This article offers a variety of strategies for pre-service and beginning teachers to utilize in order to create positive and effective relationships with families that are built on clear communication and trust. It is crucial for new and veteran teachers to understand the importance of successful communication with parents and families of…

What tools are in the toolkit of an excellent special educator, and how can teacher preparation programs provide these tools in the most efficient, effective way possible? This practical, clearly written book is grounded in current research and policy as well as the author's extensive experience as a teacher educator. It identifies what special…

The authors suggest the need for preservice teacher education to incorporate microcomputer technology in learning of basic instructional skills. Computer literacy should be approached in terms of classroom applications. Using the microcomputer provides immediate feedback on performance and the opportunity to vary responses and reflect on possible…

Five papers describe ways to integrate knowledge from regular and special education at the university level. L. Hudson and M. Carroll ("The Preservice Teacher Experiences Variation in the Meaning Making of Handicapped and Nonhandicapped Learners") review adaptations in a competency based teacher education program to include information on high…

The teacher consultant model is seen as one way to develop collaborative working relationships between classroom teachers and special educators. A triadic model of consultation as modified for special education settings is presented as an educational team linked in shared responsibility to resolve a common goal. Considerations in the consultative…

Personnel preparation (both inservice and preservice) in career and vocational education (CVEH) for the handicapped should focus on factors for changing the service delivery system, emphasize interdisciplinary cooperation, involve business and industry, demonstrate the cost effectiveness of CVEH, and disseminate information about effective models.…

Presented are guidelines for designing and incorporating cooperative group learning strategies into teacher preparation courses. Guidelines include determining appropriate content, selecting a cooperative format, forming cooperative groups, teaching cooperative skills, providing feedback, and evaluating learning. The student satisfaction results…

Multicultural education in teacher preparation programs seeks to sensitize preservice special education teachers to individual differences attributable to culture or ethnicity. Described are the goals and objectives of a multicultural module; teaching strategies; module evaluation; resources used; and such learning techniques as fishbowl…

This paper proposes two nontraditional models for recruiting and retaining minority students in special education preservice teacher education programs. The first model is for implementation at middle and high school levels, the second for college/university levels. Both are adaptable for various programs of study. Also included are methods for…

The handbook provides a rationale and suggestions for incorporating multicultural components into special education teacher preparation curricula. The model was developed from an analysis of the University of Kansas's special education department. The rationale centers on the need to understand and appreciate diversity and the importance of…

This article identifies five criteria important to the establishment of a least-restrictive environment within an inclusive general education classroom. The criteria are substantive student-teacher interaction, opportunity to respond, academic engaged time, relevant curriculum, and maximization of student success. These criteria are related to the…

This article describes fundamental operating characteristics of videodiscs and their use in teacher training programs, discusses advantages and limitations of the medium for teaching instructional interaction techniques, and offers recommendations for integration of various training methodologies. (Author/PB)

Suggests guidelines and strategies to help teacher preparation programs move toward collaborative instruction for regular and special education teachers. Offers instructional procedures and suggestions for what to teach, as well as an overview of factors that influence the implementation of collaboration instruction for all educators. (Author/CR)

This article highlights current thinking and practice regarding the use of student portfolios to document performance of authentic teaching tasks in undergraduate special education teacher education programs. It describes ways to use portfolios for student and program assessment and includes suggestions for overcoming the subjectivity associated…

This introductory article describes key factors in teacher preparation and continuing professional development and efforts promulgated by the Council for Exceptional Children on special educator standards and assessments. The need to align standards for state licensing, program accreditation, and national certification is emphasized. The following…