The effects of a literacy intervention matching student skill level with academic performance demands were examined through a multiple baseline across participants design. The dual dependent variables were problem behavior and academic engagement. Four students in Grades 2 or 3 who exhibited low academic performance and problem behavior during reading instruction participated. Functional behavioral assessment and oral reading fluency assessment indicated that each of the students (a) was at risk for reading difficulties and read at the frustration level in text used for reading instruction and (b) had escape-maintained problem behavior during instruction sessions. A nonconcurrent multiple baseline design across students was used to assess the effects of matching reading instructional level (e.g., reducing the aversive level of instruction) on academic engagement and problem behavior. Matching the reading instructional level to the skill level of the students was associated with academic engagement increases and problem behavior decreases for three of the students. The fourth student demonstrated improvement during baseline that made effects of the intervention difficult to assess. Conceptual implications and suggestions for integrating behavioral and academic supports are explored.

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This study examined the impact of linguistic and cultural enhancements to evidence-based mathematics instruction within a multitiered support system for English learners. The study employed a single subject changing criterion design for four fourth-grade students who were English learners with or at risk of a learning disability diagnosis in mathematics. Dual dependent variables were mathematics vocabulary acquisition and application in story problems. Student performance on identifying the correct mathematics vocabulary words when given the definition was measured across baseline and four phases of intervention. Students were also assessed on their ability to complete story problems that contained the target vocabulary. At each phase of the intervention, students showed an increase in performance on both vocabulary words correctly identified and story problems correctly completed. Implications for practice and future directions for research are discussed.

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