Teaching financial literacy is important at all stages of life, but is often neglected with elementary students. In this article, the authors describe a strategy for teaching financial literacy using the books about Max and Ruby by Rosemary Wells. These books can help introduce the five key concepts of financial literacy: scarcity, exchange,…

In many of the preschool and elementary classrooms of today, play is no longer the center of the curriculum. Meeting standards consumes the time of many teachers. Some educators view play as something that requires no skill, carries little or no value, and has no integral part in a young child's classroom experience. Many believe that including…

This Classroom Idea Sparker was submitted by Pandora Zook, a 1st-grade teacher at Guilford Elementary School in Sterling, Virginia. She shares her experiences in creating self-guided literacy centers that run smoothly and encourage children to be constructively engaged in learning activities that do not require constant direct supervision.

Provides examples of different kinds of information and activity centers for use in one-day workshops to increase parents' involvement in the socialization and education of their children. Among others, centers include "Family Recreation,""Enjoyment of Reading,""Book Fair," and "Family Support Service." (RH)

Describes use of learning-resource centers as a method of supporting meaningful learning in primary classrooms. Discusses student assessment through formal and informal means; planning, including selecting learning goals and activities; and documentation of student progress as the keys to children's effective use of learning-resource centers.…

Literacy props (including writing implements, books, and paper) placed in all classroom centers encourage the development of emerging literacy. The Environmental Literacy Scan is a self-assessment tool for optimal use of literacy props in classroom centers. Keen observation of children's play to determine their levels of understanding and…

Describes a typical day in an open school in Oxfordshire, England with particular reference to use of the various learning centers. Gives a detailed description of the teacher's actual role in interacting with children. (CS)

Presents theory and research to help preschool teachers understand literacy-enriched play centers, in terms of their purposes and outcomes. Describe a pilot project using play centers in a preschool classroom and provides guidelines for planning and using such a center. (ET)

Many early childhood professionals recommend the use of learning centers in classrooms for young children (Kostelnik, Soderman, & Whiren, 2004). Centers provide children with opportunities for making choices, working with others, being involved in hands-on activities, and becoming fully engaged in learning. In contrast, traditional classroom…

Presents the theories of Vygotsky and Bandura that provide the foundation for research on cross-age learning in multiple-age groupings. Discusses the cognitive, social, and emotional benefits children derive from mixed-age groupings. Outlines social learning contexts, such as learning centers and projects, and structural contexts, such as multiage…