Author: Shelly S. Cullen
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Elementary school teachers
Languages : en
Pages : 74

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Book Description

Author: UNESCO
Publisher: UNESCO Publishing
ISBN: 9231002228
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 45

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Book Description

Author: Jacqueline Michelle Wood
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 125

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Book Description
Since the 1970s there has been a growing legislative focus, in the United States and abroad, on providing inclusive education for students with disabilities in the least restrictive environment alongside their typical peers. However, this shift in policy has not resulted in a comparable shift in practice. Key factors shown to influence the success of implementing inclusive educational practices are teachers' attitudes and beliefs. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between secondary special education teachers' attitudes toward the inclusion of students with disabilities and their sense of self-efficacy related to supporting students with disabilities included in the general education classroom. The mixed-methods design was grounded in the theories of planned behavior and self-efficacy. Quantitative data collection included a survey with questions regarding (a) demographic information and background of the teacher, (b) teachers' sense of self-efficacy regarding the inclusion of students with disabilities, and (c) teachers' attitudes toward the inclusion of students with disabilities. The qualitative portion of the design included individual interviews regarding teachers' perceptions of their own efficacy with and attitudes towards inclusive education and the relationship between these factors. Teacher participants included secondary special educators in a large suburban school district undergoing a shift in special education service delivery practices toward increasing the inclusion of students with disabilities in general education. The aim of this study was inform teacher training and professional development efforts. Among the key findings was the conclusion that the special education teachers in the district of study lacked a clear, shared understanding of inclusion as well as their roles and responsibilities in a more inclusive special education service delivery model. These special educators had an overall positive attitude toward the theory of inclusion, but held negative attitudes towards the actual practice of inclusion; specifically, teachers expressed a strong resistance to the elimination of self-contained special education classrooms. Similarly, special education teachers in this study reported high senses of self-efficacy for supporting students with disabilities overall, but had doubts about their abilities to apply these skills in the general education classroom. The results of this study will inform professional development efforts toward increasing the inclusion of students with disabilities, as well as areas of need for additional research. Limitations of the study, as well as implications for practice, are discussed.

Author: Destiny Pacha
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 154

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Book Description
This dissertation in practice addresses the continuous underperformance of students with disabilities (SWD) on standardized assessments when compared to their non-disabled peers. This dissertation on the complex problem of practice investigates secondary education teachers' perceptions of students with disabilities and their ability to be included in the general education classroom. The purpose of this research is to develop a professional development framework to enhance inclusive practices. Students with disabilities nationwide are increasingly taught in the general education classroom in order to provide them access to their least restrictive environment and instruction of the general education curriculum. The beliefs held by teachers about students with disabilities and their inclusion in the general education classroom is one key variable to the successful inclusion as measured by student outcomes. To provide necessary support, it is imperative to understand teachers' attitude towards students with disabilities and their inclusion in the general education classroom. Based on the survey results and relevant research, the professional development framework to enhance inclusive practices was developed and will focus on three elements: (a) school culture and understanding of inclusion, (b) effective inclusive teaching strategies, and (c) collaboration models and techniques. The goal of the professional development framework is for administrators and other school leaders to provide appropriate learning opportunities for teachers to enhance their understanding of inclusion and to provide them strategies and techniques to improve student outcomes in an effort to close the achievement gap between students with and without disabilities.

Author: Shera Parker
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : High school teachers
Languages : en
Pages : 186

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Book Description

Author: Charity L. Kinneer
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Inclusive education
Languages : en
Pages : 96

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Book Description
This study examined the attitudes of general education teachers and special education teacher of the inclusion classroom in the middle and high school levels. Using casual- comparative and survey methodology, the level of agreement or disagreement of these teachers’ attitudes towards the inclusive procedures was assessed in four areas: Planning, Classroom/School Environment, Collaboration/Team Partners, and Resources/Supports/Professional Development. The survey measured general education teachers and special education teachers in the middle and high school levels using a 19- item, five-point Likert scale. To address the research questions, an ANOVA was initially proposed. However, due to the low sample size of administrators and large sample size of participants having multiple positions, an independent sample t-test was proposed as an alternative. The independent sample t-test was then used to test for differences in attitude toward inclusion scores between general educators and special educators. The findings of the independent sample t-test were not statistically significant, t(58) = -0.05, p = .958, d = 0.02, indicating that there were not significant differences in attitude toward inclusion scores between general educators and special educators. General educators and special educators both had a mean score of 3.93 for attitude toward inclusion. The findings of the non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test were also not statistically significant, Z = -0.30, p = .765, further providing evidence of non-significant differences in attitude toward inclusion scores between general educators and special educators.

Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Dissertations, Academic
Languages : en
Pages :

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Author: Jennifer Ruhl Hull
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Educational tests and measurements
Languages : en
Pages : 256

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Book Description

Author: Robyn Eiken
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Children with disabilities
Languages : en
Pages : 38

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Book Description
With the implementation of IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) in 1975, educating students in the least restrictive environment has become common practice among schools. This leads to the inclusion of students with disabilities in the general education classroom. The following study evaluates the impact that inclusion has on general education teachers. 22 general education teachers were surveyed to determine how inclusion affects their attitude toward multiple variables, including stress level, planning time, enjoyment of teaching, and perceived value of students with special needs. The study found that the majority of teachers feel that students with disabilities are a valuable part of the classroom and are enjoyable to teach. The teachers feel that general education students learn better when students with disabilities are included in the classroom. However, having special needs students included in the classroom takes additional planning time and causes teachers to feel more stressed. Furthermore, the study compares the opinions of teachers with 1-10 years of teaching experience and teachers with 11 or more years of teaching experience. It is concluded that additional professional development opportunists and training should be given to general education teachers to help them successfully implement inclusion.

Author: Lynn Wogamon
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Inclusive education
Languages : en
Pages : 141

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Book Description
This correlational research study examined the relationships between secondary general education teachers' attitudes toward inclusion, hours of professional development in topics related to special education and hours of support from special education personnel addressing the needs of students with disabilities received weekly. The research also investigated whether this information could be used to predict secondary general education teachers' attitudes towards inclusion. General education teachers in six South Carolina high schools completed the Scale of Teacher Attitudes Toward Inclusive Classrooms (STATIC) and a demographic survey that asked about hours of professional development in special education topics and hours of support received weekly from special education personnel and administrators regarding students with disabilities. Correlational and regression analyses were conducted to determine the strength and direction of relationships, as well as the predictive nature of the data to determine secondary general education teachers' attitudes toward inclusion. Results indicated statistically significant positive correlations between variables, with a slightly stronger correlation when hours of professional development and hours of support were considered together. These findings suggest that additional training and support for teachers in inclusive classrooms may lead to more positive attitudes toward the concept of inclusion, ultimately improving learning outcomes for students with disabilities.