Recognizes elementary teachers' lack of training in art education and presents approaches to aid them in art instruction. Discusses types of art and projects that can be implemented in the classroom to give students an appreciation for a wide range of art. (DMM)

Secretary of Education William Bennett discusses the importance of elementary education and elementary school teachers and what he hopes "First Lessons: A Report on Elementary Education in America" will accomplish. (MT)

Twenty-two mathematics educators were asked to list the ten most important books for a classroom teacher of elementary school mathematics to read. One hundred fifteen books are listed; 11 titles were named five or more times. (MNS)

A plea is made for the mathematics education community to support the need for elementary school mathematics specialists. Roles of such specialists in primary as well as intermediate grades are listed. (MNS)

Describes teacher-initiated activities to involve parents in their children's education. (CM)

To examine how knowledge of history and politics informs the early education and child care field, this paper identifies sources of historical knowledge and unexamined underlying presuppositions frequently held by early childhood professionals which, if allowed to remain unchallenged, contribute to professional burn-out, repeated frustration at…

Reviews representative instructional studies of inference training, reciprocal teaching, and process training. Discusses both the concept of explicit comprehension instruction and potential difficulties in classroom implementation. Raises two important curricular concerns. (NH)

While 15 years ago only a few schools had microcomputers, today a majority of public schools have some computers, although an adequate number of computers for students to use is still in the future. Unfortunately, statistics show that, in many states, a higher percentage of male students are enrolled in computer classes than female; boys seem to…

The purpose of this paper is to assist early childhood teachers in developing curriculum content by considering the philosophical issues that surround the curriculum decision-making process. Curriculum development is construed in terms of a multi-step decision-making process through which teachers progress. Steps of the process are: (1)…

A conference between a teacher and supervisor is described to model for a successful postobservational conference. Interaction between an elementary schoolteacher and a science supervisor is specifically detailed. (MP)

As early childhood teachers apply principles of guidance rather than punishment in their classrooms, they face the challenge of avoiding a slippage into traditional discipline practices and transcending the punitive aspects of discipline. Guidance is designed to teach children democratic life skills and therefore goes beyond discipline. Teachers…

Preservice elementary teachers need to be introduced to computer use first and then applications should be integrated across the curriculum. A program of computer education for elementary school teachers and computer specialists is presented. (MNS)

Local alliances of elementary, secondary, and college and university foreign language and literature teachers meeting regularly to improve foreign language programs and enrich the quality of their own intellectual and professional lives are a growing phenomenon in the United States. The groups have challenged the hierarchically organized system of…

There is no easy way to get from research on teaching to teaching practice; moreover, trying to make teaching practices directly out of research can have destructive effects for teaching. Research can be extremely beneficial when results are linked with teachers' goals, and when teachers are aware that a specific occasion is appropriate for…

The simultaneous presence of faculty growth and a sense of faculty community can help a good school really shine. This article explores ways in which a school environment supporting these two factors can be developed and maintained, using the private Sidwell Friends Lower School in Washington, D.C., as an example. (PGD)