This paper provides outcomes of a study examining the effectiveness of a year-long professional development training series designed to support in-service educators in learning a systematic approach to functional assessment-based interventions developed by Umbreit and colleagues (2007) that has met with demonstrated success when implemented with…

An emerging research tool used in recent years to better understand and improve teacher thinking has been the use of collaboration and collaborative action research. In our study, we were interested in whether teachers could enhance the learning of their subjects through the use of teaching techniques and strategies involving social interaction.…

Describes a simulation game, IDIOTS (Instructional Development in Ordinary Teaching Situations), which is designed to acquaint potential instructional developers, faculty and/or students, with the various aspects of instructional development. (RAO)

Use of building-level teacher assistance teams (TATs) to provide suggested alternative instructional strategies and support services to regular teachers with problem learners prior to referral to special education is discussed in terms of relationship to special education, purposes, organization and operation, staff training, attitudinal issues,…

This book helps school administrators redesign the professional development model to better reflect the relevant issues and realities of today's schools. Using the metaphor of architecture, the book outlines innovative ways to create and implement such a transformation and highlights the rationale behind why these changes are so crucial. It also…

The Problem Solving Team (PST) is a school-based group that provides consultation and follow-up assistance to insure proper placement of students in school site programs and to help decrease the number of inappropriate referrals to special education and other programs. A PST Project identified and analyzed the characteristics of successful PSTs in…

The book contains seven author contributed chapters on issues concerning inservice and staff development in special education. Major themes of the papers include the importance of participant involvement in the planning process, the importance of gaining support at the onset by district and building administrators, and the need for carefully…

This guide is a product of two teams of teachers who worked together to develop teaming techniques for open space schools. The purpose of the guide is to outline suggested steps to follow as various team teaching possibilities are implemented. The guide is organized in the following sections: (1) team building, (2) team operations, (3) team…

This guide provides staff development leaders in schools and school districts with practical information about professional development systems. It is organized in eight chapters, each dealing with a phase of an effective professional development program. The essential components of the program constitute a framework for staff development. The…

The trainer's manual for teaching aspects of the individualized educational plan (IEP) to teachers of special needs students is presented. An introductory section discusses the objectives of each of the five modules, provides a description of the IEP training materials, an overview of the training procedures, criteria and hints for trainers, a…

This paper addresses effective longitudinal technical assistance for professionals serving young children with challenging behaviors. Critical components of such assistance include identifying and training districtwide technical assistance teams, developing operating procedures, generating districtwide support, and evaluating team effectiveness.…

The reflections of two social scientists regarding an inservice education program for elementary school teachers were the basis of their approach to inservice programs: Teachers need to have analytical and inquiry skills that will allow them to read research reports and listen to inservice presentations, digest the information, and then apply what…

A middle school program designed to meet functional curriculum goals of students with mild and moderate disabilities in general education classrooms is described, with emphasis on specific preparation for teachers; extensive and thorough collaborative planning; and strong, ongoing implementation support. (DB)

Provided is a handbook on establishing educational programs for the learning disabled adolescent which resulted from a seminar involving secondary level educators. An introductory section provides background information and a summary of the other five sections. Section II on qualifications of secondary learning disability personnel is noted to…

This final report describes activities and accomplishments of the Carolina Model Inservice Training Project, a federally supported program in North Carolina to develop an effective and replicable inservice training model for assisting early intervention programs to apply a family-centered approach in their work with young children (birth to 8…