Describes a preschool class for deaf children co-taught by two teachers (one hearing, one deaf) that uses a whole language approach to build students' American Sign Language (ASL) and written English skills. The class uses a thematic approach to organize learning activities through the creative use of ASL. (DB)

A highly practical resource for special educators and classroom teachers, this book provides specific instructional guidance illustrated with vignettes, examples, and sample lesson plans. Every chapter is grounded in research and addresses the nuts and bolts of teaching math to students who are not adequately prepared for the challenging middle…

Respect and communication. That's what teachers and paraprofessionals say makes an effective classroom team. In speaking with paraprofessionals and teachers, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) has gathered several tips about how to make working together work. These tips include: (1) Creating a healthy, open relationship between teacher and…

With updated language and references to the 2005 revision of the Code of Ethical Conduct, this book, like the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct, seeks to inform, not prescribe, answers to tough questions that teachers face as they work with children, families, and colleagues. To help everyone become well acquainted with the Code and use it in one's…

This book explores the relationship between effective teaching, behavior management, discipline, and colleague support. After an introduction, "I Never Thought I'd Become a Teacher," eight chapters include: (1) "The Dynamics of Classroom Behavior" (how student and teacher behavior affect each other, and control for the purpose…

This book offers an overview of leadership as a dynamic process available to all teachers, reviewing research-based theories applicable to teacher leadership and presenting strategies for the development of teacher leadership skills. It reflects the philosophy that leadership is best developed through the combination of theory and experience that…

Suggestions are offered for teachers in moving schools toward collaboration: reflect on values and teaching; become risk takers; learn to trust processes and people; appreciate colleagues; commit to ongoing improvement; seek variety; redefine roles; balance work and life; include administrators; and acknowledge benefits of collaboration to…

The importance of multilevel planning in the increasing use of coteaching models as one means of providing special education services in general education classrooms is addressed. Guidelines for planning for effective coteaching are offered at the district level, the building level, and the classroom level. (DB)

Teachers can easily identify what subjects their students have trouble with, whether it is transcription and translation, glycolysis and fermentation, balancing chemical equations, or vector analysis of forces acting on an object. Yet, no matter how teachers try to make these complex issues more accessible to students, or how new editions of…

This manual and the accompanying videotape are designed to provide a practical way to teach social skills to all students in grades K-8, including students with disabilities, in the classroom and across other school settings. The strategy's collaborative approach was designed for general and special education teachers who are working with other…

This introductory-level training program is designed to develop in classroom teachers the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary for functioning as successful mentors to novice North Carolina teachers. This includes background and perspectives for mentoring in North Carolina; Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (INTASC)…

This book presents a guide for setting up a new teacher mentoring program. Chapter 1, "Relating," stresses the important part a relationship plays in the mentoring process. A set of introspective exercises teaches ways to establish trust and pay attention to nonverbal communication. Chapter 2, "Assessing," provides ways to gather and diagnose data…

According to the literature, the purpose of professional development is to improve student learning. It was noted that there appeared to be a direct correlation between the depth of the teacher's content knowledge, methodologies, student-teacher relationships, and reflection, that when applied to an improvement in practices, positively affected…

Describes the use of peer coaching to provide inservice teacher education to early childhood special educators in two communities. One approach used a combination expert/reciprocal peer coaching method with Head Start teachers. The second used an expert model with teachers in preschool programs. Emphasis in both models is on development of…

This article describes peer coaching as a method for teacher improvement and offers guidelines for establishing a peer coaching program for early childhood and early childhood special education teachers and related services professionals. It also identifies common problems and possible solutions of peer coaching programs. Sample forms for use in…