The Motivation to Write Profile (MWP) is an instrument which was designed to help teachers gain insights into students' writing motivation. This paper describes the development, administration, and scoring of the MWP and suggests practical ways to use resulting information to create a classroom environment which supports young writers as they…

A study investigated whether invented spelling is superior to the traditional method of teaching spelling and whether invented spelling strengthened the reading and writing connection. Subjects were students in two second-grade classes at two different elementary schools in a school district in south-central Pennsylvania. Both teachers used the…

Intended for primary teachers, this resource guide provides explanations of the theory underlying successful writing workshops, plus practical help for putting the ideas to work. With the guide, teachers can see how to implement writing workshop; how to recognize and teach target skills such as organization and revision; and how to enhance writing…

There are many ways and options available for children to publish their work, other than just writing for their teachers. This research summary discusses the benefits of publishing students' writing and ways that students go public with their writing: the author's chair, publishing individual authors, classbooks, classroom and school newspapers,…

For one middle school teacher, the "functional grammar" approach to narrative writing promised to offer students explicit instruction in how to structure a narrative text to build up suspense, and it could give focus to the types of descriptive language that further engage readers. Her classroom research was built on the teacher…

Two series of case studies were carried out following a multiple baseline design across individuals. The first series of eight studies included 4- to 5-year-old Dutch kindergarten children, and the second series examined 5- to 6-year-old kindergarten children. Each child wrote approximately 16 stories in the natural classroom environment over a…

This book, one of a series, focuses on ways to help children enjoy writing and use it as a tool to communicate with others and express themselves. The message of the series urges parents and children to spend time together, talk about stories, and learn together. The first part of each book presents stories appropriate for varying grade levels,…

Journal writing provides daily opportunities for students to express themselves, practice using the features of print they controlled, and extend their knowledge of print. By publishing the journals, two additional benefits are gained: the creation of more readable text for emergent readers; and the motivation to write more. "Life…

Phonetic content/handwriting instruction begins by teaching the sounds of, and letter formation for the 70 "Orton" phonograms which are the commonly-used correct spelling patterns for the 45 sounds of English speech. The purpose for teaching the sound/symbol relationship first in isolation, without key words or pictures (explicitly), is to give…

This Topical Bibliography and Commentary reviews the recent research literature which focuses on writing--specifically, word choice in writing. The bibliography/commentary first lays a foundation that chronicles the importance of writing instruction in school. It then summarizes the importance of choosing quality words when writing, gives examples…

Follows the development, from fifth grade through eighth grade, of a student poet, who can teach educators what it means to "feel expressed." Offers new ways to think about who children are, what they need to say, and what they need to be taught. Discusses the possibilities of poetry for gaining access to children's deepest capacities for…

Presents examples from children's literature that illustrate types of special "thinking/dream spots." Suggests the following activities: creating a dream place in the library media center, describing or drawing a dream spot, designing a meditation room, making a sculpture garden, and writing monologs. (AEF)

Presents the story of one urban, African American, third-grade girl's writing. Discusses the roles that teachers, peers, and cultural contexts play in children's growth into--and against--the life and literacy that surrounds them. (SR)

Reviews: "How to Get Your Teaching Ideas Published: A Writer's Guide to Educational Publishing" (Stangl); "Early Childhood Curriculum: Developmental Bases for Learning and Teaching" (Wortham); "Investigating Mathematics with Young Children" (Althouse); "When Children Write: Critical Revisions of the Writing Workshop" (Lensmire); and "Cooperative…

Examines current reforms in writing assessment, including the California Learning Assessment System writing portfolio. Compares language writing to "the clay that makes the pot." Concludes that writing revolves around criticism, but if assessment stays on the surface, then criticism may not be helpful in pushing the generative aspect of…