The authors examined the effect of sound-to-spelling regularity on written spelling latencies and writing durations in a dictation task in which participants had to write each target word 3 times in succession. The authors found that irregular words (i.e., those containing low-probability phoneme-to-grapheme mappings) were slower both to…

Failure to attain handwriting competency during the school-age years often has far-reaching negative effects on both academic success and self-esteem. This complex occupational task has many underlying component skills that may interfere with handwriting performance. Fine motor control, bilateral and visual-motor integration, motor planning,…

The majority of high-stakes tests from elementary school through postsecondary education include the timed impromptu essay as a measure of writing performance. For adolescents with writing disorders, this type of evaluation often presents a significant barrier. The purpose of the current study was twofold. First, we investigated the influence of…

This teacher's manual accompanies the six curriculum guides for the six levels (I-VI) in the Guam Community College English as a Second Language (ESL) project series (see note). A structural outline for the ESL project is first presented that discusses the lessons, levels, tests, materials, vocabulary, and scope and sequence. Next are described…

Noting the general lack of research on handwriting instruction, a study examined hand and eye dominance, hand positions, and handwriting production of children. Subjects were 310 children from grades one through five in classrooms of regular children, mainstreamed team teaching classrooms, and self-contained gifted classes in a large elementary…

The Printing Performance School Readiness Test is an empirically derived instrument designed to aid in the early identification of preschool children who are at risk for school failure. The test is based on the outcome of a research program dealing with various aspects of children's printing that involved over 400 normal, non-repeating, native…

Differences between letters of four adolescent mildly mentally handicapped (MMH) students written by hand and those composed on a microcomputer using a word processor were examined in terms of amount of time a subject spent completing a letter, the length of a completed letter, the number of words written per unit of time needed to complete a…

The bookkeeping/accounting program of a Modesta, California high school is designed to realistically prepare students for business positions through the attainment of acceptable performance skills as well as active practice in dealing with problems, people, and personalities. (EA)

THE USES OF OPERANT CONDITIONING TECHNIQUES IN A COLLEGE READING AND STUDY SKILLS CENTER ARE DISCUSSED IN RELATION TO RESEARCH FINDINGS. OPERANT TECHNIQUES WERE USEFUL IN GATHERING DATA ON STUDENT BEHAVIOR AS WELL AS IN INCREASING THE PRECISION OF THE DATA GATHERED. THE EFFECT OF THESE TECHNIQUES ON READING AND HANDWRITING RATE ARE DISCUSSED AND…

Children from kindergarten through grade 2 were asked to copy, then print from memory, each of the 41 reversible letters and numbers administered individually on slides presented in random order. The main findings of an experiment with 179 children drawn from two elementary schools show that mirror-image reversals and other errors (1) take place…

Twelve culturally disadvantaged 4-year-olds of borderline normal intelligence were subjects of this study. Its primary purpose was to test further the cognitive learning theory previously developed, as well as the reinforcement system, the facilities, and the experimental-longitudinal methods of research. The study did not include a control group…

When properly implemented, prototype testing appears to provide one of the most direct and economical methods for identifying means to optimize the effectiveness of a product, and ultimately to validate a product's effect. The nine papers in this volume exemplify several categories of protytype testing conducted at different stages of the…

The author discusses the processes by which children learn to read and how the natural sequence of learning may be used to improve reading instruction. (JD)

Discusses a number of issues pertaining to handwriting instruction, including how it is taught, when it is taught, and whether special paper and pencils should be used with beginning writers. (FL)

Described are strategies that help writing-disabled students improve handwriting skills (e.g., provide models, use prompting and fading techniques, teach proofing skills) and strategies that allow students to circumvent handwriting problems so they can concentrate on the subject matter content (e.g., typewriters, computers, oral reports and…