Concentrating on the development of the brain, this book discusses the impact of children's social environment on their potential for psychological and personal growth. The introduction identifies many child and adolescent behavior patterns that have changed within the last 20 years and are symptomatic of larger societal problems, which include:…

Responding to the growing consensus among researchers and educators that prevention of learning problems makes more sense than remediation, this book presents essays that suggest ways to improve literacy instruction for all children, particularly those who are at risk. Essays in the book discuss practical matters such as funding, curriculum,…

This practicum report describes development of a system of family support services for 56 parents of preschool handicapped children (ages birth to 3) in an early intervention setting. A preliminary survey was administered to determine family needs. A family support group was then developed which met monthly for fellowship, networking, work…

In recent years, government has recognized that programs like Head Start are cost-effective investments that improve the school readiness of disadvantaged children. Over the last decade, states have been leaders in supporting services to infants and toddlers and their families. Examples of such initiatives include Hawaii's Healthy Start program,…

Designed to help political leaders plan and organize a systematic set of government initiatives and policies to improve the quality of life for American families, this document provides a blueprint for mounting a comprehensive effort in support of America's children and their families. The document begins by outlining the need for a national plan,…

This handbook is designed to help public school administrators to develop policies and procedures that allow for the appropriate educational placement of preschool children with disabilities in mainstreaming settings. Part I contains background information and materials on legal requirements related to mainstreaming, the efficacy of early…

A case study assessed the effectiveness of Reading Recovery as a reading intervention program for students in the first grade. The subject was a 6-year-old boy in the first grade who was experiencing difficulty in learning to read. The student was selected to receive tutoring based on his scores on informal reading assessments as well as on his…

This paper explores how family stories can be used in the professional preparation of early interventionists working with families of children with disabilities. It provides a rationale for using family stories in training, noting that they are inherently interesting, provide affective awareness, and provide access to understanding multiple…

This report details a program design for improving fine arts instruction among at-risk students. The participants were in a second and third grade bilingual class and a first-through third-grade learning disabled and behavior disordered class in an at-risk elementary school along with a heterogeneous fourth-grade class in a neighboring Midwest…

This manual, part of Project STEPS (Sequenced Transition to Education in the Public Schools) is intended to provide teachers, particularly those at the preschool level, with ideas for increasing independence in young children as they make the transition from preschool to school-age programs. Section 1 is an overview of instructional issues which…

This booklet describes services provided in Alaska for infants and toddlers with special developmental needs under Part H of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act in 1996-1997. Introductory information includes a mission statement, a listing of six early intervention service principles, and a summary of the history of early intervention…

This guide for parents provides information on the early intervention program in New York for infants and toddlers with disabilities. It includes information on: (1) eligibility requirements for early intervention services; (2) symptoms that may indicate infants or toddlers have a disability; (3) the importance of parent participation in seeking…

High quality training is necessary to ensure that early childhood and child care practitioners are equipped to meet the diverse needs of the children and families they serve. This book presents the professional development partnership model of The Center for Career Development in Early Care and Education, a strategy to build a comprehensive career…

This compilation of essays and resources focuses on acceptance of children with disabilities and cooperation between parents and early intervention specialists. The compilation includes the following items written by Jan Spiegle-Mariska (sometimes cited as Jan Mariska): "Building Effective Parent/Professional Partnerships"; "What…

This document is a formal analysis of and report on the House of Representative's Bill 2313, the School Dropout Demonstration Amendments; the Bill amends the School Dropout Demonstration Assistance Act of 1988, but authorizes continued funding for the original 1988 legislation, which established funding for dropout prevention programs, reentry…