This article documents the challenges that young children face as they move from kindergarten to first grade and the important role that elementary school counselors can play in working with students, parents/caregivers, and teachers during this critical period of development. Research- and practitioner-based recommendations for effective…

This paper discusses the use of Stern teaching materials with children with Down syndrome. The theory underlying the design of the materials is discussed, the teaching approach and methodology are described and evidence supporting effectiveness is outlined. (Contains 2 figures.)

Just within the past two decades, there has been a proliferation of a variety of literature, both academic and popular, regarding the underachievement and underrepresentation of African American males in U.S. schools. According to the literature, African American males have been disproportionately placed in special education classrooms and…

A third-grade teacher and a teacher educator argue that, in an elementary mathematics class in which the teacher is encouraging the children to communicate and justify their mathematical ideas, the features of a mathematical task shape the mathematical discourse. They conjecture that divergent tasks, problems with many correct answers, may…

Today and in the future, critical toolmaking advances will need to be made in the area of circuit design, construction, and implementation. Traditional school curriculum has sidestepped the area of tool design, especially at the elementary level. This publication addresses a calling for a new curriculum direction, based not only on the study of…

In workshops for inservice teachers, volunteers learn concepts through the activities they will later use in their classrooms. In follow-up sessions the success of activities with young children is discussed. The activity described here involves attribute blocks. (SD)

A fourth grade teacher in an accredited parochial school implemented and evaluated a 10-week practicum intervention designed to improve nine elementary school teachers' understanding of terminology related to thinking skills and to increase their integration of thinking skills processes into the curriculum. Thinking skills addressed were…

The results of a survey which sought to determine the science education research needs of elementary teachers are discussed in this report. The survey was intended to provide science education researchers with information on what research areas might be of greatest interest to elementary teachers. The sample consisted of 553 elementary teachers in…

The Science/Math Education Project of the Federal City Council and the District of Columbia Public Schools began as an experiment to determine whether scientists, mathematicians, and engineers could be recruited from their daily professional responsibilities to serve as volunteer tutors, lecturers, or mentors to students in the public elementary…

Recently, emphasis has been placed on curriculum implementation of character development. The elementary school counselor can function as a curriculum consultant by providing a delivery system for affective goals and objectives in the curriculum. Elementary counselors can help administrators and teachers to define learning problems and establish…

Examines the influence of courses in the sciences and in science teaching methods on the attitudes of preservice elementary teachers. Data collected over a three-year period indicated that the preservice teachers had positive changes in attitudes toward science and science teaching while taking science and science methods courses. (ML)

A summer program for in-service elementary teachers is described. Five topics were the focus: diagnosis and analysis of achievement, designing instructional sequences, concrete manipulative materials, puzzles and games, and problem solving. (MNS)

Inservice workshops were conducted to help elementary teachers (self-contained and subject specialists) understand energy issues. Information/background, sources of materials/activities, experiments/demonstrations, and evaluation are discussed. One important aspect of the project was the local utilities' involvement in the workshops. (DH)

Summarizes the results of a summary of elementary teachers' science education research interests. Identifies hands-on experience, science content of the curriculum, and cognitive development and learning styles as the greatest items of interest. Provides data and an analysis of the least preferred topics and invites teacher participation in…

Because of the large number of children being maltreated, Colorado law mandates that suspected cases of child abuse be reported. It is essential that professionals working with children understand how to recognize and report suspected abuse. This handbook was written to assist teachers, counselors, and social workers in defining child abuse and…