It is easy for intermediate students to get the wrong ideas about the purpose of reading. Educators pay so much attention to decoding and fluency in the early years that children sometimes come to believe that flawless and rapid word recognition is the point. As texts get more demanding or unfamiliar, some of the "good readers" in classes begin to…

A teacher describes her solution to discipline problems in her classroom, a method she calls positive discipline. Students attend "night school" with humorous course offerings entitled Janitorial Skills, Silence Is Golden, Get to Know Your Notebook, Artful Dodging, and Learning a New Language. (MT)

A good way to introduce students to the subject of peace and friendship is to celebrate the International Day of Peace. Activities in language arts, media/drama, physical education, art/music, social studies, and science/math are suggested. A list of resources concludes the article. (MT)

Outlines 39 multidisciplinary learning activities about the circus, 19 for the primary grades and 20 for the middle grades. (SJL)

Describes an elective infant-care course being offered to fifth- and sixth-grade boys from Collegiate School in New York City. (SJL)

A recent study of reading instruction in 28 resource rooms designed for learning-disabled students is described. Program effectiveness was found to be determined by use of student time, method of instruction, and coordination between resource teachers and classroom teachers. Ways to use resource rooms more effectively are suggested. (MT)

A research paper can be seen as a reasonable goal by students if the teacher focuses on the process of writing as much as on the final product. The steps involved are explained and a reproducible progress chart is included. (MT)

Suggestions for a study unit for intermediate grades on the Viking discovery of North America are offered. Class activities and resources are listed. (MT)

This article presents a rationale for using songwriting in the elementary grades and outlines a plan by which a whole class of fifth- or sixth-graders can work together to write a song. (SJL)

Describes a system utilizing numbered chips to teach middle graders to manipulate positive and negative integers. (SJL)

A teacher explains the procedures she uses to prepare her fifth and sixth graders for taking multiple-choice standardized tests. (SJL)

This presents several classroom activities that have been adapted from the Expedition Yellowstone program activities for fourth, fifth and sixth graders. Language arts, science, math, and social studies activities are presented. Expedition Yellowstone activities focus on the geology, ecology, animal life, and history of Yellowstone Park. (IAH)

One fourth grade class studied Van Gogh by investigating his art and life on the computer, painting still lifes, then learning to draw in perspective, creating colorful images of their own bedrooms using Van Gogh's bedroom as a model. Students extended their learning by examining relevant literature and completing timelines, biographical reports,…

Students and teachers at a middle school show that they can not only help a physically handicapped student adjust to his school environment but also become as much a part of the student body as any other student. (RK)

A national survey of 806 children, aged 8-13, revealed children's attitudes regarding television viewing, college plans, career choices, spending habits and wishes, favorite books, people they admire, things that make them angry or happy, things they are afraid of, disliked foods, and interesting things about school. (CB)