Composing is an essential part of literacy development in early childhood classrooms, and writing experiences are continually changing through advances in technology. Writing in a new language can be particularly challenging for emergent bilinguals as they navigate learning how to spell in English as part of the writing process. New pedagogical…

This report presents results of the 2011 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in writing at grades 8 and 12. In this new national writing assessment sample, 24,100 eighth-graders and 28,100 twelfth-graders engaged with writing tasks and composed their responses on computer. The assessment tasks reflected writing situations common to…

Presents rates of student computer use by grade level, frequency of use, reason for use, and family income. In 1996, 79% of 4th graders, 91% of 8th graders, and 96% of 11th graders were using a computer at home or at school to write stories and papers. (Author/SLD)

A comparison of compositions written by 19 sixth graders using pencil and paper with those written by 19 sixth graders using word processors found that though the quality of writing, accuracy of grammar, and reading ease did not differ between the two approaches, students using computers wrote more words and sentences. (PEN)

In this article, I focus on a review of the existing research pertaining to the use of word processors in K-6 writing classrooms and the effects of technologies on students' writing ability. As integrated as technology appears to be in today's curriculum, the effects of using word processors for writing enhancement, instruction and practice…

Studied effects of social relationships, writing media, and microgenetic development on written narratives with 20 first graders in a within-subjects design. Results show that narratives composed with a word processor are lexically denser and more cohesive than those written in pencil. The facilitative effects of computer-supported writing are…

Although many elementary classrooms have computers, students commonly report that they do not know how to use the them. This study assessed the effectiveness of a computer training program for students to increase their awareness of and comfort level on Macintosh and IBM computers in their classroom. Participating were fifth graders in an…

A study of the effects of a typing tutor plus a computer-based word processor versus paper and pencil on the writing of six elementary students with behavioral disorders found small improvements in capitalization, spelling, punctuation, and complete sentences attributable to either method, though story length increased for three of six students…

This paper is a series of lesson plans designed to assist teachers with the instruction of the exceptional learner. The focus is on identifying what the exceptional learner needs, and provides specific lesson plans that met those needs. Exceptional learners experience difficulty with spelling, organization, and metacognition. Detailed directions…

Compared the effects of computer-based word processing and writing by hand on 14 third and fourth graders' attitudes and performance in the writing process. Found that third graders tended to make more revisions and edits when using a word processor, whereas fourth graders made more changes in their handwritten drafts. (MDM)

Presents a case study of one second-grade teacher's classroom action research project in which she explores how and when students decided to use electronic editing tools to revise their writing. Discusses factors that influenced student's editing choices and their ability to work in pairs. Considers implications for the use of computers in…

Nine research reports on the use of computers in the education of young children are reviewed. The reports appear in dissertations, journal articles, or papers that are in the ERIC database. Each report is referenced to its ERIC accession number. (BC)

Factors promoting or detracting from the effectiveness of collaborative projects between colleges and schools were investigated. Of concern were three projects undertaken collaboratively between a four-year state college in Massachusetts and the local public schools during a 2-year period. The In-service Project provided opportunities for teachers…