Fragmentation of elementary school teachers' time and attention is an almost universal problem. Frequent coming and going of children to and from the classroom for legitimate purposes disrupts and distracts the teacher and other students. Children receiving special education services frequently leave the classroom for half-hour periods, thus…

This guide addresses how to make small-group time with young children a meaningful, active, and engaging learning experience for both children and adults. The guide's introductory chapter outlines guiding principles for successful small groups, discusses the mechanical aspects of small-group times, explains how adults find and develop ideas for…

This chapter of "Helping Teachers Manage Classrooms" examines the various management techniques required by the different kinds of student groupings associated with different types of classroom activities. These activities are identified in terms of their action structures (specifying who shall do what, when, and to or with whom), their physical…

The authors describe a zone defense schedule (ZDS), a system for organizing the staff and environment of a preschool classroom. Specifically, it is used to organize the roles of adults in the classroom so that transitions between activities are easier for children and provides greater opportunity for teaching (both during the transition and…