Murid slow learner atau murid lembam merupakan murid yang mempunyai IQ di

bawah paras purata. IQ murid normal secara puratanya adalah 100. Skor ujian IQ
bagi Slow learner berada antara 70 dan 90. Jika skor IQ kurang daripada 70,
murid tersebut dikategorikan sebagai terencat akal.

A slow learner has traditionally been identified as anyone with a Full Scale IQ one
standard deviation below the mean but not as low as two standard deviations below the
mean. If a cognitive assessment (IQ test) has a mean (average) of 100, we expect most
students will fall within one standard deviation of 100. That means that most students
have an IQ of 85 to 115. Those who fall two standard deviations below the mean are
often identified as having an Intellectual Disability (IQ below 70). A slow learner
does not meet criteria for an Intellectual Disability (also called mental
retardation). However, she learns slower than average students and will need
additional help to succeed.

A "slow learner" is not a diagnostic category, it is a term people use to describe a

student who has the ability to learn necessary academic skills, but at rate and
depth below average same age peers. In order to grasp new concepts, a slow learner
needs more time, more repetition, and often more resources from teachers to be
successful. Reasoning skills are typically delayed, which makes new concepts difficult
to learn.

Typically, a slow learner has difficulty with higher order thinking or reasoning
skills. This suggests that it will be more challenging to learn new concepts. New
skills need to be based upon already mastered concepts. This can be difficult when
the majority of the class has already mastered a concept and is moving on, while the
slow learner needs more time. This can lead to gaps in knowledge and basic skills. The
more gaps in a content area, the more challenging it is for anyone to learn new
concepts.

Lebih kurang 1 daripada 5 orang kanak-kanak yang dilahirkan adalah slow learner.
Kanak-kanak ini biasanya lambat berjalan dan lambat bertutur. Antara
penyebab slow learner adalah kecederaan teruk pada kepala, meningitis,
penggunaan alkohol atau dadah oleh ibu semasa mengandung.

Di negara barat, slow learner tidak termasuk dalam kategori masalah pembelajaran
dan bukan terencat akal. Oleh sebab itu mereka tidak layak untuk berada dalam kelas
Pendidikan Khas.

Definisi Masalah Pembelajaran

Kanak-kanak bermasalah pembelajaran didefinisikan sebagai kanak-kanak yang tidak

menunjukkan keupayaan mereka pada tahap intelektual yang dimiliki. (A Learning
Disability is defined as a child who is not performing to their level of intelligence).
Contohnya, murid A mempunyai IQ 100 tetapi skor tahap pembacaan adalah 80
(berdasarkan ujian pencapaian individu), maka dia mempunyai ketidakupayaan
pembelajaran bacaan (Reading Learning Disability). Murid A membaca 20 mata
kurang daripada skor IQ yang dimiliki. Ia melayakkan mereka mendapat Pendidikan
Khas.

Berbanding murid B, murid slow learner yang mempunyai IQ 80 dan membaca pada
tahap skor 80. Murid B mempunyai masalah dalam bacaan tetapi tidak mempunyai
ketidakupayaan pembelajaran. Mereka menunjukkan keupayaan sebenar mereka dan
tidak memerlukan Pendidikan Khas.

Special Education services are provided for students who have a disability. Slow
learners typically do not have a disability, even though they need extra support.
Cognitive abilities are too high for these learners to be considered for an Intellectual
Disability. However, the abilities are usually too low to be considered for a Learning
Disability.
Sumber: http://cikguhijau.blogspot.com/2012/03/apa-itu-slow-learner.html