Special Education and Teaching Commons^™

Professional Learning For Paraprofessionals: A School Improvement Plan, Brooke Pfaltzgraff

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

Dallas Center Elementary is a small kindergarten through fourth grade elementary school in the rural town of Dallas Center, Iowa, just outside of Des Moines. In the past, the school has had difficulty training and retaining paraprofessionals to ensure quality support for their special education students. A review of literature was conducted to determine implications for limited training, best practices, and benefits to training paraprofessionals. Feedback from current employees was also considered in designing this school improvement plan and professional learning calendar for the 2023-2024 school year. The professional learning for paraprofessionals will also support the building wide social emotional …

The Effectiveness Of Individual, Small-Group, And Whole-Class Interventions At The Secondary Level, Rebecca Miller

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

The purpose of this action research project was to determine if academic interventions in reading, writing, and mathematics can have an effect on student achievement at the secondary level. Additionally, the goal was to determine if individual, small-group, or whole-class interventions were the most effective. The researcher gleaned data from the 2022-2023 school year based on two individual interventions, nine small-group interventions, and one whole-class intervention. The researcher is an Instructional Coach and had a part in planning for and/or implementing all of these interventions. This research was conducted to help decide if the use of academic intervention is beneficial …

Initiation Practices And Access To Higher Education For Deaf Students: The Interpreter As A Resource, Susana Barbosa, Ana Oliveira, Fernanda Teixeira

Journal of Interpretation

The transition from secondary school to higher education institutions (HEIs) can be a very exciting experience, but it can also represent unique challenges, making this moment a crucial event in the academic path of all students. Academic initiation practices are a tradition that exists on several universities campuses with the purpose of promoting students' integration into academic life during such an important transition.

It is important to analyse the participation of deaf students in initiation practices to higher education and the sign language interpreters' role in including them in this process. Sixteen deaf students of HEIs in the Porto region …

Case Study Of An Sel Coach And Instructional Specialist: Understanding A New Role, Rachelle S. Savitz, Jacy Ippolito

Michigan Reading Journal

As social and emotional learning (SEL) moves to the forefront of elementary education, new roles are emerging: SEL coaches and instructional specialists. While these new roles may mirror literacy coaches in many ways, there is still much that is unknown. Therefore, this exploratory qualitative case study documents how a district-based SEL instructional specialist/coach describes her role and the impact of her work. Analyses focus on semi-structured interviews and artifacts, such as her formal role description and weekly sample schedules. Findings illustrate three main ways of synthesizing and integrating a multitude of professional SEL responsibilities: 1) through building relationships and ongoing …

Improving Behavior In An Alternative High School Summer Program Using Class‑Wide Function‑Related Intervention Teams: A Pilot Study, Paul Caldarella, Erika J. Richards, Leslie Williams, Emily J. Warburton

Faculty Publications

Effective interventions are needed to help alternative high school teachers manage challenging student behaviors. One such intervention, class-wide function-related intervention teams (CWFIT), is a classroom management program based on positive behavior interventions and supports principles. CW-FIT involves teaching appropriate classroom behavioral expectations (social skills), using high behavior-specific praise-to-reprimand ratios, and an interdependent group contingency to provide differential reinforcement of appropriate classroom behavior and eliminate potential reinforcement of problem behavior. In this pilot study, four alternative high school teachers implemented CW-FIT during a summer school program. A series of single subject A-B designs were used over a 3-week period. Results supported …

Elementary Music Teacher Preparation Gaps In Cultural Diversity: Exceptional Populations, Joshua Learn

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite the extensive coursework and training in teacher preparation programs focusing on diverse populations, many teachers feel underprepared to meet the needs of emerging subcultures in the elementary music classroom. Over the years, the term diversity has grown beyond ethnicity and requires continued study and attention. This qualitative study explores the perspectives of elementary music educators about diverse populations of exceptional students with Other Health Impairments (OHI), defined as asthma, ADD, ADHD, diabetes, epilepsy, heart condition, hemophilia, lead poisoning, leukemia, nephritis, rheumatic fever, sickle cell anemia, and Tourette syndrome, in their classrooms. The results of this study identify the existing …

Examining Abu Dhabi And Dubai Teachers’ Confidence In Using High-Leverage Practices (Hlps) To Meet The Needs Of Students With Special Educational Needs And Disabilities, Amani Ahmed Abdalla

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Research indicates that teacher confidence significantly influences the adoption and successful implementation of research-based and high-leverage practices (HLPs). Indeed, a teacher who is confident in using high-leverage practices can help students excel academically. However, when highleverage practices are not implemented effectively, students with disabilities in inclusive settings do not receive the support they need to reach their fullest potential. Therefore, The purpose of this study was five-fold: a) examine Abu Dhabi and Dubai teachers' confidence level in using the HLPs to meet the needs of pupils of determination (POD), b) examine the effects of the demographic variables on teachers' confidence …

The Level Of Inclusion Of Transitional Services Competencies In Special Education Programs In Saudi Universities, Turki A. Alquraini Prof., Mona M. Alkhudaydi, Amjad F. Almawash, Maryam A. Alhusayani, Meaad A. Almoutairi, Lamia S. Alhusayani, Amaal D. Bin Jabaan

International Journal for Research in Education

The study aimed to identify the level of inclusion of transitional services competencies in special education programs in Saudi universities from the point of view of faculty members. In addition to studying the differences between the responses of faculty members according to the variables: the date of establishing the program, the number of courses related to transitional services, and the availability of specialists in this field. The sample consisted of 164 faculty members in special education programs in 22 Saudi universities. Results indicated that the inclusion of transitional services competencies in the special education programs in Saudi universities came to …

Derivation Of The Psychometric Properties Of "Rapid Automatized Naming And Rapid Alternating Stimulus (Ran/Ras) Tests" In Arabic, Hanan Al Hmouz Prof., Bashir Abu-Hamour Prof.

International Journal for Research in Education

This study examined the psychometric proprieties of the Arabic version of the "Rapid Automatized Naming and Rapid Alternating Stimulus (RAN/RAS) Tests" for Jordanian students. A sample of 286 students (five to seventeen years old) was recruited from four public and four private schools in Jordan. Results indicated that the RAN/RAS Tests had high reliability and validity indicators. For example, RAN/RAS Tests had strong correlations with Letter Word Identification Test from the Arabic Woodcock Johnson Battery. In addition, there were significant relationships in all tests and the development of performance with the age or grade of the examinees. Furthermore, positive relationships …

Effects Of Using Constant Time Delay In Small Group Instruction To Teach Number Identification Skills To Students With Intellectual Disability, Suha M. Alqahtani, Norah Aldosiry Phd

International Journal for Research in Education

This study aims to examine the effectiveness of constant time delay (CTD) in a small group teaching arrangement implemented in distance learning on teaching identifying the names of numbers with two digits. A multiple probe design across subjects was used to assess the effect of CTD. Participants of the study were four elementary school students with intellectual disabilities. Maintenance and acquisition of non-target skills through observational learning was assessed. Results showed that all students acquired and maintained the target skills. Data of observational learning showed that students acquired some of the non-target skills.

Keywords: Intellectual Disability، Constant Time Delay، …

The Effectiveness Of Jasper Program Tasks For Early Intervention In Developing Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder Skills, Moza S. Aldarmaki Phd

International Journal for Research in Education

The current study aims to use JASPER program components; joint attention, symbolic play, engagement, and regulation to develop the skills of children with autism and reduce the level of disorder. The study sample consisted of 7 children (3 males and 4 females) in addition to their mothers, the children were enrolled in one of the centers for people with disabilities in the United Arab Emirates. The chronological ages of the sample were between 6 to 8 years. The study used a set of tools to achieve the objectives of the study, including the scale of Jasper tasks for Early Intervention, …

The Effect Of Using Autocorrection On Improving Typing Skills For Female Students With Mild Intellectual Disabilities, Reema B. Alnofaie, Saeed S. Alqahtani Prof.

International Journal for Research in Education

This study aimed to identify the effect of the using autocorrection to improve typing skill for students with intellectual disabilities in the transition program. The sample of the study include four students with intellectual disabilities, who enrolled in the after-school day care program, whose ages range from (21-25) years, where they taught typing skills by applying autocorrection option on the (Microsoft Word) program. Using single subject design (multiple baseline design across participants), the results showed that all students improve their typing skills on three measures: total number of correct words, accuracy, and error rates.

Keywords: autocorrection, computer printing, students …

B/Lv Laboratory Accessibility Technology Adapted For Neurodiverse Chemistry Students, Christin B. Monroe

Journal of Science Education for Students with Disabilities

Text-to-speech technology is a common accommodation available for students with disabilities. Despite the ubiquitous nature of text-to-speech, this technology has not been explored in laboratory settings for neurodiverse college students. This study explores the adaptability of laboratory accessible text-to-speech technology (originally developed for blind/low vision (B/LV) students) for neurodiverse students. Students were asked to provide general feedback about the usability and effectiveness of the technology using Likert surveys. The students also answered open-ended questions about how the technology could be adapted to be more neurodiverse friendly. Overall, more than 50% of the students found the technology useful but had specific …

Coaching High School English Teachers In Guided Reading For Struggling Readers, Tiffany L. Gallagher, Arlene Grierson, Catherine Susin

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

Although small-group guided reading is traditionally an elementary school instructional practice, this study details how high school English teachers perceived its implementation in high school classrooms. As part of a larger, multiyear research project, this 2-year study examined a dual-level coaching professional learning program that included two school district literacy coaches, eight provincial literacy facilitators, and 21 high school teachers. Teachers were coached in the implementation of guided reading and small-group instruction to support students in Grades 9–10 who were struggling with reading. Qualitative methods were used to gather data including observations of the professional learning meetings and teachers’ instruction; …

Examining Abu Dhabi And Dubai Teachers’ Confidence In Using High-Leverage Practices To Meet The Needs Of Students With Special Educational Needs And Disabilities, Amani Ahmed Abdalla

Dissertations

Research indicates that teachers’ confidence level significantly influences the adoption and successful implementation of research-based and high-leverage practices (HLPs). The purpose of this study was five-fold: a) examine Abu Dhabi and Dubai teachers' confidence level in using the HLPs to meet the needs of pupils of determination (POD), b) examine the effects of the demographic variables on teachers' confidence in using HLPs, c) understand the influence of the tenets of the HLPs on the instruction andassessment practices, d) understand the influence of demographics variables (teachers’ work location, gender, age, experience, level of teaching, subject, experience teaching POD, professional development (PD), …

Healing Racial Trauma From Public School Systems, Lisa Y. Collins

Journal of Research Initiatives

Oregon needs Black educators in the K-12 public school system. In 35 school districts throughout the state, the number of students of color has risen by over 40% in recent years (Oregon Chief Education Office, 2019). The number of educators of color in the state is under 10%. The number of Black educators is even lower. Research has shown that Black educators improve all students' academic, cultural, and social aspects, especially Black students. Nationally, Black educators were impacted by the Brown v. Board of Education ruling. At that time in history, Black communities fought for civil rights as they experienced …

The Relationship Between Parental Engagement In Early Intervention, Part C Special Education Services, And Parental Barriers To Engagement Through The Perspective Of Parents, Zach Selnes

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Parental engagement is a critical component to child development and an essential part to Early Intervention (EI). Parental engagement is especially important for EI services that provide an in-home parent coaching service delivery model. Without parental engagement between EI services, the child will have less of a chance to make gains in their social-emotional, adaptive, physical, language, and cognitive development. This research interviewed nine parents who have a child that received early intervention, Part C special education services, in a rural, southeast MN educational district. The educational district consists of 13 school districts that serve roughly 65 children between the …

Parent Perspectives Of Inclusion For Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Phenomenological Study, Rebecca A. Mack

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore the experiences with inclusion for parents of students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and combined intellectual impairment in elementary schools in the United States. The theory guiding this study is Bandura’s theory on social cognitive learning as it applies to students with disabilities learning from observing their peers without disabilities. This study design was a transcendental phenomenological qualitative design to explore multiple parents’ unique experiences with the same phenomenon—inclusion for their child with ASD. Participants were chosen using criterion and snowball sampling from social media groups and live across the …

The Impact Of Video-Based Whole Group Lessons On Place, Manner, And Voicing Of Speech Sounds On Reading Achievement, Myranda Noelle Victoria

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine if students who received video-based lessons of the place, manner, and voicing (PMV) of speech sounds demonstrated gains on reading achievement compared to students who did not receive the intervention. A quantitative, quasi-experimental study with a pretest, posttest was developed, using the instrumentation of the reading Measures of Academic Progress (MAP). This study addressed gaps in the existing research regarding the impact of video-based instruction of speech sounds on reading achievement. Participants in this study (n=136) were drawn from a convenience sample of kindergarten students attending two elementary schools within the same …

A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Of What Schools Can Do To Retain Lumbee Indian Students With Disabilities Through High School To Graduation, Telisha Daniell Locklear

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore what schools can do to retain Lumbee Indian students with disabilities through high school to graduation. The theory guiding this phenomenological study was Maslow’s theory of human motivation. It relates to the motivation to satisfy a series of basic needs before individuals can meet their full potential. There were 12 special education teacher participants in this study who serve Lumbee Indian students. Data were collected through participant interviews, open letters, and focus groups. Data were analyzed thematically using the Van Kaam methodology. Five major themes emerged from the analyzed data. …

An Exploration Of The Digital Technology Skills Important In The Workforce And The Digital Technology Preparation Of Individuals With Intellectual Disabilities In Inclusive Postsecondary Education Programs, Erika Moore

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

This research study identifies the digital technology skills important for entry-level employees in the 21st-century workforce and assesses the digital technology preparation currently provided in Inclusive Postsecondary Education programs for students with intellectual disabilities. Digital technology skills were evaluated using the Digital Competence Conceptual Reference Model (2016). A survey was distributed to 100 U.S. employers to assess the digital technology skills in demand in the workforce. Inclusive Postsecondary Education programs were then evaluated to assess the digital technology skill preparation offered at 83 programs across the U.S. The results were analyzed to determine whether Inclusive Postsecondary Education programs are preparing …

The Effect Of Extended Reality On The Science Achievement Gap Between Students With And Without Disabilities, Shalece Kohnke

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

A science achievement gap between students with disabilities (SWD) and students without disabilities continues to persist, impacting academic and occupational outcomes. Traditional science instruction and the abstract nature of science concepts are a barrier to science achievement for students with disabilities. The current research study examined the effect of extended reality (XR; Browser-based 360° virtual reality) on closing the science achievement gap between students with and without disabilities in inclusive biology classrooms using a one group pretest-posttest design. The researcher expands on existing research by utilizing a larger sample size, with free and easily accessible XR technology implemented in 9th …

Increasing Exercise In Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review Of Instructional Strategies, Jacob Moak

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

It has been found that children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are 1.6 times more likely to be obese compared to neurotypically developing children. Individuals with ASD often struggle with motor skills and experience sensory processing difficulties, which can make it difficult to participate in regular physical activity. Because of this, it is crucial to find exercise methods that are enjoyable, practical and that are tailored to the specific needs of individuals with ASD in order to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle. The current systematic review investigated the research literature on interventions used to teach exercise to individuals with …

The Impact Of Repeated Reading Intervention On Oral Reading Fluency For Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder (Asd) In Saudi Arabia, Ahmed Al Naji

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The prevalence rate of learners with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has risen concurrently with their inclusion into public schools in Saudi Arabia. Being in schools, they face academic challenges, particularly in reading. This increased rate evokes the importance of implementing valuable strategies to keep up the academic skills of those students. These students require Evidence-Based Practices (EBPs), which have been demonstrated crucial for their reading development. Nevertheless, limited research has been done on examining the efficacy of EBPs used to enhance the reading skills of learners with ASD, especially their Oral Reading Fluency (ORF). This study used an effective approach …

The Impact Of The Social Story Intervention On Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder (Asd) In Saudi Arabia, Marwan Alkhudhayri

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is on the rise in Saudi Arabia, and the field of Special Education is currently working to expand awareness about ASD as well as evidence-based intervention availability in the country. The Social Stories Intervention has been shown to have positive results in work with children with ASD in other countries, however its effectiveness in Saudi Arabia had not thoroughly been examined. The Social Stories Intervention provides an important tool for practitioners to use with children with ASD in order to help improve their social skills development. The current study utilizes a single-subject design to assess the …

Examining The Effectiveness Of Using Point-Of-View Video Modeling On Mathematics Improvement In Students With Learning Disabilities In Saudi Arabia, Tirad Alsaluli

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Video Modeling (VM) is one of the most widely used approaches by researchers to improve many skills, such as academic skills in students with Learning Disabilities (LD; Boon et al., 2020). As the incidence rate of individuals with LD in Saudi Arabia increase (Almedlij & Rubinstein-Ávila, 2018), the need for evidence-based math interventions focused on the math development of individuals with LD also increases. Although VM is recognized as an Evidence-based Practice (EBPs), a limited number of studies have implemented VM as an intervention to improve mathematic skills. Implementing VM as a math intervention strategy would explore its effects on …

The Effect Of Using Story-Mapping To Enhance Reading Comprehension Of Students With Learning Disabilities In Saudi, Omar Alshikhi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Students with specific learning disabilities (SLD) represent between 5% and 10% of the total number of students in public schools in Saudi Arabia (Abu Nayyan, 2015). Further, 80-90% of students with SLD exhibit reading difficulties including difficulties in reading comprehension (Mercer & Pullen, 2009). Although there is a large number of students with SLD that exhibit reading difficulties in Saudi Arabia, there is a dearth of research attempting to understand the specific effectiveness of strategies to improve reading challenges for students with SLD, particularly in the area of comprehension. The current study aimed at investigating the effects of the use …

Teacher Perceptions Of Advanced Ability English Language Learners (Ell), Dena Redmond

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This study explored teacher perceptions of English language learners and giftedness. High school content teachers participated in an interview identifying behaviors that indicate advanced abilities from a series of three vignettes about English language learners. A total of four participants were interviewed. The four emergent themes were (1) critical thinking (2) rate of language acquisition, (3) motivation, and (4) use of language. The themes were behaviors that teachers perceived as demonstrating potential or demonstrating limited potential for advanced learning in English language learners.

The Gender And Race Intersectional Disproportionality-Tool (Grid-T): An Exploration Of Practitioners’ Access To And Use Of High-Quality Data For Special Education Placement, Audrey J. Ford

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Disproportionality in special education (SPED) is upheld by systems and individuals, policies, and practices that both reflect and shape the local communities within which it exists. Even with many proposed solutions for disproportionality, it persists. This two-manuscript dissertation explores two characteristics that make disproportionality difficult to solve (e.g., inconsistent findings and persistence) and proposes a tool to inform data-based decision making in interventions for disproportionality in SPED.

Manuscript One (M1) includes a literature review and development of the Gender and Race Intersectionality Disproportionality- Tool (GRID-T). Based on the findings of the literature review about inconsistence and persistence, I crafted three …

Using Graphic Novels To Teach Economics Content To High School Students With Extensive Support Needs., Caroline Mae Fitchett

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of social studies instruction in school is to facilitate the growth of competent citizens (National Council for the Social Studies [NCSS], 2013). Despite the recognized benefit of social studies instruction, emphasis on this subject has decreased over time, and has ultimately been termed a “dispensable subject” (Fitchett & Haefner, 2010). Social studies is an even more marginalized subject area for students with disabilities (Zakas et al., 2013). Expanding the research in this area is not only necessary to improving social studies academic content acquisition but is also likely to facilitate greater independence for students post-school – and by …