The relationship between emotional intelligence and the learning motivation of students with specific learning disorders moderated by the inclusion ability of special education teachers in Arab minority in Israel

ABSTRACT This study examined the relationship between special education teachers'emotional intelligence and the learning motivation of students with specific learning disorders, moderated by the teachers' inclusion ability in regular education in Arab minority in Israel. The research setup is quantitative-correlative. The sample included 406 special education teachers (128 male and 278 female) in elementary and middle schools. The participants were asked to answer the following self-report questionnaires: sociodemographic background data, emotional intelligence, learning motivation, and a school inclusion index. The findings indicated significant positive relationships between emotional intelligence, school inclusion ability and learning motivation among the students from the teachers' viewpoint. In addition, the school inclusion variable was a moderator between the teachers' emotional intelligence and the learning motivation of the students with specific learning disabilities. Also, differences were found in the teachers' emotional intelligence and school inclusion ability on the demographic variables: age, gender, role and teaching experience. The necessary conclusion indicated that intelligent use of emotion and inclusion ability predict the learning motivation among students with specific learning disorders.