Virtually every teacher works with at least some and sometimes many, students who struggle to read on grade level. Recent research has demonstrated success in improving the reading level of students in grades 4-9 with reading difficulties. This practice guide, developed by the What Works Clearinghouse™ (WWC) in conjunction with an expert panel,…

Teaching adolescents can be quite challenging. Dr. Judy Willis, a neurologist and teacher, explains the inner workings of the adolescent brain. She uses the findings of brain research in her classroom to explain how parents and teachers can trigger untapped inspiration in students. Middle school education has often been a "black hole" for gifted…

This book is the third in a series of family math books whose aim is to involve parents and their children in middle school mathematics. All the activities contained in this guide are based on the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) Standards, and most activities involve several integrated math concepts rather than isolated skills.…

Prepared as a guide for teachers, parents, and librarians, this handbook presents guidelines for developing a collection of movable action books (also called pop-ups, movables, surprise books, lift-the-flap books, or novelty books) appropriate for use with children in the home or school setting. Following a brief description of action books, their…

Designed for use with a full class but adaptable for individual or small-group instruction, this paper presents teachers with brief suggestions for extending the Read-a-Thon stories beyond discussing and/or writing answers to the questions at the end of the stories. Activities described in the paper include: (1) reading activities (such as…

One of the greatest sources of wonder, the moon, becomes the focus of a classroom inquiry in this book which gives an illustration of integrated curriculum. Two teachers recount how their students observed the moon's transit for 28 days, recording their impressions in written and illustrated records called "Moon Journals." The book…

Interest in a science fair is low when students feel undirected and lack the information they need to produce a successful project. For many students, parents, and teachers, planning and carrying out a science fair project may be very frustrating. This book is designed to be a reference that helps teachers guide students through this process. The…

Most people think of nature in the city as parks and zoos and dandelions pushing up through cracks in the sidewalk, but it is also asphalt streets, granite office buildings and mazes of underground pipes and cables. The materials of which the streets and buildings are constructed began as prehistoric jungles and ancient mountains. The systems that…