Collaborative learning, driven by knowledge co-construction and meaning negotiation, is a pivotal aspect of educational contexts. While gesture's importance in conveying shared meaning is recognized, its role in collaborative group settings remains understudied. This gap hinders accurate and equitable assessment and instruction, particularly for…

A classroom activity for gifted students is described that encourages students to make connections between previously unrelated elements and synthesize them into something unified and meaningful. Students combine phrases from newspapers to suggest new contexts and meanings. (CL)

Verbal self instruction (VSIT) has potential for training persons with an intellectual disability in the use of strategies, particularly in promoting generalization of behavior. Among technical issues discussed are providing appropriate initial training procedures and identifying differential task effects. Problems with range of application, goal…

A learning disability index (LDI) based on a principal components analysis of the Weschler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised normative data has been developed to depict verbal or nonverbal deficits on that test. Ss (N=1550) referred for educational difficulties returned mean scores on the LDI that were reliably different from expected scores…

Based on the theory that the human left brain hemisphere processes verbal-sequential data and that the right hemisphere processes visual-spatial data, this article presents a teaching strategy for stimulating both hemispheres. It also describes the study that contributed to this strategy. (DS)

Behavioral characteristics of language deficient children are noted, including difficulty learning new vocabulary, confusion with multiple meaning of words, and word finding problems. Suggestions for each area are offered. (CL)

The author presents findings from brain hemisphere research indicating a complex dual memory process which separately and simultaneously processes input through visual and verbal encoding strategies. He draws implications from this for educational goals, instructional methods, and student evaluation procedures. (SJL)

Thirty-six learning disabled (LD) and 36 nondisabled children (mean age = 12) were presented with sentences under either of 2 conditions and then given a recognition and source attribution task. The study concluded that, though LD children did not differ in recognition performance, results did suggest that children with LD possess a general…

Evaluation of simultaneous and successive information processing skills, language and reading processes, and reading achievement of 105 reading disabled children (ages 7 to 15 years) indicated that subjects tended to employ simultaneous processing in reading tasks normally requiring successive processing. (Author/DB)

This article discuses how educators can challenge gifted students with classical literature, enriched vocabulary, and the study of grammar. It argues that classic literature presents a complete spectrum of challenge at many levels, including the level of language, the level of idea, and the level of meaning. (Contains three references.) (CR)

Verbalization helps children to develop self-regulated learning of cognitive skills. It can improve children's attention to task-relevant features and can enhance coding, storage, and retention of materials. As a systematic approach for improving learning, it can raise self-efficacy. (JAZ)

Author discusses the importance of vocalization in the development of basic musicianship. He cites studies demonstrating that vocal teaching strategies, such as singing tonal patterns, aids music reading, memory, and instrumental performance. (SJL)

The article examines the subgroup (15-20 percent) of learning disabled children who have problems with immediate verbatim recall of sequences of verbal information. Processing inefficiency in coding phonological language features leads to academic deficiencies in fluent word identification and word analysis skills. (Author/DB)

This paper argues that English text-based literacy skills (as opposed to nontext forms of communication such as audio-visual and American Sign Language) are necessary for people with deafness to succeed in the current technological, information-intensive society. (DB)

The author describes his research experience in identifying potentially unique learning characteristics of gifted students. Visual imagery, mnemonics, spatial organization, and higher level verbal learning strategies are explored. Among broad conclusions reached is the perception of gifted students as active learners who spontaneously transform…