Teachers' attitudes and nonverbal messages about standardized testing can affect students' test scores. This article presents a four-question test to help teachers determine their attitudes toward standardized testing, then offers suggestions on how to get rid of excess baggage before approaching the tests and explains the importance of…

Biographies can inspire students to reach their goals and explore various literary elements (turning points, cause and effect, and figurative language). This reading and writing workshop presents resources and strategies for introducing students to biography. A student reproducible has students examine why people are their role models or mentors.…

Daily journal writing can help students become strong, confident writers. Students can use journals to reflect on what they are studying, brainstorm on a topic before writing an essay, track and react to current events, and explore ideas in their imaginations. Tips for journal writing include: keep it stress free, reassure students they are…

This article presents ten time-saving ideas for teachers. One great time-saving tip is to come in an hour early once or twice a week for grading papers. It is also a great idea if teachers will not give tests on Friday in order to reduce their weekend work.

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…

Presents tips to help teachers develop and manage valid, truly authentic assessments that are linked to daily class instruction, discussing how to refine assessments, get parents involved, encourage self-assessment, and make criteria clear. A model developmental reading scale for bringing more uniformity to reading assessment is presented. (SM)

Teachers should choose games carefully to reinforce the mathematics' topic children are learning, says the author, who presents some appropriate games here, and urges that their use be planned, not for play only. (Editor/RK)

The suggestions here are only illustrative of how teachers can use the close procedure to aid in developing reading comprehension. (Author)

Article described G. A. M. E., a center which provides in-depth art, media, and museum experiences related to curricula in participating schools. (Author/RK)

Can magazine or newspaper pictures be used as effectively as cartoons to motivate pupils to write? Author answered that question from a reader in an extension of his January article in this journal. (Editor/RK)

Ideas for visual teaching aids in the classroom include mobiles, three dimensional bulletin boards, displays, and work areas for individual children. (CM)

Five teachers describe games and methods they use to interest children in spelling. (SB)

This article presents guidelines for teachers on how to look for a new job, how to put one's best foot forward, and where to look. (JMB)

The enthusiastic acceptance of Madeline Hunter's ideas is worrisome, according to Slavin, because of the large-scale, mandated implementation of a stripped-down formula version of her principles. Hunter defends her work and argues that teachers should be free to use their own creativity. (MT)

Children learn more about themselves when they explore the special joys and responsibilities of friendship. Activities that encourage students to think about what it is to be or to have a friend are suggested. (DF)