This article differentiates between sustained productive learning and short term enthusiasm in learning. (BB)

An elementary school teacher in New Zealand describes the fruits of a nondirective learning environment in his classroom. (BB)

Children use creative thinking processes when teachers assign ambiguous rather than specific problems. Suggestions for developing questions that encourage experiential and metaphorical thinking are offered. (DF)

This paper answers several frequently asked questions about constructivism, including how to define it, how to plan the curriculum, how to assess student understanding, what to do with the information, where to begin, how students work in a constructivist classroom, and why constructivism is important. (SM)

Rather than emphasize specific facts, teaching science should help develop the whole person. Children learn science best when they are able to choose what they want to know. Suggestions for "living science" rather than parroting facts are offered. (DF)

The Boothbay Writing Project was developed by a group of teachers interested in discovering how writing should and should not be taught. Through self-research, teachers gained insight into how they had learned to write and how they could best help their students become competent, confident writers. (DF)

This essay examines some shortcomings of traditional methods of studying and helping children and concludes that teachers need to recognize that the child is able to inform and enlighten the teacher. (JMF)

Teaching about reading and writing should be flip sides of the same coin. Writing reinforces and develops skills traditionally thought of as reading skills. (PP)

Three articles explore current research and theory regarding children's learning styles, covering: (1) four basic ways children approach learning and corresponding teaching methods; (2) "multiple intelligences" and new thought about the boundaries of innate ability; and (3) classroom teachers' perspectives and instincts about the mystery of…

Using data and analyses gathered from multiple sources, this article discusses how students learn in reading, writing, and mathematics. A section on reading concentrates on methods and materials that motivate, a writing section concentrates on content, and a mathematics section discusses procedures for problem solving. A bibliography is included.…

To make elementary science students grasp the scientific concepts being taught, teachers must not ignore their preconceived ideas. Instead, teachers must identify misconceptions then help the students test them. The article presents a step-by-step approach that can serve as a model for teaching any science concept. (SM)

Discusses students who have memory dysfunction, examining issues related to learning and short-term memory, memory in progress, and long-term memory. The paper describes how to explain the brain to help students understand the difference between memory problems and overall intelligence. Suggestions for training teachers and administrators are…