Describes how teachers in Alaska are using the Natural Support Matrix and Cooperative Learning Planning System to fully include junior high students with disabilities. The model involves collaborative teaming by teachers, development of a student's individual natural support matrix which correlates general and special education services with the…

Presents a lesson-planning model for coteaching regular and special educators which is intended to guide planning for group and individual student needs simultaneously. The model involves a common theme topic and distinguishes among objectives, activities, and assessments that are either for all students, for most students, or for some students.…

Suggests links from research to practice in key areas of inclusive early childhood education including teachers' knowledge base and beliefs, communication, physical environment, activities and materials, social interactions, and curriculum and instruction. (DB)

This article discusses changes in effective teaching practice and characteristics of different levels of acceptance of school cultures. It reports the results of a survey of 72 inclusion teachers showing that teachers believed their attitude toward students was the first or second most important condition needed for successful inclusion. (Contains…

This article examines the needs of students with minimal hearing loss (MHL) and offers practical suggestions to teachers. It considers legal requirements, reasons for under identification of children with MHL, signs of MHL, effects of MHL, classroom factors affecting MHL, minimizing background noise and improving listening conditions, and…

Discussion of classroom amplification systems to improve the performance of students with hearing loss or learning disabilities addresses the auditory challenges of inclusive classrooms, changing the classroom environment to reduce noise, types of amplification systems, and what teachers observe about amplification. (Contains references.) (DB)

This article describes an inquiry-based science project, presents the professional development that supported it, gives recommendations to teachers of inclusive classrooms, and provides a practical checklist for program assessment. A list of teacher characteristics recommended for the inquiry approach is also provided, along with classroom design…

This article discusses how professionals can recognize learning opportunities for students with severe disabilities within general education activities. It also includes examples of additional learning opportunities that provide ways for students to work on their individualized objectives in various settings. Recommendations are provided for…

Strategies to help students with disabilities succeed in inclusive classrooms are explained using several mnemonics. These include 14 steps to modify the learning environment by using a SHE WILL SUCCEED mnemonic and examining the classroom by using a CRIME mnemonic (Curriculum, Rules, Instruction, Materials, and Environment). (Contains…

This article discusses how teachers can familiarize their students, with and without disabilities, with rubric terminology and the use of rubrics. It addresses why rubrics should be used, designing a rubric, and current uses of rubrics. A chocolate chip cookie rubric is provided as an example. (Contains 7 references.) (CR)

This article provides a compilation of integration options for including students with severe disabilities. It discusses collaborative planning for inclusion, and provides a chart illustrating the stages of planning for curriculum adaptations for students with disabilities. A case study of collaborative planning is provided. (Contains references.)…

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…

This article dispels myths about deafness and provides teachers with a list of academic accommodations for students who are deaf. The accommodations primarily emphasize the visual aspects of communication that are important when teaching students irrespective of their level of hearing loss. World Wide Web resources are also provided. (Contains…

This article discusses how common graphic organizers can be used in inclusive classrooms to benefit learners who have difficulty organizing information. Guiding principles for effective graphic organizers are provided and types of graphic organizers are described, including: cause-and effect, sequence charts, main-idea-and-detail, Venn diagram,…

This article examines the runaway reaction as it was displayed by Barry, a 14-year-old eighth-grade boy with learning disabilities. It identifies some of the common characteristics of this response and proposes school intervention methods. Functional behavioral assessments and strength-based assessments are encouraged, along with using strategy…