Early Childhood Special Education Classrooms Research Articles

Editorial – Dr Coral Sirdifield and Charlie Brooker

Teacher self-efficacy (TSE) is a frequently studied construct due to its positive relations with student outcomes. However, TSE of teachers in inclusive early childhood special education (ECSE) classrooms has seldom been studied. To fill this gap, we examined the extent to which (a) teachers exhibited differing levels of TSE for students; (b) children’s characteristics, particularly disability status and learning behaviors, were associated with TSE; and (c) relations between children’s characteristics and TSE remained consistent across an academic year. Thirty-seven teachers of inclusive ECSE classrooms completed surveys to ascertain their student-specific TSE and children’s learning behaviors for 114 children. Results indicated that teachers had different levels of TSE for students in their classrooms. Children’s characteristics, particularly their attention/persistence, were related to TSE, with more relations shown between TSE and children’s characteristics at the start of the school year than at the end. Implications for teacher professional development are discussed.

Early childhood Special education teachers' self-efficacy in relation to individual children: Links to children's literacy learning

Using data from 73 early childhood special education (ECSE) teachers and 837 preschool children, this study examined whether teachers experienced differences in self-efficacy in teaching children with and without disabilities, as well as whether they experienced differences in self-efficacy when teaching children with different types of disabilities. Additionally, we investigated the relations between ECSE teachers' self-efficacy toward individual children and children's print knowledge, as well as the extent to which children's disability status moderated these relations. Our results showed that ECSE teachers felt less self-efficacious with children with disabilities versus children who are typically developing and experienced the lowest efficacy for teaching children with autism spectrum disorder among children with disabilities. ECSE teachers' self-efficacy in relation to individual children served as a significant predictor of children's print knowledge. Results did not support a moderation role for children's disability status. These findings illustrate the importance of examining teacher self-efficacy at the child level and indicate that higher teacher self-efficacy is beneficial to early literacy development for all children in ECSE classrooms, including those with disabilities.

Does Teachers’ Self-Efficacy Vary for Different Children? A Study of Early Childhood Special Educators

Teacher self-efficacy (TSE) is a frequently studied construct due to its positive relations with student outcomes. However, TSE of teachers in inclusive early childhood special education (ECSE) classrooms has seldom been studied. To fill this gap, we examined the extent to which (a) teachers exhibited differing levels of TSE for students; (b) children’s characteristics, particularly disability status and learning behaviors, were associated with TSE; and (c) relations between children’s characteristics and TSE remained consistent across an academic year. Thirty-seven teachers of inclusive ECSE classrooms completed surveys to ascertain their student-specific TSE and children’s learning behaviors for 114 children. Results indicated that teachers had different levels of TSE for students in their classrooms. Children’s characteristics, particularly their attention/persistence, were related to TSE, with more relations shown between TSE and children’s characteristics at the start of the school year than at the end. Implications for teacher professional development are discussed.

Effects of Read It Again! In Early Childhood Special Education Classrooms as Compared to Regular Shared Book Reading

Read It Again! PreK (RIA) is a whole-class, teacher-implemented intervention that embeds explicit language and literacy instruction within the context of shared book reading and has prior evidence of supporting the language and literacy skills of preschool children. We conducted a conceptual replication to test its efficacy when implemented in early childhood special education classrooms relative to regular shared book reading. The randomized controlled trial involved 109 teachers and 726 children (341 with disabilities and 385 peers). Compared to the rigorous counterfactual condition, RIA significantly increased teachers’ provision of explicit instruction targeting phonological awareness, print knowledge, narrative, and vocabulary during shared book readings but had limited impact on children’s language and literacy skills. Findings underscore the need to conduct replication studies to identify interventions that realize effects for specific populations of interest, such as children with disabilities served in early childhood special education classrooms.

Assessing Learning Behaviors in Early Childhood Special Education Classrooms

ABSTRACTResearch Findings: This study reports on the dimensionality and validation of the Preschool Learning Behaviors Scale (PLBS) for use in a sample of preschool children in early childhood special education classrooms. The PLBS is a teacher-report instrument that characterizes children’s approaches to learning. The sample included 600 preschool-age students in 97 classrooms. Exploratory and confirmatory analyses uncovered 2 reliable and valid dimensions: Competence Motivation and Learning Strategy. Scale scores were produced using item response theory and Bayesian scoring methods. Competence Motivation and Learning Strategy scores were moderately related to children’s performance on language and literacy measures. Practice or Policy: The potential use of this tool in early childhood special education classrooms is explored.

Teachers’ Literal and Inferential Talk in Early Childhood and Special Education Classrooms

ABSTRACTResearch Findings: This study examined preschool teachers’ literal talk (LT) and inferential talk (IT) during shared book readings in early childhood education (ECE) and early childhood special education (ECSE) classrooms. We aimed to characterize and compare teachers’ LT and IT in these 2 classroom contexts and determine whether differences in LT and IT are predicted by classroom type, teachers’ educational background, or children’s average language skills. We examined the shared book reading activities of 52 teachers (26 ECE classrooms, 26 ECSE classrooms). Results revealed that ECSE teachers used significantly more LT and showed more variability in their LT and IT than ECE teachers. ECSE classroom type predicted teachers’ use of LT when we controlled for teacher education and children’s language skills, whereas teacher education predicted teachers’ use of IT when we controlled for classroom type and children’s language skills. Practice or Policy: These findings have implications for best practice guidelines and policies, particularly for ECSE environments.

The Social Networks of Children With and Without Disabilities in Early Childhood Special Education Classrooms.

Interaction with peers is an important contributor to young children's social and cognitive development. Yet, little is known about the nature of social networks within preschool inclusive classrooms. The current study applied a social network analysis to characterize children's peer interactions in inclusive classrooms and their relations with children's disability status. The participants were 485 preschoolers from 64 early childhood special education (ECSE) inclusive classrooms. Results from teachers' report of children's social networks showed that children with disabilities formed smaller play networks compared to their typically developing peers in the classroom, but no evidence indicated that children with disabilities engaged in more conflict networks than their counterparts. Children's play and conflict networks were segregated by children's disability status.

The mediating role of classroom quality on peer effects and language gain in pre-kindergarten ECSE classrooms

ABSTRACTThe current study was designed to determine whether classroom quality (i.e., the quality of teacher–child interactions) served as a mediator of peer effects with respect to preschool children’s gain in language skills over an academic year. Participants were 670 preschool-age children (64.6% boys; M = 4 years, 4 months, SD = 7 months) enrolled in 83 inclusive early childhood special education (ECSE) classrooms in multiple school districts in a single Midwestern state. Measures included an index of classroom quality, average level of classmates’ language skills, and fall and spring language assessments for each child. Results showed that both classroom quality and peer effects contributed to children’s language gain over an academic year, showing that both instructional quality and peers are influential to language development. Results did not support a mediating role for classroom quality: that is, classroom quality did not mediate the effects of peers on children’s language gain.

Understanding Risk for Reading Difficulties in Children With Language Impairment.

The purpose of this study was to retrospectively examine the preschool language and early literacy skills of kindergarten good and poor readers, and to determine the extent to which these skills predict reading status. Participants were 136 children with language impairment enrolled in early childhood special education classrooms. On the basis of performance on a word recognition task given in kindergarten, children were classified as either good or poor readers. Comparisons were made across these 2 groups on a number of language and early literacy measures administered in preschool, and logistic regression was used to determine the best predictors of kindergarten reading status. Twenty-seven percent of the sample met criterion for poor reading in kindergarten. These children differed from good readers on most of the skills measured in preschool. The best predictors of kindergarten reading status were oral language, alphabet knowledge, and print concept knowledge. Presence of comorbid disabilities was not a significant predictor. Classification accuracy was good overall. Results suggest that risk of reading difficulty for children with language impairment can be reliably estimated in preschool, prior to the onset of formal reading instruction. Measures of both language and early literacy skills are important for identifying which children are likely to develop later reading difficulties.

How Do Caregivers Select Preschools? A Study of Children With and Without Disabilities

Little is known about how parents and other caregivers conceptualize preschool quality, or what factors they prioritize when selecting a preschool. Caregivers of children with disabilities have the additional challenge of finding a preschool that can address their children’s special needs. We explored the factors caregivers valued when selecting a preschool for their children, how these factors categorized into structural, process, and familial quality, and how caregiver characteristics related to preschool selection factors. We also compared caregivers’ preschool selection factors with the observed quality of their children’s preschool classroom. In this study, 407 caregivers with children in 54 early childhood special education classrooms completed surveys regarding how they selected their children’s preschool. Classroom quality was assessed for each classroom, and compared to caregivers’ preschool selection factors. Findings showed that caregivers prioritized interpersonal teacher characteristics and safety when selecting preschools. Caregivers’ felt that process elements of quality were more important than structural or familial elements of quality. Caregivers whose child had a disability were more likely to prioritize structural elements of quality than caregivers whose child did not have a disability. No relationship was found between caregivers’ preschool selection factors and the quality of the classrooms in which their children were enrolled. These findings provide insight for those wishing to make preschool programs more amenable to the needs of caregivers, particularly those of children with disabilities. Understanding caregivers’ preschool selection factors also deepens the theoretical understanding of preschool quality.

Shared-Reading Volume in Early Childhood Special Education Classrooms

This study describes book reading practices occurring in early childhood special education (ECSE) classrooms in comparison to early childhood education (ECE) classrooms. Reading logs submitted by 19 ECSE teachers and 13 ECE teachers over one academic year included all books read in whole class settings; these logs were analyzed to assess the volume of book reading taking place and the types of books read. On average, ECSE teachers report reading less than one book per day and for less than seven minutes per day and ECSE teachers utilize far more narrative books than any other genre. Implications and future research directions are discussed.

School-readiness profiles of children with language impairment: linkages to home and classroom experiences.

This study represents an effort to advance our understanding of the nature of school readiness among children with language impairment (LI), a population of children acknowledged to be at risk of poor academic achievement. The academic, social-emotional, and behavioural competencies with which children arrive at kindergarten affect the nature of their future educational experiences, and their overall academic achievement. To examine whether there are reliable profiles that characterize children with LI just prior to kindergarten entrance, and the extent to which profile membership is associated with characteristics of children's homes and preschool experiences. Questions addressed were twofold: (1) To what extent are there reliable profiles of children with LI with respect to their school readiness? (2) To what extent is children's profile membership associated with characteristics of their homes and preschool classrooms? Participants were 136 children with LI from early childhood special education classrooms. We utilized latent class analysis (LCA) to classify individuals into profiles based on individual responses on school readiness measures. We then used multilevel hierarchical generalized linear models to examine the relations between profile membership and children's home/classroom experiences. LCA analyses revealed that a four-profile solution was the most appropriate fit for the data and that classroom experiences were predictive of these profiles, such that children in classrooms with more instructional/emotional support were more likely to be placed in profiles characterized by higher school readiness skills. These results suggest that the school readiness profiles of young children with LI are associated with the quality of children's classroom experiences, and that high-quality classroom experiences can be influential for ensuring that young children with LI arrive in kindergarten ready to learn.

Empirically Based Profiles of the Early Literacy Skills of Children With Language Impairment in Early Childhood Special Education

The purpose of this study was to empirically determine whether specific profiles characterize preschool-aged children with language impairment (LI) with respect to their early literacy skills (print awareness, name-writing ability, phonological awareness, alphabet knowledge); the primary interest was to determine if one or more profiles suggested vulnerability for future reading problems. Participants were 218 children enrolled in early childhood special education classrooms, 95% of whom received speech-language services. Children were administered an assessment of early literacy skills in the fall of the academic year. Based on results of latent profile analysis, four distinct literacy profiles were identified, with the single largest profile (55% of children) representing children with generally poor literacy skills across all areas examined. Children in the two low-risk categories had higher oral language skills than those in the high-risk and moderate-risk profiles. Across three of the four early literacy measures, children with language as their primary disability had higher scores than those with LI concomitant with other disabilities. These findings indicate that there are specific profiles of early literacy skills among children with LI, with about one half of children exhibiting a profile indicating potential susceptibility for future reading problems.

Quality of the Literacy Environment in Inclusive Early Childhood Special Education Classrooms

The purpose of this study was to examine the quality of the literacy environment in inclusive early childhood special education (ECSE) classrooms ( N = 54). The first aim was to describe the quality of the literacy environment in terms of structure (i.e., book materials and print/writing materials) and instruction (i.e., instructional support). The second aim was to examine the interrelationships among teacher and classroom factors and the quality of the literacy environment. Results showed that, on average, the quality of the structural literacy environment was low to moderate, and the quality of the instructional literacy environment was generally low. Only one factor, the number of children who were dual-language learners, related to the quality of the structural literacy environment, whereas the quality of the instructional literacy environment was positively associated with two teacher-level factors (teacher education and self-efficacy) and negatively associated with one teacher-level factor (the number of language and literacy workshops attended). Study findings suggest the need to examine ways to improve the literacy environment of ECSE classrooms and to better understand sources of variance with respect to the literacy environment.

TRIAL‐BASED FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS AND FUNCTIONAL COMMUNICATION TRAINING IN AN EARLY CHILDHOOD SETTING

Problem behavior is common in early childhood special education classrooms. Functional communication training (FCT; Carr & Durand, 1985) may reduce problem behavior but requires identification of its function. The trial-based functional analysis (FA) is a method that can be used to identify problem behavior function in schools. We conducted trial-based FAs and FCT with 3 children in an early childhood special education setting. All trial-based FAs resulted in identification of behavioral functions, and subsequent FCT led to reductions in problem behavior and increases in communication.

Encouraging Social Skill Development through Play in Early Childhood Special Education Classrooms

Encouraging Social Skill Development through Play in Early Childhood Special Education Classrooms

Challenges and Inspirations: Student Teachers’ Experiences in Early Childhood Special Education Classrooms

Preparing teachers to meet the needs of children with disabilities remains a complex challenge. General education teachers feel unprepared, and attrition and teacher shortages in special education remain high. Despite a trend toward inclusive education, many children continue to be educated in segregated settings. This study explores the potential challenges and learning opportunities that self-contained settings offer early childhood special education teachers in training. Five early childhood preservice students seeking dual certification reflected on their placements in self-contained early childhood special education classrooms. Through an analysis of their weekly student teaching journals, we explored students’ experiences in segregated early childhood special education classrooms and implications for teacher education. Our findings revealed that including a self-contained setting as one of several field experiences encouraged future teachers to think flexibly about teaching children with special needs while enhancing their understanding of the principles behind the continuum of services.

Relationship of preschool special education outcomes to instructional practices and parent–child interaction

Developmental outcomes attained by children receiving preschool special education services in relationship to both the general instructional approach used by their teachers and their parents’ style of interaction were examined. The sample included 70 children from 41 Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) classrooms. The type of instructional model children received was determined by dividing the sample into three clusters based upon six global ratings of children’s classroom environment: Choice; Cognitive Problem-Solving; Child-Initiated Learning; Developmental Match; Child-Centered Routines; and Rewards and Discipline Strategies. Based on this analysis, 27 children were classified as receiving developmental instruction; 15 didactic instruction; and 28 naturalistic instruction. Observations of parent–child interaction collected at the beginning and end of the year were classified along four dimensions using the Maternal Behavior Rating Scale: Responsiveness, Affect, Achievement Orientation and Directiveness. Results indicated that the kinds of experiences that children received varied significantly across the three instructional models. However, there were no significant differences in the impact of these instructional models on children’s rate of development. Regression analyses indicated that children’s rate of development at the end of intervention was significantly related to their parents’ style of interaction but was unrelated to the type of instructional model they received.

Inclusion, One Step at a Time

A public school district relocated one of its early childhood special education classrooms to a private childcare facility in order to enable social interaction with typically developing children. The authors used an ecological framework and a qualitative method to study how planning, communication, and decision making across program boundaries took place. The first year of this partnership was characterized by a one-step-at-a-time approach to inclusion, with a minimum of formalized discussions and planning. This was due in part to the programs' disparate organizational and logistical practices. The greatest challenges to successful collaboration arose when the boundaries between programs became blurred and people's roles within the new ecological formation were not clearly defined.

Examining the Use of Recommended Language Intervention Practices in Early Childhood Special Education Classrooms

Two studies were conducted to describe the extent to which recommended language intervention practices were implemented in preschool classrooms serving young children with disabilities and to investigate the relationships between children's observed level of exposure to those practices and their language outcomes. Study 1 was a descriptive study of the amount and type of language training received by 59 children in 26 preschool classrooms. Repeated observations of these children over a 4-month period revealed that children exposed to higher levels of recommended practices had higher rates of engagement and verbalizations. Study 2 was a process-product study that examined the relationship between children's gain on language measures and their level of exposure to recommended practices. Results showed that children who made greater language gains were more likely to be in classrooms that provided more frequent exposure to recommended language intervention strategies. Implications for training and research are discussed.