Presents a checklist of actions teachers can take to alleviate many problems common to the first day of school. For example, before students arrive, teachers can decorate the room, meet other teachers, mail students postcards, and post class rules. On opening day, teachers can greet students at the door, review rules, find someone to lean on, and…

The author of "Roots" gives some tips for launching family history projects with elementary students. He also tells why they are important. Included here is a tear-out-and-duplicate family tree chart which students can use in their own efforts. (Editor/RK)

The author is the Education Editor of the Ladies Home Journal and has interviewed many "superteachers". Here she cites their common denominators. (Editor/RK)

Eight color pages and 13 projects of art and crafts, none of which requires expensive materials or complicated processes. (Editor/RK)

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)

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)

Discusses how creative elementary teachers can recognize things that would be exciting for the people they are trying to guide. (GB)

Discusses classroom discipline and presents suggestions on how teachers can become more assertive in their classrooms. (CM)

Strategies are outlined for reinforcing and assessing what students have learned without producing a lot of paperwork to correct. Techniques include paper-free strategies and enriched worksheets that accomplish more with less paper. (IAH)

Presents strategies to help elementary teachers win grants for the classroom. The article includes information on grant sources, where to find out more about grants, and how to write winning grants. Examples of successful grant projects are provided, and announcement of a $500 Instructor grant competition is included. (SM)

Presents tips to help teachers best use their preparation time before school opens. Suggestions include making multiple student lists; designing classroom desk arrangements; reviewing cumulative records; adding desktop names and numbers; checking texts; posting correctable schedules; decorating only one bulletin board; creating box-trays for…

Students find American History more interesting when they set out to make a movie of the gold rush. (GB)

Author feels that the new math programs still reflect the too-heavy input of the mathematicians to the comparative neglect of elementary school personnel and cognitive-development psychologists. (Author)

Article discusses the five units of the metric system that are most important for elementary school teachers. (GB)

Suggests that exercise, diet, voice lessons, or a new look might do more for teaching effectiveness than graduate courses in education. (CM)