A music reading program for developmentally disabled children is based on 16 teaching principles drawn from research. The "Shapes and Sounds" method concentrates first on counting rhythms, then introduces notes using different shapes for each. Case studies introducing piano to three handicapped children, ages 6, 8, and 13, are given. (VW)

Techniques used to teach a class of seven- and eight-year-old learning-disabled students to tell time are described. Students first practiced counting by 1s and 5s around a clock with no hands before being introduced to the differing functions of the minute and hour hands. (VW)

The whole clock method of time instruction is useful for children with mild to severe developmental disabilities. It presents time telling in a sequential manner that helps students generalize about and see the continuity of time. They learn to tell hours, then each five-minute interval sequentially around the clock face. (VW)

A program designed to teach cognitive strategies through logical problem-solving and developed for elementary learning disabled students is presented. For each problem set, the instructional procedure involves a discovery activity, discussion, conclusion, follow-up activities, and integration. Five samples of the program's problem sets (e.g.,…

The use of visual phonics can help beginning readers or reading-disabled students overcome difficulties in word learning. The technique enhances the ability to identify grapheme-phoneme correspondences (usually appearing in the middle of words and useful for decoding) and prompts the learner to generalize these correspondences from one word to…

Research based suggestions are presented for effective vocabulary instruction strategies, including: learning new labels; learning concepts; and learning to learn meanings. Regardless of the method chosen, it is crucial that students: demonstrate generalization abilities; be given time to learn new material; periodically review what they learn;…

Students with learning disabilities can learn strategies to improve their organizational and time management skills. Antecedent strategies, which set the occasion for students to become more organized, include assignment logs/charts, work stations, color coding materials, timers, and guided notes. Consequence strategies include reinforcement,…

This article details an approach to teaching one step in a mathematics word-problem-solving strategy, that of organizing the facts. A lesson plan is offered which involves directed instruction and supervised practice in five strategies for organizing facts. (DB)

This article discusses the use of mnemonic techniques in helping students acquire new information and apply that information in problem-solving situations. It outlines common academic learning problems and the dynamics of mnemonic strategies and applies the strategies to remembering definitions, factual information, processes, functions, and…

This article offers suggestions for incorporating cognitive principles into mathematics instruction for students with disabilities, such as identifying underlying concepts and relationships and teaching them explicitly, and presenting instruction from a problem-solving perspective. A checklist is provided for determining whether or not…

The article describes the Consolidated Method for Independent Learners (CMIL) which is based on schema theory and is designed to develop self efficacy, teach learning strategies, and foster generalization skills in learning-disabled and other handicapped children. (DB)

Study strategies used to assist mildly handicapped students become more actively engaged and successful in gaining and responding to information in content area classes are described. They include using advance organizers, summarizing/paraphrasing what is read, enhancing listening skills, and improving the organization, appearance, and accuracy of…

The paper describes the keyword method for vocabulary instruction with learning disabled, mentally retarded, gifted, and typical students. The keyword method, a mnemonic technique using visual imagery, involves recoding, relating, and retrieving. Building fluency, using scientific word parts to understand complex words, and generalizing to…

A speed reading technique is described for use with reluctant readers. The technique uses timed probes with practically any reading material, to heighten student motivation in addition to increasing fluency. Methods for self-recording progress data and strategies for building fluency are described. (JDD)

Students with language and learning disabilities may have difficulty solving mathematics word problems. Use of a sequential checklist, identifying clues and keywords, and illustrating a problem can all help the student identify and implement the correct computational process. (DB)