This book outlines the processes involved when children learn to write, and it shows how certain strategies can improve children's progress in writing. Dealing with the age range 3-13, the book addresses issues of the gender gap, children with English as an additional language, and left-handedness. It includes ideas for assessment of writing. It is written to support the requirements of the English National Curriculum and the National Literacy Strategy Framework for England, but it is not limited to them. Following the Introduction: Writing and the Alphabet, the book is divided into the following chapters: (1) Early Brain Development, Laterality and Gender Differences; (2) Early Speech, Language Acquisition and Related Theories; (3) Language and Thinking, and Cultural and Social Influences on Language Use; (4) Some Cognitive Functions in Literacy--How Working Memory Affects Reading and Writing; (5) The Development of Secretarial Skills--Spelling, Handwriting and Presentation; (6) Stages of Writing Development and Their Evaluation; (7) A Taxonomy of Writing Purposes and Their Pertinence for Cross-Curricular Application; (8) Basic Strategies for Extending and Enhancing Self-Generated Writing; (9) Using Reading to Enhance Writing; (10) Using Speaking and Listening and Drama to Stimulate Writing; and Epilogue: Improving Writing--An Overview. Contains an over 200-item glossary, and an approximately 300-item bibliography. An appendix contains a description of the stages of fluency in English for pupils with English as an additional language, a comprehension exercise, a discussion of approaches to the class novel, and an example of a writing partner help card. (NKA)