Secretary of Education William Bennett discusses the importance of elementary education and elementary school teachers and what he hopes "First Lessons: A Report on Elementary Education in America" will accomplish. (MT)

Strategies are outlined for reinforcing and assessing what students have learned without producing a lot of paperwork to correct. Techniques include paper-free strategies and enriched worksheets that accomplish more with less paper. (IAH)

Presents strategies to help elementary teachers win grants for the classroom. The article includes information on grant sources, where to find out more about grants, and how to write winning grants. Examples of successful grant projects are provided, and announcement of a $500 Instructor grant competition is included. (SM)

Presents tips to help teachers best use their preparation time before school opens. Suggestions include making multiple student lists; designing classroom desk arrangements; reviewing cumulative records; adding desktop names and numbers; checking texts; posting correctable schedules; decorating only one bulletin board; creating box-trays for…

The reform movement in mathematics education calls for students to engage in problem solving, to discuss and communicate their thinking, and to develop meaningful understandings. This paper reports a case study of a fourth-grade class in line with the reform call, emphasizing the process of change the teacher experienced and the support she…

Every child can be a star if the right musical is selected. (Editor)

Based on teacher estimates, this discussion focuses on the importance of test content coverage in terms of instructional and curricular validity; students' opportunity to learn test content; and the relationship between test content covered in class and student performance on a standardized achievement test in reading. (JS)

Twenty-two mathematics educators were asked to list the ten most important books for a classroom teacher of elementary school mathematics to read. One hundred fifteen books are listed; 11 titles were named five or more times. (MNS)

This guide gives elementary school educators the tools they need to get answers to their questions about program evaluation. It shows how to use information to work more effectively and efficiently, and its explains how to use program evaluation techniques to make sure that the solutions selected truly solve the problems of interest. The first two…

Suggests that exercise, diet, voice lessons, or a new look might do more for teaching effectiveness than graduate courses in education. (CM)

Discusses teacher training in science available from local science museums for elementary school teachers. Includes a list of science museums offering instructional products and services. (FMW)

Provides information on a project that brought college mathematics faculty and a group of elementary school teachers together with the aim of bridging the gap between elementary and college teachers of mathematics. Describes an exchange that took place between them. (ASK)

Presents a list of affordable decorating suggestions for elementary classrooms, including: a reading tepee where students can read quietly; bouquets of construction paper flowers with students' pictures in them; an art center that displays posters of paintings by famous artists; colorful curtains created with bulletin board paper; and a secret…

Describes how teachers can set up high-quality classroom libraries that motivate students to read. Suggestions include assessing student needs; acquiring reading materials (through book clubs and donations from students and families); and being actively innovative so the library remains fresh and dynamic (e.g., by adding shelves, offering a wide…

Spreadsheets can help teachers manage a variety of routine tasks with ease. From creating class lists to taking surveys and graphing results, spreadsheet programs have limitless classroom potential. This article offers six ways to put spreadsheets to work, including class lists, all-about-me surveys, name tags, calendars, skill-building games, and…