The teaching of composition in secondary schools over the last decade has not adequately developed the writing skills of urban students. Parts of this dilemma stem from the following three factors: inequities in public school financing; racism; and the obscure position of composition within the English curriculum, with preferences given to grammar…

This speech, a product of the workshop on "Media: Minorities and Sex Stereotyping", is said to be intended to provide a vivid picture of how to write about minorities for minority youth from a "white" point of view. The author attributes his success in writing to the conviction that race is no factor in the dimensions of human joys and despairs,…

This study examined first grade children's spelling of vowel sounds in relationship to the spellings these children were taught in their reading series and to the phonological aspects of the sounds. The subjects for the study were 12 first graders, six boys and six girls, in a public school in a Boston suburb. Written work done in school was…

A language arts program for the seventh, eighth, and ninth grades is detailed in this document. Outlines of the scope and sequence of course components and lists of program objectives are given for each grade. Following these program objectives, the document consists of outline sketches for each course topic, including the scope and sequence of…

Elementary and secondary teachers are recognizing that today's children are products of a visual era who bring visual literacy to their school language learning. Visual resources may be developed and used as a valuable motivational technique. The following programs utilizing this approach are outlined: Dorothy Lopez' development of polaroid…

An Elementary Secondary Education Act Title I English/Writing project was continued at two Phoenix Union high schools, Carl Hayden and North High Schools, in 1974-75. Although the objectives and instructional method (individualized, diagnostic, prescriptive approach) were the same at the two schools, the entry level skills and abilities of the…

Under the California Assembly Bill 665 of 1972, the state assessment program must test all students in grades 1, 2, 3, 6, and 12 in reading skills, and those in grades 6 and 12 to assess their skills in effectiveness of written expression, spelling, and mathematics. The state may develop its own tests, and a matrix sampling approach may be used…

This study investigated the efficacy of the language experience approach (LEA) with native Indian remedial reading students at the junior high level in British Columbia. Gains of vocabulary and comprehension achievement, of attitude toward reading, and of writing achievement were compared between the language experience approach and typical…

The primary purpose of this study was to discover what intermediate-grade children say about choice of topic, time for writing, the act of writing, and difficulties encountered in writing. A second purpose was to obtain data on four questions: is there is a relationship between the intelligence of these children and teacher appraisal of pupils'…

This paper offers many specific suggestions for improving community college reading instruction through counseling and content. Such topics are discussed as reading and writing laboratories; multimedia instruction; group instruction classes in basic reading skills, vocabulary and study skills, and analytical and critical reading; individualized…

This course is designed to help students improve their oral and written expression as well as their ability to summarize. Stories by Spanish and Spanish American writers are used. Students also have the opportunity to reinforce skills in recognizing the importance of writing as an efficient means of communication, and experience is provided in…

This study determined the effectiveness of the Initial Teaching Alphabet and Traditional Orthography on first and second grade pupils of normal and superior intelligence. The experimental i.t.a. group contained 44 first graders and 37 second graders, and the control traditional orthography groups had 43 first graders and 48 second graders.…

British Infant School programs to aid language development for disadvantaged children 3 to 8 years old are discussed, with reference to ideas and practices in the United States. In general, English Infant School teachers believe that language development must be nourished by the teacher in the context of the child's interaction with his…

This investigation sought to determine if a planned program in personal writing might be effective in teaching the language arts tasks of intermediate grade children. Examined were the effects of the personal writing treatment upon word meaning, paragraph meaning, spelling, language, writing, and attitudes toward reading. One experimental and one…

In order to improve their students' skills in self-expression, teachers should emphasize the importance of tone, an awareness of what is being said, and an appreciation of the effect of words on an audience. They need to foster in their students an interest in and a perspective on language, its history, and the human and social attitudes which…