Describes how reading and art have taught the author to slow down. Discusses how she wants her students to leave the third-grade classroom reading--reading words, reading pictures, and reading their world. Considers how one student slows down her reading, pays attention to her thinking, and begins to see the pictures and connections that poems…

Describes a lesson plan that instructs third graders to use graphs. Explains learning objectives, motivating students, conducting a class activity that includes graph construction, and concluding and evaluating the lesson. Lists materials needed. (GG)

Presents five activities for grades 3-6 which show how to harness the fun of Halloween to achieve social studies goals such as values clarification, critical thinking, personal decision making, and inquiry. States that Halloween's rich history, contemporary customs, ancient rituals, and myths provide a high-interest background of common experience…

Presents an alternative to traditional story-problem instruction in which students write their own mathematics stories about familiar situations involving problems that can be resolved with the aid of mathematics. Provides excerpts from a typical class discussion to resolve the problem. (16 references) (MDH)

"The Comprehension Toolkit" focuses on reading, writing, talking, listening, and investigating, to deepen understanding of nonfiction texts. With a focus on strategic thinking, this toolkit's lessons provide a foundation for developing independent readers and learners. It also provides an alternative to the traditional assign and correct…

Describes a third-grade instructional unit that begins with a basic introduction to African geography and culture. Children's books, from sources as diverse as current politics and Masai folk tales, are used to illustrate key concepts and places. Includes a list of children's books used in the lessons. (MJP)