Purpose: Despite abundant evidence that morphemes are important in reading and spelling, little is known about the nature of processing in spelling. This study identifies multiple morphological processes over the time course of spelling, revealing that these processes are influenced by development. Method: Twenty adults and 46 children (8;0-12;1…

In this study, we make the case for using texts children create as part of their play as a means for assessing their developing print literacy knowledge. We assessed 4- and 5-year-old children's authentic texts using categories and criteria from the "Assessing Young Children's Marks/Drawing/Print" tool, a research-based, classroom…

The key underlying developmental concepts and skills requisite for early literacy learning appear to be easily achieved among most young English language learners (ELLs). These strengths, however, may merely mask the need for enhanced vocabulary development, the key variable in successful transitioning from early to academic literacy development…

Written expression is an essential skill to actively function in today's society. For many learners, especially those with a learning disability (LD), writing can be a source of frustration. Technology in its various forms, holds promise to assist students in this area. The current study examines the role that tablet technology, specifically,…

An important issue relating to the teaching of handwriting concerns the style that should be learned at school (manuscript or cursive). Whereas some countries choose to teach both styles (e.g., Canada), other countries choose to teach only one (e.g., France). Our research had three main underlying goals, namely (1) to observe and describe the…

Poor handwriting is a common reason for referral to school-based occupational therapy. A survey was used to explore the extent to which current practice patterns in Ontario, Canada, align with evidence on effective intervention for handwriting. Knowledge-to-practice gaps were identified related to focus on performance components versus…

Occupational therapists assess fine motor, visual motor, visual perception, and visual skill development, but knowledge of the relationships between scores on sensorimotor performance measures and handwriting legibility and speed is limited. Ninety-nine students in grades three to six with learning and/or behavior problems completed the Upper-Limb…

This report provides details of a study conducted to learn how handwriting was being taught in Ontario (Canada) schools. The report is presented in two parts. Part one contains an introduction to the study, a review of the literature on handwriting, analysis of curriculum guidelines used by Ontario school boards, an examination of the methods of…

One hundred and seventy right-handed children from kindergarten through grade 2 were asked to copy 26 upper and 26 lower case letters and the numbers 1-9 shown at one time on slide projections. The resulting stroke patterns which were observed, supported predictions derived from the starting, progression, and horizontal rules expressed in the…

Form errors, but not reversal errors, generated when kindergarten children printed reversible letters and numbers, were associated with teachers' judgments of children's academic performance at the end of kindergarten and throughout Grade 1. Three samples totaling 166 non-repeating kindergarten children (79 male, 87 female) were drawn from eight…

The relationships between the understandings children develop while learning the written form of their own names and those developed while learning other words were examined in a study. Twelve children, aged three, four, and five, were selected. The study involved three tasks which examined the subjects' expertise with letters, numbers, and the…

A 3-year longitudinal investigation indicated that form errors in printing that children make can aid in the identification of at-risk or failure-prone pupils as early as the start of prekindergarten. Two samples were selected, one consisting of 104 and the other of 63 prekindergarten children. Mean age of the samples was 52 months. Item analysis…

An experimental group of 15 grade six and 14 grade seven students in British Columbia were helped to improve their handwriting by analysis, observation, verbalization, and practice. (MH)

Describes a study conducted at two Canadian universities that surveyed a cross-section of 361 faculty, graduate, and undergraduate students to assess computer availability, experience, attitudes toward computers, and use of computers while engaged in academic writing. Compares advantages and disadvantages of writing on a computer versus written,…