Date of Award
8-2007
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Program
Special Education
Department
Special Education and Habilitative Services
Major Professor
Cronin, Mary E.
Second Advisor
Scott, Randall
Third Advisor
Bedford, April
Fourth Advisor
Gifford, Charles
Abstract
Novice special education teachers often enter their professions with unique perspectives that contribute to the overall educational experience of their students. This research was designed to inform the existing literature revolving around novice special education teachers' experiences, and how they subsequently effect the perceptions and interactions engaged in with students with disabilities from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Five novice special education teachers who currently serve students with disabilities from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds offered their unique perspectives for this research. This research study consisted of individual interviews, two direct classroom observations, and responses to three reflections of recent experiences. The data yielded three main categories: (a) student attributes, (b) establishing rapport, and (c) teacher responsibilities, which included properties and sub-properties. To verify findings rival explanations were sought and triangulation procedures were utilized. Findings of this research are discussed in detail, with implications relating to novice special education teachers, K-12 school administrators, and special education teacher educators being addressed. Methods to address potential limitations to this research are presented, followed by suggestions for future research.
Recommended Citation
Wheeler, Sassy Cenita, "Novice Special Education Teachers' Experiences with Students with Disabilities from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Backgrounds: The Effects of Perceptions on Interactions" (2007). University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations. 580.
https://scholarworks.uno.edu/td/580
Rights
The University of New Orleans and its agents retain the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible this dissertation or thesis in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. The author retains all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis or dissertation.