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…

This paper offers a model of visual functioning focusing on three factors: (1) visual capacity, (2) visual processing, and (3) visual attention. Practical implications of visual therapy are considered, and intervention strategies with children with impaired visual functioning are suggested. (Author/DB)

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)

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…

This article examines school dropout rates, the impact of dropouts on society, and the prevention of dropouts by early identification of "reluctant learners" and early instructional interventions that address motivation, self-concept, attention, and learning strategies. At the secondary level, intervention should focus on school conditions that…

Children with mental retardation are particularly prone to failure on relational tasks such as oddity and match-to-sample, suggesting a differential sensitivity to relational information. This paper reports on several studies in which characteristics of stimulus arrays were enhanced. Results demonstrated the theoretical and practical significance…

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 effect of FM (frequency modulation) auditory trainer use on attending behaviors of 36 students (ages 5-10) with learning disabilities. Children wearing the auditory trainers scored better than control students on eye contact, having body turned toward sound source, and absence of extraneous body movement and vocal…

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)

A review of 27 studies found that self-monitoring can be successfully used with special education students to decrease inappropriate classroom behavior and to increase attention to task, positive classroom behaviors, and some social skills. Self-monitoring also appears to increase the likelihood of generalizing learned behaviors to new settings.…

Tourette Syndrome is described in terms of causes, treatment, associated disorders (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, obsessive-compulsive behaviors, learning disabilities), and classroom management (dealing with tics, writing problems, language problems, and attention problems). Common teacher questions concerning Tourette Syndrome are…

Three highly distractible female students, aged 9 through 11, with mild to moderate mental handicaps completed a 5-step training process followed by student self-monitoring with no tangible extrinsic reinforcement for improved performance. Results found increased on-task behavior in all subjects and increased academic productivity in two.…

This guide addresses issues concerned with the reintegration of students with traumatic brain injuries (TBI) into the classroom. It first provides a definition of TBI and identifies characteristics of students with TBI. The guide then discusses cognitive consequences of TBI, with emphasis on deficits of executive function, attention, and memory.…

This article describes common forms of relaxation training that can be used with at-risk or exceptional students in remedial, special education, or regular settings. In addition to reviewing salient research assessing the effects of relaxation training on reading achievement, attention, hyperactivity, impulsivity, self-concept, stress, and…

This book offers 27 papers addressing critical issues in the assessment of students with all kinds of learning disabilities. Papers have the following titles and authors: "Critical Issues in the Measurement of Learning Disabilities" (G. Reid Lyon); "A Matrix of Decision Points in the Measurement of Learning Disabilities" (Barbara K. Keogh);…