Did you know that nearly 4 million school-age kids and teens have learning disabilities, and at least 20% of them have a type of disorder that makes it difficult to focus (Teen Health, 2013)? Many individuals believe that people who have learning disabilities are simply lazy and unintelligent. But a learning disability doesn't have anything to do with a person's intelligence because after all people such as Walt Disney, Alexander Graham Bell, and Winston Churchill all had learning disabilities but still managed to accomplish huge things (Teen Health, 2013). Learning disabilities are problems that affect the brain's ability to receive process, analyze, or store information. These problems can make it difficult for a student to learn as quickly as someone who isn't affected by learning disabilities (Teen Health, 2013). …show more content…
Steele examines two theories of instruction for students with learning disabilities: the constructivist theory and the behaviorist theory. Although many educators support the use of one theory, the author recommends educators to step out of their comfort zone by combining ideas from both perspectives for the most effective instruction. Not only would this help educators explore and integrate different components from both approaches. It could also giver a better chance for special and general education teachers to work more effectively as a team to teach children with learning disabilities. This article highlights the definition and characteristics of learning disabilities, briefly reviews constructivist and behaviorist principles, and discusses the impact on students with learning disabilities (Steele). The author recommends some ideas for practice in the inclusion classroom, where teachers currently face the challenge of teaching students with LD