Educators are responsible for creating classroom environments that encourages attentiveness and curiosity while minimizing distractions and discipline problems. The author of this article suggests several ways for teachers to maintain a classroom's physical organization in terms of physical, academic, and aesthetic ambience.

The relative effectiveness of a nongraded approach and a traditional graded approach was studied. Seventh-grade pupils in six junior high schools were the subjects. Results did not provide evidence of the superiority of either schooling method. However, the different environments may impact differentially on pupils. (MP)

Likening gifted teaching to artistry in other fields, such as music, the author reports on some experimental attempts to define virtuosity in teaching. The qualities he delineates include common sense, intuition, imagination, understanding of both subject and learner, and dexterity in "staging" learning experiences. (SJL)

Focuses on structured interpersonal communication (group-writing assignments) as a way of increasing student achievement of business-writing skills. Studies the effect of the length of class period on student achievement when structured interpersonal communication activities are used. (CT)

A high school English teacher recounts her experiences in taking over sponsorship of the school newspaper. (SJL)

Presents tips and a checklist to help primary teachers prepare for a new school year. Suggests that in August the teacher should prepare the classroom, decide on the schedule and class rules, meet parents, and prepare a teaching plan for the first day of school. (SJL)

Suggests recordkeeping and planning techniques that will help the music teacher to keep track of individual students, reward achievements, organize lesson plans and supplementary materials, and, in general, keep the music program running smoothly. (SJL)

Helping students to appreciate and consequently accept responsibility for planning their learning experiences in partnership with the teacher takes time, patience, and knowledge to facilitate this emerging ability. These guidelines and suggestions are intended to help in this task. (Author/SJL)

The author, who changed her French class from a traditional, teacher-directed format to independent study, explains the benefits she found in this new system, particularly in the change of her own role. (SJL)

From his own teaching experience, the author presents his views on the essentials of effective writing instruction: diagnostic testing, student grouping, meaningful assignments, and the teacher as model. He also presents some of his techniques for teaching observational skills, exactness, and logical sequence. (SJL)

Describes some of the ways in which students can be organized for reading and writing instruction. Suggests that educators must first identify the key components of literacy, then clarify a view of instruction and learning. Argues that recent literacy research has analyzed processes and texts but has overlooked the larger literacy contexts. (SG)

Suggestions are offered for organizing classrooms to promote learning by all students, including those with special educational needs. Two case studies illustrate the impact of reorganization of intermediate grade classrooms in terms of time on task, motivation, noise level, teacher-student communication, and other factors. (JDD)

Every Saturday morning La Crosse, Wisconsin, high school students can earn credit for a failed semester without interrupting the rest of their academic schedule. During the first year of Saturday School, approximately 75 students made up failed courses and regained their confidence in their ability to succeed academically. (MLF)

By giving each student a number to keep throughout the school year, teachers can maintain efficient classrooms. The paper describes this classroom management system, in which students apply for classroom jobs. The numbers can be used for homework and classroom assignments, organizing attendance, choosing teams, drawing names, and teacher files.…

Discusses literacy experiences in a multiage classroom, noting different kinds of groupings and showing how the teacher grouped and regrouped the children on a typical school day. Argues that flexible grouping is an effective organizational approach appropriate to any classroom. (SR)