LD OnLine Newsletter

Teach LD Students to Write Well

March 2008

Children with learning disabilities can learn to write well when they are taught well. The Writing Road: Reinvigorate Your Students' Enthusiasm for Writing provides multiple tools for this important task.

Here are some tips from the article:

Before the student begins to write, provide background information for the assignment. Try a KWL chart. Have three columns: K for "What do you know? "; W for "What do you want to know?"; and L for a "What have you learned?" The L column is completed after discussion or research.
Use definitions and context to teach vocabulary. Have the child think about each word and connect the word to what he or she already knows.
Teach words in clusters. Learning similar words together will help the student understand them because they can be compared and contrasted.
Graphic organizers are effective for students, particularly those who have executive function difficulties. The article gives numerous examples.
Use mnemonics to help with proofreading. One example in the article is COPS (Capitalization, Organization, Punctuation, Spelling).

Whether you are a parent, a veteran teacher, or a newly graduated professional, you will find helpful and interesting information in this article.
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Watch "Teaching Writing," a New Webcast

Three top experts explore the importance of writing, what the latest research tells us, and what teachers and parents can do to create successful writers.

Presenters are:

Dr. Steve Graham, Professor and the Currey Ingram Chair in Special Education at Vanderbilt University.
Dr. Louisa Moats, Director of Professional Development and Research Initiatives with Sopris West Educational Services.
Dr. Susan Neuman, Professor in Educational Studies at the University of Michigan.

In the webcast, Dr. Steve Graham points out that problems with the mechanics of writing are strongly related to the ability to create content. Extra focus is needed on handwriting so the student can form letters and write quickly. Another possibility is the use of a word processor, which made a significant difference for his daughter who started using one in second grade.

Children with learning disabilities need explicit instruction on each aspect of writing. Therefore, teachers need to clearly outline for their students the steps — and possible pitfalls — needed before drafting an essay. Teachers should raise specific questions such as "How do you outline?" or "How do you actually revise text?" It is important to help students as early as possible to prevent them from developing a dislike for writing — a dislike that can be difficult to undo.
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Getting the Lowdown on the Slowdown

Today's research in the neurosciences, psychology, and education provides some answers to the questions teachers ask when their students are delayed in learning reading, writing, mathematics, and other subjects. Getting the Lowdown on the Slowdown will help you understand all kinds of minds. Learn eight aspects of every child's neurodevelopmental profile.
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A Must-Have Resource from LearningStore:

Launching Young Readers: Writing and Spelling

Hosted by Vivica A. Fox, this program looks at the ways in which spelling helps children see the patterns in language and understand how words are put together. This program is part of Launching Young Readers, a PBS television series produced by our sister site ReadingRockets.org. This award-winning collection of innovative half-hour programs examines how children learn to read, why so many struggle, and what we can do to help.

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Featured Articles

For LD Children

How to Survive LD
Parents and teachers, this is worth sharing with your children and students who have LD. Alexis, age 10, wrote a guide to help other students with LD survive elementary school. As an LD student, Alexis offers practical information. "Don't brag about your disability or use it as an excuse," says the young author. "It drives teachers and everyone else around you nuts. Instead, get help when you need it, work as hard as you can on your own, and don't make it a bigger deal than need be."
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For Teachers

Multimedia Tools Have Students Think Like a Scientist
Have your students work intensely on projects. During the process of each project, they will ask themselves questions, develop hypotheses, and test until they learn more — just like scientists do. Use some of the multimedia tools to motivate your students to solve scientific problems.
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For Parents

Get Your Child Ready for Work
To get your child ready for work, help them develop a strong work ethic and an awareness of the many jobs that must be done to make our economy work. This article includes many practical suggestions.
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