This guide for teachers of grades 3 through 8 provides a collection of self-directed projects for either individuals or small groups. Suitable for use in classroom learning centers, the guide is divided into 7 sections. Section 1, Working with Literature, offers activities for teaching reading using novels, student-made novel packets, fiction story assignments, and suggestions for working with Bloom's Taxonomy. Section 2, Enhancing Research Skills, contains projects to develop research skills, including writing an expert report or a descendant report, and information on using trivia questions in class. Section 3, Improving Writing Competence, provides tips for building motivation, designing a writing program, providing writing instruction, and evaluating writing. Section 4, Managing a Thematic Spelling Program, explains how to develop such a program, including how to develop weekly thematic lists, how to use diagnostic tests for student placement, and how to create individualized spelling activities and games. Section 5, Increasing Dictionary Skills, presents activities for building reference skills, while Section 6, Teaching through Word Games and Activities, contains activities for learning words and offers various types of word games. Section 7, Using Student Record Keeping Forms, provides forms which allow students to keep their own records, such as a daily reading record, a daily assignment record, and a research project report. (NKA)