The study evaluated the effects of using a language experience approach over a 3-month period with kindergarten and first grade hearing impaired students. The language experience approach encouraged growth in vocabulary, reading, and writing skills, as well as in self confidence and self esteem. (Author/DB)

The Language Experience Approach (LEA) creates reading materials and writing opportunities through integrated use of the learner's language and experience. Individualized LEA involving a "dictation" approach (child dictates experience; teacher records and reads back experience) is beneficial for hearing-impaired students in terms of increased…

The results of a multistep process to begin identifying best practices in deaf education are presented. To identify current practices, a survey was conducted of the literature, the Web sites of professional organizations, and states' education Web sites, which yielded a number of commonly discussed practices. Ten of the more highly cited practices…