The author concludes from phone interviews and site visits that there are many approaches for integrating severely handicapped students into school and community settings. Examples cited include dispersal, planned interaction, provision of program support and support for regular teachers. Staff integration, parental support and positive attitudes…

The author states that a common factor in comparing one extension method to another is the interaction involving a subject concept and a member of the target audience. He outlines approaches that extension personnel may use to compare effectiveness of meetings, publications, mass media, etc., in reading their audience. (MF)

Describes an integrated-thematic curriculum for gifted students in the context of assumptions about learning and characteristics of gifted learners. Specific strategies and steps in curriculum development are explained and applied to a year-long focus on the theme of "evidence" in a multiaged primary classroom with curriculum units on dinosaurs,…

The acronym CIBER represents five basic principles ensuring that the needs of young gifted children are appropriately and effectively addressed: capitalize, integrate, balance, expose and enhance, and be realistic. Science activities and interdisciplinary learning activities are suggested to enhance development in cognitive, affective,…

What does it look like when a school uses data wisely? "Data Wise in Action", a new companion and sequel to the bestselling "Data Wise", tells the stories of eight very different schools following the Data Wise process of using assessment results to improve teaching and learning. "Data Wise in Action" highlights the…

This booklet is part of a series that was designed to serve as a resource for high school leaders. It focuses on the integration of technology in the high school and contains practical strategies, procedures, and ideas to enable school leaders to plan and implement programs that will help students. It highlights the findings in the National…

The importance of arts education for gifted students is discussed, and the terms creative, aesthetic, and artistic are defined. Four suggestions for encouraging artistic talent, including establishing a resource file of master artists and arts institutions, are presented. (CL)

This discussion of problem-based learning (PBL) first describes well-structured and ill-structured problems and then offers a systematic process for finding potential PBL topics. The process involves constructing brainstorming maps to explore potential PBL units and then designing the student's role, the situation the student meets at the unit's…

This article compares two educational approaches, intensive-explicit instruction and constructivist instruction, considering how both can affect instruction for students with disabilities. It concludes by urging the integration of these two approaches, possibly by using models focused on the transformation of explicit knowledge into tacit…

This article argues for the application of curriculum-based evaluation (CBE) in social skills instruction. A rubric is proposed which combines variables related to social competence and summarizes the status of a student's social skills. The model provides a structure for aligning social skills curriculum, assessment, and instruction. (DB)

The Multimethods Model organizes the learning activities of preschool classes for gifted children and assures a differentiated curriculum geared to the individual student. Model components include prescriptive instruction, acceleration of content, building self-direction, creative divergent problem solving, affective guidance, cultivation of…

Teaching adolescents with disabilities about acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) requires selecting an effective curriculum, building coalitions with parents and others, sending clear messages abut how the human immunodeficiency virus is transmitted, and being able to talk openly about these sensitive issues. An organizational resource list…

This paper outlines practical information on children with attention deficit disorder (ADD). Guidelines for identifying ADD are presented, followed by a summary of what parents and students can expect from special education and related services in public schools. Pros and cons of medication are noted, and recommendations for managing the child's…

This guide is designed to help school district leaders promote comprehensive school reform (CSR) and to assist schools in evaluating the implementation and outcomes of their CSR models. The guide discusses why evaluation is critical and how to use it as a tool for continuous improvement in CSR models. Summative and formative evaluations are…

Teacher work groups can be effective mechanisms to support teachers' collaborative efforts to incorporate innovative practices for students with severe disabilities. Three key rules are presented: be positive, be fair, and keep the point in focus. Guidelines for implementing those rules and for dealing with logistical problems are offered. (JDD)