FREE-WAY TO WRITTEN EXPRESSION.

TO IMPLEMENT THE PHILOSOPHY THAT GOOD WRITING STEMS FROM GOOD THINKING AND THAT PRACTICE IN PRODUCTIVE THINKING IS A PREREQUISITE FOR WRITING INSTRUCTION, THE ELEMENTARY TEACHERS OF LOS ALTOS, CALIFORNIA, PREPARED THIS GUIDE FOR TEACHING WRITTEN EXPRESSION IN GRADES KINDERGARTEN THROUGH EIGHT. THE OBJECTIVES ARE TO HELP CHILDREN (1) THINK PRODUCTIVELY, (2) ORGANIZE THEIR THOUGHTS IN WRITING TO FULFILL THEIR OWN PURPOSES, (3) BECOME SKILLFUL IN THE ACT AND ART OF WRITING, AND (4) APPLY WRITTEN EXPRESSION TO THEIR OWN DAILY LIVING. IN SECTIONS FOR EACH OF THE OBJECTIVES, EXPLANATIONS OF THE OBJECTIVES AND RECOMMENDED METHODS, MATERIALS, AND OCCASIONS FOR DEVELOPING THEM ARE GIVEN. SUB-SECTIONS ENTITLED "HAVE YOUR TRIED THIS," FOR GRADES KINDERGARTEN THROUGH TWO, THREE THROUGH FIVE, AND SIX THROUGH EIGHT, CONTAIN SUGGESTIONS FOR IMAGINATIVE EXPERIENCES TO DEVELOP CHILDREN'S SENSORY AWARENESS, THEIR RANGE OF RESPONSES TO SENSORY EXPERIENCES, AND THEIR ABILITY TO MAKE FINE DISCRIMINATIONS AMONG SUCH EXPERIENCES. SUGGESTIONS FOR TEACHING THE MECHANICS OF GRAMMAR, PUNCTUATION, AND SPELLING ARE INTRODUCED TO HELP THE STUDENT MEET HIS OWN NEED FOR LUCID EXPRESSION. THIS GUIDE, RECOMMENDED BY THE NCTE COMMITTEE TO REVIEW CURRICULUM GUIDES, IS NOTED IN "ANNOTATED LIST OF RECOMMENDED ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY CURRICULUM GUIDES IN ENGLISH, 1967." (SEE TE 000 140.) (MM)