The SOBR observation technique was used to observe reading instruction in special education resource room programs for mildly disabled students. Disabled and nondisabled students in regular classrooms were also observed. There were considerable differences in reading instruction across programs and students. The amount of reading instruction was…

The article offers a critical inspection of the effectiveness of resource room programs in serving students with disabilities. Types of resource models (categorical, cross-categorical, noncategorical, specific skill, and itinerant) are described. Also noted are ethical considerations (segregation versus integration) and suggested improvements in…

The study, involving 15 Indiana high school resource room teachers, focused on three aspects of resource room programming: (1) teachers' perceptions of their roles as resource room teachers and perceived concerns regarding the provision of services to mildly handicapped adolescents; (2) role-related activities of secondary resource room teachers;…

Forty-four mildly handicapped students (grades 4 through 9) in resource rooms were interviewed about their understanding of the special education referral and placement process, their explanation of the reasons for their placement, interpersonal problems produced by placement, strategies to handle the interpersonal problems, predictions about…

This study of the instructional ecology of 52 high school resource room programs for mildly handicapped students found that teachers instructed in a wide variety of content areas and had high student engagement rates. Instructional practices generally associated with high achievement were not typically employed. Implications for teacher training…

To share information with parents of resource room students, special education teachers developed programs involving panel discussions, guest speakers, films, etc. Subsequently, a program for secondary-level resource room students was also developed, with panel presentations and group discussions. Lists of discussion topics and guidelines for…

The literature review examines the issue of whether categorical differentiation and placement of mentally retarded and learning disabled students is educationally warranted. First, the two conditions are defined; next, a comparison between the two on psychological, behavioral-social, and educational characteristics usually ascribed to children so…

The article offers guidelines for using the regular education mathematics curriculum for students with mild disabilities. Approaches geared toward mildly handicapped adolescents include the parallel alternate curriculum, the resource room model, and the strategies intervention model. Specific teaching suggestions are also recommended as are…

This manual was developed as part of a project investigating the effectiveness of class-wide peer mediated reading instruction with middle grade students having mild disabilities and reading difficulties. It explains the procedures for introducing, implementing, and monitoring the project's version of repeated reading, in which pairs of students…

The paper reviews research on the effects of placement in full-time special education classes, part-time regular classes with resource support, and full-time regular classes on mildly handicapped students. Also examined are programs designed to improve achievement, social-emotional adjustment, and social acceptance of the academically handicapped…

Students in grades four to six (N=77) judged the capabilities of peers traditionally labeled as "learning disabled" or "educable mentally retarded" but depicted in written vignettes only as attending either a resource room or special classroom. Students in special classes were judged significantly less capable than students in resource room…

Cognitive and achievement levels were analyzed for 192 students (grades 1-12) served in generic special education resource rooms in a Texas community, using cognitive and achievement test data, service delivery information, and demographic data. Grade levels of the subjects were used as a constant in the data analysis. Among reported findings were…

Parents of mildly-disabled (learning-disabled, behaviorally-disordered, mild mentally retarded) six- to eight-year-olds (N=14) called a telephone service to hear weekly spelling lists, suggested techniques for helping children learn the words, and children's performance on weekly spelling tests. Results showed an increase in the average number of…

This study compared the effectiveness of two interventions that differed in the nature of dialogic interactions among teachers and students in reading groups. Teacher-interns (n=35) instructed 109 children with mild disabilities in special education resource rooms. Analyses indicated that the intervention featuring dialog, social interactions, and…

This study investigated time allocated to instruction as a function of the specific type of mild handicap and as a function of setting and subject matter content. Subjects were 122 elementary students categorized as learning-disabled, emotionally/behaviorally disturbed, educable mentally retarded, and nonhandicapped. Subjects were in mainstreamed,…