A discussion of how to use math manipulatives to teach elementary students focuses on essential program elements: what math manipulatives are and why they are used, common questions about math manipulatives, how one teacher introduced the geoboard into the classroom, and pattern block activities. (SM)

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)

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)

Presents a poetry across-the-curriculum activity designed to help primary school students build word-recognition skills and an appreciation for the natural world. Students read a poem about polliwogs aloud, discuss the sounds, examine spelling patterns, and investigate scientific details about polliwogs. The poem, "Polliwogs" is included. (SM)

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.…

Three hands-on science activities teach students about plant processes that they normally cannot detect. A K-3 activity has students explore how the presence of water affects plant motion. Two grade 4-6 activities let students see the path water takes through leaves and has students investigate how and why water travels through plants. (SM)

Suggests that much of the trouble people have with numbers is linguistic. Points out differences between language and mathematical dimensions of math terms. Gives tips concerning reading of math problems, finding out what messages children are receiving, and the importance of basic number facts and estimation. (RH)

This article presents a group project that uses math, science, and art to help elementary school students explore the tones of music in their own world. The children make music out of their own telephone numbers, create a soda bottle and drinking glass band, and graph their own telephone numbers. (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,…

Suggests some creative ideas in a number of learning areas for elementary education. (RK)

Discusses ways to improve mathematics instruction with an approach that leaves room in the mathematics program for incidental moments. (GB)

Most students who lag in reading can progress with the help of both classroom attention and individual tutoring. They do best when reading materials they enjoy and can read at a certain level. This article explains the 10 steps to successful tutoring and discusses what to do if students are nonreaders. (SM)

Presents four primary-level activities designed to help students learn to love words and enjoy the process of writing. The activities help students craft poems, build their vocabularies in writing, integrate more imagery into their writing using rebus stories, and find missing parts in their stories through questioning. (SM)

Classroom clubs make teaching easier and more productive. (CK)