Describes a research project in which 20 potential candidates for remedial programs in junior high school used desktop publishing to design, write, and produce their own magazine. Finds that students wrote as they had never written before, although the transfer of demonstrated skills to test situations was disappointing. (SR)

Describes a study of the validity and reliability of a writing skills assessment test taken by 4,284 2-year college students in 1986-87. Assesses interrater reliability, influences of nonperformance factors (e.g., gender, native language, and form of test), predictive validity of test for future performance, and implications of findings. (DMM)

Experiments with active and cooperative learning techniques designed to develop critical thinking and writing skills in large introductory level sociology courses. Finds debate and essay writing effectively modify students' opinions on social issues and help students develop these skills. Notes ethical issues involved in teaching critical…

Describes Erie Community College's computerized system to help curriculum advisors better assess each student's reading and writing competency level and track their completion of required courses. Illustrates the system's provision of information on placement tests and developmental courses taken, and whether a required composition course has been…

Reports on a collaboration between an economist and a writing instructor in using a writing-to-learn approach in a higher education history of economic thought course. Describes the course content, provides examples of writing assignments, and student evaluation sheets. (CFR)

Discusses how teachers can use folk songs to explore American history, to teach music, and to improve students' reading and writing skills in one integrated project. (BB)

Considers how sex discrimination and sexist language have affected educational environments, particularly basic writing and English-as-a-Second-Language instruction. Provides four practical suggestions for college teachers of bilingual and/or bidialectical students to alleviate such attitudes and behaviors. (HB)

Multiple group structural equation modeling was used to analyze structural relationships between latent factors underlying writing-related developmental skills and component writing skills in grades 1 through 6 for 600 students (50 boys and 50 girls at each grade level). Results for handwriting, spelling, and compositional quality are discussed…

Israeli 12th graders studying English as a Second Language benefit from writers' workshops where they compose written portfolios and learn to express themselves fluently in writing. Students write with paper and pen or work via the Internet. They write on selected issues and send letters and articles to various online and print journals and…

Describes a classroom e-mail project conducted during the 1996-97 school year in a southern suburban school. The project involved three fourth grade teachers and their students, and was developed collaboratively among faculty at a nearby university, the principal, and the fourth grade teachers. Reports on the project's activities, problems…

This article summarizes the critical findings of recent research syntheses concerning intervention with students who have learning disabilities. The syntheses examined research on higher-order processing and problem- solving, reading comprehension, written expression, and grouping practices associated with improved outcomes in reading. Principles…

Presents the case study of a teacher-in-training who is partially bilingual and has experienced severe problems with auditory memory and auditory processing speed, resulting in poor performance in reading and writing. Because of her concerns for people with such language-related learning disabilities, she is becoming a teacher. (Author/MSE)

Studied kindergarten children's emergent motivation to read and write, its relation to developing concepts of reading and writing, and it relation to their teachers instructional goals and classroom norms. Findings extend understanding of how young children's literacy motivation influences, and is influenced by, their classroom literacy culture.…

Examines the methodology of using novel reading and letter exchange based upon the novels to enhance reading/writing skills in non-native speakers at the college freshmen level. In addition, it refers to theories on which such methodology is based and offers samples from student work. Contains 17 references. (VWC)

Writing development involves changes that occur in children's strategic behavior, knowledge, and motivation. The authors examined the effectiveness of self-regulated strategy development (SRSD), a strategy instructional model designed to promote development in each of these areas. Instruction focused on planning and writing stories and persuasive…