This article presents several rationales for improved recordkeeping and contracting between speech-language therapists and parents or students. Contracting, therapy, and recording are conceptualized as inseparable, interrelated components of a holistic approach to student improvement. Employers, funding bodies, and accrediting bodies need to…

Educators at Laurel (Delaware) Central Middle School discovered that school-based governance is hard to implement. Before assuming decision-making responsibilities, teachers must possess the necessary dedication, leadership skills, and determination to see a task completed. Interdisciplinary teacher teams, a changing principal role, and realistic…

Supervisors of three integrated preschools were trained in a collaborative team approach to promoting children's peer interactions. Training resulted in classroom teachers increasing behaviors directed toward children with disabilities, a doubling of interactive play of children with disabilities, and increases in interactive play of comparison…

Utah advocates for gifted and talented education used creative problem-solving processes to design a mutually acceptable mission and goals statement that gave direction to statewide advocacy efforts. The document recognizes ownership of the tasks belonging to each advocacy group and provides flexibility for future growth and development in gifted…

This paper discusses issues related to educating children dependent on medical technology. It examines the movement toward greater normalization for these children, the use of transdisciplinary teams to develop specific plans addressing the students' unique health care and educational needs, and possible curricular and classroom accommodations.…

This article describes the development of the Birmingham Institute for Conductive Education in England; its work with students who have motor disorders; its collaborative work with the Peto Institute in Budapest, Hungary; the compatibility of conductive education and England's National Curriculum; and differences between Hungarian and British…

The expertise of rehabilitation teachers and diabetes nurse educators can complement each other in components of diabetes management for people who have become visually impaired. The role of each professional involves education; integration of diabetes self-management into a comprehensive rehabilitation program; nutrition; exercise; medication,…

Explains the organizational and professional concept of a "compleat librarian" that has been developed at the Rider College (New Jersey) Library. Highlights include a nonhierarchical organizational structure; a combination of traditional public and technical services responsibilities; a lack of supervisory duties; collegiality and…

The Future Problem Solving Program aims to empower potential leaders to manage change successfully. It involves teams of students using a structured, creative problem-solving model to tackle controversial issues for the future; writing scenarios creating alternative futures; and planning for and implementing real solutions to real problems in…

The Future Problem Solving Program has a noncompetitive Primary Division that challenges gifted children in grades K-4 to think creatively about society issues, develop research skills, interact as a team, develop oral and written communication skills, become interested in the future, think critically, and solve problems. (JDD)

A former participant in the Future Problem Solving Program reminisces about his experience in local and national competitions, describes the program's unique features (its emphasis on creativity and focus on the future), and notes the usefulness of the problem-solving process in his work with the Corporate Audit Staff of General Electric. (JDD)

Changes in the composition of the American family and shifts in family members' roles and responsibilities are weakening the family support system essential for children's healthy development. Financial issues (income and poverty levels and working mothers) have a similar effect. To cope with changing families' needs, good teacher-administrator…

Background information is provided on gifted students with learning disabilities and/or physical impairments. The need for collaborative interventions to meet the needs of these students is discussed, viewing collaboration as personal interaction, as the interaction of roles, and as interinstitutional interaction. A collaborative/consultation…

Addresses the problem of getting to know one's students in a videotaping project in which classmates were videotaped as they introduced themselves and asked questions the students prepared for a guest speaker. Notes how students spontaneously worked as a team and enjoyed replaying the tape. Suggests project also improved results of the speaker's…

"Business Week" recently awarded 170 grants to teachers for innovative projects exemplifying changing requirements for entry level employees. Most projects featured collaborative learning, active student participation, students as workers, shared decision making, teamwork, and interdisciplinary activities. Projects also helped students…