Special Education and Teaching Commons^™

A Qualitative Examination Of The Serviceability Of Teaching Practice Modifications Aimed For Special Education Teacher Candidates, Veysel Aksoy Ph.D., Tezcan Çavuşoğlu Res. Asst., Gülefşan Özge Kalayci Res. Asst.

The Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship

The process of training special education teacher candidates is an issue that has been widely discussed in literature, yet there is no consensus as to the most effective method. Therefore, it is recommended that methods designed to meet the needs of special education teacher candidates with proven efficiency should be used collectively. This research analyzed the serviceability of the teaching practice process considering its strength and weaknesses based on the views of special education teacher candidates and observations of researchers.

Strategies For Supporting Students Who Are Twice-Exceptional, Janet Josephson, Charlton Wolfgang, Rich Mehrenberg

The Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship

No abstract provided.

Pre-Service Teacher Perceptions And Knowledge Regarding Professional Development: Implications For Teacher Preparation Programs, Maria B. Peterson-Ahmad Ph.D., Katrina A. Hovey Ph.D., Pamela K. Peak Ph.D.

The Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship

This research study discusses results from a mixed-methods study of N=164 pre-service teachers’ perceptions of and involvement in professional related activities and organizations related to students with special needs. Results found similarities between special education and general education certification seekers perceptions of beneficial training topics and perceived roadblocks to professional development participation. Since the job-related duties of teachers is vast and attrition rates of highly qualified special education teachers indicate that they leave the classroom at approximately twice the rate of their general education counterparts (Mitchell & Arnold, 2004), suggestions for increased training and professional opportunities are discussed specific to …

An Overview Of Review Studies On Effectiveness Of Major Aac Systems For Individuals With Developmental Disabilities Including Autism, Sang Nam Ph.D., Bcba, Jemma Kim Ph.D., Shannon Sparks Ph.D.

The Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship

This paper provides an overview of five review studies that analyzed 92 single subject studies on the effectiveness of major augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems for individuals with developmental disabilities including autism. This paper offers recommendations useful for AAC decision-making points. Research on the effectiveness of main communication systems over the last 25 years has yielded mixed and inconsistent results on communication and preference outcomes. The heterogeneity of a large quantity of studies involved various research designs, participants, and multiple components is a major concern with the review studies. It is recommended to conduct more focused syntheses of empirical …

Using A Universal Design For Learning Framework To Enhance Engagement In The Early Childhood Classroom, Marla J. Lohnmann, Katrina A. Hovey, Ariane N. Gauvreau

The Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship

In order to meet the needs of young children, the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) recommends teachers utilize developmentally appropriate practice, DAP. For young children with disabilities, teachers must also utilize the Division of Early Childhood (DEC) Recommended practices, evidence-based teaching practices aimed at enhancing learning outcomes for children and their families (DEC, 2014) that pair well with the NAEYC developmentally appropriate practices. Both NAEYC’s DAP and DEC’s Recommended Practices align with the concept of Universal Design for Learning (UDL). UDL is a framework for proactively addressing the needs of diverse and exceptional learners by ensuring …

Factors Related To Optimal Service Delivery Models For Students With Moderate To Severe Disabilities: A Phenomenological Research Inquiry, Emily Ledesma

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The educational rights of students with disabilities are supported through federal mandates, as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) safeguards a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment (LRE). Special education students encompass a wide range of individual and unique learning needs, thus the creation of educational environments that utilize fluid and flexible service delivery models is warranted. Furthermore, students with moderate to severe disabilities (MSD) require specialized academic instruction that promotes advancements across several developmental areas, which includes cognition, adaptive skills, communication, and emotional awareness. Exploring educational service delivery models that proficiently address the …

Evidence-Based Practices For Improving Communication Skills Of Students With Moderate-To-Severe Disabilities, Amber Bartlett

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Communication deficits are often evident in students with moderate-to-severe developmental disabilities. For these students, basic communication needs, like asking to use the restroom, requesting food or expressing discomfort are a challenge. Frustration caused by communication deficits can lead the student to express interfering behaviors, which may interrupt student learning. This paper identifies and describes evidence-based practices (EBPs) used to increase functional communication skills for students with moderate-to-severe developmental disabilities. This review focuses on functional communication training (FCT) and the picture exchange communication system (PECS) and their use to increase functional communication skills. The study also explains how to implement FCT …

Job Satisfaction And Self-Efficacy Score Differences In General And Special Education Teachers As Measured By The Job Satisfaction Survey And Teachers' Sense Of Efficacy Scale, Angela Alford

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Teacher turn over has been a concern over the last 30 years in the United States. The implementation of No Child Left Behind Act in 2002 impacted the accountability of teachers. This quantitative, correlation study endeavors to determine the relationship between teacher self-efficacy and job satisfaction. Within this study, teachers of a Title I school in the largest school district in a southern state were surveyed via hard copy. The Tschannen-Moran instrument, Teachers’ Sense of Efficacy Scale (2001), was used to identify three subscales: student engagement, instructional strategies, and classroom management. The Job Satisfaction Survey collected participants’ general satisfaction by …

Exploration Of New Complexity Metrics For Curriculum-Based Measures Of Writing, Kyle Wagner, Alex Smith, Abigail A. Allen, Kristen L. Mcmaster, Apryl L. Poch, Erica S. Lembke

Special Education and Communication Disorders Faculty Publications

Researchers and practitioners have questioned whether scoring procedures used with curriculum-based measures of writing (CBM-W) capture growth in complexity of writing. We analyzed data from six independent samples to examine two potential scoring metrics for picture word CBM-W (PW), a sentence-level CBM task. Correct word sequences per response (CWSR) and words written per response (WWR) were compared with the current standard metric of correct word sequences (CWS). Linear regression analyses indicated that CWSR predicted scores on standardized norm-referenced criterion measures in more samples than did WWR or CWS. Future studies should explore the capacity of CWSR and WWR to show …

The Effects Of A Leveled Literacy Intervention (Lli) On Elementary-Age Students Reading Below Grade Level, Jennifer Majewski

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate students who were having reading and writing difficulties and who were also below grade level by using Fountas and Pinnell's Leveled Literacy Intervention as a supplemental program to show that change occurs after treatment. I found that there was a third of the students who were seven years old were below grade level in their reading. I am hopeful that with using the LLI program as a supplemental to their regular reading program, the students will improve their reading performance levels. The method that is the most appropriate is the two group, …

Peer Tutoring For Vocabulary For Students With Disabilities, Martin P. Kavanagh

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the effects of peer tutoring on the vocabulary acquisition of students with disabilities in a middle school setting. This study included twelve 8th grade students in co-taught classes. The participants included two Hispanic students, six Caucasian students, and 4 African American students. All participating students are 13 or 14 years of age. The 12 students in this study are classified as learning disabled, multiply disabled, or autistic.

Participating students worked in pairs for twelve weeks. The participants are from three separate classes, each class containing four participating students. Each class also included non-disabled students, who received instruction …

Effect Of Mnemonics On The Vocabulary Acquisition And Retention Of High School Students With Learning Disabilities, Erin L. Whitescarver

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of mnemonic devices on the acquisition and retention of social studies vocabulary by high school students with learning disabilities. Six students, four male and two female, from a pull-out U.S. history I resource class participated in the study. The research was conducted using a single-subject ABAB design. During baseline, students were evaluated on their acquisition of vocabulary taught using traditional methods. During intervention, students were evaluated on their retention of vocabulary taught using teacher created mnemonic devices. Results show that the use of mnemonic devices increased the acquisition and retention …

The Effectiveness Of Close Reading Strategies On The Expository Text Comprehension Of Students With Learning Disabilities, Michelle Giambrone

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of close reading using Achieve3000 on the text comprehension and use of text evidence by students with learning disabilities in grades 4-5. In addition, student satisfaction with close reading was evaluated for social validity. Two fourth grade students and one fifth grade student, both female, participated in the study. Two students were classified with specific learning disability, and one was classified as communication impaired. A single-subject methodology with an ABAB design was used. During the Baseline phase, students independently read the expository text. They answered comprehension questions, and wrote their …

The Effectiveness Of Student Choice Of Self-Monitoring, Victoria Dougherty

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of choice on self-monitoring systems with students in first and second grade with disabilities. Specifically the study analyzed the effects of self-monitoring and choice on (a) on task behaviors and (b) academic achievement. Moreover, student satisfaction with self-monitoring and choice of self-monitoring were evaluated for social validity. Four students participated in the study, one female and one male first grade student and one female and one male second grade student. Three students were classified Specific Learning Disability and one student was classified Communication Impaired. The design of this research was …

The Support Needs Of First Generation Immigrant Families With Sons And Daughters With Disabilities, George Jacob

Special Education ETDs

This study examined the support needs of four first generation immigrant families with sons and daughters with disabilities from a city in the South West of the United States and gave them a voice to add to the knowledge base that can inform the development of supports and policies for families. Parents talked about their separation from extended families and being alone in an unfamiliar country without knowledge and information on how to raise a child with a disability. Spouse and children were the closest forms of support, but for a single parent, the needs multiplied. All families shared the …

Bullies And Allies Near The Playground: Mothers' Experiences Of Aggression In Their Children's Schools, Mara Vicente Robinson

Dissertations

Despite an increasing understanding of the importance of both parent-involvement and aggression among women, there appears to be little understanding of how these two areas influence each other; specifically, the lack of literature examining the extent to which female guardians experienced aggression from other female guardians and the effect it had on their involvement in their children’s schools. In an effort to investigate the extent to which aggression was prevalent among female guardians, the factors that influenced the aggression, and the effects of that aggression on women’s involvement in their children’s education, a convergent parallel mixed methods design was used …

A Whole New World: Students With Disabilities Transition To Postsecondary Education, Warren Whitaker

Dissertations

Since the inception of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, there has been a steady increase in the enrollment of students with disabilities in higher education. With the postsecondary transition in educational supports from the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA) in high school to ADA in college, there has been a lack of research related to the experiences of these students with disabilities while they are in college. Considering the changes in disability experience resulting from education policy changes from high school (IDEA) to college (ADA/Section 504), the purpose of this study was to examine the …

The Academic And Social-Emotional Effects Of Classroom Service Dogs/Specialized Therapy Dogs With Handlers On Student Learning And Behavior In K-12 Special Education Students In Emotional/Behavioral Disordered Placements As Perceived By Their Teachers, Sharon Kalkoske

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study is to determine and describe the academic and social-emotional effects of classroom service dogs/specialized therapy dogs with handlers on student learning and behavior in K-12 special education students in Emotionally/Behaviorally Disturbed (EBD) placements as perceived by their teachers.

Methodology: This study utilized qualitative data from semistructured, open-ended interview questions to analyze the research questions regarding the perceptions of teachers and educators on service dogs/specialized therapy dogs with handlers on student learning and behavior in K-12 special education students in EBD placements. The population for this study included educators working in special education classrooms …

Integrating Expressive Therapies And Visual Literacy Skills In An Exceptional Children Classroom, Natalia Torres Del Valle

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

The method conducted in this thesis integrated museum education, exceptional children education, and expressive arts therapy practices. Objectives for implementing the method were to learn how to effectively address the unique needs within the exceptional children classroom, as well as to collaborate with the teacher to address those needs through expressive arts therapy and visual literacy approaches. In so doing, I wanted to examine the differences and similarities between museum education and expressive arts therapy and how they can work together to meet therapeutic goals. The method took place over four sessions; each session focused on a work of art …

Einstein Or Columbine: Impact Of School Environment On The Socioaffective Development Of Gifted And Talented Adolescents, Rebekah Granger-Ellis

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Why do some gifted minds thrive in life while others fail to fulfill their potential? The spotlight on violence perpetrated by bright individuals questions what went wrong, could it have been prevented, and whether schools are meeting the needs of gifted individuals. Thus, it is important to examine the impact of participation in various gifted and talented programs on the socioaffective development of gifted adolescents. The purpose of this study was to understand (1) if gifted individuals’ social and emotional development were similarly developed as their academic and creative abilities, and (2) if a particular school environment led to differences …

Collaborative Experiences Of Teacher Candidates In A Dual, Mild/Moderate And General Education Program, Mary Alice Geiring

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Before they enter the classroom, teacher candidates must acquire the knowledge, dispositions, and instructional strategies necessary to succeed in educating students with a variety of learning abilities before they enter the classroom. The educational roles and responsibilities required of teacher candidates have changed from a general education classroom without students with disabilities to an inclusive setting for all learners. Now students with disabilities spend more time in the general education classroom to be educated at least 80% of their time with their same-aged peers. Therefore, this qualitative study, through the use of one-on-one interviews, sought to expand the existing research …

Life-Lines Of Spanish Students With Disabilities During Their University Trajectory, Noelia Melero, Anabel Moriña, Rosario López-Gavira

The Qualitative Report

The authors conducted this study at a Spanish university to find out what barriers and aids students with disabilities identified during their university trajectories. The authors used a biographical narrative method, and specifically, life histories. Our analysis concentrated on the life-lines and interviews, showing the histories of three students with disabilities. We analyzed data through a narrative system, approaching each life history separately and making a global analysis of it. The results section presents the university trajectory of three students with disability, Javier, Luz María and José Manuel. Each student made a personal narration of his own university experience in …

“Indefensible, Illogical, And Unsupported”; Countering Deficit Mythologies About The Potential Of Students With Learning Disabilities In Mathematics, Rachel Lambert

Education Faculty Articles and Research

This paper describes two myths that circulate widely about the potential of students with Learning Disabilities to learn mathematics: (1) that students with Learning Disabilities cannot benefit from inquiry-based instruction in mathematics, and only from explicit instruction; and (2) that students with Learning Disabilities cannot construct their own mathematical strategies and do not benefit from engaging with multiple strategies. In this paper, I will describe how these myths have developed, and identify research that counters these myths. I argue that these myths are the unintended consequences of deficit constructions of students with Learning Disabilities in educational research. Using neurodiversity to …

The Clinical Nurse Leader As Outcomes Manager: Optimizing Screening Mammography In An Outpatient Breast Center, Yao Luo

Master's Projects and Capstones

The Clinical Nurse Leader as Outcomes Manager: Optimizing Screening Mammography in an Outpatient Breast Center

Abstract

This clinical nurse leader (CNL) practice improvement project was conducted in an outpatient breast center that is part of a community safety-net hospital. The patient population consists of a large proportion of disadvantaged, low income, low English literacy, and high-risk women over 445 years of age. Recent observations and baseline data from the breast center and the mobile mammography van indicated that five to eight radiologic views were taken during a routine mammogram in a subset of screening patients which exceeds the standard set …

How Well-Aware Are Families Of Children With Special Needs, Sara Alosaimi

International Journal for Research in Education

The study aims to increase the knowledge towards the genetic counseling services .at parents with special educational needs children. The study sample targeted (104) families. Each family has one or more children of special educational needs. The families were classified according to the cases they represent such as: special needs, mobility disabilities and mental disability. The researcher has applied a questionnaire of the genetic counseling services (the questionnaire was prepared by the researcher herself) and has felicitated evidence signs and constancy for the study. The results of the study have shown that the level of parents' knowledge about the genetic …

Special Education Requirements And Logistics: Bridging The Gap Of Understanding For School Leaders, Petra L. Nelson

Theses and Dissertations from 2018

Principals and assistant principals are the educational leaders of their school buildings and must have a working knowledge of special education law, programs, and special education teacher supports. This study reinforces the need for principals and assistant principals to be fully prepared to lead all of their schools’ programs, including special education, prior to assuming responsibility for those schools. Without proper preparation, building-level administrators may unwittingly hinder the educational progress of students with disabilities, denying them a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) and/or due process, and – in the process – placing their schools and districts at legal risk.

Media Portrayals Of Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Cars2 And Frame Analysis Of The Sesame Street Character Julia, Sallyann Ficarrotta

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Media Portrayals of Autism Spectrum Disorder: A CARS2 and frame analysis of the Sesame Street character Julia Media portrayals of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are grossly exaggerated and inaccurate. Julia, a Muppet with ASD, is not depicted as having high-functioning autism, but most of the exaggerated portrayals depicted in movies and television are of a person on that end of the spectrum. The current study, a quantitative content analysis of Julia from Sesame Street, draws from framing theory, most importantly stigmatizing cues, and utilizes the professional assessment tool, the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS2). The tool was used to rate …

Effects Of A Multimedia Shared Story On Comprehension Of An Employee Handbook, Stephanie M. Devine

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Employment outcomes for individuals with intellectual disability (ID) continue to be among the lowest reported (Migliore, Butterworth, & Hart, 2009; Siperstein, Parker, & Drascher, 2013). Literacy skills are critical for obtaining employment and for supporting continued success in the workplace (Conceição, 2016), but individuals with ID typically have very low literacy levels (Katims, 2000). Limited research has been conducted on literacy skill development for young adults with ID, particularly on work-related texts such as employee handbooks. Research supports the use of shared stories on adapted age-appropriate texts for students with significant cognitive disabilities, including those with ID (Hudson & Test, …

Reverse Engineering An Expository Paragraph For Students With Mild To Moderate Disabilities And English Learners, Kathy Ewoldt

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Writing is a difficult task for most students. Only 27% of all students in America can write proficiently at or above grade level (U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, 2012). With the recent adoption of rigorous standards (i.e., Common Core State Standards, Next Generation Science Standards), secondary students are required to engage in increasingly more expository writing tasks, a difficult challenge for students with high-incidence disabilities and English learners.

During the instruction process, teachers may model an example to show students how experts approach a task, typically in a sequence of beginning, middle, and ending steps. This intervention …

Investigating The Use Of An Emotional Intelligence Intervention With Young Elementary Students Receiving Services In A Self-Contained Setting For Students With Emotional Disturbance, Kristin Lian Withey

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

While there is a longstanding call for all students to succeed, students receiving special education services under the label of emotional disturbance (ED) are at an increased risk for minimal school and life outcomes, ranging from poor classroom grades and increased expulsion to high rates of incarceration and drug use. Although there are extant interventions, these often rely on extrinsic motivation or are begun after research suggests behaviors have become habit. Because of this, there is a call for earlier intervention that teaches students requisite skills. One such developmentally appropriate practice that has yet to be explored with students receiving …