In this article, the author discusses group-time meetings for children as a way of helping them reflect on what has happened over the past school year and look ahead to new experiences. By inviting children to talk about their experiences over the past year, one can help them recognize and think about the changes that have taken place during the…

Fluency instruction can be seamlessly incorporated into any elementary classroom with the help of this indispensable guide. Provided are fluency development ideas that are effective and motivating, including whole-class and small-group lessons, student-managed activities, and procedures involving classroom volunteers. The emphasis on partner-based…

Noting that it is important in communication classes to devise ways to help students to be comfortable with each other, this paper maintains that icebreakers and group builders are strategies that are vital in creating openness and trust in such classes. The paper offers eight icebreakers (activities designed to help students feel comfortable with…

Daily warm-up exercises are advocated as a means of bridging the gap between previously unrelated activities outside the classroom and immersion into the second language, relaxing the class, and establishing a mood for communication. Variety, careful preparation, assuring that the students understand the activity, feeling free to discontinue an…

PHYSICAL EDUCATION ACTIVITIES FOR USE IN GRADES ONE THROUGH SIX ARE ENUMERATED AND DESCRIBED IN THIS MANUAL. UNITS OF THE MANUAL WHICH ARE CONCERNED WITH SIDEWALK GAMES, SCHOOLROOM GAMES, BALL GAMES FOR GRADES ONE AND TWO, STUNTS AND STUNT GAMES, AND GAMES OF LOW ORGANIZATION ARE PRESENTED IN A FORMAT WHICH CONSISTS OF (1) A LISTING OF CRITERIA BY…

The Idea Tree suggests a variety of ideas for using community resources in classroom activities. Several suggestions are made under each of the following headings: student assignments (individual activities, for later sharing, dealing with enrichment of the resource topic or to supplement background information); small group assignments; whole…

Most of the classroom activities suggested here were tried out by teachers with their own classes. Although the activities seem most appropriate for elementary grades, they might also be used by older students, especially those in schools not tied to orthodox curriculums. Many of the activities could be linked to subject matter, but others, like…

Article examines some of the processes by which a group of pupils work together to create a group response which will be acceptable to all of them, in the course of this bringing their private responses to a sharper focus. (Author)

Introduces documentation and presentation guidelines of the Society for Research into Higher Education (SRHE) for authors of games, simulations, and other activities suitable for an organizer or facilitator to adopt or adapt for courses or workshops. (Author/LLS)

Describes a game which can be used to acquaint students with the basic elements of narrative fiction. (DD)

Building a railroad or writing about it in class takes a lot of organization. (Editor)

Describes one elementary teacher's strategies to help students learn spelling using cooperative learning groups. Mixed-ability groups of four children are established, and students take turns being the caller, recorder, reader, and checker. Students retain more because of the amount of repetition. A weekly classroom spelling schedule is presented.…

Presents interactive activities and games designed to help teachers get to know new students quickly and help the students become comfortable with each other and their surroundings as the school year starts. The article addresses how to explore the new environment, handle concerns and conflicts, and work in cooperative groups. (SM)

Text rendering is a method of deconstructing text that allows students to make decisions regarding the importance of the text, select the portions that are most meaningful to them, and then share it with classmates--all without fear of being ridiculed. The research on students constructing meaning from text is clear. In order for knowledge to…

This paper is divided into three parts. The first explains concepts in the design of group activities that encourage learner cooperation, and ways in which they differ. Activities are distinguished by: (1) whether or not they involve learner time for planning language use before interaction; (2) whether they have one predetermined correct answer…