The historical background, development, and selection of criteria for the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) in Britain are described, and provisions for candidates with special education needs are outlined. The desire to retain the integrity of examination standards while responding to the needs of handicapped candidates is…

Disruptive behavior in a six-year-old boy attending a London primary school was successfully reduced following application of three planned interventions: positive teacher attention and praise for appropriate behavior; placement of the child in deliberately structured small-group cooperative activities; and classroom assistance from a school…

Direct instruction techniques were employed in a structured parental involvement program targeted toward improvement of basic arithmetic skills in six students ages 7-8. Among reported results was a statistically significant posttest improvement on an addition placement test compared to a control group performance without parental involvement. (JW)

Paired reading (with a helper) and an individualized approach employing a "pause, prompt, and praise" strategy were found equally effective in a comparison study involving 48 elementary students in Hong Kong with reading problems. Both forms of treatment produced greater gains than normal classroom instruction received by a control group. (JW)

Case studies of three students with spina bifida (ages 8-11) illustrate an individualized six-week handwriting intervention program which stressed assessment, monitoring, and measurement of changes in writing performance. Appropriate changes in physical support (sitting position, writing surface, and choice of writing tool) are recommended. (JW)

The article describes Data-Pac (Daily Teaching and Assessment for Primary Aged Children), materials which assess student performance in reading, mathematics, handwriting, and spelling present a selection of sequenced teaching objectives for an individualized program. Materials reflect the concepts of criterion-referenced assessment, direct…

The article discusses the benefits of craft, design, and technology (CDT) activities for children with special educational needs. Activities such as craftwork can contribute to improved motor skills, self-image, and basic language and math skills. CDT teachers are encouraged to adapt their teaching methods and styles to meet special needs. (JW)

Over 100 resource rooms, mainstreamed classes, and special day classes for learning handicapped students were observed in a longitudinal study of Micro-Educational Environments (MEEs) and microcomputer use. Results from 1986 and changes from 1984 to 1986 cover hardware selection and location; student grouping; software; access; use time; and user,…

Twenty special education teachers of learning disabled or emotionally disturbed elementary students were assessed on teacher efficiency and satisfaction in using curriculum-based student performance monitoring procedures, either computer-assisted or paper and pencil. Computer assistance was associated with decreased efficiency but increased…

Two studies involving 27 learning-disabled middle-school students and 30 mildly handicapped junior high students investigated use of Teacher Net, a computer networking system that facilitates immediate feedback. Teacher Net reduced the teachers' administrative workload, effectively monitored student understanding, provided feedback to teachers,…

This study compared 52 resource room programs for mildly mentally handicapped, learning disabled, and severely emotionally disturbed secondary students, which used or did not use microcomputers. Benefits of microcomputer use included increased active task engagement and increased individually focused instruction, but overall differences in most…

Glue sniffing and solvent misuse have seriously affected children and teenagers throughout the United Kingdom. This article discusses glue sniffing in terms of prevalence, association with disability, physical and psychological effects, signs and symptoms, counseling for sniffers, and successful interventions including an approach using videotape…

ARROW (Aural-Read-Respond-Oral-Written) is a multisensory teaching approach where children listen to their own voices on tape recorders. Advantages of the ARROW program as demonstrated at four sites in Blackford, Somerset (England), with elementary/secondary students presenting moderate to severe learning difficulties, reading/spelling/vocabulary…

The difficulties experienced by deaf parents' hearing children (n=10) as they approached puberty were studied and compensatory education programs sought for them through residential and regular schools. The children exhibited conversational difficulties, memory problems, reasoning difficulties, and poor language comprehension. Children's…

Eight British special schools for students (aged 2-19) with severe learning difficulties were surveyed for information on treatment of various aspects of sex education, teaching methods, and resources used. The findings were applied to the issues of curriculum, resources, staff development, parent involvement, school policy, and local authority…