Sturm Writing Lab

The Sturm Writing Lab team is comprised of undergraduate and graduate students at Central Michigan University. The students work together with Dr. Sturm on a range of research and development projects. Titles of current research projects include: 

• Effects of Explicit Writing Instruction on the Writing Quantity and Quality of Students with Complex Learning Needs  

• Developmental Writing Scale: Detecting Change in Primary Grade Writers 

• Text Type Diversity Measure: Identifying Text Types Across Kindergarten, First and Second Grade Writers 

• Use of Modeling and Recasts with AAC Core and Fringe Vocabulary to Optimize Language Development in Students with Complex Communication Needs During Academic Writing 

The student team also assists in the development of assessment and intervention materials that are anchored in the science of reading and writing (e.g., phonics materials for sound blending and accessible alphabets for independent writing). They may also assist with piloting of these tools and materials in local classrooms of students with complex learning needs. The team also supports dissemination by aiding in the creation of summative research infographics and other materials that will be shared on this website.