Students with learning disabilities (LD) often face significant difficulties in reading. Research has found a variety of different evidence-based practices to support the reading development of students with LD in areas such as word work, vocabulary, and reading comprehension. However, these practices are most often intended for use in traditional…

This Framework is built upon the foundation of the 2003 and 1997 "Massachusetts History and Social Science Curriculum Frameworks." Based in research on effective practice, it represents the contributions of members of the History and Social Science Curriculum Framework Review Panel, scholars who served as Content Advisors, and the more…

This article describes a new technique for improving the reading comprehension of elementary students. The Coop-Dis-Q technique combines cooperative learning, discussion, and questioning strategies to create a synergistic instructional effect. The specific steps of the technique and successful use of the technique in a fifth-grade classroom are…

Suggestions are offered for implementing a collaborative approach to teaching self-questioning and applying this approach to foster the self-regulated learner. Collaborative self-questioning was used in two settings: with adults who were poor readers and with fourth- and fifth-grade students with learning and language disabilities. (SW)

Part of the new Knowledge Essentials series, "Fourth Grade Success" shows parents how to enrich their children's classroom learning and take an active role in their fourth graders' education by exploring: (1) What fourth graders are learning at school and the educational standards to expect in math, language arts, science, and social studies; (2)…

A fifth-grade teacher describes her investigation of direct teaching of collaborative skills, explaining how she taught explicit cooperative skills and documented her findings. The teacher describes patterns of higher-quality journal entries, improved collaborative skills, increased self-esteem, transfer of collaborative skills to new contexts,…

Summarizes research for teaching writing to students with learning problems. Develops, from the literature review, a checklist of instructional features and uses of the checklist to examine two fifth-grade basal textbooks. Concludes by recommending modifications: add modeling to the instruction, make parts of the instruction more explicitly…

Planning ideas and follow-up activities are described for a reciprocal exchange program between groups of 5th and 6th grade students in Manitoba who are "twinned" with another school in the province. Emphasis is on providing learning experiences which help students become familiar with the economic activity in the area, with the local government…

Intended for parents of fifth grade children who are participating in Chapter 1 programs, the learning activities in this booklet give children practice with reading and writing. Among the language skills covered are (1) vocabulary in context; (2) phonetic analysis--consonant sounds and letters; (3) structural analysis--root word endings,…

Part of the "Nutrition Education-Choose Well, Be Well" curriculum series, this guide was developed to help teachers, food service personnel, professionals, and parents provide nutrition education and make nutrition come alive in the classroom, home, or cafeteria. Organized by grade level (from fourth through sixth), activities described…

Studies effectiveness of using computer simulation in a fifth grade social studies class. Concludes that a computer simulation can be used as an adjunct to teaching and that one computer may be used as effectively as many in the classroom. States that educators should use software that incorporates graphics, cuing, randomization, immediate…

Notes that motivation for learning declines during the middle-grade years and presents suggestions for reversing negative trends in learning, students' willingness to accept challenges, and their feelings of competence and autonomy. Provides instructional-support strategies to address in the mathematics curriculum adolescents' needs for challenge,…

This booklet was prepared for the parents of fifth-grade children who are participating in the Chapter 1 programs in Louisiana. Activities which will give children practice with every mathematics skill which must be learned before going to grade 6 are included. For each skill there are at least two pages of practice plus a test question similar to…

Student involvement in a continuous, integrated, and sequential program of awareness, exposure, and skill development can have an immediate impact upon values clarification and knowledge acquisition, and a long-range effect upon social change and environmental stewardship. Designed to suit the learning styles of students, the activities are…

Junior Great Books discussions were used to teach critical thinking skills and independent learning behaviors to learning-disabled 5th-grade students. In baseline observations, the seven learning-disabled students exhibited active off-task behaviors and disruptive behavior causing dismissal from the group, while seven students in a…