A learning disability is a disorder involving difficulties with language, reading, writing, reasoning, listening, or mathematics. Learning disabilities can have genetic, prenatal, birth-related, or postnatal causes. Students with learning disabilities often have strengths in some areas and needs in others. Proper identification and assessment of a student's abilities and challenges is important. Traditional teaching strategies for students with learning disabilities include developmental, cognitive, and behavioral models in preschool and structured phonics and adapting lessons in elementary and secondary school. Classroom adaptations should be provided based on a student's cognitive differences and may include changes to assessments and the use of technology. Social-emotional issues are often tied to academic struggles, so teachers should help students feel accepted while

1. Learning Disabilities

2. What is a Learning Disability? A disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or in use of language including: A) Oral expression; B) Listening Comprehension; C) Written Expression; D) Basic Reading and Reading Comprehension; F) Mathematics Calculation and Reasoning

3. Primary Causes of Learning Disabilities Genetic and Hereditary Influences Causes Occurring Before Birth Causes Occurring During Birth Process Causes Occurring After Birth

4. Strengths and Areas of Need

5. Identification and Assessment Assessment varies across country resulting in varied rates of students with learning disabilities Must be determined if the differences related to diversity are not primary cause of learning disability

6. Traditional Teaching Strategies Preschool Developmental model Cognitive model Behavioural model Elementary Whole language model Structured sequential phonics Teaching strategies to apply during learning Academic, social-emotional, and cognitive & metacognitive interventions

7. Traditional Teaching Strategies Cont. Secondary Less focus on remediation of skills Teaching learning skills and adapting lessons Self determination Motivation Make lessons relevant

8. Controversial Methods Tinted glasses (for students with dyslexia) Orthomolecular therapy Vision therapy Vestibular dysfunction medication

9. Classroom Adaptations Adaptation during assessment Must provide a wide range of adaptations Adaptations should apply to students cognitive difference(s) Utilize technology

10. Social-Emotional Problems Social-emotional problems tied closely with academic failure Be careful not to isolate individual Use simple concrete language Explain consequences of negative behaviour Teach acceptance in classroom