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Biomedical subjects

J S Schumm

Publications and source records attributed to J S Schumm.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

The effects of inclusion on the social functioning of students with learning disabilities.

The purpose of this study was to provide data on the social functioning (i.e., the degree of peer acceptance, self-concept, loneliness, and social alienation) of students in second, third, and fourth grade who participated in an inclusive classroom for an entire year. The social functioning of students identified as learning disabled (LD; n = 16), low achieving (LA; n = 27), and average/high achieving (AHA; n = 21) was assessed at the beginning and end of the school year. The students with LD were less well liked and more frequently rejected than AHA students. Although students' overall self-worth did not differ by achievement group, the students with LD demonstrated significantly lower academic self-concept scores. The students with LD did not differ on ratings of loneliness, and they demonstrated increases in the number of within-class reciprocal friendships from fall to spring. Discussion focuses on the effects of inclusion on the social functioning of students with LD.

Adolescent↗

Responsible inclusion for students with learning disabilities.

The purpose of this article is to contrast responsible with irresponsible inclusion practices for students with learning disabilities. Guidelines for responsible inclusion are that the student and family are considered first, teachers choose to participate in inclusion classrooms, adequate resources are provided for inclusion classrooms, models are developed and implemented at the school-based level, a continuum of services is maintained, the service delivery model is evaluated continuously, and ongoing professional development is provided.

Humans↗

Which motoric condition is most effective for teaching spelling to students with and without learning disabilities?

The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of three motoric conditions (writing, tracing, and computer keyboarding) on the spelling performance of 24 third- and fourth-grade students without learning disabilities (NLD) (15 males, 9 females) and 24 third- and fourth-grade students with learning disabilities (LD) (16 males, 8 females). This study applied empirically based procedures for teaching spelling, examined student performance over time, and incorporated student interviews concerning their preference for motoric condition. For number of words spelled and proportion of bi-grams (correct letter sequences) used correctly, significant differences were found between the LD and NLD groups, both at posttest and follow-up, with the NLD students learning to spell more words and apply more correct bi-grams than the students with LD. There was no significant effect for condition for either words spelled or bi-grams, indicating that students did not learn significantly more words in the writing, tracing, or computer condition. There was also a significant time effect indicating that the accuracy of both groups decreased over time from posttest to follow-up for both words and bi-grams. Interviews revealed that students in both groups preferred the computer condition; however, they believed that they learned best in the writing and tracing conditions.

Child↗

What do students with learning disabilities think when their general education teachers make adaptations?

The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions of mainstreamed students with learning disabilities (LD) regarding adaptations (e.g., altering tests, homework, assignments, instruction) made by general education teachers. Furthermore, their responses were compared with those of low achieving (LA) and average/high achieving (A/HA) classmates. One hundred seventy-nine students participated in this study: 60 mainstreamed students with LD, 59 low achieving students, and 60 average/high achieving students. Students were selected from 60 teachers' classrooms (20 elementary, 20 middle school, and 20 high school). Results from the elementary level indicate that students with LD differ from their LA and A/HA classmates in that the former indicate a stronger preference for opportunities to work in groups with different students, and prefer the teacher to make adaptations when they have difficulty learning. High school and middle school students from both the LA and A/HA groups, but not the LD group, preferred the teacher who made no adaptations in homework and textbooks. Discussion focuses on the role of students' perceptions in teacher decision making.

Adolescent↗

Inclusion or pull-out: which do students prefer?

The purpose of this study was to better understand students' perceptions of and preferences for inclusion or pull-out service delivery models. Thirty-two students with and without learning disabilities who had participated in both models during the past 2 or 3 years were interviewed individually. Key questions assessed their perceptions of which model was most conducive to academic learning and which was most likely to yield social benefits, and the reasons for their beliefs. Results indicated that students' views varied. Overall, more children identified pull-out as the model of choice, but many children were confident that inclusion was meeting their academic and social needs. We interpret the results of this study as providing support for maintaining a continuum of service delivery options and for considering the placement of each child individually, based on his or her unique needs.

Achievement↗

Social outcomes for students with and without learning disabilities in inclusive classrooms.

Social outcomes of students who participated in two different educational settings designed to provide special services for students with learning disabilities (LD) placed full-time within the general education classroom were examined. Participants were 185 third-through sixth-grade students: 59 students with LD, 72 low to average achieving, and 54 high achieving. There was an overall educational setting effect, with students on the consultation/collaborative teaching setting demonstrating more positive outcomes than students in the co-teaching setting on friendship quality and peer acceptance. Students with LD in the consultation/collaborative teaching setting also demonstrated moderate increases in the number of reciprocal friendships from fall to spring. Discussion addresses the positive social outcomes for students with LD and high-achieving students in the consultation/collaborative teaching setting, and the importance of monitoring student progress in all settings.

Adolescent↗