Investment in literacy upgrading can pay rich dividends in both quality of life for individuals and benefits to society. Literacy can become the gateway to a fuller understanding of ideas and responsible participation as citizens. Unfortunately, academic abilities of schooled youth are not keeping pace with the skills/knowledge requirements of…

The purpose of this document is to provide a continuous, integrated, and sequential list of basic language arts skills for grades 1-12. The skills are listed for each grade in appropriate categories (such as reading skills, written communication, oral communications, and language skills), with the expected level of competency (mastery, competency,…

Offers reasons for current public cry for schools to return "back to the basics." Maintains that 'basics' taught by schools are the same 'basics' of common sense family life and that parents at home, as well as teachers, must emphasize communication and provide a fertile ground for language learning. (NEC)

Addresses the importance of teaching students with hearing impairments zero-order pragmatic-language competencies (PLCs), those communicative and interactive behaviors necessary in everyday social situations to avoid being seen as deviant. Among PLCs are taking turns, initiating or adding to a conversation, and making repairs when necessary. Many…

The intent of this booklet is to provide a general structure for sequential instruction in the oral communication skills of listening, speaking, and responding. The skills are presented in five grade level categories: preschool, kindergarten through grade three, grades four through six, grades seven through nine, and grades ten through twelve. The…

This article outlines some critical skills needed in referential communication (the ability to provide and understand specific information) and reviews some of the deficits found in referential communication skills of learning disabled and/or language impaired children. Suggested therapy procedures based on training studies are also provided.…

The curriculum guide presents activity suggestions for teachers to use with autistic students in grades K-12. Brief remarks are offered on placement criteria, student characteristics, and parent participation. Goals, objectives, procedures, materials, domain areas, and evaluation approaches are listed for eight skill areas: (1) pre-vocational…

Looks at the ways various states are defining 'literacy' and 'basic skills' and cautions against isolating reading, writing, listening or speaking from the total communication process. (MH)

Three broad themes run throughout restructuring reforms: decentralization, collaboration, and accountability. The California Legislature recently established a statewide school restructuring demonstration program to help determine whether California educators can make restructuring work. This analysis examines the concept of school restructuring,…

Based on the philosophy that language is central to learning, this booklet defines common curriculum goals for elementary and secondary schools that combine both general, essential learning skills and the common knowledge and skills that form a strong English language arts curriculum. The guide has two main sections: the receptive section focuses…

To assist the Illinois Basic Skills Program, the Illinois Speech and Theatre Association (ISTA) developed a task force that offered the state assistance in (1) facilitating oral communication learning in Illinois schools with an emphasis upon the utilization of existing school programs and staff; (2) developing a plan for a systematic approach to…

To adapt education to rapid social change, schools must develop new curriculum models that teach "higher order reasoning skills" essential to survival. Recent literature and a survey of college students, teachers, and school administrators suggest key areas for principals to address. (MCG)

Emphasizes that problems in assessing functional communication have their origin in conceptional ambiguity. Contrasts communicative competence with functional communicative effectiveness and proposes the latter as a more appropriate construct for older children and adults. (JMF)

Improving communication skills, helping students learn problem solving, and clarifying values are some of the areas to which today's educators must address themselves, according to Marion A. Ruebel, dean of the University of Akron's General College. (Author)

The manual is intended to help Maryland special education administrators and teachers plan and develop programs for students who will pursue a course of study leading to a high school certificate in Maryland. A life skills approach called the "Maryland Life Skills Curricular Framework" is designed to help students adapt to their…