Describes a collaborative effort between a professor and a group of high school teachers pursuing an M.A. in education as they model practices for problem solving in the school climate. Addresses the theory that teachers who feel supported in their own ongoing learning and classroom practices are more committed to teaching. (Contains six…

Presents suggestions for making reading instruction exciting and creative both for students and teachers. Describes the creative reading environment, ways the teacher may foster creativity as a result of reading, and ideas for developing creativity based on reading. Lists 20 creative reading activities. (MG)

Creative activities can enliven math classes and enhance student learning. Several suggestions are given for creating amusing word problems and lively drills. Included is a reproducible word problem sheet. (IAH)

Discusses classroom projects developed jointly by students and teacher in a sixth grade gifted class. Describes projects involving ghost stories, science research, interviewing authors, the local telephone book, and holiday celebrations. (DHP)

An acute problem in developing nations is that of furnishing appropriate reading materials, including those for teacher education programs. The paper describes seven efforts to produce teacher education reading materials at a reasonable cost and suited to local needs for preservice teacher education in Indonesia. (SM)

Three basic activities can infuse classrooms with enjoyment and creativity: use of a total talent portfolio, practice of curriculum compacting, and creation of enrichment clusters. These three activities underlie the Schoolwide Enrichment Model, a blueprint for total school improvement. (SM)

A fifth-grade teacher discusses why she teaches with historical fiction, presenting tips on choosing good historical fiction, reviewing her favorite new historical fiction books, and highlighting how to use historical fiction to teach by discussing Pocahontas to help students differentiate between make-believe and history. (SM)

Taking students to the grocery store can build math skills, encourage cooperation, and benefit local charities. One activity has students collect coupons, earn money, divide into groups (with specifically assigned roles), shop for items for local charities, with the aid of parent volunteers, then deliver the groceries to the charities. (SM)

Tips for teaching students about Native Americans include reading poems that lead to the study of certain tribes, studying the present day as well as the past, having Native Americans visit the classroom, reading culturally sensitive books on Native Americans, and acknowledging differences between tribes. (SM)

Describes a creative interdisciplinary program for K-3 students that involves setting up a rain forest in the gymnasium to teach students gymnastic skills in the context of the Amazon rain forest. The paper describes how to set up the rain forest and teach a variety of classes. Rainforest resources are included. (SM)

Several hands-on whole science activities help elementary students learn about animals' diets and how they affect other animals. One activity involves identifying animals as carnivores, herbivores, or omnivores. Another has students construct food chains. Two across-the-curriculum ideas involve naming carnivores and preparing imaginary menus for…

Two articles discuss elementary school mathematics. One focuses on data collection, suggesting a children's counting book, "How Many Feet in the Bed?", to initiate several possible problems. The other offers a measuring activity for finding average heights and a survey activity to determine the characteristics of an average student. (SM)

The article presents a video-based unit on camouflage for students in grades K-5, explaining how to make the classroom VCR a dynamic teaching tool. Information is offered on introducing the unit, active viewing strategies, and follow-up activities. Tips for teaching with video are included. (SM)

Creating time capsules is an instructional strategy that allows students to express their knowledge and perceptions about specific health issues, and it can help students understand how health issues are interwoven among all aspects of society. The article explains how to create time capsules for women's health issues. (SM)

An intermediate school teacher describes a successful integrated curriculum unit that taught students basic geography, technology, and writing skills as they pretended to travel across the United States. The project required a large map, a resource library, a computer, and word processing, database, spreadsheet, and drawing software. (SM)