Teaching English language learners has long presented challenges for teachers tasked with bringing these students to a level of language comprehension comparable to that of native speakers. These challenges and issues can lead to difficulty comprehending core academic topics for those learning the English language. "Optimizing Elementary…

Educators today are challenged with the task of designing curricula and standards for students of varying abilities. While technology and innovation steadily improve classroom learning, teachers and administrators continue to struggle in developing the best methodologies and practices for students with disabilities. "Models for Effective…

The article offers a classroom management technique, PASSWORD, that facilitates the smooth transition of handicapped students from the resource room to the regular class. Students are each asked a "code question," usually a review question, the answer to which is the password for leaving the resource room. (DB)

Resource programs are an outgrowth of recognition that special classes have been largely ineffective for many handicapped children. Resource teachers offer both direct and indirect services via assessment, programing, and consultation. Despite potential difficulties in maintaining gains in a mainstreamed child, resource rooms are cost effective…

Factors of location, use of space, room arrangement, and time-out area are examined for their effects on resource room programing for exceptional students. (CL)

Intended for special education teachers developing a high school resource program, the article contains 21 "tips," such as writing a short introductory letter to regular teachers when initiating a new program, striving to achieve administrative support, and communicating frequently with parents. (DB)

The author suggests that the systems approach used in industrial management can help in the planning of special centers for handicaped students in regular schools. Special centers are considered in terms of their growth, benefits, and as a system development. (SB)

Children traveling from the mainstreamed classroom to the resource room or to related services may need special attention and psychological support to smooth the transition. The resource teacher can help prevent problems by such actions as watching for behavioral cues of stress or crisis. (CL)

This case study of one resource program describes structures and techniques used in the regular classroom, playground, lunchroom, and resource room to help in mainstreaming handicapped students. In four years this program saw a 42 percent reduction in students classified as handicapped, although school enrollment grew by almost 38 percent.…

Outlines the benefits of using art activities with special education students. Part of a theme issue on art for special needs students. (SJL)

A survey about teacher supervision and its perceived relationship to beneficial outcomes was completed by 580 Maine resource room teachers. Most reported little or no supervision, but what supervision was received was generally regarded as beneficial, although it often did not pertain to teaching practices. (Author/PB)

This review examines the research on teacher roles in resource room programs. It identifies and discusses four assumptions about resource teaching, in the areas of role definition and perception by education professionals and the efficacy of direct and indirect service programs. (Author/JDD)

This paper describes an approach to transitioning 106 junior high special education students into mainstream settings by drawing regular education teachers into special education settings for regular instruction sessions prior to full mainstreaming. Following a 3-5 week period of instructional visits by regular teachers to special education…

The decision to mainstream a child into the least restrictive environment opens up a variety of possibilities. The author surveys the mainstreaming options available in public schools, ranging from regular class placement to custodial care. (Part of a theme issue on mainstreaming.) (Editor/SJL)

The article examines three educational options for handicapped adolescents (self-contained classes or units, resource programs, and vocational education) in terms of the three main rationales underlying such options: fit the system, change the system, and ignore the system. (DLS)