This study used a quasi-experimental research design to examine the impact of a professional learning program designed to enhance the competency of children with Autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Learning Disabilities and to develop knowledge, understanding and skills of teachers and parents in helping them. Data were collected…

Sixty-four emotionally handicapped elementary school students with no neurological defect or subnormal intelligence were randomly assigned to four experimental regular classes, and two contrast special classes. The experimental classes received a modified curriculum utilizing the simulated environments technique through the unit approach in social…

The study described here was conducted to compare classrooms in France and the United States. Two brief episodes from a U.S. first-grade classroom and two from a French first-grade classroom were shown to groups of parents and teachers in France, and to groups of teachers in the United States. Participants were asked to record their reactions on a…

Cooperative learning aims to enhance students' on-task interactive behaviors in the classroom. Observation in Israeli elementary schools has indicated that interactive behavior of students in their learning sequence holds potential for quality cooperation and help among children, but that teachers lack the skills to structure learning tasks that…

This report offers some concepts and procedures intended to help teachers in motivating students to physically, cognitively, and behaviorally attend to academic tasks in the classroom setting. A discussion is presented on the importance of assessing and identifying the academic behaviors and subject skills that each student can successfully…

A study was conducted (1) to investigate factors that influence an instructor's choice of behavior when confronted with incidents of students' poor communication performance, and (2) to demonstrate how attribution theory can be used as a vehicle for describing and understanding the causes of instructor reactions or behaviors. The study sought to…

The learning module described here focuses on classroom management. It is for the use of both preservice and inservice teachers. The primary focus of the modules is on increasing understanding of students, with the object of increasing teacher effectiveness in class management. Basic teaching skills and behaviors are covered. A critique of the…

The collection of readings for children was developed as part of the Portage Project which serves approximately 150 rural preschool handicapped and nonhandicapped children by providing them with a home teacher who instructs parents on how to teach their children. Readings cover the following topics: definitions of terms to know; the home teaching…

Training methods naturally employed by trainers were analyzed and compared to systematic structured training procedures. Trainers were observed teaching retarded subjects how to assemble a bicycle brake, roller skate, carburetor, and lawn mower engine. Trainers first taught using their own (personal) method, which was recorded in terms of types of…

The present study focuses on two major questions. First, how often are potentially reinforcing behaviors emitted by teachers in naturally occurring classrooms? Second, what is the relationship between the display of potentially reinforcing behaviors by the teacher and the task-orientation of randomly selected students in the classrooms. Students…

Following a review of research findings on the relationship between teacher behavior and student achievement, current activities in teacher effectiveness research are discussed. Two major trends emerge in recent research studies. Existing correlational findings on the topic are being integrated and applied to contexts beyond basic skills…

The purpose of this publication is to present methods designed to develop a greater awareness of the affective domain and to examine the way children's literature and poetry is used at school and at home. The 12 articles provide information about the following topics: developing an awareness of attitudes, examining approach-avoidance behaviors in…

This issue of "Insights Into Open Education" investigates various aspects of the problems and potential of mainstreaming handicapped children into the regular school program. Brekke, in an article entitled "How Can Teachers Begin to Meet the Special Needs of Mainstreamed Children in the Regular Classroom?" asserts that teachers must concentrate on…