If you have noticed that your teachers need more "tricks up their sleeves" for working with slow learners, you can initiate a staff-development plan for changing that. Here are some suggestions for using the time, resources, and staff that you already have to improve the teaching of slow learners.

A student's inability to keep pace with the demands of the classroom can produce painful feelings of inadequacy, performance anxiety, depleted motivation, and even behavioral maladjustment. Too often, schools respond to such students with well-intentioned procedures or guidelines that fail to meet the needs of the thwarted learner. However, in…

Students with intelligence test scores between 70 and 85 frequently fall into the gap between general and special education. Students with borderline intellectual functioning are a large population at-risk for school failure. Recent educational trends (e.g., the use of response to intervention models of special education eligibility,…

A teacher had to deal with the problem of effectively instructing slow learners while making sure that the gifted students were kept interested by practicing creative thinking. Paradox and analog techniques were applied to instruction in a biology class. (SBH)

The paper describes evolution of an approach to teaching mathematically disabled and slow learning students through a Piagetian framework. It is explained that a step-by-step procedure is used to internalize material actions into mental actions via perception and verbalization. Formulae are introduced early, and emphasis is placed on promoting…

Advocates cooperative learning as an effective tool for reaching slow learners, by bridging the gaps between the learning styles of slow learners and the teaching requirements of the classroom, resulting in improved academic performance for both slow learners and high achievers. (SR)

Discusses a method to motivate low level students in which a reading specialist attended class regularly as a "student." By questioning the teacher, comparing notes with students, and acting as a role model, the reading specialist helped these students improve their grades, their class behavior, and increase their self-esteem. (GEA)

Discusses Direct Instruction (DI), its rationale, principles of curricular design, and presentation techniques. Presents research on the effectiveness of DI with disadvantaged and handicapped learners. Also offers criticisms of DI. (RAE)

A two-year professional development program in a Japanese junior high school is described. Schoolwide training institutes and individual practice sessions focused on behavioral methods of instruction according to a direct instruction model. Observed teaching behaviors changed following the program, and most teachers indicated the direct…

Many technology features that were originally developed to help people with specific sensory impairments are now widely in use. Research is beginning to show the benefits of giving all students access to these capabilities. As such, educators should not hesitate to integrate technology features into instruction for students who struggle with…

Reports on the Iowa Project, a broad effort in 20 school districts where a Science-Technology-Society (STS) approach was emphasized through a constructivist philosophy of teaching and learning. Results indicate the project's success in four areas: strengthening teacher confidence and knowledge base, encouraging teachers' use of innovative…

This handbook offers suggestions for teachers who have children with learning disabilities or mild mental retardation in their regular classrooms. A brief discussion is presented on practical issues regarding mainstreaming and on the potentials and future opportunities for retarded individuals. Procedures for preparing nonhandicapped children to…

Educators across America face an enormous and growing challenge: motivating a diverse student population. The growing trend toward inclusion increases diversity by including special-needs students in the same classroom with regular education students. The increase in the number of students who do not speak English puts a huge responsibility on…

Examples of effective economics teaching from kindergarten through college, contained in this eighth volume of the Joint Council for Economic Education series, are selected from the 1969-70 entries in the Kazanjian Foundation Awards Program for the teaching of economics. Arranged by grade level, these 18 descriptions of original, teacher-developed…

Examples of effective economics teaching from kindergarten through college, contained in this 11th volume of the Joint Council for Economic Education series, are selected from the 1972-73 entries in the Kazanjian Foundation Awards Program for the teaching of economics. Arranged by grade level, 22 descriptions of original teacher-developed projects…