Discusses Direct Instruction (DI), its rationale, principles of curricular design, and presentation techniques. Presents research on the effectiveness of DI with disadvantaged and handicapped learners. Also offers criticisms of DI. (RAE)

Programs for learning-disabled students generally emphasize basic skills acquisition, are highly individualized, use diagnostic-prescriptive methods, and are based on mastery learning principles. A more holistic approach is advocated and would include the content areas, systematic group interaction and instruction, experiential learning…

Interpersonal relationships should be an important part of learning-disabled students' curricula and should focus on appropriate classroom behavior, the impact of poor language skills on socialization, resistance to change, establishing degrees of value and priorities, cause-effect relationships in human interaction, planning/organizational…

This article outlines learning patterns which can identify the gifted learning-disabled and discusses the importance of early diagnosis, the importance of the student's participation in programs for the learning-disabled as well as for the gifted, and recommendations for helping the student succeed. (JDD)

Use of the whole language theory can improve the reading and writing of the language-learning disabled. This paper describes resource room characteristics necessary to create a whole language-learning environment and outlines instructional practices consistent with whole language theory, such as reading aloud, language experience approach,…

Ideas are presented for enhancing written expression programs for learning-disabled students. The ideas include, among others, creating a writing center in the classroom; encouraging students to share their writing with the teacher and classmates; capitalizing on such student interests as personal correspondence, a journal, and important…

Forty learning-disabled fourth graders learned to use a spelling study strategy, studied words under varying conditions, and predicted their scores on a subsequent test. Results indicated that, even without inclusion of specific metacognitive training components, strategy training produced important metacognitive improvement and that metacognitive…

The expository writing difficulties of exceptional students are examined in relationship to the writing process, expository text structures, and students' metacognitive knowledge. Approaches to the teaching of expository writing are discussed, and a dialogic approach, involving teacher modeling and a series of think sheets, is described.…

Three holistic approaches to reading comprehension instruction for learning-disabled children are described: text-based instruction, explicit comprehension instruction, and a combined model. Following discussion of each model's strengths, weaknesses, and teaching techniques, the combined model is recommended. (Author/JDD)

The "Phonic Remedial Reading Lessons" is a systematic, comprehensive phonics program designed for reading-disabled children. The 77 lessons teach about single letters and single sounds, two-letter sounds, consonant blends, graphemes, exceptions to configurations, and word building. The program's underlying strategies and other…

This review of the research on mathematical problem solving is focused on learning disabled students. Categories discussed include characteristics of learning disabled problem solvers, strategies they use, instruction facilitating strategy learning, cognitive strategies, and problem solving strategies. Implications for instruction and research are…

Suggests programming structures of computer assisted instruction for teaching severely learning disabled students be related to an established educational model. Use of performance contoured programming (PCP), based upon behavioral model of precision teaching, is discussed and contrasted with cognitive programming approaches. PCP applications and…

The weight of evidence to date suggests that distinctions among traditional remedial and special education classifications do not correspond to distinctions in the instructional approaches that are needed. Direct teaching of basic skills and frequent assessment of pupil progress seem to be effective for all children with academic difficulties.…

Discusses the use of children's literature to students with emotional and learning problems. (RB)