Title: Singing About Expected Behaviors For Group Instruction

This poster will present results of a study in which a song was used to gain and maintain the attention of first grade students with Autism Spectrum Disorder during group instruction. The study will be conducted using an AB design to determine if interruptions decrease after introducing a novel song. Research Question Will singing a song paired with visuals gain and maintain the attention of students with Autism Spectrum Disorder during group instruction? Statement of the Problem With an increase in prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) more students are being placed in self-contained classrooms to accommodate their needs to provide an appropriate education. The current maximum for an ASD self-contained classroom in the state of Florida is set at 12 students. Teachers may find themselves in a room with varying behaviors and only one paraprofessional to assist them. With a 2:6 adult/student ratio, teachers may find it difficult to gain attention from their students to begin lessons and also maintain their attention throughout the lesson. This is because one of the key behaviors in ASD is a lack of joint attention. Student attention is vital to learning and with the No Child Left Behind Act, it is becoming increasingly important for children to show adequate academic growth in school. Purpose The purpose of this study is to determine if singing a about expected behaviors will increase student attention before and during whole group academic instruction