The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a multisensory spelling intervention under two conditions using high-frequency words written in isolation and in context. The population for the study was 15 fourth and fifth grade students with learning disabilities. A randomized, pretest-posttest control group design was used. The…

The study developed and used a self-report graphic Multisensory Imagery Scale (MIS) to analyze imaginal behavior, and to test the hypothesis that multisensory (MS) imagery is a specific teacher competency associated with effective teaching, particularly in special education. The MIS was field-tested, abbreviated, performed on teacher trainees,…

A study was made to determine whether instructional cues presented to the learner as variations of audiovisual and textual information including a cue summation condition (combined textual, pictorial, and auditory cues) can facilitate the achievement of precise instructional objectives. Some 112 education students enrolled in a course on mental…

In order to reach and teach homeless adults, teachers must acknowledge each student as an individual and take into account the talents and intelligences each person possesses. Students should be encouraged to share their backgrounds, both as a source of improving their self-esteem and as a starting point for enhancing their educational work.…

These four newsletters focus on issues related to adult basic education and the challenges faced when teaching adult learners. The first issue looks at the characteristics of learning disabilities, providing information to help teachers determine whether a learner has a learning disability and who might be appropriately referred for testing. The…

The progress of 138 elementary students with specific learning disabilities was followed as they were instructed using the Alphabetic Phonics curriculum. After 3 years, the curriculum produced significant progress in reading comprehension for average and above average students, though below average students did not advance substantially in…

A research review on the use of Snoezelen (multisensory training) with people with mental retardation demonstrates a wide range of positive outcomes, though there is little evidence of generalization even to the immediate post-Snoezelen environment. The issue of staff attitudes and the place of Snoezelen in facilitating positive interactions is…

In this article Denise Chilvers and Angela Cole describe a school-based study which is located very much in an action-research idiom. Starting from a questioning, but collegial, stance on identifying positive interventions for children who challenge, the authors illustrate how theory and reflection on practice can lead to significant innovations…

Most people, including children, have preferences for how they learn about the world. When these preferences are clearly noticeable, they may be thought of as sensory strengths. For some children, sensory strengths develop because of a weakness in another sensory area. For these children, multisensory instruction can be very helpful. Multisensory…

New treatments of reading disabilities have recently been developed. New medical therapies for reading disabilities link poor functions of the mechanism that controls balance and movement to reading disability and focus medical attention on diet as a cause of hyperactive behavior and learning disorders. These medical therapies are still…

THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES INSTITUTE FOR LATIN TEACHERS EMPHASIZED TEACHING TECHNIQUES, INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS FOR BEGINNING (SEVENTH-GRADE) LATIN CLASSES, AND IMPROVEMENT OF TEACHER PROFICIENCY IN LANGUAGE SKILLS. THE PARTICIPANTS CONSIDERED THE CONCURRENT APPROACH AND USE OF VISUAL, AURAL, PICTORIAL, AND KINETIC METHODS OF LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION.…

The comparative effectiveness of correlated listening-reading and reading-only comprehension lessons was studied using high school retarded readers with varying sensory modality learning preferences. Over a one-semester period, comparable lessons were taught to two groups matched for IQ, age, reading grade level, and freedom from sensory defects.…

Problems the visually handicapped child is likely to encounter in a regular classroom are discussed, and suggestions are made as to modes and methods teachers can use to meet the student's special needs while maintaining the focus on learning activities for all classroom students. (PP)

Describes a small-group activity, the German "circle games," which turn grammatical exercises into meaningful communicative activities by introducing pantomime, props, and pictures for providing contexts. Students drill specific grammatical features while communicating real information. The multisensory experience and the contextualization of…

Evaluation for acceptability and utility of 5 common reading methods and materials by 32 middle school students with learning disabilities found the basal reader approach preferred over the other methods (language experience, direct instruction, multisensory, and neurological impress) which were all rated equally. (Author/DB)