, B. (2007). Training teachers to follow a task analysis to engage middle school students with moderate and severe developmental disabilities in gradeappropriate literature. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 22(4), 206-219.

A comprehensive review of the literature was conducted for articles published between 1985 and May 2009 to (a) examine the degree to which science content was taught to students with severe developmental disabilities and (b) and evaluate instructional procedures in science as evidence-based practices. The review was organized by a conceptual model developed for science content. Seventeen experiments were analyzed for research quality where science content was taught to this population; 14 of these studies were viewed to be of high or adequate quality. In general, we found systematic instruction as an overarching instructional package to be an evidence-based practice for teaching science content. Furthermore, components of systematic instruction (i.e., task analytic instruction and time delay) were analyzed. We discuss the outcomes to reflect how to teach science, what science content to teach, why to teach science, and recommendations for future research and practice.

There has been limited research on the acquisition of grade-aligned science skills for students with moderate intellectual disability, with even more restriction on academic skills in inclusive settings. This study examined the effects of peer-mediated time-delay instruction to teach inquiry science and use of a knowledge chart to students with moderate intellectual disability in an inclusive setting. Six general education peers implemented an embedded constant time-delay procedure during three science units with 5 students with moderate intellectual disability. All 5 students increased the number of correct science responses across all science units. Three students required additional support by the special education teacher to reach mastery. In addition, all 6 peers were able to implement the intervention with high fidelity, while maintaining science grades at preintervention levels. High levels of social validity were reported.

This study evaluated strategies to teach secondary math and science content to students with moderate and severe developmental disabilities in a quasiexperimental group design with special education teachers randomly assigned to either the math or the science treatment group. Teachers in the math group implemented four math units representing four of the five national math standards. The science teachers implemented four science units representing three of eight national science content standards. A fourth standard, science as inquiry, was embedded within each of the units. Results showed students made gains in respective content areas. Students who received instruction in math scored higher than students who received instruction in science on the posttest of math skills. Likewise, students who received instruction in science scored higher than students who received instruction in math on the posttest of science vocabulary skills. Limitations and suggestions for future research and practice are discussed.

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