The Common Core State Standards for the English Language Arts, together with the new tests being developed to assess them, are placing a greater emphasis on writing in elementary schools than in the recent past. This article explores similarities and differences of the standards with past state standards, explaining the reason both for why things…

Reviews research on the association between children's oral language and their writing which, taken as a whole, raises doubts as to the existence of the very close and highly positive relationship some experts say exist between these two aspects of linguistic expression. More than 50 references are cited. (BR)

Criticizes the teaching of formal, abstract grammar prior to sixth grade, citing its ineffectiveness in improving composition skills. Proposes the elimination of traditional grammar from the early curriculum, retention of instruction in language usage and spelling and emphasis on student practice in writing. (BF)

A plea for the elimination of required instruction in cursive script from the elementary school curriculum. Difficulties of learning cursive are described as a handicap to student development of composition skills. Greater legibility and comparable speed of printing are cited. (BF)

Talking and listening form the foundation for the development of reading and writing in this informal classroom curriculum. (CS)

Twenty kindergarten classrooms were observed during two full days of integrated language instruction. Over 300 observed literacy tasks were analyzed by activity format, duration, cognitive complexity, organization, and participation structures. Results indicated that, although most of the activities were meaning based, over half of the observed…

Outlines M. Halliday's theory of language production, which suggests that the form of oral and written language is determined by the context in which language is generated, and shows how it can be used as a basis for curriculum development. (Author/HOD)