This paper addresses the participation of students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in mainstream schools. There are different benefits for ASD students to be educated in an inclusive environment (Gena, 2006; Whitaker, 2004). They challenge the school community by presenting difficulties in essential domains for school activities (Chamberlain,…

This paper focuses on meaning making as a process that can transform English learners' participation in mathematics. Using selected video transcripts from a one year long project in a fourth grade bilingual classroom, the paper documents the development of participation along a continuum of meaning making, from preparing students to transform…

Obstacles to the classroom implementation of the fourth grade Math component of Louisiana's web-based testing tutorial were addressed in this informal pilot. Technology integration improved standardized test preparation for students with special needs. Supplemental test preparation sessions give the benefits of (a) increased familiarity with…

Reinforcement for academic performance has been shown to increase both correct academic responding and rates of on-task behavior. Reinforcement for attending and on-task behavior has failed to increase correct academic responding in many studies, but it has produced vicarious and sociometric changes. The occurrence of vicarious and sociometric…

A case study explored the roles played by a teacher and her students in a classroom learning community with diverse students as they practiced and developed their literacy knowledge and skills to participate in Book Club, a literature-based instruction program. Specifically, it examines instructional scaffolding, a strategy which assists learners…

The goals of this research were to: (1) develop instruments useful in profiling the characteristics of teaching manuals used with grade 4 science textbooks and the effects of those manuals on teacher and pupil activities; (2) look at both high and low inference perspectives in making these profiles; (3) develop two instruments, one for elementary…

This paper reports on a 12-week study of 131 students in eight fourth-grade social studies classrooms in two elementary schools in the southwestern United States with low socioeconomic, high minority populations. Although research has indicated that cooperative learning enhances student achievement, promotes self-esteem, and improves interpersonal…

In order to examine trends in educational reform in Kentucky, two studies of student portfolio evaluations as perceived by Kentucky teachers were described and compared. Under the Kentucky Educational Reform Act, student portfolios can serve as a basis for official evaluation of school performance. The first study, conducted in the fall and spring…