Autism is characterized by deficits in pretend play, perspective taking, initiating and responding to others, and other profound social impairments. As the incidence of children being identified with autism increases, so does the need for effective interventions that target social skills development. Over the last decade, social skills…

This study investigated the effects of repeated readings on the reading abilities of 4, third-, fourth-, and fifth-grade English language learners (ELLs) with specific learning disabilities (SLD). A multiple baseline probe design across subjects was used to explore the effects of repeated readings on four dependent variables: reading fluency…

This investigation built upon previous studies that compared effectiveness and efficiency among instructional methods. Instructional effectiveness and efficiency were compared among three conditions: an incremental rehearsal, a more challenging ratio of known to unknown interspersal word procedure, and a traditional drill and practice flashcard…

Childhood obesity has become a problem of epidemic proportions in the United States, but much of the research has focused on prevention and intervention programs, which target the general population of school children. Overlooked in the literature are children with special needs (including autism, genetic disorders, Down syndrome, and Prader-Willi…

In schools and classrooms across the country, educators are working to raise the achievement of all students to ever-higher levels. Yet, often missing in discussions about how to raise academic performance is the "way" in which individual students go about learning. One aspect of a student's approach to learning is his or her use of learning…

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of systematic instruction with a concrete representation on the acquisition of an algebra skill for students with moderate developmental disabilities. Three high school students with moderate developmental disabilities participated in this study. A multiple probe across participants research…

Strategies to promote generalization among special education students moving to regular classrooms include changing reinforcement, cues, materials, response set, dimensions of the stimulus, settings, and teachers. Each strategy is addressed and a form to plan and monitor generalization offered. (CL)

The present study used a multiple baseline across participants design to assess whether 4 children with autism could learn a generalized repertoire of helping adults with different tasks through the use of a multicomponent teaching package. Different helping responses were taught in the presence of multiple exemplars of discriminative stimuli…

We describe an evidence-based continuing professional development programme on knowledge integration (KI) for high-school physics teachers. Sixteen teachers participated in the year-long programme (about 40 face-to-face lessons and in-between computerised interactions). The teachers experienced the KI activities as learners and then engaged in an…

Caregivers of 608 (331 boys and 277 girls) children in Shanghai, China reported on their children's language development and on the language teaching practices used in the home. The children were between 24 and 47 months old. The relation of age-corrected language level to paternal education, child gender, and teaching practice use was examined.…

An alternative descriptive approach to selecting good examples of a category for generalization learning was compared to the standard system (a seven-point rating scale). Results revealed that the descriptive procedure is a viable alternative for teachers. Suggestions are offered for instruction of generalized object categories. (CL)

The authors detail sequence for teaching independent living skills to optimize generalization for severely handicapped persons. Six steps are addressed and examples offered: (1) define the activity's parameters; (2) analyze activity's variations; (3) select representative teaching examples; (4) sequence representative teaching examples; (5) teach…

To succeed in moving into regular class settings, learning disabled and other handicapped students must acquire generalization strategies. Approaches to aid generalization include verbal or written instructions, feedback, reteaching and positive practice, rewards or contracts, and peer cooperation. (CL)

This case study examines the use of two assistive technologies, the Franklin Language Master 6000b and Microsoft PowerPoint 2003, as visual support systems to aid in the vocabulary acquisition skills of a student with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The intervention used children's literature and best practices in teaching vocabulary skills in…

Play is, by definition, internally motivated, flexible, spontaneous and voluntary. Yet some researchers claim to have taught children with autism to play using behavioural interventions that are heavily structured, repetitive and make use of external reinforcements. In the current systematic review, we examine the extent to which these claims are…