Journal of Research in Special Educational Needs最新文献

This article examines pre-service language teachers' perceptions of learning and teaching and how differentiation manifests itself in them. The 67 participants visualised ‘an ideal language learning situation’ and complemented a number of teaching-related metaphors, for instance, ‘A teacher is like…’ and ‘A learner is like…’ in the first session of their pedagogical studies. Seven participants returned to reflect on these outputs in group discussions held at the end of their studies. The data were analysed qualitatively following thematic analysis. We identified some themes of differentiation already in the initial outputs, that is, visualisations and metaphors, such as teaching methods and learning environment. In particular, the metaphors contained references to the individuality and uniqueness of the pupils. In the group discussions, the participants further highlighted the importance of differentiation for instance through the themes of differentiation for high-achieving pupils and the contradiction between ideal and practice. Based on the group discussions, the participants' understanding of differentiation expanded at least to some extent during their studies. Overall, the results suggest that the ideal of differentiation is present at some level when students enter their studies and that they are able to embrace it even more during their studies. Despite this, some participants still reflected rather limited views of differentiation, for instance, the focus on ability levels and textbook-based learning. This implies that differentiation should be addressed more profoundly in pre-service teacher education.

There are efforts being taken to provide students with disabilities access to education in a dual context, namely, some days at inclusive schools and others at special schools. However, there is limited information regarding how teachers are contending with such practices. This study explored teachers' perceptions of students with disabilities' education in the dual enrolment education system of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Specifically, the social education model was conceptualised to understand teachers' perceptions, collaborative efforts, resources and challenges in terms of dual enrolment practices. The study's sample consisted of 10 teachers at private schools, consisting of five special education teachers and five general education teachers, recruited from Al Ain, the third largest city in the UAE. Despite the participants' positive responses concerning dual enrolment, the results showed the system's poor implementation for students with disabilities. This was the result of a lack of collaboration, communication and a shared plan to support the development of children with disabilities across schools. This study concludes by recommending a national framework to guide the implementation of a dual enrolment system in the UAE.

The concept of inclusive education is well established in policy documents worldwide, but its implementation for pupils with additional support needs (ASN) still raises questions. The challenges of educating pupils with ASN increased significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic due to changes in organisation of the teaching and learning process and the heightened need for support. To gain in-depth insights into the experiences of upper secondary school pupils with ASN and their parents, an exploratory, phenomenological study of the perspectives of pupils and parents was conducted within the Croatian educational system. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 pupils with individualised educational programmes (IEPs) along with their parents. The data were analysed through reflexive thematic analysis. Three participant profiles that differed in regard to the perception of stability/change of learning support during the pandemic were generated and described. The dominant perspective included the perception of consistently low teacher support during the pandemic, which arises from insufficient recognition of pupils' needs, reactive stance and placing responsibility for school success on pupils. The perception of intensified parental support was evident in some accounts of both parents and pupils, but the pupils' explicit invitation stood out as a key factor in the activation of parents.

It is well-known that children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and specific learning disorder (SLD) often exhibit behavioural and emotional problems. However, little is known about how these problems compare between the two groups of children. This study sought to fill this gap in knowledge by comparing the executive functions and behavioural–emotional problems of children with ADHD, SLD and typically developing children. For this study, 94 children were recruited through purposeful sampling (ADHD = 23, SLD = 30 and TD = 41). All participants were screened based on WISC-IV. Subsequently, participants were administered executive functions and behavioural problems questionnaires. The analysis of the data using MANOVA and Scheffe post hoc pairwise shows that children with ADHD and SLD had significantly higher scores on measures of executive function impairment than typically developing children. Our study revealed that children in the ADHD group scored significantly higher in social problems, aggressive behaviours, AD/HD problems, ODD, conduct problems and externalizing problems sub-tests. Conversely, the LD group demonstrated higher scores in the anxiety problems sub-test. Furthermore, Our study demonstrated that children in the ADHD group scored significantly higher in the following sub-tests: metacognition, inhibit, shift, bri, shift and emotion control. In contrast, the LD group exhibited higher scores in the initiate sub-test. In addition, the two groups of children with disorders also exhibited more behavioural–emotional problems than typically developing children. These findings suggest that ADHD and SLD are associated with impaired executive function and increased behavioural–emotional problems. These findings have implications for the assessment and treatment of these disorders.

Although inclusive education policies conflict with punitive discipline measures, inclusion in mainstream schools may coexist with or allow such exclusionary punitive discipline. In Latin America, however, there is scarce research on how punitive measures are distributed, and if and how they affect students with disabilities enrolled in regular school settings. The purpose of this study was to characterize the occurrence of punitive exclusionary practices among students with disabilities enrolled in mainstream schools. We analysed reports from a national sample of Chilean students (N = 447,697) and parents on the frequency of punitive exclusionary discipline practices to identify the contribution of individual, classroom and school factors to student exclusion from general education settings. Individual characteristics included different disability groups. Multilevel logistic regression results consistently showed that students with ADHD were more likely to receive disciplinary exclusions, both in primary and in high school, with an odds-ratio increase from 30% to nearly 150%, with higher rates for low-SES students with ADHD. These findings suggest that in Chile, student-level factors of gender, class and disability are strongly associated with exclusionary punitive discipline in schools. We discuss the intersectional dynamics of gender, class, race and disability in disciplinary processes of exclusion.

Extended school nonattendance has been identified across previous literature as problematic for autistic pupils and prevalence rates are considerably higher for this cohort than their neurotypical peers. The neurodiversity paradigm calls for a shift towards qualitative and participatory research methodologies, which was identified as a suitable approach for the current study to understand autistic young people's lived experiences. This participatory inquiry adopted a flexible and reflective approach with two autistic adolescents who had extended school nonattendance and aimed to explore how Kas and Z experienced this and described effective support to meet their needs. Adolescents' perspectives were supported by three parental viewpoints. The participatory design allowed participants to identify key themes of effective support: a nuanced relationship with time; internal processes of control and motivation; relationships and safe environments; perspectives around their diagnosis of autism. A thematic map was developed to highlight the interaction between adolescents' perspectives and parental viewpoints and the superordinate, researcher-identified theme of Understanding and Acceptance of Individual Lived Experience of Autism. The methodology and themes suggest considerations for professionals to develop practice to support autistic pupils who experience extended school nonattendance. Implications for future research are discussed.

Education in segregated settings for pupils with intellectual disability (ID) has often been portrayed as a unified form of schooling. There is a risk of providing a simplified picture of these settings and of what pupils with ID need to learn. This is generally stipulated in policy documents, leaving room for staff in school to interpret curricula and form learning environments. The aim of this study is to explore how four different learning environments are constructed in segregated settings where pupils with ID are educated in Sweden. The study was conducted as a multiple case study, using observations and interviews with teachers and pupils in four special classes for pupils with ID (SCIDs). Drawing on curriculum theory, the four learning environments, in the results named as Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta class, respectively, appeared to be characterized by different ideas of schooling, labelled as knowledge-mediating, socializing, functional life skills and caring as well as teacher-centred classrooms. The study contributes to a deepened understanding of the complexity of education for pupils with ID in segregated settings.

Physical activity (PA) benefits children's cognition, in particular executive functions (EF). Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Reading Difficulties (RD) and co-occurring ADHD/RD have low levels of PA and difficulties with EF. This study evaluated a PA programme to determine recruitment, attrition, feasibility (e.g. in-school or after-school hours), intensity of PA during the programme and effect sizes. Outcomes evaluated were EF, academic attainment and social and emotional behaviour. Sixty-nine children (35 males) aged 7–13 years participated in a delayed control design. The sample comprised 15 children with RD, 15 with high levels of ADHD symptoms, 15 with co-occurring RD and ADHD symptoms and 24 typically developing children. Thirty-one of the participants took part in a 12 week PA intervention designed to enhance cognition and 38 acted as a control group. The control group subsequently received the intervention and data was combined for analysis. The study was successful in recruiting participants for the intervention; more success was observed for in-school than after-school hours. Participants spent 46% (SD = 14) of the intervention in Moderate-to-Vigorous intensity PA (MVPA). A significant effect of time-point (pre- vs. post-intervention) was found for inhibition and visuospatial working memory (η² = 0.11 and 0.18 respectively). There was no interaction with symptomatology though; all groups had higher scores on EF tasks after the intervention. It is possible to recruit and retain participants with ADHD symptoms and reading difficulties to a school-based PA programme and adherence to measurements was good. Taking part in the programme may improve inhibition and visuospatial working memory and reduce symptomatology suggesting this is a potential source of remediation which should be explored.

Gifted students differ from their peers in cognitive, social and emotional development. This study aims to compare gifted and typically developing students in terms of friendship quality and empathy level and examine the gender differences in a sample of Turkish students. In addition, the predictive role of empathy in friendship quality among gifted and typically developing students was investigated. The sample consisted of 97 gifted and 135 typically developing primary and secondary school students. Data were analysed by two-way analysis of variance and regression analysis. Results revealed that friendship quality was predicted by cognitive empathy in gifted and typically developing students. In addition, some gender differences emerged. The results are discussed in terms of the skills that need to be supported with preventive psychological counselling.

The purpose of this study is to examine the teachers' attitude and knowledge about students with dyslexia and to see whether their attitudes differ according to their socio-demographic characteristics. The study group of this research, which was designed in the relational screening model, is made up of 300 classroom teachers. The participants filled out the Scale of Teachers' Attitudes towards Teaching Dyslexic Students and the Attitude and Knowledge Questionnaire on Dyslexia. The analyses showed that many teachers have insufficient knowledge of dyslexia, but they have a positive attitude towards teaching children with dyslexia and towards individuals with dyslexia, in general. Significant differences were found between the attitudes and experiences of teachers; it was found that teachers' knowledge of dyslexia increased with their experience. However, no significant differences were found between the attitudes of teachers according to their sex. In the light of the study results, it is recommended to update the teacher training curriculum and to design in-service programs to improve teachers' knowledge on conducting courses with universal design in inclusive education and training.