MADE 2 FADE: A Practical Strategy for Empowering Independence for Students With Disabilities

2021 ◽  
pp. 004005992110339
Author(s):  
Kristina E. Ingles ◽  
Carly B. Gilson ◽  
Humberto Pena
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
Students With Disabilities ◽  
Special Education Teachers ◽  
Independent Living ◽  
Practical Strategy ◽  
Skill Mastery ◽  
Data Driven Decisions ◽  
Task Independence ◽  
Research Based Practices ◽  
Do So

Independence is a critical skill in preparing students with disabilities for success after high school. Secondary special education teachers equip their students toward task independence across skill domains (e.g., employment, independent living), yet there is little guidance regarding a simple and systematic way to do so. MADE 2 FADE (M2F) is a mnemonic developed to support special education teachers in data-driven decisions and implementation of research-based practices. This framework is designed to help teachers as they encourage their students with disabilities toward greater self-efficacy and skill mastery.

Preparing Special Education Preservice Teachers to Teach Computational Thinking and Computer Science in Mathematics

2021 ◽  
pp. 088840642199237
Author(s):  
Emily C. Bouck ◽  
Phil Sands ◽  
Holly Long ◽  
Aman Yadav
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
Preservice Teachers ◽  
Computer Science ◽  
Students With Disabilities ◽  
Special Education Teachers ◽  
Computational Thinking ◽  
Lesson Plans ◽  
Methods Course ◽  
Mathematics Methods ◽  
K 12

Increasingly in K–12 schools, students are gaining access to computational thinking (CT) and computer science (CS). This access, however, is not always extended to students with disabilities. One way to increase CT and CS (CT/CS) exposure for students with disabilities is through preparing special education teachers to do so. In this study, researchers explore exposing special education preservice teachers to the ideas of CT/CS in the context of a mathematics methods course for students with disabilities or those at risk of disability. Through analyzing lesson plans and reflections from 31 preservice special education teachers, the researchers learned that overall emerging promise exists with regard to the limited exposure of preservice special education teachers to CT/CS in mathematics. Specifically, preservice teachers demonstrated the ability to include CT/CS in math lesson plans and showed understanding of how CT/CS might enhance instruction with students with disabilities via reflections on these lessons. The researchers, however, also found a need for increased experiences and opportunities for preservice special education teachers with CT/CS to more positively impact access for students with disabilities.

A Systematic Review of Meta-Analyses in Special Education: Exploring the Evidence Base for High-Leverage Practices

2021 ◽  
pp. 074193252110634
Author(s):  
Gena Nelson ◽  
Sara Cothren Cook ◽  
Kary Zarate ◽  
Sarah R. Powell ◽  
Daniel M. Maggin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Special Education ◽  
Students With Disabilities ◽  
Special Education Teachers ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Evidence Based Practices ◽  
Intensive Instruction ◽  
Disability Categories ◽  
Meta Analyses

It is crucial that special education teachers are equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to improve outcomes for students with disabilities. Despite federal legislation and efforts of the field to identify and disseminate evidence-based practices for students with disabilities, it is uncertain whether all special education teachers provide instruction based on the best available research. To better prepare special education teachers, McLeskey et al. proposed 22 high-leverage practices (HLPs). We conducted this systematic review of meta-analyses to provide an initial investigation of the experimental evidence reporting on the effectiveness of the HLPs for students with, or at risk for, a disability. Results indicated the largest amount of evidence from meta-analyses related to intensive instruction, explicit instruction, and social skills, with few meta-analyses reporting on collaboration and assessment. The results highlighted disproportional evidence according to disability categories. Implications for future research, practice, and teacher education are discussed.

Special Education Teachers’ Perceptions of Students’ With Disabilities Ability, Instructional Needs, and Difficulties Using Visual Representations to Solve Mathematics Problems

2018 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 175-188
Author(s):  
Delinda van Garderen ◽  
Amy Scheuermann ◽  
Apryl L. Poch
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
Students With Disabilities ◽  
Special Education Teachers ◽  
Mathematical Problem ◽  
Visual Representations ◽  
Training And Development ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
Mathematics Problems ◽  
Perceptions Of Students ◽  
Instructional Needs

In this article, we present findings that examined special education teachers’ perception of students’ with disabilities ability, instructional needs, and difficulties for using visual representations (VRs) as a strategy to solve mathematics problems. In addition, whether these perceptions differed by instructional grade or setting currently teaching was examined. Survey data from 97 in-service teachers revealed, regardless of instructional setting or grade level taught, that they believe students with disabilities have the ability to learn about and use VRs and need to be taught to use VRs. Furthermore, the special education teachers perceived students with disabilities to have difficulty with all aspects related to using VRs in mathematical problem-solving. Implications for teacher training and development are provided.

From Caring to Cared For

2019 ◽  
pp. 102-117
Author(s):  
Lindsey A. Chapman ◽  
Chelsea T. Morris
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
Teacher Retention ◽  
Students With Disabilities ◽  
School Leadership ◽  
Working Conditions ◽  
Special Education Teachers ◽  
Special Educators ◽  
Positive Outcomes ◽  
Marginalized Populations ◽  
Practical Application

Special educators dedicate their careers to caring for one of the most vulnerable and historically marginalized populations of students despite often working in environments that do little to reciprocate this care. Amidst an ever-changing education landscape, special education teachers are becoming increasingly stressed, experiencing burnout at alarming rates, and far too frequently leaving the field altogether. In this chapter, caring school leadership is examined in the context of special education. The authors seek to bridge a theoretical stance with practical application to the field. Three necessary conditions for caring are discussed and specific “transactions of care” are recommended. The chapter concludes by upholding the idea that ensuring special educators feel cared for by school leaders has the potential to mitigate issues of poor working conditions, teacher retention, and consequently, promote positive outcomes for students with disabilities.

Supporting Service Dogs in the Classroom

2019 ◽  
Vol 55 (5) ◽  
pp. 313-318
Author(s):  
Julia J. Davidson ◽  
Therese M. Cumming ◽  
Iva Strnadová
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
Students With Disabilities ◽  
Special Education Teachers ◽  
Planning Process ◽  
Legal Responsibility ◽  
Background Information ◽  
Service Dogs ◽  
Service Dog ◽  
Support Students ◽  
The U.S

With the rising use of service dogs to support students with disabilities, it is important that teachers are knowledgeable about how they can be incorporated into their classroom. A recent ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court has highlighted the legal responsibility of schools to allow access to the service dogs of students. However, information focusing on the preparation of teachers for this possibility is lacking. This article provides both general and special education teachers with guidelines for including service dogs in their classroom. Background information regarding service dogs is included in addition to practical considerations concerning students, the classroom, the service dog, and planning process.

A Statewide Exploration of the Nature and Use of Curriculum in Special Education

1995 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 68-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deanna J. Sands ◽  
Lois Adams ◽  
Donna M. Stout
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
Students With Disabilities ◽  
Special Education Teachers ◽  
Grade Level ◽  
Life Skill ◽  
Beliefs And Practices ◽  
Service Delivery Models ◽  
Grade Levels ◽  
Compensatory Skills ◽  
Delivery Models

This study reports the results of a statewide survey of the beliefs and practices, regarding curriculum, of 341 elementary and secondary special education teachers serving students with a variety of disabilities. Findings indicate that (a) teacher training in curriculum development occurs mostly on the job; (b) teachers want training in teaching compensatory skills and life skills; (c) teachers believe that the IEP constitutes the curriculum for students with disabilities; (d) teacher judgment primarily guides the content of classroom instruction; (e) teachers focus principally on academic remediation versus life-skill or other instruction; (f) curriculum focus varies little across service-delivery models, but does vary by grade level; and (g) minimal articulation of curriculum exists across grade levels.

Improving Teaching Quality for Students With Disabilities: Establishing a Warrant for Teacher Education Practice

2019 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-44
Author(s):  
Mary T. Brownell ◽  
Nathan D. Jones ◽  
Hyojong Sohn ◽  
Kristabel Stark
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
Teacher Education ◽  
Students With Disabilities ◽  
Special Education Teachers ◽  
Teaching Quality ◽  
Special Education Teacher ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Education Practice ◽  
Teacher Workforce ◽  
Future Work

In the 2010 issue of Teacher Education and Special Education ( TESE), Sindelar and colleagues examined the current status of research on special education teachers and outlined future work necessary to improve the special education teacher workforce. In this article, the authors focus explicitly on Sindelar and colleagues’ charge to increase the quality of research on teacher education. They begin the article by conducting a literature review of all articles published in TESE from 2010 to 2019, examining papers focused on advancing theory, measurement, and practice in teacher education. They compare patterns in the research to the broader teacher education literature captured in seven special and teacher education journals. They conclude by discussing needs of the field going forward and provide some thoughts about how we might address those needs through a comprehensive research agenda—one that articulates a vision for how we might develop teaching quality at the intersection of general and special education.

What Are High-Leverage Practices for Special Education Teachers and Why Are They Important?

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (6) ◽  
pp. 331-337 ◽  
Author(s):  
James McLeskey ◽  
Bonnie Billingsley ◽  
Mary T. Brownell ◽  
Lawrence Maheady ◽  
Timothy J. Lewis
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
Teacher Preparation ◽  
Beginning Teachers ◽  
Students With Disabilities ◽  
Special Education Teachers ◽  
Core Curriculum ◽  
Special Education Teacher ◽  
Teacher Preparation Programs ◽  
Initial Attempt ◽  
Preparation Programs

Improving educational outcomes for students with disabilities and others who struggle in school largely depends on teachers who can deliver effective instruction. Although many effective practices have been identified to address the academic and behavioral needs of students who struggle in school, including those with disabilities, these practices are not used extensively in classrooms. This article provides a rationale for and description of major changes that are occurring in teacher preparation programs that are designed to improve the practice of beginning teachers. This is followed by a description of a set of high-leverage practices that was recently approved by the Council for Exceptional Children. These practices represent an initial attempt to delineate a core curriculum for special education teacher preparation to support the changes that are occurring in teacher education.

Visual Representation in Mathematics: Special Education Teachers’ Knowledge and Emphasis for Instruction

2016 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Delinda van Garderen ◽  
Amy Scheuermann ◽  
Apryl Poch ◽  
Mary M. Murray
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Problem Solving ◽  
Students With Disabilities ◽  
Research Design ◽  
Special Education Teachers ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Special Educators ◽  
Visual Representations ◽  
K 12

The use of visual representations (VRs) in mathematics is a strongly recommended practice in special education. Although recommended, little is known about special educators’ knowledge of and instructional emphasis about VRs. Therefore, in this study, the authors examined special educators’ own knowledge of and their instructional emphasis with VRs in mathematics for students with disabilities (SWDs) in Grades K-12. A total of 146 teachers (pre- and in-service) responded to an online survey. A mixed methods triangulation research design was utilized. Findings include the following: (a) teachers hold conceptions about VRs and the roles they serve in problem solving; their ideas, however, lack depth and are narrow in perspective; (b) what teachers emphasize about VRs to SWDs tends to match their own conceptions, but the explanations they provide for SWDs need expanding and refinement; and (c) given their narrow conceptions, VRs may be limited to a peripheral role in special educators’ instruction.

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