Perhaps the most dramatic hallmark of the so-called back-to-basics movement is the growth in many communities across the country of the basic alternative elementary school. Another example of the back-to-basics movement is the current interest in writing proficiency standards into the high school diploma. Another aspect of this movement is the…

Society expects certain levels of literacy from its citizens. In addition, individuals have expectations for their own levels of literacy. In defining functional literacy, there is considerable disagreement over what can be expected of consumers, employees, and taxpayers. Empirical studies in Sweden attempting to establish criteria of functional…

A competency test for writing that tests writing competency as an interdisciplinary skill called "academic writing" has been developed at The American University. The test focuses heavily on the subject and lightly on the writer or on the writer's sensibility. It avoids asking the student to write introspective "meditations," to take and defend a…

A model basic speech communication course is described in this paper, along with guidelines for developing and maintaining a cognitive-basic skills approach to such a course. The course outline describes the university environment where the course is taught; the structure of the department offering the course; the philosophy and course objectives;…

The Unified Science and Mathematics for Elementary Schools (USMES) Program was designed to teach students complex problem-solving skills. This paper reports the effects of USMES on basic skills, explains the effects, comments on difficulties in data collection, and recommends data-gathering that should complement or replace standard basic skills…

Public thinking and writing about literacy in recent years has served to confuse and mislead. Facts which support the "decline in literacy" belief and facts which support the opposite view are presented. Phases and statements made publicly about literacy are discussed and placed into four categories: those which use syntax to posit…

This paper suggests a sequence of requisite skills for the identification of main ideas including identifying the key words or topic of a sentence, identifying the key words or topic of a paragraph, identifying the topic sentence of a paragraph, recognizing an explicitly stated main idea of a paragraph, recalling an explicitly stated main idea,…

This paper describes basic skills in terms of three stages of the writing process: drafting, editing, and preservation. During the drafting stage, the basics are those skills and attitudes necessary to release the students' powers of expression. It is basic that they learn how to start and maintain a flow of words and ideas, how to use various…

Three groups of children aged 8-10 who scored below the 22nd percentile on the PATests were taught basic math skills for 16 hours. One group received individual instruction using Precision Teaching and Direct Instruction, the second group received group instruction using Precision Teaching and Direct Instruction, and the third group received group…

A collection of articles provides current instructional information to softball players and coaches. Topics discussed in the series include practice, basic skills, defense, pitching, catching, offense, and warm-up exercises to be used in conjunction with other conditioning drills. (JN)

A study was conducted to determine which of five tests used in the Early Prevention of School Failure (EPSF) program were the best predictors of student academic success at the end of first grade. The tests, which were administered upon children's entrance to kindergarten, were the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT), the Preschool Language…

The article focuses on a practical prioritization process as a method to bridge the gap between assessment and planning of individualized education programs for severely handicapped students. This prioritization process is based upon a set of criteria agreed to by planning teams which include educators, related service personnel, and families.…

A discussion is presented of the component in the Educator Improvement Act (mandated by the state of South Carolina) which provides an evaluation procedure for prospective teachers beginning in the freshman year in college and ending during the first year of teaching. A description of the basic skills Educational Entrance Examination includes…

The article presents a detailed description of an integrated program that includes functional life-related academics, social skills training, and both simulated and actual time-limited work experience for severely behaviorally disordered youngsters (5-17 years old). The academic-remedial curriculum focuses on instruction in areas deemed essential…

A model basic speech communication course is described in this paper, along with guidelines for developing and maintaining an individualized approach to the basic course. The course outline describes the university environment where the course is taught; the structure of the department offering the course; the philosophy and course objectives; the…