This study evaluated the effectiveness of high school tutors' implementation of "Great Leaps Reading" (Campbell, 1998), a reading fluency supplementary instructional program. The program consists of three sections: phonics, sight word phrases, and story passages. Daily 15-minute tutoring sessions involved repeated 1-minute timings of…

One of the hardest math skills for students to learn is fractions. This study used a multiple probe across participants to evaluate the effectiveness of a mnemonic strategy called LAP Fractions on six middle school students' ability to add and subtract fractions. Five of six participants were able to achieve mastery, and all six students…

Two studies assessed effects of training mildly handicapped students (N=6, ages 10-13) in the use of a self-evaluation and correction procedure on manuscript letter formation skills. All students attained independent use of the self-correction procedure in two to ten sessions with corresponding increases in correct letter production for all…

This study surveyed 60 persons involved in research and training with functional assessment procedures concerning use of such procedures with students who have mild disabilities. Results suggested there is little consensus as to the necessary and sufficient procedures for performing functional behavioral assessments with high incidence…

Incidental teaching procedures were used to train a 16-year-old mildly handicapped student to use social amenities in a resource classroom. Generalization to another resource room and an art classroom was assessed. Results indicated increased use of social amenities in the training setting and generalization settings. (Author/PB)

The study found that use of the computerized Classroom Assistant Networking System to monitor and score student responses in an elementary special education resource room substantially decreased teacher time spent on record keeping. Addition of an electronic gradebook, however, did not increase efficiency over a conventional gradebook in this…

The article summarizes results of three experiments evaluating the effectiveness of a packaged program for improving and maintaining the on-task behavior of mildly handicapped children through the use of variable interval reinforcement schedules. On-task behavior increased and was maintained in all three experiments and academic performance…

This study investigated the differential effects of pausing during mathematics instruction in which 22 students with mild disabilities either worked independently or together. Results provided support for incorporating pauses during lecture. Performance gains were found in both accuracy and fluency of computation. Only multiplication performance…

This study with 12 2nd- and 3rd-grade students with mild disabilities compared memory for new reading words following instructional sessions in which either word meaning or phonic cues were emphasized. The phonic instruction resulted in a greater number of words remembered either within sentences or on word lists. (Author/DB)

Two studies evaluated the effectiveness of guided notes with five secondary students with mild disabilities and three postsecondary students with learning disabilities. In both studies, use of guided notes resulted in significantly improved academic performance. (Author/DB)

The University of Oregon model teacher preparation program, called the Handicapped Learner Endorsement program, prepares teachers to work with students with mild handicaps and emphasizes direct instruction. This paper describes the program's core components and the procedures used to teach them, with specific emphasis on the supervisor's role in…

During sight word acquisition lessons, 11 mildly handicapped children, aged 6 to 11, were compared on questioning techniques--individual ordered questioning, or questioning requiring unison responding. Children learned the words taught with unison responding at a faster rate than the other words, though the difference was not great. (Author/JDD)

Sixteen articles dealing with prereferral intervention were examined to determine its effect on special education service delivery practices, student performance, teacher abilities and attitudes, and disability classification rate, as well as to identify types of interventions used. Findings indicated that prereferral intervention can increase…

This study found that a procedure involving choral responding and self-assessment accompanied by contingent praise may be an effective tool for teaching in-class transition skills to preschoolers with developmental delays. Active engagement sharply increased, with collateral decreases in competing behavior and levels of teacher prompting of target…

Three experiments compared the effects of interspersal drill and practice using 30% new items/70% review items with 100% new items, with a total of 17 students (ages 9 to 17) having behavior disorders, emotional handicaps, learning disabilities, or mild mental retardation. The ratios were compared for instruction in spelling, multiplication facts,…