"It must be nice to have summers off." Only other teachers know just how short summer is, with much of August devoted to planning for the new school year. This article offers 17 fresh ideas for exploring, making money, and preparing for next year. Plus, a reading list that hits all the marks!

While other factors affect mastery of a lesson, closure helps learners know what they learned, why they learned it, and how it is useful. The five most common methods of closure are reviewed and techniques for incorporating them into lesson planning are discussed. (MT)

Three substitute teachers give six suggestions for making substitute teachers feel more welcome, more effective, and more useful. (MT)

An eight-step teaching guide to help elementary students become familiar with electronic calculators. (Author/SJL)

The author suggests that the substitute teacher prepare a portable collection of materials and lesson plans that can be adapted to each new class. She details the types of materials such a briefcase file should contain. "Sub Center" is a new monthly column for substitute teachers. (SJL)

This hands-on science unit includes a beginners' and an advanced activity involving tree sap, as well as a brief description of a maple sap harvest. (CB)

Article presented points and practical teaching suggestions intended to guide teachers as they considered integrating reading with the other language arts. (Author/RK)

The authors present a scheme for teaching primary grade students about graphing. (SJL)

Presents seven writing lessons for elementary students: choosing effective words; writing similes; writing paragraphs; writing descriptions; letter writing; comparing and contrasting; and understanding point of view. Some of the lessons have unusual themes, such as pizza, pickles, and hoboes. (SJL)

This article presents a rationale for using songwriting in the elementary grades and outlines a plan by which a whole class of fifth- or sixth-graders can work together to write a song. (SJL)

Experienced elementary classroom teachers and substitutes discuss planning ahead for a substitute teacher, suggesting a substitute folder which includes any information to be relayed and a substitute activity bag containing lessons and activities. Games and activities that can be adapted for any grade level are described. (SM)

Consultant discusses health and hygiene education guidelines for elementary school teachers. (GB)

Author describes ways to give students planned art experiences. (MB)

Presents a six-step problem-solving process which the author has used to present creative science investigations to fourth, fifth, and sixth graders. (Author/SJL)

Discussed a program provided by a teacher for teaching substitutes who are faced with the challenge of teaching trainables (IQ below 50). (RK)