Suggests mathematics readiness activities that teachers and parents can use with preschoolers: comparing shapes and sizes; counting; and learning quantitative concepts such as "less" and "more." (SJL)

The place of kindergarteners in academia has grown more important in recent years. Increased emphasis on learning at the kindergarten level, however, should not blind educators to the developmental levels of four- and five-year-olds, who may learn most effectively by playing creatively and exploring new language skills. (PGD)

This book explores the educational mission of teachers. Based mainly on opinion and anecdotal evidence--yet supported by some research--this book calls on teachers and parents to look beyond the old myths about what a good school is and instead focus on facilitating intellectual, ethical, and aesthetic growth in students and in themselves. The…

Diekhoff argues that you must teach trainees how to learn. He recommends pretraining in learning strategies, including self-pacing, concentration, and reading comprehension. (CT)

Making their own dictionaries gives beginners confidence in their writing, reading, and spelling progress. (Editor)

Focusing on the brain's natural functions, this article discusses specific teacher characteristics, teaching methods, and peripheral stimuli helping to activate appropriate learning behavior. Also identifies particular events and teacher behaviors that block learning and frustrate the brain's efforts to harmonize conflicts and admit new…

A new idea is catching on fast: instead of giving all students the same classroom time and grading A to F, give each the time and the teaching technique he or she needs to master the subject. (LBH)

Reports on study of 80 elementary students in grades 3-6 to determine whether tempo perception and performance abilities increased with grade level and musical training. Finds that student performance and perceptions did increase with grade level and training. Concludes that modern technology has made research into tempo perception more precise…

Based on the concept that readiness for reading is brought about by the nurturing of a child's physical, social, emotional, and intellectual growth, this guidebook presents reading readiness guidelines and carefully planned workshop activities designed to provide a classroom climate conducive to discovery and language development. The first…

Presents a rationale for teaching parenting to children, and through an analysis of Piaget's developmental stages, suggests that such instruction might appropriately begin at age seven when the child enters the concrete operations stage. Outlines implementation strategies, learning objectives, and sample instructional activities for a six-week…

Five articles describe effective ideas and techniques suggested by correctional educators. In "Warming Up: Mental Exercises for Successful Learning" (Louise Henick), warm-up exercises to help students get ready to learn are discussed, such as daily journals, word of the day, and quote of the day. "Keeping Students Posted" (Richard Johnson) shows…

Contends that music educators agree that the ability to read music is an important goal of elementary music programs. Presents classroom techniques to help students develop the readiness and motivation to learn to read music. Includes two figures, two tables, and a long-term plan for developing readiness skills. (CFR)

Offers strategies for increasing learning motivation in elementary school students that are borrowed from marketing techniques used by grocery stores including tie-ins, holiday or theme specials, shelving rules, and personalized attention. (SRT)

This document presents descriptions of instructional and education-related activities of Idaho elementary and secondary school teachers and their schools. Activities include classroom practices and projects, and school programs. Descriptions are presented in five sections. The first section profiles 54 activities that encourage parent…

Written by members of a consulting team engaged to evaluate a school district's kindergarten program and make recommendations for the future, this report chronicles the district's progress in coming to more fully understand goals and problems related to kindergarten education. Specifically, the report presents the evaluation team's examination of…