Peer collaboration: accommodating students with mild learning and behavior problems

This study examined the effectiveness of a structured problem-solving process, peer collaboration, as a means of assisting classroom teachers in developing and implementing alternative interventions for students with mild learning and behavior problems. The study included 48 elementary and junior high school teachers in the intervention group and 43 elementary school teachers in a comparison group. Results indicate that teachers in the intervention group increased their tolerance for the range of students' cognitive abilities. These teachers reconceptualized their understandings of classroom problems and successfully implemented interventions for 86% of the 70 problems they attempted to solve.