Homework, like grandmother's spring tonic, is a useless and hated ritual that is continued only because everyone seems to expect it. The best way to make homework enriching and personal is to prepare idea cards for each study unit, allowing each student to select a suitable project. (SJL)

The use of heart rate measurement to aid in the design of individualized exercise programs is suggested. (LH)

Twenty-one steps to aid in curriculum development are outlined, including reading or rereading assessment reports developed by teachers or other professionals; knowing the home, school, and community music resources; and determining and teaching prerequisite skills. Journal availability: National Association for Music Therapy, Inc., P O. Box 610,…

The educational experiences of students result from the prescribing of resources and activities. Available resources and activities are referred to as learning alternatives. Alternatives help to promote the learning of concepts, themes, topics, and skills and to clarify values, interests, attitudes, and personal goals. (Author)

Examines three aspects of individualized reading instruction programs and concludes that, although individual programs vary greatly, every child needs personal attention to progress and grow in ability to read. (JM)

The underlying ingredient of individualized mainstreaming is inclusion, not separation, on a long-term basis. The policy of inclusion encourages grouping patterns that allow children who are different in many ways to live and learn together when it is of benefit to them. (Author)

Cost data were analyzed for individualized models implemented at five rehabilitation agencies serving Canadian adults with mental handicaps. The analysis examined such items as average cost per client, ratios of clients to training staff, and amount of time training staff spent with clients. (JDD)

This study found that, when assessment of activity preferences of 15 adults with intellectual disabilities was included as part of the Individualized Habilitation Plan (IHP) development process, 78 percent of participants' IHP objectives were preferred activities. Preferred activities requiring a greater degree of staff support were included on…

This article identifies content and process components for developing and evaluating schoolwide programs as well as programs for individual secondary students with mild disabilities. Program comprehensiveness and flexibility are stressed. Content components include social/oral communication, basic literacy, life skills, and others; process…

With many states adopting new standards and evaluation systems, teachers must adopt effective instructional strategies and assessment methods aligned to the rigor of new standards and assessments. One way to improve student achievement is through supporting student ownership of learning, a core component of formative instructional practices.…

Less frequently than you might expect, a court case within the booming world of special education litigation focuses on the evaluation practices of a school psychologist. The appropriateness of such practices merits comparative examination from both professional and legal perspectives. This article contains the facts for examination under these…

Since its publication in 2012, "The Behavior Code: A Practical Guide to Understanding and Teaching the Most Challenging Students" has helped countless classroom teachers, special educators, and others implement an effective, new approach to teaching focused on skill-building, practical interventions, and purposeful, positive interactions…

This paper presents initial results from a pilot evaluation of the pre-K component of a new school-based intervention strategy (Social, Emotional, and Cognitive Understanding and Regulation in education, SECURe) for pre-kindergarten through 3rd grade that is designed to build skills in social-emotional learning (focusing on executive function and…

The purpose of this study was to assess parents' awareness of the student support team (SST) as a method to increase parents' participation in the process and to impact student achievement. The student support team (SST) develops strategies and interventions to assist students that are experiencing academic or behavioral challenges in the…