By giving each student a number to keep throughout the school year, teachers can maintain efficient classrooms. The paper describes this classroom management system, in which students apply for classroom jobs. The numbers can be used for homework and classroom assignments, organizing attendance, choosing teams, drawing names, and teacher files.…

Presents a group of 24 innovative social studies activities from teachers nationwide designed to bring the world to the classroom. The article is part of a package of 100 creative ideas for keeping elementary students enthused about learning in language arts, math, science, and social studies. (SM)

Presents suggestions from elementary school teachers to ease the pullout problem for classroom teachers. The suggestions include: create weekly class calendars, pair students, reschedule pullouts to more convenient times, and prepare a record sheet for information on topics the student misses. (SM)

When producing school plays, teachers can prepare students for the tryouts to avoid student frustration over the reality that everyone cannot play the lead. Suggestions include talking before the tryouts, meeting with those who are trying out, inviting students to participate in the crew, getting parents involved, being honest, and double casting…

Teachers can make sure students know important facts and concepts before giving unit tests by using the expert group review strategy. Small, mixed-ability student groups review different parts of the unit and present their findings to the class. After the test, students discuss the value of expert group review. (SM)

Describes one elementary teacher's strategies to help students learn spelling using cooperative learning groups. Mixed-ability groups of four children are established, and students take turns being the caller, recorder, reader, and checker. Students retain more because of the amount of repetition. A weekly classroom spelling schedule is presented.…

In today's world, the ability to work with others is essential, and cooperative learning can be a powerful teaching strategy to enhance interpersonal skills. The article describes nine essential steps for social skills success and discusses nonverbal and verbal social skills for group work. (SM)

Teachers can help students realize that their own experiences provide good material for fascinating characters and stories, thus making narrative writing easier. One good way to help students recognize the power of daily events is to read to them from realistic children's literature. The article presents a model lesson. (SM)

Many students have undiagnosed vision problems despite passing school vision screening. Traditional screening may miss problems with close vision, eye-hand coordination, and smooth eye coordination. The article discusses what teachers should look for, how to proceed if there is a problem, and how to create vision-friendly classrooms. A list of…

Describes how one urban elementary school turned itself around to become one of the best in the country by using handwriting as a common focus. The emphasis on handwriting served as a springboard for student achievement across the curriculum. A sidebar presents "Diagnosis through Handwriting," a guide to detecting children's allergic reactions.…

Pullout pages provide suggestions for teaching elementary students at all levels about the wonders of human ingenuity. The suggestions help students see that great ideas come from the need to solve real-life problems and that one great idea leads to another, so current inventions help predict future inventions. (SM)

Presents a group of 21 innovative science activities from teachers nationwide designed to sharpen elementary students knowledge of science. The article is part of a package of 100 creative ideas for keeping elementary students enthused about learning in language arts, science, social studies, and math. (SM)

Children's magazines are a colorful supplement that can capture the interest of the most reluctant readers. Providing students with magazines geared to their interests and ages can help motivate them to read. The article describes several activities for making the best use of magazines in reading. (SM)

Discusses parent/school cooperation in keeping students from falling behind while on a family trip. The teacher crafts various generic assignments that students can complete while vacationing, explains the projects to the parents (noting any needed materials) before their vacation, then has the student present the assignment to the class upon…

Workshop Way is a classroom management system that keeps students of varying abilities busy, creating an ordered plan of work that helps students organize themselves and feel confident. Workshop Way fosters independent work by posting a series of headings across a bulletin board with specific, brief assignments under each heading. (SM)