Describes "occupation" as a Montessori term, which the Hershey Montessori Farm School, in Huntsburg, Ohio, has adopted for any task arising from the needs of the farm that then generates a scientific or historic study. Includes lists of occupations pursued during 2000-2001 and samples of record forms students used to manage their work.…

Middle school principals and teachers (n=714) responded to questions about inclusion, the degree of change needed, the importance of collaborative strategies for teaching, and concepts for inclusive education. Collaboration as an instructional strategy for included students was a high-priority item, but there were many points of disagreement. (SLD)

This article focuses on European early intervention for children with Down syndrome. Early intervention is viewed as a reconstruction of the construction processes in order to facilitate optimal response to environment conditions. It demands communication skills, a high level of transparency, theoretical education, and trust in the child's…

This study examined preliminary psychometric properties of the Teaching Practices Observation Scale (TPOS), a newly developed observational taxonomy for assessing teacher behaviors during free play with young children. Behaviors of 42 child caregivers and junior kindergarten teachers were coded using a combination of time-sampling, event-sampling,…

Uses the integration of literacy learning in early-childhood classrooms as a model for computer integration. Describes and recommends a basic set of "curriculum integration" software. Discusses how computers can function as scaffolds and manipulatives; includes an example of how to design an integrated unit that incorporates technology. Discusses…

This article comments on recommended changes to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) included in "Perspectives on the Future of the IDEA" (Hardman and others). It is argued that we have ignored and trivialized important legal requirements already in IDEA, and that the current IDEA has served us well. (CR)

This commentary discusses the underlying constitutional principles in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Equal protection and equal access for children with disabilities, procedural due process and empowerment, substantive due process and self-determination, least restrictive environment and the continuum, and policy…

The charter public school movement has experienced significant growth, attracted veteran community activists and committed educators, acquired the bipartisan support of Congress, contributed to increases in student achievement, and influenced a variety of educational improvement efforts. Internal and external challenges facing charter schools are…

Twelve studies examined implications of age-related changes in movement between 6 weeks and 52 years for various psychological domains. Findings indicate an inverted U-shaped pattern in limb movements per hour that peaked in middle childhood, later than expected. This pattern in motor activity has relevance for development, and for ADHD,…

Shows how evolution-theoretical behavioral research may serve to influence the theory production of pedagogics. Questions which truths and securities are required by educational practice and which consequences can be drawn for the level of theoretical cognition of the respective discipline. An analysis of the relation between religion in its…

Presents a study in which 56 students in two Year 1 classes were taught a series of arts lessons on three-dimensional clay modeling. One class was taught using traditional practices and the other using social modeling and cognitive learning. The social learning group evidenced strong gains in measures of creativity. (CMK)

Educational practice today encourages interdisciplinary teaching as teachers address important basic themes from a variety of angles. In this article, the author talks about one of her successful projects that focuses on "sense of place" as one such theme, with the more specific charge of viewing Earth from both scientific and artistic…

Highlander Folk School is an adult education center located in eastern Tennessee that was formed in 1932 by Myles Horton and continues today. Myles Horton (1905-1990) hoped to create an independent adult learning center where people could come together and address their problems. He wanted to create a public space where people could learn from…

Improvisational teaching is informed both by students' interests and ideas and teachers' deep understandings of curricular goals; it is purposeful, but not predetermined. This approach contrasts with teacher-dominated classroom discourse in which discussions are controlled by the teacher and focused on the transmission of facts.This paper examines…

This paper examines the role of effective practices in making education "special" for students with emotional and/or behavior disorders and discusses barriers and potential solutions for translating research into practice. These include accessibility of the literature base, teacher training and the role of teacher educators, support to implement…