A special report on the impact of Early Childhood Education, its successes and failures. (Editor)

Every teacher knows the value of "make-its"--those recycled discardables turned into learning aids. Here are pages of them. Browse through, find the ones that fit or can be altered, and make a wealth of learning aids. (Author)

A popular elementary school teacher is made to face a past mistake by a student's hostile mother. Describes how, with the advice of her principal and school counselor, she overcame the problem and continued to teach her sixth-grade students. (RK)

Article gives three reports on how paraprofessionals can and do help to make classroom instruction better. (Author)

Alphabet names that don't correspond to their sounds can throw beginning readers off the track. This reading specialists renames some of the letters and teaches them to kids. (Editor)

Elsa Bunting, an elementary teacher, and her principal, Don Forrester, got along fine. But then Elsa was injured and was left with a 30 percent hearing disability. Forrester thought she should resign because of her handicap. Presents both points of view and the solution to the problem through proper counseling. (Editor/RK)

This article describes six strategies for teachers to use in organizing their desks and the space around them to make them more efficient and attractive. (SM)

Strategies for creating caring, positive classroom environments from the start include hanging pictures of people from around the world with mirrors to promote reflection, making signs that present concepts about rights, and creating name cards for saving work in progress. Questions for teachers to ask before school begins are included. (SM)

Presents a variety of strategies to help teachers find and use community resources to enhance education. Ideas include bringing history to life at a local historical society, cultivating business partners, working with childrens' museums, and collaborating with local organizations. Tips for tapping into community resources are included. (SM)

Many students who struggle with handwriting eventually dislike all writing. Positive teacher attitudes can change students' attitudes and encourage them to improve their penmanship. Two activities can help elementary students enjoy writing while improving their handwriting. One has students practice common strokes in letter formation. The other…

Spelling centers are useful as elementary students become adept at managing their spelling practice. Teachers can store regularly-used spelling materials at spelling stations. This article presents two spelling-station activities. One helps students become more aware of how to spell well. The other helps students make individual spelling lists and…

Presents literature-based activities that take division off the workbook pages and place it in situations to which children can relate. The activities help students understand division, devise strategies, and solve problems in context. Both activities involve reading stories then using division to solve real-life problems for story characters. (SM)

Presents three fun summer spelling activities for elementary school students and their parents. A kindergarten activity teaches children how sounds and letters make words. A second- through sixth-grade activity teaches the spelling of new words through games. A first- through second-grade activity reinforces correct spelling of high frequency…

Primary-level teachers can show their students that mathematics is all around them by turning classroom projects into opportunities for math practice. This across-the-curriculum activity gives pairs of students a problem-solving experience by having them figure out how to create journals with different numbers of pages. (SM)

Recruit the best decorating corps you have for this year's classroom makeover--your students! Not only does involving kids save money and effort on your part, teachers agree that it increases kids' sense of involvement and respect. In this article, the author presents 10 teacher-tested ideas for a classroom that shines with color and learning: (1)…