Promoting social interaction among students with severe disabilities and their general education peers has long been a prominent focus of research and policy efforts. We asked 81 educators to evaluate the effectiveness, feasibility, and actual use of 12 intervention strategies for increasing social interaction among high school students with and…

School counselors provide a variety of services to students with disabilities, and becoming involved in the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process is an opportunity through which school counselors can demonstrate their unique contributions. The authors highlight specific skills (e.g., group facilitation, consultation) and developmental…

The unique contribution of grandparents to families of children with and without disabilities is often overlooked in the clinical and empirical literature. Perceptions and practice of teachers regarding grandparents were examined. Eighty-two special education teachers and 80 teachers from regular classes completed a 30-item questionnaire tapping…

With more than half of children with disabilities being educated in the general education classroom, and with federal education law requiring improved learning outcomes for these students, preparing general education teachers to work effectively with all students is critical. This report on teacher certification requirements in the nine Northeast…

Local school systems, Local Education Agencies [LEAs], and universities, Institutions of Higher Education [IHEs], work together in a variety of ways in the initial preparation and ongoing professional development of teachers, although it is difficult to ascertain the number of LEA/IHE partnerships. These relationships typically allow for a…

The present study explores teachers' attitudes toward the gifted and gifted education. Specifically, the authors examine whether teachers tailor their responses about attitudes toward the gifted to fit the perceived interests of the researcher. In addition, the authors examine several potential predictors of attitudes toward the gifted: training…

This book helps school practitioners go beyond putting a label on student behavior problems--it shows how to use assessment to partner with teachers and students to develop effective solutions. The authors provide a framework for determining the types of behavioral data that are needed in a given situation, selecting appropriate measures, and…

Teacher burnout in the special education teacher is defined, and suggestions for reducing burnout are provided. (SBH)

Effective teachers of students with disabilities respond successfully to students' individual needs by ensuring that students understand the purpose of their activities, by presenting students with variety and choice, by encouraging them to reflect upon and review their learning, by making flexible use of time and resources, and by implementing…

Briefly described are suggestions to help special educators keep their level of stress manageable. Suggestions are extracted from "Stress and Burnout--A Primer for Special Education and Special Services Personnel" by Stan Shaw et al. To better organize their time and activities, educators are advised to set realistic and flexible…

Issues facing special educators working in a correctional setting are examined. The need for long-range planning is considered, and the use of the individualized education program to address specific as well as broad issues is advocated. A major need, for increased institutional priority (with both administrative and funding priority for…

Time management suggestions for special educators include developing systems to reduce paperwork, developing strategies to reduce interruptions, making optimum use of meetings, developing supplementary tasks and materials to increase efficiency, and establishing priority systems for grading assignments. (DB)

Suggestions are made for special education teachers to ease the transition of the military family. The importance of parent education is emphasized. A brief list of references and resources is provided. (CL)

Intended for special education teachers developing a high school resource program, the article contains 21 "tips," such as writing a short introductory letter to regular teachers when initiating a new program, striving to achieve administrative support, and communicating frequently with parents. (DB)

The article provides special educators an approach for consulting with elementary school teachers faced with mainstreaming. Materials included in a teacher consultation packet are described and a strategy for conducting consultation is offered. (SBH)