In this article, the author discusses how children's book character Flat Stanley has linked students around the world and describes how teachers used the appealing character as a tool to bring reading, writing, geography, and other subjects to life through a classroom exercise. Often folded or laminated for protection and accompanied by…

As part of his Ph.D study in Brisbane, the author was observing one classroom where the teacher was enchanting as an educator, surrounded by excited, engaged, chattering children making dinosaurs. At another center, he felt dismayed as he observed an all too familiar table of organized collage and paints being prepared by staff. They were all…

In this article, the author shares her experience in successfully teaching elementary students how to create a tornado using a guided-inquiry approach. The guided-inquiry approach is a form of teaching in which the teacher poses the question, but lets the students decide how to answer the question. Students were so excited about the process they…

This article presents the author's experiences during a 5-day tour at Reggio Emilia, Italy, that is well known for the phrase, "the hundred languages of children" (Edwards, Gandini, & Forman, 1993). The author saw the infinite ways that children expressed their ideas in each Reggio school being visited. The author found three means…

In this article, the authors describe a varied day of stimulating mathematics with key stage 2 learners--all revolving around chocolate. They used a variety of stimuli organized around the chocolate theme. A whole day was spent on using and applying mathematics, and the exercise proved to be enjoyable for both staff and pupils. The children…

This article describes a curriculum developed by the author and the children in her public school kindergarten class. Teaching practices that foster children's intellectual--and overall human--development are documented. The goals and purposes of schooling are discussed as well as issues pertaining to the role of the teacher, structures that…

Joseph Coencas shows scenes from films to help special education students improve their visual and auditory skills, build confidence in their abilities to talk about and analyze the components of a narrative, and feel comfortable engaging in class discussion and writing. He also encourages students to pursue their interests in subjects they have…

Several teachers share their ideas for classroom activities. These include: (1) combining science and art on Earth Day; (2) implementing an inexpensive incentive scheme to get students to bring their signed papers back to school on time; (3) involving students in a virtual zoo; (4) planting real grass in Easter Bunny baskets; and (5) creating own…

New theory on adaptive teaching reflects the social dynamics of classrooms to explain what practicing teachers do to address student differences related to learning. In teaching adaptively, teachers respond to learners as they work. Teachers read student signals to diagnose needs on the fly and tap previous experience with similar learners to…

The importance of thinking suggests the need for learning activities which promote this ability of man if he is not to be totally dependent as a learner and a thinker. Four examples of the kinds of activities which might stimulate student thought, both intuitively and cognitively, were provided. (Author/RK)

Argues that creative dramatics offers many outlets for expression and creative activity to children who are shy, unable to speak up and act out imaginary adventures, or who lack confidence or self-esteem. (RB)

A study was conducted to determine where a sample of English language arts teachers, identified as educational leaders, get their ideas. Twenty-five English language arts teachers agreed to participate in the study which took the form of a 10-item survey. Five items dealt with trivial knowledge about language conventions and five items required…

This annotated bibliography contains 28 annotations (dating from 1975 to the present) on classics, folklore, and mythology. The bibliography provides (1) suggestions for teaching classics as part of the literary canon and relating those works to more recent literature, (2) resources on folklore that furnish the teacher with instructional…

Four true stories reveal how teachers used Sylvia Ashton Warner's ideas of "organic teaching" and "key vocabulary" to reach apparently unreachable students. The essence of the organic method of teaching is that it touches those things very deep and very real within the child. Teachers who can remain comfortable while taking the…

A paper given at a conference of art educators stressing the importance of a special way of living and behaving which emphasizes explorative inquiry, inventive "making" or creation, and dialogue or openness to experience. (SF)