Using "What Works" - Center for Parent Information and Resources

Woman teacher saying, Yeah! Updated August 2012
A legacy resource from NICHCY

This resource page organizes resources according to the findings of Scruggs, Mastropieri, Berkeley, & Graetz (2010) in their published meta-analysis entitled Do Special Education Interventions Improve Learning of Secondary Content?

It’s a fascinating meta-analysis of special education research about “what works.” We urge you to read the meta-analysis (if you can get your hands on it), learn more about the specific interventions used to improve student performance, and then return here if you’d like more information about any or all of the interventions. The interventions of note are:

Mnemonics
Graphic organizers
Learning strategies
Computer-assisted instruction
Peer tutoring and cooperative learning
Study aids
Hands-on learning
Explicit instruction

Mnemonics

Using Mnemonics to Teach Academic Skills
http://www.nsttac.org/content/using-mnemonics-teach-academic-skills

Mnemonic Instruction
http://s3.amazonaws.com/cmi-teaching-ld/alerts/14/uploaded_files/original_Alert5.pdf?1301001560

Teaching with Mnemonics
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/profdev/profdev117.shtml

Graphic Organizers

What Are Graphic Organizers?
https://ldaamerica.org/info/graphic-organizers/

Unit One | Understanding Graphic Organizers
http://tccl.rit.albany.edu/knilt/index.php/Unit_One-_Understanding_Graphic_Organizers

Graphic Organizers
Lots and lots of examples here.
In English | http://www.eduplace.com/graphicorganizer/
In Spanish | http://www.eduplace.com/graphicorganizer/spanish/

Graphic Organizers
Nearly 100 free, printable graphic organizers for a wide variety of topics.
http://freeology.com/graphicorgs/

Online Graphic Organizers for Use With Special Education Students
https://www.thoughtco.com/using-graphic-organizers-for-special-education-3110330

Graphic Organizers to the Rescue! Helping Students Link–and Remember–Information
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/004005990003200311

Graphic Organizers and Their Effects on the Reading Comprehension of Students with LD: A Synthesis of Research
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15493233/#:~:text=Using%20graphic%20organizers%20%28i.e.%2C%20semantic%20organizers%2C%20framed%20outlines%2C,comprehension%20measures%20were%20associated%20with%20higher%20effect%20sizes

Learning Strategies

The Power of Strategy Instruction
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15493233/#:~:text=Using%20graphic%20organizers%20%28i.e.%2C%20semantic%20organizers%2C%20framed%20outlines%2C,comprehension%20measures%20were%20associated%20with%20higher%20effect%20sizes

Learning Strategies Curriculum
https://sim.ku.edu/sim-learning-strategies

Cognitive Strategy Instruction
An entire website of info.
http://cehs.unl.edu/csi/index.shtml

Cognitive Strategies
This resource collection includes teacher tools, findings from research, and case studies.
https://specialconnections.ku.edu/instruction/cognitive_strategies

SRSD: Using Learning Strategies to Enhance Student Learning
A training module for educators.
http://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/srs/chalcycle.htm

Computer-Assisted Instruction

Computer-Assisted Instruction and Writing
https://www.readingrockets.org/article/computer-assisted-instruction-and-writing

Peer Tutoring and Cooperative Learning

Classwide Peer Tutoring at Work
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/004005990103400207

An Introduction to ClassWide Peer Tutoring
This resource collection includes teacher tools, findings from research, and case studies.
https://specialconnections.ku.edu/instruction/classwide_peer_tutoring/teacher_tools/classwide_peer_tutoring_the_standard_program

Peer-Mediated Intervention Studies on Academic Achievement for Students with EBD: A Review
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/07419325040250060101

Study Aids

Study Guides and Strategies
https://www.mydegreeguide.com/how-to-study-tips/

Study Tips Galore
http://www.studytips.org/

How to Study
More than 85 free, practical study skills articles. In Spanish, too!
http://www.how-to-study.com/

Hands-On or Activity-Based Learning

Do2learn
Do2learn develops serious games and learning material targeting specific deficits of individuals with neurological disorders including ASD, fetal alcohol effects, intellectual disabilities, attention disorders, learning and communication disorders and others. Their materials specifically address deficits in the areas of behavior, socialization, communication, coping, and daily living skills.
http://www.do2learn.com

Center for Hands-on Learning
https://handsonlearningcentre.com/