Word learning in a supported-learning context is described for 30 preschoolers with specific learning impairment (SLI) and 30 controls. Daily production probes assessed number of words learned and daily posttest assessed comprehension of the words. A minority of children with SLI learned to produce significantly fewer words. (Author/CR)

The authors of an article on research and professional development of general education teachers who have students with learning disabilities respond to a commentary. They address the distinct research traditions of general education researchers and special education researchers and urge the integration of their particular research methodologies…

Describes characteristics of learning disabled (LD) college students, noting pedagogical assumptions of foreign language (FL) faculty that make it difficult for such students to complete FL requirements. The paper lists strategies that address the needs of LD students in FL, proposing a systems approach to instructional design that could help in…

Describes reasons that students with learning disabilities (LD) choose teaching as a profession, and difficulties that students with LD have in teacher-preparation programs. Discusses legal and ethical issues encountered when working with students with LD in teacher-education programs, as well as some ways to enhance success. (Author/CR)

Presents a review of 54 studies on math practices for students with learning disabilities. Validated practices included strategy and self-regulation interventions. Students benefited from step-by-step processes that guided their thinking and performance when solving math problems. The use of manipulative devices and drawings also were effective.…

Describes the needs of adults with learning disabilities and offers recommendations for appropriate environmental and instructional supports for their success in postsecondary education and the workplace. A table matches assistive technologies with learning characteristics and settings. (SK)

Outlines social capital theories in functionalist and Marxist traditions and their implications for people with learning difficulties. Identifies multiple factors influencing their ability to access social capital, including ability/inability to conform to social norms and economic inequities. (SK)

Internal consistency, test-retest reliability, item analysis, and construct and concurrent criterion-related validity of the Writing Essential Skill Screener-Preschool Version were studied using four independent samples of children (ages 4 to 5). The test displayed a high degree of reliability and validity for a brief pre-writing skills screener.…

This case study evaluates the extent to which seven basal mathematics programs for fourth-grade students adhered to salient instructional design criteria when teaching the mathematics skill of subtraction across zeros. Results indicated that across the 1994-1995 mathematics series, only Silver Burdett & Ginn satisfied most criteria. (Author/CR)

The progress of a 12-year-old boy with learning disabilities and severe writing difficulties is followed from initial assessment through instruction in strategies for planning, revising, and managing the composing process using a validated instruction model, Self-Regulated Strategy Development (SRSD). Recommendations for applying the SRSD model to…

Seven students with language and learning disabilities in fourth through eighth grades were interviewed to determine their understanding of and attitudes toward a writing-process instructional approach. Students' attitudes toward this approach were positive but their understanding of prewriting elements and of revising and editing were quite…

Details a tutor's experiences in teaching a 12-year-old gifted student with learning disabilities. The positive effect of allowing the student to choose his own literature and working with his strengths is recounted. The narrative highlights the importance of honoring a student's gifts. (CR)

Examines, from the perspective of the plaintiffs, the 1998 Guckenberger v. Boston University case in which the plaintiffs claimed the university failed to provide reasonable accommodations for students with learning disabilities. The authors view the complex decision as a ruling against the university under the Americans with Disabilities Act,…

Describes the 1998 Guckenberger federal lawsuit from the perspective of attorneys who litigated on behalf of Boston University. Discusses events leading up to the lawsuit (which claimed Boston University failed to provide reasonable accommodations for a student with learning disabilities), policy changes at the university, the trial itself, and…

Research is reviewed on stress, depression, and suicide among adolescents with learning disabilities from the risk resilience perspective. Adolescents with nonverbal learning disabilities and/or those who are less academically adept manifest higher rates of depression. Some evidence also exists to support an increased risk of suicide among this…