Why do some students go above and beyond what is asked of them while others do just enough to get by? This "Focus On" debunks common underachievement myths (such as "some students aren't capable of learning" or "underachievers are lazy") and looks at ways to create a motivating classroom by providing teachers with effective strategies for engaging…

Precollege and college students come from a variety of ethnic and racial backgrounds. For some, English is not their first language. Also represented in most classes are students with a diversity of ages and learning styles, including visual and auditory. In addition, increasing numbers of students with disabilities are included in regular…

A diagnostic-prescriptive scheme is illustrated using subtests of the Slingerland Screening Tests for Identifying Children with Specific Language Disability and the Detroit Tests of Learning Aptitude. The scheme is intended to focus on the child's learning style by examining the task and the strategies employed. (CL)

Research on hemispheric and modality preference and implications for children with specific learning disabilities is reviewed. A chart lists information concerning performance of left and right hemisphere for modes of information processing. General and specific skill enhancement strategies for reading and general development are suggested. (CL)

Assessment approaches are described which avoid the attribution of an ability/achievement discrepancy to a learning deficiency, while emphasizing the interaction between the individual and environment. The Guide to the Child's Learning Skills, learning styles inventory, and contract activity packages are discussed. (CL)

The regular classroom teacher's role in the identification of learning-disabled children is important but often difficult. Identification is facilitated, however, by recognition of a pattern of symptoms rather than one single sign. (Author/GC)

If you've ever felt unprepared to teach students with learning disabilities, here's a book that will extend your brain-friendly teaching practices to address students with learning disabilities and other special challenges. Neurologist and classroom teacher Judy Willis explains how the research on how people learn can help you: (1) Build safe and…

The need to recognize differing learning styles in children so as not to ignore the gifted but learning disabled student is stressed. The use of games in math instruction is considered and suggestions for presenting word problems in ways which take into account differing styles are offered. (PHR)

Guidelines are presented for modifying basic instruction of subtraction facts for elementary level learning disabled students. A detailed case study is used to illustrate a five-step structured program: (1) find a way to work it out; (2) add to check; (3) learn the partner facts; (4) study families of facts; (5) review and practice. The selection…

This paper suggests techniques that teachers who prepare adult students for the General Educational Development (GED) tests can use with students who have learning disabilities. The first part of the paper presents a brief overview of symptoms exhibited by students who are learning disabled. Symptoms are classified under general behaviors,…

In order to individualize instruction for learning disabled students, tasks should be matched to students' abilities and learning styles. Two types of task modifications include modifying the task content to coincide with what students are ready to learn and modifying task processes and features to match how students prefer to learn. Readiness…

There is much more to a learning disabled (LD) child's successful learning than part-to-whole or whole-to-part instruction. Among the many factors to be considered are his/her learning style, interests, abilities, aptitudes, health, and parental support. Instructional programs for learning disabled children should be based on the students'…

Examines research about learning disabled (LD) students and presents an LD learning-style profile. Describes a learning activity, TELSQA, that social studies teachers can use to encourage reading comprehension. TELSQA asks students to identify title (T), examine material (E), look for important words (L), self-question (SQ), and answer…

This handbook for Adult Basic Education (ABE) and General Educational Development (GED) instruction synthesizes research and combines it with selected instructional strategies for instructors, tutors, and volunteers. This handbook is a reference tool that sets the scene for instruction in literacy and adult basic education. The handbook includes…

This book presents a multisensory approach for teaching language arts skills to students in grades 3-10 with learning disabilities. It is intended for teachers, parents, speech-language pathologists, and other professionals who work with students with learning disabilities. An introduction discusses multisensory instruction and the benefits of…