Containing four sections of materials for workshop presenters to teach reading fluency, this guide assists primary grade teachers in enhancing the Reading and Language Arts knowledge and skills of Texas students. Section 1, an introduction, defines the purpose of the guide and outlining six goals. Section 2, Professional Development, includes…

Recent literature on rural education offers many research possibilities because it contains conflicting and contradictory statements on social class, student attitude, innovative teaching, teacher turnover, and school-community relations, many of which are the result of empirical research. (CM)

Describes the design and implementation of the Latin curriculum at the National Cathedral School for girls (Washington, D.C.) stressing its usefulness as a means for improving verbal skills and its relevance to subsequent foreign language learning. Also describes other methods devised to personalize instruction, and instructional materials…

Competency-based materials can help in mainstreaming disadvantaged students, who especially need encouragement and motivation. The author gives illustrations of several different ways of using such materials with disadvantaged students in distributive education. (MF)

Examines causes of urban teacher burnout; offers suggestions to secondary urban reading teachers on ways to experiment with methods of evaluation, instruction, and selection of materials, as well as on ways to achieve self-growth and to model for their students continuous effort toward learning. (GT)

Maintains that the creation of a time capsule for any particular time period can help students visualize an abstract historical setting in a highly concrete way and provide a powerful, hands-on link to the past. Discusses different types of time capsules including family, famous people, arts, and culture. (MJP)

Argues that classroom learning requires teachers who are keenly aware of everything that poetry and art bring to human existence, as well as an environment that is stimulating and peaceful. Describes elements of successful classroom environments. Suggests methods for teaching poetry and for inspiring students to create paintings. (AJL)

A Maryland teacher used Alaska's Iditarod sled-dog race to spark learning and bring adventure into a fourth grade history and geography course. Students followed the Iditarod, conducted reading races on related material, studied race strategies, and considered necessary mathematics. They learned about Alaska while experiencing cooperation and…

Provides a demonstration for showing the usefulness of thermal principles to physical science students who have difficulty understanding conventional explanations. Outlines materials, procedures, discussion, and advantages of using this method. (RT)

Discusses a fourth grade class project to write a history of their community. Describes student experiences in learning to take and videotape interviews, preparing a TV newscast about the project, doing research in the county clerk's office and library, and writing the history. Includes suggestions for doing a similar project. (DHP)

Contends that criteria favored by "effective schools" research tend to overlook, or even foster, bland and unimaginative teaching, because of preoccupation with results of instruction and a corresponding lack of attention to teaching itself. The prevailing emphasis on management by results should therefore be supplemented by professional…

Presents a group of 31 innovative language arts activities from teachers nationwide designed to inspire elementary students to become eager writers and editors. The article is part of a package of 100 creative ideas for keeping students enthused about learning in language arts, science, math, and social studies. (SM)

High school students who visit museums have many diverse life experiences, and instructors must understand that the experience is tremendous preparation for looking at art. The article explains how to encourage students to respond to art rather than talk at them about what they should know. (SM)