Instructor (1990) articles from March 1998

Instructor (1990) archives from March 1998

Create poetry portraits with just the write words.(Poetry Workshop)
March 1, 1998... Encourage your students to write a poem about someone they admire - either someone they know, someone they'd like to know, or a historical figure - and they'll learn how to choose just the write words! That's what Sam Cornish, an African American...

Boost spelling skills with wall charts.(Spelling Strategies)
March 1, 1998... While visiting classrooms across the country, I've seen excellent uses of wall charts for teaching spelling. Here are some of my favorites. ACTIVITY GRADE K PURPOSE To teach the alphabet, sight words, letter-sound correspondence, and...

One word leads to another.(Reading Clinic)
March 1, 1998... Help students understand that for every word they know they can figure out how to decode, spell, and build meanings for other words. The key is understanding roots, prefixes, and suffixes. Knowing, for example, that the re- in replace means again...

How to run first-rate field trips.
March 1, 1998... Field trips provide unique experiences for learning. Here's help in preparing for and making the most of them. When Lindy Miller, a teacher in Sugar Land, Texas, took her first graders to a farm, they had an incredible handson learning...

Got the "kids who blurt out" blues?: how one teacher curbs disruptions and keeps learning running smoothly.
March 1, 1998... How one teacher curbs disruptions, and keeps learning running smoothly Picture this: My reading group is attentive and prepared for a discussion of a favorite novel. "What if Darry had called the police?" I ask. Jenny initiates a thoughtful...

Interpreting the data at kids' fingertips.(Math in Action)
March 1, 1998... I try to find as many opportunities as I can to give students real-life experience with collecting, organizing, and interpreting data. These skills are not only important when it comes to learning about statistics, but they also help students...

Is it acid or base? These colorful tests tell all!(Hands-On Science)
March 1, 1998... The only thing that will never change, is change itself. Scientists study changes that are as slow moving as glaciers, while - presto! - they watch as others transpire before them. Train your budding scientists to observe, record, and interpret...

3-D biographies give depth to women's history.(Social Studies Now!)
March 1, 1998... March is Women's History Month, and this year marks the 150th anniversary of the women's rights movement. It officially began in 1848 at the first Women's Rights Convention. To recognize this landmark, I asked my students to create biography...

Simple ways to save now (for later). (teachers)(Just for You)
March 1, 1998... When students come into my classroom each morning, I'm focused on the here and now, not dreaming about what I'll be doing in 30 years. But, I am already planning for retirement. I realized that I wouldn't be riding off into the sunset later if I...

Creative writing devices.(Young Writer's Workshop)
March 1, 1998... "Let the rain kiss you..." This unforgettable line from Langston Hughes's "April Rain Song" demonstrates why writers rely on devices such as personification. Figures of speech, alliteration, onomatopoeia, and other word play help writers create...

Dive in! Don't worry, you'll swim!(Electronic Learning in Your Classroom: Teacher Training)
March 1, 1998... As the technology coordinator in western Massachusetts, I've learned firsthand that teachers need training to successfully integrate technology into their classrooms. It's amazing how, with a bit of instruction, you quickly discover the...

Little gadgets that make a big difference.(Electronic Learning in Your Classroom: Hardware)
March 1, 1998... Hardware does not just mean computers anymore. There is a plethora of gadgets and gizmos out there that can make your learning even more exciting. Some of these products are affordable enough for a teacher to buy his- or herself. Others can be...

A teachers's guide to networking and the Internet.(Electronic Learning in Your Classroom: Getting Connected)
March 1, 1998... Everybody, from President Clinton to the president of the local PTA, is eager to get teachers and students connected to the Internet. But how do you go from being"unplugged" to "wired"? With this comprehensive clip-and-save article, you'll be...