A 2-year study evaluated the relationship among psychosocial adjustment, changes in academic skills, and contextual factors in 100 children (ages 7-11) with learning problems. Contextual variables were significantly associated with psychosocial adaptation, including the effectiveness of the clinical assessment, extent of academic support, and the…

Presents recent research results from magnetic resonance imaging on the neurological characteristics of individuals with dyslexia. Describes how the brain is normally used in reading and how a neurological "glitch" prevents individuals with dyslexia from easily gaining access to parts of the brain responsible for analyzing and…

This article analyzes factors related to bringing research-validated practices to scale to enable implementation of responsiveness-to- intervention models in special education. Key components of effective literacy programs are discussed, along with findings from reading intervention research. The need for professional collaboration among…

This article discusses problems in the psychological processing theory for learning disabilities assessment and describes the development and potential use of an interactive diagnostic system for testing students' processing skills for learning disabilities. (AEF)

Presents the author's perspective on the topic of educational intervention for students with learning disabilities through a discussion of using validated, curriculum-based measurement as a determinant of effective instruction. Also examines the optimal characteristics and ethics of intervention research and the dissemination and implementation of…

Reviews and synthesizes recent literature on social problems in the lives of adolescents, including depression, suicide, substance abuse, sexual activity, sexually transmitted diseases, rape, sexual preference, and school dropout. Explores key factors in effective intervention and prevention programs for students with and without learning…

Administered an ability scale to 53 children identified as having a learning disability approximately three years after each had been administered an intelligence scale. Results indicate that the ability scale correlated highly with the intelligence test. Differences in scores in specific measures were nonsignificant. Other findings are discussed.…

Qualitative methods were used to examine experiences of 12 successful college students with learning disabilities. The participants reported social problems, difficulty with teachers, and frustration with certain academic areas, sometimes resulting from the interaction of their high ability and learning disabilities. Participants successfully…

Elementary school students (N=75) with mild disabilities were monitored in reading and math before and after summer vacation and six weeks into the following school year using Curriculum-Based Measurement Probes. Results indicated significant regression following break. By recoupment measurement, students had regained proficiency and performed…

Thirty-one 6th-grade students with and without mild disabilities participated in an eight-week project-based investigation about immigration to the United States. Students were assigned the role of the immigrants or opponents of immigration and asked to debate desirability of immigration. Debates promoted high levels of engagement and equal…

Destructive behavior of 9-year-old with learning disabilities was evaluated in a functional analysis. The effects of extinction, negative reinforcement, and negative reinforcement combined with access to preferred activities were compared on behavior and task engagement. Engagement occurred most and destructive behavior occurred least when…

This article describes a collaborative approach to planning in the content areas to include and allow students with learning disabilities access to the general education curriculum. Procedures for selecting and organizing content, determining activities, identifying modifications, and assessing performance are presented. A sample unit plan and…

Eighty-six undergraduates with learning disabilities rated their willingness to seek help from academic services in response to vignettes and advertisements. Participants reported the most willingness to seek help after reading about a positive reaction from a professor. Students who felt more stigmatized were less likely to seek help. (Contains…

This article demonstrates how to improve students' learning motivation by means of an attributional dialogue between teachers and students. Students are asked to describe events and to explain to what they attributed success or failure. Dialogue pages of a typically achieving learner and a student with learning disabilities are provided. (Contains…

This article presents a summary of considerations for teachers when assessing a student's understanding of division concepts. It discusses student products, student procedures and strategies, and student concepts and explanations at the preschool, elementary, and middle school levels. Examples of assessment activities and possible misconceptions…