The study examined whether classroom context cues in videotapes showing a nonhandicapped and a learning disability expectancy would affect evaluation bias of 80 elementary-school teachers. Results suggest that teachers hold initial biases about the behavior of learning-disabled students but take into account the classroom context when rating…

Comparison of behaviors exhibited by 19 hyperactive and 17 nonhyperactive (learning disordered) children found differences between groups to be more often qualitative than quantitative. Hyperactive students demonstrated more talking, unsystematic search, and motor impersistence while nonhyperactive students demonstrated more upper extremity…

Although educators are becoming familiar with fetal drug exposure, few realize how early alcohol exposure can cripple children's physical, social, academic development. Unlike some drug-affected kids, alcohol-exposed children seldom outgrow symptoms such as impaired IQ, impulsiveness, erratic sleeping patterns. Schools must identify and refer…

The Devereux Adolescent Behavior Rating Scale was used to investigate the effects of age and sex on the classroom behavior of 294 educationally handicapped adolescents. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated that the five age groups (12, 13, 14, 15, 16 years) were significantly different on one behavioral scale (heterosexual interest). Analysis…

Teacher and peer ratings of 37 mainstreamed educationally handicapped (EH) elementary aged children and 37 non-EH controls were analyzed according to the Rochester Teacher and Peer Rating Scales' independent behavioral competence factors and combined teacher-peer integrated behavioral competence domains. Results indicated significant differences…

Observation of resource room instruction of 66 elementary learning disabled (LD) and educable mentally retarded (EMR) students revealed no differences in instructional behavior of special educators holding differing teacher licensure and no differences in classroom behavior of students. Results suggest the categorical model is not appropriate for…

A qualitative research project with 71 successful adults with learning disabilities found that their individual achievements shared commonalities which can be taught and learned. A model of vocational success is presented which inculcates behaviors that facilitate adult adjustment. The model's focus is on student strengths rather than weaknesses.…

In a simulation, the lesioning of a connectionist model that maps orthographic inputs onto semantic features produces several counterintuitive behaviors that are also shown by acquired-dyslexic patients. The similarity strengthens the suggestion that the connectionist approach captures a key aspect of human cognitive processing. (SLD)

The school survival skills of 36 learning disabled (LD) high school students were compared with those of nonhandicapped and emotionally disturbed students. Although LD students tended to be ill prepared, inattentive, and not to volunteer comments or questions, their performance was not significantly different from that of the normal control group.…

A review of research makes it increasingly clear that findings from the areas of brain development and hemispheric specialization, student and teacher learning styles, and holistic and meaning-centered approaches to reading and writing are related, as they all contribute to a richer view of how learners learn. In brain research, the popular focus…

The use of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Third Edition (WISC-III) and its interpretation in educational use are discussed. To measure intelligence, Wechsler believed one must measure the various aptitudes that contribute to the total behavior of the individual. The WISC-III has six verbal subtests and seven performance subtests.…