This Unified Sciences and Mathematics for Elementary Schools (USMES) unit challenges students to change their classroom to make it a better place to live and study. The challenge is general enough to apply to many problem-solving situations in mathematics, science, social science, and language arts at any elementary school level (grades 1-8). The…

This Unified Sciences and Mathematics for Elementary Schools (USMES) unit challenges students to determine the best information to use to quickly and easily identify an individual. The challenge is general enough to apply to many problem-solving situations in mathematics, science, social science, and language arts at any elementary school level…

This Unified Sciences and Mathematics for Elementary Schools (USMES) unit challenges students to find ways to improve or organize a Design Lab. The challenge is general enough to apply to many problem-solving situations in mathematics, science, social science, and language arts at any elementary school level (grades 1-8). The Teacher Resource Book…

This Unified Sciences and Mathematics for Elementary Schools (USMES) unit challenges students to grow plants and to determine some purpose for their use (transplanting, selling, gifts). The challenge is general enough to apply to many problem-solving situations in mathematics, science, social science, and language arts at any elementary school…

This Unified Sciences and Mathematics for Elementary Schools (USMES) unit challenges students to develop an outdoor area to help others appreciate nature. The challenge is general enough to apply to many problem-solving situations in mathematics, science, social science, and language arts at any elementary school level (grades 1-8). The Teacher…

This Unified Sciences and Mathematics for Elementary Schools (USMES) unit challenges students to find good ways to protect property (property in desks or lockers; animals; bicycles; tools). The challenge is general enough to apply to many problem-solving situations in mathematics, science, social science, and language arts at any elementary school…

Teacher preparation programs are in danger of seriously under-preparing elementary teachers to teach mathematics for understanding if they wait to provide students with evidence of effective mathematics teaching methods in the mathematics methods courses. With strong traditional beliefs about how mathematics ought to be taught and their…

The research design is described for the study of instructional time, conducted as part of the Beginning Teacher Evaluation Study. The premise of the study was that certain teacher behaviors are related to student achievement; however, if all teacher behaviors are equal, the students who spend the greatest amount of time in learning activities…

Achievement tests that are maximally sensitive to effective instruction in reading and mathematics for grades 2 and 5 were developed and refined. Important considerations regarding the tests' validity were: its coverage of instructional content (opportunity to learn), and its reactivity to instruction. Student ability must be minimally related to…

Each of the four kits in this teacher's guide to a Spanish science/math strand for first graders provides for the development of mathematical competencies needed to function in science. Instructional and assessment activities in the bilingual curriculum are pupil centered, and contents are designed to enable the child to develop skills in the…

Instructional and assessment activities in unit three of a Spanish science/math curriculum for first graders are built around the central theme of the school. Kits 9-12, each designed for a two to three week teaching period, contain activities which also support who the child is, what his needs and wants are, what his resources are, and how he…

Unit 10 of a Spanish science/math curriculum for grade three, composed of kits 37-40, has as its theme "communities around the world". The unit's teacher's guide contains both learning and assessment activities, with the focus, objective, and materials needed for each activity listed. Specific attention is placed on four spiraling questions…

Instructional and assessment activities in science and math for third graders are presented in this teacher's guide to unit nine. Focus, objectives and materials for each activity are in English and Spanish, while teacher instructions are only in Spanish. The unit's theme is "the nation as a community"; related to the theme are the four spiraling…

Instructional and assessment activities for unit seven of a science/math strand for Spanish-speaking students in grade three focus on the extended community. Activities support four spiraling questions on the elements, wants and needs, change occurrence, and results of change. For each activity, the focus, objective, and materials needed are…

Built around a theme of communities in the nation, this teacher's guide for unit eight of a science/math strand for Spanish-speaking children in grade three contains both learning and assessment activities. This unit addresses what the elements are, how needs and wants are satisfied, how change occurs, and what the results of change are. The guide…