This study identified the expected knowledge/skills needed for working with children and youth with emotional/behavioral disorders (E/BD) in general education classroom settings, as identified by general educators.

There is a scarcity of research exploring the field of Speech and Language Disorders (SLD) in the Greek mainstream primary education context. Accordingly, the aim of this study was twofold: (i) to identify the nature and extent of speech, language and communication skills of Greek pupils with noticeably slow progress, and (ii) to examine the provision made for these pupils in Greek mainstream and inclusion classes. The study was in two phases. For the first phase, pupils whose speech and language development was below expectations were assessed using a battery of tests. Data analysis indicated no significant differences in the language profile and non-verbal reasoning ability of the pupils with SLD, General Learning Difficulties (GLD) and other Special Educational Needs (SEN). The data also gave an indication of SLD incidence in Greek mainstream primary classrooms. Phase two involved seven case studies. Together, these provided a rich profile of the speech/language and literacy functioning of the pupils identified with SLD, GLD and Specific Writing difficulties (SpWd) and the provision offered to them in Greek primary mainstream settings. The findings revealed that these pupils shared difficulties in the domains of speech/language and literacy, which impacted on their access to the curriculum and academic attainments. However, teaching practices were not differentiated according to the pupils’ specific needs or year group. Additionally, pupils’ difficulties in the above areas had a negative impact on their social participation and acceptance by peers. Overall, the study highlights the complex nature of SLD, and the similarities in the language profile and the non-verbal reasoning skills of the SLD and other SEN subgroups. This raised questions about whether SLD, as used in these schools, is a distinct area of difficulty or on a continuum with other areas of difficulties. In addition, the study raised questions regarding the assessment and identification of SLD in the Greek context, as well as the practical teaching of pupils who experience such difficulties.

The increasing popularity of inclusion classrooms has placed a large number of students with special needs with the ones without disabilities. Often, general education teachers lack sufficient training in proven inclusion practices that is necessary to cope with the increase in diverse learning needs. The absence of sufficient training can lead to disruptive behavior and also, induce more stress in the classroom for the educator and the students. The qualitative case study aimed to explore the strategies and techniques used by elementary school teachers to successfully manage inclusion classrooms and to learn how the teachers handled stress. Vygotsky's sociocultural theory provided the theoretical framework for this study. The data collection methods involved observing school classrooms and interviewing teachers. A total of 6 teachers were interviewed and 3 observations were made in the classroom settings of these teachers. All the participants were teachers located in a small rural district of South Central Texas. The collected data were analyzed using cross-case analysis. The findings of this study indicate the most common methods of classroom management, that include the centers formed by small groups of students, and the tailoring of activities based on students' needs. Further, it was learnt that the teachers used a variety of techniques to mitigate their stress levels and to manage their classrooms in a calm manner. Also, using appropriate classroom management techniques can help the students with special needs to learn ways in which they can adapt their own behavior through self-regulation, to function more effectively with others.

Teacher self-efficacy (TSE) has been linked to the academic success of students. This association has been found in contexts where teachers have received training relevant to working with the student population being served. In the suburban Pennsylvania school district targeted in this study, there was little district-sponsored professional development (PD) available to general education teachers regarding strategies for teaching students with disabilities in the inclusion setting. The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to determine whether a difference exists in perceived TSE when instructing in the inclusion setting compared with the traditional setting, and whether an association exists linking prior experience and organizational support in the form of PD with TSE. Bandura's social cognitive theory framed this study. A sample of 99 secondary general education teachers completed a 3-part online survey including the TSES and TSES-Learning Disabilities (LD) scales measuring self-efficacy in the traditional and inclusion settings, and demographic questions that served as potential predictors of self-efficacy. Correlated t tests and partial correlations were used to test for differences in perceived TSE across the inclusion and traditional settings and to test whether demographic factors were associated with TSE. Teachers perceived themselves as less efficacious in the inclusion setting when compared to instructing general education students in a traditional classroom, and setting-specific training was the greatest predictor of TSE. An inclusion PD program was created focusing on strategies for teaching students with disabilities in the inclusion setting. This endeavor may advance positive social change by increasing teacher self-efficacy and ultimately student achievement.

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