Special Education and Teaching Commons^™

Welcome, Patricia R. Renick Ph.D.

Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education

Welcome to the Winter/Spring edition of The Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education. The journal continues to attract the voices of researchers from an international perspective. Within this edition we have research from around the globe as well as one article of exemplary graduate student work and a poem from a nurse finishing her training as a school nurse.

From the University of Hawaii Manoa, Dr. Drue E. Narkon and Rhonda Black address the question pre-service teachers’ confidence in teaching reading to struggling readers kindergarten through third grade.

From the University of Zimbabwe, Dr. Crispen Dirwai investigates the need for different …

It's A Matter Of Timing: Laying The Foundation For Successful Preschool To Kindergarten Transitions, Kathleen Winterman Ed.D.

Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education

Children with special needs receive a myriad of services within the early childhood preschool setting. For most children, the child’s parents coordinate this process. Under the IDEA, schools are charged with planning for and facilitating the transition of children with disabilities from one educational setting to the next. A smooth transition plan should be developed to maximize the benefits of an effective preschool program in kindergarten. This article addresses the procedures for a fluid transition from preschool to kindergarten for students with disabilities discussing parental roles and critical aspects of the transition timeline.

Disabilities In The Media-Powerpoint Presentation, Bruce Battles

Kentucky Teacher Educator

No abstract provided.

Skills, Knowledge, And Attitudes Of Culturally Responsive Teachers, Janet L. Applin

Kentucky Teacher Educator

This article presents a summary of skills, knowledge, and attitudes required by teachers and prospective teachers to become considered Culturally Responsive. Best practices from the literature on Culturally Responsive Teaching are summarized in four categories: awareness of self,; acknowledgement of the broader context; necessary attitudes; and required abilities.

Read & Write Gold: Technology Increasing Student Achievement, Nedra Atwell, Marty Boman, Paula Borland, Marisa Duarte, Linda Fishback, Connie Miller, Elizabeth Romero

Kentucky Teacher Educator

No abstract provided.

Study Of Achievement Gaps In The Seventh Grade Special Education Population On Cats Assessment In All Content Areas, Brandy M. Lain

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

An applied project submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Education Specialist at Morehead State University by Brandy M. Lain in 2008.

Central Auditory Processing Disorder: What You Say Isn't Necessarily What Is Heard (An In-Depth Analysis Of The Disability And Its Effect On The Student, And Classroom Environment), Daniella Lloyd

Graduate Student Independent Studies

Individuals who have Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD) have problems processing and interpreting what they hear because their ears and brains are not coordinated properly. The purpose of this study is to analyze CAPD, and to determine its effects on classroom and student behavior.

Kentucky Youth At Risk Transitions: A Report To The Commonwealth, Doris E. Pierce, Norman Powell, Amy Marshall, Ronnie Nolan, Elaine Fehringer

Educational Leadership and Policy Studies Faculty and Staff Research

In the Commonwealth of Kentucky, there are over 22,000 youth being educated in programs that are funded, operated or contracted by state agencies. These state agency children come from a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds and bring a multiplicity of social, psychological, behavioral and educational problems that challenge teachers and staffs. These particular Kentucky students, more than any others, are at the greatest risk of not making successful transitions into adulthood. It is critical that all such young people be afforded the highest quality of transition planning and support so that they can become successful and productive adults. This report is …

Enhancing Non-Academic Classroom Skills For Young Students With Disabilities Through Social Stories, Katherine Sue Kirkbride

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between a social story intervention and non-academic social behavior in young students in a special day class. In this study, three participants with a variety of disabilities were selected from a special day class. When individual undesired behaviors are taken into account along with functional equivalents, identified through a functional behavior assessment, it is hypothesized that undesired behaviors will decrease with a corresponding increase in appropriate behavior. Non-academic skills were identified with the attempt of increasing these proficiencies and decreasing challenging behavior through social story interventions. Participants for this study …

A Cultural, Linguistic, And Ecological Framework For Response To Intervention With English Language Learners, Julie Esparza Brown, Jennifer Doolittle

Education Faculty Publications and Presentations

This article presents information on Response to Intervention (RTI) strategies for English Language Learners. The authors present a cultural, linguistic and ecological framework for RTI and suggest that RTI needs to account for each of these factors in order to be effective. They note the importance of understanding a student's language proficiency in their first and second language as well as the context that they acquired those language skills in. They examine the tier approach involved with RTI and explore how to incorporate their framework into this structure.

Ua10/1 Cec: Clinical Exchange Corner, Mary Lloyd Moore, Laura Reynolds, Wku Suzanne Vitale Clinical Education Complex

CEC Publications

No abstract provided.

A Treasured Gift, Christine A. Glasgo R.N.

Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education

A poem written by Christine A. Glasgo.

Horses And At-Risk Youth: An Alternative Approach To Reconnect Adolescents, Christiane Deaton

Theses Digitization Project

The author developed a model for at-risk youth that outlines processes and incorporates best practices of an equine-facilitated program. The Horse Program Model (HPM) is designed to determine if and how participating in a horse program can help change attitudes, skills and behaviors of at-risk youth.

Pre-Service Teachers' Confidence In Teaching Reading Acquisition Skills To Struggling Readers And Readers In General, Drue E. Narkon Ph.D., Rhonda S. Black

Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education

Thirty-one final semester undergraduate, dual preparation, pre-service students at a Pacific university completed a survey regarding their confidence in teaching reading acquisition skills to early elementary (Kindergarten through third grade) struggling readers and readers in general. The 36-item survey included open-ended and forced choice Likert-type rating scale items. We examined participants’ perceptions regarding their confidence in teaching reading and the degree to which numerous factors contributed to their levels of confidence. It appeared that this particular group of pre-service teachers was more confident in their ability to teach reading to all students, those who struggle and those who do not, …

The Effects Of Sensory Integration Techniques On The Behaviors Of Students With Emotional And Behavioral Disorders In An Educational Setting, Christine Gutterman

Theses and Graduate Projects

OBJECTIVE,: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of the use of sensory integration techniques on the behaviors of students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) in an educational setting. Specifically, this study looked at the behavioral effects of the use of sensory intervention techniques, as well as, student opinions and views of using the sensory interventions.

METHOD: Data was collected from five students, between the ages of eight and 12, whom have emotional and behavioral disorders and attend a separate day school educational setting. Students were observed and their behaviors documented proceeding, during, and concluding each …

The Evolution Of Special Education, Kelli J. Esteves, Shaila Rao

Scholarship and Professional Work – Education

The events that have driven the gradual and progressive evolution of special education serve as a backdrop to understanding the foundation of the field and its ever-changing nature. Knowledge of this history is critical if we intend to make further progress.

Cognitive Theories Of Autism Spectrum Disorders: How Do They Impact Children's Ability To Learn In Education Settings? ; Coming Home: Exploring The Experiences Of Mothers Home Educating Their Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Theresa Kidd

Theses : Honours

Despite the increasing number of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) attending mainstream school, the process of facilitating their learning and participation remains a complex and poorly understood area of education (Simpson, de Boer, & Smith-Myles, 2003). Three key cognitive theories (theory of mind, theory of weak central coherence and theory of executive function) have been posited to provide the most complete understanding of the disorder (Baron-Cohen, 1989). Presently however, the developmental effects of these cognitive theories have been largely overlooked (Happe, 1994). Through examining how these models may affect cognitive processing in children with ASD, the learning and educational …

Why Do Students With Hearing Impairment Resist Wearing Fm Amplification?, Jennifer Lynn Franks

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The benefits of Frequency Modulation (FM) amplification usage among school-aged children is widely researched and established. The benefits provided from FM systems for students with a hearing impairment (HI) would suggest that consistent usage among these students would be high. However, interactions with various-aged HI students and their teachers have shown the opposite: there appears to be a lack of consistent usage. Previous research has looked at what influences people with a hearing loss not to wear their hearing aids. Research investigating reasons why FM systems are not used is limited. There are well-known benefits of FM usage among those …

Pacifier Stiffness Alters The Dynamics Of The Suck Central Pattern Generator, Emily Zimmerman, Steven M. Barlow

Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders: Faculty Publications

Variation in pacifier stiffness on non-nutritive suck (NNS) dynamics was examined among infants born prematurely with a history of respiratory distress syndrome. Three types of silicone pacifiers used in the NICU were tested for stiffness, revealing the Super Soothie™ nipple is 7 times stiffer than the Wee™ or Soothie™ pacifiers even though shape and displaced volume are identical. Suck dynamics among 20 preterm infants were subsequently sampled using the Soothie™ and Super Soothie™ pacifiers during follow-up at approximately 3 months of age. ANOVA revealed significant differences in NNS cycles/min, NNS amplitude, NNS cycles/burst, and NNS cycle periods as a function …

Respiratory Distress Syndrome Degrades The Fine Structure Of The Non-Nutritive Suck In Preterm Infants, Susan Stumm, Steven M. Barlow, Meredith Estep, Jaehoon Lee, Susan Cannon, Joy Carlson, Donald Finan

Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders: Faculty Publications

Aims and Objectives—Suck development is a challenging hurdle for preterm infants who endure an extensive oxygen history due to respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). The fine structure of the non-nutritive suck (NNS) was studied in preterm infants according to RDS severity.

Design and Methods—Recordings of NNS were completed cribside in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in 55 preterm infants distributed among one healthy control group and two RDS infant groups. NNS pressure amplitude (cmH₂0) and within-burst suck cycle period (ms) were the dependent measures extracted from digitized records of pacifier nipple compression pressure.

Results and Conclusions—RDS preterm infants …

The Social Participation Of Young Children With Developmental Disabilities In Inclusive Early Childhood Programs, Sue Walker Ph.D., Donna Berthelsen

Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education

The study reports an analysis of the social integration of six focus children with developmental disabilities in four preschool programs and their relative competences in relation to the typically developing children in the early childhood programs. For the 85 children in the preschool programs, including the children with developmental disabilities, peer acceptance was measured with sociometric interviews; social competence was rated by teachers; and observations of play activities and social engagement were made during four free play periods. A social constructivist analysis focuses on how learning was supported in the settings and implications are drawn about how opportunities for learning …

Roles And Responsibilities Of The Georgia Special Education Paraprofessionals And The Impact Of The Nclb Mandates: An Assessment By Georgia Administrators, Special Education Teachers, And Special Education Paraprofessionals, Donna Lynn Archibald

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This descriptive study was based on quantitative data from a total of 76 school personnel that consisted of 18 administrators, 37 special education teachers, and 21 special education paraprofessionals from two high schools, one middle school and two elementary schools. The purpose of this study was to investigate the frequency of roles and responsibilities performed by the Georgia special education paraprofessionals and the impact of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) on those roles and responsibilities as perceived by administrators, special education teachers and special education paraprofessionals. A survey was sent to all respondents for their input that covered …

The Believing Game Or Methodological Believing, Peter Elbow

The Journal of the Assembly for Expanded Perspectives on Learning

Three arguments why we need the believing game: to help us find flaws in our thinking, to help us choose among competing claims, and to achieve goals that the doubting game neglects.

Front Matter

The Journal of the Assembly for Expanded Perspectives on Learning

No abstract provided.

The Rhetoric Of Empathy: Ethical Foundations Of Dialogical Communication, Nathaniel Teich

The Journal of the Assembly for Expanded Perspectives on Learning

Peter Elbow's "Believing Game" can function as an ethical strategy and can be understood in terms of humanistic rhetorical traditions from Martin Buber to Carl Rogers and Michael Polanyi.

Jaepl, Vol. 14, Winter 2008-2009, Kristie S. Fleckenstein, Linda T. Calendrillo

The Journal of the Assembly for Expanded Perspectives on Learning

Essays

Peter Elbow - The Believing Game or Methodological Believing

Nathaniel Teich - The Rhetoric of Empathy: Ethical Foundations of Dialogical Communication

Mary Rose O'Reily - Splitting the Cartesian Hair

Patricia Bizzell - Faith-Based World Views as a Challenge to the Believing Game

Gina Briefs-Elgin - Lessons With the Mystics: Refreshing Our Vision in Mid/Late Career

Gesa E. Kirsch - Creating Spaces for Listening, Learning, and Sustaining the Inner Lives of Students

Sue Hum - The Persuasiveness of Pleasure: Play, Reciprocity, and Persuasion in Online Discussions

Reviews

Brad E. Lucas - Teaching Multi writing: Researching and Composing with Multiple Genres, …

Creating Spaces For Listening, Learning, And Sustaining The Inner Lives Of Students, Gesa E. Kirsch

The Journal of the Assembly for Expanded Perspectives on Learning

This essay explores what it takes to "create a space in the classroom that allows students the freedom to nourish their inner lives," an issue raised by Mary Rose O'Reilly in Radical Presence. The author draws on work in composition studies, education, and her own teaching practices to illustrate the importance of creating such spaces.

Lessons With The Mystics: Refreshing Our Vision In Mid/Late Career, Gina Briefs-Elgin

The Journal of the Assembly for Expanded Perspectives on Learning

This paper explores surprising and restorative responses to mid/late career burnout from the perspective of four of the world's great Eastern mystical traditions: Hinduism, Sufism, Zen, and Kabbalah.

The Persuasiveness Of Pleasure: Play, Reciprocity, And Persuasion In Online Discussions, Sue Hum

The Journal of the Assembly for Expanded Perspectives on Learning

This essay explores the role of pleasure in facilitating diverse modes of rhetorical participation in online discussion.

Faith-Based Worldviews As A Challenge To The Believing Game, Patricia Bizzell

The Journal of the Assembly for Expanded Perspectives on Learning

Elbow's "Believing Game" may help to make room in the academy for religious frames of mind, which encompass particularly dense networks of ideas and emotions.