Teachers' Perspectives on Literacy Instruction for Students with Severe Disabilities Who Use Augmentative and Alternative Communication

2011 ◽  
Vol 36 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 100-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea L. Ruppar ◽  
Stacy K. Dymond ◽  
Janet S. Gaffney
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
General Education ◽  
Literacy Instruction ◽  
Augmentative And Alternative Communication ◽  
Severe Disabilities ◽  
Literacy Skills ◽  
Alternative Communication ◽  
General Education Curriculum ◽  
Students With Severe Disabilities ◽  
Teachers Perspectives

The purpose of this study was to investigate teachers' perspectives on the appropriate skills and settings for literacy instruction, the factors influencing their decisions about literacy instruction, and the barriers to literacy instruction in general education classrooms. A sample of special education teachers (n = 69) of students taking the Illinois Alternate Assessment were surveyed, and results were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results indicate that teachers prefer to provide life-skills-linked literacy instruction in special education classrooms and consider student characteristics and features of the general education curriculum when making these decisions. Also, the setting had a significant effect on teachers' rankings of preferred literacy skills to teach. Teachers may not understand how to adapt literacy content or how access to literacy instruction in a variety of contexts may benefit their students with severe disabilities.

Implementing Comprehensive Literacy Instruction for Students With Severe Disabilities in General Education Classrooms

2019 ◽  
Vol 86 (3) ◽  
pp. 330-347
Author(s):  
Pam Hunt ◽  
Elizabeth Kozleski ◽  
Jaehoon Lee ◽  
Kathleen Mortier ◽  
Danielle Fleming ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
General Education ◽  
Early Literacy ◽  
Emergent Literacy ◽  
Literacy Instruction ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Severe Disabilities ◽  
Literacy Skills ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Students With Severe Disabilities ◽  
General Education Classrooms

The purpose of this conceptual replication study was to investigate the efficacy of an early literacy intervention when it was implemented by special educators in general education classrooms with students in the class participating in the lessons. The study was conducted in 16 schools in three states. Eighty students with severe disabilities participated in the study. Students in the intervention group received Early Literacy Skills Builder (ELSB) instruction, and students in the “business-as-usual” control group received literacy instruction planned by special education teachers to address the students’ individualized education program literacy goals. Literacy assessments were conducted in five waves scheduled across the school year. Results showed that students receiving ELSB instruction made greater gains in assessed literacy skills than students in the control group. These findings provide evidence that students with severe disabilities can benefit from comprehensive emergent literacy instruction when it is implemented in general education settings.

Comparing Instructional Contexts of Students with and without Severe Disabilities in General Education Classrooms

1998 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
pp. 343-358 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kent R. Logan ◽  
D. Michael Malone
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
General Education ◽  
Elementary Classrooms ◽  
Severe Disabilities ◽  
Group Instruction ◽  
Education Students ◽  
General Education Students ◽  
Instructional Supports ◽  
Instructional Contexts ◽  
Students With Severe Disabilities

This study compared the instructional contexts of 15 students with severe disabilities who were educated in general education elementary classrooms, and 15 general education students in those same classrooms. Results suggest that (a) different instructional contexts existed for students with severe disabilities; (b) more individualized instructional supports were provided for the students with severe disabilities, including one-to-one instruction, small group instruction provided by special education staff, physical and gestural prompting, and teacher focus on the student with severe disabilities; (c) most of the more individualized supports were provided by special education staff. Implications for supporting students with severe disabilities in general education elementary classrooms are discussed.

Addressing the General Education Curriculum in General Education Settings with Students with Severe Disabilities

2017 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 155-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah L. Ballard ◽  
Stacy K. Dymond
Keyword(s):  
Data Analysis ◽  
General Education ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Social Inclusion ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Severe Disabilities ◽  
Education Curriculum ◽  
General Education Curriculum ◽  
Students With Severe Disabilities ◽  
General Education Classrooms

This systematic literature review examined research on stakeholders’ beliefs about addressing the general education curriculum in general education classrooms with students with severe disabilities (SD). The investigation was limited to studies published in peer-reviewed journals between 1997 and 2015. Ten articles were identified and then analyzed using an inductive coding approach and thematic analysis. Secondary data analysis revealed four major themes centered on (a) method of access, (b) type of curriculum, (c) barriers/concerns, and (d) benefits. Overall, stakeholders were found to perceive social inclusion as more important than involvement and progress in the general education curriculum for students with SD. Stakeholders also perceived numerous challenges around facilitating access to the general education curriculum in general education classrooms.

Literacy Instruction in General Education Settings: A Call to Action

2019 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 135-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samantha Gross Toews ◽  
Jennifer A. Kurth
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
General Education ◽  
Inclusive Education ◽  
Literacy Instruction ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Call To Action ◽  
School Settings ◽  
General Education Curriculum ◽  
Instruction Strategies ◽  
Material Preparation

While legislation and research have promoted inclusive education and the importance of literacy instruction for students with extensive support needs, the majority of literacy instruction research continues to occur in separate self-contained special education settings. This article is a call to action to the educational research community to elicit research on literacy instruction strategies, including collaborative planning, teaching, and material preparation related to grade-level general education curriculum in general education school settings. Findings from current research on literacy instruction in separate special education and general education settings are presented. Suggestions for future research and action are discussed.

Applying Functional Assessment in General Education Classrooms

1998 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 338-349 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pamela J. Larson ◽  
John W. Maag
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
General Education ◽  
Functional Assessment ◽  
Environmental Variables ◽  
Severe Disabilities ◽  
Mild Disabilities ◽  
The Future ◽  
Students With Severe Disabilities ◽  
General Education Classrooms ◽  
Theoretical Foundations

Functional assessment involves generating hypotheses about the purpose a behavior serves and the environmental variables maintaining it in order to develop effective and efficient interventions. Functional assessment has been used extensively with students with severe disabilities in special education settings. However, few applications of functional assessment have been reported with students with mild disabilities in general education classrooms. The purpose of this article is to address the use of functional assessment in general education classrooms with students with mild disabilities. We present the theoretical foundations of functional assessment, describe the procedures involved in conducting a functional assessment, discuss some of the obstacles to applying functional assessment in general education classrooms, and make recommendations for the future use of functional assessment in general education classrooms with students with mild disabilities.

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