This guide is designed to help teachers respond to the changing needs of children, to changing knowledge about how children learn, and to the stress teachers experience in dealing with children's development. The first section of the guide addresses the topics of: (1) educational changes relating to children, teachers, classrooms, and basic instruction; (2) the process of change from traditional classrooms to classrooms using an integrated approach; and (3) characteristics of third and fourth graders. Various aspects of integrated curricula in science and language are examined in the six chapters of the second section. The third section contains information on long- and short-term curriculum planning; management of the classroom environment and student behavior; the use of community resources; and parent involvement. The fourth section discusses methods of evaluating students, processing data from student evaluations, and reporting the results of student evaluations to parents. The fifth section offers final thoughts on the role of the teacher and recommendations about sources of help and support for teachers. Appendices include a description of a review format to help teachers deal with areas of concern relating to particular children and three sample designs for activity-based classrooms. A bibliography of about 130 items is provided. (BC)