Presents a variety of strategies to help teachers find and use community resources to enhance education. Ideas include bringing history to life at a local historical society, cultivating business partners, working with childrens' museums, and collaborating with local organizations. Tips for tapping into community resources are included. (SM)

This ready-reference pull-out folder focuses on student discipline, discussing how to stop problems before they start, discipline in 1995 versus discipline in 1975, individual discipline style, steps to improving problem behavior, and resources for further information. (SM)

A tear-out folder for teachers creates a working reference file on student motivation. The file includes a glossary and explanations of what holds students' attention, how to motivate students, and how to evaluate the classroom environment to determine how the teacher's words and the classroom atmosphere affect student motivation. (SM)

Describes creative ways for teachers to handle difficult classroom discipline situations, focusing on how to deal with defiant disruptives, noncombatant noncompliers, and incessant interrupters. The article discusses potentially difficult situations and explains how best to handle them in a positive manner. (SM)

Many students who struggle with handwriting eventually dislike all writing. Positive teacher attitudes can change students' attitudes and encourage them to improve their penmanship. Two activities can help elementary students enjoy writing while improving their handwriting. One has students practice common strokes in letter formation. The other…

Spelling centers are useful as elementary students become adept at managing their spelling practice. Teachers can store regularly-used spelling materials at spelling stations. This article presents two spelling-station activities. One helps students become more aware of how to spell well. The other helps students make individual spelling lists and…

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…

Presents literature-based activities that take division off the workbook pages and place it in situations to which children can relate. The activities help students understand division, devise strategies, and solve problems in context. Both activities involve reading stories then using division to solve real-life problems for story characters. (SM)

Presents three fun summer spelling activities for elementary school students and their parents. A kindergarten activity teaches children how sounds and letters make words. A second- through sixth-grade activity teaches the spelling of new words through games. A first- through second-grade activity reinforces correct spelling of high frequency…

Primary-level teachers can show their students that mathematics is all around them by turning classroom projects into opportunities for math practice. This across-the-curriculum activity gives pairs of students a problem-solving experience by having them figure out how to create journals with different numbers of pages. (SM)

This packet of teacher education materials is based on the publication "Be Safe!" and is intended for those teaching science to children ages 4 to 12. The pack contains INSET materials that supplement a safety exhibition contained in the second edition of "Be Safe!." Five basic activities include instructions for training…

This paper reports a study on how prospective elementary school teachers make sense of teaching social studies through conceptual mapping, and therefore provide an opportunity for teacher educators to assess the value of conceptual mapping as a pedagogical tool. Pre- and post-course concept mapping was incorporated into three sections of an…

In 1994, Smokey Bear turns 50! For a half century, Smokey has been helping children and adults protect forests and wildlands from careless fire. With this kit students can celebrate Smokey's message using a variety of activities that include dramatic play, stories, games, and things to make and do. Through these activities, students learn about…

A practicum intervention designed to enable primary grade teachers to integrate the components of the curriculum by using a thematic approach was implemented and evaluated. Teacher inservice training in developing a theme unit was provided, along with a list of professional references on curriculum integration. Additionally, teachers (n=18) were…

This practicum was designed to provide teaching professionals with advocacy information, skills, techniques, and resources in order to increase participant awareness and self-confidence, and, ultimately, their community involvement. The primary method used to address this goal was the development and presentation of three workshops. These were…