How fears, phobias, anxiety and stress develop in elementary school students and how these students can be assisted in coping with fears and stress are discussed in this book. Part 1, "Discussion and Activities," contains six sections. Section 1 presents an overview of fears, and stress in children. Section 2 presents 12 fear-specific activities…

This ERIC Digest provides an overview of school-age child care (SACC) programs and suggests reasons for their growth. Discussion points out that escalating interest in SACC has paralleled the raising numbers of children left on their own, and that educators are only the latest in a parade of civic and professional groups which have gone on record…

Although peer leaders have been effectively assisting school staffs since the 1960s, they have recently assumed their most critical role to date. Peer leaders are leading other students through drug prevention curricula, particularly those based on the Special Influence Model (SIM), which seeks to stregthen students' awareness of and resistance to…

Research suggests that: (1) teachers' use of praise may lower students' confidence in themselves; (2) systematic use of praise as a reinforcer in the classroom is impractical; (3) praise is a weak reinforcer; (4) various forms of praise have different effects on different kinds of students; and (5) use of praise is not the most powerful method for…

This digest presents an overview of effective antiviolence strategies for use with elementary school children that educators can integrate into their schools and classrooms. The most effective antiviolence efforts focus on measures that prevent all types of children's bad conduct: aggression, bullying, and hate bullying. The most effective school…

Cooperation among students in classroom problem-solving activities is briefly discussed in terms of Piaget and cooperative problem-solving, guidelines for teachers, and the teacher's role. While research results are not unambiguous, teachers can encourage children to interact and share their perspectives during cooperative play by: (1) planning…

Family mathematics programs, based on family literacy programs, successfully teach math skills to both children and their parents. This digest describes specific strategies for teaching family mathematics. Schools can use these strategies as part of an overall program or as ad hoc family learning activities. In family math programs, program…

Cites the benefits of publishing student writing. Defines informal and formal publication. Discusses how students consider the audience. Offers further information on publishing student writing. (PRA)

Difficulties faced by homeless children include depression, low self-esteem, lack of sleep and nutrition, and feelings of shame and embarrassment. Challenges faced by schools in providing education to homeless children include: (1) keeping children in one school despite frequent family moves; (2) ensuring that children's health records are…

Although there are many content-rich resource sites for elementary and middle school students on the World Wide Web, finding such sites can often be difficult. This ERIC Digest describes K-8 curriculum related Web sites that will be of interest to students, teachers, parents, and librarians. The following types of sites are listed: collections of…

This ninth chapter in "Elementary School Counseling in a Changing World" contains four journal articles on ways that counselors can work to change children's misbehavior and foster productive behavior. "Changing Student Attitudes and Behavior Through Group Counseling" by Robert Myrick and R. Wiley Dixon presents results of a study showing that…

This Digest lists some of the common mistakes made by young readers and suggests teaching strategies that may be useful to teachers who are preparing their classes to take standardized tests. Children must learn to use the text to pick the answer, rather than relying on memory, especially when the story is a familiar one. Teachers can help…

The effectiveness of many specific drug prevention strategies is not known yet, primarily because of poor program evaluation design. However, evidence has shown that interventions based on the social influence model are effective. Regardless of strategies employed, all prevention programs must start early; involve coordinated efforts with the…

The current 9-month school calendar emerged when 85 percent of Americans were involved in agriculture. Today, only about 3 percent of Americans' livelihoods are tied to the agricultural cycle, and air-conditioning makes it possible for schools to provide comfortable learning environments year-round. Noting the National Education Commission on Time…

This fact sheet discusses the role of the school counselor in interventions for school phobia, transient and latchkey children, and children from single parent families. (MCF)