The effects of a peer tutoring procedure on the spelling behavior of a mainstreamed elementary school learning disabled student were investigated. Overall results indicated that the S obtained greater accuracy on the spelling tests during the peer tutoring than baseline condition. Both the tutor and the tutored student claimed improved spelling.…

A learning resource teacher reviews some of the current articles (especially concerning aspects of reading) in the learning disabilities journals related to research and the utilization of this information in the resource classroom setting. Concern is expressed regarding cuts in funding for research. (Author/CL)

At the Kansas Institute, research has concentrated on the problems of learning disabled (LD) adolescents. Epidemiological studies revealed the unique characteristics of LD high schoolers. A curriculum comprised of strategy training, social skills, modified materials and instructional procedures was developed. Instructional, motivational, and…

The Minnesota Institute studied the assessment of LD (learning disability) children, including such topics as characteristics of referred children and of those found eligible for special education placement, methods of planning instructional interventions, evaluations of the extent to which children profited from instruction, and of effectiveness…

The relevance of the new National Joint Committee on Learning Disabilities definition of learning disabilities is discussed in relation to the infant population. (Author/CL)

An ecological approach considering the interaction between specific in-child factors and the two most important learning environments (home and school) is suggested for better understanding the learning problems of the disabled child. (MP)

A special unit on savings accounts was incorporated into a program designed to teach learning disabled adolescents skills for becoming self-sufficient adults. Sessions covered concepts and terminology, a brief history of banking, common ways of writing dates on banking forms, the importance of spelling numbers correctly, and the use of savings…

Results obtained from 44 children (ages 7 through 16) with sex chromosome abnormalities and from 17 chromosomally normal siblings demonstrated that children in the former group have an increased risk of encountering learning problems. (MP)

The article lists books, guides, news sheets, and resources on postsecondary programs for learning-disabled students. Entries cover sources of college programs, recently funded programs, existent college programs, college tests, funding sources and employment, information sources, government supported/related publications, and adult groups. (SW)

Twenty-four learning disabled (LD) elementary grade children were given spelling lessons incorporating reduced unit size, distributed practice and review, and training for transfer. Ss scored higher on a posttest measure than a comparison group that had received more traditional lessons. (CL)

The author suggests that controversies over defining learning disabilities (LD) have resulted from confusion between diagnosis and definition and from disagreement over the discrepancy issue. He further suggests that LD students are a subset of age- and ability-referenced underachievers. (CL)

The author suggests that, if the purpose of classification is to provide educational services, the category of learning disabilities be used to describe pupils with mild handicaps. She cites the folly of research on sytem-selected students because system-selection decisions are biased by political, practical, and financial influences. (CL)

Fifteen learning disabled adolescents who participated in a social skills awareness program involving discussion and filmstrips significantly improved their posttest scores on the Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale and on the Fundamental Interpersonal Relations Orientation-Behavior, compared to a conrol group. No significant differences…

The author's findings about the effects of learning disabilities on adolescents are detailed according to four major areas (sample subtopics in parentheses): academic achievement and ability (low achievement and underachievement); cognitive processing (relationship between motivation and strategy use); setting demands (independent functioning);…

An approach to teaching writing and reading to learning disabled adolescents involves controlling the vowel from the simplist word constructions to the most difficult of orthographic constructions. Teaching strategies are based on a model that views most words as regular (categorical)--some more regular (categorical) than others. (Author)