When students are struggling to be successful in the general classroom, collaborative efforts should include planning for academic and social needs. Students with disabilities may display significant social difficulties such as establishing friendships or feelings of isolation and loneliness. Because peer relationships in childhood play a…

Researchers reviewed 20 articles on peer tutoring research in secondary settings and addressed demographics of tutors and tutees, content areas in which peer tutors were employed, tutor training required for implementing effective tutoring programs, and the effects of peer tutoring on tutee performance. Generally, peer tutoring in secondary…

The booklet describes the conceptual approach and operation of the evaluation plan used by Project CAST (Community and School Together), a community-ased career education program for handicapped students. Three levels of evaluation are proposed for providing data for both formative and summative evaluation; these levels are: (1) effort evaluation,…

Self awareness of academic skills by 9 primary age and 15 intermediate age mildly mentally handicapped (MiMH) students in a special class and 14 intermediate age learning disabled students in a resource room was measured. Ss completed a modification of H. Myklebust's Pupil Rating Scale. Results indicated primary MiMH Ss consistently rated…

The theoretical background and empirical studies concerned with the relationship between language and cognition in bilingual children and in bilingual mildly retarded children are examined. It is suggested that the effects of bilingualism are not necessarily detrimental to mildly handicapped children. Cognitive and interactional factors in the…

The paper describes application of the collaborative/consultant model to the education of special needs students in the Mendocino Unified School District (California), a small rural district. Benefits of the model for students include reduction of stigma attached to labeling and pull-out, and for teachers, shared responsibility for instruction. At…

Sixty-eight learning disabled and reading disabled junior high school-aged youths participated in two experiments regarding use of spatial organizers to increase prose recall. In Experiment 1, learners were required to study either a spatially organized illustration or a randomized (list format) illustration prior to hearing a related prose…

The paper describes "Parents and Teachers--Partners in Learning Project," a program to assist parents of mildly retarded handicapped preschoolers to acquire skills needed to reinforce learning. The program involves a series of television tapes designed to develop awareness and a parent training library which includes such items as books,…

Project INTERACT, a Job Training and Partnership Act state funded project, is designed to facilitate school-to-work transition for mildly to moderately handicapped adolescents. The program provides school-based instruction in social behaviors associated with successful job performances. Following instruction, the students are provided with…

The study evaluated the role of instructional design in the field test and revision process for a computer-assisted instructional program with 26 secondary resource room students. Scores significantly favored students receiving the revised program. (Author/DB)

Teachers can help students with learning problems in solving arithmetic word problems by following the principles commonly used in the design of Direct Instruction curricula: teach rules and strategies rather than rote memorization; sequence examples and skills carefully; and introduce and review skills cumulatively. (CB)

Basic assumptions of the Regular Education Initiative (which encourages closer coordination of regular and special education) were examined. The authors assert that students are not overidentified for special education, that student failure is not due only to teacher shortcomings, and that variability in student performance will increase not…

The paper presents the concept of policy analysis, as distinct from policy advocacy, in light of recent proposals to restructure present special and regular education practice with mildly handicapped students. A comprehensive policy analysis to clarify the objectives of the Regular Education Initiative is recommended to assess its impact.…

The article critiques the current research base concerning the influence of mainstreaming on the social emotional competence of mildly handicapped children and describes a proposed study emphasizing longitudinal analysis, assessment in multiple environments, and the use of multitrait-multimethod methodologies. (Author/DB)

Normally developing and mildly developmentally delayed preschool-age boys were brought together to form playgroups. Videotapes of the groups and peer sociometric ratings indicated that delayed children had a deficit in peer-related social interactions and were seen as less competent and of lower social status by peers. (PCB)