Using the VA Framework to Teach Algebra to Middle School Students With High-Incidence Disabilities

2021 ◽  
pp. 016264342110193
Author(s):  
Erin K. Bone ◽  
Emily C. Bouck ◽  
John P. Smith

Algebra is considered by many to be a gateway to higher-level mathematics and eventual economic success yet students with and without disabilities often struggle to develop algebra skills. This study builds on the limited understanding of how virtual manipulatives support students with disabilities in the area of algebra by investigating their use within the virtual-abstract (VA) framework. Using a multiple probe across behaviors, replicated across participant design, researchers found a functional relation between the VA framework and student algebraic learning. Mathematical behaviors based on grade-level curriculum included: one-step equations with positive and negative numbers, two-step equations with positive numbers, and two-step equations with positive and negative numbers. All three seventh-grade students with high-incidence disabilities improved their performance on each of the three algebra behaviors during intervention, and all participants maintained their accuracy after intervention, as compared to baseline to maintenance. Detailed results and their implications for practice are discussed further.

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 253-268 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily C. Bouck ◽  
Jiyoon Park ◽  
Rajiv Satsangi ◽  
Katie Cwiakala ◽  
Kennedy Levy

Although often considered a more advanced area of mathematics, principles of algebra are taught throughout different mathematical concepts, and algebra is often considered gateway mathematical knowledge for more advanced mathematical concepts. For this reason, attention is needed toward making algebraic instruction more accessible to all types of learners, including students with disabilities who often struggle learning mathematics. Using a multiple probe across behaviors replicated across participants single-case design, this study examined whether an intervention sequence consisting of a virtual manipulative and then abstract (i.e., numerical strategies) instruction could support the acquisition of three algebraic behaviors (i.e., one-step division, two-step addition, two-step subtraction, and/or three-step addition) for four middle school students with disabilities. All four students acquired each of the linear algebra behaviors but struggled to maintain their learning once instruction was not provided prior to performance. These findings and their implications are discussed further.


2018 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 166-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debra G. Holzberg ◽  
David W. Test ◽  
Dana E. Rusher

For students with high-incidence disabilities, the transition from secondary to postsecondary educational settings poses the additional challenge of acquiring accommodations. Self-advocacy interventions have been identified as important skills for students with disabilities in accessing accommodations. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of Self-Advocacy and Conflict Resolution (SACR) instruction on the ability of four high school seniors with mild disabilities to request and negotiate academic accommodations. Results of this multiple probe across participant study indicated a functional relation between SACR instruction and students’ ability to request and negotiate academic accommodations in a role-play situation and in situ. Implications for practice and suggestions for future research are offered.


Author(s):  
Samantha A. Gesel ◽  
Lindsay Foreman-Murray ◽  
Allison F. Gilmour

Students with disabilities are served by both special and general educators, yet teachers often feel unprepared to meet the needs of these students in their classrooms. Using data from a nationally representative survey, we examined the sufficiency of teachers’ access to supports available for meeting the needs of students with high-incidence disabilities, their access to development opportunities, and the sources teachers used to access interventions. We explored differences in teachers’ experiences by grade band, service delivery model, and teacher preparation model. We found teachers of students with disabilities rated the sufficiency of access to supports between somewhat insufficient and somewhat sufficient, with the lowest ratings for planning/release time and training and information. Teachers reported greater rates of access to collaboration than professional development. Colleagues were sources for resources related to academic interventions and administrators were sources for nonacademic intervention resources. There were few significant differences in these results by teacher characteristics.


Author(s):  
Jenny Root ◽  
Alicia Saunders ◽  
Fred Spooner ◽  
Chelsi Brosh

The ability to solve mathematical problems related to purchasing and personal finance is important in promoting skill generalization and increasing independence for individuals with moderate intellectual disabilities (IDs). Using a multiple probe across participant design, this study investigated the effects of modified schema-based instruction (MSBI) on personal finance problem solving skills, purchasing an item on sale or leaving a tip, and using a calculator or iDevice (i.e., iPhone or iPad) for three middle school students diagnosed with a moderate ID. The results showed a functional relation between MSBI using a calculator on the participant’s ability to solve addition and subtraction personal finance word problems and generalize to iDevices. The findings of this study provide several implications for practice and offer suggestions for future research.


2019 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 146-156
Author(s):  
Nancy J. Lopez ◽  
Nicole M. Uphold ◽  
Karen H. Douglas ◽  
Shaqwana Freeman-Green

One factor that may contribute to the success of students with disabilities in postsecondary educational settings may be their ability to advocate for academic accommodations. By incorporating self-determination practices into the curriculum and transition process during high school, students with disabilities may acquire the self-advocacy skills for postsecondary settings. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a modified Self-Advocacy and Conflict Resolution (mSACR) training program on the ability of five high school students with high-incidence disabilities to request academic accommodations in a high school general education course. A multiple-probe-across-participants design was employed to evaluate the effects of the intervention on 14 targeted behaviors. Results indicated a functional relation between the mSACR and the ability of students to request accommodations. Findings from this study are discussed along with limitations, suggestions for future research, and implications for educational practice.


2019 ◽  
pp. 073194871988734
Author(s):  
Kaitlin Bundock ◽  
Leanne S. Hawken ◽  
Sharlene A. Kiuhara ◽  
Breda V. O’Keeffe ◽  
Robert E. O’Neill ◽  
...  

Implementing an integrated sequence of concrete-representational-abstract depictions of mathematics concepts (CRA-I) can improve the mathematics achievement of students with disabilities, and explicit instructional strategies involving problem-solving heuristics and student verbalizations can help facilitate students’ conceptual understanding of mathematics. Combining CRA-I and explicit instructional strategies may increase students’ conceptual understanding and ability to express mathematical reasoning through writing. This study included three ninth-grade students with disabilities, and employed a multiple-probe design across-participants to investigate a functional relation between an explicit instructional strategy within a CRA-I framework and high school students’ with disabilities proficiency in solving rate of change problems. Results showed that all three students improved their mathematics scores (combined Tau-U effect size = 0.77, p < .001) and maintained improvements during a 1- to 7-week post-instruction phase. Implications for research and practice related to mathematics instruction and intervention specifically for students with learning disabilities are discussed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 195-207
Author(s):  
Emily C. Bouck ◽  
Jordan Shurr ◽  
Jiyoon Park

Mathematics instruction for students with intellectual disabilities and autism is important. However, it is imperative for researchers and practitioners to focus on the maintenance of mathematical concepts and not just acquisition for these students. Through a single-case multiple probe across participants study, researchers explored an intervention package consisting of a manipulative-based instructional sequence involving virtual manipulatives and then representations (i.e., drawings; referred to as the virtual-representational instructional sequence), explicit instruction, the system of least prompts, overlearning, and support fading to support students with intellectual disability and autism to acquire and maintain multiplication or division skills. The three middle school students who completed the entire intervention acquired and maintained their targeted mathematics skill—in multiplication or division. The results have implications for use of intervention packages to teach foundational mathematics skills to students with developmental disabilities.


2018 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica H. Milton ◽  
Margaret M. Flores ◽  
Alexcia J. Moore ◽  
Ja’Lia J. Taylor ◽  
Megan E. Burton

To meet increasingly complex mathematics standards in late elementary school, students must conceptually understand and be fluent in the operations of multiplication and division. This includes understanding the operations’ inverse relation. The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of alternating concrete–representational–abstract (CRA) multiplication and division instruction on students’ mastery of unknown facts and on their conceptual understanding. Fourth through sixth-grade students with learning disabilities who had failed to master all multiplication facts participated in the study. The researchers used a mixed method design, measuring accuracy and fluency of facts with a multiple probe across students design and qualitative methods to capture changes in students’ explanations of their computation. The researchers demonstrated a functional relation between CRA instruction and accuracy and fluency in multiplication and division. Qualitative results indicated differences in students’ understanding of the operations. Implications of the results will be discussed further.


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