Special Education and Teaching Commons^™

The Development Of The Bilingual Special Education Field: Major Issues, Accomplishments, Future Directions, And Recommendations, Chun Zhang, Su-Je Choh

Journal of Multilingual Education Research

In this paper, we review various challenges in regard to educating children with and without disabilities from culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) backgrounds. The challenges discussed include (1) biased assessment that results in mis- or overrepresenting CLD students in special education, (2) difficulty distinguishing between disability and differences, and (3) lack of competent bilingual special educators. As recommended practices, we propose to use the response to intervention model in identifying and instructing CLD children with and without disabilities. We point out that future research should examine how collaborative service delivery models contribute to referrals of CLD children into special education …

A Practical Strategy To Improve Classroom Behaviors And Academic Outcomes Of Elementary Students Who Exhibit Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Tendencies, Sandra Thurston

Theses and Dissertations

Children with ADHD exhibit weakness in the area of monitoring their own behaviors. This can have a profound impact on academic outcomes. Based on the work of Rhode, Morgan, and Young (1983), this intervention focuses on teaching two students who display ADHD behaviors to rate their own behaviors throughout instruction. A description of the intervention and two case studies are included. Effectiveness of the intervention in a regular education setting, along with its limitations, is discussed.

Alternate Forms Reliability For Written Expression Probes, Ashley Carey

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The use of Curriculum-Based Measurement (CBM) in schools continues to increase, as it is a useful brief assessment of students’ basic academic skills. CBM measures are used for multiple tasks such as identifying students at-risk, creating local norms, monitoring students’ progress during interventions, and assisting with special education eligibility determinations. Much of the research has focused on CBM in the areas of math and reading. Relatively few studies have examined the area of CBMWritten Expression. Even fewer studies exist exploring the reliability among alternate writing forms. This study determined alternate form reliability coefficients for written expression probes at the second, …

Using Ipads In Teaching Vocabulary For Students With Learning Disabilities, Kellie Smith

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of using iPad to improve vocabulary skills for students with learning disabilities. The participants were 2nd grade students placed in a learning disability resource room. Baseline data was collected using traditional methods during vocabulary intrusion for the first three weeks. During intervention, the iPad was integrated in vocabulary instruction by adapting iPad app, Vocabulary City. The findings indicate students understanding, recognition, and implementation of vocabulary words increased when iPad app technology was implemented.

What Is The Efficacy Of Peer Presentation For English Languag Learners?, Courtney Roy

HIM 1990-2015

This study investigates whether the learning strategy of Peer Presentations may positively influence an English Language Learner’s (ELL's) relationship with peers, and personal perspec-tives with pertinence to the sciences, public discourse, and their institution. Data collection in-struments included a developed pre- and post-sociometric survey to quantitate each classroom's social status, and a pre- and post-qualitative oral interview to acquire individual perceptions con-cerning enjoyment and contentment of academic topics. Three ELLs from two learning environ-ments participated with the eight day intervention, comprising of 45 minute instructive sessions to become proficient with demonstrating an arrangement of invigorating yet harmless scientific experiments. After …

A Mixed Methods Approach To Examining The Getting Ready Intervention For Supporting Young Children With Challenging Behaviors, Miriam E. Kuhn

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Families and preschool teachers of children with persistent challenging behaviors are taxed daily by difficulties presented in care and management of such children in their homes and early education settings. This study utilized a sequential explanatory mixed methods approach in three phases to better understand a collaborative partnership model of intervention, Getting Ready (Sheridan, Marvin, Knoche, & Edwards, 2008), for supporting preschoolers with challenging behaviors attending Head Start or state-funded pre-kindergarten programs. Preschool teachers received professional development and individual coaching to help them improve partnerships and collaboratively plan with parents to promote children’s growth, and enhance parent-child interactions.

In Phase …

Parental Perceptions Of Early Childhood Education Programming For Children With And Without Disabilities, Brittany Greer Herrington

Dissertations

This study examined the factors influencing parental selection of early childhood education programs for their children with and without disabilities. Factors explored were severity of disability, parental choice in programming, inclusion, parental satisfaction, type of disability, and availability of programs that take part in early childhood education. Parents with at least one child with a disability and one child without a disability age eight or younger participated in this study by responding to items from a researcher-adapted instrument. Though no findings were statistically significant, conclusions drawn both support the literature and suggest that parents want the same programming for their …

Evaluating The Use Of The Math Reasoning Inventory For Improvement In Fraction Instruction, Kathy Huffman Boyer

Dissertations

In an attempt to close the mathematic achievement gap between students from the United States and students from other countries, a new national set of standards, the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, was developed and adopted by the state of Michigan in 2010. These standards emphasize mathematical reasoning and application, rather than the previous emphasis on performing calculations. Unfortunately, teachers generally have had little training in how to assess students’ mathematical reasoning, how to teach mathematical reasoning, or how to provide remediation to those students who show need. The purpose of this study was to see if use of …

Analyses Of Suspension, Expulsion, And Incarceration Data Reported Under Idea 2004, William Dennis Garnett

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Disproportionate representation in special education has been an enduring issue, even before P.L. 94-142. Though the main focus of research in the area of disproportionate representation has been on the placement of students from historically marginalized racial and ethnic groups into special education programs, disproportionality has been found in other areas such as the use of exclusionary practices and placement in correctional facilities. As more data regarding students with disabilities are accumulated, it is important to investigate current trends in order to ensure patterns of disproportionate representation are understood and perhaps remedied. This study focused on state level data reported …

Effects Of Cooperation Games On Social Interactions Of Students With Emotional And Behavioral Disorders, Teri Alicia Marx

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Students with emotional and behavioral disorders often present with social skills deficits that negatively impact their outcomes in the educational setting. The inability of students to demonstrate appropriate social skills may lead to placement in more restrictive educational environments, limiting opportunities for social interactions with general education peers. Students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds are often overrepresented in the disability category of emotional and behavioral disorder and experience more frequent placement in more restrictive settings. Traditionally, students with emotional and behavioral disorders are taught social skills through direct instruction approaches. Limited research has identified if direct instruction approaches to …

Evaluation Of Video Prompting To Teach Students With Intellectual Disabilities To Use A Cell Phone, Allenda Tharel Zionch

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

For students with ID communication cannot be taken for granted. Not only is it vital that students with ID be able to express their wants and needs on a daily basis, but communication is paramount in order to express ideas and consider options for their future as well as to build and maintain friendships. These are important elements for a successful transition from school to adulthood.

Ninety-five percent of adults without disabilities between the ages of 18-34 own cell phones compared to twenty-eight percent of adults with ID. This disparity is due in part to lack of access, training and …

The Effects Of Reading And Self-Graphing On The Reading Fluency And Comprehension Of Third Grade Students With Special Needs, Tracey Panas

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of rereading and self-graphing on fluency and comprehension of third grade students with special needs. This study implemented a pretest-posttest design. The participants were six students with special needs from a third grade inclusion classroom reading at least two grade levels below third grade. Data was collected during a baseline phase, intervention phase, and postintervention phase. The independent variables were the use of rereading and selfgraphing of passages from the Critical Reading Inventory and The Jerry Johns Basic Reading Inventory. The dependent variable was the measure of the participants' reading …

Using Graphic Organizers On Ipads To Teach Reading Comprehension Skills To High School Students With Moderate And Severe Cognitive Impairments, Christopher Suboleski

Theses and Dissertations

The purposes of this study were to examine the effects of using graphic organizers (GOs) to improve reading comprehension skills of five high school students with moderate to severe cognitive impairments. The baseline took place during first two weeks of the study, and the students were not provided with any GOs during this phase. The first intervention took place during the next three weeks, and the students were provided with traditional paper GOs during this phase. The second intervention took place during the final three weeks, and the students were provided with the GOs on the iPad during this phase. …

Vocabulary Instruction: Using The Keyword Approach With The Interactive Smart Board In Inclusive Classrooms, Kelly Volpe

Theses and Dissertations

The purposes of this study are to (a) evaluate the effects of a traditional approach, the definitional approach, to vocabulary instruction for middle school students in an inclusive class; (b) evaluate the effects of using the keyword method in vocabulary instruction for middle school students; (c) evaluate the effects of using the keyword method and the Smart Board in vocabulary instruction for middle school students; (d) compare the effectiveness of the traditional approach, the keyword method, and the keyword method with the Smart Board in vocabulary instruction; and (e) examine the teacher and students satisfaction with the traditional approach, keyword …

Using Social Stories And Trained Peer Partners To Teach Perspective Taking, Tziona Twersky

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine whether, by developing skill in understanding theory of mind skills as well as understanding how perspectives are formed, students would be able to identify more than one possible perspective in a variety of situations. The goal was for them to accept that other peoples' intent may be different from their interpretation of intent. Students were guided through a thorough understanding of the skills involved and the many ways in which the concepts impact interaction. They were taught how the neurotypical population interprets interactions. Skills were instructed individually and then combined with other …

Elementary School Teachers' Perceptions Of And Use Of Behavior-Specific Written Praise Notes For Children Identified With Office Discipline Referrals, Danielle C. Agle

Theses and Dissertations

Student behavior problems in school and classroom settings are of great concern to parents, teachers, and school administrators. These behaviors range from talking out and noncompliance to more serious behaviors such as violence and vandalism. Effectively managing student behavior problems lays the foundation for creating a safe school environment and is a critical concern for all teachers. A school wide positive behavior intervention and support system (PBIS) is an effective and proactive way to prevent misbehavior. All teachers and staff teach and reinforce a specified set of positive behaviors. These positive behaviors are expected of each student. This study analyzed …

Secondary Teachers' Perceived Role In Suicide Prevention And Intervening With Suicidal Students, Victoria R. Hatton

Theses and Dissertations

Best practices in adolescent suicide prevention include teachers as major participants, because teachers are in a unique and frontline position to support students. Unfortunately, many teachers are unaware of their role in suicide prevention efforts. In addition to confusion about their roles, teachers may feel uncomfortable and/or lack confidence in their abilities to identify warning signs and intervene with suicidal students. This study assessed secondary teachers' (N = 74) perceptions of their role in suicide prevention as well as how they perceive their comfort and confidence levels in identifying and intervening with suicidal students. In addition, this study explored possible …

Using Ipads To Self-Monitor Aggressive Behavior Of Juvenile Delinquents, Helena Nieman

Theses and Dissertations

The purposes of this study were to: a) examine the effects on self-monitoring using iPads for juvenile delinquents, b) increase appropriate behaviors and reduce verbal and physical aggression, and c) evaluate student satisfaction with the self-monitoring approach using iPads in behavior management. The participants included five African-American adjudicated males, aged 13, in a day treatment facility. They were instructed to self-monitor their behaviors using an iPad app to learn three appropriate behaviors including: 1) using appropriate language, 2) keeping hands to self, and 3) calming down when upset. A single subject design with ABAB phases was used for six weeks. …

Severely Autistic High School Students And Ipads, Frances Jensen

Education Graduate Publications and Presentations

No abstract provided.

Reliability Generalization Of The Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure-Revised (Meim-R), Hayley Marie Herrington

Theses and Dissertations

The strength of ethnic identity has been linked to higher academic achievement, academic attainment, and overall psychological wellbeing. The Muligroup Ethnic Identity Measure (MEIM) was developed to measure ethnic identity development, and this measure has been used widely. The MEIM has since been updated to the Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure–Revised (MEIM–R). The relatively new MEIM–R has not been widely studied. In order to solidify researchers' confidence in the measure, a reliability generalization analysis was performed and the data compared to the original MEIM. Random-effects weighted models evaluated internal consistency coefficients (Chronbach's alpha). The MEIM–R demonstrated adequate reliability coefficients (average α …

The Effects Of A Parent Forum On Parental Empowerment And Attitudes Towards The Special Education Process And Educational Decision Making, Laura Walker

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a parent informational forum in empowering parents to engage in the special education decision making for their child with special needs in an urban elementary district. A pre-survey and post-survey were completed by parents who attended a bilingual information session. Both surveys contained nine identical indicator statements that parents rated on a four point scale. The post survey contained an additional eight indicator statements and four open ended responses. Fifteen parents attend the forum and completed the pre-survey, while seven parents completed the post-survey. Results showed a drop in …

Autism Assessment Scale For Children (Aasc): The Development Of A Dsm-V Aiigned Questionnaire To Screen School-Aged Children For High Functioning Autism, Christine Hebert

Teaching & Learning Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation is to analyze the latent factor structure underlying the Ellis Functional Assessment (EFA) for children with high-functioning autism (HFA), to compare the latent factor structures for under-identified subgroups of children (older children, gifted children, female children), and to design a pre-screening assessment for HFA based on those results. The scope of the study is limited to children who have been identified as having HFA and whose parents completed the EFA while patients of a mid-Atlantic clinical practice specializing in autism spectrum disorders. The methodology uses preliminary factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis to both analyze …

A New Approach To Middle School Reading Intervention Balancing Self-Determination And Achievement, Amanda Mancini-Marshall

Department of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Theses and Other Student Research

While research on Response to Intervention (RTI) has focused almost exclusively on elementary education, an increasing number of middle and high schools are adopting this framework as a way to match student needs with instruction that accelerates academic growth. Without age-appropriate models, curriculum, or interventions, secondary schools often attempt to simply replicate elementary practices with limited success. These attempts typically take a prescriptive approach to reading instruction for struggling below-grade-level readers. However, this self-study examines how one research-practitioner designed, implemented, and modified a middle school Tier II RTI reading course with the goal of improving student self-determination as well as …

Using Schematic-Based And Cognitive Strategy Instruction To Improve Math Word Problem Solving For Students With Math Difficulties, Lisa L. Morin

Communication Disorders & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

For students with math difficulties (MD), math word problem solving is especially challenging. The purpose of this study was to examine a math word problem solving strategy, bar model drawing, to support students with MD. The study extended previous research that suggested that schematic-based instruction (SBI) training delivered within an explicit instruction framework can be effective in teaching various math skills related to word problem solving. As a more generic schema approach, bar model drawing may serve as an effective form of SBI that can be developed across word problems. Moreover, the bar model approach has the potential to enhance …

The Effects Of A Tiered-Training Intervention On Teachers' Use Of Behavior Specific Praise During The Reading Instruction Of Elementary Students With Emotional Disabilities, Lauren Collins Reed

Communication Disorders & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

Despite longstanding acknowledgement regarding the effectiveness of behavior specific praise for students with emotional disabilities, there continues to be an underuse of this strategy with this population. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a tiered training intervention on teachers' use of behavior specific praise during the small group reading instruction of elementary students with emotional disabilities. A multiple baseline design was used across two groups of teacher and student participants as the means of investigating the effectiveness of the training model on teachers' use of behavior specific praise and the associated student outcomes. Similar to …

Using Two Formats Of A Social Story To Increase The Social-Communication Skills Of Three Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorders, Nicole A. Anthony

Communication Disorders & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

An alternating treatment design was used to compare the effects of two interventions on the initiations and on-topic responses of three adolescents with autism spectrum disorders. The interventions were participant specific social stories on an iPad and in paper format, both of which occurred in an after-school setting. Results indicated two participants increased the number of initiations and on-topic responses during gaming sessions over baseline levels. In addition, all three children generalized targeted skills to another typical peer while playing the same game introduced during baseline. Implications for current educational practices are addressed and directions for future research are discussed.

Peer-Assisted Learning Strategies And Their Impact On The Math Fluency And Social Skills Of Students With Autism, Melissa Woodward

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if peer-assisted learning strategies (PALS) could increase students with autism's math fluency skills as well as enhance their social skills. All students involved in the study began their math fluency at a basic addition subtraction level 1 on the Morningside Math Fluency program. Also at the beginning of the study the students completed a How I Feel Toward Others survey and it was determined that they were either indifferent toward others or disengaged. The eight students involved in the study were engaged in PALS a minimum of three times per week over …

Differences Between Students With And Without Adhd On Task Vigilance Under Conditions Of Distraction, Peter Ross, Justus Randolph

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

Distraction is a typical component of any classroom environment. For effective instruction and learning to take place, it is critical for students to eventually return to task and maintain task vigilance (i.e., returning to the task at hand) when a distraction occurs. Students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), by definition, are more distractible than students without ADHD. However, studies showing specific variability of task vigilance between students with and without ADHD are limited. This correlational study examined the differences in distractibility on task vigilance between students with and without ADHD under conditions of distraction. Two groups of participants, ranging …

Paraeducators: Gatekeepers To Youth Suicide Prevention, Danielle Ann Cannon

Theses and Dissertations

For youth between the ages of 10 and 24, suicide is the third leading cause of death. School-aged youth that struggle with suicidal thoughts often express their feelings to peers and some trusted adults. Generally, these trusted adults work in school settings. Potentially, teachers and staff can serve as vital gatekeepers to identify and support students who struggle with suicide ideation. In particular, paraeducators, who are often seen as less of an authority figure, become easier to approach due to the personal relationships created in small groups and one-on-one interactions with students. If trained in suicide prevention, paraeducators, who work …

The Fight Within: Experiences Of School District Employees Who Advocate For The Rights Of Their Own Children With Disabilities Inside The Districts Where They Work, A Heuristic Case Study, Keri Haley

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Parents of children with disabilities face a daunting task when it comes to advocating for the rights of their children in school districts across the country. Yet, when these same parents also work inside those school districts, the challenge to balance their advocacy within the expectations of their employment may come with barriers. The intent of this study was to understand the experiences of people who are parents of children with disabilities, as well as educators, and have had to advocate for their own children inside the school districts where they work. Using a heuristic case study approach, this study …