Three assessment strategies to help elementary teachers gather information about their students' reading (and thus direct their teaching) include keeping running records of students' oral reading, requesting retellings of stories to determine students' comprehension, and talking seriously about reading with students to determine their overall…

A study of fifth and sixth grade public school students in Israel suggests that grades and other norm-referenced methods are less effective than task-involving evaluation methods in enhancing student performance, interest, and motivation. This article consists of two commentaries on the findings, with suggestions for implementing task-involving…

To motivate students to read, it is important for teachers to teach the reader, not the reading. This article presents three strategies for accomplishing this: studying the child, not the book; focusing on students' reading lives and knowing them as readers; and thinking of students as readers. (SM)

Presents a collection of inexpensive, nonsugary rewards for students who demonstrate extra effort and fine achievement. They include a skip-a-spelling-test pass, a skip-homework pass, special lunches with the teacher, first place blue ribbons, big-goals celebrations, and a special, comfortable chair that students can use on a rotating basis. (SM)

Need a motivation idea to spark interest? Try a science week, a math carnival, what have you. Stress the doing, not merely the viewing. (Editor)

How do children best learn science? Not by being told about it, and not by watching someone else perform science demonstrations. Children best learn science by doing science, says the author. (Editor/RK)

What do a circus, a gold mine, karate, and Bigfoot have to do with reading? They're four of the 42 ways to get your kids into books. Prepared especially for Children's Book Week, "READATHON" is loaded with all kinds of ideas. (Editor)

From elementary science to creative writing--here are over 30 good ideas for stimulating elementary students to learn through discovery processes. (RK)

Ever wish you could give your classroom a face-lifting? You can, inexpensively and effectively. To show you how, the Instructor staff invaded two rooms at Dansville Elementary School to help solve some problems. You'll be intrigued by their suggestions and encouraged to try your own ideas. (Editor/RK)

Why are puppets unique educational resources? How can teachers take advantage of this inexpensive, simple, effective teaching medium? Explores those qualities in puppets which make them so useful for instruction. (Author/RK)

Television science programs cover a wide range of science topics, offer a variety of teaching methods, and motivate students. These programs tend to match educational trends, with new programs blending technological advances with speculation to interest students. (DF)

Many American children are lacking in the area of physical fitness due to lack of activity. Suggestions for developing a health and exercise routine to be used in the classroom are offered. (DF)

For homework assignments to be effective, they must serve to develop skills and help students gain a sense of accomplishment. Suggestions for developing interesting, positive homework assignments that use contracts and skill cards are offered. (DF)

Artists and writers from Maine were asked to develop creative activities for a sixth-grade class. Students were encouraged to observe nature, investigate their ancestors, design logos, and think about the impossible. Several of the activities that could be adopted to relate to other states are presented. (DF)

Discusses the development of an environmental studies center, which provides opportunities for students to learn about all aspects of the environment. (RK)