“Compared to the general practice of education, special education is instruction that is more urgent, more intensive, more relentless, more precisely delivered, more highly structured and direct, and more carefully monitored for procedural fidelity and effects.”
(Kauffman, J. M. (1996). The challenge of nihilismTeacher Education and Special Education, 19, 205-206)
In general, effective education for students with learning disabilities includes the following:
- Uses multi-sensory teaching methods
- Presents material in small units, carefully sequenced
- Provides repeated opportunities to practice skills both in isolation and in more complex situations
- Teaches students to use logic rather than rote memory
- Provides explicit instruction as well as opportunities for discovery learning
- Frequently assesses understanding of material
- Frequently assesses retention of material
- Allows students to demonstrate their understanding of material in a variety of ways
- Includes education about learning disabilities so that students can advocate for themselves when necessary
- Introduces assistive technology as accommodations when appropriate and teaches students to use these technologies independently
For dyslexic students, a comprehensive reading program should include the five elements of scientifically based reading instruction—phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension.
