A Competency-Based Education Case Study: A Mathematics Intervention for a Five-Year-Old with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Authors

  • Dr. Meirav Tzohar-Rozen (Author) Levinsky College of Education, Tel Aviv, Israel image/svg+xml
    Dr. Meirav Tzohar-Rozen is the head of the B.Ed special education department at the Levinsky College of Education. Her research specializes in self-regulated learning processes in mathematics and development of intervention programs for students with special needs in mathematics.
  • Dr. Yael Kimhi (Author) Levinsky College of Education, Tel Aviv, Israel
    Dr. Yael Kimhi is currently the Acting Rector of the Levinsky College of Education. Her main field of research is the academic and cognitive development in the autism spectrum (ASD) and teacher training.
  • Dalia Cohen, M.Ed. (Author) Levinsky College of Education, Tel Aviv, Israel
    Dalia Cohen is a kindergarten teacher for children with special needs at the Israeli Ministry of Education. She currently finished her master's degree (M.Ed.) in special education.
https://doi.org/10.64546/jaasep.502
Early mathematics achievement is a significant predictor of future math learning. Current research shows that teachers lack knowledge in teaching methods for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Specifically, research focusing on teaching mathematics in ASD is limited. A competency-based education (CBE) mathematics intervention was developed for a five-year-old boy with ASD in a naturalistic setting in his kindergarten and conducted as a single case study. The intervention was developed according to the specific needs of ASD, utilizing direct, embedded, and kinesthetic instruction. It incorporated support and ongoing assessment for teaching the standards-based mathematics curriculum. Two aspects were analyzed in the study: a) the kindergarten teacher’s process of intervention building and b) how this intervention advanced the student’s mathematical skills. The clinical and theoretical implications regarding the importance of an intensive, structured mathematical intervention for young children with ASD are discussed.

American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders: DSM-IV-TR (4th ed.). Washington, DC: Author. American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders: DSM-5 (5th ed.). Washington, DC: Author. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596

Bashan, B., & Holsblat, R. (2017). Reflective journals as a research tool: The case of student teachers’ development of teamwork. Cogent Education, 4(1), 1374234, doi:10.1080/2331186X.2017.1374234 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2017.1374234

Baškarada, S. (2014). Qualitative case study guidelines. The Qualitative Report, 19(40), 1-18. Retrieved from https://nsuworks.nova.edu/tqr/vol19/iss40/3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2014.1008

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2018). Data and statistics on autism spectrum disorders. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/data.html

Gardner, H. (2006). Multiple intelligences: New horizons (Rev. ed.). New York, NY: Basic Books.

Georges, C., Cornu, V., & Schiltz, C. (2020). The importance of visuospatial abilities for verbal number skills in preschool: Adding spatial language to the equation. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 201, 104971. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jecp.2020.104971 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jecp.2020.104971

Goldman, S.E., & Gilmour, A.F. (2021). Educating students with autism spectrum disorders: Is teacher certification area associated with academic outcomes? Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 51, 550–563. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-020-04561-w DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-020-04561-w

Green, K. B., Gallagher, P. A., & Hart, L. (2018). Integrating mathematics and children’s literature for young children with disabilities. Journal of Early Intervention, 40(1), 3–19. doi.org/10.1177/1053815117737339 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1053815117737339

Gunnell, K. L., Fowler, D., & Colaizzi, K. (2016). Inter-rater reliability calibration program: Critical components for competency-based education. Journal of Competency-Based Education, 1(1), 36–41. doi:10.1002/cbe2.1010 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/cbe2.1010

Jimenez, B. A., & Kamei, A. (2015). Embedded instruction: An evaluation of evidence to inform inclusive practice. Inclusion, 3(3), 132-144. doi:https://doi.org/10.1352/2326-6988-3.3.132 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1352/2326-6988-3.3.132

John, T. S., Dawson, G., & Estes, A. (2018). Brief report: Executive function as a predictor of academic achievement in school-aged children with ASD. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 48(1), 276–283. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10803-017-3296-9 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-017-3296-9

Jones, J. P., & Tiller, M. (2017). Using concrete manipulatives in mathematical instruction. Dimensions of Early Childhood, 45(1), 18-23.

Kaluzeviciute, G., Jessiman, T., Burn, A., Ford, T., Geijer–Simpson, E., Kidger, J., Limmer, M., Ramsay, S. E., & Spencer, L. (2021). Participatory action research on school culture and student mental health: A study protocol. International Journal of Qualitative Methods. https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069211047753 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069211047753

Kim, S. H., Bal, V. H., & Lord, C. (2018). Longitudinal follow-up of academic achievement in children with autism from age 2 to 18. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 59(3), 258–267. doi:10.1111/jcpp.12808 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.12808

King, S. A., Lemons, C. J., & Davidson, K. A. (2016). Math interventions for students with autism spectrum disorder: A best-evidence synthesis. Exceptional Children, 82(4), 443–462. doi:10.1177/0014402915625066 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0014402915625066

Knight, V. F., Huber, H. B., Kuntz, E. M., Carter, E. W., & Juarez, A. P. (2019). Instructional practices, priorities, and preparedness for educating students with autism and intellectual disability. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 34(1), 3–14. https://doi.org/10.1177/1088357618755694 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1088357618755694

Koole, T., & Elbers, E. (2014). Responsiveness in teacher explanations: A conversation analytical perspective on scaffolding. Linguistics and Education, 26, 57–69. doi.org/10.1016/j.linged.2014.02.001 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.linged.2014.02.001

Lenski, A. E., Richter, D., & Ludtke, O. (2019). Using the theory of planned behavior to predict teachers’ likelihood of taking a competency-based approach to instruction. European Journal of Psychology of Education, 34(1), 169–186. doi:10.1007/s10212-017-0356-7 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10212-017-0356-7

Long, J. L., & Simpson, R. L. (2017). Practitioners’ recommendations for foundational educational supports for elementary-age learners with autism spectrum disorders. Focus on Autism and other Developmental Disabilities, 32(4), 269 – 278. doi.org/10.1177/1088357617712484 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1088357617712484

Ministry of Education. (2007). Preschool mathematics program. Jerusalem: Author [In Hebrew]. Morcom, V. (2014). Scaffolding social and emotional learning in an elementary classroom: A sociocultural perspective. International Journal of Educational Research, 67, 18-29. doi.org/10.1016/j.ijer.2014.04.002 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijer.2014.04.002

National Center for Learning Disabilities [NCLD]. (2014). Competency-based education and students with learning and attention issues. Retrieved from: https://www.ncld.org/archives/reports-and-studies/competency-based-education-and-students-with-learning-and-attention-issues

National Council of Teachers of Mathematics [NCTM]. (2000). Principles and standards for school mathematics. Author.

Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) (2019). PISA 2018 Results: What Students Know and Can Do. PISA (Volume I), OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/5f07c754-en. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1787/5f07c754-en

Oswold, T. M., Beck, J., Iosif, A., McCauley, J. B., Gilhooly, L., Matter, J. C., & Solomon, M. (2016). Clinical and cognitive characteristics associated with mathematics problem solving in adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. Autism Research, 9(4), 480–490. doi.org/10.1002/aur.1524 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.1524

Sartini, E., Knight, V. F., Spriggs, A. D., & Allday, R. A. (2018). Generalization strategies to promote text comprehension skills by students with ASD in core content areas. Focus on Autism and other Developmental Disabilities, 33(3), 150-159. doi.org/10.1177/1088357617735815 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1088357617735815

Schreibman, L., Dawson, G., Stahmer, A. C., Landa, R., Rogers, S. J., McGee, G… Halladay, A. (2015). Naturalistic developmental behavioral interventions: Empirically validated treatments for autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 45(8), 2411–2428. doi:10.1007/s10803-015-2407-8 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-015-2407-8

Shanley, L., Clarke, B., Doabler, C. T., Kurtz-Nelson, E., & Fien, H. (2017). Early number skills gains and mathematics achievement: Intervening to establish successful early mathematics trajectories. The Journal of Special Education 51(3), 177–188. doi.org/10.1177/0022466917720455 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0022466917720455

Smith, C. P., King, B., & Hoyte, J. (2014). Learning angles through movement: Critical actions for developing understanding in an embodied activity. The Journal of Mathematical Behavior, 36, 95–108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmathb.2014.09.001 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmathb.2014.09.001

Soares, N., Evans, T., & Patel, D. R. (2018). Specific learning disability in mathematics: A comprehensive review. Translational Pediatrics, 7(1), 48–62. doi:10.21037/tp.2017.08.03 DOI: https://doi.org/10.21037/tp.2017.08.03

Squires, J. E., Sullivan, K., Eccles, M. P., Worswick, J., & Grimshaw, J. M. (2014). Are multifaceted interventions more effective than single-component interventions in changing health-care professionals’ behaviours? An overview of systematic reviews. Implementation Science, 9, 1-22. doi.10.1186/s13012-014-0152-6 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13012-014-0152-6

Stockard, J., Wood, T. W., Coughlin, C., & Rasplica Khoury, C. (2018). The Effectiveness of Direct Instruction Curricula: A Meta-Analysis of a Half Century of Research. Review of Educational Research, 88(4), 479–507. https://doi.org/10.3102/0034654317751919 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3102/0034654317751919

Su, H. F. H., Lai, L. & Rivera, H. J. (2010). Using an exploratory approach to help children with autism learn mathematics. Creative Education, 1(3), 149–153. doi:10.4236/ce.2010.13023 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4236/ce.2010.13023

Titeca, D., Roeyers, H., Ceulemans, A., & Desoete, A. (2015). Early numerical competencies in 5-and 6-year-old children with autism spectrum disorder. Early Education and Development, 26(7), 1012–1034. doi:10.1080/10409289.2015.1004515 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10409289.2015.1004515

Tzanakaki, P., Grindle, C. F., Saville, M., Hastings, R. P., Hughes, J. C., Huxley, K. (2015). An individualized curriculum to teach numeracy skills to children with autism: Program description and pilot data. Support for Learning, 29(4), 319–338. doi:10.1111/1467-9604.12069 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9604.12069

Vygotsky, L. S. (1986). Thought and language (A. Kozulin, Trans.). Cambridge, MA: MIT. (Original work published 1934).

Wei, X., Lenz, K. B., & Blackorby, J. (2013). Math growth trajectories of students with disabilities: Disability category, gender, racial, and socioeconomic status differences from ages 7 to 17. Remedial and Special Education, 34(3), 154–165. doi.org/10.1177/0741932512448253 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0741932512448253

Wong, C., Odom, S. L., Hume, K., Cox, A. W., Fettig, A., Kucharczyk, S., … Schultz, T. R. (2015). Evidence-based practices for children, youth and young adults with autism spectrum disorder: A comprehensive review. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 45(7), 1951–1966. doi:10.1007/s10803-014-2351-z World Health Organization. (2017). Engagement and participation for health equity: a core principle of Health 2020 is reducing health inequities across the population, along with the importance of participation and responsiveness, with the full engagement of people (No. WHO/EURO: 2017-5209-44973-64021). World Health Organization. Regional Office for Europe. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/352610 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-014-2351-z

There are 37 references in total.
Tzohar-Rozen, M., Kimhi, Y., & Cohen, D. (2022). A Competency-Based Education Case Study: A Mathematics Intervention for a Five-Year-Old with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Journal of the American Academy of Special Education Professionals, 17(3), 103-120. https://doi.org/10.64546/jaasep.502

Downloads

Article Information

  • Article Type Articles
  • Submitted September 12, 2022
  • Published October 15, 2022
  • Issue Fall 2022
  • Section Articles
  • File Downloads 0
  • Abstract Views 0
  • Altmetrics
  • Share
Download data is not yet available.