Techniques to promote engagement in preschool children with special needs include rotating toys to maximize novelty, specifying engagement goals, and using individualized materials. Promoting engagement requires consideration of methods for determining engagement goals and ways to manage the logistics of the individualized program. (DB)

Observation of teacher and student behaviors in four areas (teacher cognitive, teacher management, student on-task and student off-task) revealed that teachers spent 48 percent of total classroom time in cognitive activities. (Author/CL)

The article reviews research on children's use of time with emphasis on maintaining "engagement" (developmentally and contextually appropriate behavior). Techniques for preschool teachers to use to promote high levels of engagement by children with or without disabilities are identified. (DB)

The author discusses ways in which special education classroom teachers can examine the ways in which their classrooms are organized to save academic time without losing common sense. (CL)

Organization of materials and stimuli presented on classroom walls can enhance acquisition, maintenance, and generalization of concepts presented to students, according to a limited study of elementary (including some special needs) students who were compared with students taught in a traditional situation. (CB)

A review of research relating to academic engaged time from the perspective of the special services provider indicated that academic engaged time is related to student achievement, and recommended that teachers provide greater supervision and monitoring, limit disruptions, provide feedback, use the direct instruction model, and encourage student…

A study examined 118 successfully inclusive classrooms in four high schools. Students with and without disabilities showed high levels of academic engagement and low levels of inappropriate behavior, teachers were active in their classrooms, and students with disabilities were more often the focus of teacher attention than typical students.…

The literature on effective instruction for difficult-to-teach students is reviewed. Preinstructional variables include classroom management planning and planning for instructional tasks (student assessments, communication of learning goals, pacing decisions, and time allocations). Instructional delivery variables include engagement time, success…

This English-Spanish language booklet is designed to help parents understand two important features of special education services, accommodations and modifications for students with disabilities. Examples of accommodations and modifications are provided, federal laws requiring schools to provide accommodations and modifications are cited, and…

Through a literature review and classroom observations, several variables affecting the quality of education were studied, focusing on processes related to student placement in special education and to instruction after placement. The study found that: (1) A dynamic interaction is needed among the referral, assessment, placement, and instruction…

The Middle School Study of Mainstreamed Students sought to establish a foundation for interdisciplinary research on middle school mainstreaming by merging teacher effectiveness and special education practices. The study examined teaching behaviors through macro (classroom) and micro (individual student) analyses of classroom interactions, to…