Asserts that students learn more when teachers individually tailor student programs using curriculum-based measurement (CBM). Describes computer applications to CBM and provides examples of how the technology has been used. Provides an overview of the research conducted and examines its utility. Discusses implications for the field of special…

The focus of this article is intervention for third-grade students with serious mathematics deficits at third grade. In third grade, such deficits are clearly established, and identification of mathematics disabilities typically begins. We provide background information on two aspects of mathematical cognition that present major challenges for…

The effects of a task-focused goals (TFG) treatment in mathematics were studied with low-achieving students with or without learning disabilities. Results with 40 elementary classrooms showed that TFG students enjoyed the approach, but that increased effort was associated with greater learning only for those without learning disabilities. (SLD)

Curriculum-based measurement (CBM) is defined and described through a case study of a fourth-grade student. CBM is suggested as a system for monitoring goal appropriateness, adjusting instructional programs, and formulating instructional improvements. Potential contributions of CBM to special education practice are outlined, and areas of needed…

Considers oral reading fluency as an indicator of overall reading competence. Summarizes several studies substantiating that oral reading fluency may reflect overall reading competence. Provides an historical analysis of the extent to which oral reading fluency has been incorporated into measurement approaches during the past century. Concludes…

Investigated alternative reading monitoring measures in addition to time-consuming oral reading fluency assessment. Examined measures suitable for automatic data collection and scoring using computers and acceptable as measures of reading comprehension. Assessed criterion validity of four such measures and identified subset of measures. (Author/NB)

This article identifies and discusses principles of prevention and intervention in the area of mathematics. Three levels of prevention and intervention are addressed: primary prevention focusing on universal design, secondary prevention focusing on adaptations, and tertiary prevention focusing on intensive and explicit contextualization of…

The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of schema-broadening instruction (SBI), with and without explicit instruction in strategies for tackling the complexities involved in real-life (RL) math problems, on the math problem solving of third-grade students. Teachers (n = 30) were assigned randomly to 3 16-week conditions: control, SBI,…

Examined effectiveness and feasibility of phonological awareness training, with and without a beginning decoding component. Teachers were assigned randomly to three groups: control, phonological awareness training, and phonological awareness training with beginning decoding instruction and practice. Group differences were identified at the end of…

The paper examined empirical evidence (published through 1986) concerning the effectiveness of the Adaptive Learning Environments Model (ALEM), a multifaceted program designed to integrate handicapped pupils and remedial and compensatory education students in general education. Evaluation of three evaluative studies by the program's originators…

The meta analysis explored how measuring special education student progress toward long-term vs. short-term goals affects achievement outcomes. Results indicated that when progress toward long-term goals was measured, unbiased effect sizes were higher than on probelike outcomes; when progress toward short-term goals was measured, the reverse was…

This article proposes a dual-discrepancy approach to identifying children who do not respond to generally effective reading instruction. Curriculum based measurement is suggested as an effective tool for detecting dual discrepancies and an example is provided from an ongoing program of research that uses the dual-discrepancy approach to identify…

This article first describes two types of assessment (problem solving and standard treatment protocol) within a "responsiveness-to-instruction" framework to identify learning disabilities. It then specifies two necessary components (measures and classification criteria) to assess responsiveness-to-instruction, and present pertinent findings from…

Mathematical problem solving is a transfer challenge requiring children to develop schemas for recognizing novel problems as belonging to familiar problem types for which they know solutions. Schema-based transfer instruction (SBTI) explicitly teaches transfer features that change problems in superficial ways to make them appear novel even though…

The coordinated use of performance-based assessment and curriculum-based assessment is explored. Criteria are suggested for evaluating the advantages and disadvantages of each assessment method, and a framework for integrating the two methods is proposed. Specific recommendations are given for use with students having learning disabilities. (CR)