This study, involving 64 students with specific learning disabilities, found positive correlations between the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-III (WISC-III) and the Arithmetic subtest of the Wide Range Achievement Test-Revised (WRAT-R), the KeyMath-Revised, and the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-Revised, but not between the WISC-III and…

Comparison of the computation ability in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of 155 students (ages 9-14) with learning disabilities (LD) and 266 normally achieving (NA) students demonstrated that NA students outperformed students with LD. Students with LD had more algorithmic errors, and failed to show growth patterns by age. NA…

Reviews the efforts of Samuel Kirk, an early leader in the field of learning disabilities, to effect change in the public and political spheres related to exceptional children, children with learning disabilities, and the larger community. (DB)

This article describes instructional procedures for helping students with learning disabilities become more effective mnemonic keyword strategy users. The procedures involve providing a rationale, providing explicit strategy-attribution instruction, modeling strategy use with think-alouds, providing verbal practice, providing guided practice with…

This article presents an interview with two experts in whole-language instruction (Patricia Tefft Cousin and Margaret Richeck) and then offers a commentary section that provides another perspective of the whole-language method, concluding that children with learning disabilities need many types of instruction. (JDD)

Young adults with learning disabilities were divided into two groups: successful (n=29) and unsuccessful (n=21). Variables discriminating the groups (verbal intelligence quotient, length of enrollment, and math achievement discrepancy) did not accurately predict group membership. Qualitative analyses revealed personal attitudes and behaviors and…

The career of psychologist Samuel Kirk, the "father" of learning disabilities (LD), is reviewed. Noted are his professional career, his dedication to scholarship and inquiry, his continued involvement with people with LD, his ability to integrate knowledge from different disciplines, his creative use of research, his preparation of other…

This tribute to Samuel Kirk, an early leader in the field of learning disabilities, is written by a former student. It focuses on his experiences and contributions while at Milwaukee State Teachers College (Wisconsin). Kirk's supervision of practice teaching, his role as an editor and co-author, and his ideas about teaching reading are recounted.…

Interactive Semantic Mapping is presented as an interactive instructional strategy developed from multiple theoretical bases to aid reading comprehension in students with learning disabilities. It involves students in predicting relationships among concepts and sharing knowledge to facilitate comprehension of text-related concepts. This article…

This article reviews the literature on the effectiveness of grade retention for high-risk students and discusses the implications of this research for students with learning disabilities. It notes that, despite evidence that retention is ineffective for most students, many educators and laypersons continue to support this practice. (DB)

This article considers the appropriateness of full inclusion for all students with learning disabilities. It clarifies the relevant terminology and examines the premises and assumptions of full inclusion. Preservation of the continuum of alternative placements for students with learning disabilities is recommended. (Author/DB)

Teachers and parents of 45 students (ages 8-17) with learning disabilities completed the Homework Problem Checklist. The study found that students with learning disabilities experienced nearly two and a half times the level of difficulty with specific homework problems as their nondisabled peers. (JDD)

Thirty studies that examined mathematics strategies for use with learning-disabled students are reviewed. The studies evaluated reinforcement and goal setting on seat work performance, specific strategies for computation and problem solving, mnemonic strategies, peer mediation, and computer-assisted instruction. Virtually all instructional…

Examination of social status, peer liking and knowing, and reciprocal friendships of 202 students (learning disabled, low achieving, average achieving, and high achieving) in grades 3-10 found that only low achieving students were less well liked and less well known by classmates. All groups showed a high relationship between knowing and liking.…

Examines the content and instructional plans for phonics and word recognition to be used with children with reading disabilities. Information is provided about the content of effective word-recognition instruction. Guidelines are included on other aspects of reading instruction that are central to accessible classroom programs. (Author/CR)