Students in a remedial resource room program were assigned spelling and vocabulary tasks under a goal-setting/no-goal-setting procedure to see if goal setting behaviors facilitate learning. Results supported Rotter's social learning theory and the use of unobtrusive goal-setting procedures in special education classes. (SJL)

Investigated were the effects of a jogging program on talking out and out of seat behaviors exhibited by six elementary-aged behaviorally disordered students in a resource room setting. Results indicate a decrease in the occurrence of both behaviors following jogging for five of the six students. (Author/JDD)

A study of the reintegration of 382 severely emotionally disturbed/behaviorally disordered students (preschool through secondary) into less restrictive programs revealed that the expected continuum of services (most to least restrictive) were reversed. The predominant placement was full integration, followed in descending order by resource and…

Videotaping to promote self-monitoring was used to successfully reduce the incidence of self-injurious behavior in a 15-year-old behavior disordered subject within both the resource room and regular classroom settings. (DB)

The performance of learning disabled male elementary students in self-contained classes (N=35) and resource rooms (N=50) was compared on five diagnostic tests and factors of retention, chronological age, and behavior. Results indicated a difference only in the intelligence factor between the groups. (Authors)

This paper describes the outcomes of an action research project that implemented a program for increasing social-emotional functioning and improving academic achievement in 18 high school students with social and emotional disabilities. Analysis of probable cause data revealed that these students lacked a sense of affiliation to the high school…

Two elementary teachers rated 91 learning-disabled students (56 mainstreamed and 35 in self-contained classes) using the Weller-Strawser Scales of Adaptive Behavior. Results indicated that personality variables and problem behavior were related to teachers' perceptions of the ability of learning-disabled students to adapt to the classroom.…

Naturalistic observation procedures examined the use of time by 230 elementary students with disabilities in four special education placements--regular class, resource room, special class, and special school. The least restrictive alternatives, particularly the resource room, made more in-class learning time available. (Author/DB)

Providing additional academic challenges to gifted middle schoolers can be demanding, considering their involvement in multitudinous activities. A Pennsylvania school developed a three-prong approach that provides more rigorous curricular content and adopts the group instruction method favored by music departments and the one-on-one technique used…

This study of 343 elementary school students with learning disabilities examined whether different approaches to teachers' use of progress monitoring data related to differences in achievement. Achievement differences were not found to relate to varying data utilization approaches. The two factors consistently related to student reading progress…

Research published in April 1989 by H. L. Rich and S. M. Ross is reconsidered. Naturalistic observation of students in resource rooms, classrooms, special classes and special schools were used and results found resource rooms inherently flawed, a finding considered in this article to be unsupported by study data. (PB)

In response to criticism (EC 600 437), H. L. Rich and S. M. Ross defend their research published in April 1989. Naturalistic observation techniques used are discussed, conclusions regarding the regular education initiative supported, and findings concerning drawbacks of resource rooms reiterated and clarified. (PB)

This study investigated teachers' sense of efficacy and bias in decisions to refer students to special education. Teachers read a case study (under different conditions with varying student socioeconomic status and etiology of learning program) then judged student placement. Teachers' decisions were biased by variables unrelated to the student's…

Describes four models that have been shown to be effective in including students with disabilities in regular school programs: consultation, team teaching, aide services, and limited pullout service. Advantages and challenges of inclusion at the middle-school level are addressed. (DB)

An investigation that used a curriculum-based measure to examine the effects of an inclusive school program found 71 elementary students with learning disabilities (LD) in the program made significantly more progress in reading and comparable progress in math when compared to 73 students who were provided services in resource classes. (Author/CR)