Developmental changes in the expression of superordinates in children's word definitions were studied with 96 elementary school students. Superordination increased significantly and changed qualitatively with age, although across grades children produced more superordinates for nouns than for adjectives or verbs. (SLD)

To understand the development of number-word construction, students in grades 1, 3, 5, and 7 named and counted from a set of numbers into the billions in two studies. Findings are discussed both in relation to children's growing knowledge of the number system and to vocabulary development. (Author)

Students--516 male and 475 female 11th and 12th graders in Ottawa (Canada)--completed academic self-concept scales from three different instruments to test the Marsh-Shavelson model that accounts for the separation of math and verbal self-concepts. The two self-concepts are separable and should be considered so in future research. (TJH)

This investigation deals with developmental changes in children's ability to process graphological features of words. The graphological features studied were letter positions and word shape. (Author/DEP)

In individual sessions, 51 kindergartners listened to an adult read the same storybook twice, 2 to 4 days apart, and then completed a test of knowledge of unfamiliar words from the study. Findings confirm that story listening contributes modestly to vocabulary growth, although four exposures to words appear necessary. (SLD)

The effects of a book reading technique called interactive book reading on the language and literacy development of 4-year-olds from low-income families were evaluated. Teachers read books to children and reinforced vocabulary in the books by presenting objects that represented the words and providing opportunities to use the words. (BF)

The relationship between academic failure and poor verbal abilities was studied in young aggressive boys. Results did not indicate a generalized deficit in verbal development among young aggressive boys. However some deficit in mediational use of verbal ability may be present in aggressive boys. (Author/MV)

Mean ratings for the 487 words, rated on eight semantic differential rating scales and factor scores for fifth-grade children are included, together with emotionality, imagery, and concreteness ratings by college subjects. (Author)

Root word vocabulary was studied in two normative samples (English-speaking, wide socioeconomic range) and in an advantaged sample. Findings suggest that greater efforts should be made to foster vocabulary acquisition in the primary years, and that a rough vocabulary curriculum sequence can be identified for the elementary years. (Author)