Profiled in this report are three Oregon first-grade teachers--the state's 1984 Teacher of the Year and two other finalists for that title. Distinguishing characteristics of the teaching approach of Jonelle Maurer of the Lincoln Elementary School in Grants Pass include phonics and group reading instruction, the use of activity centers, and a…

The first of two documents presented, "Better Mathematics for K-8" (Iris M. Carl), describes the underlying assumptions, purpose, origin, formation, goals, and content of the "Curriculum and Evaluation Standards for School Mathematics" produced by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM). Information on implementing the Standards is…

Aspects of the spoken language development of the preschool and primary school child are briefly covered, with specific attention given to receptive and expressive language, semantics, syntax, memory, articulation, pragmatics, and metalanguage. Developmental norms are indicated in the areas of vocabulary development, sentence structure…

A comprehensive mathematics program for grade 2 is presented in 58 units. These units are organized around four central themes: (1) number and numeration; (2) operations with numbers; (3) geometry and measurement; and (4) graphs, problem solving, and probability. A spiral approach is used with various topics being indexed as to unit and page.…

A comprehensive mathematics program for grade 3 is presented in 66 units. These units are organized around four central themes: (1) number and numeration; (2) operations with numbers; (3) geometry and measurement; and (4) algebraic concepts, graphs, probability, statistics, and problem-solving. A spiral approach is used with various topics being…

This issue describes the state of reading and literacy in the United States from kindergarten into adulthood. Data from a number of sources make it possible to draw a picture of literacy at all educational levels. The most striking and troubling observation is the wide differentials between racial and ethnic groups, beginning in kindergarten and…

"The Goldfinch" is a magazine oriented toward young children and intended to introduce said audience to many different aspects of Iowa history. Each issue focuses on a different topic, and features a number of articles that discuss the topic in more depth. The topic for this issue is Iowa Inventors. Featured articles highlight women…

"In Brief" focuses on K-12 mathematics and science research and implications for policymakers, educators, and researchers seeking to improve student learning and achievement This brief highlights the learning gains of 240 elementary students involved in a long-term study in Madison, Wisconsin and their remarkable ability to reason with arithmetic…

This article provides early elementary school teachers with specific strategies to support the diverse needs of children who are vulnerable for failure in school. Children who are vulnerable include those who have an increased risk for failure because of specific characteristics that have been found to predict problems in school, such as poverty.…

Several math activities designed to teach patterns which can be found in arrays of 16 squares organized into a four-by-four pattern are presented in this issue of "Student Math Notes." The activities include: (1) determining how many squares and rectangles are contained in a four-by-four array; (2) figuring out the least number of lines…

This collection of eight articles was written to assist schools in rethinking and strengthening social studies programs, grades K-6. The articles offer practical suggestions for classroom teachers, social studies supervisors, and other professionals who have responsibility for planning and implementing programs. The issue begins with an article by…

This document, intended for elementary students, contains articles and activities designed to acquaint young people with the history of Des Moines, Iowa. The articles are short, and new or difficult words are highlighted and defined for young readers. "The Raccoon River Indian Agency" discusses the archeological exploration of the indian…

This report summarizes a two-phase research project on the strategies used by headteachers in small Scottish primary schools to manage mandated educational changes. The research focused on four initiatives of the past decade: 5-14 Curriculum Guidelines, School Development Planning, Staff Development and Appraisal, and Devolved School Management.…

After introductory material focusing on the nature of children's awareness of nuclear weapons, the anxieties of preschool and school age children are described. Topics discussed include fear of the bomb, fear of loss of family members, level of cognitive development and understanding of nuclear processes, and helping younger children cope. Adult…

School mathematics is governed by a powerful tradition as regards both content and methods. In the first stage of the Alternative Course of Mathematics (ALM) project, an analysis is being made of the mathematics used in the everyday life of the community. By interviewing adults and children outside school, an analysis is also being made of the way…