This comprehensive guide discusses how to design staff development in science and math. It is tailored specifically to the needs of individual schools or departments. Vignettes from real schools illustrate concepts within the book. The book provides 15 strategies for professional development and describes each one with its underlying assumptions…

Intended for teachers, the articles in this book examine some of the uncertainties and problems that practicing teachers encountered when moving from a traditional to a holistic perspective in their teaching. The book shares the questions, the conflicts the teachers have undergone, and the change in beliefs that are part of becoming a…

Intended for both experienced and novice K-12 teachers, this book invites teachers to bring new life into the reading-writing workshop and calls for teachers to push back the frontiers of their thinking about teaching writing and reading. The book includes chapters on establishing courses of study in which children read and write memoir, picture…

Designed for administrators promoting music workshops for teachers, the packet presents a general workshop framework used by California Public Schools. Eight recommendations for planning a 30-hour workshop, and 12 hints for working with classroom teachers are listed. Each of the 15 sessions represents a two-hour block of time representing the…

This document contains an inservice presentation for teaching common problem solving strategies in mathematics word problems. Sections included are: (1) "Introduction"; (2) "Common Word Problem Strategies"; (3) "Break into Parts"; (4) "Guess and Check/Test"; (5) "Working Backwards"; (6) "Look For a Pattern"; (7) "Make or Construct a Table, Chart,…

This booklet reviews research on the middle school environment, the characteristics of the middle school student, and the factors involved in teaching effectively at the middle school level, and then proposes a method that middle school teachers can use for analyzing their own classroom behavior and their instructional options. The booklet's first…

Forty-seven elementary school teachers, librarians, curriculum specialists, and administrators participated in a research oriented education course that consisted of 15 television programs designed to help elementary school teachers and students analyze and understand economic concepts. Teachers also: (1) viewed programs with students; (2) used a…

The "Quest for Less" is designed for teachers in grades K-8 to use as one of the many tools in the development of lesson plans. Activities and concepts in this resource can be incorporated into existing curricula, or teachers can create special week-long units on the environment and solid waste or use the activities to commemorate Earth Day. This…

Noting that few would dispute the essential role of motivation in promoting academic engagement and achievement, this book serves as a guide to motivating students in grades K-3. The book presents research-based strategies and techniques that are then illustrated in three extended case studies of highly successful motivators, demonstrating how…

Presents a framework for teaching upper elementary students about assertiveness: teaching them differences between passive, aggressive, and assertive behavior; encouraging role playing; discussing when assertive behavior is appropriate; constantly reinforcing the lessons; and teaching alternatives. Tips for assertive communication are provided.…

Suggestions to help teachers create original multimedia presentations and lessons include building resource teams, knowing intellectual property and copyright issues, analyzing target audiences, carefully selecting media, considering hardware and software requirements, seeking technical support, encouraging distribution on the World Wide Web,…

Describes a program placing college juniors in elementary school classrooms as part of their teacher methods courses. Stresses the importance of communication with and involvement by the school teachers and administrators in implementing such programs. Presents summary results of the program's qualitative evaluation. (PAA)

Discusses the implementation of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics standards in classrooms and schools. Provides recommendations for implementation including working together, beginning with small parts, using committees effectively; obtaining external contracts; and obtaining resources. (YP)

Explores one possible explanation for why student teaching of elementary science diverges from principles emphasized in methods courses. The explanation explored states that a student teacher in the classroom is influenced mainly by immediate situational analysis, rather than principles emphasized in coursework. (LZ)

Field trips to museums can enrich education, though teachers and parents must guide children's explorations and help them connect their previously gained knowledge with new information from the exhibits. The article describes a study of children in museums, discussing the findings and making suggestions for enhancing museum experiences. (SM)