This research aimed at exploring the motivation for reading of pupils with dyslexia, and to investigate whether they differ from their peers. A total of 32 pupils formed the LD group (22 boys and 10 girls, 5th‐ and 6th‐graders) who were diagnosed with dyslexia. A comparison group was formed of pupils who attended the same classes (N = 210), and these were divided into two groups (average/low performance, N = 115; high performance, N = 95), according to teachers’ ratings of pupils’ performance on reading. Self‐report measures were used to assess perceptions of academic ability, reading attitudes and approaches to learning. The results revealed that dyslexic pupils displayed lower academic self‐concept than the low/average and high performance groups on all domains, except Practical ability. Moreover, dyslexic pupils perceived reading less as a function of personal development, both enjoyment and utilitarian, as compared to their peers. Finally, the dyslexic group adopted the surface approach to learning, indicating an external motive, similarly to the average/low group, and adopted the deep approach to learning less as compared to their high achieving peers. The implications of these findings are discussed at pupil, teacher and classroom level.

The aim of the present study was to investigate goal orientations and classroom goal structures and their relationship with strategies of self-regulated learning (SRL) in students with and without learning disabilities (LD) and reading comprehension difficulties (RCD). The sample consisted of 537 students attending the two last grades of primary school, fifth and sixth grade (Mage = 11.28 years, SD = ±0.59). Of these, 58 students were diagnosed with LD, and 70 students, after individually administered assessments in reading accuracy and reading comprehension, were assigned to the RCD group. Self-reported questionnaires were administered, assessing students’ personal goal orientations, classroom goal structures, and strategies of SRL. The results showed that students with LD and students with RCD scored lower in mastery orientation and higher in performance avoidance compared to their peers without difficulties (ND). LD students reported lower scores of adaptive strategies than their peers. In addition, the results confirmed the adaptive character of mastery-approach goals and mastery goal structures and the negative effects of performance-avoidance goals and performance goal structures on the adaptive strategies of SRL. Performance-approach goals predicted adaptive behaviors for all students, confirming the argument of an adaptive type of motivation. The findings of the current study highlight the importance of goal orientations and classroom goal structures for students’ SRL. Implications of the findings for enhancing motivation for students with LD and students with RCD are discussed.

Introduction: The association between the cognitive and the affective domain in reading is well documented in research, especially when difficulties are manifested. The aim of this study was (a) to investigate levels of reading self-concept, trait emotional intelligence, and anxiety of students with dyslexia and compare them to students with no previous assessment and (b) explore the hypothesis that reading self-concept and trait emotional intelligence are negative predictors of state and trait anxiety taking into account students’ individual characteristics such as gender, school year, and school performance.Methods: A total of 794, fifth- and sixth-grade Greek primary school children aged 10 to 12 years old participated in the study. Of them, 50 children had a statement of dyslexia. The State and Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children, the Reading Self-Concept Scale, and the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire—Short Form were administered to the participants.Results: The results showed that children with dyslexia were more vulnerable in terms of their perceptions of reading self-concept and emotional intelligence as compared to typical peers. Moreover, students’ characteristics, i.e., grades in math and language and dyslexia, had a direct positive path to trait emotional intelligence and reading self-concept while trait emotional intelligence and reading self-concept predicted negative anxiety.Discussion: The implications of the results in terms of the possible protective role of reading self-concept and emotional intelligence on anxiety for children with dyslexia are discussed, and suggestions for future research are presented.

Mathematical achievement during the first years of primary school seems to be a reliable predictor of students’ later performance. In addition, cognitive, metacognitive, and psychological parameters are considered to be factors related to mathematical achievement. However, in the Greek educational system, there is a shortage of valid and reliable tools for the assessment of mathematics difficulties and as a consequence, identification of children with these difficulties does not take place before the last years of primary school. This study aims to investigate the relationship between working memory, sustained attention, executive functions, and math anxiety with mathematical achievement in 2nd and 3rd graders. The design of the study was based on the parameters of mathematics difficulties, as they arise from the literature review. Ninety-one Year 2 and Year 3 primary school students (mean age 8.06 years) from three public schools situated in Attica, Greece participated in the study. The students completed three different scales including educational, cognitive, and psychological tasks. Results showed that mathematical skills were significantly correlated with sustained attention, inductive reasoning, math anxiety, and working memory. Moreover, mental arithmetic ability, sustained attention, and working memory predicted mathematical achievement of second and third graders. The study’s outcomes verify that sustained attention, inductive reasoning, working memory, and math anxiety are correlated with young students’ mathematical performance. The implications of the results for the development of an assessment tool for early detection of mathematics difficulties will be discussed.

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder across children population and much research is being conducted to find the best ADHD treatment. Neurofeedback (NF) is widely used for the treatment of ADHD, thus such ADHD cases will be reviewed in this study. As an introduction, a short overview of the definition of ADHD and Neurofeedback, as well as the history of neurofeedback in ADHD will be given. The main part of the paper will present a literature review of neurofeedback in ADHD while mentioning the effects of this treatment. Results and evaluation of NF applications among other treatments are to be discussed in the conclusion, showing that NF is quite promising on ADHD subjects.