This discussion of collaboration between general and special educators focuses on selection of instructional interventions in mainstream settings and curriculum-based methods of evaluating programs designed to increase the academic performance of students with and without disabilities. It then suggests ways to incorporate data-based decision…

Discusses the use of a consultative therapy model to provide physical and occupational therapy services in the schools, including standards for selecting this approach, preparation for teachers and therapists implementing the model, communication between teachers and therapists, and the need to supplement teachers' time for motor programming with…

Recounts author's experiences over a two-year period in addressing the emotions and actions of nondisabled children in an after-school program toward a child with Downs syndrome. Discusses efforts to enhance children's understanding and compassion, share their feelings about their disabled peer, and encourage the child's participation. (KB)

Research indicates that inclusive education promotes and enhances all students' social growth within inclusive classrooms and does not negatively affect typical students' academic growth. Studies also show that the presence of students with severe disabilities in regular classrooms does not affect teachers' levels of allocated or engaged time. Six…

Describes a program for a project approach in inclusive classrooms which balances the needs of children with and without developmental delays and provides effective and efficient learning. Provides guidance in choosing the project topic, introducing ideas, implementing project activities, completing the project, and evaluating the experience. (SD)

Surveyed reactions of experienced primary teachers to the educational changes mandated by the Kentucky Education Reform Act (KERA) and whether these changes affected teacher retirement decisions. Responses indicated concern over the primary school program components of multiage grouping, no retention/no promotion, and increased mainstreaming. KERA…

Debunks mythologizing reform data concerning technology, inclusion, multiculturalism, and money. Finds little evidence that technology improves student achievement, that mainstreaming serves all special-needs students, or that minorities will soon dominate U.S. demographics. Americans' low-bid attitude toward education has created a plethora of…

Renzulli's Triad/Revolving Door Model is a program for teaching gifted children in regular classrooms. It provides various types and levels of enrichment to a broader spectrum of students, minimizes elitism, and improves enrichment for all students. The paper explains how to use Renzulli's model, which requires tremendous teacher preparation. (SM)

Peer tutoring facilitates the inclusion of students with disabilities in physical education classes. The paper explains how to establish traditional peer tutor programs and train peer tutors. It also describes the classwide peer tutoring model, which lets students instruct each other while practicing certain skills. The role of the physical…

Used naturalistic inquiry and context evaluation to examine work of three experienced teachers during a year's implementation of an inclusive kindergarten program involving children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Found that the two kindergarten teachers met about 50%, and that the special education teacher met about 70%, of recommended standards…

Used grounded theory to study programs integrating special needs children in preschool classrooms. Found that the core variable emerging from comparative analysis was the role of assistant teacher; across all programs, the assistant assumed a primary caregiver relationship with the child, engaged in teaming with other teachers, and interacted with…

This study classified the characteristics of 103 at-risk first grade children and their classroom environments over a one- to four-year period. Found that individual seatwork as an instructional arrangement increased the risk of special placement, whereas small group work was associated with nonplacement for children with possible learning…

Congressional intent and regulations, and court decisions interpreting the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, recognize the preference for mainstreaming handicapped children. Cases discussed indicate that mainstreaming is secondary to the goal of the Act to provide an appropriate education that meets the unique needs of each handicapped…

This series of articles examines various aspects of audiovisual production. Topics discussed include production programs for teachers and students offered by school libraries; the use of thermal transparencies and filmstrips; animation techniques; slide shows; videotape productions; and mainstreaming special education students in media projects.…

The Transition Checklist was developed to compare characteristics of mainstream settings with performance levels of students entering those settings. The checklist assesses classroom instructional methods and materials, course content, evaluation techniques, and classroom management; interpersonal/social relations; and related school environments,…