Special Education and Teaching Commons^™

Instructional Strategies For Middle School Math And Science Teachers With Mainstreamed Students, Amy Kay Trueblood Lindh

All Graduate Projects

Instructional strategies used with mainstreamed students were studied. When teachers modify curriculum, simplify instruction, and teach study skills the mainstreamed student can participate more successfully in the regular classroom. Enhancing classroom behavior management procedures, providing a positive cooperative learning environment and having positive teacher attitudes and beliefs create a classroom climate where all students can succeed. Strategies for doing the following were presented in a workshop format. Recommendations and conclusions were presented.

The Effect Of Simultaneous Signing And Pronouncing Of Printed Words On Recall Of Sight Words By Students With Mental Retardation, Marilyn Ardene Milton

All Graduate Projects

The effect of combining Signing Exact English signs with verbal practice of sight words was studied with students having low mild to moderate mental retardation. Five students with IQ scores ranging from untestable to 65 were shown sight words printed on cards. Words were divided into two treatment groups. Treatments included sight word instruction which involved simultaneously signing the word while saying it and sight word instruction without signing. Analysis of the data allows acceptance of the null hypothesis which states signing will have no effect on acquisition of sight words. However, results varied widely between individual students. Recommendations from …

The Utilization Of Music Therapy Strategies For Increasing Prosocial Skills In Students With Behavioral Disorders, Marlene Lennia Anunson

All Graduate Projects

A representative sample of music therapy strategies was developed for use by general music teachers in elementary schools. A literature search was conducted in effective social skills training methods and music therapy techniques. The strageties developed can be used by elementary general music teachers to help improve prosocial skills in students with behavioral disorders.

Parent Involvement In The Education Of Their Children With Special Needs, Cindy Ann Cole

All Graduate Projects

The intent of this project is to develop an information packet teachers may use to encourage and enhance parental involvement, in ways that are suited for each child's and parent's needs. Analysis of literature, relevant to parents of children with special needs, has been used to draw conclusions and recommendations regarding appropriate techniques teachers may use to encourage parent involvement in their child's education. The packet includes the following: 1) a questionnaire to assess parents' preferred method of involvement; 2) a parent involvement evaluation form; 3) telephone numbers of support services and resources for parents; 4) recommended activities to help …

School To Work: Community Based Transition Of 18-21 Year Old Students With Mild Disabilities, Jammie Caryle Axon

All Graduate Projects

A community based service delivery plan was developed to meet the individual transition needs of 18-21 year old students with mild disabilities. The transition service was designed to ease the movement of students into post-secondary community life by providing prepatory experiences and community linkages. Students may receive services in the areas of recreation and leisure, vocational, and independent living activities depending on individual need.

A Case For Inclusion At The Preschool Level, Jill Rae Reed

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Federal and state legislation (i.e., PL 94-142 combined with PL 99-457) Provide for a free and appropriate education for children with disabilities, between the ages of three and 21, in settings with or in close proximity to children without disabilities (Edmister & Ekstrand, 1987; Odom & McEvoy, 1988; Radonovich & Houck, 1990; Salisbury, 1990). Settings in close proximity to children without disabilities are referred to as the least restrictive environment {LRE). The LRE provision requires educational agencies to ensure children with disabilities are, to the maximum extent appropriate, educated with children who are developing typically (Turnbull & Turnbull, 1990). The …

A Model Diversified Occupations Curriculum And Instructional Program Designed For Special Needs Students In Snohomish School District #201, Beth C. Vanderveen

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to develop a Model Diversified Occupations Curriculum and Instructional Program designed specifically for special needs students in Snohomish School District #201, Snohomish, Washington. To accomplish this purpose, current research and literature concerned with serving special needs students in diversified occupations programs were reviewed. Additionally, unit overviews, student learning objectives, performance criteria, learning activities, teaching strategies, and instructional materials were adapted and developed.

The Promise Of Adulthood, Philip M. Ferguson, Dianne L. Ferguson

Education Faculty Books and Book Chapters

"How do we assure ourselves that [our severely disabled son] Ian is somehow contributing to all the choices that get made about what constitutes a good adult life for him? We have created new options for Ian and others as we have struggled to answer these ques-tions. We have also increased our understanding of what it means for someone who has a variety of severe disabilities to be adult."

A Resource Handbook For Planning And Implementing An Integrated Preschool Program, James Wallace Holden

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to design and develop a resource handbook to assist teachers and administrators responsible for implementing an integrated preschool program. To accomplish this purpose, research and literature relative to current integration delivery models, primarily those in Washington State were reviewed. The handbook developed was piloted in the Taholah, Washington School District.

Transition Programming For Secondary Special Education Students, Colleen Patricia Obergh

All Graduate Projects

The focus of this project will be on the design of a transition program for special education students, ages 14- 21, enrolled at Cascade School District, Leavenworth, Washington. The project is designed to fulfill state, federal, and district guidelines relating to transitioning of special education students into post-secondary settings. The goal of the project is to ease the movement of students into post-secondary community life by providing preparatory experiences. Specific programming experiences include academic/vocational training, career exploration, work experience, and social skill development.

Teachers' Beliefs Regarding School-Wide Integration Of Mildly Handicapped Students In The Ephrata School District, Charlotte Throgmorton

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to determine the attitudes of teachers in the Ephrata. Washington. School District regarding the school-wide integration of mildly handicapped students in the classroom and the supports needed to insure its success. To accomplish this purpose, a survey instrument was designed and administered to elicit teacher responses. Survey responses were tabulated by frequency, rank order, percentage, and average, and provided a basis for descriptive analysis of data obtained.

An Assessment Of The Impact Of Resource Room Placement On Elementary Student Self-Esteem, Michael F. Hopkins

All Graduate Projects

An assessment, in the form of an interview, was conducted to measure the effects of resource room placement and full-time classroom integration on special education student self-esteem. Sixty students in the Wenatchee School District participated in the project during the 1990-1991 school year. The results of the project indicated that the placement of special education students in a full-time integration program does not insure a greater enhancement of their total self-concept; although it may be of benefit to certain areas in their self-esteem. The project included conclusions and recommendations.

Integrated Instruction Procedural Manual, Cynthia S. Sloan

All Graduate Projects

Advantages and disadvantages of integrating Specific Learning Disabled and Seriously Behaviorally Disabled students into the regular classroom were studied. The integration process relied on collaboration between regular and special education staff. Results showed integrated instruction to be a viable option to the traditional "pull-out" model. The "pull-out" model should remain an instructional option for students who cannot function in an integrated setting. An Integrated Instruction Procedural Manual is included as a reference tool for developing collaborative education for this population.

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 …

Achievement Gains And Losses Of Integrated 5th Grade Resource Room Students: Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School, Yakima School District, 1989-1990, Patricia F. Kincheloe

All Graduate Projects

The achievement gains and losses of integrated 5th grade resource room students at Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School in the Yakima School District were studied. Nine resource room students were pre and post tested for achievement in reading, spelling, and mathematics. Teaching methods included cooperative learning, small and large group instruction, and peer tutoring. The results showed support for the integration of learning disabled students into a whole language, cooperative learning, regular education environment.

Early Childhood Special Education Philosophy And Procedures Manual For Walla Walla School District, Sandra Kay Lee

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to develop a philosophy and procedures manual for the Walla Walla School District's center-based special education preschool program. Twenty-five school districts were asked if they possessed a philosophy and procedures manual. Six of those school districts possessed a parent manual. None of the districts possessed a procedures manual.

A manual was developed through interview of staff members and adaptation of Head-Start procedures. The manual contains procedures for abuse and neglect reporting, emergency/health, referral, child-find, extended school year, transition, teacher planning, and a parent orientation manual.

The Generalization Of Treatment Gains Of Mildly Handicapped Adolescents From Special Education To Regular Education Classrooms Using Peer-Mediated Self-Management Procedures, Deborah J. Smith

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether a self-evaluation procedure paired with a token economy would be effective in reducing the off-task and talk-out behavior of behaviorally disordered and learning disabled high school students in a resource classroom. The study also examined the effects of the self-evaluation procedures when monitored by regular education peers on target students' behavior in their regular education English class. In addition to improving classroom behavior, another purpose of the study was to examine the effectiveness of the self-evaluation procedures when paired with an academic goal-setting component on academic variables in both the …

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 …

A Parent Handbook For Primary Students With Learning Disabilities, Susan K. Busey

All Graduate Projects

Parents play an important role in the educational process, especially with Special Education students. When a child is identified as Learning Disabled, parents often ask, "What can we do at home to help?" When there is parent-school cooperation and coordination all will benefit, particularly the child. This project provides parents of the Selah School District in Washington State with information and activities in the academic areas of reading, mathematics, and written language, that will reinforce and strengthen those skills taught at school.

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 …

The Integration Of Constructive Visualization, Self-Talk, And Relaxation In The Acquisition Of Social Skills, Karen Sue Campbell

All Graduate Projects

The need for teaching social skills, imagery, relaxation, and self-talk was studied and confirmed. Review and use of many of these curriculums revealed overlap among some curriculums, but none fully integrated skills from each of the diverse approaches to teaching social competence. The purpose of this project was to integrate a select body of information addressing social skills, self-talk, relaxation, and imagery into a developmental curriculum for use with children and adolescents.

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 …

Utilizing The Special Education Training Program Of Central Washington University As A Model For Five-Year Normal Colleges In The Republic Of China, Jing-Yu Her

All Graduate Projects

The project (model) was primarily an audio/visual program which presented 118 slides to introduce the special education teacher training program of Central Washington University, Ellensburg, Washington. It consisted of the following parts: (a) introduction to Central Washington University and its campus, (b) introduction to the special education teacher training program, and (c) parent/teacher conference and the Student Council for Exceptional Children. It has been described and interpreted in English and Chinese. The purpose for describing a model of the special education teacher training program of Central Washington University is to suggest a more complete training program for Ping-Tong Five-Year Nonnal …

Cross Reference Guide Of Materials To Objectives For The Brigance Diagnostic Inventory Of Essential Skills (Red Section), Donald L. Mccoy

All Graduate Projects

Materials in the Special Education classrooms at two junior high schools and one high school in Walla Walla, Washington, were correlated to the objectives in the Brigance Diagnostic Inventory of Essential Skills. A quick reference guide was developed to assist the educator in compiling appropriate materials to meet the needs of the student as identified by the aforementioned inventory. The looseleaf guide not only allows for quick identification of materials, but also lends itself to continuous updating and revising.

The Effect Of An Intensive Study Skills Approach On Grade Point Average Of Secondary Learning Disabled Students, Jeanne Lancaster Vaughan

All Master's Theses

This study compared an intensive study skills approach with remedial instruction in basic skills for their effects on grade point average of secondary learning disabled students. The experimental group consisted of 12 students, as did the control group. Grade point was tabulated at the onset and conclusion of the study. The statistical analysis consisted of a t-test which showed no significance at the .05 level. The null hypothesis was retained. Discussion follows.

Washington Special Education Funding Formula, Sharon L. Jenft

Master of Education Graduate Projects

Financial implications of the current Washington Special Education Funding Formula for the 1980-81 school year were studied. Financial data for 229 school districts which provided education for handicapped children was collected for the study. The results showed that the majority of school districts which provide education for handicapped children did not receive funding equal to expenditures for education programs for the 1980-81 school year. Recommendations for increasing Washington's funding for handicapped education programs are discussed.

A Participation Approach To Be Used With Disabled Readers At The Secondary Level, Shirley Kinsel

All Graduate Projects

The project resulted in the development of participation based reading selections and their accompanying teaching suggestions to be used with disabled secondary readers. The complete materials stressed hands-on applications and product-producing activities. The reading selections were written for several levels of reading difficulty. They incorporated the teaching of literary skills, study skills, and functional-living skills and provided practice in following directions. The approach produced materials meant to be a specific fit for disabled secondary readers who prefer to learn by doing.

The Development Of A Comprehensive Preschool Screening Instrument, Jana Lee Johnson

All Master's Theses

The purpose of this paper was to research criteria for screening for young, handicapped children with the intent of developing a single, comprehensive screening instrument. Analyses of existing screening devices and data from educators in the field were also included in the study.

The resulting screening instrument was designed to assess the developmental acquisition of skills. Major developmental areas included in the screening instrument are language skills, motor development, perceptual skills, cognitive development, social skills, and self-help skills.

The Philosophy And Goals Of A Farm-Living Group Home For Mentally Retarded Citizens In The State Of Washington: A Working Plan Of Implementation, Max R. Grimmett

All Graduate Projects

Group homes were established as a result of House Bill #465 passed by the Washington State Legislature in 1969. The purpose of this bill was to make it possible for some people living in state institutions to move into smaller and more "homelike" places.

The purpose of the study was to determine what has been done in the area of group homes under the Washington State Guidelines. A study was made of the existing group homes and the programs offered at the present time. After collecting data, a plan was developed to create a proposed farm-living group home for mentally …

A Descriptive Study Of Ninth Grade Reading Programs In Schools Of The Second Education District Of Kentucky, Eloyse Jean Groves

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Questionnaries concerning the nature of the state-required Ninth Grade Reading Programs were sent to principals of secondary schools in the Second Education District of Kentucky. The program, which had been in effect for two years, was studied as to the different organization, curriculum, students, faculty, resources, conclusions, and projections of each school involved an then compared to a standard reading program. It was found that Kentucky is a forerunner in the area of state requirements as to provision for help in reading for ninth grade students. The type of referral and physical setting of the program were both found to …