The Interagency Committee on Learning Disabilities, which submitted its report to Congress in August 1987, recommended a revision in the legislative definition of learning disabilities. It also recommended funding interdisciplinary research centers "to devise broad and longitudinal multidisciplinary approaches" and a central…

Four learning-disabled students, aged 12-15, were given relaxation training exercises, after which their performance in oral reading was measured. Results indicated that, for three of the four students, the use of audiotaped relaxation exercises improved their oral reading performances. (Author/JDD)

Three ways in which cognitive psychology can apply to the study of performance discrepancies in learning disabled (LD) students are discussed: explaining variance in test performance, focusing on competence, and revealing processing discrepancies when overt performances of LD and non-LD students are similar. (Author/JW)

Reactions to H. Lee Swanson's paper "Toward a Metatheory of Learning Disabilities" are outlined, and his arguments are applied to reading disabilities, focusing on the importance of the scientific attitude, the misuse of ecological validity, interpretation of Thomas Kuhn's work, modularity and reading disability, and scientific progress…

Guidelines are presented for assisting classroom teachers in using the strengths of learning-disabled students to help them learn content area material. Specific suggestions are offered for various disabilities, including attention deficits, organizational deficits, auditory processing deficits, visual and visual-motor deficits, language…

Compared McCarthy Scale General Cognitive Index (GCI) and Stanford-Binet intelligence quotient (IQ) discrepancies for both normal and handicapped preschool children (N=10) of low socioeconomic status. Results yielded a significant positive relationship between GCI and IQ, as well as a significant discrepancy between the two scores, favoring IQ, of…

The article describes the decision making process of one British special secondary school serving students with moderate learning difficulties when choosing among the various government sponsored educational initiatives. The modular approach offered by the Technical and Vocational Educational Initiative as well as development of student Records of…

Reports on a study that investigated whether computer-assisted instruction is as effective and efficient as teacher-only instruction in helping children with severe learning difficulties master a basic sight vocabulary. Concludes that children can significantly improve their sight vocabulary with minimal daily individual instruction and that the…

Spelling problems arise due to problems with form discrimination and inadequate visualization. A child's sequence of visual development involves learning motor control and coordination, with vision directing and monitoring the movements; learning visual comparison of size, shape, directionality, and solidity; developing visual memory or recall;…

The multiple intelligence theory is based on cultural contexts, biological analysis, developmental theories, and a vertical theory of faculties. Seven intelligences are identified: linguistic, logical mathematical, musical, spatial, bodily kinesthetic, interpersonal, and intrapersonal. The theory's educational implications are described,…

Maintains that caring adults can intervene in many ways to help learning-disabled adolescents acquire the planning, organizational, language, and socialization skills they need to make the transition into adulthood. (BB)

Principles for effectively teaching writing skills to mildly handicapped and learning-disabled students are outlined, and then three varying approaches are presented: (1) Direct Reading and Writing program, integrating regular class content with writing instruction; (2) self-instructional control strategies to reduce the complexity of writing…

Specifics are given to help the "regular classroom" teacher assist the learning disabled (LD) student to overcome factors that interfere with performance. Sample relationships between LD deficits and possible difficulties in secondary mathematics are presented. (PK)

Suggestions for teachers who wish to increase academic learning time for learning-disabled students include: reducing transition time; shortening recess or free time; creating more teacher-led instructional groups; teaching more and testing less; increasing teacher questioning; increasing teacher enthusiasm; improving seatwork tasks; giving…

This study investigated effects of preperformance information on actual classroom teacher's expectations and attributions for a hypothetical male student. Teachers were found to have higher expectations for students with ascending performance patterns, and for students labeled learning disabled rather than mildly retarded. (Author/LMO)