An elementary school teacher discusses what it was like to have a child with attention deficit disorder in her class. She describes the process of getting him diagnosed and notes strategies that helped her cope with the disorder at school. (SM)

By giving each student a number to keep throughout the school year, teachers can maintain efficient classrooms. The paper describes this classroom management system, in which students apply for classroom jobs. The numbers can be used for homework and classroom assignments, organizing attendance, choosing teams, drawing names, and teacher files.…

A tear-out folder for teachers creates a working reference file on student motivation. The file includes a glossary and explanations of what holds students' attention, how to motivate students, and how to evaluate the classroom environment to determine how the teacher's words and the classroom atmosphere affect student motivation. (SM)

Presents strategies that involve students in managing their own classrooms. The ideas include a teacher's mailbox for student suggestions, a classroom bill of rights and responsibilities, class jobs, an evaluation calendar, a bulletin board company, and an advice-to-the-teacher card. A student page offers an evaluation calendar. (SM)

Class meetings can help prepare students for substitutes. The process might involve explaining the meeting's purpose, sharing feelings about substitutes, imagining class with a substitute, brainstorming ways to help, planning how to implement students' ideas, writing partner biographies for the substitutes, inviting substitutes as guest speakers,…

Children today face unprecedented fears, many of which were previously faced only by adults. The paper examines the results of a nationwide survey conducted by the organization "KidsPeace" about children's (ages 10-13) fears, discussing what teachers can do to provide students with the support and guidance they need. A list of resources to help…

Most teachers do not have enough training to teach reading, and many students, especially special needs students, cannot adapt to traditional instruction. The paper stresses the importance of a rich language environment at school to benefit students who lack it at home. Students can also benefit from a multisensory approach. (SM)

A primary teacher describes what it was like for her to have a first grade student with Tourette Syndrome. After discussing diagnosis and intervention, she makes suggestions for teachers who think they have students with similar problems. (SM)

A gender equity quiz helps elementary teachers determine whether their classrooms are fair to students of both sexes. The quiz looks at such areas as teacher-parent interaction, teacher-student relationships, teacher expectations of students, classroom techniques, discipline, gender roles, role models, and questioning techniques. (SM)

Describes a difficult sixth grade girl who spent her elementary school years fighting to feel happy. The article focuses on a teacher's efforts to raise the child's self-esteem by examining her home life then taking appropriate steps to encourage success (e.g., tutoring younger students). (SM)