This study reports the preliminary results from a field test of the College-readiness Performance Assessment System (C-PAS), a large-scale, 6th-12th grade criterion-referenced assessment system that utilizes classroom-embedded performance tasks to measure student progress toward the development of key cognitive skills associated with success in…

A study examined the spelling of reading disabled (RD) and average ability students within the context of the developmental lag hypothesis, which was then contrasted with a developmental difference hypothesis. Subjects were 38 regular class third graders and 18 average intelligence fifth graders receiving resource room assistance for reading…

A study examined the effect of a kinesthetic component in instruction on the performances of 16 5- and 6-year-old public school students on a cognitive development test. Eight boys and eight girls were randomly selected and assigned in equal numbers to a treatment group and a control group. The kinesthetic elements consisted of drawing, coloring,…

Organized in two parts, this packet provides a rationale for teaching language arts according to a multisensory approach and outlines specific activities for use in the elementary classroom. The first section concentrates on constructing a classroom environment that develops language skills through the use of resources that stimulate thought,…

The results of a research project designed to study possible uses of the computer in the language arts classroom, and to identify the effect on children's cognitive and linguistic development are presented. Subjects were 22 second graders who used two different software programs (Storia Chiusa and Storia Aperta) to complete stories. (CFM)

This paper identifies and analyzes the relationship between experiential science instruction, language arts, and cognitive development to provide information and recommendations concerning the integration of elementary science and language instruction. Annotated citations are provided grouped under the following categories: (1) recent status of…

THE PURPOSE OF THIS STUDY WAS TWOFOLD--(1) TO FIND WHAT LOGICAL HABITS AND ABILITIES POSSESSED BY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN WERE DEMONSTRATED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF COMPOSITIONAL TASKS, AND (2) TO COMPARE THE WRITTEN COMPOSITIONS OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN WHO HAD STUDIED UNDER THE NEBRASKA CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT CENTER'S LANGUAGE ARTS PROGRAM…

Thinkback is a new instructional process that uses "thinking aloud" strategies developed by Arthur Whimbey and derives its name from the technology of instant video playback. Thinkback is a generalization of techniques described in the program "Problem Solving and Comprehension," which has been used for more than 20 years. The…

A study explored whether teaching the comprehension skills of inference, drawing conclusions, sequencing, and cause and effect would increase student achievement in reading and language while at the same time imparting social science content. Subjects, 197 eighth grade students in the experimental group and 192 eighth grade students in the control…

Presents an interview with Kieran Egan, an award-winning professor of education. Egan's research has focused on the role of imagination in learning, providing new understanding on how children's minds work. After presenting an academic portrait of Egan, discusses his opinion on the role of educational theory today and his teaching-as-storytelling…

A study was conducted to determine the feasibility of using oral story making experiences to improve the oral language proficiencies and "sense of story" of fourth grade remedial reading students through select literary experiences. These experiences included exposing the students to literature in read-aloud exercises, and using wordless…

This document contains plans for 31 lessons intended to develop thinking skills using library media center materials primarily in the areas of language arts and social studies. Designed for various grade levels in the K-12 range, each of the lessons contains the following components: (1) behavioral and thinking skills objectives; (2) desired…

Discusses the Comprehension and Cognitive Development (CCD) approach of the National Urban Alliance for Effective Education to instructional planning and delivery improvement. CCD is a cross-disciplinary approach that recognizes that mathematics, science, and language arts demand comprehension of textual material and identification and transfer of…

Recent research into the composing processes of children owes much to Piaget's postulate that cognitive development is linear--that children progress through stages of development whereby tasks are mastered at certain levels of cognitive understanding. The stages of children's writing processes (prewriting, composing, revising), as well as…

This collection of abstracts is part of a continuing series providing information of recent doctoral dissertations. The 18 titles deal with a variety of topics, including the following: (1) spelling as a cognitive-linguistic developmental process; (2) the impact of cursive writing models on spelling achievement; (3) an intelligent…