Academic responding during instruction and reading outcomes for kindergarten students at-risk for reading difficulties

The purpose of this study was to investigate the academic responding of students at-risk for reading difficulties in beginning reading instruction. Opportunities for kindergarten students at-risk for reading difficulties to respond academically during teacher-facilitated reading instruction in the general education classroom were examined in relation to student reading achievement as well as social behaviors. Student academic responding during teacher-facilitated instruction significantly predicted end of year reading achievement. Teacher perceptions of students’ social skills (positive correlation) and problem behaviors (negative correlation) were significantly correlated with academic responding. When academic responding and teacher perceptions of social behaviors were examined together, only teacher perceptions of academic competence and problem behaviors predicted spring outcomes.     

Mathematics assessment scenarios for at-risk students

In this paper, we describe the work by a team of university and public school mathematics educators to design mathematics assessment tasks that are effective for students who have been identified at risk in mathematics, through their failure on a state mathematics assessment. We have developed assessment tasks that have the very best chance to elicit the most mathematical knowledge possible, but are closely tied to the school curriculum and practical enough to be administered by classroom teachers. We offer some perspectives on the need for alternative mathematics assessment for at-risk students, along with the dangers inherent in this undertaking. Some practical design considerations are discussed and examples of student responses to a mathematics assessment scenario are given. Finally, policy issues related to authentic assessment are discussed.     

Effects of SRSD college entrance essay exam instruction for high school students with disabilities or at-risk for writing difficulties

Reading and Writing - Strategies instruction has improved the writing of high school struggling writers in previous studies, including students with disabilities. This study examined the...     

Benefits of multisensory structured language instruction for at-risk foreign language learners: A comparison study of high school Spanish students

In this study, the benefits of multisensory structured language (MSL) instruction in Spanish were examined. Participants were students in high-school-level Spanish attending girls’ preparatory schools. Of the 55 participants, 39 qualified as at-risk for foreign language learning difficulties and 16 were deemed not-at-risk. The at-risk students were assigned to one of three conditions: (1) MSL—multisensory Spanish instruction in self-contained classrooms (n=14); (2) SC—traditional Spanish instruction provided in self-contained classrooms (n=11); and (3) NSC—traditional Spanish instruction in regular (not self-contained) Spanish classes (n=14). Not-at-risk students (n=16) received traditional Spanish instruction in regular classes similar to the instruction provided to the NSC group. All three at-risk groups made significant gains over time on some native language skills regardless of teaching method. The MSL group also made significant gains on a foreign language aptitude measure. The MSL group and the not-at-risk group made greater gains than the two other at-risk groups on foreign language aptitude and native language measures of reading comprehension, word recognition, and pseudoword reading. Although most at-risk learners achieved an “expected” level of foreign language proficiency after two years of instruction, significant group differences were found. On measures of oral and written foreign language proficiency, the MSL and not-at-risk groups scored significantly higher than the at-risk groups instructed using traditional methods. After two years of Spanish instruction, no differences in foreign language proficiency were found between the MSL group and the not-at-risk group.     

Self-determination knowledge instruction and incarcerated students

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the self-determination knowledge of incarcerated students with and without disabilities using a pretest/posttest experimental control group design. In contrast to previous studies conducted in the public school setting, a significant relationship between self-determination knowledge and self-determination instruction was not found. Possible reasons for the lack of significance include the restrictive nature of the juvenile justice setting and the need for positive self-determined role models within the juvenile justice setting. Students’ self-determination knowledge was also examined in relationship to self-determination knowledge instruction and to students’ gender, reading level, math level and disability. A significant relationship was found between self-determination knowledge and gender, reading level, math level and disability status (i.e. being identified as having any disability). Students who were male, had an identified disability, and/or had low academic abilities in math and/or reading had lower self-determination knowledge levels.     

Individualized help for at-risk students using model-agnostic and counterfactual explanations

Education and Information Technologies - Although using machine learning for predicting which students are at risk of failing a course is indeed valuable, how can we identify which characteristics...     

Longitudinal outcome differences among promoted and transitional at-risk kindergarten students

This study investigates the outcomes from a transitional first-grade school readiness program (SRP). SRP-placed and nonplaced SRP-recommended students advanced directly into first-grade samples were equated on sex, chronological age at entrance to kindergarten, Gesell School Readiness Test scores, and a developmental delay statistic. The role of teacher-rated student social, problematic, behavioral, motivation, success, self-esteem, classroom participation, and engagement domains, as well as selected demographic background variables, were examined along with standardized achievement outcomes. Referral and placement rate profiles support educational services of special education, remedial reading, Chapter 1, social skills, and counseling services across the two samples. Parent surveys examined the role of parental level of education, attitudes, and other contextual factors. Controlled analyses note nonsignificant academic outcome differences between SRP-placed and controlled nonplaced samples. Students recommended for SRP placement yet not placed did not exhibit significant second-grade differences compared with the year-older SRP-placed students across achievement, related services, parental factors, or teacher rating outcomes.     

The effects of computer-assisted instruction on number combination skill in at-risk first graders

The purpose of this pilot study was to assess the potential for computer-assisted instruction (CAI) to enhance number combination skill among children with concurrent risk for math disability and reading disability. A secondary purpose was to examine the effects of CAI on spelling. At-risk students were assigned randomly to math or spelling CAI, which they received in 50 sessions over 18 weeks. Acquisition and transfer effects were assessed. The results indicated that math CAI was effective in promoting addition but not subtraction number combination skill and that transfer to arithmetic story problems did not occur. Spelling CAI effects were reliable on acquisition and transfer spelling measures, with small to moderate effect sizes on transfer to reading measures. These results provide the basis for additional work with larger samples.     

Modeling the response of normally achieving and at-risk first grade children to word reading instruction

The purpose of this study was to identify important subject characteristics that predicted individual differences in responsiveness to word reading instruction in normally achieving and at-risk first grade children. This was accomplished by modeling individual word and nonword reading growth, and the correlates of change in these skills, in first grade students during two different phases of the school year. In the first phase of the study (October–January), word and nonword reading skill was modeled in normally achieving and at-risk children. Results of growth modeling indicated significant group differences in word and nonword reading growth parameters. A combination of phonemic awareness skill, advanced graphophoneme knowledge, and initial word/nonword reading skill predicted word and nonword reading growth in the control group, whereas, a combination of rapid naming speed, letter sound knowledge, and phonemic awareness skill predicted word and nonword reading growth in the at-risk group. In the second phase of the study (January–April), a subgroup of the at-risk subjects who exhibited limited growth in word reading skills during the first phase of the study was enrolled in 12 weeks of small group reading intervention designed to improve reading skills. Results of growth modeling indicated significant increases in word and nonword reading growth rates in this group during the intervention phase. Only rapid naming speed uniquely predicted word and nonword reading growth in the group of subjects receiving intervention.     

Mentoring at-risk middle school students to reduce communication apprehension

Research has demonstrated the efficacy of mentoring at-risk students in a number of fields from physical education to math and science. While separate research has found that many at-risk students lack effective communication skills, little research has explored the potential of communication mentoring in improving at-risk students’ communication efficacy. In our study, we examined the effectiveness of communication majors in a senior capstone course mentoring at-risk middle school students. Mentors were assigned a protégé and were required to design a curriculum targeting specific communication apprehension concerns identified in each student and implement the curriculum over a 10-week period. Analysis of self-reported communication apprehension scores showed at-risk students prior to mentoring reported higher than average levels of communication apprehension. After mentoring, they reported statistically significantly lower levels of communication apprehension. The implications for mentoring, at-risk students, and improved middle school communication education are considered.     

Adapting instruction to individual difference among students

This article discusses some of the problems in research on aptitude treatment interactions (ATIs). Among these are the inconsistency and lack of generality in many ATI findings, especially in classroom based ATI investigations. It is suggested that such investigations may well be of limited generality due to the nature of the phenomena. Careful classification of aptitude and treatment variables between individual differences in prior achievement and instructional method avoids some of the problems of other approaches, including examining interactions between cognitive processes and instructional method. Suggestions for further ATI research are made.     

Designing assessment procedures for educationally at-risk Southeast Asian-American students.

This article discusses unique conditions of educational risk in the Southeast Asian-American student population. It points out the need to help traumatized refugee students deal with emotional difficulties before they can benefit from instruction. It includes a framework for assessing Southeast Asian-American students in which a shift in current assessment goals and practices is proposed. The article also addresses the issue of identifying skills previously developed in a different environment and explores an approach to help refugee children make the transition into the academic context.     

The longitudinal influences of computer-intensive learning experiences on at-risk elementary students

This evaluation study examined the school achievement and adjustment by at-risk students one year following their participation as fifth and sixth graders in computer-intensive classrooms using the Apple Classrooms of Tomorrow (ACOT) program. Comparisons between the former ACOT subjects and a matched control group who had attended the same elementary school were made on attitudes toward school, teacher evaluations, grades, computer skills, and standardized test scores. Results showed some advantages for the ACOT students in the seventh grade, but on most measures they were indistinguishable from the control group. Specifically, both groups appeared to remain at risk based on their poor performance and relatively poor adjustment. A key factor in interpreting outcomes for the ACOT group was the limited availability of computers in the seventh grade, which thus restricted their opportunities to apply or transfer the skills they had learned. This research was supported by a grant from Apple Classrooms of Tomorrow, Apple Computer, Inc.     

加强高职生职业指导工作的探讨

加强职业指导工作是适应全面建设小康社会和学生就业的需要。高职院校要做好职业指导工作必须强化创业教育,帮助学生树立创业意识,提高学生的就业技巧和就业能力;科学规范有序地进行职业指导,开展职业模拟教学,建立职业指导基地,做好就业安置工作,狠抓专业技能训练以及注重学生的个体特征。