Suggests field trips and other community exploration activities to show students that reading exists as a useful skill outside the classroom. (SJL)

Presents ideas for creating a purposeful classroom environment that will help students become strategic readers. Suggestions include using the conference table to learn about students as readers, organizing books to help children make wise choices, and creating a meeting area that invites discussion. (SM)

Two tools for helping students develop a sense of responsibility for their learning are presented. An "I Can" chart encourages students to reflect on their learning and state on a chart what they can do after a skill has been learned. A "My Goals" list helps students set personal goals based on class objectives. (SM)

Examines the reasons why a child's writing gets bogged down and discusses ways in which the child can be gently encouraged to take writing risks. Also included are descriptions of writing exercises designed to stretch student creativity. (GLR)

Presents innovative, multiple intelligence math practices that can boost student learning and promote fun in the classroom. Suggestions include doing picture book math, working on open-ended problems, doing math all day and everywhere, and working on cooperative group math. (SM)

Childrens' historical books by author Jean Fritz offer teachers a stepping stone to fun and interesting history units. Make-believe journeys, time lines, role playing, and storytelling activities based on the Fritz biographies help children learn many different skills. (DF)

Article described a plan to develop integrated study through music activities. Students learned to become more independent learners while concentrating on more complex and creative activities. (Author/RK)

In an interview, Amitai Etzioni, a social scientist and director of the Center for Policy Research at George Washington University, discusses his ideas for stronger schools, at the heart of which are self-motivated students who are self-disciplined and responsible. (JMK)

This feature tells how one teacher would arrange a sensible reading program that not only teaches children how to read but how to use reading as a skill. It also reports on how five schools encourage the reading habit. (Editor/SJL)

An inner city school solved its attendance problem by developing special attendance teams that helped promote plans of positive action to prevent children from becoming chronic absentees and potential dropouts. (Author/RK)

Shared reading lets elementary teachers show children what reading is about. Teachers read the text aloud and encourage students to read along. All levels of readers can participate. Teachers can do letter or sound searches to help children understand how to use what they know about letters and spelling patterns in order to read unfamiliar words.…

Articles focused on speech prejudice and how to overcome it, a reading program that stressed student interests, a learning experience in which elementary students designed a small zoo, and suggestions for developing nonverbal communication between students and their teachers. (RK)

Now that students' learning styles have been diagnosed (AA 527 074) and the classroom rearranged to accommodate the various learning styles (AA 527 220), the authors develop a learning program designed to meet the individual needs of each student. (Author/RK)

Techniques for helping students who are inconsistent in their efforts and their work are discussed. (MT)

A teacher looks back at his experiences as a student teacher learning to cope with the open classroom. (RK)