Content-Area Literacy
Content-area literacy means that reading and writing occur both inside and outside of the language arts classroom. Science, math, and history teachers also work to integrate important reading and writing skills with their content. Discover resources that can help teachers, parents, and students navigate literacy skills within all content areas.
Previewing Texts in Content Classrooms
Previewing chapters before reading is a powerful way to get readers prepared for the material. Textbook previewing strategies focus not only on the structure of the text — such as the table of contents, index, chapter introductions, and so forth — but on a content overview, which focuses on the concepts and questions covered in the chapter and their interrelationships.
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Content-Area Literacy: Mathematics
Of all the academic disciplines taught in middle and high school, mathematics is the one we least expect to entail reading extended texts; but math texts present special literacy problems and challenges for readers. Read more about ways reading can and should be an important part of your math instruction.
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Teaching Writing to Diverse Student Populations
Writing can be a difficult task for students with learning disabilities. Our article outlines specific areas of difficulty, the qualities of strong writing instruction, how to put the pieces together to create a top-notch writing program, and ways to encourage content-relevant writing within social studies, science, or mathematics classrooms.
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Research: National College Readiness
The latest "Condition of College & Career Readiness" ACT report is out. The report focuses on the college and career readiness levels of the ACT-tested U.S. high school graduating class of 2012. The good news is that the findings suggest that the condition of college and career readiness has slightly improved over the past several years, specifically in the subject areas of math and science. The bad news is that far too many students continue to leave our high schools ill-prepared for the demands of college and work. Read the full report here.
Interested in finding out about the ACT Policy To Support Requests for Test Accommodations on the ACT (No Writing) or ACT Plus Writing? Read the Policy for Documentation here.
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Digital Tools for Kids with Special Needs
Young children benefit enormously from the types of learning experiences that engage them on a variety of levels, such as seeing, hearing, speaking, singing, and movement. Through technology, more children than ever can access exciting, UDL-based experiences to help them learn. Reading Rockets' tech blogger Dr. Julie Wood has discovered a number of great digital tools, including these: Signed Stories, themed books for children with hearing impairments; Book Builder, where children can create, share, publish, and read digital books; and TapToTalk, an app that helps children with limited speech capabilities communicate their ideas.
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LD Checklist from NCLD
Our friends at the National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) recently relaunched their website with new navigation possibilities and quick access to many resources. Their interactive LD Checklist is just one example.
The interactive checklist is designed as a general guide to identifying potential problems with a child's academic and social development. It's not always easy to recognize learning disabilities. If you or someone you know displays the signs described in this LD Checklist, it's time to seek additional information or help.
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Featured Partner: National Center for Learning Disabilities
The National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) is committed to ensuring that all students with learning disabilities graduate from high school with a standard diploma — prepared for college and the workplace. We encourage you to visit the NCLD website to view their materials and to learn more about the organization.
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Expert Advice: My child's school counselor recommended medication when we met to discuss LD testing. Is this necessary?
Question: I need to have my son tested for a learning disability; but when I talked with the high school counselor, she mentioned medications that might be used to treat my son. I only wanted him tested and to get more help learning. I don't want to medicate my son. Is it my choice as a parent?
Answer: By federal law, school staff is not allowed to recommend or require that parents medicate their children. That decision is reserved for the family in consultation with their physician. If the school staff feels that a child has a condition that might warrant medication … (Read on for more)
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Glossary Term: Content Area
Content areas are academic subjects like math, science, English/language arts, reading, and social sciences. Language proficiency may affect these areas but is not included as a content area. Assessments of language proficiency differ from those of language arts.
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Featured Resource: Mobile Devices for Learning: What You Need to Know
This new guide from Edutopia illustrates how mobile gadgets — cell phones, tablets, and smartphones — can engage students, help them work smarter, and change their learning environment.
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LearningStore Resource: You've Been Sentenced!
The latest in the evolution of games, You've been Sentenced! is the first game in history to really turn making sentences into a very funny, playable, and challenging game. Using a unique word deck of pentagon shaped cards containing conjugations of funny words, famous names from throughout history, familiar places, and wild cards, players have to make grammatically correct and justifiable sentences.
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Conferences — Mark your calendars!
Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA) Annual Conference
February 13-16, 2013
San Antonio, TX
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Learning Disabilities Awareness Month
Learning Disabilities Awareness Month (October) is a time where people pay special attention to children and adults with learning disabilities. During this month, LD OnLine asks each of you to teach one person one new thing about learning disabilities. From our sister site Reading Rockets, find e-cards for teachers who have gone above and beyond to help a child with LD, book lists, inspirational stories, and lots more resources.
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PBS Teacher Innovator Awards
Calling all teachers! PBS LearningMedia is looking for innovative teachers for the 2012 Teacher Innovator Awards. Enter today for your chance to win some outstanding prizes including a professional development prize package for a week-long, all-expense-paid "Innovation Immersion Experience" at The Henry Ford in Dearborn, Michigan, and a PBS TeacherLine course!
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