Evaluation of "Concept Diagrams" and a related "Concept Teaching Routine" used in nine secondary school classrooms which included 32 learning-disabled (LD) students, found that teachers successfully selected target concepts and implemented the teaching routine, whereas students (both LD and non-LD) demonstrated gains in concept acquisition,…

Discusses a learning strategy, employing imaginal processes and verbal mediations procedures, designed to improve reading comprehension in 24 learning disabled students. Indicates significant gains and improvement in reading comprehension over a 15 week treatment period. (MM)

A study determined performance differences of 35 educable mentally retarded (EMR), 22 learning disabled (LD), and 20 nonhandicapped adolescents in typical industrial arts activities. Findings indicated (1) LD students can perform competitively with nonhandicapped; (2) EMR students can perform some tasks competitively; (3) enablers increase…

A program designed to teach cognitive strategies through logical problem-solving and developed for elementary learning disabled students is presented. For each problem set, the instructional procedure involves a discovery activity, discussion, conclusion, follow-up activities, and integration. Five samples of the program's problem sets (e.g.,…

The article considers the research basis for use of word processing with learning disabled fourth grade students, notes the special demands word processing makes on teachers and students in the initial learning stage, and suggests instructional approaches. (DB)

Sixteen skilled and 16 learning disabled (LD) readers (ages 11-12) viewed nonsense pictures either without names, with names that emphasized the semantic aspects of the picture, or with names unassociated with the pictorial representation. Results suggested that semantic coding deficits in LD readers were localized to retrieval processes.…

Twenty-four learning disabled children (grades 5-8) with adequate decoding skills, but who demonstrated problems in reading comprehension, received training in finding the main idea. Among several findings was that metacomprehension (self-monitoring) plus direct instruction was more effective than direct instruction alone. (Author/JW)

Analysis of videotapes of over 100 tutorial sessions of remedial language training with learning-disabled adolescents resulted in identifying common factors which significantly affected student learning: the structure of the setting, the use of routinized procedures, and manner/approach of tutors. Patterns of student behavior were also identified.…

Teacher perceptions of the social-behavioral characteristics of 99 boys (aged 7-14) identified by their nonverbal learning abilities found that low nonverbal subjects showed good left-brain functioning, good reading, poor right-brain functioning, poor arithmetic skills, low motivation, poor work habits, disorganization, and poor relationship with…

Results of the comparison of 34 learning disabled and 37 low achieving fifth grade students on curriculum based assessment of reading, spelling, and written expression found significant differences between the two groups suggesting that norm-referenced tests which find no differences may reflect an inefficient procedure for confirming teacher…

Current advocacy efforts in learning disabilities (LD) are critiqued and alternatives to traditional special education such as implementing the effective schools research are reviewed. Five objectives of an advocacy blueprint for a pluralist school include increasing public awareness of the LD experience and making integration the centerpiece of…

High quality children's literature should be used to facilitate language-learning-disabled children's narrative abilities in the areas of structure, content, values, and aesthetic appreciation. Using the macrostructure of the story can lead to the exploration of feelings and values in real or imagined situations. (DB)

Students with learning disabilities work to avoid difficult tasks while trying to appear competent ("passing"). They also check, monitor, and evaluate their actions, a form of "metacognition." These are flip sides of the same coin of strategic interaction and are context-bound, not context-free activities. (Author/LHW)

Examines limitations of standard scores of achievement tests used in diagnosing learning disabilities. Consideration of these limitations is important in deciding whether a marked discrepancy exists between ability and achievement. Recommends use of developmental standard scores over status standard scores. (Author/ABB)

Examines referral information for 269 learning disabled students in grades one through five. Referral reasons were classified as academic, behavior, and academic and behavior and were analyzed according to particular concern (e.g., reading deficits, attentional problems, etc.). The majority of students were referred for either academic or both…