This quasi-experimental study focused on 15 pairs of children with extensive support needs, matched across 12 characteristics based on their first complete Individual Education Program (IEP) in the school district. One child in each pair was included in general education for 80% or more of their day from their first IEP to the most current IEP at the time of the study. The other child in the pair was placed in a separate special education class, and was served there from the first IEP to the last IEP. All children were observed over a typical school day with time-sampling data collected on the types of activities, the contexts, and the types of engagement that occurred. In addition, outcome data from the first IEP to the most current IEP in the district were analyzed across three variables: communication levels, literacy levels, and numeracy levels. Results indicated that students in the general education classrooms had a significant, large effect size as compared with their pairs in separate classrooms on several variables. In addition, students in the general education classrooms demonstrated highly significant levels of progress as compared with the students in separate classrooms. Implications related to placement, disability characteristics, progress, and policy are discussed.

Despite the widespread perception that the preschool stage is a physically active stage, current studies indicate that levels of physical activity (PA). Of the different environments in which PA engagement may be promoted, the school setting is one of the most important. Thus, there is a need to investigate further in this area in order to propose research designs and interventions which can be evaluated. An innovative and recently researched method is the integration of movement within classroom activities which goes beyond break time activity and the implementation of government mandated curricular physical education sessions. Specifically, the current chapter addresses the combination of basic physical activity and academic lessons as an approach for teaching English language vocabulary. Results from research studies to have developed interventions using this methodology provide positive outcomes regarding effectiveness in terms of increasing physical activity, motivation, and cognitive performance at early ages.

Despite the widespread perception that the preschool stage is a physically active stage, current studies indicate that levels of physical activity (PA). Of the different environments in which PA engagement may be promoted, the school setting is one of the most important. Thus, there is a need to investigate further in this area in order to propose research designs and interventions which can be evaluated. An innovative and recently researched method is the integration of movement within classroom activities which goes beyond break time activity and the implementation of government mandated curricular physical education sessions. Specifically, the current chapter addresses the combination of basic physical activity and academic lessons as an approach for teaching English language vocabulary. Results from research studies to have developed interventions using this methodology provide positive outcomes regarding effectiveness in terms of increasing physical activity, motivation, and cognitive performance at early ages.