Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-94fs2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-06T12:49:50.275Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Using verbal mediation strategies and group processes to enhance story writing

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 September 2015

Robyn Gillies*
Affiliation:
University of Queensland
Get access

Extract

This study was conducted to determine whether verbal mediation strategies and group process skills implemented in small cooperative group settings of learning disabled children and low progress children, were effective in improving the children's expository writing performances. Measures of writing behaviour which were monitored included words per story, and two measures of complexity-number of T-units per story and number of words per T-unit. The results indicated that there was a larger increase in the target children's performances over baseline in both the number of words per story and the number of T-units per story. However, there was no significant difference in measures of words per T-unit. The results obtained suggest that the relatively simple procedures which were adopted to facilitate group interaction and commitment to tasks did contribute to the gains made by the children in the cooperative condition.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1991

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bergk, M. (1988). Fostering interpersonal forms of reading. The Reading Teacher, Dec., 210218.Google Scholar
Bash, M., & Camp, B. (1985). Think aloud: Increasing social and cognitive skills - a problem solving approach for children. Research Press, Champaign, Illinois.Google Scholar
Bronfenbrenner, U. (1979). The ecology of human development. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.Google Scholar
Clay, M., Glynn, T., McNaughton, T., & Salmon, K. (1976). Record of oral language. NZ Educational Institute, Wellington.Google Scholar
Darch, C., & Kameenui, E. (1987). Teaching LD students critical reading skills: A systemic replication. Learning Disability Quarterly, 10, 8291.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dineen, J., Clark, A., & Risley, T. (1977). Peer tutoring among elementary students: Educational benefits to the tutor. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 10, 231–238.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Glynn, T. (1985). Contexts for independent learning. Educational Psychology, 5(1), 515.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Graves, D. (1981). Patterns of child control of the writing process. In Walshe, R.D. (Ed.) Primary English Teachers Association, Rosenberg, NSW. Bridge Printing Pty Ltd.Google Scholar
Greenwood, C., Dinwiddle, G., Terry, B., Wade, L., Stanley, S., Thibadeau, S., & Delquardi, J.(1984). Teacher versus peer mediated instructions: An ecobehavioral analysis of achievement outcomes. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 17, 521538.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Heenan, J. (1986). Writing: Process and product. Longman.Google Scholar
Hunt, K.W. (1965). Grammatical structures written at three grade levels. National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), Champaign, Illinois.Google Scholar
Johnson, D., & Johnson, R. (1975). Learning together and alone: Cooperation, competition and individualisation. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall Inc.Google Scholar
Kazdin, A.E. (1977). Assessing the clinical or applied importance of behavior change through social validation. Behavior Modification, 1(4), 427453.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kemp, M. (1987). Watching children read and write. Thomas Nelson Australia, Melbourne.Google Scholar
Kohler, F.W. (1986). Classwide peer tutoring: Examining natural contingencies of peer reinforcement. Doctoral Dissertation, Deptartment of Human Development and Family Life, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS.Google Scholar
Madden, N., & Slavin, R. (1983). The effects of cooperative learning on the social acceptance of mainstreamed academically handicapped students. Journal of Special Education, 17(2), 171182.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Meichenbaum, D. (1980). Cognitive behavior modification with exceptional children: A promise yet unfilled. Exceptional Children Quarterly, May, 8388.Google Scholar
Rose, S. (1983). Social skills training for children and youth. The Hayworth Press Inc.Google Scholar
Slavin, R., Madden, N., & Leavey, M. (1984). Effects of cooperative learning on individualised instruction on mainstreamed students. Exceptional Children, 50, 434443.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stevens, R., Madden, N., Slavin, R., & Farnish, A. (1987). Cooperative integrated reading and composition: Two field experiments. Reading Research Quarterly, 22, 433454.CrossRefGoogle Scholar