Improving inclusive middle school science teachers' vocabulary instruction is a critical step toward helping those professionals support the learning needs of all students. In this Institute of Education Sciences (IES)-funded project, inclusive science teachers received professional development using elements of a multimedia-based approach called…

Improving inclusive middle school science teachers' vocabulary instruction is a critical step toward helping those professionals support the learning needs of all students. In this Institute of Education Sciences (IES)-funded project, inclusive science teachers received professional development using elements of a multimedia-based approach called…

Student engagement is associated with many positive outcomes, including academic achievement, school persistence, and social-emotional well-being. The present study examined whether the Freedom Writers Institute, a professional development program designed to improve teachers' skills in creating personalized learning environments, can increase…

This monograph showcases professional development projects by school districts and colleges of education that train teachers to work successfully with English learners (ELs) across the nation. The papers presented in this monograph offer real-life examples of successful and innovative practices, including institutionalized mentoring programs, new…

This paper recounts the author's experience with giving a Needs Assessment for improvement by university teachers. Subjects were from the University of Lethbridge and the 2008 Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (STLHE) conference session. Teachers at the University (n = 77) indicated they could spend 5-15 hours in teaching…

Increasing numbers of young children with disabilities are receiving services in inclusive settings such as Head Start. It is important to note that positive outcomes for young children with disabilities are due in large part to practitioners' understanding and implementation of both recommended practices in both early care and education and early…

Discusses a study of the preservice and inservice professional development needs of industrial arts teachers in instructing the handicapped. (JOW)

Presents a scale of key teaching attributes that can be used to examine general classroom teachers' perceptions of knowledge and skills for providing effective instruction to students with disabilities, to assist in the development and implementation of more effective inclusionary practices, and to provide administrators with the indicators that…

This study investigated the nature of change in nine rural special education resource room teachers, after they had participated in a comprehensive, system-wide staff development program in the principles of effective teaching using the Program for Effective Teaching. Data were gathered through classroom observations, teacher assessments of…

In a letter to a student with disabilities who is included in mainstream education, a school psychologist shares issues, concerns, and insights about their year together. The letter examines what this student taught school personnel and peers and explains that inclusion is nothing more than quality education for all students. (SM)

This paper describes a professional development model, which emerged from two projects, that had professional development of teachers as an important component. The first project, Project Lighthouse, was designed to facilitate the inclusion of students with disabilities into general education classrooms. In this project, faculty and staff…

This articles describes the Scale for Coaching Instructional Effectiveness, an instrument to help special education peer coaches observe general education teachers' skills, strategies, and techniques and provide feedback in the areas of planning and organization, instruction, and classroom management. Presents three examples of the instrument…

This collection of papers presents a variety of field-tested examples that use problem-based learning (PBL) for teacher education in many professional development settings. It describes PBL activities for preservice, novice, and experienced educators at all levels. The eight chapters describe teacher educators' experiences using PBL in their…

The underlying premise of infusion is that information about individuals with disabilities must be more systematically integrated throughout an entire curriculum. This article describes the infusion approach to teacher development, explaining three central premises, providing sample program applications for each premise, and discussing brain…

In response to regular faculty complaints about mainstreamed students, a 5-week Summer Special Education Program was implemented in 1986 at the Western Navajo Agency's Tuba City Boarding School. The program's purpose was to train regular teachers and support personnel in special education procedures and practices and to provide the exceptional…