student expectations are unambiguously described in writing and in sufficient detail; and subject their policies on grading to periodic review and be prepared to make any necessary modifications. Moreover, schools should collaborate with various stakeholders to develop policies on grading that guarantee …

Is The Level Of Teacher Burnout More Significant Among Elementary Special Education Teachers Or Elementary General Education Teachers?, Susie Brandt, Deana Burgess, Debra Watts

The Corinthian

Increases in class size and class mix, a preponderance of students from nontraditional families, lack of student motivation, discipline problems, and the mainstreaming of special needs students in general education classes have contributed to greater demands on teachers in the classroom. As a result of such major changes and demands, teachers are reported to be experiencing higher levels of stress leading to the possibility of burnout.

The Relationship Of Locus Of Control And Acceptance Of Disability, Erin Cumming Martz

Theses Digitization Project

No abstract provided.

Applying English-As-A-Second-Language Methodologies To The Teaching Of Reading To Deaf Students, Cindy Michelle Walker

Theses Digitization Project

No abstract provided.

Welcome, Patricia R. Renick Ph.D.

Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education

WELCOME to the second edition of the Electronic Journal of Inclusive Education. As you have read we are still under construction in several segments of the journal. However, the articles the editorial board has chosen for this edition reflect the growth of inclusion initiatives across the country and throughout the educational system.

Before you read further, I would like to direct your attention to the "C.L.A.S.S." logo on the cover of the journal. C.L.A.S.S. stands for Creating Laboratory Access for Students with Disabilities. Funded by the National Science Foundation, the purpose of this project is to prepare secondary science educators …

A Handbook For Students With Dyslexia Learning To Understand It And Learning How To Help Themselves, Vikki L. Dolman

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to expand upon a current workshop that taught students about positive self-esteem and how to self-advocate for themselves, by creating a handbook of information about dyslexia and some strategies to pre-expose them to the workshop content. The handbook includes an appendix with all required material to complete the workshop. The project also contains, a review of current literature and research related to dyslexia including the definition, diagnosis, testing, remediation, and self-esteem in regards to dyslexia was conducted.

A Recipe For Successful Inclusion, Holly Kay Dunham-Wheeler

All Graduate Projects

A model to assist in the process of including students with disabilities into general education classes for sixth and seventh grade students at West Valley Middle School in Yakima, Washington was developed. A literature review of current research supports inclusion as a model that addresses the school culture in the Untied States at this time. The literature review also indicated the need for schools to provide and teach study skills to better prepare students for their future.

An Alternative Residential Education Program: An Evaluative Study, Marc A. Kincaid

All Graduate Projects

Schools today are trying to make an adaptation to accommodate all children and their disabilities. For many, the problem does not lie in a child's learning ability, but rather in their behavioral disability. According to its mission, The Ranch is committed to not only accommodating at-risk boys, but is trying to help them re-adjust and re-enter society with the skills necessary to function in every day life. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate The Ranch by examining the effectiveness of the program and its goals. Evaluation was done both Formatively and Summatively, through interviews and documentation. The researcher …

A Model For Inclusive Teacher Preparation, Jerry W. Whitworth Ed. D.

Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education

Providing a quality education for all students in inclusive settings has been identified as perhaps the most challenging, yet most important, issue in education. There is little doubt, however, that inclusivity, rather than exclusivity, will characterize the schools of the next century. To be ready for that future we must prepare teachers who can teach in settings that are inclusive, meeting the needs of all students. This will require a different model of teacher education. This article describes one such model that incorporates what we know about inclusive educational practices into the preservice preparation of special and general education teachers.