This survey of 206 parents, 217 regular educators, and 124 special educators examined the status of integration of special needs students into public schools of Victoria (British Columbia, Canada). Respondents generally felt that integration is of benefit to special needs students and regular students, with a gradient of perceived benefits…

This study of 16 learning-disabled high school students in algebra classes found that their help-seeking behavior was similar to that of 16 normal-achieving peers, differing only in that subjects sought instrumental help from peers significantly more often than from the teacher. (Author/JDD)

The utility of developmental behavioral genetics in the study of reading disability is considered. Research which has found reading disability to be partly genetically determined is cited, and future research applications are discussed. (Author/JDD)

Learners must acquire a general strategic orientation in their problem solving, to determine what counts as relevant information in problematic situations. A dynamic systems approach is called for in determining whether general or context-specific instructions are needed to promote transfer of relevant information to novel conditions. (Author/JDD)

Item analysis data were collected for the Bender Visual Motor Gestalt Test and Goodenough-Harris Drawing Test, from urban and rural Alberta (Canada) youngsters and Inuit youngsters from the Northwest Territories (Canada). Both tests were inadequate in individual item difficulty levels, suggesting the necessity of revising scoring systems and…

The Mini-Course Enrichment Program was developed by the University of Ottawa and Carleton University (Ottawa, Canada) to offer a week-long on-campus program for gifted students in grades 8-12. Student selection, staffing, and program operations are described. (JDD)

Grade 6-7 learning-disabled students (n=21) and nonlearning-disabled students (n=13) completed the Test of Written Language story subtest, a book report assignment, and an interview concerning reported strategy use. Higher reported strategy use failed to correlate significantly with the quality of the final written products for either group.…

This paper outlines a model of cognitive functioning and remedial direction, based upon an information integration approach and work in neuropsychology. The approach, used primarily with low-achieving and learning-disabled students, utilizes "bridging tasks" which are paired with specific global cognitive tasks to promote generalization of…

In assessing pupils with special educational needs in conjunction with the provisions of Great Britain's National Curriculum, three areas should be distinguished: planning the next step for pupils' learning, assessing pupils' levels of achievement, and assessing the quality of education offered. (JDD)

Pupils with special educational needs are finding that the use of word processors can give them a new confidence and pride in their own abilities. This article describes the use of such devices as the "mouse," on-screen word lists, spell checkers, and overlay keyboards. (JDD)

This paper summarizes and comments on recommendations of the Modern Foreign Languages Working Group concerning attainment targets, programs of study, and statements of attainment in Great Britain's National Curriculum. Strategies used in modern language instruction in Berkshire's special schools are described. (JDD)

This paper examines the complexity of teaching handwriting to meet the requirements of Great Britain's National Curriculum. Three major questions are considered: (1) what should be taught? (2) what are the teaching objectives? and (3) how will pupil progress be assessed? (JDD)

A policy statement issued by Great Britain's Department of Education and Science on staffing for pupils with special educational needs is discussed. The statement proposes a staffing model that includes ratios of primary teachers, secondary teachers, and special support assistants based on students' levels of learning difficulty. (Author/JDD)

Results of a questionnaire completed by 69 British parents of children with special educational needs who were protected by a formal statement indicated that parents do not always understand the procedures for assessment and "statementing" of their child's needs, and that parents are generally satisfied with their communication with teachers but…

The success of the Paired Reading (PR) technique is examined, and a study involving 43 pairs of Hong Kong students (ages 10-11) in a PR project is reported. It is concluded that the projects' success may not lie in the technique itself but in improving tutees' motivation, confidence, and self-esteem as readers. (JDD)