Date Approved
4-23-2007
Embargo Period
3-28-2016
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.A. in Learning Disabilities
Department
Interdisciplinary and Inclusive Education
College
College of Education
Advisor
Urban, Stanley
Subject(s)
Inclusive education--New Jersey; Reading readiness
Disciplines
Disability and Equity in Education
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine if inclusion of special education students impacted the rate of progress made within the kindergarten classroom. The Dynamic Indicators of Basic Literacy Skills (DIBELS) was used to measure progress. DIBELS is a set of standardized, individually administered measures of early literacy development that can identify children at risk for reading difficulties and monitor the effectiveness of remediation programs.
Kindergarten students from Harrison Township Elementary School were the participants of this study. The progress made by 22 students within a morning noninclusive class was compared to the progress made by 18 students within an afternoon inclusion class. Four students in the PM hold a special education classification.
Both kindergarten classes were administered two sub-tests from DIBELS in September and January. Letter Naming Fluency (LNF) measures a child's ability to name randomly presented upper and lower case letters in one minute. Initial Sound Fluency (ISF) measures a child's ability to produce the initial sound in an orally presented word.
A comparison of the achievement on the DIBELS between the two groups was conducted. The mean score of the AM group and the PM group was compared using an independent samples t test to determine if significant differences existed. The results of the study showed that there was no significant difference between the two groups on the variables examined as measured by DIBELS. The research findings led to the conclusion that the inclusion of special education students did not have a negative impact on the rate of progress made within the kindergarten classroom.
Recommended Citation
DeAngelo, Tracy, "An exploratory study of rates of progress in early reading skills in an inclusive classroom as measured by DIBELS indicators" (2007). Theses and Dissertations. 788.
https://rdw.rowan.edu/etd/788
