An increase in understanding of the cognitive processes involved in reading and writing can improve teachers' effectiveness. Results from a survey of 48 states indicate that certification requirements for teaching reading and writing at elementary, secondary, and adult education levels are minimal. Implications for teacher education are discussed.…

Describes a college-level intensive writing course in economics designed to improve writing skills and enhance learning. Reports highly favorable attitudes from the students and the instructor. Asserts that the intensive writing course could more clearly meet the needs of economics majors. (CFR)

Describes an intensive writing approach in a college macroeconomics course. Reports that students were asked learn to think as business professionals and to produce better written products. Concludes that, students were able to produce more sophisticated and well-reasoned answers on essay examination questions. (CFR)

A college teacher and student describe the rationale behind collaborative test taking and their efforts to implement it in a freshman English course. The approach, in which students learn to work collaboratively from the beginning of the course, allows participants to solve problems related to a writing task and teaches real-world work skills.…

Describes a two-year urban school-university collaboration on improving writing instruction for fifth graders. The project, named Rethink/Rewrite, focuses on students reexamining information from their social studies textbooks after studying alternative materials about the same historical periods by African Americans and native peoples. (MMU)

Describes how a "tech prep" junior English class at a vocational-technical high school collaborated with a class of third graders, as the juniors wrote short stories based on topics generated by the third graders who then illustrated the stories. Discusses how both classes prepared and got started, and how all participants benefited. Offers tips…

Argues that lack of attention to the student's perspective (how they react to, and what sense they make of, their teachers' comments) limits the conclusions that can be drawn from research on teacher response. Reviews three articles in the same issue of this journal that deal with teacher response to student writing in light of this limitation.…

Responds to three articles in this same issue on response to student writing. Analyses the consensus view of responding to student writing in order to highlight missing or misconceived elements of current theory. Offers a speculative outline for a more comprehensive study of response. Offers two variations on the theme of response, depicting it as…

This teacher examined the effect of allowing her first graders to choose their own topics for writing. She gathered and analyzed evidence from observations, discussions, surveys, and Likert-like scales, then changed the way she facilitated and taught writing. Students wrote from their imaginations and experiences and became more original, genuine,…

Advocates building literacy-related partnerships with families. Provides relevant strategies for teachers, including: (1) recognizing existing literacy; (2) getting clear about the basics; (3) looking for teachable moments to coach children in reading and writing; (4) exploring what makes a book good; and (5) partnering with families to make…

The article outlines the technical writing tutorial (TWT) that preceded an advanced ESL writing course for students of English Philology at the Jagiellonian University. Having assessed the English skills of those students at the end of the semester, we found a statistically significant increase in the performance of the students who had taken the…

A Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) changes cognition and behavior in students. Their learning needs are different from students with other exceptionalities. General and special education teachers can use specific strategies based on learning style, along with certain resources, with students who have experienced a TBI to promote learning in reading,…

Reforms in higher education are appearing in the new guidelines that are being developed for general education curriculums across the country. Constituents leading education reform have suggested that writing be integrated across the curriculum and embedded within several discipline-based courses. Advocates of this approach require that schools…

This article considers the development in understanding of aspects of formative assessment of students' writing at Key Stage 3 (11-14 years) by a group of trainee English teachers. An "analysis and application" approach to writing development, which requires students to master categories and processes then apply them, is outlined and…

This study aimed to investigate the importance of self-efficacy and attitudes to wards writing in writing training. It was also necessary to establish whether these constructs could be more enhanced through a specific intervention as part of the motivational factors, than through training which coaches other writing components such as cognitive…