Two and a half years ago, elementary school librarians in the Birmingham Public School district (Troy, Michigan) had to change to a fixed schedule for half the day with kindergarten through second grade students. This change was due to cutbacks and the need for common planning time among classroom teachers. School librarians found themselves…

In Susan Gitting's classroom, writing is woven into every activity, whether it is a walk to the nature preserve or a science experiment. Authentic, shared experiences around engaging themes help the children connect their learning to existing knowledge, and learning standards guide Susan's planning. The authors describe the implementation of an…

This study examines the classroom experiences of 192 children followed longitudinally from kindergarten to 1st grade. Time-sampled observations of children were conducted to compare learning formats, teaching activities, and children's engagement in activities between kindergarten and 1st grade. Classroom observations also were conducted to…