Evidence‐Based Strategies for Reading Instruction of Older Students with Learning Disabilities

Over a quarter of 8th‐grade students and more than one‐third of 4th graders do not read well enough to understand important concepts and acquire new knowledge from grade‐level text. For students with learning disabilities, the numbers are more troubling. This article describes features of evidence‐based instruction for students who continue to struggle with reading in late elementary, middle, and high school. Recommendations are organized into 5 areas that are critical to the reading improvement of older struggling readers: (1) word study, (2) fluency, (3) vocabulary, (4) comprehension, and (5) motivation. Much of the content in this article reflects our efforts with the Special Education and Reading Strands at the National Center on Instruction, funded by the Office of Special Education Programs and the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education. Two reports, both available at http://www.centeroninstruction.org/ , have particular relevance—Interventions for Adolescent Struggling Readers: A Meta‐Analysis with Implications for Practice and Academic Literacy Instruction for Adolescents: A Guidance Document from the Center on Instruction.     

Ensuring Content‐Area Learning by Secondary Students with Learning Disabilities

Three factors tied with secondary student success in content‐area reading are demonstrated: (a) validated teacher‐focused and student‐focused interventions, (b) integrated and comprehensive service delivery systems, and (c) well‐designed, data‐based professional developmental programs. Difficult challenges face secondary students with LD and their teachers with regard to these students’ participation and success in required general education classes. Recently, instructional methods and materials have been developed and validated for promoting these students’ success. Some of them focus on how general education teachers plan and teach their content‐area courses; others focus on giving students the strategies they need to respond independently to the demands of their courses. This article describes these instructional methods, a service‐delivery model for implementing these interventions in secondary schools, and professional‐development mechanisms and administrative support that must be in place for the model to be maintained effectively.     

Fostering Self‐Regulation of Students with Learning Disabilities: Insights from 30 Years of Reading Comprehension Intervention Research

Thirty years of intervention research on the effects of reading comprehension strategies for students with learning disabilities was reviewed in this quantitative synthesis. Specifically, researchers targeted studies that contained self‐regulated learning components. A systematic search yielded 18 studies from nine research journals that met specified inclusion criteria. Studies were evaluated for methodological quality and to identify types of instructional and self‐regulation components within interventions. Large effect sizes were found immediately after instruction and after a time delay, suggesting that instruction in reading comprehension strategies that contain self‐regulation components may have a long lasting impact on student performance. Implications for research and practice are discussed.     

A Follow‐Up of Mathematics Interventions for Secondary Students with Learning Disabilities

Abstract This article extends a previous review of the literature ( Maccini & Hughes, 1997 ) on mathematics interventions for secondary school students with learning disabilities (LD). A systematic review of the literature from 1995 to 2006 yielded 23 articles that met the criteria for inclusion. It was determined that a number of practices demonstrated significant gains for secondary school students with LD in math, including mnemonic strategy instruction, graduated instructional approach, cognitive strategy instruction involving planning, schema‐based instruction, and contextualized videodisc instruction. We also discuss the nature and focus of math interventions and implications for both research and practice based on the findings.     

Note‐Taking and Secondary Students with Learning Disabilities: Challenges and Solutions

As more secondary students with learning disabilities (LD) enroll in advanced content‐area classes and are expected to pass state exams, they are faced with the challenge of mastering difficult concepts and abstract vocabulary while learning content. Once in these classes, students must learn from lectures that move at a quick pace, record accurate and complete notes, and then demonstrate their mastery of the content on tests. This article provides an overview of the challenges faced by students with LD in content‐area classes and discusses the problems that students have learning from lectures and recording notes. Further, the article discusses theory and research related to note‐taking and presents note‐taking interventions that teachers can use to help students improve their note‐taking skills, and ultimately, improve their achievement in these classes.     

The Common Core State Standards and Reading: Interpretations and Implications for Elementary Students with Learning Disabilities

The K‐5 reading standards within the English Language Arts Common Core State Standards provide guidance to teachers about grade level expectations for students. Though the authors of the standards acknowledge that some students may experience difficulty reaching the rigorous expectations, they explain that the standards outline a pathway to proficiency for all students, including those who struggle with literacy. Students with learning disabilities, who often have significant literacy difficulties, may face particular challenges when their instruction is framed by these standards. This article unpacks the complex K‐5 reading standards and provides a discussion of the implications for students with learning disabilities and their general and special education teachers. Examples from K‐5 lessons and recommendations for teachers and researchers are provided.     

Common Core Science Standards: Implications for Students with Learning Disabilities

The Common Core Science Standards represent a new effort to increase science learning for all students. These standards include a focus on English and language arts aspects of science learning, and three dimensions of science standards, including practices of science, crosscutting concepts of science, and disciplinary core ideas in the various subject areas. Many of these issues bring important implications for students with learning disabilities, which we discuss in turn. With appropriate supports and applications, students with learning disabilities can potentially benefit greatly from these new standards. However, the demands of these standards may require a higher level of support than those commonly available for many students with learning disabilities.     

A Systematic Review of Function‐Based Interventions for Students with Learning Disabilities

Students with learning disabilities (LD) experience pervasive academic deficits requiring extensive academic intervention; however, they may also engage in problem behaviors that adversely affect teaching and learning, thus lessening the potential impact of specialized instruction and supports. The learning deficits of students with LD are prevalent in the extant research, but behavioral needs appear to receive less attention. The authors report the results of a systematic review investigating the evidence‐base for function‐based interventions for students with LD using the What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) criteria for evaluating single‐case studies. Fourteen studies with 17 participants met inclusion criteria, with the majority occurring in elementary settings. Although interventions tended to be effective, few included maintenance and generalization measures. Because of the small number of studies (n = 4) that met WWC design and effectiveness standards, the authors conclude that function‐based interventions, although promising, cannot currently be considered an evidence‐based practice for students with LD. Implications for practice, areas for future research, and study limitations are reported.     

Evidence‐Based Practices: Applications of Concrete Representational Abstract Framework across Math Concepts for Students with Mathematics Disabilities

Students with mathematics disabilities (MD) experience difficulties with both conceptual and procedural knowledge of different math concepts across grade levels. Research shows that concrete representational abstract framework of instruction helps to bridge this gap for students with MD. In this article, we provide an overview of this strategy embedded within the explicit instruction framework. We highlight effective practices for each component of the framework across different mathematical strands. Implications for practice are also discussed and a detailed case study is provided.     

初中学习困难学生阅读理解监测和控制特点的研究

以即刻学习判断分数和学习分配时间为指标,采用2×2混合实验设计,考察不同难度阅读材料条件下,学习困难学生阅读理解监测和控制的特点。被试为金华某中学15-16岁32名学习困难学生和34名学习优秀学生。结果发现,学习困难学生对不同难度阅读材料的即刻学习判断分数显著低于学习优秀学生,学习困难学生用于高难度阅读材料的时间显著少于学习优秀学生。     

学习不良儿童言语交际策略的理解与运用

言语交际策略是个体根据特定社会习俗,通过语言表达和理解意图,从而实现交际目标并获得良好社交效果的一种能力。它是言语、社交习俗和元认知三种知识成分的有机结合。以往研究表明,与一般儿童相比,学习不良儿童在言语交际策略的理解与运用上均存在一定程度的缺陷。言语交际策略研究,将为进一步探索学习不良儿童社会技能缺失的原因,以及社会认知发展的内部规律提供新的视角,因而具有理论价值与实践意义。     

学习困难学生理解监测和控制的特点

以即刻学习判断分数和学习分配时间为指标,采用2×2混合实验设计,考察在不同难度的阅读材料条件下,学习困难学生理解监测和控制的特点。被试为金华某中学15-16岁的32名学习困难学生和34名学习优秀学生。结果发现,学习困难学生对不同难度阅读材料的即刻学习判断分数显著低于学习优秀学生,学习困难学生用于高难度阅读材料的时间显著少于学习优秀学生。     

Science Instruction for Students with Learning Disabilities: A Meta‐Analysis

Although science has received much attention as a political and educational initiative, students with learning disabilities (LD) perform significantly lower than their nondisabled peers. This meta‐analysis evaluates the effectiveness of instructional strategies in science for students with LD. Twelve studies were examined, summarized, and grouped according to the type of strategy implemented. Effect sizes (ES) were calculated for each study. Across all studies, a mean ES of .78 was obtained, indicating a moderate positive effect on students with LD science achievement. Findings also align with past reviews of inquiry‐based instruction for students with special needs, indicating that students with LD need structure within an inquiry science approach in order to be successful. Additionally, results suggest that mnemonic instruction is highly effective at increasing learning disabled students' acquisition and retention of science facts.     

中学学习不良学生同一性风格类型及其与应对策略的关系

本研究目的是探讨中学学习不良学生同一性风格与应对方式之间的关系。使用《同一性风格问卷》和《中学生应对方式量表》对通过一定标准选取的342名中学学习不良学生进行测查。结果表明,中学学习不良学生三种同一性风格分布无显著差异;相关分析显示,信息风格的学生倾向于采用指向问题的应对策略;扩散/逃避风格的学生倾向于采用指向情绪的应对策略;规范风格的学生既采取指向问题的应对策略,同时也依赖于指向情绪的应对策略。这说明,具有不同同一性风格的中学学习不良学生在面临压力情景时倾向于使用不同的应对策略,教育中需针对性地给予不同指导。     

学习困难学生的学习策略研究

该文通过对 1 4 3名初中学习优秀学生和 1 2 6名初中学习困难学生的学习策略比较研究 ,结果发现学习困难学生的学习策略明显低于学习优秀的学生 ,特别是元认知策略 ;初中学习困难学生的学习策略没有显著的性别差异 ,但从整体上看 ,女生的学习策略要稍高于学习困难男生的学习策略 ,尤其是元认知策略 ;初中学习困难生的学习策略存在显著的年级差异 ,主要表现为初三学困生的学习策略比初一、初二的学困生好。     

不同标记策略对学习困难学生阅读成绩影响的实验研究

为探讨不同标记策略对学习困难生(简称学困生)阅读成绩的影响,本研究采用实验法,选择54名学困生与学优生参与实验。结果表明:1)学优生的阅读成绩要高于学困生;2)组织结构图标记的阅读成绩显著高于其它两种标记;3)在纯文本与关键项标记两水平上,学优生阅读成绩显著高于学困生;在组织结构图标记水平上,学优生阅读成绩与学困生不存在显著性差异;4)在学困生水平上,短篇文章阅读成绩显著高于中、长篇,中篇文章阅读成绩显著高于长篇;而在学优生水平上,短篇与中篇文章阅读成绩不存在显著性差异,且二者阅读理解成绩显著高于长篇文章。结论:组织结构图标记可提高学习困难生的阅读成绩。     

Reading Science Text: Challenges for Students with Learning Disabilities and Considerations for Teachers

In science classes, teachers must consider the need for explicit, systematic reading instruction for students with learning disabilities (LD) while navigating the constructivist and activity‐oriented methods typically employed in science instruction. The complexity of scientific information conveyed through print may make reading science texts the greatest challenge that students with LD encounter in school. Fortunately, researchers have established that, by fostering students’ prior knowledge, providing text enhancements, and teaching reading comprehension strategies, students’ understanding of science text is improved. Effective instructional approaches and strategies for reading are reviewed and implications for teaching students with LD noted.     

学习困难学生理解监测准确性与延迟关键词效应

采用学习判断绝对准确性的差异分数值为指标,探讨学习困难学生理解监测准确性的特点.实验一考察学习困难学生和学习优秀学生理解监测准确性的差异,实验二考察延迟关键词效应对学习困难学生理解监测准确性的影响.结果表明,学习困难学生理解监测准确性显著低于学习优秀学生,延迟关键词显著提高了学习困难学生的理解监测准确性.