This article provides a critical literacy approach to reading picture books that represent individuals with disabilities. It details close reading with a critical literacy stance as a scaffolded method for teachers to support students' increased access to conversations about disability. A sample lesson plan and three prompting guides are provided…

Every student must be given the opportunity to participate in physical education and develop the skills and knowledge competencies to become skillful movers for a lifetime. Students with disabilities have unique needs that must be addressed in the least restrictive environment. With the adoption of the "National Standards and Grade-level…

The Michigan Dance Association's Dance Project for the Handicapped is the subject of the two pamphlets that make up this document. The first pamphlet, "The Dance Within," describes the history, nature and goals of the Jackson Pilot Project, the first handicapped dance program in Michigan; it also offers suggestions on how to set up similar…

Presents a five-step lesson to teach young children with disabilities to recognize and decode words by actively involving the children in rhythm and movement. The lesson's objectives are provided as well as step-by-step instructions. The lesson calls for students to engage in guided and individual practice. (CR)

The article describes the benefits of time delay in teaching disabled students both discrete and chained tasks, constant and progressive time-delay procedures, types of student responses, steps involved in implementing time-delay procedures in the classroom, and troubleshooting tips. A sample lesson plan on making a fruit-flavored drink is…

This guide offers planning and organizing ideas for effectively using computers in classrooms that include students both with and without disabilities. The guide addresses: developing lesson plans, introducing the lesson in a way that builds motivation, providing guided and independent practice, extending the learning, and choosing software.…

The primary goal of special educators must always be to optimize the instruction given to low-performing students. The amount of teacher-directed instruction that low-performing students receive is directly related to their achievement. To maximize the amount of teacher-directed instruction, small and large group instruction is recommended.…

Two special educators share their experiences in developing standards-based lessons to help students manage their own Individualized Education Programs. They describe strategies used to begin the process, provide a sample unit lesson plan, and show how a typical 50-minute class period could be structured to incorporate self-determination skills.…

This guide (with audiotape) offers information on helping students with disabilities become involved in developing their own Individualized Education Programs (IEP). The guide is organized into lesson plans which can be adapted to individual situations. Individual lessons focus on the following topics: (1) introductory work with students (such as…

This book explores the cortical issues related to differentiation of instruction for students with disabilities in inclusive classrooms. Included in the book is a step-by-step decision making process for developing, implementing, and assessing instruction that is differentiated for the levels of learners presented in any teaching situation. The…

This manual describes a clay therapy program appropriate for use with students having a variety of exceptionalities and in an age range from 6 to 18 years. Organization and staffing are briefly discussed followed by a list of long range goals (affective, motoric, and aesthetic), suggestions for clay therapy implementation to achieve these goals,…

Describes four models for grouping in cooperative teaching settings with a regular and a special educator. Common coteaching issues such as grading and classroom management are addressed. Charts provide a framework for lesson planning in coteaching settings. (DB)

Through developments with the use of the "Apple Macintosh" computer, "HyperCard," and "MacRecorder," children in preschool handicapped programs are now capable of participating in appropriate computerized learning experiences. "HyperCard" allows educators to produce their own computerized instructional…

This article offers guidelines for planning distance professional development via interactive video for special educators in rural areas. A comprehensive planning checklist is organized into nine tasks. Other suggestions address equipment and interaction tips for receiving sites and setting up the site to encourage inclusion and active…

A best practices checklist is provided to assist special education teachers in self-evaluation and peer evaluation, and assist administrators in providing feedback to teachers. The checklist covers introducing the lesson, presenting the lesson, encouraging student participation, and providing corrective feedback. Each area identifies specific…