Responding to Variability among Exceptional Children. Volume II: Preservice and Inservice Education. A Guide for Teacher Corps' Exceptional Child Education.

Overview & Synopsis

The guide is designed as an analysis of current practices in teacher education to help educators deal with learning and behavior problems in the regular classroom. Special emphasis is directed to Teacher Corps staff. Chapter 1 reviews the concept of collaborative planning and notes its importance for the special education coordinator at an institution of higher education or local education agency. Examples of teacher competencies developed by several Teacher Corps projects are provided, and a rationale for competency development is presented (sample competencies listed). Procedures involved in successful needs assessment are reviewed. Elements of promising preservice education Teacher Corps programs are described, including content area objectives, suggested course structure, and opportunities for integrating knowledge. Inservice education considerations are examined, and a competency based approach is discussed. Planning for inservice is emphasized, and common threads of several Teacher Corps inservice approaches are noted. Included among four appendixes are a glossary of special education terminology and lists of teacher competencies. (CL)