The identification and assessment of dyslexiaClass teachers' perceptions of the usefulness of the dyslexia screening test for seven to eight year-old pupils

Many teachers are concerned about the problems of identifying and assessing dyslexia in their own schools, but lack time during the school day to assess the accuracy of new tests. In the last ten years dyslexia has moved from being a hidden disability to one that is acknowledged in academic, intellectual and professional fields, through advances in genetics and psychological research. Non-recognition can lead to severe problems for a pupil in school and in later life, as well as for teachers, in particular, attempting to devise learning programmes and for schools, in general, facing litigation for not addressing a particular child's specific needs.     

The Family Environment of “Quick-Witted” Persons: Birth Order,Family Communication Patterns,and Creative Facility

“Creative facility” refers to the ease, rapidity, or fluency with which people are able to formulate and produce novel, appropriate messages. Previous research indicates that people differ in this regard and that the phenomenon is linked to various personality and cognitive-style variables. This study aims to investigate whether aspects of family structure (i.e., birth order) and family processes (i.e., family communication patterns) are related to creative facility. Results indicated a significant interaction between birth order and family conversation orientation such that, for first-borns, higher levels of conversation orientation were associated with slower message production. No effects were observed for family conformity orientation. Among the implications of the findings is the need to assess birth order in studies of family communication patterns.     

The performance of preschoolers with speech/language disorders on the McCarthy Scales of Children's Abilities

The McCarthy Scales of Children's Abilities (MSCA) was used to evaluate the performance of preschool children with speech/language disorders. Preschoolers were screened first for normal intelligence using the Performance scale of the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI). Preschoolers with speechllanguage disorders had significantly lower scores on all scales of the MSCA (Verbal, Perceptual/Performance, Quantitative, and Memory), except the Motor scale. They also had an average 20-point lower GCI than the control children. An analysis of the scores of the speechllanguage group on subtests revealed difficulty in short- term auditory memory skills but not in short-term visual memory skills. Deficits in categorical thinking skills and verbal expression skills were also evident. Characteriza- tion of learning disabilities in preschoolers with speechllanguage disorders is discussed.     

Toward an understanding of higher-order thinking among minority students

Recent investigations have established the importance of higher-order thinking in the acquisition and application of learning skills in diverse domains of inquiry. Such findings have implications for enhancing the quality of thinking of all children but have particular significance for those minority students who historically have not performed as well as their more economically advantaged peers. Although much has been written about the construct, research is still needed to identify the specific processes underlying higher-order thinking and to examine its use among minority populations. A principal-factors extraction with varimax rotation analysis was used in the present study to clarify the nature and function of higher-order thinking among minority students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. The results allowed for a specification of the mental processes associated with the construct and the extent to which students reported an awareness and use of these processes in academic problem-solving situations.     

Ancillary staff members' mainstreaming recommendations for students with mild exceptionalities

Mainstreaming decisions, including identification of handicapped students for regular class placement and support service recommendations (e.g., reduced class size, inservice training, consultation services), are frequently made by nonclassroom personnel such as school psychologists, occupational/physical therapists, and speech/language pathologists. Factors considered by these professionals in making mainstreaming decisions are poorly understood, however. This study sought to identify mainstreaming modifications judged to be important by ancillary professionals in recommending mainstreaming of students with mild exceptionalities. Data revealed that no significant differences were noted in number of selected modifications as a function of diagnostic category. Ancillary staff members indicated, however, that substantial modifications were needed to facilitate successful mainstreaming. Results are discussed relative to current educational trends.     

Facilitated communication with children diagnosed as autistic in public school settings

In spite of claims that facilitated communication is a unique and effective communication option for individuals with autism, validity of this method has not been established. The present study focused on evaluating the effectiveness of facilitated communication with elementary-age children with autism. Ten public school children and their teachers, who served as facilitators, were involved in this 15-week facilitated communication validation study. Several subjects revealed ability to complete simple responses to requests and questions to which the facilitators knew the answers. However, little success was shown by subjects in answering questions to which the facilitators lacked answers, or in communicating via an augmentative communication device. Results of the study are discussed, along with implications for future use of facilitated communication with children with autism.     

A Theory-Based Framework for Assessing Domainl-Specific Problem-Solving Ability

Is problem solving a global construct? What components can be assessed? What multiple assessment strategies can be used?