Teachers are rarely prepared for violence, and their idealism may undermine credibility and lead to disillusionment. Reality, therefore, must inform theory to equip educators with action-based solutions. Teachers need adequate preparation on handling students who bring weapons to school. The paper presents principles to ponder regarding school…

At some schools, teachers deal with the reality that the majority of their students live in poverty; at others, where only pockets of poverty exist, teachers may become complacent in their "middle-classness." At many rural and suburban schools, the minority of low-income students can be rendered invisible to teachers. Unfortunately,…

This article describes "thematic teaching," defined as a process of integrating and linking multiple elements of a curriculum in an ongoing exploration of many different aspects of a topic or subject. Thematic teaching is about students actively constructing their own knowledge. In classrooms where successful thematic work is in…

The authors suggest that it may be impossible for American teachers to adopt the British Infant School Model. (Editor)

The history of education may also be a history of society. Today's problem is that too few want to look at history in seeking to improve education. (Editor/RK)

The authors examine each of Raths' 10 components of teaching for its applicability to middle school teaching, given the particular characteristics and needs of the young adolescent learner. They end by rephrasing Raths' components so that they apply directly to teaching in the middle school. (SJL)

Ineffective schools are typically led by ineffective principals. This paper examines the ways that administrators can be problematic, how teachers can detect principal ineffectiveness, teacher-response strategies, how teachers can keep the school running, the importance of teachers exhibiting model behavior, and how teachers should return the…

Teachers need sound skills and knowledge to manage their classrooms effectively. Without rules, rewards, and consequences, students will care little about learning. This paper discusses managing with an overall plan, motivating students using rewards, viewing consequences as results, and examining the task ahead. Suggests that guidelines and…

An experienced student teacher supervisor offers some beneficial information for those in and entering the field of education, including the advice to let student teachers do as much as they are able to do and as much as the cooperating teacher is willing to give up. (KC)

Describes small-scale volunteer program developed at Barnett Shoals School, Clarke County, Georgia. (DS)

Describes the group leadership skills that a teacher needs to conduct a class meeting according to William Glasser's reality therapy model. (SJL)

Summarizes some recent writings on ways that schools can aid in the treatment and prevention of child abuse, particularly the role of the teacher in identifying abused or neglected children. (SJL)

Describes how one district developed a mentoring program for beginning teachers to reduce the risk of attrition resulting from the hierarchy found in many school systems. The district determined a program mission, goals, and roles and responsibilities. An ongoing program assessment ensures that the program continues to offer valuable help to new…