With this strategy-filled handbook, education professionals will learn what they can do to help students with mild disabilities — from high school to post-high school — develop academic skills in
- organization
- test-taking
- study skills
- note taking
- reading
- writing
- math
- advanced thinking
First, educators will work one-on-one with students to evaluate each student's learning style and individual needs. Then, for each of the areas listed above, educators will get a chapter with step-by-step cognitive learning strategies, case studies, and charts that summarize the steps as mnemonic devices. An overarching five-step model (the Active Learner Approach) for effective instruction helps teachers introduce these strategies to students, model the steps of the strategies for them, give students guided and independent practice applying the strategies to assignments, and assist students in generalizing the strategies to other subjects and settings.
With this easy-to-use guide, educators will be able to help students recognize their learning characteristics, apply strategies to meet the specific demands of their coursework independently, and reach their educational goals.
Esther Minskoff, Ph.D., has taught graduate and undergraduate courses in learning disabilities at James Madison University since 1975. She has served as Project Director for two federally funded grants – Steppingstones of Technology Innovations and a Model Demonstration Postsecondary Education Project. She has published extensively in journals and is the co-author of the Phonics Remedial Reading Lessons (co-authored with S.A. Kirk & W.D. Kirk, Academic Therapy Publications, 1985). Dr. Minskoff served as President of the Division for Learning Disabilities of the Council for Exceptional Children and was a member of the Professional Advisory Board of the Learning Disabilities Association of America.
Dr. Allsopp is Assistant Dean for Education and Partnerships in addition to being the David C. Anchin Center Endowed Chair and Director of the David C. Anchin Center at the College of Education at the University of South Florida. He is also Professor in the Department of Teaching and Learning–Special Education Programs. Dr. Allsopp holds degrees from Furman University (B.A., Psychology) and the University of Florida (M.Ed., Learning Disabilities; Ph.D., Special Education). Dr. Allsopp teaches at both the undergraduate and doctoral Levels, and his scholarship revolves around effective instructional practices, with an emphasis on mathematics, for students with high-incidence disabilities (e.g., specific learning disabilities, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, Social-emotional/behavior disorders) and other struggling learners who have not been identified with disabilities. Dr. Allsopp also engages in teacher education research related to how teacher educators can most effectively prepare teachers to address the needs of students with disabilities and other struggling learners. Dr. Allsopp began his career in education as a middle school teacher for students with learning disabilities and emotional/behavioral difficulties in Ocala, Florida. After completing his doctoral studies at the University of Florida, Dr. Allsopp served on the faculty at James Madison University for 6 years. He has been a member of the faculty at University of South Florida since 2001.
