What's Happening in Self-Contained Special Education Classrooms?

The purpose of this research was to illustrate and compare the nature of instruction provided in 40 self-contained special classes for students with different categorical classifications. Few differences were indicated in the extent to which teacher communication patterns, learner involvement, and instructional methods were different in classes containing students classified as learning disabled, emotionally handicapped, or educable mentally retarded. The outcomes of this research raise questions about the appropriateness of categorical grouping of students for instruction and relate to issues of personnel training in categorical programs.