Need help with research paper topic

[Kathy813]

As many of you know, I have recently started my Educational Specialist degree. As part of the program, I will need to write a research paper on a topic of my choice.

I have learned so much from the CD board about various disabilities and Special Education laws that I have come straight to the source, so to speak.

I am thinking about writing my paper about math inclusion classes at the high school level. I am having trouble narrowing down the topic, though. I am leaning along the lines of regular education teacher training and preparation, comparison of student achievement (Special Education vs. regular ed) on End Of Course Tests, and student attitudes toward inclusion classes.

I would be happy to take any and all suggestions on areas of interest. I also need to find 20 - 30 related research articles on the topic. Any suggestions on that?

I have already googled the topic and of course come across many articles on inclusion or mainstreaming but I wanted to find more specific information geared to math or high school.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

~Kathy

 

[Sheila]

Potentials:

http://nces.ed.gov/index.asp

http://www.wrightslaw.com/idea/art/tchr.hq.require.htm

http://idea.ed.gov

Letter to Chief State School Officers Regarding Inclusion of Students with Disabilities in State Accountability Systems http://www2.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/csso030204.html You can find more on the Feds directives to SEAs, letters of clarrification to SEAs and individuals on Special Education issues, etc., using their search engine.

Also http://www.osepideasthatwork.org/ and http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/osep/index.html .

In Texas, of course, we have the State Education Agency. Then the SEA has regional offices that support Districts. Your SEA and regional offices may be good resources for you.

 

[Kathy813]

Thanks, Sheila! It was one of your replies in another thread that was a launching point for my paper.

I appreciate your help.

~Kathy

 

[Martie]

Kathy,

Here is a REALLY hot topic that is sophisticated enough for an Ed.S. level program:

RtI (Response to Intervention) is the latest "holy grail" (my biases are showing.) Almost all work on RtI is done at the elementary level on the subject of reading. This is an approach that NEEDS to be applied to high schools, especially because of NCLB and other high stakes graduation testing.

I currently have a doctor student who managed to pull off an RtI intervention with 9th graders. The part that worked best is MATH because it is more measurable at the h.s. level than reading (because RtI focuses on word identification and fluency rather than comprehension.)

Anyway, I am way too old to think that any one technique will solve all and save all, but as far as cutting edge for high schools, application of of RtI is where the research action is.

Best to you,

Martie

 

[SRL]

A important math-related topic, especially given the recent emphasis on standardized testing, is students who are capable of doing what is required of them in math but struggle with the language of math. The pendulum has swung so far to the right that students who are naturally good at math can be really pounded (in the opinion of some, discriminated against) gradewise and test score wise because they naturally saw what needed to be done but couldn't explain how they did what they did or didn't have the language skills to explain it.

One mom I know said her math bright little son got all the answers to all ten problems correctly and then on the ten lines where he was supposed to explain how he got the answer he wrote (10 times) "The answer just popped into my head."