Academically gifted students or high potential learners don't feel challenged in regular classrooms. Teachers in schools are also not quipped with pedagogical interventions to meet the advanced learning needs of gifted students. Mentoring is considered an effective method to guide, motivate and optimize learning abilities of gifted students. The…

Functional communication training (FCT) is a strategy to address problem behavior for students with various disabilities that is supported by a broad evidence base. Despite this support, multiple factors continue to dissuade educators from utilizing FCT in their classrooms. This article outlines the process of developing and implementing FCT plans…

Many students possess their own unique potential and "genius," but seem to base their worth on the status of grades instead of their connection to education itself. Antonio Salieri, for instance, created wonderful, emotionally binding music throughout his lifetime. Salieri however, never saw the beauty in his work because Mozart, a child…

Overrepresentation of Dual Language Learners (DLLs) in special education remains a problem even after 40 years of inquiry. One factor is that the U.S. federal government has neither clearly explained the definition of Specific Learning Disability (SLD) nor operationally defined it to identify children for special education services. This lack of…

To explore possible reasons for low self-identification rates among undergraduates with learning disabilities (LD), we asked students (38 with LD, 100 without LD) attending two large, public, research-intensive universities to respond to a questionnaire designed to assess stereotypes about individuals with LD and conceptions of ability. Responses…

The paper describes an approach to assessing the visual functioning of severely and/or profoundly impaired students. The assessment consists of three phases: identification, testing, and formal assessment. A checklist is used for identification. Testing considerations include medical factors (such as medications and effects of other handicaps),…

Provides a test for counselors to determine their current level of knowledge concerning suicide. Also provides methods of determining the potential suicide risks for persons as well as strategies for suicide intervention. Intended for counselors who deal with suicidal behavior on an occasional basis. (Author)

This practicum was designed to improve Child Protective Services in a western state to sexually reactive children under the age of 10 by targeting four areas of the service delivery system: screening, assessment, treatment, and foster care. A panel of agency staff from all service areas researched, designed, proposed, and implemented changes…

Wisconsin has been exploring educational targets or outcomes since 1992 in conjunction with legislation mandating student assessment. While the establishment of outcomes does not necessarily indicate that a school subscribes to an outcome-based education (OBE) philosophy, the two could go together. OBE requires identification of outcomes prior to…

One of the most critical needs in Florida's "Reading First" schools is to improve the effectiveness of interventions for struggling readers. For example, during the 2005-2006 school year, only 17% of first grade students who began the year at some level of risk for reading difficulties finished the year with grade level skills on the…

The impact that high school and college experiences and activities have on students' musical independence (MI) was investigated. MI is related to the actual production and performance of music, as opposed to musical achievement or the mastery of any academic skill related to music. Colwell's Musical Achievement Test 3, Musical Achievement Test 4,…

With the implementation in 2003 of the federal education law known as No Child Left Behind, students from all cultural and linguistic backgrounds, including English language learners (ELLs), are required to perform well on state assessments. Since the numbers of ELLs in schools are growing and since schools are held accountable for all students'…

Guidelines are presented for evaluating instructional materials with regard to racist, sexist, cultural, religious, economic, and other bias. Schools play a significant role in promoting or negating societal points of view. Although no attempt is made to prepare an exhaustive list of indicators of bias, examples are given of bias through…

This paper presents survey results of the attitudes and practices of elementary school board members in Ontario, Canada in relation to early identification of children's learning abilities and related intervention. A short questionnaire, intended to provide a global picture of early identification work being carried out was sent to all elementary…

The COMP-Ident Assessment Format for developing assessment and intervention procedures to follow up initial screening of preschool handicapped children in rural areas is the second stage in the HICOMP Project. Linkage between assessment and programming includes describing the child's current levels of functioning in all areas; specifying long- and…