A teacher describes how photographs of projects, holidays, science fairs, and special reports encourage students. Tips on how to incorporate photography in the classroom are included. Companies to contact as resources are listed. (JL)

A study of 97 spelling competition finalists in grades 4-8 and their parents found that the students used dictionaries, science-related texts, and word lists to prepare. The students were intrinsically motivated and had a repertoire of spelling strategies which they used singly or in concert to maximize likely spellings of words. (JDD)

Miniperformances require less extensive preparation than formal concerts and offer performance opportunities to children with a wider range of abilities. Among those who have the most to gain from giving miniperformances are junior high and middle school students. (AM)

To broaden the scope of basal reading programs, fifth and sixth grade students read four full-length novels during the school year. Worksheets and exercises were used to improve reading skills. The novels selected included realistic works, fantasy, and historical fiction. A suggested reading list is provided. (JL)

Once a month, fifth-grade students in an Indianapolis, Indiana, classroom can use tickets earned through good behavior and academic achievement to purchase donated items and baked goods. Students are in charge of organizing the activity, keeping track of student "earnings," and managing a student "bank." (PGD)

Intended to help teachers and librarians inspire students in grades 5-9 to read and keep reading, this book provides literature theme approaches and teaching strategies for reading and studying literature. Chapter 1 discusses approaches, methods, techniques, and strategies in using literature approaches to motivate reading. Chapter 2 defines a…

Faced with a student who is unable to read, a teacher refuses to give up on her and encourages her to participate in an after-school, volunteer tutorial program. By year's end, the student has improved 34 months on standardized testing and is placed at her appropriate grade level. (JL)

The I CAN (Independence, Completion, Accuracy, and Neatness) program is a motivational tool for elementary grade students with learning disabilities. Each student contracts for specific achievements in the four program areas, and parents and teachers contract for specific rewards. Daily review of goals as well as daily documentation of progress…

Students can be motivated to share their reading interests and their writing talents by creating book report mobiles. After students have read a book, they begin their mobile by attaching string to an empty box which has been covered with plain paper. Next, they decorate one side of the mobile with a drawing which illustrates the story or they…

An intermediate grade music teacher describes how a learning disabled child with problems ranging from fine motor coordination to right/left orientation difficulty turned out to be a fine clarinetist with a fantastic ability to memorize music. (RM)

Contract teaching can renew interest and add excitement to a physical education unit or program. Students are motivated by personal attention, independent practice, establishing goals, and tracking their own progress. Samples of a training schedule, task sheet, and unit contract are included for a track and field unit. (IAH)

Developing self-motivated, empowered middle school students is an ongoing struggle for teachers and administrators. This practicum was designed to address the problem teachers have in finding specific teaching strategies that would help students become empowered and self-motivated learners. This study focuses on directly integrating techniques…

This study investigated the processes by which variation in format for presenting multiplication problems influenced children's motivation and achievement. The three multiplication drill and practice instructional methods were: (1) computer-assisted instruction (CAI) with a reward game, (2) computer-assisted instruction without a reward game, and…

Describes an approach to writing instruction in which students write in journals each day and the teacher responds in writing to each student entry. Tells the positive effects that the ongoing writing dialogues have on students' writing and personal development. (ET)

Suggests greater emphasis on middle school music education, both as part of general education and of the curriculum's exploratory component. Argues that music can add emotion to social studies and promote learning in all subject areas through rhythm, rhyme, and repetition. Calls for student opportunities to explore instruments and composition. (SG)