This study examined the social attributions of 32 students with learning disabilities (LD) compared to those of 29 nonlearning-disabled low achieving and 33 average-achieving students. Students with LD were more likely to use external factors in explaining their social successes and failures, while attributing their successes to internal factors.…

Discussion of whether information technology can play a significant role in improving the quality of life for people with severe learning difficulties focuses on a study in the United Kingdom that investigated the use of customized hypermedia and a speech synthesis system with an individual who has severe communication problems. (Contains 10…

This paper offers a rationale for modifying textbooks for secondary students with learning disabilities who are taught in general education classes. Recent research on the uses of study guides, graphic organizers, vocabulary drills, and computer-assisted instruction is reviewed, and guidelines for selecting appropriate uses of these strategies are…

Information about the foreign language academic history, learning attitudes, and academic skills was gathered from high-risk students, low-risk students, and students with learning disabilities. Findings are interpreted in light of the Linguistic Coding Deficit Hypothesis, which speculates that foreign-language learning problems are related to…

Sheltered instruction is described as a content-driven teaching approach that provides access to the core curriculum using techniques that make lessons more understandable, such as a slower speech rate, controlled vocabulary, and hands-on activities. The goal is for the student to learn content material in a way that facilitates development of…

Describes a writing instruction project called the "landmark method" that fosters writing skills in students with learning disabilities. Outlines specific strategies that have proven effective in teaching writing to students with dyslexia or other learning disabilities. (HB)

This study assessed the time estimation recall of 51 elementary students with and without emotional disturbances, learning disabilities, and attentional disorders. Group differences in time estimation recall were documented, but these differences were no longer significant after controlling for IQ. Students who scored higher on time estimation…

The Parent Education and Guidance Program is an eight-month program that utilizes parent support groups and professionals from various fields to involve parents of handicapped children in a group process directed toward meeting the child's social, emotional, and intellectual needs. The program attempts to create a positive, ongoing relationship…

Ways to promote generalization of social skills of students with learning disabilities (LD) are considered. Approaches include: sequential modification, introducing naturally maintaining contingencies, training sufficient exemplars, training across settings, training loosely, using indiscriminable contingencies, programming common stimuli, and…

This response to five case studies of inclusive practices for elementary students with learning disabilities stresses the importance of educational restructuring, especially establishing goals that focus and direct what is taught in all classrooms and changing policies and operations to create more collaborative work structures. (Author/DB)

"Job role dissonance" may be experienced by educators who embrace an alternative paradigm for working with students having learning problems. Institutional and other obstacles to true restructuring and better service delivery may include legal mandates, the systemic nature of schools, parents' belief systems, and time limitations of staff.…

This article analyzes how the dominant image of reality in the field of learning disabilities is derived from the diagnostic model. The article proposes an alternative, normative conception of education that emphasizes the importance of caring, social relatedness, and community participation. (Author/DB)

This study compared the effectiveness of a videodisc algebra program with a traditional text-based program with 26 students with learning disabilities in a summer transition-to-college program. The videodisc group significantly outperformed the control group on posttest measures of algebra skill and also earned significantly higher grades in their…

This column offers two articles: one on problems in identifying students who are gifted and learning disabled and recommendations for working with this population; a second article describes a resource program for students in grades six through eight who are gifted and learning disabled, involving collaboration through weekly team meetings. (SW)

Describes a methodology that educators can use to appropriately classify students who are linguistically and culturally diverse. The article lists the student behaviors to observe when distinguishing a language difference from a language disorder and illustrates how educators can conceptualize student background and current status in selecting…