Four paraprofessional staff members in a mainstreamed day care program were trained to engage in positive interactive behaviors during diaper changing. Results indicated that staff increased frequency of game playing and other interactive behaviors during diapering, but increases were not generalized to feeding routines. (Author/JDD)

Early results from the Vermont Portfolio Project, which evaluated the progress of fourth and eighth graders in reading and mathematics using samples of student products, suggests that improvement is still needed in both subjects. Many factors will influence this pilot project's future direction, including availability of resources and development…

Comparisons of data for Italy and other European countries show that Italy has lower educational attainment for the 25-64 age group, shorter length of compulsory schooling, and less inservice training for employed adults. The Centre for the Study of Social Investment in Italy identified needs for functional literacy, supplementary and vocational…

This article proposes criteria for selecting Spanish-speaking interpreters for communicating with families of students being considered for special education placement. It discusses responsibilities of interpreters, potential problems in using interpreters, and elements of a management system and training program for interpreters and school…

The Hanen Program for Early Childhood Educators provides caregivers in child care centers with on-site training in facilitating children's social, language, and literacy development. The program is conducted by a speech-language pathologist and consists of seven group training sessions and six individual videotaping sessions with feedback. A case…

This article describes new approaches to providing physical and occupational therapy intervention services in naturalistic early childhood settings and reviews the limited body of literature examining their efficacy. It offers assessment and intervention strategies that support a normalized approach to intervention and offers suggestions for…

Because staff development is the most important factor in advancing the middle school philosophy, administrators should take special care to make inservice activities meaningful. In a recent informal survey, 58 middle school teachers with varying degrees of experience and expertise identified adolescent development, interdisciplinary teaming, and…

Describes Oregon's Rural Early Intervention Training Project, a University of Oregon master's level training program that includes on-site courses and practicum supervision and summer on-campus course work and practicum. Discusses program philosophy, goals, and objectives; student recruitment process; course work; and evaluation measures. Includes…

Ten state education agencies participated in a satellite teleconferencing project which trained 128 attorneys as due process hearing officers. High-quality instruction was designed and methods were developed to ensure that participants were "on task." Satellite teleconferencing is concluded to be a compelling option for cost-effectively…

Describes five participatory workshop activities to be used when offering a communication workshop to help ensure that participants understand, retain and apply the ideas and information presented. Activities include second/foreign language simulation, speech reading, language/learning disabilities simulation, and coarticulation simulation.…

Examines the opportunities for and barriers to workplace learning among low-grade staff in the United Kingdom public sector and the role of managers and supervisors in providing access to learning opportunities. Describes innovative examples of workplace learning. Concludes that the reality for many low-grade manual and routine clerical staff…

Discusses the benefits of an enlarged view of learning that emphasizes the abilities of the individual learner and the role of the teacher as partner in a joint educational process and includes informal acquisition of skills on-the-job. Argues that much is to be learned from popular educational movements in Latin America. (KS)

A study investigated how phonemic-awareness research and intervention knowledge was successfully translated for teacher implementation in two kindergarten classes (n=27) over three years. Research-validated strategies were first identified, the research was translated into teacher friendly materials/procedures, teachers participated in choosing…

Advocates the use of scripted plays (called dramatic scenarios) to teach administrators and school-board members about the politics of educational decision-making. Includes a dramatic scenario involving the deliberations of a seven-person principal-selection committee. Summarizes administrator impressions of the scenario. (Contains 28 references.)…

Professional Development is an ideal way to ensure that early childhood teachers have the skills and knowledge they need to improve student achievement. Unfortunately, many teachers report that the workshops and in-services typically offered are of minimal value because they often do not relate to what is actually going on in their classrooms…