Due in part to testing pressures, for years the science subject has taken a back seat to reading and math. And though topics like volcanos and time travel have the potential to get kids' attention, science's status as a curricular stepchild typically translates into dull textbooks and little budget for experiments or supplies. The tide is…

A fourth-grade teacher from Brooklyn (New York) explains how she organizes her students into heterogeneous groups for maximum learning, describing creative social studies, math, and reading groups and special groups to start off the school year. (SM)

Describes a task analysis procedure used by a fourth grade teacher to help her students become more aware of time wasted. (SB)

Presents a plan that includes daily drills, games, and take-home papers to help fourth-graders memorize the addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division tables. (SJL)

Bill Hutchison has Down syndrome and ADHD and has bitten, struck, tripped, and attempted to strangle teachers and other staff members at his school, Monocacy Elementary, in the past year. After these incidents, Frederick County Public School officials took an unusual step: They applied for a 10-day restraining order to prevent the boy from…