The first step in helping students to think more creatively is to create a safe and inviting atmosphere. A discussion of the basic skills of creativity: fluency, originality, flexibility and elaboration, lays the foundation for suggestions for developing creative thinking within the framework of the existing curriculum. (JD)

A city-wide elementary school reading program that emphasizes mastery learning and continuous progress in Chicago, Continuous Progress--Mastery Learning, is blamed for the declining reading test scores of high school students there. The program's origins and evolution are described along with a new program, Chicago Mastery Learning Reading, which…

Suggestions for developing creative and original science fairs include trying new categories, issuing a challenge, and involving the community. (DF)

What makes the surge in learning disabled (LD) children disturbing is that no one clearly understands what LD really means. LD is usually defined in terms of disability, deficiency, and disadvantage--rather than ability, asset, and advantage. Studies now reveal that LD children actually possess positive learning styles and abilities that were…

A description is given of how an art teacher increased childrens' observational skills by teaching them to focus on the subtle visual details of natural objects. A brief list of helpful books is provided. (JD)

Various techniques are described for which a teacher might use dramatics in a classroom situation. Questions which might be asked by the classroom teacher include: purpose and use of drama in the classroom; development of skills; classroom space problems; and time. (JN)

A teacher describes writing activities for second graders that encouraged development of writing skills and enthusiasm through writing conferences, peer support, and sharing. (CB)

A teacher offers suggestions for teaching students to write through examining passages, phrases, or sentences they enjoy reading. Activities include writing letters to book authors; examining characterizations; and using word pictures. A list of well-written books is included. (CB)

Aversion to poetry reading in adults may be directly related to the misguided teaching methods directed toward the student. Programs for teaching poetry to elementary and junior high students should focus on two areas of emphasis: how to read poetry, both aloud and silently, and how to understand poetry. (JN)

Discusses the results of a correctional education program which appears to lead to a reduced rate of return to prison. The operation of the program is based on the moral development models and attitude change theories of Piaget, Kohlberg, and others. (SK)

Sex education must be sensitive to children's needs as well as parental concerns. When the program is planned properly and is appropriate for student needs, school is the ideal place for sex education to be taught. (CJ)

A description is given of a reading program for first grade students that encouraged children to move to higher-level thinking skills by removing the constraints of basal readers and involving them in the creative and analytical reading of fairy tales. (JD)

The article describes ways to nurture gifted students without shortchanging the rest of the class. Curriculum compacting techniques allow teachers to plan for students with similar capabilities, determining which skills are already known, which need work, and what acceleration activities should be added. (SM)

Researchers from the Center for the Study of Reading at the University of Illinois assert that inadequate reading textbooks and the failure to teach reading comprehension in the primary grades contribute to reading comprehension problems in the upper grades. Shortcomings of textbooks are specified and methods for teaching reading comprehension are…

When Boston, Massachusetts teachers objected to a reading subskills management curriculum adopted by the city, a new elementary school curriculum was developed that emphasized broad general objectives at each level and reading comprehension. Teacher input played an important role in the curriculum effort. (PP)