Throughout the world, there has been a significant shift in whether, where, and how learners are educated regardless of their socio-economic, geographic, and disability status; gender and sexual orientation; family structure; and ethnic, racial, cultural, linguistic and religious background. Recognizing that the debates, challenges, research,…

In architecture, the principle of universal design means that buildings, products, and services are designed so that all individuals can use them. For example, a ramp represents a universal design that provides access for a variety of individuals who find stairs to be a barrier--not only people who use wheelchairs, but also people pushing…

This article reviewed international data from English-language peer-reviewed studies on the use of TAs in inclusive classrooms from the past 10 years concerning: (a) the roles of TAs; (b) the impact of TAs on students, educators, and inclusive education; and (c) the factors that influence the performance of TAs. These studies suggest that unclear…

Students experiencing test anxiety encounter extreme levels of stress, nervousness, and apprehension during testing that drastically hinders their ability to perform well and negatively affects their social-emotional and behavioral development, and feelings about themselves and school. A collaborative and multidimensional approach that includes…

Creating a fair, reliable, teacher-made test is a challenge. Every year poorly designed tests fail to accurately measure many students' learning--and negatively affect their academic futures. Salend, a well-known writer on assessment for at-risk students who consults with schools on assessment procedures, offers guidelines for creating tests that…

Research suggests that between 25% to 40% of students experience test anxiety, with students with disabilities and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds having higher prevalence rates. Since test anxiety impacts student well-being and the validity of the important educational decisions based on testing data, this article…

Although many teachers are using new technologies to differentiate instruction and administer tests, educators are also employing a range of technology-based resources and strategies to implement a variety of classroom assessments as alternatives to standardized and teacher-made testing. Technology-based classroom assessments focus on the use of…

Educators, students, and families face many challenges in responding to the testing mandates of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) and Individuals With Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA), including providing students with disabilities with individualized, approved, valid, effective, and acceptable testing…

A variety of group oriented behavior management strategies to modify classroom behavior problems is suggested. Advantages, disadvantages, and implementation guidelines for the group response cost system, the good behavior game, the group timeout ribbon, hero method, peer-mediated extinction, and peer confrontation. (DB)

Special education teachers should involve their students in developing and implementing a successful contingency management system by including them in such activities as selecting target behaviors, choosing reinforcers, writing and reviewing behavioral contracts, and evaluating the system. Guidelines are presented for eliciting student attitudes…

Provides counselors with systematic guidelines for explaining to an individual student or group of students the targeted behavior in a behavior change project. The six stages of the model are explanation, identification, demonstration, differentiation, role playing, and assessment. A case study illustrates the process. (JAC)

Integrity-of-treatment violations in special education research can be attributed to examiners as well as subjects. Use of educational technology can limit the examiner's influence, while decreased length of treatment session and topographically dissimilar intervention can reduce subject violations in alternating treatment designs and simultaneous…

Some specific guidelines and procedures for developing and implementing successful mainstreaming programs are provided. Factors discussed include: developing criteria for mainstreaming; preparing handicapped students; preparing nonhandicapped students; promoting communication among educators; evaluating student progress; and providing inservice…

Presents the five-stage self-assessment model as a vehicle for involving students in the formulation of individual education plans (IEPs). Two examples are described which assess congruence between student-selected objectives and objectives selected by the IEP team. Suggests students can accurately determine their own instructional levels.…

Follow-up information about mainstreamed students' adjustment comes from regular educators, parents, and the students themselves. The classroom teacher can provide information on such aspects as academic achievement and support services. Parents observe the students reactions to the settings and to peers. Students can describe their feelings and…