Jenny MizrahiEducation 7202

Fall 2010

Creating a Better Classroom

Environment for Students with Learning

Disabilities

Table of ContentsIntroduction

– Statement of the Problem, Literature Review, & Statement of Hypothesis

Methods– Participants, Instruments,

Experimental Design, Internal & External Validity, Procedure

ResultsDiscussionImplicationsReferences

Statement of the Problem

When considering the fact that not all children learn the same way and at the same pace, teachers need to find a good teaching method for their class in which include students with learning disabilities. Educators today are trying to find successful ways to teach students with learning disabilities. But is there a “best” approach when teaching learning disabled students? Can technology really help learning disabled students improve in school?

Literature Review

Creating a comfortable and positive classroom environment for LD students (Berry, 2006; Westby, 1997; Klotz 2004; Regan, 2009; Wormeli, 2003; Bergin & Bergin, 2009)

Improving teachers’ and students’ perceptions about LD students in the mainstream classroom (Klotz, 2004; Bear, Minke, Griffin, & Deemer, 1998; Begeny, Eckert, Montarello, & Storie, 2008)

Literature Review (con’t)

Changing LD students’ perceptions about themselves and their academic achievement (Myles & Simpson, 2001; Beltempo & Achille, 1990; Kern, Hilt-Panahon, & Sokol, 2009)

Theorist and practitioner who affected education system today– John Dewey (Westbrook, 1993)– Maria Montessori (Brehony, 2000)

Literature Review(con’t)

Integrating technology in the classroom and at home (Berninger, Abbott, Augsburger, & Garcia, 2009; Jeffs, Behrmann, & Bannan-Ritland, 2006; Miller, Fitzgerald, Koury, Mitchem, & Hollingsead, 2007; van Daal, & van der Leij, 1992; Smith, n.d.; Frengut, 2004)Assistive Technology tools (Jeffs, et. al., 2006)KidTools (Miller, et. al., 2007)

Literature Review(con’t)

Integrating the use of different verbal communications between peers and teachers

(Berry, 2006; Charlton, Williams, & McLaughlin, 2005; Cihak, Kirk, & Boon, 2009; Kugelmass, 1995; Scala, 1993)

Whole-Class Lessons (Berry, 2006)Educational Games: i.e. word puzzles, card games, board games (Charlton, 2005)

Literature Review(con’t)

Positive Peer “Tootling”: students tattle-tale positive behaviors of their peers instead of reporting on negative behaviors (Cihak, et. al., 2009)Foxfire approach (Kugelmass, 1995)

Statement of Hypothesis

HR1: Using technology (i.e. computers, internet, etc.) in a third-grade classroom of 16 LD and EBD students at P.S. X in Brooklyn, NY over a five-week period, twice a week for 30 minutes a day will improve their literacy skills.

MethodParticipants (N): Sixteen third-graders at P.S. X in Brooklyn, New York will participate in this study. The participants will include eight boys and eight girls. The participants included have a learning disability and/or an emotional and/or behavioral disorder

Method (con’t)Instruments: Consent forms for the principal (appendix A) and parents/guardian (appendix B). Demographic/frequency surveys for parents (appendix C) and participants(appendix D). The treatment given to participants(appendix E). Questionnaires given to participants (appendix F).

Method (con’t)Experimental Design:

–Pre-experimental Design: One-shot case study

–Not randomly assigned single group

–Symbolic Design: XO

Method (con’t)Threats to Internal Validity:– History; Testing/Pre-test

Sensitization; Instrumentation; Selection-Maturation Interaction

Threats to External Validity:– Ecological validity; Pretest-

treatment; Selection-treatment interaction; Experimenter effects; Hawthorne effect; Novelty effect

Method (con’t)Procedure:–Principal consent form (Oct.

2010) Parent consent form (Oct. 2010) Parent & Student demographic/ frequency survey (Oct. 2010)

Treatment (end Oct. 2010-mid Nov. 2010) Student questionnaire (end Nov. 2010)

Results

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Results (con’t)

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DiscussionTechniques to make LD students feel more comfortable in the classroom (Klotz, 2004; Berry, 2006; Westby, 1997; Regan, 2009; Wormeli, 2003).Using technology in the classroom (Smith, n.d.; Frengut, 2004; Miller et al, 2007; Jeffs et al, 2006; Berninger, et al, 2009; van Daal & van der Leij, 1992).Verbal communication between peers and teachers (Kugelmass, 1995; Charlton et al, 2005; Cihak, Kirk, & Boon, 2009; Scala, 1993; Berry, 2006).

Discussion(con’t)Conducted research based on problem

and hypothesis: can technology help improve the literacy skills of 16 third-grade students with learning disabilities at PS X in Brooklyn, NY?Results show they improved when typing and handwriting the second time but improved better when handwriting versus typing.Computers were a great motivational tool for the students to improve in the writing skills.

ImplicationsContinue doing research to see the effect on LD students’ literacy skillsCan other and newer technology improve literacy skills, too?Research could have been longerResearch could have included two groups (LD & LD or LD & non-LD) instead of one group

ReferencesBear, G. G., Minke, K. M., Griffins, S. M., & Deemer, S. A. (1998). Achievement-Related Perceptions of Children with Learning Disabilities and Normal Achievement: Group and Developmental Differences. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 31(1), 91-104.Begeny, J. C., Eckert, T. L., Montarello, S. A., & Storie, M. S. (2008). Teachers’ Perceptions of Students’ Reading Abilities: An Examination of the Relationship Between Teachers’ Judgments and Students’ Performance Across a Continuum of Rating Methods. School Psychology Quarterly, 23(1), 43-55.Beltempo, J., & Achille, P. A. (1990). The Effect of Special Class Placement on the Self-Concept of Children with Learning Disabilities. Child Study Journal, 20(2), 81-103.Bergin, C., & Bergin, D. (2009, June 30). Relationships Improve Student Success. Education Psychology Review. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090630132009.htm

References(con’t)Berninger, V. W., Abbott, R. D., Augsburger, A.,

Garcia, N. (2009). Comparison of Pen and Keyboard Transcription Modes in Children With and Without Learning Disabilities. Learning Disability Quarterly, 32(3), 123-141.Berry, R. A. W. (2006). Teacher Talk During Whole-Class Lessons: Engagement Strategies to Support the Verbal Participation of Students with Learning Disabilities. Learning Disabilities Research and Practice, 21(4), 211-232.Brehony, K. J. (2000). Montessori, Individual Work and Individuality in the Elementary School Classroom. History of Education, 29(2), 115-128.Charlton, B, Williams, R. L., McLaughlin, T. F. (2005). Educational Games: A Technique to Accelerate the Acquisition of Reading Skills of Children with Learning Disabilities. International Journal of Special Education, 20(2), 66-72.

References(con’t)Cihak, D. F., Kirk, E. R., Boon, R. T. (2009). Effects

of Classwide Positive Peer “Tootling” to Reduce Disruptive Classroom Behaviors of Elementary Students with and without Disabilities. Journal of Behavioral Education, 18(4), 267-278.Frengut, R. (2003). Social Acceptance of Students with Learning Disabilities. Retrieved from http://ldaamerica.org/aboutld/teachers/social_emotional/socialacceptance.aspJeffs, T., Behrmann, M., Bannan-Ritland, B. (2006). Assistive Technology and Literacy Learning: Reflections of Parents and Children. Journal of Special Education Technology, 21(1), 37-44.Kaderavek, J. N., & Justice, L. (2000). Children with LD as Emergent Readers: Bridging the Gap to Conventional Reading. Intervention in School and Clinic, 36(2), 82-93.

References(con’t)Kern, L., Hilt-Panahon, A., & Sokol, N. G. (2009).

Further Examining the Triangle Tip: Improving Support for Students with Emotional and Behavioral Needs. Psychology in the Schools, 46(1), 18-32.Klotz, M. B. (2004, February). Help Kids Welcome Disabled Students. The Education Digest, 69(6), 41-42.Kugelmass, J. W. (1995). Educating Children with Learning Disabilities in Foxfire Classrooms. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 28(9), 545-553.Miller, K. J., Fitzgerald, G. E., Koury, K. A., Mitchem, H. J., Hollingsead, C. (2007). KidTools: Self-Management, Problem-Solving, Organizational, and Planning Software for Children and Teachers. Intervention in School and Clinic, 43(1), 12-19.

References(con’t)Myles, B. S., & Simpson, R. L. (1990).

Mainstreaming Modification Preferences of Parents of Elementary-Age Children with Learning Disabilities. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 23(4), 234-239.Regan, K. S. (2009). Improving The Way We Think About Students With Emotional and/or Behavioral Disorders. Teaching Exceptional Children, 41(5), 60-65.Sanacore, J. (1999). Encouraging Children to Make Choices About Their Literacy Learning. Intervention in School and Clinic, 35(1), 38-42.Scala, M. A. (1993). What Whole Language in the Mainstream Means for Children with Learning Disabilities. Reading Teacher, 47(3), 222-229.Smith, M. (n.d.) Strategies That Work. Retrieved from http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=60&print=1

References(con’t)van Daal, V. H. P., van der Leij, A. (1992).

Computer-Based Reading and Spelling Practice for Children with Learning Disabilities. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 25(3), 186-195.Westbrook, R. B. (1993). John Dewey. Prospects: The Quarterly Review of Comparative Education, 23(1/2), 277-291.Westby, C. (1997). There’s More To Passing than Knowing the Answers. Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in School, 28(3), 274-287.Wormeli, R. (2003). Differentiating Instruction: A Modified Concerto in Four Movements. Retrieved from http://www.ldonline.org/article/Differentiating_Instruction:_A_Modified_Concerto_in_Four_Movements