Here's an awesome thought! Teaching means a teacher's impact on students will last a lifetime. And despite the negatives one hears in the news, a 2010 ING Foundation poll found that 98 percent of adults believe a good teacher can "change the course of a child's life." This year, a teacher will affect every child in his/her class. Over the course…

Teachers may unconsciously convey stereotypic notions or behave in discriminating ways. Teachers have been observed to pay more attention to male students and to praise female students more for nonacademic performance. A quiz to help teachers assess their sex bias is included. (DF)

A fourth grade teacher examines the ever-changing and developing student teacher relationship. As students move on each year, past teachers still feel some degree of responsibility, and students learn about changing relationships. (SM)

The article helps elementary teachers develop science programs geared to their students, emphasizing the appropriateness of hands-on activities and developmental learning. It presents three Earth Day water projects on rain and puddles, water drops and surface tension, and water purification that can be tailored for specific classes. (SM)

Presents tips, activities, and exercises to help elementary teachers and students select, learn, and tell their stories. Storytelling can build confidence and poise, improve expressive language skills, stimulate inventive thinking, build listening skills, and develop appreciation of other cultures. (SM)

Suggests ways for teachers to help elementary school children connect with history by enhancing their natural interest in stories. The approaches, adaptable to any age and topic, include using children's literature, acting, and storytelling. Stories of the past provide a base upon which children build larger ideas about history. (SM)