Describes techniques for acquainting children with the dictionary. (DD)

Definitions by elementary students were scored for conformity with Aristotelian form and information quality. School exposure to English was correlated with quality and quantity of formal definitions given. Results of this and a similar French-as-a-Foreign-Language exercise indicate that definitional ability depends on opportunity to practice…

Assesses "theory of mind" (ToM), or social understanding, in preadolescents (N=128) and examines individual differences in the relations among social understanding, self-concept, and language competence. Results reveal positive associations between children's social understanding and self-understanding; self-perceptions of behavioral…

Provides an annotated book list for use by elementary school teachers. Emphasizes children's involvement in word play and word games as a means to strengthen the language arts program. Specific areas covered include word play and word games, riddles, jokes, rhymes and verse, sounds and words, and word histories. (DST)

Notes that in the trend toward literature-based reading programs, teaching other important aspects of reading and language is often neglected. Discusses how teaching about words themselves, and the rhythms, sounds, spellings, combinations and shapes that make them, can enhance reading programs because they increase children's word knowledge,…

Recent studies conducted by the National Assessment of Educational Progress indicate a deficiency in youngsters' abilities to express themselves in written form. Described in this paper are techniques for helping elementary school children build writing skills by using literature selections as models for expression. Through imitation, pupils can…

Finds the test useful but criticizes its lack of generalizability of norms and the absence of reliability, validity, or normative information for the Spanish version. (FL)

Presents ten opportunities for using comic books in the exercise of oral, listening, reading, writing, and vocabulary skills. (DD)

This experiment tested the hypothesis that language skills of seven- to eight-year-old children could be improved if parents were involved in the program. Three groups of 15 children were exposed to identical, single term programs. In two groups, parents worked in the classroom with the children. Findings supported the hypothesis. (AM)

Described are over 100 activities designed to improve students' reading and writing skills by using the environment as a stimulus. The school, local community, family, and inner self serve as lesson topics. Learning strategies include word games, poetry, art projects, peer-produced mini-texts, and gardening. Also used are a word builder booklet…

This study investigated the effectiveness of the Story Writing Scales of the Personalized Progress Assessment set in determining the writing capabilities of fourth, sixth, and eighth graders and assessed the relationship between students' story-writing competencies and their achievements in reading comprehension, vocabulary, usage, and spelling.…

Notes that it is important to lay the foundation for building English vocabulary and language skills using realistic situations. Reviews three computer programs that enable English-as-a-Second-Language students to achieve efficiency more quickly. The software titles reviewed are "Learning English--Home and Family Life and Neighborhood Life,""Let's…

Discusses the promotion of language and literacy skills in young children through the use of computers. Describes specific courseware that can be used to develop vocabulary and writing skills. Includes sample lessons that demonstrate how courseware can be effectively integrated into a school curriculum and provides a checklist for teachers to use…

Presents ways adults in Montessori 6-to-9 classrooms can help students expand their vocabularies. Suggestions for building vocabulary and understanding include using Command Cards to teach a variety of verbs, providing opportunities to play with words and memorize poetry, and making classical literature available. Maintains that lack of concern…

Study of 11-year-old Swedish-speaking learners of English (N=21) reading two passages from an English fairytale for meaning found that the subjects mainly made use of two knowledge sources (their mother tongue and previous knowledge of the tale) to comprehend the tale. (Author/CB)