The article focuses on the role of peer-mediated instructional approaches in improving the academic and social performance of secondary learning-disabled students. Two peer-teaching programs, Classwide Peer Tutoring and Classwide Student Tutoring Teams, are described. (Author/DB)

The study examined the ability of intellectual, achievement, and behavioral data to predict placement of 95 learning disabled students (ages 7 to 15) into a special program. Only 27-33 percent of the variance was accounted for by the battery of assessment instruments in student placement decisions. (Author/DB)

In order to determine whether the institution is a good match for a learning disabled college applicant, the admissions counselor needs to ask appropriate questions concerning the student's academic survival strategies. (MSE)

This article offers guidelines for identifying gifted/learning-disabled high school students who would survive and thrive in the most competitive college environments. It strongly encourages the development of more informed admissions processes, not only at the undergraduate level but at the graduate and professional school levels as well.…

Effectiveness of a six-week spelling program implemented with seven learning-disabled sixth and seventh grade boys was assessed. Compared with controls, the experimental group demonstrated superior performance in the learning and retention of unpredictably spelled words. No difference between groups was found for words dictated in paragraphs. (JW)

Compared interpersonal cognitive problem solving skills of 30 mainstreamed learning disabled (LD) and 30 non-learning disabled junior high school students. Found LD students scored significantly lower than peers on four of five measures of interpersonal problem solving skills, but did not on measures of classroom social behavior. Found no…

In response to a previous article, the paper characterizes learning disabilities as the consequence of a transaction between students exhibiting certain individual differences and the social system of the schools. Basic and applied research can be related in good instructional research which includes the context of disability. (DB)

Factors associated with arithmetic-and-reading disability and specific arithmetic disability were investigated in over 850 representative New Zealand children. Reverse patterns of strengths and weaknesses with regard to verbal and nonverbal skills for these two types of arithmetic disability were found for boys but not for girls. (Author/DB)

Current hypotheses explaining the link between learning disability and delinquency are evaluated. An alternative hypothesis is proposed which postulates that ineffective social cognitive problem-solving skills increase risk for delinquency in learning-disabled youth. (Author/DB)

The article suggests use of a miscue analysis of mathematics problems in children with learning difficulties. Analysis of errors, past learning, and monitoring of progress are illustrated with a case study of a 10-year-old British learning disabled boy. (DB)

Teachers of the learning disabled (N=150) reported that major identification criteria in recent learning disability (LD) placements were intraindividual variability, achievement-potential discrepancy, below grade level academic achievement, and exclusion of other handicapping conditions. Teachers serving only LD students reported more emphasis on…

The study examined the potential of training in a specific learning strategy (text structure recognition and use) to improve the recall of expository prose of 27 learning disabled high school students. Trained subjects demonstrated better immediate and delayed recall performance than control subjects trained in problem solving strategies.…

Effects of two types of memory strategy instruction--mnemonic or directed rehearsal--on the vocabulary acquisition of 60 seventh and eighth grade learning disabled students were compared. Among results were that subjects instructed in the mnemonic method significantly outperformed subjects instructed in the direct rehearsal strategy. (Author/DB)

The study examined the use of advance organizers by seven regular secondary teachers with seven learning disabled students. Advance organizers did positively affect students' retention of information, but only after students were taught to attend to and use the advance organizers. (Author/DB)

A simply-constructed letter-writing template can help learning-disabled elementary students (or other students with writing problems) overcome concern about proper form and concentrate on content and communication skills. School and home activities to reinforce skills include writing to pen pals, writing for free or inexpensive materials, and…