Combinatorial abilities in language and elicited symbolic play were compared in a longitudinal study of 30 children at 20 and 28 months. In addition, multivariate analyses were used to assess the stability of individual differences. Generally, different symbolic play variables contributed unique explained variance to different language variables.…

Discusses criteria to use when evaluating poetry written by children and contains numerous examples of poetry written by children. (DF).

Argues that rather than using a spelling series and treating spelling as a subject separate from the other language arts, teachers should use a program that begins with encouraging invented spelling and moves to the use of high frequency word lists and spelling by meaning. (FL)

Describes how kindergarten children use invented spelling to rewrite Mother Goose nursery rhymes, indicating the phoneme grapheme system the children perceived from spoken language. (HTH)

Thirty-two children (grades 1-3) of limited English proficiency participated in creative drama sessions over an eight-week period. Results of the study suggest that drama can be effective in stimulating syntactic growth and that interaction and purposeful communication are important in second-language instruction. (PD)

Reports on a recent study of first grade writing efforts that confirms the importance of scribble in the writing process when it is an accepted language behavior in the classroom. (FL)

Explores some of the story concepts evident in children's story retellings and story writings. (FL)

Reports on the work being done by Martha King with the writing of primary grade children. (FL)

Presents a variety of social contexts for verbal interaction between adult and child and between children. Discusses the variations in interaction caused by different contexts, as well as features that are consistent across contexts. (HTH)

Concludes that preschool children know that print conveys information, yet frequently use environmental cues rather than letter knowledge when they appear to read. (FL)

Four children were videotaped playing with their mothers, first in a situation with gestures, and then in a situation without gestures. Results showed that maternal gestures have more of a role in maintaining attention and flow of interaction for young children than they do in providing specific cues to the grammar the child is acquiring. (SL)

An attempt at summarizing current trends and ideas in first and second language teaching methodology. (Text is in French.) (AM)

Discusses the inadequacy of structural exercises in first language instruction, and affirms the importance of oral communication in first language acquisition. (Text is in French.) (AM)

This research explored the defining characteristics of first- and third-grade children in conceptualizing 17 American kin terms. The data indicate that even when children were able to identify a relationship, they did not all base their identification on the same attributes. (Author/RM)

The written compositions of 11-year-olds in Great Britain's National Child Development Study were analyzed using the T-unit length as a measure of syntactic maturity and composition length as a measure of productivity. Results are discussed in relation to cognitive and linguistic development. (Author/RM)