This article argues that the single most important event influencing the gifted field has been the opportunity for sharing through consultation within various agencies. It describes the annual summer conference and institute at the University of Connecticut that allows for in-depth learning, discussion of controversial issues, and interaction with…

Tabulation of first authors in 16 selected educational journals between 1986-96 revealed a total of 1,530 individuals who wrote two or more articles in at least one publication. The top 31 authors published in a few journals; 10 of these are independent writers or consultants, the rest faculty. (Contains 23 references.) (MLH)

Content analysis of focus groups attended by 86 early intervention specialists revealed six factors affecting professional comfort with consultation: (1) child characteristics, (2) consultee characteristics, (3) program characteristics, (4) consultant characteristics, (5) available resources, and (6) consultant's history with the program. No…

Portfolio work has become recognized as a significant if under-researched form of work emerging in changing work structures. This article presents findings of a qualitative study of nurses and adult educators who function as 'portfolio professionals', in that they contract their services to multiple employers and organizations. Proceeding from…

In response to (a) an increasing need to support children with emotional and behavioral challenges in childcare settings and (b) the high rates of expulsion among preschool children, mental health consultation in early childhood settings is becoming an increasingly popular intervention strategy. At the same time, there is little agreement or…

Jim Black is president of SEM WORKS, one of the leading higher education consulting firms in the area of enrollment management. Dr. Black has delivered keynote addresses and conducted training workshops for business leaders and educators worldwide. His areas of expertise include leadership, organizational change, customer service, strategic…

This paper contributes to the dearth of literature on the implementation of the National Geography Standards. A survey instrument was sent to Teacher Consultants from 25 randomly selected Geography Education Alliances. Based on the data presented we concluded that there is a relationship between the implementation of the National Geography…

Based on changes in the delivery of early childhood special education (ECSE) services, an argument is made for including content related to the purposes and models of consultation as well as collaborative process skills in personnel preparation programs for early childhood special educators. The content of current personnel preparation programs…

Early Head Start (EHS) programs have become increasingly interested in using a reflective practice approach to help staff members attend to themselves as well as to the families they serve. Paying attention to the relationships between program staff members, between staff and families, and between parents and children is key to a successful…

Jennifer Boss, Senior Program Associate at ZERO TO THREE, spoke with three infant mental health consultants who worked with three different Early Head Start programs as part of the Pathways to Prevention (PTP) initiative. The interviews particularly focused on how to infuse technology into consultation arrangements that center around building and…

Initiating a consulting model for librarianship in a small college library involved a transition to an organizational model that defines positions by their relationship to constituencies. As a case study of such a transformation demonstrates, such an ''outward'' looking organization has resulted in an increased number of instruction sessions,…

Drawing on relevant literature and a study carried out by the author and colleagues, this article reviews the evidence about children's expressed views on methods used by adults to obtain children's views. It identifies key considerations deployed by children to account for those preferences. Children are normally passive with respect to method…

In an illustrative case study we describe the process and outcome of class wide behavioral consultation with a public school teacher to improve her implementation of instructional procedures. Consultation emphasized formulation of a classroom behavior support plan, selection of mutually determined intervention objectives, data-based decision…

The two studies presented in this report were designed to test the effectiveness of a new diagnostic-based reading intervention for classroom teachers, called the Targeted Reading Intervention (TRI). This TRI Tier 2 intervention stressed diagnostic teaching as the key to helping struggling readers make rapid progress in reading in the regular…

The inclusion of students with learning disabilities in the general education setting has resulted in a dramatic shift in the roles of educators, school psychologists, and administrators alike. Although many changes were anticipated, some were not. The primary purpose of this study was to engage school psychologists in a focus group to explore…