Despite the requirement that teachers implement evidence-based instruction in their classrooms, a significant research-to-practice gap persists. Far too often, teachers resort to quick fixes found through online searches or rely on conventional wisdom to make instructional decisions. This is no surprise as identifying evidence-based interventions…

This column provides practical suggestions to help guide teachers in utilizing classroom sets of iPads. Following a brief introduction to tablet technology in inclusive classrooms and the origin of these recommendations from a case study focus group, important elements of setting up classroom iPad use, from finding funding to teaching apps, are…

Core instruction is an important part of an effective response to intervention (RTI) model. To implement RTI effectively, school teams should regularly examine the effectiveness of their core instruction to determine if at least 80% of students meet the proficiency standard with core support alone. However, some educators may not have the skills…

Students with mild and moderate disabilities need to be skillful at problem solving. This article provides an overview of a problem-solving intervention designed to teach students with mild and moderate disabilities the skills of problem solving. An explanation of the assessments, materials, instructional outline, and methods is presented.…

School-based response to intervention (RTI) teams must gather, organize, chart, and interpret essential instructional information to make effective adjustments to meet the academic needs of struggling learners. Quantified data such as student proficiency scores, rate of progress trends, and achievement gap results provide the foundation for making…

Peer-mediated instruction holds particular promise as an effective educational strategy for children with learning disabilities. When properly implemented, peer-mediated instructional approaches permit active engagement, frequent opportunities to respond, immediate error correction, prompt feedback on the correctness of responses, and motivational…

The Wisconsin Hills (Brookfield, Wisconsin) Elementary School Peer Intervention Team (PIT Crew) is a group of collaborating classroom teachers, specialty area teachers, and support staff who consult with one another to develop intervention strategies to assist students. The PIT Crew model has resulted in fewer referrals for special education…

The Instructional Priority System is presented as a collaborative approach in which teachers, specialists, students, and their parents participate in the instructional decision-making process for developing, implementing, and generalizing learning strategies. The skills needed by the student are identified and prioritized, and responsibilities…

A model secondary program designed to support students with learning disabilities in the regular classroom is described. Disadvantages of pull-out programs are examined and expansion of learning resource center services to all students is discussed. The role of collaboration among teachers, counselors, principals, and parents in the model program…