During early childhood, practitioners and family members are often tasked with determining optimal approaches to support social skill development in young children with developmental disabilities in inclusive and self-contained settings. Eight different evidence based approaches are highlighted (social narratives, scripting, pivotal response…

Discusses the attention process and indicates the crucial role it plays in oral learning (listening). (DD)

Explores the characteristics of inattention in school children and suggests strategies for teachers. Focuses on the psychological mechanisms of arousal (both tonic and phasic), selective attention, and divided attention. Characteristics of specific attentional problems are listed along with specific suggested teaching strategies. (DB)

Seventeen active attention-problem elementary children were given copying tasks to determine whether they were more attracted to color stimulation than normal controls. Among other findings, results suggested that experimental children responded to tasks differently when color was used and that their performance was better with relevant color than…

Precision teaching techniques can be used to chart students' attention span or endurance. Individual differences in attention span can then be better understood and dealt with effectively. The effects of performance duration on performance level, on error rates, and on learning rates are discussed. Implications for classroom practice are noted.…

Sixteen visually impaired children (aged 2-6) were exposed to a specially prepared visual stimulation video, and their vision attention was rated quantitatively and qualitatively. The results suggest that this technique could be useful in stimulating functional vision in young children. (Author)

This paper presents an intervention model for working with children having attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The model provides a methodological approach to treating ADHD through assessing the distractibility level of the child and using interventions in a systematic manner to enhance task completion. Preliminary information lists…

The relationship between dimensions of classroom environment and off-task behavior among kindergarten students engaged in academic activities is studied. Evidence is presented substantiating the importance of signal continuity in maintaining students' task-oriented behavior. (JMF)

This study examined the ability of a newly developed computerized visual vigilance measure, the Preschool Vigilance Task (PVT), to differentiate between 20 hyperactive and 20 control preschoolers. The PVT was developed to minimize cognitive requirements in a vigilance measure. The study compared performance of the subjects on the PVT and the…

Children who may appear to have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder may actually be "activity hyper" because they are asked to attend to tasks or activities inappropriate for their age or circumstances. Such preschoolers exhibit overactivity or distractibility due to a number of ecological variables such as a problem with classroom…

This study investigated the effects of prompting, or directing/controlling attention, during a reasoning task on the performance of 68 children with attention deficit disorders, learning disabilities, or no handicaps, in grades 1-12. All groups benefited from prompting, and prompting was related to a different set of cognitive processes in each…

The author offers suggestions of ways in which student or beginning teachers may gain class attention and hold the floor while still maintaining a positive teacher image. (MJB)

Off-the-shelf support containing all the vital information practitioners need to know about Speech and Language Difficulties, this book includes: (1) Strategies for developing attention control; (2) Guidance on how to improve language and listening skills; and (3) Ideas for teaching phonological awareness. Following a foreword and an introduction,…

Summarizes the immediate and long-range effects of two classroom treatment programs on the academic achievement and nonattending behaviors of elementary school boys. Compares the teacher-training method and the direct intervention method of implementing management strategies in regular classroom settings. (SB)

Offers strategies and accommodations educators can use with students having attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), including examples of their application with a 10th-grade student. Suggestions address the ADHD-friendly environment, student organization, following directions, large group instruction, maintaining attention to seatwork,…