The Role of Cognitive Strategy Training in Improving the Academic Performance of Learning Disabled Children

In this Topical Review, an updated and condensed version of a chapter in Psychological and Educational Perspectives on Learning Disabilities, edited by J. K. Torgesen and B. Y. L. Wong, the authors provide an overview and discussion of the use of self-instructional training with LD children. The review is timely, because cognitive behavior modification techniques are being widely advocated as a means to help LD children become more independent and effective learners. In addition to reviewing strategy-based interventions in reading and math, the authors also present a brief discussion of several reasons why children with learning disabilities often perform ineffectively on complex tasks. The article concludes with a discussion of directions that research in this area should take in the future.—JKT