The paper presents a rationale for involving parents of handicapped children in the multidisciplinary team process and offers suggestions to facilitate the involvement. Parental rights guaranteed by P.L. 94-142, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, are summarized. Advantages of parent involvement include increased understanding of their…

The teacher's role in creatively and effectively involving school volunteers in educational programs is spelled out in this guide. After explaining the value of volunteers to schools, teachers, and students, the booklet suggests and expands on 12 steps teachers can take to obtain full value from volunteers: (1) assess teacher and classroom needs,…

A survey was conducted nationally to determine the number of colleges and universities involved in team training and the manner in which training is provided. Results indicated that 48% of the 360 responding institutions do not offer team training. Of those programs with team training, the majority infuse the training components into existing…

Article provided a glimpse at the origins and processes of educational innovation and change. (Author/RK)

The article describes a hike up Slide Mountain (New York) undertaken by the 5th grade class of Phoenicia Elementary School (Woodstock). (KM)

A method of instruction is presented in which learners construct their own understanding by engaging in experiments directed to solving specified problems. The method is based on how successful inventors learn and create new inventions.

The potential of multidisciplinary teams to control for possible errors in diagnosis, classification, and placement and to provide a vehicle for ensuring effective outcomes of diagnostic practices is illustrated. The present functions of the school-based multidisciplinary team (also called, for example, assessment team, child study team, placement…

The author recommends the use of a multidisciplinary team approach to language facilitation with mentally handicapped children. The role of the team in developing communication skills in the child is discussed, and a model of communication with three principle components (linguistic aspects, paralinguistic aspects, and interaction management) is…

The paper discusses the role of the Child Life Worker as a member of a multidisciplinary team in the rehabilitation of cancer patients and their families when children are involved. It is noted that the concepts can be applied to any chronic pediatric illness or handicapping condition. (Author/SBH)

The paper describes procedures that may be used by educational teams to obtain and organize formal and informal data regarding children's primary language skills. The procedures are explained to involve attention to linguistic components, linguistic processes, and the referential or conceptual system represented by observable language behavior.…

The author recommends that special educators reject an analytical view of parents and explore strategies for equal status teamwork. Suggestions for normalizing the special educator's relationship with parents are included. (Author/SBH)

This study examined the effects of a unique form of team competition involving competition among individuals and teams on a variety of classroom group processes. A 3 x 2 (treatment x teacher) design was employed using intact high school social studies classes over a 12-week period. When compared to individual competitions, the team competition…

Using a computer as a data source for a complex, open-ended problem, it was found that individuals approached problem solving differently than do pairs, and that the ability of the subjects determined the type of data requested, and how long it was processed. (JD)

The article reviews curriculum areas, team roles and approaches, and the transdisciplinary approach in developing individualized education programs for physically handicapped students. (CL)

Recreational programs involving experience in outdoor activities for groups provide education as well as adventure. (JD)