The Child Development & Behavior (CDB) Branch of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) seeks to improve the health and well-being of individuals from infancy through early adulthood by supporting research into healthy growth and development, including all aspects of child development. The study of typical child…

The likelihood that students will make a successful transition to the college environment is often a function of their readiness--the degree to which previous educational and personal experiences have equipped them for the expectations and demands they will encounter in college. A key problem is that the current measures of college preparation are…

In this study, a hierarchical linear model (HLM) was used within a cluster random assignment design to test the impact of "Criterion"? on students' writing skill when "Criterion" was used as a supplementary instructional tool in ninth grade English classrooms over a 4 week period. The study was conducted in three states:…

The environment is a ready-made subject in writing classrooms, and teachers at all levels are encouraging students to write about nature and environmental issues. Environmental issues provide a equitable meeting place for students from a variety of different backgrounds, interests, and ideologies. There are also many pedagogical advantages to…

Lao students have not fared well in the American educational system. Raised in a home culture that emphasizes and values the oral tradition, the acquisition of academic writing skills has been especially problematic even for U.S.-born students of Lao heritage. Recognizing that writing is a critical component for academic success, this study…

This study reports on an analysis of preservice teachers' dialogue journal entries for evidence of ways in which teachers develop conceptual understanding for writing instruction. Teachers' propositional statements were identified and coded at a specific level for three themes: (1) level of instructional scaffolding, (2) focus of proposed…

This article describes the Early Braille Readers Project, which provided a Mountbatten Pro Brailler and peripheral equipment to 20 kindergarteners, first-, and second graders in Texas. The project included training and support in the form of site visits and teacher training for both teachers of students with visual impairments and classroom…

Writing research papers is challenging for many graduate students. In part, this problem stems from the fact that, while many students have considerable undergraduate experience with writing prose and other narrative styles, they often have little or no experience with writing in a more technical style which includes, for example, a literature…

A recent call by its editors to rename the "Journal of Basic Writing" has ramifications toward professionalization of and a wider respect for the discipline of basic writing. Basic writing has been defined differently from composition studies which, in turn, has been distinguished from English studies. This defining process has moved…

A study examined and described a program to improve writing skills and related attitudes of elementary school students. Targeted population consisted of second- and fifth-grade students in a stable, middle class suburban community, located 20 miles southwest of Chicago, Illinois. The problems of underdeveloped writing skills and lack of student…

Adapted from a variety of sources, this booklet offers students tips about improving their study skills so that they can earn better grades and make the most of their talents. Topics discussed in the booklet are why students should work to improve their study skills; listening in the classroom; getting the most from textbooks; note taking; the…

A practicum was developed and implemented to offer adolescent home schoolers a peer group academic workshop setting in which they would improve their writing prowess and social skills. The objectives for the workshop were for 10 of the 13 targeted eighth-grade students in a private home-schooling program in central Florida to participate in class…

This paper presents a series of reading and writing activities centered around a 19-item word list suitable for use in tutoring adults. The activities in the paper involve short stories, writing exercises, and take-home exercises. Included with the activities is a guide that presents, in addition to the word list and the exercises, instructions…

Several phenomena surrounding the institution of writing portfolio assessment in Kentucky schools have been observable and measurable for some time now, and many writing instructors in higher education have watched developments with delight and curiosity. One acknowledged benefit is the increased use of writing as a learning tool across the…

This handbook is designed for individuals who tutor hearing impaired adults in literacy skills. It provides general information about a number of topics: adult learners; deaf adult learners; deaf awareness; deaf culture; communication tips; language, communication, and literacy for deaf adults; and teaching strategies. A 13-page report describes…