Teachers and parents, working together, can help students reach their potential. They must set realistic, achievable goals and realize that no one makes progress all the time. The paper discusses what to do when a child underachieves and how teachers can prepare parents to deal with a student's poor grades. (SM)

Teachers can encourage their elementary students to write by demonstrating writing themselves frequently throughout the day. The paper discusses how teachers can become more comfortable with their own writing in order to use it to teach, then offers suggestions on how to write in class and share it with students. (SM)

Presents strategies to help elementary students be more confident and prepared and score higher on standardized tests. The strategies involve briefly reviewing sample tests to familiarize students with common test formats, then focusing on strategies built into their reading, writing, math, science, and social studies plans. (SM)

Elementary school students need to work independently during writing time and monitor and assess their own progress. This paper describes self-designed rubrics, which teachers create with the help of their students. A class activity sheet explains how to create writing rubrics based on needs and goals that students identify. (SM)

Presents suggestions from teachers who use computers to enhance education, including six ways to use the World Wide Web to support reading, the computer as a classroom management tool, and computerized scanning of photographs or images. (SM)

This K-3 social studies activity combines art and language arts with social studies skills and attitudes. Teachers use the old Japanese tradition of story cards to check students' comprehension, give them practice in oral communication, and develop their visual/spatial intelligence, all while teaching them about another culture. (SM)

Three science experiments teach elementary school students about marine-life locomotion. One teaches primary students how octopi and jellyfish move, using balloons and umbrellas. Another teaches K-6 students the up and down movement of fish in water, using condiment packets. A third teaches 4-6 students about the effect of fish swim bladders,…

This article reports the results of a survey that "Instructor" magazine asked their readers to complete. Teachers responded on such topics as: (1) quality of their instruction; (2) diversity of curriculum; (3) their schools' problems; (4) opinion of their principals, superintendents, and school board members; (5) future of the teaching profession;…

A collection of tips for teachers offers information on creative class projects; parent involvement; teacher grants; the National Student Editorial Cartoon Contest; a guide to good studying; a tribute to Christa McAuliffe; the Michael Jordan Education Club; good literature; classroom techniques; and language arts, math, and social studies…

Suggests ways for teachers to help elementary school children connect with history by enhancing their natural interest in stories. The approaches, adaptable to any age and topic, include using children's literature, acting, and storytelling. Stories of the past provide a base upon which children build larger ideas about history. (SM)

Describes strategies to help students learn how to evaluate their own work using portfolio assessment, a gradual process that enables students to think reflectively about their work. The paper discusses what is involved in teaching students to understand the terms and participate in the process. (SM)

Offers suggestions on helping foster children adjust and succeed at home and school. Drawing on advice from a child psychologist and an adoption/foster care expert, the paper discusses how foster care and adoption work, how the school can help, and what the families need. (SM)

All teachers probably want to save hours of planning per week, as well as create innovative lesson plans that connect with kids. This article presents several teachers who have saved hours of planning by embracing technology in their classrooms. This article also provides several strategies that teachers can use to save a great amount of…

Three articles present suggestions to help elementary teachers promote student development. The first describes games that encourage a sense of community. The second deals with making parent teacher conferences a positive experience. The third discusses how to give confused children who are involved in custody battles an alternative to acting out.…

This theme unit includes elementary-level language arts, math, science, art, and critical-thinking activities about gardening. A full-color poetry mini-poster and an idea for growing a special Mother's Day tea are also included. Students learn about different types of gardens as they grow their own plants, and develop a vocabulary of flower names.…