The challenge of effective writing instruction was investigated by means of a literature review. Writing, as a part of the field of Language Arts, comprising reading, writing, listening and speaking, takes more than teaching spelling, grammar, and other writing conventions for students to develop as writers. The writing process--prewriting,…

Composition theory and research indicate that, whether they use a holistic or an analytic rubric, teachers should share their scoring guide with their students. Both students and teachers benefit in substantial ways when students draft and revise their written work in the context of the rubric their teachers will use to assess student writing.…

Addressed to early childhood educators in Scotland, this guide shows how adults working in preschool and early primary school settings can maximize children's interest, knowledge, and skills in writing, and actively foster the disposition to be a writer. Following an introduction, the guide is presented in four parts. Part 1, "Teaching…

It is viable to argue that literacy can be construed as a set of culturally-based discursive practices rather than as merely a set of cognitive skills. This idea has special relevance for students with learning disabilities, who often struggle with more traditional, individually-based curricular approaches. This study explored the ways in which an…

With sections on using the Web to plan and structure courses, conduct research, and publish student work, as well as a reference essay that reviews Web sites for educators and students, this book reveals the rich variety of ways in which this technology can be used by English and language arts teachers at all levels. The 20 essays in the book…

Cites survey and interview results indicating that college students do a large amount of self-sponsored writing, including letter and journal writing, to come to terms with others' ideas and their own feelings. Suggests that teachers need to make their students' own intentions the focus and starting point for for classroom writing. (MM)

Curriculum development efforts for English instruction over the past 20 years are reviewed, and an "inside-outside" approach that uses the structure of the discipline, or its inner core, to guide curriculum development is suggested. Three principles--metaphoric thinking, writing as reconstruction of experience, and language in context--would…

Argues that composing and comprehending are process-oriented thinking skills that are basically interrelated, and suggests ways that these skills can be taught. (JL)

Contains teaching ideas dealing with (1) using children's television knowledge to develop reading and thinking skills, (2) novels, (3) science reading, (4) developing intonation, (5) motivating reading, (6) promoting story writing, and (7) the silent "e." Reviews one book dealing with writing instruction. (FL)

The unique technical writing needs of the nonnative professional are identified, and their implications for course design and materials development are outlined. It is argued that recent research on the dynamics of reading technical English can be used to improve technical writing instruction for nonnatives in industry. (MSE)

Discusses a model for teaching reading and writing in which skilled language users provide support for new language activities in context. Gives examples of typical classroom activities that provide too little or too much support for natural language growth and of activities with a balanced instructional "scaffolding." (HTH)

Reports the results of a questionnaire on student attitudes toward being referred to a writing lab and recommends that writing instructors be more sensitive to concerns of those students. (AEA)

Three contributors discuss using advertising slogans in writing instruction, setting up a paperback book lending center in an industrial cafeteria, and the effect of reading supervisors' expertise on junior high school students' reading achievement. (AEA)

Describes an experiment conducted by the English department at the University of Missouri, Columbia, in which a brief essay written at home was used to help place incoming freshmen in appropriate writing classes. (JL)

Considers the impact of teacher responses to student writing. Notes the need for a greater identification by the teacher of the overall work that students present for evaluation and feedback. Offers guidelines for responding in more qualitative ways to student writing. (RL)