Teaching English language learners has long presented challenges for teachers tasked with bringing these students to a level of language comprehension comparable to that of native speakers. These challenges and issues can lead to difficulty comprehending core academic topics for those learning the English language. "Optimizing Elementary…

Educators today are challenged with the task of designing curricula and standards for students of varying abilities. While technology and innovation steadily improve classroom learning, teachers and administrators continue to struggle in developing the best methodologies and practices for students with disabilities. "Models for Effective…

Reintegration of 23 elementary-age students with mild disabilities who had been in special education pull-out programs into general education classrooms for reading instruction was evaluated using curriculum-based measurement. Results indicated that, on average, reintegrated students made academic gains comparable with their general education…

Evaluation of peer relations of 53 intermediate grade students participating in a pull-out enrichment program found that these children, relative to classmates, were evaluated positively by peers, demonstrated greater awareness of reciprocity in friendship relationships, and were perceived less often as either an aggressor or victim of aggression.…

Comparison of teaching behaviors across grade level and educational setting (resource and self-contained) of 65 beginning teachers found main effects for both grade level and educational setting including that elementary teachers provided more transitions between instructional activities and that teachers in self-contained settings exhibited more…

The researchers who conducted a study of the views of regular elementary teachers toward provision of special services through either "pull-in" or "pull-out" programs consider the researcher's role as change agent. The authors stress the timing of their research (with new legislation mandating consultant teacher services) and…

This study compared regular education teacher evaluations of the social competence of elementary children with learning disabilities (n=68) receiving services in either traditional "pull out" models or in "integrated" programs. It found that service delivery model alone without any specific planned social-behavioral interventions did not have a…

Two studies compared the inclusion only, pull-out only, and combined services models for elementary students with mild disabilities, using a survey of 80 teachers and comparison of reading improvement in 240 students in the 3 models. Teacher satisfaction and student progress in reading were significantly greater for the combined services model.…

Two elementary teachers rated 91 learning-disabled students (56 mainstreamed and 35 in self-contained classes) using the Weller-Strawser Scales of Adaptive Behavior. Results indicated that personality variables and problem behavior were related to teachers' perceptions of the ability of learning-disabled students to adapt to the classroom.…

This article analyzes national and state placement patterns for students with serious emotional disturbance between 1988 and 1991. Findings indicate that many states report substantial increases or decreases in percentage of children served in regular education classes, resource rooms, separate classes, or separate facilities. State demographic…

This study compared the self-concepts of secondary students in either a segregated (institutional), congregated, or mainstream resource program setting. Results suggested academic advantages in attending resource programs and social advantages in segregated settings. Integrated deaf students had better self-perceptions of reading ability than…

Research on the analysis of time-series data has shown that decisions reached through visual analysis of the data may be influenced by the statistical parameters of those data. The current study investigated the statistical properties of curriculum-based time-series data for 68 elementary resource room students in four Minnesota school districts.…

Four expert high school special education resource teachers were observed providing classroom instruction. Content analysis of postobservation interview transcripts was used to identify the presence of 124 reflective practice indicators in the subjects' instructional decisions: 49 for personal responsibility, 39 for testing, and 36 for problem…

This study investigated effects of microcomputer placement in three resource rooms for learning disabled elementary school children to explore student and teacher behavior changes and teacher microcomputer use. Results indicate no significant impact on student and teacher behavior. Teacher use varied, with teachers assigning different priority…

This study compared the literal and inferential comprehension abilities for textual, functional, and recreational text genres of 195 students who were deaf or hard of hearing. Literal comprehension exceeded inferential comprehension for males but not females. Educational setting (special class, resource room, or fully mainstreamed) influenced…