Carol Ann Tomlinson, a professor at the University of Virginia Curry School of Education, has led the push for differentiated instruction and sees a strong commitment by educators to tailoring teaching to student academic levels, learning styles, and personal interests. However, Tomlinson says barriers still stand in the way to making sure every…

Some high achievers are not as easy to engage. Sometimes motivating high achievers is "a matter of being more sensitive to what they are interested in," says Don Ambrose, a professor of education at Rider University in New Jersey. But too often classrooms are not set up for that kind of sensitivity. Research shows that schools are…

Author suggests some new ways to help solve learning problems in the classroom. (GB)

Author describes her strategy for getting her fifth graders to write good reports by letting them grow" from one report to the next. (Author/DR)

Whether through movies, stories of immigration, or a myriad of other out-of-the-box ideas, teachers are finding ways to help immigrant students create new futures in a new country. This article looks at schools around the country to find truly creative strategies for teaching immigrant students that work for ESL specialists and regular classroom…

For homework assignments to be effective, they must serve to develop skills and help students gain a sense of accomplishment. Suggestions for developing interesting, positive homework assignments that use contracts and skill cards are offered. (DF)

Teachers can motivate students to read by offering choices. Ideas for developing a contract strategy for reading are discussed. Optional activities and contract terms for both average and above average students are suggested. (DF)

Describes 17 attributes of excellent teachers identified in a recent study by Ruth Tschudin. (JMB)

Teachers, students, and parents at Tecumseh Harrison Elementary School (Vincennes, Indiana) are pulling together to make the school the best that it can be. Innovative approaches include learning centers (on publishing, for example), individualized instruction, and videotaped lessons. (PP)

Describes how a first-grade teacher developed an effective spelling program for his classroom that teaches sounds and words in the context of children's experiences. His program encourages students to memorize and learn words because the words are important to them rather than picked for them. (SM)

Five elementary school teachers offer ideas for encouraging skillful reading and appreciation of books in young students. Suggested strategies include: (1) holding book auctions; (2) choosing books geared toward children's interests; (3) individualizing the reading program; and (4) making oversize books for kindergarten. (PP)