Search

Mathematics teachers may at times take on the role of counselors to address the "math anxious" in their classrooms. Today math anxiety is real and is a factor in attracting young people to many STEM fields. By the time many young people reach middle school, they have developed certain dispositions toward mathematics. What strategies will lessen the negative disposition and anxiety many students have toward math? The strategies included in this article are applicable for both general and special education teachers, especially when used together to prevent and reduce math anxiety. It is important that all students feel confident in their ability to do mathematics in an age that relies so heavily on problem solving, technology, science, and mathematics. In a STEM world it really is a school's obligation to see that their students value and feel confident in their ability to do math, because ultimately, all decisions individuals make and choices of careers may be determined in part by their attitudes toward mathematics.

Coaching in the school setting typically follows a teacher observation by an administrator or coach. Feedback is often delayed and does not allow for immediate error correction. Traditional professional development in schools is often a one-day passive receipt of content or strategies, with no time to practice, implement, or follow-up on the strategy to ensure implementation with fidelity. Combining strategies learned in professional development with iCoaching provides teachers with support to implement evidence-based strategies in their own classrooms with fidelity, and bridges the gap between professional development and implementation. This article discusses how to use iCoaching to support strategy implementation for in-service teachers.

Coaching in the school setting typically follows the traditional format of preconference, observe, and postconference, where feedback on teaching performance is shared but often delayed. Professional development (PD) provides teachers with skills to enhance their teaching practice with little to no follow-up or support. The most effective way to produce change in the school setting is to show the connection between PD and student performance, and iCoaching can help to bridge the gap. In this study, four teachers participated in a focused PD session and subsequent iCoaching sessions where the researcher used iPods and Bluetooth earbuds as a bug-in-ear (BIE) device. A coach served as a live, remote observer providing coaching prompts to increase teacher-delivered opportunities to respond (OTR). The results indicated that iCoaching was effective in increasing teacher-delivered OTR and in increasing student responses and academic performance.

Individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are increasingly entering institutions of higher education. However, many are not prepared for the academic and social demands of postsecondary environments. Although studies have evaluated academic and social interventions for children and adolescents with ASD, little research exists on the college population. The current study utilized a multiple baseline across participants design to evaluate the effectiveness of a writing learning strategy on the writing performance of three college students with ASD. Results indicated that the quality of writing performance improved following strategy instruction. In addition, participants were able to generalize strategy use to content specific writing tasks.

Technology is only as good as the results it produces. The use of simple radiophones and earbuds can provide support in action for students with disabilities as they learn to advocate for themselves at planning meetings. This article provides background for using bug-in-ear technology, including a training methods and materials list with students in pre-meeting practice sessions. (Contains 3 figures.)

Many schools use computer-based testing to measure students' progress for end-of-the-year and statewide assessments. There is little research to support whether computer-based testing accurately reflects student progress, particularly among students with learning, performance, and generalization difficulties. This article summarizes an investigation of a reading strategy on comprehension of expository and narrative text; comprehension was assessed using both paper- and computer-based tasks. Results showed that students increased their learning strategy use and reading comprehension accuracy when using the strategy on computer-based assessments with expository text. Also students generalized their strategy use to paper-pencil assessments with narrative text. Reading comprehension of narrative passages also increased. The results suggest the value of teaching a reading strategy to students who struggle with both paper-pencil and computer-based assessments of comprehension.

Individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are increasingly entering institutions of higher education. However, many are not prepared for the academic and social demands of postsecondary environments. Although studies have evaluated academic and social interventions for children and adolescents with ASD, little research exists on the college population. The current study utilized a multiple baseline across participants design to evaluate the effectiveness of a writing learning strategy on the writing performance of three college students with ASD. Results indicated that the quality of writing performance improved following strategy instruction. In addition, participants were able to generalize strategy use to content specific writing tasks., Author(s): Lynn G. Jackson [sup.1] , Mary Lou Duffy [sup.2] , Michael P. Brady [sup.2] , Jazarae McCormick [sup.2] Author Affiliations: (Aff1) 0000 0001 0308 1844, grid.433041.1, Human Services Department, [...]

Planning for policy implementation is as important as the implementation itself. A policy's intent can be subverted by the way the policy is implemented, or when unanticipated outcomes take precedence over the true intent. This article presents three cases of specific instances of unintended outcomes from policy implementation and presents a model to assist educational reformers in minimizing the impact of unintended negative consequences. The article provides policy makers with a means to predict the full array of outcomes--both intended and unintended--when promoting educational reforms that affect the implementation of new practices and policies.

Response to Intervention (RtI) is a general education initiative that takes place prior to evaluation for placement in special education. Essentially, the first two tiers of RtI require general education teachers to use research-based instruction with all students and then to evaluate the effectiveness of that instruction. Given that the use of RtI as an assessment tool begins in the general education classroom, the following question remains: Are general educators aware of the development and implementation of RtI as a process for assessing and, eventually, possibly placing students into special education? The purpose of this study was to review the literature to answer the following two questions: (1) To what extent is RtI evident in the professional literature of educator groups (teachers, administrators, and teacher educators) who will be responsible for implementing these school practices? and (2) What is the nature of the published literature (concept papers, assessment practices, instructional practices, and research) on RtI? (Contains 2 tables.)

With ongoing collaboration among general education teachers, special education teachers, related services professionals, and parents, students with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) can receive a quality education alongside their typically developing peers. This article provides strategies to promote the successful inclusion of students with ASDs in general education classrooms. The suggestions provided are categorized by preventive, supportive, and corrective strategies and techniques. These strategies can provide general education teachers with a set of tools that enable them to be proactive in preventing behavior, academic, and social problems; enhance instruction and enable students to reach their full potential; and address problems if and when they do arise. Special emphasis is given to strategies to increase active engagement in instructional activities. (Contains 3 tables.)

This study was designed to examine the effects of Literacy-Based Behavioral Interventions and social stories to improve the work behavior of employees with developmental disabilities. Two experiments were conducted. In the first experiment a multiple baseline across subjects was used to examine the effects of the intervention on employees' requests for materials and supplies, and any resulting improvements in their work engagement. The second experiment employed a multiple baseline across time periods, with an embedded ABAB design, to assess whether the intervention would increase independence and improve "on-time" return-to-work. Results showed that employees with developmental disabilities made substantial improvements in their work behavior as a result of the Literacy-Based Behavioral Intervention, and similar improvements were observed in co-workers as well. (Contains 3 tables and 4 figures.)

Supervision and coaching strategies that provide immediate feedback can help improve instruction for novice teachers. In this study, feedback was provided to teachers using "bug-in-ear" technology to coach them to deliver effective instructional interactions: "learn units." Three novice teachers in K-8 classrooms with students with disabilities including emotional disorders, autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and developmental delays participated in the study. Results from the multiple-baseline design showed that the rate and accuracy of effective teaching behaviors increased when in-class feedback was delivered via the electronic "bugs." For two of the three teachers, these increases maintained when the instructional feedback was faded. This study extends previous research and suggests an effective coaching supervision strategy for novice teachers. (Contains 2 tables and 1 figure.)

The continuing shortage of special education teachers, combined with increased ideological critiques of teacher education programs, has spurred the growth of alternative models of teacher preparation. Only recently have professional standards for alternative models been proposed. This paper summarizes two years of a program based on professional standards. External influences, internal design, and implementation elements are presented. Results suggest that there is value in distinguishing between the effectiveness of alternative programs and their success. (Contains 3 tables.)

This article presents suggestions for classroom teachers to help prevent and reduce math anxiety for students, particularly students with learning disabilities. The use of a "mathitude" survey to assess dispositions toward math is discussed, as well as using journal writing, cooperative learning, the Internet, and bibliotherapy to address anxiety. (Contains references.) (CR)

In an effort to examine the transition status of Apache Native American school leavers, a 38-item survey collected information from 48 former students with and without learning disabilities. Results indicated the students with learning disabilities had higher rates of unemployment and substance abuse and were less likely to live independently or earn at or above the minimum wage. (Contains references.) (DB)

Presents a process for using portfolio assessment to encourage critical thinking and decision making by students. Four specific types of levels of portfolios are described: the everything portfolio (or development portfolio), the product portfolio, the showcase portfolio (or exemplary portfolio), and the objective portfolio. (Author/CR)

Presents an overview of functional assessment and career education of students with disabilities, and provides an annotated bibliography on the topic. A total of eight references are provided for background and rationale, sources of functional assessments, application of functional assessments, and model programs using functional assessment. (CR)

This study examined the correspondence of an employment evaluation system, the Job Observation and Behavior Scale (JOBS) and the JOBS: Opportunity for Self-Determination (JOBS: OSD), to establish whether teachers' ratings of students' work performance and support needs match students' self-determined perceptions of these same employment variables. It extends previous research on the correspondence between evaluation ratings by adult employees and their work supervisors. Results showed that JOBS ratings by teachers differed significantly from students' self-determined ratings for all of the JOBS' subscales (Work-Required Daily Living Activities, Work-Required Behavior, and Work-Required Job Duties), with students consistently rating their work performance higher than the teachers. Also, students rated less need for support to produce their performance, relative to their teachers' ratings, Although supported or competitive community employment has become a near universal expectation for public education, it continues to be an elusive goal for many individuals with disabilities (Brady & Rosenberg, [...]

Coaching in the school setting typically follows the traditional format of preconference, observe, and postconference, where feedback on teaching performance is shared but often delayed. Professional development (PD) provides teachers with skills to enhance their teaching practice with little to no follow-up or support. The most effective way to produce change in the school setting is to show the connection between PD and student performance, and iCoaching can help to bridge the gap. In this study, four teachers participated in a focused PD session and subsequent iCoaching sessions where the researcher used iPods and Bluetooth earbuds as a bug-in-ear (BIE) device. A coach served as a live, remote observer providing coaching prompts to increase teacher-delivered opportunities to respond (OTR). The results indicated that iCoaching was effective in increasing teacher-delivered OTR and in increasing student responses and academic performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Response to Intervention (RtI) is a general education initiative that takes place prior to evaluation for placement in special education. Essentially, the first two tiers of RtI require general education teachers to use research-based instruction with all students and then to evaluate the effectiveness of that instruction. Given that the use of RtI as an assessment tool begins in the general education classroom, the following question remains: Are general educators aware of the development and implementation of RtI as a process for assessing and, eventually, possibly placing students into special education? The purpose of this study was to review the literature to answer the following two questions: To what extent is RtI evident in the professional literature of educator groups (teachers, administrators, and teacher educators) who will be responsible for implementing these school practices? What is the nature of the published literature (concept papers, assessment practices, instructional practices, and research) on RtI? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technology is only as good as the results it produces. The use of simple radiophones and earbuds can provide support in action for students with disabilities as they learn to advocate for themselves at planning meetings. This article provides background for using bug-in-ear technology, including a training methods and materials list with students in pre-meeting practice sessions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses ways to improve teachers' instructional behavior through data-based self-evaluation procedures in the U.S. Details on the important component of reflection; Identification of self-evaluation as a method that promotes the increased use of effective practices by teachers; Advantages of a teacher self-evaluation. INSETS: What Does the Literature Say About Self-Evaluation;Instructional Behaviors for Self-Evaluation.