A study involving six elementary and two junior high students with learning disabilities investigated whether parents provided four home schooled students with instructional environments that facilitated the acquisition of basic skills. Results found the home school students were academically engaged about two-and-a-half times as often as public…

A study of three males (grades 7-8) with learning disabilities investigated the effectiveness of a cognitive-behavioral self-management training package on the consistent use of specific classroom survival skills. Results demonstrated more consistent use of targeted classroom survival skills by all students in both learning support and mainstream…

Discusses the difficulties that students who are culturally/linguistically diverse or students with learning disabilities have in learning "how to do school." Components of learning to do school are described, as well as an ethnographic study of regular and special education students who were learning to do school in inclusive settings. (Author/CR)

Describes how students who are learning disabled can improve their writing skills through physical movement and manipulating visuals. Describes how movement draws on kinesthetic intelligence and manipulatives draw on spatial intelligence to help students understand language structures in nonverbal ways that may be more intuitive than verbal…

Examines major characteristics of learning disabilities and the significance of Montessori principles as they may be applied in the education of children with learning disabilities. Addresses disorders of gross and fine motor coordination, language, attention, and perception. Describes exercises in practical life skills, sensory education, and…

A study of 104 students (ages 16 to 22) with mental retardation (n=32), learning disabilities (n=34), or no disabilities (n=38) examined variables that contribute to perceptions of self-determination and increased student motivation. The students with disabilities were found to have more of an external locus of control orientation. (CR)

This study examined the performance of 96 youth hospitalized in a psychiatric hospital on a battery of language measures. Participants with both attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and language learning disabilities (LLD) performed similarly to those with only LLD but significantly more poorly than those with only ADHD or with neither…

Investigated relationships between career maturity and Holland's (1985a) constructs of congruence, consistency, and differentiation among individuals with (N=76) and without learning disabilities (N=106). Also examined the relationship between Holland's Investigative personality type and career maturity in individuals with and without learning…

Mathematics performance in 32 children with spina bifida was investigated at 3.8 through 8.8 years and two years later. About half showed mathematics difficulties. At the time of the second data collection, 28% of the subjects were identified with mathematics and other learning disabilities and with language impairments. Visual perception…

Discusses the effects of different motivational orientations on students with learning disabilities and the variables affecting intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. Instructional recommendations are made for enhancing academic intrinsic motivation, including involving students in the learning process, responding positively and praising students,…

Elementary students (n=152) with either learning disabilities (LD), low achievement (LA), or mild mental retardation (MMR) were contrasted on 41 measures of school-related factors. LD students scored higher on cognitive ability whereas the LA group showed higher academic achievement. No differences were found on measures of social skills, problem…

Four boys and 4 girls (ages 13-17) with learning disabilities were interviewed upon completion of psychodynamic group therapy to obtain their perspectives of the group. Results indicate that the participants regarded the therapy as beneficial. The phenomenon of "mutual recognition" led to enhanced self-esteem and ability to relate to peers. (CR)

Describes a project that explored the use of Web sites with adults with learning disabilities. Highlights include advantages and weaknesses of Web-based learning for adults with learning disabilities; creating multimedia work related to the Web sites; motivating effects; and Web site access difficulties for people with low literacy levels.…

Argues that Ben Spiecker and Jan Steutel's use of the term mental retard is offensive and using either the United Kingdom terminology of learning disabled or the internationally accepted term intellectually disabled are more acceptable. Addresses rights of the learning disabled to sexual freedom. Considers implications of these issues for moral…

The constructivist educational theory of instructional scaffolding, where a teacher provides support to students on an as-needed basis and decreases support as the student's competence grows, is evaluated. Scaffolding is seen as being only one part of effective instruction for students with learning or other disabilities. Limitations to the…