Instructor (1990) articles from April 1998

Instructor (1990) archives from April 1998

How tutoring works. (teaching reading)
April 1, 1998... Do you have students who read way below grade level? Sometimes these children are just learning to speak English, have moved often, or have not attended school regularly. Most children who lag in reading can make progress if they have a...

Three important words: details, details, details! (improving writing style)
April 1, 1998... Details make writing jump off the page. They describe actions and make us feel close to characters. Sharpening details is one of the most important steps writers take when they revise. It's also one of the most difficult for students to master....

On the right track to a sensational spelling station.
April 1, 1998... Having a center just for spelling is especially useful as your students become more adept at managing their own spelling practice. A spelling station is the perfect place to store materials that kids regularly use as they learn and practice...

Stretch kids' multiple intelligences the Japanese way! (includes related article on the history of Kamishibai story cards)
April 1, 1998... By April, my students and I are ready for a change from our usual reading-comprehension activities. So I ask them to act out what they've learned by creating kamishibai (kah-mee-shee-bye) story cards, according to a Japanese traditional...

Delve into the secret life of plants. (science teaching)
April 1, 1998... Plant movement may seem like an oxymoron, but there's a world of activity happening inside each leafy, soil-bound organism. The following activities reveal to students the plant processes that are normally undetectable to the human eye. Try them...

Can I balance arithmetic instruction with real-life math? (elementary education)
April 1, 1998... Arithmetic is one of the time-honored three R's. While geometry, patterns, and probability are all part of the elementary math curriculum, it's arithmetic that receives the most attention. And this has never been truer than now. While parents...

Tribute to planet Earth. (teaching of environment protection)
April 1, 1998... It's here again, that time of year when we pay tribute to our cosmic transport, the planet Earth. Here are some ways, using technology, that you can build on Earth Day (April 22) to help children develop an understanding of their connectedness to...

Got a conflict with a colleague? Here's how to resolve it now!
April 1, 1998... Teaching kids how to resolve conflicts is part of the curriculum in schools nationwide. You teach students to see situations from the perspective of others, but do you practice what you preach? When you're assigned to bus duty again, or when the...