Conceptualisations of literacy and literacy practices for children with severe learning difficulties

Literacy is traditionally narrowly conceptualised as a set of skills related to accessing and generating written or printed text. For children designated as having severe learning difficulties (SLD), who are unlikely to develop these ‘conventional’ literacy skills, such a conception implies their semi‐literacy or nonliteracy. Although conceptions of multimodal literacy and multiliteracies have rarely been applied to this group, broader understandings of literacy that include a range of activities, modes and media provide greater opportunities for including these learners in literacy practices. Drawing upon our research with teachers of this group of children and young people, we illustrate these literacy practices. We note, however, that such practices are often haphazard, not coherently thought through, and that there is much confusion regarding any distinction between communication and literacy. We argue for literacy as a specific form of communication, but conclude that broader models of literacies should be utilised to guide and support practitioners in developing interactive practice and in making reasoned and principled approaches and decisions about literacy practices, routes and progression for children with SLD.     

Ordinary magic: developing services for children with severe communication difficulties by engaging multiple voices

‘Not so ordinary’, I am told; it is unusual for healthcare professionals to co-construct new practices by learning together with the people who use services. This paper describes action learning and research with NHS professionals and the parents of children with severe communication difficulties to develop a new practice framework for children with severe communication difficulties and a new model for service development which is inclusive and integrates evidence from multiple sources. A methodology is presented which draws together theory, empirical research and narrative to present my account of an inquiry that, in a way, spans the whole of my working life. The paper focuses on the three-year time frame of an NHS research fellowship, which was a period of collaboration and participation between myself, speech and language therapists and parents of children with communication difficulties in Liverpool. The purpose was to co-create a research design with parents and therapists who were shaping an emerging methodology whilst developing themselves in the process. This paper tells the story of the design and implementation of this methodology and the differences it has made to the participants and to children's services in Liverpool.     

Contrasting computer input devices for teaching children with severe learning difficulties to read

Many teachers make the assumption that CAL systems which use a touch screen are more effective for children with severe learning difficulties than those which use a concept keyboard. These two experiments look at which is more effective in helping these children to maintain a previously acquired sight vocabulary, and to learn new sight words. It was predicted that the touch screen would prove more effective because it places fewer information processing demands on pupils. Surprisingly, no difference was found between the two systems.     

Morphing images: a potential tool for teaching word recognition to children with severe learning difficulties

Children with severe learning difficulties who fail to begin word recognition can learn to recognise pictures and symbols relatively easily. However, finding an effective means of using pictures to teach word recognition has proved problematic. This research explores the use of morphing software to support the transition from picture to word recognition. Morphing software was used to teach word recognition to a group of eight children who were previously unable to recognise words. At the end of 16 teaching sessions, in a related design, the morphing technique was more effective than a word‐alone approach ( p < 0.05, one‐tailed). These results support the use of techniques such as symbol accentuation ( Miller & Miller, 1971 ) and challenge the concept that the use of pictorial information is inherently detrimental to learning in this context, in comparison to the repeated presentation of words alone. The recent advent of accessible morphing software removes previous barriers to this type of approach. The investigation highlights several useful avenues for future research, in particular, the use of mnemonic elements within morphing teaching methods.     

The curriculum for children with severe and profound learning difficulties at Stephen Hawking School

The increasing number of children with profound and multiple learning difficulties means that many schools for children with severe learning difficulties are having to review the curriculum that they offer. In addition, these schools are continuing to question whether a subject‐based approach, in line with the National Curriculum, is the most appropriate way of meeting the educational needs of children working at the earliest stages of development. The staff at Stephen Hawking School, in east London, have been reviewing their curriculum over the past two years to try and meet the needs of their changing population, the needs of the National Curriculum and the suggestions and proposals in both the Rose and Cambridge reviews.     

Using multimedia to teach personal safety to children with severe learning difficulties

This paper presents a review of the use of computer technology as a medium to teach personal safety skills to young people with severe learning difficulties. The authors, working from the Psychology Department of Glasgow Caledonian University, present two main areas which they considered when designing teaching materials for these pupils. Firstly, pupils with severe learning difficulties may not understand the appropriate language for sexual issues. Materials based on the ability to speak, listen, read or write will not produce a deep level of understanding about the topic. Secondly, pupils with severe learning difficulties may find acting out a situation through role play difficult. The authors describe their use of computer technology as a possible solution to these areas and illustrate the personal experiences of educators following this novel use of multimedia.     

Reading comprehension: assisting children with learning difficulties

Abstract

In critiquing our paper on “The literacy performance of ex-Reading Recovery students between two and four years following participation in the program: Is this intervention effective for students with early reading difficulties?”, Schwartz argues that we have engaged in pursuing political and ideological agendas as part of our ongoing attacks on the Reading Recovery program. We reject his claims and argue that if we are ideological, it is related to our commitment to the use of rigorous scientific research to examine claims made in favor of the Reading Recovery program. We also argue that Reading Recovery was adopted in New Zealand largely for political reasons rather than on the basis of carefully controlled research. We stand by our interpretation of various studies in New Zealand that call into question the effectiveness of Reading Recovery in terms of the stated goals for the program.     

Meaning-led learning for pupils with severe and profound and multiple learning difficulties

This paper proposes that learning and teaching for pupils with severe and profound and multiple learning difficulties could be enhanced by a closer focus on emotional factors and on the careful identification of what is meaningful for them. Phil Goss, senior lecturer in counselling and psychotherapy at the University of Central Lancashire draws on understandings about emotional development gleaned from child psychiatry and psychotherapy to inform our awareness of the deep-seated factors that may influence the complex needs of these pupils. He describes a research study in which he analysed findings from interviews with parents and carers about their perceptions of what is meaningful for their children. These outcomes are elaborated using findings from a pilot study on one pupil in which perceptions about what is meaningful for him were used to inform the ongoing planning of his learning. Phil Goss then uses the implications of this study to argue for fuller and more systematic involvement by parents and carers in planning for pupils with severe, and profound and multiple learning difficulties. Finally he suggests ways in which access to learning could be rendered more fruitful by adopting a meaning-led approach.     

The integration of pupils with learning difficulties: the results of research into the effects of integration

ABSTRACT

The authors present the outcomes of an empirical study, effected in integrative and segregative models of schooling in German speaking Switzerland. The following questions have been analysed: a) the changes in performances of pupils with learning difficulties under different conditions of schooling; b) the development of social factors; c) the development of emotional characteristics. With regard to academic achievements, integrative measures proved to be more effective than instruction in self‐contained special classes. The findings concerning the development of social and emotional characteristics do not allow to draw clear conclusions either in favour of or against integration. Still, the outcomes of this study encourage to carry on experiments with integrative forms of schooling.     

Integration of students with severe and multiple learning difficulties

Abstract

Students with severe and multiple learning difficulties have traditionally been excluded from mainstream education. Three arguments are put forward for integrating these students: social and humanitarian motives; interpretations of the ‘least restrictive environment’ as one in which interactions with non‐disabled peers are least restricted; and a changing concept of education to include a range of functional skills which provide preparation for adult life. Ways of implementing integration are discussed, including location of special classes in regular schools, integration into regular classes, and partial integration through links between regular and special schools. Although many existing integration programmes appear promising, there has been little systematic research in the area and few attempts at independent evaluations. Fears about potential loss of support services in integration appear to have some justification. Fears about adverse behaviour by non‐disabled peers have proved to be largely unfounded, but opportunities need to be deliberately structured to ensure that positive interactions occur between integrated students and their peers. Long‐term outcomes for students with severe and multiple learning difficulties integrated into regular schools have not been considered.     

Beyond stigmatization of children with difficulties in learning

In the Albanian schools settings does not exist religious discrimination, neither gender discrimination, but there exists a discrimination, as unfair against children called ＂difficulty＂. The children who drop out of school are by far less numerous compared with those who start school, but who are not properly treated, so that they can progress the same as other children. The object of this article is the children with learning difficulties, the causes of these difficulties. One of the reasons, among many others, why this secret dropping out of school happens is also difficulty in learning that quite a few number of pupils have, which are not known to everyone, and consequently are not treated by all the teachers, or by the other people who surround the child, condemning him to a school failure and slim chances to succeed later in life. It has often been pointed out that to define the causes of these learning difficulties it is not an easy task. A large number of factors intermingle bringing about the hell of learning for some children. If it is impossible to intervene in different organic damages （even they in many cases can be prevented though）, at least those depending on people can be avoided by offering a favorable environment, showing fondness towards them and making efforts to help these children. Above all, the authors have to be willing, to know and be able to do this as parents and precisely as teachers.     

Arithmetic learning difficulties in children

This study explored the arithmetic skills of 39 children with arithmetic learning difficulties (ALD), compared to two control groups, one consisting of normally achieving children matched to the ALD sample for chronological age (n=28), and another comprising younger normally achieving children matched to the ALD sample for arithmetic level (n=28). To determine the relative contribution of reading impairments to arithmetic performance, the ALD group was further classified according to the presence or absence of reading difficulties into a mixed ALD (n=24) and specific ALD (n=15) group, respectively. The ALD group performed well below their chronological age counterparts in terms of the developmental maturity of their arithmetic problem solving. These children demonstrated a reliance on slow, counting-based procedures to solve arithmetic problems and, in this regard, they performed similarly to their younger, arithmetic-matched normal peers. Children with ALD also employed direct fact retrieval reliably less often than their same-age peers, but did not differ from their younger, arithmetic-matched counterparts. There were few significant differences between ALD children with and without accompanying reading problems. The findings suggest that children with ALD appear to show delayed development of arithmetic skills rather than specific processing deficits or abnormalities when comparison is made with both their chronological age and arithmetic-matched normal peers.     

Parental involvement in supporting children with learning difficulties

Handbook of Mental Retardation and Development Jacob A. Burack, Robert M. Hodapp &;. Edward Zigler 1998 Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press Paperback $53.95 Hardcover $145.00

Creating Kids Who Can Concentrate Jean Robb and Hilary Letts 1997 Rydalmere, NSW Hodder and Stoughton $24.95

Dyslexia: A Teaching Handbook 2nd. Edition Michael Thomson and Bill Watkins February, 1998 London, U.K. Whurr Publishers Ltd. $85.00

Boys and Literacy Nola Alloway and Pam Gilbert 1997 Carlton, Victoria Curriculum Corporation Professional Development Units $59.95 Teaching Units $39.95

Living With Learning Disabilities. A Guide for Students David E. Hall, M.D.1993 Minneapolis, USA Lerner Publications Company     

Religious education for children with severe learning difficulties: constructing a framework,finding a medium,exploring a story

In this article Jane Webster enquires into the status of religious education (RE) in the curriculum of children with learning difficulties. She maintains that if RE is to be taught well its essence as a subject must be grasped by those responsible for its teaching, and that this involves establishing a viable conceptual framework for the subject. In this article a possible framework is constructed which, in respecting the cognitive and affective dimensions of human personality, enables all children to develop an understanding of the meaning of religion and a sense of their own spirituality. Jane Webster suggests that religious stories are one medium through which this kind of learning may be achieved, and describes the way in which a class of children with severe and complex learning difficulties explored the biblical story of creation in their RE lessons.     

Teaching gifted children with learning difficulties in writing

Abstract

This study investigated the teaching of gifted children in a Montessori school, with particular reference to gifted students with learning difficulties in writing. Within an action research context, the teachers participated in professional development in the education of gifted children and were provided with ongoing curriculum and resources support. The teachers made modifications to their gifted students’ programs after this professional development. Positive outcomes in aspects of writing, such as punctuation, spelling, sentence control and text organisation, as well as improved social outcomes, were achieved by the gifted students with writing difficulties.     

Stability of WISC-R scores in children with learning difficulties

Student records of 130 children with learning difficulties who had been tested twice were examined to determine the stability of WISC-R scores over time. There were significant losses in Verbal IQ and Full Scale IQ. Subjects in the above-average IQ range had greater losses in Verbal IQ and Full Scale IQ and greater gains in Performance IQ than did those in the below-average IQ range. Children initially tested before age 8 had a significant IQ loss, but those tested after age 8 maintained a constant IQ. The WISC-R is most frequently administered to children with learning difficulties. Results presented here suggest that the IQs in this population are not as stable as was previously thought, and this may provide a rationale for the periodic readministration of the WISC-R.     

Parental satisfaction with programmes provided for children with learning difficulties in Oman

This study aimed to explore parental satisfaction with programmes provided for children with learning difficulties (LD) in Oman. A sample was collected from 299 parents who filled out an electronic self-reporting questionnaire during the second semester of 2021. The researchers designed a 19-item questionnaire that was distributed over two domains: 14 items on parent satisfaction and five items on parent co-operation. The results revealed that parents' overall satisfaction with the effectiveness of the LD programmes in which their children were enrolled was high. The results also indicated statistically significant differences among the mean scores on parents' satisfaction over the age variable groups, in favor of the younger group, followed by the middle group, and lastly the older group. There were also statistically significant differences among the mean scores on parents' satisfaction according to the province locations, in favor of the capital city of Oman, Muscat, and its peripheral provinces, followed by the western provinces, and lastly, the eastern provinces. The study recommends conducting similar studies to investigate the satisfaction of school principals, specialists, teachers and children with LD to determine the effectiveness of Oman's LD programmes.