An Inclusive Approach to Improving Early Literacy Skills of Students with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a comprehensive reading program using the Scott Foresman Reading program (Foresman, 2000), supplemented with Torgeson and Bryant's (1994) Phonological Awareness Training for Reading (PATR) program in a general education classroom with four kindergarten special education students identified as having emotional/behavioral disorders (EBD). Following the implementation of the Scott Foresman curriculum by classroom teachers, university-trained research assistants implemented the PATR program. A multiple baseline design was used to evaluate the impact of the supplemental program on the reading performance of the participants. Academic measures included assessment of nonsense-word fluency, letter naming, and initial-sound fluency. Moderate, albeit inconsistent, improvements in reading skills were shown for the participating students. Implications for classroom practice and future directions for this line of research will be discussed.