Beginning readers need to learn how to bring together two sources of information simultaneously. They have to think about what would make sense and think about letters/sounds; cross-checking. Most children prefer to do one or the other, but not both. Therefore, some children guess something that is sensible but ignore the visual (letter/sound) and others guess something which is close to the visual but makes no sense in the sentence. This activity will demonstrate how to cross check.

This lesson integrates science into the language arts block. Students will read about plant life cycle events and then write their own books about the life cycle of a plant.

For students to work effectively in small groups, a teacher needs not only to set rules but to build a sense of community and teamwork within the basic structure the rules provide.

Suggestions for keeping track of your teaching materials, your students, and their work.

Tina Maples' eighth-grade language arts students are serious about their work they do. When students work on projects they care about -- what Maples calls "brain food" -- they manage the classroom themselves.

How a middle-school math teacher realized she was boring and jump-started her career -- and her students.

The students will listen to and discuss books about butterflies and the migration of monarch butterflies to Mexico in order to integrate science, social studies, and language arts.

Students will explore the poem of Pat Lowery Collins, "I Am An Artist" and create their own poem from what they see and experience. They will then illustrate their poems with a visual design. This is the first lesson in a series of three in which students are creating art based on their observations: Lesson 1 Observing Connections--Art, Poetry, and the Environment; Lesson 2 Observing Connections--Changing Landscapes; Lesson 3 Observing Connections--North Carolina Pottery and Face Jugs

The students will learn about the changing environment through study and observation. They will reflect on these changes in the environment and create their own landscape and habitat. This is the second lesson in "Observing connections," a series of three in which students are creating art based on their observations.

Patty Berge converts her eighth-grade science classroom to suit multiple instructional methods. A classroom profile.

Students will work with money manipulatives to solve word problems that involve adding money amounts and making change. The lesson is introduced with the literature book, "Pigs Will be Pigs". After solving the problems posed in the book, the students will work with partners to create their "pig problems". Assessment will require students to solve similar problems on a teacher made worksheet. When time allows, each student will have the opportunity to go to an Internet site to work with money problems and games.

A look inside an eighth-grade classroom in which students work in pairs to solve problems, then debate as a class which solution is correct or easiest. An explanation of the teaching method is provided along with video of students presenting their solutions to problems.

Want to try project-based learning to get your students involved in real-world issues? A former North Carolina Technology and Learning Teacher of the Year talks about how she worked with the North Carolina Zoo to get students excited about learning.

A learning environment where students feel that they belong is the key to success for this eighth-grade language arts teacher. A classroom profile.

Basic floor plans and explanations for a traditional classroom, discussions/debates, a horseshoe arrangement, and centers.

This lesson was created to follow a close reading and examination of Nathanial Hawthorne's "A Scarlet Letter". The plan uses a small group format and rotation schedule. The activities created strengthen students' understanding of an author's use of characterization, while reinforcing reading and creative writing skills.

In this lesson students will create a beach mural with sand, shells, and blue and white finger paints. This is a thematic unit with three lessons. Lesson 1 details art activities. Lesson 2 describes math activities. Lesson 3 underscores language art activities.

A variety of best practices and imaginative ideas the school librarian can use to create an environment where students fuse together required learning with learning that is driven by individual interest.

Building a student-centered classroom culture starts on the first day of the school year.

Students will practice counting money up to five dollars using grocery ads from local stores.