This article presents the whole-language approach as an environment that is particularly suitable for students with learning disabilities. This approach can allow students control over their learning, encourages them to experiment and take risks in their learning, promotes self-monitoring strategies, and enhances memory. (SW)

Past, present, and future concerns regarding the definition of learning disabilities (LD) are documented. Research on efforts to clarify the LD label is discussed, including the questionable utility of the discrepancy model. An approach is presented for operationalizing the definition of LD of the National Joint Committee on Learning Disabilities.…

Explanations and accounts used by teachers in 4 team meetings to make decisions about 12 pupils with learning and social disabilities were studied. Teachers, under certain circumstances, were able to apply an elucidative model based on shared explanations, but they often used a more restricted model. (SLD)

This review of the Peabody Individual Achievement Test--Revised (often used with learning-disabled students) notes the addition of a Written Expression subtest, replacement of most items to reflect current curricular content, and use of updated norms. The test also measures: general information, reading recognition, reading comprehension,…

Evaluation of a classroom mnemonic instructional method to teach science content to 19 mildly disabled students (grades 6-8) found mnemonic instruction resulted in improved initial content acquisition, higher delayed-recall scores than traditional instructional procedures, and generalization of mnemonic strategies to novel content. Students…

Measures of the social and academic competence of 73 children with learning disabilities in grades 3-6 indicated that subjects differed from children without disabilities on virtually all indexes of academic competence, regardless of social status. Most social differences were linked to the child's peer status, independent of disability.…

Intermediate-level students (n=41) with learning disabilities, regardless of initial attitude or the type of program (game or drill-and-practice) used, significantly improved their arithmetic facts proficiency after four sessions of computer-based practice. The game format had a facilitative effect on continuing motivation of students with low…

A college preparation curriculum relevant to the needs of students with learning disabilities is presented, focusing on early planning, instructional modifications, strategy instruction, and support services. (JDD)

This article describes the Montessori educational philosophy and method as it can be applied to preschool children at risk for learning disabilities. This approach to early intervention is designed to offer an individualized program which provides success and a conceptual preparation for later academic learning. (Author/DB)

This article offers a British perspective on ways that information technology can help pupils with specific learning difficulties to overcome problems with handwriting, spelling, and structured writing. (DB)

This study, involving 1,069 children (ages 9-14) referred for evaluation of learning disability, used 3 definitions of reading disability to provide criteria for 5 groups of children based on discrepancy between intelligence quotient (IQ) and academic achievement. Results question the validity of segregating children with reading deficiencies…

This study found that 74 high school students with learning disabilities were more likely than 85 nondisabled students to expect that a teenager trying to convince a peer to engage in misconduct would use simple, direct requests and were less likely to expect requests that minimized the possibility of getting caught. (JDD)

The provision of adequate sex education to students with learning disabilities, behavior disorders, and mild mental disabilities should be a part of a general education effort to acclimatize them to full social integration. This paper discusses teaching strategies, issues in developing a sex education curriculum, and personal traits of successful…

Students (n=457, ages 8-21) with learning disabilities or emotional handicap were assessed on self-perceptions and perceptions of home and classroom contexts. Students' achievement and adjustment were able to be predicted from the motivationally relevant variables of self-perception and perception-of-context. (Author/JDD)

Reviews research on the spelling performance of regular and special populations (learning-disabled and ESL) students. Offers research-supported instructional strategies that can help such students become more accurate at spelling when engaged in real writing activities. (RS)