Abstract
In this article, the writer notes that research findings have demonstrated that best practices exist in the instruction of students diagnosed with learning disabilities in reading. This work identifies and reviews those best practices in what is a synthesis of the findings in this area of study.

Outline:
Objective
Significance of Study
Methodology
Introduction
Literature Review
Findings
Bibliography

From the Paper
"Stated as best practice for instructional guidelines are the following:
(1) Before reading: (a) use explicit instruction to preteach unfamiliar important words from the text; (2) have students use mapping techniques, such as Semantic Mapping, to help them think about new word meanings; (c) help students relate new vocabulary to their prior knowledge and experiences.
(2) During reading: (a) have student add new words and concepts to their maps; (b) use content-area word walls as a resource; (c) teach students to use word parts such as prefixes and suffixes to read new words; (d) teach students how to use the context of expository text to figure out word meanings; and (e) expand on word meanings that were defined in the textbook to ensure students' understanding of the new words."

Tags:instruction, words, difficulties, students

Abstract
This paper examines issues and challenges that students face with reading, offering suggestions and methods to overcome them. First, the paper looks at the reasons that students today are less likely to read than in years past. Then, the paper addresses the importance of reading comprehension and how to improve it. Various scholars and their works are cited. Additionally, the paper makes suggestions for teachers on how to encourage reading and teach steps for becoming strong readers. This may include reading aloud to students or giving reading projects or reading initiatives. The paper concludes by discussing how teachers can inspire students to develop strong reading skills, particularly noting how reading will impact their future.

Outline:

Introduction
Reading Lessons
Reading Projects
Reading Initiatives

From the Paper
"In the past, students were not so bombarded with technology and when they wished to be entertained, it was either television, radio, the cinema, records and of course reading, but with the advent of technology, beginning sometime in the mid 1980's, today's students do not see any point to reading, for they see it as redundant, unnecessary and at times boring, due in part to the wide access to the Internet, I-phones, texting, and most certainly entertainment provided by the mass media which predominantly utilizes images instead of words to convey ideas and concepts. Thus, as any professional teacher in today's modern world knows so well, this situation demands improvement, especially related to getting students (and young adults) to read (i.e., books) instead of spending their free time (and most of their school time) in front of a computer, a television or some other technology-based instrument or product, thus increasing their appreciation for the written word."

Tags:learning disabilities, dyslexia, literacy, critical thinking

Abstract
This paper addresses the problem of weak reading skills in middle school students, and suggests educational approaches to improving reading comprehension in particular. The author recommends that teachers, the instructional and/or educational materials and the educational policies should be at the forefront in assisting middle school children to acquire the reading comprehension skills they need. The role of each is described in the paper. Additionally, accommodations are recommended for children with special educational needs. The paper also lists the five essential components of reading instruction, describing the importance of each one. The paper concludes by stating students also take responsibility for their reading progress by practicing regularly.

Outline:
Introduction
Review of Related Literature
Factors to increasing the reading comprehension abilities of the middle graders
The Teachers
Provision of More time for the Students
Maintenance of Research Based Curriculum and Instructional Approaches Regarding Reading Comprehension
Reference List

From the Paper
"Indeed, there have been recent studies conducted which reveal that reading and comprehension is becoming a challenging tasks for the teachers, particularly when they are handling the students from the middle grades. Students who are in the in their middle age of learning are already being taught for proper reading and comprehension. However, there are reports that show that there are increasing number of students who have gone to higher levels but "are still not fully equipped with the right reading and comprehension perspectives," thus a big task to teachers and other educational facilitators nowadays is how to increase the reading comprehension of students in the middle school (Snow, 2002)."

Tags:reading, elementary, school, dyslexia, learning, disabilities, reading, comprehension

Abstract
This paper explains that one of the greatest challenges for any educator is dealing with a student with reading difficulties. However, a number of different programs exist to deal with the different forms of comprehension difficulties: Edmark Reading Program and Reading Matery programs. The author points out that the auditory and picture matching approach of Edmark has been shown to be helpful for students from developmentally and socially disabling backgrounds. The paper relates that since dyslexics often report grappling with frequently misused letters and miss substituting of vowels and consonants; the program Reading Matery,designed to underline the specific dyslexic's need for reinforcement in his or her word sorting capacity and to learn other decoding methods to compensate for potential cognitive decoding difficulties, is better than the overall reinforcement of pictures, words and sounds in Edmark.

From the Paper
"The experimental group students received 15 minutes per day of tutoring by America Reads Volunteers in the Edmark Reading Program, a highly structured sight word program; control group students were simply read aloud to for 15 minutes each day by the same volunteers. Results indicated a significant difference in the performance of experimental group of students on the WRMT-R Passage Comprehension subtest and Edmark posttest. Qualitative data indicated that more experimental group students than control group students exhibited significantly improved reading ability, attitudes toward reading, attitudes toward school, and attitudes toward self. Results suggested that schools should consider the use of volunteers to implement one-on-one tutoring in the Edmark Reading Program to teach a supplementary sight word vocabulary to at-risk first graders. Thus, Edmark's 'hands on' approach may be helpful for students from disadvantaged backgrounds as well."

Tags:dyslexic, developmental-disabled, decoding, social

Abstract
The paper provides research concerning reading disabilities in general and goes on to discuss the problems and challenges posed by teaching ESL students. The paper explores the prevalence of reading disabilities in ESL children and looks at the issues specific to Arabic-speaking learners in non-Arabic schools.

Outline:
Background: What We Know About Reading Disabilities
Reading Disabilities and the ESL Learner
Issues Specific to Arabic-Speaking Learners
Arab Children with Reading Disabilities in English-Speaking Schools

From the Paper
"Reading disabilities pose one of the greatest threats to a child's learning, since all other subjects become reliant on comprehension as education progresses. English as a second language (ESL) students have additional needs, since their knowledge of language has been shaped differently than children who speak English as their native language. Arabic children in particular may struggle in the English-speaking classroom because of the drastically different systems of speech, reading, and learning in English and Arabic language. Further, some evidence exists that Arabic children suffer from reading disabilities more often than other children due to consanguineous marriages."

Tags:dyslexia, language, literacy, culture, vocabulary, comprehension

Abstract
This paper critically analyzes the article "How Do Your Kids Do at Reading? And How Do You Assess Them?", taken from the 'Teaching Exceptional Children' journal, by David L. Tucker and Jeffrey P. Bakken. According to the paper, the article reports that 50% of all students with disabilities have learning disabilities; and that 80% of students with learning disabilities have substantial reading problems.

From the Paper
"When you judge reading progress based on "errors" or "mistakes," you miss the mark as a teacher of reading, the authors emphasize. "Right and wrong" have a place in math, because numbers don't have subjective sub-texts; they are black and white. But if teachers don't want to turn students off to reading skills by being to exact and strict, then miscue analysis is a way to help students concentrate on the bigger picture, meaning.
Indeed, as a teacher, why be negative when by using miscue analysis as the tool for assessment helps the student zero in on the meaning of what he or she has read, not just the technical correctness of the passage? The authors make the point on page 3 that "instructionally relevant" assessment procedures cry out for the use of miscue analysis; and they quote Goodman"

Tags:educators, teachers, students, assessment, product, strategies

Abstract
The paper refers to a 10 year-old Grade V student, "Kalum", who understands considerable English with good verbal expression but experiences much difficulty in mastering reading. The paper explores nonverbal learning disabilities and the challenges it presents to the teacher. The paper discusses research that shows how many teachers fail to note learning disabilities in students who study in a non-first language. The paper also shows the ease with which learning disabilities and other conditions affecting children can be misdiagnosed. The paper concludes that as long as the student's confidence and motivation can be ensured, NLD does not seem such a grave diagnosis, presenting more of a test of the teacher's dedication than an indication of a student's educational future.

Outline:
Exploring Nonverbal Learning Disabilities
Helpful Research on Young ESL and Immigrant Students
Culminating Activities
Determining a Student Biography
Adjusting Reading Exercises and Classroom Skills
Behavioral Cues
Elaboration - Sharing with Professionals
Observations and Further Questions
Self Reflection
Sharing with Experienced Language Teachers
Concluding Remarks

From the Paper
"Students with NLD often show high verbal skills, have little difficulty with spelling but are weak in reading comprehension. They often have short concentration spans and struggle with the visual aspect of reading. NLD is associated with malfunction of the brain's right hemisphere as can also mean difficulties in mathematics, organizing and planning tasks, and spatial and motor abilities. NLD students often present anxiety, their way of socializing can be abrupt, or they stand to close to others. Combined with verbal ability and frequent outspokenness, NLD students are apt to be misdiagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome or ADHD, or dyslexia, on account of often impaired word recognition and weak handwriting. For over 30 years, research on NLD has helped teachers, psychologists and parents to fathom a range of often small symptoms that can usually be counteracted. The challenge for the teacher is one of instilling helpful habits, often through much repetition and correction, while maintaining the student's self-confidence. (Rourke:1995:13-16, Elkind:1973, Krippner & Herald:1964) This non-alarmist approach was also stressed by Goldstein on compensatory ways of coping with NLD while providing early literacy skills, and in the Canadian as opposed to American context. (2000)"

Tags:communication, skills, attention, spans, behavioral, problems, immigration, teacher

Abstract
The paper examines the three methods for teaching reading-- phonics, whole language and repeated reading and then provides a comparative analysis of these three methods. The paper concludes that the impact of the repeated reading method in improving reading fluency, word recognition accuracy and reading comprehension makes it an effective alternative for teach learning disabled students .

From the Paper
"Many educators feel that phonics is the key for teaching early reading skills to children. They maintain that young students should learn the sounds for each letter and the rules that accompany many so they may become independent readers where they sound out unfamiliar words. While teaching phonics is still an important concept, one must also understand that the whole language approach is an exciting and interesting method designed to include all subjects when teaching reading. Students learn about science, social studies, and math while participating in their language arts lesson. There are also many supporters of the Balanced Program that combine teaching phonics in the whole language classroom environment."

Tags:groups, teachers, literacy, story

Abstract
This paper explores learning disabilities that affect academic performance. Some of the more common forms of this category of learning disability is dyslexia (problems reading, or understanding what is written), dysgraphia (problems with handwriting or writing in a way the makes sense), and dyscalculia (problems with abstract math or calculations). The paper discusses how children with learning disabilities may be affected, how depression is often the primary cause of learning disabilities in children, treatment approaches, and the importance of the teacher in obtaining help for children with learning disabilities.


Table of Contents:
Understanding Learning Disabilities
Effects on the Home and School Environment
The Teacher and the Child with Learning Disabilities
Treatment and Help

From the Paper
"The connection between learning disabilities and depression needs to be taken seriously by teachers. Students with poor reading skills are more likely to drop out of school and have a suicide rate that is three times that of the normally reading population. The school plays an important role in the development of the child's emotional development. Difficulties at school can lead to difficulties in the emotional, social and family functioning of the child. It is estimated that only 1/4 to 1/3 of the children needing school receive the needed treatment."

Tags:parents, academic performance, struggling atmosphere suicide

Abstract
This paper explains that, in determining the best practices to teach reading to students who have learning or behavioral disabilities, attention must be paid to both story grammar and basal comprehension to determine the success or failure rate of the method used. The author points out that the use of story mapping is arguably the best practice to use in teaching reading to students of all grade levels because it provides a marked path for the student to follow as he or she makes his way through a story structure. The paper relates that story mapping allows the learning-disabled student to develop skills, which will allow continued success as materials and expectations increase as the student progresses to more advanced reading.

From the Paper
"A study conducted in 1987 regarding the success of story mapping as a method for teaching reading skills to students with learning or behavior disabilities concluded that is one of the most successful methods currently available. In this study, five learning disabled fifth grade students were examined to determine the effect of simple story mapping on their comprehension abilities. Four out of the five students developed definable and significant story mapping ability and demonstrated significant improvement in their story grammar and comprehension skills once they began using the story mapping methods."

Tags:grammar, comprehension, success, path, study