Some high achievers are not as easy to engage. Sometimes motivating high achievers is "a matter of being more sensitive to what they are interested in," says Don Ambrose, a professor of education at Rider University in New Jersey. But too often classrooms are not set up for that kind of sensitivity. Research shows that schools are…

Have writing skills taken a backseat in your classroom? They have in many schools, even though the need for good writers is growing. A professional writer and teacher shows how you can help your students take their first steps in developing writing skills. (Editor/RK)

Authors stress the need of students to know more human beings and to know more about human beings; and they list several ideas for the study of current events. (GB)

Presents guidelines for developing thematic units for primary students (pick broad-based themes, gather resources, avoid time traps, let student interests guide the themes, create interactive bulletin boards, and organize materials). The article offers ideas, activities, and experiences for beginning a color unit and maintaining thematic teaching…

Discusses the advantages of an interdisciplinary curriculum, especially in elementary school. Implementing interdisciplinary curriculum units helps children acquire targeted concepts and skills of various disciplines more effectively. Existing curriculum, current events, and student concerns are the places to find interdisciplinary unit ideas. (SM)

Science programs should be such that a child develops a set of skills to explore content, rather than learning the content by rote or by memorizing. (GB)

Suggestions are offered for overall restructuring of the mathematics curriculum to increase instructional intensity and eliminate repetition. Individual teachers' are urged to reshape their teaching materials and methods to renew students' interest in mathematics. (CB)

A teacher gives insight into the benefits of teaching a combination class. Students of different levels learn to think of themselves as multilevel people, sometimes helping their peers, other times receiving help. Suggestions for planning for two different levels are offered. (DF)

Presents lesson characteristics that describe inquiry lessons, which are designed to teach students how to learn to think for themselves and develop their own decision making powers. (RK)

Four elementary teachers describe how they support an interdisciplinary curriculum using integrated units. One builds tall towers of spaghetti. Another touches on all subjects using baseball card games. The third turns the playground into an archeological dig. The last sails the ocean along with the Pilgrims. (SM)

Outlines objectives and implementation of a computer-based, general thinking-skills curriculum called HOTS (Higher Order Thinking Skills) in which teachers model thinking skills through sophisticated conversation and Socratic questioning techniques. The curriculum is designed to help low achievers, or discouraged learners, learn to link new…

Eating involves--and offers--a lot more than merely shoveling food into your mouth. It can be used in innumerable ways in your room. Here is a multitude of food experiences, all designed for kids' heads as well as their stomachs. You can use cooking and food throughout your curriculum. Here's how! (Editor)