This article discusses the results of a survey of more than 1,300 new teachers regarding reasons for becoming teachers, beliefs about sex education, values education, and many other current issues. (MT)

Five examples are used to show how a teacher can help pupils recognize their own self worth. (MT)

Substitute teachers who perceive a school staff as supportive have greater confidence and are more effective. Tips to help both the substitute and the students have a pleasant and productive day are offered. (MT)

Discusses what teachers must know to help children cope with loss (death, divorce, and moving), explaining that for most children, loss and fear go together, and noting that it is often the teacher who first identifies how difficult a loss is for a child. A sidebar presents tips on dealing with loss in the classroom (being attentive, sensitive,…

Ways that teachers can prepare themselves for a class with a mainstreamed disabled student are described, including obtaining information about the specific disability, visiting the child and parents at home, reflecting upon personal attitudes about disabilities, setting up for a wheelchair user, working with visually- or hearing-impaired…

Health authorities believe that formal instruction about Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is crucial by grades 6 to 8. Teachers of primary children, however, need to be prepared to answer questions in a knowledgeable, reassuring way. Resources are listed. (MT)

The author suggests that an informed, optimistic approach can bring new confidence to the epileptic child in the classroom. Types of seizures are described, as are positive techniques and approaches which would be advantageous for the teacher to adopt. (KC)

Describes some common vision problems and lists classroom behavior symptoms which may help the classroom teacher to detect a child with poor vision. (SJL)

The author discusses social and emotional problems common to gifted children who feel "different" and suggests counseling techniques elementary teachers can use to address these problems, build self-concept, promote interpersonal skills, and improve school performance. (SJL)

A psychologist provides helpful suggestions for teachers having trouble with negativistic, impulsive, passive-dependent, and anxious children. (CM)

Several ways teachers can nurture elementary learners include helping students become responsible, validating feelings and opinions, helping students strive for their own excellence, guiding behavior through questions and suggestions, reducing rivalries, and tuning in to children's needs, interests, and abilities. (SM)

Maintaining a high "synergy" classroom, when the total effect of the people in an environment seems to be greater than the sum of the effort of the individuals, requires a commitment to a cooperative learning environment and hard work. Here are some learning activities designed to provide students with "synergy" all year long. (Author/RK)

Adult guidance and discussion are two elements necessary to transform children from passive consumers into active critics of the social world presented by television. Ways in which teachers can help students scrutinize what they see on television are discussed. (CB)

Research psychologist Howard Gardner susggests that there are at least seven intelligences and that competence in these intelligences varies. The biological and cultural bases of this theory is explored. Implications for teachers are offered. (DF)

To be successful, individualized instruction must be introduced gradually. Children, especially those in the primary grades, do not know how to use freedom and initiative in the classroom. They must be taught this before individualization is implemented. (SJL)