Mathematics interventions for students with learning disabilities in secondary school: a review of the literature

The purpose of our literature review was to extend and update Maccini, Mulcahy, and Wilson's (2007) review of the literature on mathematics interventions for secondary students with learning disabilities (LD). An extensive search of the research literature netted 15 research studies that focused on mathematics interventions for secondary students with LD. The findings are presented in terms of three main instructional approaches for improving the mathematics achievement of these students: (a) cognitive and metacognitive strategies for solving word problems; (b) use of representations to increase conceptual knowledge and problem-solving skills; and (c) Enhanced Anchored Instruction. Results include evidence of the efficacy of Enhanced Anchored Instruction and Solve It! We discuss additional results, implications for improving classroom practice and professional development, and recommendations for future research. Keywords: Mathematics intervention, secondary students, learning disabilities, literature review