Effects of having 32 learning disabled elementary grade students read passages orally one, three, or seven times with instructions to work for either fluency or comprehension were analyzed. Both fluency and comprehension improved with the number of readings with the greatest improvement being between one and three readings. Attentional cues…

Evaluation of a spelling package developed and used to teach spelling words to four learning disabled children (8-10 years old) indicated the program was effective in improving students' ability to spell unknown words immediately after training, was rated positively by the teacher, and was equally effective in both group and individual…

Learning disabled, average, and above average readers (Total N=45) in grades 5-7 were assessed on their metacognitive knowledge about vocabulary difficulty and passage organization in relation to ease of studying a passage. Findings indicated a consistency between the children's expressed metacognition and subsequent study behaviors. (Author/JW)

Fifty-five first- and second-grade learning-disabled (LD) children were subdivided into six perceptual and linguistic subtypes using hierarchical cluster analysis techniques. Three distinctive patterns of learning disabilities were found, representing a specific language disability (27%) and two variations of mixed perceptual and linguistic…

The study examined predictors of educational placement using the Personality Inventory for Children with 55 children previously identified as either learning disabled or nonhandicapped. Leading student characteristics predicting placement were (1) achievement; (2) adjustment; and (3) social incompetence, depression, defensiveness. (Author/DB)

Empirical, multivariate classification techniques were used to form subtypes of learning disabled readers (N=59) based on their performance on information processing tasks. A six-cluster solution with good internal validity was achieved with several subtype patterns tending to support hypotheses linking information processing deficits with reading…

The study investigated types of errors made by learning disabled children by analyzing written responses to multiplication and division problems. Error classifications are discussed, and possible causes are suggested. The importance of thorough investigation of errors by teachers is stressed. (Author/DB)

In two experiments 36 elementary and junior high learning-disabled (LD) students were taught attributes of minerals via mnemonic instruction, free study, or a visual-spatial display condition. In both experiments, students learned significantly more information in the mnemonic condition, and students in the visual-spatial condition did not…

Although research results generally fail to confirm a consistent relationship between reading performance and visual perception, auditory perception, or modality preference, clinical observations and teachers' opinions suggest the presence of such a relationship. The article reviews the research and suggests factors, including asking the wrong…

The study found that using bizarre imagery was not as effective as a cued recall task in improving word recall of 14 college students with learning disabilities. Recall was also poorer during imagery than semantic processing instructions. Long-term memory for both learning disabled and non-disabled subjects was not aided by bizarre imagery.…

The accuracy of recall and use of appropriate rehearsal strategies was compared for learning-disabled and low-achieving adolescents. There was little difference in performance between the two groups; both groups tended to employ appropriate executive strategies. (Author/DB)

The article reviews theoretical issues surrounding the concept of severe discrepancy in the diagnosis of learning disabilities. Components of discrepancy, including ability measures and achievement measures, are discussed. It is concluded that discrepancy is a necessary but not sufficient criterion in the identification of a learning disability.…

Children in grades 3-6 labeled learning disabled, behaviorally disordered, and learning disabled with significant behavioral disorders (total N=78) were assessed for locus of control. Children labeled learning disabled were found to be significantly more internally controlled than children labeled behaviorally disordered or than children labeled…

The article suggests a contextualist approach to helping isolated or rejected learning disabled children. In this approach the source of social problems is attributed to both partners in a peer relationship. Rather than remediating the social deficits of the LD child alone, instruction occurs within the context of ongoing peer interactions.…

The performance of 10 language-learning disabled ninth graders was compared to that of 16 normally achieving ninth graders and 10 normally achieving fourth graders on a modified Piagetian problem solving task sensitive to cognitive changes in early adolescence. Results suggested significant conceptual limitations in the language-learning disabled…