The creation of a teacher-researcher community among educators developing a literacy curriculum for students with mild disabilities in the primary grades is discussed. Six categories of discourse among the teachers and researchers are considered, and findings that might usefully guide collaborative research are discussed. (SW)

Special educators experiencing stress are urged to take greater responsibility for their own well-being by maintaining a balanced lifestyle, planning for success, expanding their support network, creating a positive belief system, making learning a lifelong priority, and learning to cope with complexities and challenges. (DB)

This paper examines overall themes arising from five case studies of elementary schools implementing inclusive models for students with learning disabilities and draws implications for policy and teacher preparation. Themes concern model variations, the role of the special education teacher, and evidence that students with learning disabilities…

This paper examines approaches used to define essential knowledge and skills for teachers entering special education practice. The paper proposes alternative models for conceptualizing essential knowledge and skills in special education, focusing on meaningfulness of teachers' knowledge, sources of knowledge, and acquisition of knowledge.…

This article examines critical problems facing young children and their families in urban areas and implications for the preparation of early childhood special educators. It focuses specifically on teacher training needs concerning AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome), drug and alcohol abuse, and child abuse. (DB)

This article discusses ways in which an individualized and collaborative model of staff development can prepare both general and special education teachers to make instructional adaptations to meet the needs of mainstreamed students. Expert systems can support individualized staff development and aid in placement and followup of mainstreamed…

This paper addresses effective longitudinal technical assistance for professionals serving young children with challenging behaviors. Critical components of such assistance include identifying and training districtwide technical assistance teams, developing operating procedures, generating districtwide support, and evaluating team effectiveness.…

This article argues against having special educators observe regular teachers prior to selection of teachers for mainstreamed students with emotional or behavioral disorders, disagreeing on the grounds that special education teachers do not have the time, the knowledge, the skills, or the authority to select teachers. (DB)

Identifies factors that inhibit the recruitment and retention of minority students in gifted education programs including screening and identification issues (definitions and instrumentation); educational issues (quality of students' education); and personnel issues (lack of teacher training in gifted and urban education, low teacher referral).…

Responding to a shortage of special education teachers with multicultural training, the University of Utah designed a series of American Indian specialization courses for teachers, leading to a master's degree in professional practice. Essential course components include cultural awareness, nonbiased assessment, specialized curriculum and…

Factors that can both facilitate and restrain the preparation of teachers of learning disabled Hispanics, and areas that should be included in such preparation are identified. Twelve similarities between bilingual education and special education are identified, including the following: specialized populations, specially defined instructional…

Reflects on previous articles in the same journal on preparation of special education teachers. Discusses the need for special educators to focus their efforts more on teaching the teachers, rather than on system change. Also addresses the challenge of detailing the differences and similarities in students, tasks, and instruction that are relevant…

This response to five case studies and reactions to them finds agreement that special education in inclusive programs is, by design, no longer "special." It urges: (1) adding resources to strengthen the continuum of services; (2) special educators to join general educators to re-create schools; (3) instructional focus on individual needs; and (4)…

Collaboration between a supervisor and a teacher of nine first and second graders with hearing loss is recounted. Discussion includes reconsideration of classroom setup, expansion of the reading program to include more guided reading, documentation of student progress, more guided writing, and more shared decision making. (DB)

This paper discusses the background and context of the national assessment movement as it relates to special education teacher preparation programs; the relationship between assessment and accreditation, with attention to the federal regulations for education effectiveness; recommendations for assessment planning; and suggested content areas for…