Mnemonic Instruction of LD Students: A Field-Based Evaluation

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Abstract
A sizeable number of research studies have demonstrated the potential of mnemonic instruction with learning disabled (LD) students. However, reports of actual classroom applications of this type of instruction are lacking. In the present investigation, three classrooms of LD junior-high-school-age students were taught U.S. history content over an 8-week period, in which mnemonic and nonmnemonic materials were alternated. Evaluation of chapter test scores indicated that students learned significantly (and substantially) more information when instructed mnemonically, and that they were assigned higher grades for chapters which had been instructed mnemonically. Furthermore, teacher ratings indicated that mnemonic materials were significantly more appropriate for the needs of LD students than traditional textbook-based materials. Implications for future research and practice are addressed.