Reviews 13 professional materials that explore the uses of expository texts and informational materials designed to be used with elementary and middle school students in the classroom. Discusses a book that provides a whole-language perspective on language learning and teaching. (MG)

Interview data gathered from students in a New Zealand English-as-a-Second-Language program form the basis of a discussion of autonomous behavior in language learning. It is noted that autonomous language learning has advantages over teacher-dominated learning but that it cannot simply be "clipped on" to existing programs. (Contains…

This study investigated the semantic and syntactic knowledge of a child (age 12) with severe multiple disabilities who could read, write, and comprehend 2 languages but did not initiate conversation. The study demonstrates that high levels of language comprehension and ability to read and write do not automatically transfer to conversational…

A study of subject-verb agreement in 3-year-old speakers of Brazilian Portuguese found an overall low error rate, but with important contrasts in both frequency of production of different verb inflections and rate of agreement errors associated with them, suggesting subject-verb agreement is acquired piecemeal and the learning of particular verb…

A study investigated the extent to which the nature of verb input accounts for the order in which children acquire verbs. Subjects were 57 mothers and their Stage I children. Results suggest that the effect of syntactic diversity in input supports the "syntactic bootstrapping" account of how children use structural information to learn new verbs'…

A study of 71 mothers interacting with their 2- to 5-year-old children analyzed structural organization and communicative function of their speech and identified three maternal communicative styles: non-intervening; explaining; and directing. Internal consistency of the three styles appeared to be both satisfactory and related to relevant child…

Analysis of French spoken by French girls aged 11-12 years found that, unlike older counterparts, theirs shows variable linguistic behavior on the phonological level that suggests avoidance of vernacular forms, the "sociolinguistic gender pattern." However, one speaker's discourse shows manipulation of conversational tone comparable to adult…

This case study describes a 25-year-old Swedish woman with hereditary moderate hearing loss since birth who acquired both sign language and spoken language in her early preschool years and reached normal developmental milestones in each. Analysis revealed that her speech reading expertise is associated with cognitive functions such as high…

Explores the linguistic rationale for using children's literature and other authentic texts in literacy instruction. Describes some aspects of one literature-based approach in a field-based preservice teacher-education program. (SR)

This article from 1855 discusses the validity of signing for individuals with deafness and the need to develop an instinctive "language of gestures" to enable them to profit by the experiences of others and to share in social communion. The need for sign language to communicate religious instruction is emphasized. (CR)

This reprint of an article from 1909 responds to a study that found the oral method was not effective in teaching speech to students with deafness. It charges that the investigation was unscientific and driven by economic influences. (CR)

This article explains a movement-based approach to the development of language in children with deaf-blindness. This approach uses the salient features of individuals or objects to stimulate use of language in the immediate environment, and later to refer to persons or concepts in a more abstract fashion. It stresses the use of structure and a…

Investigates how early a developing bilingual who is exposed simultaneously to English and Spanish can make appropriate language choices. Kept detailed records of the child's cumulative vocabulary from the first word at 10 months and on weekly audiovideo recording in both Spanish and English contexts from age 1-3. (Author/VWL)

Two experiments suggest that adults and even preschoolers possess interpretive structures--particularly object structure--that are nonclassical in the sense that they can be used to resolve an apparent contradiction. Results further suggest that certain interpretive structures present themselves in reasoning about particular predicate-object…

Offers ideas for 15 active learning experiences that use the concept of "10" for 3- to 5-year olds. Included are mathematics activities, language activities, and music and movement activities. Each activity description includes the objective, a list of materials needed, and steps for completing the activity. (KB)