A study examined whether instruction in collaborative skills and learning characteristics of students with mild disabilities (MD) would influence 17 preservice elementary education teachers' attitudes toward students with MD, knowledge of learning characteristics, and their instructional planning. Results found differences in instructional…

Sixth-grade teachers from diverse content areas and specialized fields came together as teacher-researchers to infuse principles of literacy/language learning across the curriculum, targeting low-achieving students. Through reflective inquiry, they gained insights into new strategies as they revised their roles from content area teachers to…

Discusses use of teacher talk about innovation as an alternative to journal entries in eliciting reflective behavior. Describes a study that investigated whether teachers assembled to discuss portfolio assessment would spontaneously engage in four levels of action (describing, informing, confronting, and reconstructing). Analysis of transcripts…

A survey of nine special educators and nine general educators in three Texas schools found that inclusion for students with emotional/behavioral disorders was being implemented due to administrative impetus and was not carefully planned, and that both special- and general-education teachers believe they need training related to inclusion and…

This ethnographic study examined one inclusive early-childhood setting over four weeks. Observations indicated that children with special needs regularly imitated behaviors, words, and skills of typically developing peers, more advanced peers with special needs, and teachers. Individualized interventions were regularly conducted within general…

Finds the most effective schools and teachers to be distinguished from moderately and less effective schools by the following: time spent in small-group reading instruction, with much teacher collaboration; coaching children in strategies to figure out unknown words as part of phonics instruction; higher-level comprehension questions; more…

Investigated sources of satisfaction and dissatisfaction of university and public school participants in a middle school Professional Development School (PDS). Participants from collaborative inquiry groups completed questionnaires at the end of their first PDS year. Satisfaction outweighed dissatisfaction, with members of co-led groups more…

A national survey of 1,000 secondary school special educators servicing students with mild disabilities yielded 407 responses. Results found that the teachers interacted frequently with general and special educators to share information and infrequently with community service providers. They perceived themselves to have an average to above average…

Examined preservice general educators' self-perceived levels of competence to participate in school- and community-based collaboration activities designed to enhance the education of diverse student populations. Surveys indicated that, overall, they perceived themselves to have less than average knowledge and skill for most competencies necessary…

Preassessment teams are a collaborative problem-solving resource for teachers who have students with learning or behavioral problems. A survey of 48 rural preassessment team members found that they perceived themselves as a very effective support system for their colleagues, but desired more training in designing behavior management strategies…

The experiences of three students (elementary, middle school, and high-school students) with significant disabilities who had been members of an urban general education classrooms for at least 3 years are described. Students were provided with accommodations and modifications, however, there was a lack of connection between Individualized…

Examined the outcomes of a 2-year, technology-supported, problem-based learning project which built teacher knowledge through sustained, dialogue-driven collaboration. The qualitative research, involving 28 grade 5-8 teachers, identified key organizational structures for making the most of computer-mediated communication for inservice teacher…

Three Head Start teachers who served students with special needs in their inclusive classrooms participated with an early childhood special education teacher conducting peer coaching sessions. Results indicated that all Head Start teachers increased their rate of responsive statements. (Contains references.) (Author/CR)

Investigated how collaborative action research projects affected five pre-service teachers' professional development while working with on-site teacher educators within a Professional Development School. Data from interviews, conferences, journals, action research, student writings, and field notes indicated that these experiences helped…

Describes results from a qualitative analysis of responses from classroom-, school-, district-, and state-level educators and administrators to questions about K-12 school health education. Results highlighted six themes: value of health education in school curricula; qualifications of and opportunities for educators; programs, curricula, and…