Discusses writing strategies that can be used in mathematics classes, including: (1) free writing; (2) writing in journals; (3) in-class writing; and (4) term papers. A checklist for evaluating student's writing is included and a rating scale for central idea, organization, development, style, and technical control is given. (JN)

Advocates fostering student writers' best efforts by creating ungraded, high word volume writing courses. (CRH)

Texas Assessment of Basic Skills tests are criterion-referenced measures administered to students in grades 3, 5, and 9. Written compositions are part of the test battery and are scored holistically. The Texas approach to measuring written composition consists of elements including magnitude, scoring system, and effect on instruction. (DWH)

This article reviews the Basic Achievement Skills Individual Screener (BASIS), an individually administered achievement battery that consists of skills tests in reading, mathematics, and spelling as well as an optional writing exercise. BASIS is found to be an effective and efficient means of assessing basic skills. (Author/EGS)

This report provides a comprehensive summary of statistical data on the state of education in Alabama. It is divided into eight sections: (1) General school information (students, staffing); (2) State accountability (adequate yearly progress status, adequate yearly progress summary); (3) Student academic performance (Alabama reading and…

This investigation of the comparability of writing assessment prompts was conducted in two phases. In an exploratory Phase I, 47 writing prompts administered in the computer-based Test of English as a Foreign Language[TM] (TOEFL[R] CBT) from July through December 1998 were examined. Logistic regression procedures were used to estimate prompt…

A review of literature in sociolinguistics and classroom conversation reveals areas in which sociolinguistic research and theory can inform the conducting of student writing conferences with teachers. Studies on classroom discourse, communicative competence in classroom exchanges, the nature and role of teacher talk, and the features of…

When given the chance to select their own research topics, decide which genres to write in, and determine how to present their findings, students assume ownership and take pride in their work. This book leads teachers through the multigenre research papers with upper elementary students. The book explains how teachers can organize their…

This study investigated Brazilian elementary teachers' decision making processes when evaluating and grading students' written work. Teachers analyzed the written work of four students who were unknown to them, then produced reports indicating: their perception of the author's grade level and reasons for believing it was that grade level; positive…

The fifth Assessment of Achievement Programme (AAP) survey of students' attainment in English language was carried out in 1998 by two English specialists from Edinburgh University (Scotland) working with the AAP National Coordinator. Samples of students at P4, P7, and S2 were selected to be representative of students in all mainstream schools.…

This booklet contains some examples of the assessment items used in the fifth English language survey of the Assessment of Achievement Programme (AAP). The examples in the booklet are intended to provide teachers with a clear idea of the range of items used in the survey in the hope that they will provide material for personal professional…

Providing a foundation in which researchers may build future research and theory and in which teachers may design more effective classroom practice, this book presents 12 essays that bring together the contributions of researchers and teacher-scholars to present the significant theory and research related to the writing process. The book is…

This paper describes the design and process of an outcomes assessment tool created and modified over the past 10 years by the English department at the College of Southern Idaho. Initiated by the State Board of Education and executed by the department, this process is effective in its objectives: first to inform students of their competence to…

This handbook guides teachers through nine workshops designed to share strategies for success on writing tests. The workshops in the handbook give practical ideas that can be implemented in the elementary classroom to set the stage for test success without compromising children's growth as writers. Following a foreword by Michael R. Sampson and…

An experimental 16-item 5-point Expository Writing Evaluator was administered to 1,311 college students in 79 writing courses to evaluate college-level courses in expository writing. The 16 expository writing items exhibited a narrow band of factor loadings ranging from .87 to .77, and the factor was labeled "Expository Writing Impact."…