In the last year, there has been a resurgence of articles and reports in media outlets such as "The New York Times," "PBS NewsHour," "EdWeek," and "The Atlantic" about students experiencing reading difficulties. Many of these pieces have created confusion and provided misinformation by oversimplifying both…

The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. The focus of this issue is "Early Learning." Contents include: (1) Current Proposals for Texas' Investment…

Using technology to deliver instruction in schools has become increasingly popular. Students are required to use online programs, textbooks and apps as part of their classwork and homework. BYOD (bring your own device) school policies have filled classrooms and hallways with students carrying smart phones, laptops and iPads. The increased reliance…

Pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) have the greatest need for excellent teaching and are entitled to provision that supports achievement at, and enjoyment of, school. The attainment gap between pupils with SEND and their peers is twice as big as the gap between pupils eligible for free school meals and their peers.…

This guide is a list of tools that can be used in continued implementation of strong programming powered by Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) competencies. This curated resource pulls from across the landscape of policy, research and practice, with a description of each tool gathered directly from its website.

This guide is intended to stimulate professional reflection, dialogue and debate about mathematics and how to improve it. It draws together themes, features and characteristics of effective improvement in mathematics and descriptions of good practice. It offers a reference point for staff and teachers who are working together to improve…

The learning disabilities (LD) of some gifted students are categorized as subtle gifted LD, hidden gifted LD, and recognized LD and then discussed. Use of instructional strategies that are effective with gifted students and with students who have learning disabilities is recommended. (DB)

Whether math problems require computation skills, problem solving strategies, inferential thinking skills, or deductive reasoning, mathematically talented students are often able to discern answers with unusual speed and accuracy. Mathematically gifted students are able to see relationships among topics, concepts, and ideas without the…

This brief paper summarizes what is known about sensory integration and sensory integration dysfunction (DSI). It outlines evaluation of DSI, treatment approaches, and implications for parents and teachers, including compensatory strategies for minimizing the impact of DSI on a child's life. Review of origins of sensory integration theory in the…

This brochure presents current knowledge and theories regarding the causes and treatment of dyslexia. Psychological, biological and educational factors thought to contribute to dyslexia are outlined, as are common approaches to treatment and long-term prospects for individuals with dyslexia. Efforts by the National Institute of Child Health and…

"Specific Learning Disability" is by far the largest category of conditions served in special education. Unfortunately, few parents (and educators) really understand what learning disabilities are. Many erroneously believe it is a "politically correct" term for "mildly mentally retarded" or "dull normal." Further, while most laypeople have heard…

A review of learning disabilities in gifted children provides definitions of "learning disabilities" and "giftedness", a classification of gifted students with learning disabilities, the importance of a multidimensional approach to identifying students with gifts/learning disabilities, characteristics, programming guidelines, teaching strategies,…

This article discusses how to determine the learning style of a child with learning problems and how to use the information to maximize the child's potential. Assessing the child's learning style begins with close observation in a variety of settings, which provides a generalized idea of the child's behavior. This is followed up by categorizing…

This pamphlet explains briefly what is known about attention deficit disorders (ADD), to help parents and educators have a more positive influence on the ADD child's life. It begins with definitions of terminology; characteristics of preschool, school-age, and adult individuals with ADD; and causes of ADD. It discusses special problems associated…

This book is a guide for parents and teachers to Asperger syndrome, a condition in which individuals have significant social and language peculiarities while simultaneously showing normal development and function in some areas of their lives. Chapter 1 provides an overview of Asperger syndrome, including definitions and characteristics. Chapter 2…