Describes a project in which elementary school students create a computer-generated time line of milestones in their lives, noting such an activity can give them a good start on writing autobiographies. (SM)

A whole-language approach to science can enhance student learning. Curiosity about science leads to research, reading, and writing. An example of a two-week unit on ants is presented, in which students begin by watching the ants, then organize their thoughts, research ants, write about ants, and create final projects. (SM)

Provides before-, during-, and after-reading strategies to help students develop reading goals, monitor comprehension, and reflect on what they read. A reading wheel and student pages encourage practice of new strategies. Across the curriculum strategies are included for building comprehension in other curriculum areas. (SM)

A second grade teacher describes how a difficult student with learning disabilities blossomed over the course of the school year. The article examines her whole class approach and presents strategies for including such a student in creative writing activities. (SM)

Describes how primary teachers can use decoding strategies within a literature-based, whole-language setting. A three-stage approach involves the book stage (real reading), the word stage (learning words), and the letter-sound stage (learning sounds). The article provides sample activities. (SM)

The article explains how elementary teachers can strike a balance between whole language and traditional approaches to reading instruction, describing successful programs and sharing several teachers' suggestions for combining the two methods in the classroom. A list of reading resources is included. (SM)

Presents ideas on integrating science fiction into language arts, science, social studies, and math. Suggestions include an interstellar journey, imaginative language lessons, futuristic social studies, extraterrestrial life studies, intergalactic math, and science fiction story writing. (SM)

Having students work together to write a historical novel is one way to integrate language arts and social studies. A step-by-step approach to completing such a writing project includes reading to get ready, brainstorming, developing a plot, adding descriptive detail, writing and revising, and final editing and typing. (SM)