| Abstract: | Abstract This study investigated the reading orientation of teachers who instruct students with special needs. These teachers were defined as those who taught students in remedial reading pull‐out programs, resource rooms and Chapter 1 programs. The Theoretical Orientation to Reading Profile (DeFord, 1985) was completed by 177 special needs teachers. This instrument identifies three theoretical orientations to reading: whole language, skills, and phonics. The results from the TORP indicated that the teachers in the study were not strongly associated with any one theoretical orientation but tended to be eclectic. In addition, the teachers clustered primarily into two orientations: whole language and skills/phonics. No significant differences among the three groups of special needs teachers and their theoretical orientations to reading were found. However, 93% of the respondents qualified their answers to the TORP through unsolicited written commentary. Implications for reading instruction in special needs settings and reading education programs are presented. |
