Learning Differences

The authors discuss the non-evidence-based interventions that proliferate in the fields of children’s speech, language, literacy, attention, cognition, working memory, and behavior. They explore the science — or lack thereof — behind the interventions and suggest evidence-based alternatives that enjoy stronger scientific support. Written in lively, readable language, the book provides clear descriptions of each intervention and the populations to whom they are marketed; reasoned explanations of why the intervention should be approached with caution or rejected outright; and suggestions for interventions with proper scientific support, suitable for the children in question.

How can teachers provide effective instruction for students with learning disabilities while meeting the needs of all students? The second edition of this accessible text gives K–12 educators research-based answers. The book covers all four learning disabilities that require differentiated instruction — dysgraphia, dyslexia, dyscalculia, and oral and written language learning disability. It helps prepare educators to deliver explicit and engaging instruction customized to the needs of their students. Critical insights from diverse fields blend with lessons learned from actual teaching experience, making this both a preservice text and an in-service professional development tool.

Today’s classroom is more diverse, more inclusive, and more plugged into technology than ever before. And it’s led by teachers under enormous pressure to help decidedly unstandardized students meet an expanding set of rigorous, standardized learning targets. In this updated second edition of her best-selling work, Tomlinson offers these teachers a powerful and practical way to meet a challenge that is both very modern and completely timeless: how to divide their time, resources, and efforts to effectively instruct so many students of various backgrounds, readiness and skill levels, and interests.

This highly practical book walks educators through designing Structured Literacy (SL) interventions for students with common types of reading difficulties — word reading, comprehension, or a combination of both. Louise Spear-Swerling offers tools for assessing students’ reading profiles and tailoring SL to their needs. The book includes case studies, sample lesson plans addressing both early and advanced stages of reading, instructional activities, and application exercises for teachers. A chapter on English language structure presents essential foundations for implementing SL effectively. The companion website features a knowledge survey about language structure (with answer key), as well as downloadable copies of the book’s 14 reproducible forms.

Comprehensive and evidence-based, Structured Literacy (SL) approaches place a high value on explicit, systematic, and sequential instruction. This book brings together leading experts on key components of literacy to help K–6 teachers design and target SL interventions for particular student profiles. Chapters identify effective features of instruction for supporting phonological awareness, basic and multisyllabic word decoding, spelling, reading fluency, vocabulary, oral and reading comprehension, and written expression, especially for at-risk readers and those with disabilities.

From one of the preeminent experts on reading and dyslexia, the most comprehensive, up-to-date, and practical book available on identifying, understanding, and overcoming reading problems — now revised to reflect the latest research and evidence-based approaches. Extensively updated information on helping both dyslexic children and adults become better readers, with a detailed home program to enhance reading.

How do children develop reading skills — and when these skills don’t develop typically, how can we best identify challenges and intervene? Find the answers in this comprehensive volume on dyslexia: its root causes, the most effective methods of diagnosis and treatment, and the sociopolitical factors that affect intervention. This book brings together contributions from more than 50 top researchers and practitioners, who share their invaluable perspectives, findings, solutions, and questions to shape future dyslexia research.

Dyslexia is no longer a mystery. MRI scans and other tools of neuroscience have advanced our understandings in the last decade. We now know what to do to help students become skilled, confident learners. In Conquering Dyslexia, Dr. Hasbrouck shares the instructional approaches that work best for children who have this disorder, and the most current information for parents so they can advocate for their children and communicate with educators effectively. This book addresses: what is dyslexia, how to identify it, early diagnosis and intervention, teaching students, and supporting English Learners.

A teacher-friendly explanation of executive skills — such as planning, organization, cognitive flexibility, and impulse control — and their role in reading comprehension. Detailed examples illustrate how each skill is deployed by strong comprehenders and ways to tailor instruction for students who are struggling.