After special education resource teachers (n=27) were taught to use a standard trend estimation procedure as an aid in visual analysis of their students' charts, interrater agreement with reliability judges increased from .56 to .78. Prior knowledge of student performance was found to have an effect on visual inference. (Author/JDD)

The recent development and adoption by the Council for Learning Disabilities of principles of ethical practice are recounted. The 5 major principles are presented, supported by 27 examples of appropriate actions. Principles address respect for the rights of individuals, effective educational practice, professional integrity, collaborative working…

Suggestions are offered to special educators for improving communication at parent-teacher conferences, including relationship skills such as demonstrating genuine caring, building rapport, listening, showing empathy, reflecting affect, and using clarifying statements. A checklist for self-monitoring in these areas is included. (DB)

This study of 55 elementary-level general, special, and remedial education teachers found no intergroup differences in perceptions of the amount or quality of assistance available for mainstreamed students with mild handicaps, or in perceived effectiveness or overall acceptability of eight instructional strategies and 11 social behavior…

Describes how the Internet and the World Wide Web (WWW) have been integrated into teacher education in order to expand the use of technology in special education. Specific examples are provided showing how faculty can instruct teachers in ways to use this technology in K-12 classroom instruction. (CR)

This article offers five guidelines for creating exceptional partnerships between special educators and families including: family-centered practices, respecting the uniqueness of families, understanding the coping stages of families of a child with a disability, understanding ways in which families match strategies and resources, and family…

This report offers a perspective on state supply and demand data collection efforts concerning special education personnel. The report includes: (1) an overview of federal data requirements; (2) national data on special education and related services personnel as reported in the U.S. Department of Education's "Fifteenth Annual Report to Congress…

Thirty-three Alabama special education teachers attending a workshop on Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) were asked to submit questions concerning what they most wanted to know about AIDS. The teachers' questions clustered around five main concerns. In order of frequency they were concerns about: (1) the causes and spread of AIDS; (2)…

This paper addresses the implications of Public Law 99-457, (the Education of the Handicapped Act Amendments of 1986, which mandates that by 1990-91 all children that qualify for special education should have access to services from birth onward), with particular attention to the training needs of personnel serving handicapped children ages 0-5.…

This manual describes an alternative service delivery model, developed at Park Hill School District in Missouri, that involves regular and special education secondary-level teachers in a collaborative instructional delivery system. Its three major components include: (1) "A Class within a Class" which places the teacher of mild/moderate learning…

Describes rural/urban differences encountered by practicum students/recent graduates working in early childhood special education. Identifies differences in four areas: prevalence and identification of handicapping and risk conditions, type of educational placement, relevance of community dynamics, and relevance of family attitudes. Suggests…

Five expert teachers in gifted education and ten teachers without specialized training were compared on perceptions of and provision for gifted students. Responses differed markedly in allocation of responsibility for learning, depth of suggested activities, general organizational schema, programming of academic subjects, perception of the…

Effective use of microcomputers with gifted students requires that educators consider long- and short-range program goals, select software carefully, and integrate microcomputer functions into the overall curriculum. Microcomputers are not a panacea for the gifted, but their proper use may enhance instruction and stimulate learning. (JHZ)

This book is a guide to teaching orientation and mobility (O&M) skills to students with visual impairments in the public schools. The first chapter offers an overview of the nature and responsibilities of the orientation and mobility specialist and explains the fields legal underpinnings. Next comes a look at O&M in relation to the school year…

A survey of 298 teachers found a relationship between burnout and teachers' perceptions of support from administrators and parents. It also found differing perceptions of support by teachers in urban, rural, and suburban locales. Results suggest the need for special education administrators to provide explicit support for special education…