Analysis of survey responses of 57 teachers of the deaf (preschool-grade 4) concerning their practices of reading aloud to children found that teachers spent more time reading aloud for pleasure than for content and that they used such techniques as discussing characters, setting, and vocabulary to mediate the text for students before, during, and…

This article provides guidelines for effectively implementing the case method of instruction (CMI) in special education teacher preparation programs. Information is provided on how to write cases, how to access (and assess) commercially available cases, and how to present a case. Examples of inservice applications of CMI are provided. (Contains…

This article discusses the itinerant model and suggests ways that itinerant teachers might apply best practices in pre-academic instruction to their work within community settings, including: making environmental adaptations to maximize engagement; improving the social environment; and applying naturalistic strategies to embed specifically…

A survey of 48 secondary-level learning disability content teachers and 45 basic skills teachers examined their relationship with the mainstream, curricular structure, instructional methodology, and students' behavioral characteristics. The two groups differed little in how they taught but more in how they perceived their interactions and their…

Effects of teacher planning and student spelling achievement of computerized expert system advice (ESA) within curriculum-based measurement (CBM) were studied for 30 special-education teachers and 60 of their elementary school students. CBM teachers without ESA provided more direct instruction on skills; those receiving ESA used more drill and…

Evaluation of a metacognitive model designed to promote cooperative instruction among 10 regular education and 10 special education preservice teachers found slight changes in attitudes and perceptions. The model included opportunities for cooperative prelesson planning and postlesson evaluations by prospective teachers, and actual delivery of…

In 2004-2005, North Carolina's average teacher turnover rate was nearly 13 percent, ranging from a high of 29 percent to a low of 4 percent. Turnover among teachers in low-performing schools was substantially higher, with a low of 12 percent and a high of 57 percent. North Carolina has put strategies in place to address teacher retention but how…

A major barrier in the provision of special education services to migrant students is the lack of trained personnel who understand the unique strengths and challenges of migrant students. Using the experiences of the Migrant Special Education Training Program, this article presents a teacher education curriculum and pedagogical model for preparing…

"The Oxford Handbook of Deaf Studies, Language, and Education, Volume 2," is an updated edition of the landmark original volume. A range of international experts present a comprehensive overview of the field of deaf studies, language, and education. This area has grown dramatically over the past forty years. From work on the linguistics…

Through literature reviews, discussions, and a survey of members of the Council for Exceptional Children, a common core of knowledge and skills essential for entry-level special education teachers was developed, composed of 107 statements in 8 categories. The categories include: (1) philosophical, historical, and legal foundations of special…

This paper describes the application of peer teaching to the training of prospective special education teachers. This approach emphasizes practicing the teaching act in a safe environment, i.e., one in which young learners are not at risk and in which the prospective teacher can receive feedback from peers and the instructor without fear of being…

The High School State Incentive Grant was established to improve the quality of instruction given to New York students with handicaps by providing high school special education teachers with an intensive staff development program designed and implemented at the school, district, and citywide levels. The program consisted of three major components:…

Four high school special education teachers in the Vocational Education Program in the South Bend Community School Corporation participated in a mathematics program. They then conducted classroom research related to their inservice activities with their mildly handicapped students. Teachers used manipulative materials in their inservice sessions…

Described is the Special Educator Training System which uses the Diagnostic Teaching Model and is applicable to all levels and types of teaching including preservice, in-service, elementary, intermediate, secondary, handicapped children, and normal children. The "Teacher Competency Journal", a 100 page document based on 323 performance objectives…

The report examines the problems, necessary competencies, and inservice needs of those currently employed to teach the disadvantaged and handicapped in vocational/technical schools and programs. The study is based on questionnaire responses of 107 graduate students at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Of the respondents, 29…