The results of two studies support the contention that teaching metacognitive strategies with the aid of software packages enhances positive transfer of reading comprehension and writing skills. The first study investigated reading comprehension. 140 5th graders, very able learners, were divided into 4 groups which received, respectively, 15 hours of: (a) metacognitive instruction +dozes; (b) traditional instruction of dozes; (c) metacognitive instruction of complete texts and (d) traditional instruction of complete texts. The second study focused on teaching writing skills. 136 7th graders, very able learners, were divided into 4 groups which received, respectively, 48 hours of (a) metacognitive instruction plus Nvo, a writing-skills software package; (b) metacognitive instruction plus Qtext, a word processor; (c) traditional instruction plus Nvo and (d) traditional instruction plus Qtext. Results showed a greater improvement in learning and positive transfer in the group which received metacognitive instruction and used Nvo. The results of both studies show the efficiency of teaching reading and writing processes metacognitively, in integrating computerized environments. Theoretical BackgroundMetacognition is described as the knowledge that the person has about his own cognitive processes and products (Flavell, 1976). Customarily, metacognition ("thinking about thinking") is divided into two main components (Baker & Brown, 1984a), to wit, metacognitive knowledge and management of cognition. Metacognitive KnowledgeMetacognitive knowledge subsumes three categories of variables (Flavell1979, 1993): a) self-knowledge, which refers to how learners perceive themselves as cognitive individuals; (b) task knowledge, which deals with the various problem solving means that a learner has acquired; (c) strategy knowledge, a learner's information about strategies and

Using Critical Discourse Analysis, this study aims to elicit and expose the perceptions and attitudes of different policy makers in leadership positions at the Ministry of Education in Israel with regard to inclusion. The first stage of the research consisted of individual in-depth semi-structured interviews (N=8). In the second stage the participants (N=21) responded to a written questionnaire (Perceptions about Inclusive Education-PIE) and then took part in group discussions. The texts of the interviews and the group discussions were analyzed using qualitative measures. The findings point to a sensitive situation, one that is difficult to deal with and creates much disagreement. Although inclusion is the official and unanimously agreed upon policy, the discourse reflects some differences between and within groups of policy makers with regard to several issues: identification of the target population; factors and key figures affecting implementation and teacher training.

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Following the almost worldwide implementation of policies giving all students -including those with special education needs -the right to learn within the general education system, there has been a sharp increase in the number of inclusion assistants (IA). IAs provide special-needs students one-to-one accompaniment, allowing them to function in the general education classroom and reducing the onus on the classroom teacher in such cases. Unfortunately, many, if not most, of IAs enter the system without suitable training or special qualifications and often neither they nor the teachers have a clear idea of how they should fulfill their role. This exploratory study used a questionnaire and semi-structured interviews to identify and compare how 30 classroom teachers and IAs define the IA's role. It also studied how eight IAs changed their perception of their roles after attending an IA training course and what the implications of such courses may be. The findings indicated that there is a discrepancy in how teachers and IAs define the IA's role, indicating a need for clearer delineations. The results also indicated the necessity for creating a suitable framework for teaching IAs the theoretical and practical aspects of the job.