This systematic review and meta-analysis appraised and synthesized mathematics interventions research addressing rational number concepts for students with mathematics difficulties (MD) in Grades 3-9. Included studies (n = 28) meet the What Works Clearinghouse Group Design standards (Version 4.0) for study quality. Across all studies, we found…

This article examines the conflict between literature-based or whole-language approaches to reading/literacy instruction and the direct instruction approach, as used with students having or at risk for learning disabilities. It concludes that each approach is often depicted in an idealized fashion but that, in practice, the approaches overlap and…

This paper reviews both the content and the methodological issues involved in the small but growing number of empirical studies on the use of Direct Instruction programs and teaching procedures with special populations. The research reviewed includes experimental and quasi-experimental work, summative evaluations of entire programs, and…

Current research on direct instruction is reviewed with a particular emphasis on studies of instructional design and technology and research on effective staff development. Among conclusions was that the same instructional variables affecting learner performance with traditional materials affect learning with computer-assisted instruction and…

Reviews research on reading comprehension for students with learning disabilities focusing on studies on instruction to improve comprehension of narrative text and expository text. Discusses emerging issues in the field, including use of socially mediated strategies, teaching multiple strategies to students, and teaching specific strategies as…

This article focuses on curriculum analysis, an aspect of direct instruction that is frequently neglected or obscured by an emphasis on classroom management and teacher performance. Explicit strategies that are used to teach higher cognitive skills and the importance of teacher training in the appropriate use of direct instruction are discussed.…

This review of research considers how best to teach English-language learners. A realistic appraisal of the empirical database indicates that research findings have failed to provide answers to questions about the importance of native language instruction and the best age and best methods for introducing academic instruction in English. The review…

This article presents research-based examples of effective instructional approaches for improving the quality of stories and essays written by students with learning disabilities. A common goal of the studies examined was to teach students how to organize writing tasks, generate ideas about the writing topics, and produce final written products…

A multivocal synthesis involving 13 educators and researchers investigated effective instruction for English-language learners and found five specific instructional variables, including: building and using vocabulary as a curricula anchor, using visuals to reinforce concepts, implementing cooperative learning and peer-tutoring strategies, using…

This article discusses instructional strategies likely to be effective with culturally and linguistically diverse students regardless of placement. It addresses assessment and misclassification; overreferral or underreferral; differing approaches to second language instruction; and the importance of transfer between languages, opportunities for…

The current state of the knowledge base on the effectiveness of specific instructional practices for English-language learners was examined by conducting an exploratory meta-analysis on eight studies of instructional interventions and using qualitative synthesis to supplement this analysis. The first data source was the eight intervention studies…

This article summarizes the critical findings of recent research syntheses concerning intervention with students who have learning disabilities. The syntheses examined research on higher-order processing and problem- solving, reading comprehension, written expression, and grouping practices associated with improved outcomes in reading. Principles…