Comparison of Reading Intervention Approaches for Students with Mild Disabilities

This study reports afield test of six research-based teaching strategies with 37 special education resource teachers and 176 students with mild disabilities. The approaches included peer tutoring, reciprocal teaching, effective teaching principles, computer-aided instruction, and two direct instruction models, all used in reading instruction. Comparisons with a control group and between approaches produced inconsistent results. Students in all groups, including the controls, showed higher levels of engagement during all approaches than other researchers have reported for either mainstream or resource room students. Student achievement was highest in the computer-assisted group, in the reciprocal teaching group, and in one of the direct instruction groups.