The authors of this article discuss a well-acknowledged fact in the world of education--for many students, parents, and teachers, the word "homework" elicits feelings of dread. Although homework is common in most educational settings, not all students benefit from this learning tool, especially without careful planning and forethought.…

The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) released joint guidance on January 7, 2015, reminding states, school districts, and schools of their obligations under federal law to ensure that English Learners (ELs) have equal access to a high-quality education and the opportunity to achieve…

The checklist provided here is intended to provide schools, districts, or other stakeholders in secondary transition with a framework for determining the degree to which their program is implementing practices that are likely to lead to more positive post-school outcomes for students with disabilities. The predictor categories listed have been…

This user-friendly book presents research-based best practices for serving families of children with special needs from birth to age 6. Expert contributors demonstrate how early intervention and early childhood special education can effectively address a wide range of family concerns, which in turn optimizes children's development and learning.…

This guide presents information and clinical tools to implement the Anger Coping Program, an empirically supported intervention for students in grades 3-6. Practitioners are taken step by step through setting up treatment groups, teaching vital skills for reducing aggression and disruptive behavior, and building strong partnerships with teachers…

Discusses ways that the special education teacher can prepare the classroom teacher, the handicapped student, nonhandicapped peers, the parents of both types of students, and administrators for the mainstreaming experience. The author's advice is summarized in a one-page checklist. This article is part of a theme issue on mainstreaming. (SJL)

From adding richness and variety to learning, to redesigning a playground, this highly accessible text will provide early years practitioners with a wealth of ideas on how to foster creative play and learning in the outdoor environment with a focus on interacting with the natural world. "Nature and Young Children" contains many simple ideas on the…

This guide suggests a fresh perspective for families and professionals working together to develop Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for students with disabilities living in Maryland. It begins by explaining the purpose of IEPs and by providing the principles for IEP development in Maryland. Information is then provided on how the IEP is…

An articulation program was developed in Reading, Massachusetts, for the progression of special needs students from elementary school to junior high school and from junior high school to senior high school. The procedure involved inservice workshops, interschool conferences between special needs and regular education staff, and parent involvement…

This book discusses several types of parent-teacher conferences and issues relevant to parent-teacher conferences in 10 chapters. Chapter 1 outlines a working model for successful parent-teacher conferences. Research on parent attitudes and relationships with teachers is summarized in chapter 2. Chapter 3 discusses communication topics, including…

The purpose of this manual is to provide supplemental information and to serve as a general resource for practitioners involved in the developmental and educational assessment of young children. The first section focuses on the process of assessing young handicapped children and includes specific information on indicators of potential problems in…

Written for Canadian parents of young children with special needs, this handbook provides information on ways in which parents can work with professionals (physicians, teachers, other school staff, social workers, psychiatrists, psychologists) in selecting and monitoring services for their special needs child. The first section considers the…

This chapter on collaborating with families is taken from a guide to designing, implementing, and evaluating instruction and services for students with disabilities. The chapter provides information abut values-based, family-centered programs that will involve all families and improve education programs and student outcomes. The tone is meant to…

This guide is designed to help principals provide better services to English language learners whom they suspect might have a disability. It provides recommendations from the National Association for Bilingual Education (NABE) for ensuring appropriate referral and services to these students. The first part contains self-assessment information that…

Designed for Massachusetts parents and adolescents with special health needs, this booklet provides information on the transition to adulthood. It covers four major areas of adulthood: health care, education, employment, and recreation. It includes: (1) a family fact sheet on health care transition that explains important issues and lists…