Writing development in early schooling can reveal much about the bigger picture of writing development. As any epoch in life, it presents its own dynamics that intersect with wider social, psychological, and language processes; follows on early epochs; and leads to later accomplishments. In addition, it is particularly strategic to untangle…

In this article, researchers in the field of early writing identify underlying beliefs and values about writing and learning to write for the beginning years of formal schooling in four jurisdictions: the American state of Connecticut, New Zealand, the Canadian province of Ontario, and Sweden, as reflected in the respective curricula and standards…

The guiding principles by which the Albion (New York) school district developed its written composition curriculum guide include two basic assumptions about the learning/teaching of composition skills and eight other assumptions that reflect salient features of the composing process. The fundamental assumptions are that writing can be taught and…

Considers how many times the English curricula overlooks the necessity for thorough revision by stressing quantity over quality. Discusses how teachers can fully integrate the writing process between various projects, tests and quizzes, and the examination of literary works to improve their students' writing skills without straying too far from…

A study determined if there was a significant difference in the writing skills of eighth graders after they completed a writing class that based the method of instruction on the writing process. Subjects, 743 students in a midwestern school system, completed the class and were administered pretests and posttests. The results supported the…

The Albion (New York) school district provides this guide to written composition instruction in its kindergarten through grade 12 curriculum because of the importance and necessity of writing, not only as a school activity but also as a lifelong intellectual, self-actualizing, and daily-living activity. Following a brief overview that summarizes…

Technical communication teachers need to recognize the increasing diversity of their classroom populations and become more flexible in planning curricula without "watering down" students' expectations to leave the courses more skilled than they were upon entering. Teachers should discuss with students some of their writing barriers and the…

Discusses research conducted in a middle school writing center that showed the necessity of a constructivist philosophy for the curriculum and the teaching process if information-seeking skills or writing is taught as a process. Problems with the teachers' use and understanding of the writing center are described. (Author/LRW)

Placing literature in the core of the curriculum, along with lots of writing and some listening and speaking activities, is a wonderful idea, one which most good English programs and teachers have always used, even through the electives and the back-to-basics periods of recent years. The gap lies in the teaching of writing, especially knowledge…

Despite current process theories of composition, many teachers of writing still adopt traditional pedagogical approaches in the classroom. Under the "old pedagogy," correctness is valued over content, revision is approached as cosmetic change, formulaic rhetorical modes are taught before students set pen to paper, and the lecture is…

The Developmental Writing Program process curriculum model was developed to teach writing to elementary students. It combines prewriting, drafting, editing/revising, and publishing/sharing. A staff development model has also been developed and includes three components: administrator and staff orientation, teacher training, and on-site program…

A study was conducted to identify patterns in the development of college basic writers' revision skills which could have implications for curriculum development and teacher training. The questions addressed were: (1) What instructional and/or other experiences aimed at improving revision skills do basic writers perceive as promoting meaning-making…

Developed by teachers to provide a district-wide description of English course content, this curriculum guide is intended for use as a basis for planning instructional activities in a number of areas. The guide consists of four main sections: (1) an introduction, which provides a statement of philosophy, a scope and sequence of skills within…

Describes a project designed to teach elementary students to write interactive stories using an authoring system called Story Tree. Benefits of the project are discussed, including the development of oral language, listening, reading, and writing skills; and problems with the authoring system, the writing process, and the curriculum integration…

Intended to provide South Carolina educators with a tool for curriculum and instructional development that complements the assessment of the state writing objectives, this guide focuses on that part of the curriculum reflected in the state basic writing skills objectives. The various sections in the first part of the guide: (1) discuss the…