Research continues to confirm that we can teach students with learning disabilities to “learn how to learn.” We can put them into a position to compete and hold their own. Show
Some intervention practices that produce large outcomes are:
Teachers who apply those kinds of intervention:
Scaffolding is also something that seems to make a real difference. Start out with the teacher using heavily mediated instruction, known as explicit instruction, then slowly begin to let the students acquire the skill, moving towards the goal of student mediated instruction. Success for the student with learning disabilities requires a focus on individual achievement, individual progress, and individual learning. This requires specific, directed, individualized, intensive remedial instruction for students who are struggling. Whether the student is in the general education classroom or learning in a special class setting, focus the activities on assessing individual students to monitor their progress through the curriculum. Concerns for the individual must take precedence over concerns for the group or the curriculum or for the organization and management of the general education classroom content. Learning disability is a general term that refers to a heterogeneous group of Simply stated, a learning disability is a processing difficulty and any of the five senses may be impaired. Learning disabilities are NOT mental retardation, nor are they the result of a poor academic background, emotional disturbance, lack of motivation, or visual or auditory acuity problems (Association of Higher Education and Disability). A person with a learning disability may have average or above average intelligence. In fact, Albert Einstein, Winston Churchill, Nelson Rockefeller, Thomas Edison, Woodrow Wilson, George Patton, Walt Disney, and Hans Christian Anderson are all thought to have had learning disabilities. The Impact learning disabilities have on academic performanceNo two individuals with a learning disability are alike. Adults with learning disabilities require careful clinical assessment to determine (1) the specific nature of their disability and (2) appropriate accommodation strategies. The following list gives examples of the impact that various learning disabilities have on academic performance. (From: College Students with Learning Disabilities: A Student's Perspective, Carol Wren & Laura Segal, DePaul University, Chicago, IL) Reading
Writing
Oral Language
Math
Study Skills
Social Skills
Strategies for Students with Learning DisabilitiesThe following lists provide suggestions of instructional strategies based on each specific learning disability. No student would use all of these strategies. Selection of strategies would be based on the individual needs of the student, the objectives of the course and recommended academic adjustments and services. Talk to students. They are the best resource about their specific needs. Remember: A learning disability does not mean that the person cannot learn; it means that they learn Differently. Many instructional strategies which are helpful to students with learning disabilities benefit all students. Instructional Strategies to Help Students Compensate for an Expressive Language DisabilityCharacteristicsA student with an expressive language disability may have difficulty with the following tasks requiring written languages: expressing themselves clearly and precisely, using a variety of sentence structures, using mature syntactical patterns, using an appropriate range of words, organizing thoughts, using punctuation correctly, copying from the board, organizing written information note taking, handwriting, and spelling.
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