Information Feedback,Need Achievement and Retention 1

Abstract

A test of achievement motivation was administered to 260 sixth graders. One month later, students participated in a science reading lesson followed by a multiple-choice test based upon that lesson. Feedback regarding performance was provided according to a standardized procedure either immediately after the test, or with one, two or three day delays. Then a retention test was administered to each group three days alter feedback. Results demonstrated that students who received feedback with a delay of one day manifested greater retention than students who received immediate feedback. There were no significant differences among groups who were exposed to delays of one, two or three days. A positive relation between achievement motivation and retention was demonstrated. There was no interaction between achievement motivation and feedback schedules.     

Written narrations by 8- to 10-year-old Turkish pupils in Flemish primary education: A follow-up of seven text features

This semi-longitudinal study examined the development of narrative writing quality of young Turkish second language learners in mainstream Dutch-only education, and the impact of student-level and classroom-level predictors of narrative writing quality, using hierarchical linear modelling. Writing samples of 106 third graders and 111 fourth graders of seven Flemish primary schools were collected at the beginning and at the end of the school year. Measures included one holistic primary trait judgement, and six objective indices of text quality. Student-level predictors included age, SES and home language, while the classroom-level predictor focused on the home language pattern of the classroom. There was a significant mean growth for each index in each grade, but effect sizes differed from quite large for content and word level indices over moderate for sentence level indices to small for the text level index. Home language (Turkish) had a significant negative effect on all but one variables, particularly in Grade 4, while the negative effect of low SES was much more limited. A supplementary negative effect was found for homogeneity of classroom population. Implications of the study highlight the importance of student and classroom characteristics in writing achievement as well as the need to consider the poor performance of Turkish children.     

Multiple orthographic codes in reading and writing acquisition

A modified Stroop Test (single-letter, letter-cluster, and whole-word colorinconsistent stimuli) showed greater interference for the more automatic orthographic coding unit—the word—than for the less automatic coding units—single letters and letter-clusters—in developing readers in second, fourth, and sixth grade (N=72, Study 1). A developmental trend was observed from relative skill in word-level orthographic-phonological correspondence in second graders to relative skill in subword level orthographic-phonological correspondences in sixth graders. A previous finding that whole word coding > letter coding > letter cluster coding in relative rate of development was replicated (N=300, Study 2). Multiple orthographic codes—for whole words, single letters, and letter clusters—were correlated with both reading and writing but patterns of correlations with the component reading and writing skills changed from first to third grade; by third grade whole word coding was not correlated with reading and writing skills but letter cluster coding was correlated with all reading and most writing skills. Cue validity —categorization of letters on the basis of differentiating rather than distinctive features—improved from second to sixth grade and may account for developmental gains in letter cluster coding. Level of cue validity was correlated with speed of sentence comprehension (N=60, Study 3). The theoretical and practical significance of multiple orthographic codes for orthographic-phonological connections in word recognition and for literacy acquisition in general is discussed.This research was supported, in part, by Grant No. 25858-01 awarded to the first author from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.Study 1 is based on a presentation at the 1990 meeting of the American Education Research Association. Study 2 is based on a presentation at the 1991 meeting of the American Education Research Association. Study 3 is based on a presentation at the 1989 meeting of the American Education Research Association.The authors thank the participating children from the Shoreline Public Schools (Study 1), Bellevue, Northshore and Seattle Public Schools (Study 2), and the Mukiteo Public Schools (Study 3). They also thank Sylvia Mirsepassi for secretarial assistance.     

The effects of different approaches to reading instruction on letter detection tasks in normally achieving and low achieving readers

The present study used two letter detection tasks, the classic missing letter effect paradigm and a single word versus familiar word compound version of this paradigm, to study bottom-up and top–down processes involved in reading in normally achieving as compared to low achieving elementary school readers. The research participants were children in grades first to sixth who had been taught to read by three approaches to reading instruction (ARI): the whole language/global approach, the phonic/synthetic approach or the eclectic approach. Thus, the study attempted to clarify how different ARIs activate these processes in these two types of readers. The main hypothesis was that since low achieving readers rely on top–down processes for word recognition (see, e.g., Stanovich, 1980), the whole language ARI will reduce the difference in bottom-up tasks between them and the normally achieving readers. In the two experiments included in the study, participants were required to perform a letter detection task while reading short texts in Hebrew for comprehension. Contrary to this study hypotheses, the main finding was that the whole language ARI does not compensate for difficulties in bottom-up processes of low achieving readers. Moreover, the results of this study imply that any improvement in basic processes involved in reading proficiency produced by the whole language ARI for both the normal and the low achieving readers dissipates by grade three.     

Learning in a sheltered Internet environment: The use of WebQuests

The present study investigated the effects on learning in a sheltered Internet environment using so-called WebQuests in elementary school classrooms in the Netherlands. A WebQuest is an assignment presented together with a series of web pages to help guide children's learning. The learning gains and quality of the work of 229 sixth graders participating in either a free-search Google condition or a closed-search WebQuest condition were compared. The closed-search condition showed the highest learning gains for boys. Children's information processing and linguistic skills generally influenced their learning gains and did not interact with condition. A difference in the quality of writing for the two conditions was also found with the language quality being higher in the free-search condition.     

The Relationship between Convergent and Divergent Thinking in Science as Revealed in Sixth and Seventh Graders

Abstract

A positive correlation between scores on tests of divergent and convergent thinking in science was found for 92 sixth graders, but no correlation was found for 97 seventh graders. On the test of convergent thinking, seventh graders outperformed the sixth graders, while the latter group reversed the picture for the test of divergent thinking. Plausible interpretations of the data are discussed.     

A constructivist attempt to change attitudes towards children with special needs

ABSTRACT

A research programme was initiated to promote positive attitudes towards children with special needs. Fifteen students each taught four lessons to children from second to sixth class in Primary Schools. Their approach was constructivist involving discussion and activities designed to provide opportunities for the children to reconsider their ideas. A post‐test was given to 465 experimental and 326 control children. Experimental children were different from controls in being more prosocial in a number of ways. Children who knew somebody with a mental handicap were affected by the programme differently in comparison with inexperienced children, largely by becoming more aware of the difficulties of children with special needs. There were a number of age and gender differences in the ways children think about mental handicap.     

Experimental Effects of Word Generation on Vocabulary,Academic Language,Perspective Taking,and Reading Comprehension in High-Poverty Schools

Abstract

With a sample of 7,752 fourth- to seventh-grade students in 25 schools which were randomized at the school level to condition, this article reports experimental impacts of an enhanced version of Word Generation on student outcomes at the end of Year 1 and of Year 2. Word Generation employs analysis, synthesis, critique, and problem-solving activities to build students’ academic language, perspective taking, and ultimately their reading comprehension. Results indicate that the program improves the proximate outcome of academic vocabulary included in the curriculum after the first and second year of implementation for all students (Y1 effect size (ES)?=?.22, Y2?=?.28 for fourth and fifth graders; Y1 ES?=?.13, Y2?=?.16 for sixth and seventh graders). For those in the fourth and fifth grades, their perspective positioning skills also improved at the end of the first year (ES?=?.14), and their academic language skills (ES?=?.06), perspective articulation and positioning skills (ES?=?.12, .19), and reading comprehension (ES?=?.15) improved at the end of the second year. Among sixth and seventh graders, there were improvements in perspective positioning skills (ES?=?.19) and reading comprehension (ES?=?.10) at the end of Year 2. Effects after both Years 1 and 2 were stronger in high-exposure classrooms.     

Examining the Impact of Explicit Language Instruction in Writers Workshop on ELL Student Writing

abstract

In the context of our work as literacy specialists, we taught teachers to use sentence frames to support ELL students’ writing. We then studied the impact of their instruction on students. Our analysis of student writing samples revealed no groupwide developmental trends so we posed deeper questions about their work using the data analysis methods learned through the action research process. We report our findings about the relationship between student writing development and language instruction. We discuss our learning as well as implications for our work supporting teacher instruction.     

The effectiveness of a highly explicit, teacher-directed strategy instruction routine: changing the writing performance of students with learning disabilities

This study examined the effectiveness of a highly explicit, teacher-directed instructional routine used to teach three planning strategies for writing to fourth and fifth graders with learning disabilities. In comparison to peers who received process writing instruction, children who were taught the three planning strategies-goal setting, brainstorming, and organizing-spent more time planning stories in advance of writing and produced stories that were qualitatively better. One month after the end of instruction, students who had been taught the strategies not only maintained their advantage in story quality but also produced longer stories than those produced by their peers who were taught process writing. However, the highly explicit, teacher-directed strategy instructional routine used in this study did not promote transfer to an uninstructed genre, persuasive essay writing. These findings are discussed in terms of their relevance to effective writing instruction practices for students with learning disabilities.     

Teaching science as a language: A “content‐first” approach to science teaching

Our research project was guided by the assumption that students who learn to understand phenomena in everyday terms prior to being taught scientific language will develop improved understanding of new concepts. We used web‐based software to teach students using a “content‐first” approach that allowed students to transition from everyday understanding of phenomena to the use of scientific language. This study involved 49 minority students who were randomly assigned into two groups for analysis: a treatment group (taught with everyday language prior to using scientific language) and a control group (taught with scientific language). Using a pre–post‐test control group design, we assessed students' conceptual and linguistic understanding of photosynthesis. The results of this study indicated that students taught with the “content‐first” approach developed significantly improved understanding when compared to students taught in traditional ways. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 45: 529–553, 2008     

Interactive whole language e-story for early literacy development in ethnic minority children

This study investigated the effects of using an interactive e-story for early literacy instruction on word recognition, story comprehension and story application. The study was conducted in two classrooms in the southern border provinces of Thailand with ethnic minority children at the kindergarten level. The samples consisted of 60 children who used the Pattani Malay language as a mother tongue, and who had little experience with Thai, the language of instruction in the kindergarten classrooms. The experimental classroom had 30 children who learned with the interactive e- story. The control classroom had 30 children who learned with the paper version of the e-story. Both groups were taught using a whole language approach for 45 min per day over 8 weeks. This research used a pretest-posttest design on word recognition and story application, and only a posttest design on story comprehension. The results showed the positive effects of using an interactive e- story and present an alternative method to foster the early literacy learning of ethnic minority children. These results showed the children’s improvement after using interactive e-story and a significant difference in word recognition and story application. The comparison of the early literacy improvement between two groups revealed a significant difference in word recognition and story comprehension but no significant difference in story application. Implications for future study and education are discussed.     

A yearlong,professional development model on genre-based strategy instruction on writing

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to (a) design and examine the effects of a yearlong professional development model on the writing quality of 3^rd to 5^th graders across genres and on their teachers’ confidence, and (b) to make revisions based on results and teacher’s feedback. Participants were 11 teachers, 273 students, and a principal. The study had a one-year duration, and instruction was based on genre-based strategy instruction for the genres of opinion, story, and compare-contrast. Data were collected across the academic year, and results showed that students’ writing quality improved across genres taught during the academic year while there were no gender differences on performance. Teachers expressed challenges regarding time to teach writing and meet with peer. Further they shared the need to be provided with quality resources and continuous PD. Revisions for Cycle 2 are included and implications for research and practice are further discussed.     

Effects of Ethnicity and Violent Content on Rubric Scores in Writing Samples

Abstract

Bias in teacher-scored student writing samples was examined in this exploratory study. Four nearly identical writing samples were employed with the following contextual differences: (a) Two sets of distinct ethnocultural markers were presented in 2 of the passages and (b) markers of violent content were included in 1 passage from each ethnocultural set. Samples were assigned randomly to teachers who were asked to score 1 writing sample according to a supplied scoring rubric. Results indicated that there was not a statistically significant difference in ratings between ethnicity conditions across levels of the content (violent/nonviolent) condition. Across ethnicity conditions, however, there were statistically significant differences between the violent and the nonviolent content in favor of the nonviolent content.     

Influences of Writing Tasks on Students' Answers to Recall and Higher-Level Test Questions

This paper reports on two inter-related studies that examined the use of non-traditional writing strategies within secondary school science classrooms. The first study involved Year 10 students who incorporated one letter writing experience into the learning sequence when studying genetics. The second study was with Year 9 students who used both a non-traditional laboratory writing heuristic and letter writing as part of the learning sequence when studying a topic on light. The same teacher was involved in both case studies. A higher-level analogy question was added to the teacher-prepared tests for each study to examine if students who participated in writing-to-learn activities were able to perform significantly better as a group than a group of students who completed traditional teacher directed laboratory activities and note-taking. Results indicate that for the first study there was not a significant difference using t-test analysis, while for the second study involving two writing treatments there was a statistically significant difference using t-test analysis. There was no statistically significant difference in responses between treatment and control groups when answering low level recall questions for either case study. Student interviews indicated awareness by students of the metacognitive value gained by using the non-traditional writing types.     

A Randomized Experiment of a Cognitive Strategies Approach to Text-Based Analytical Writing for Mainstreamed Latino English Language Learners in Grades 6 to 12

Abstract

This study reports Year 1 findings from a multisite cluster randomized controlled trial of a cognitive strategies approach to teaching text-based analytical writing for mainstreamed Latino English language learners (ELLs) in 9 middle schools and 6 high schools. There were 103 English teachers stratified by school and grade and then randomly assigned to the Pathway Project professional development intervention or control group. The Pathway Project trains teachers to use a pretest on-demand writing assessment to improve text-based analytical writing instruction for mainstreamed Latino ELLs who are able to participate in regular English classes. The intervention draws on well-documented instructional frameworks for teaching mainstreamed ELLs. Such frameworks emphasize the merits of a cognitive strategies approach that supports these learners’ English language development. Pathway teachers participated in 46 hrs of training and learned how to apply cognitive strategies by using an on-demand writing assessment to help students understand, interpret, and write analytical essays about literature. Multilevel models revealed significant effects on an on-demand writing assessment (d = .35) and the California Standards Test in English language arts (d = .07).     

A Study of Status and Improvement of College Freshmen in Certain Skills of English Composition

The purpose of this experiment was to determine the differential emotional reactions of students to positive, neutral, and negative affect in nonverbal teacher behavior. Responses were studied across two grade levels and across race. A stratified random sample of 120 students was selected and randomly assigned to experimental conditions. Emotional reactions were measured by a semantic differential. Analysis of variance and Tukey post hoc tests showed that black second graders evaluated the neutral teacher most positively, while white second graders and sixth graders of both races tended to evaluate the positive teacher most positively.