Gain a new perspective on the sharing of erroneous solutions in classroom discussions. Based on their research in grades four and six, the authors reveal how student-to-student correction of errors promotes mathematical reasoning and understanding. Tips for teachers include strategies for using students' errors to encourage reasoning during…

Every day school administrators and classroom teachers deal with behavior issues that sometimes result in office discipline referrals (ODRs) and other times in-school suspension. Interestingly, the top 5 percent of elementary students with the most disciplinary referrals account for 59 percent of all ODRs; similarly, the top 5 percent of middle…

During the Great Recession, 2008 to 2010, school systems scrambled to balance budgets, and the ratio of counselors to students became even larger. To make matters worse, the Great Recession had a major impact on cuts in educational funding. Budget cutbacks tend to occur where the public will be least likely to notice. The loss of teachers and the…

Many children are in dire need of differentiated instruction to support their unique learning needs. Differentiated instruction seeks to maximize each student's growth by recognizing that students have different ways of learning, different interests, different ways of responding to instruction, and preferred ways of learning or expressing…

The idea of believing in oneself is a construct that goes by several names: (1) self-efficacy; (2) self-concept; and (3) self-esteem. How well a person thinks he or she will do in the completion of a task plays a significant role in how well that person will actually do. Positive self-beliefs have been linked to many benefits, including increased…

Involving communities in the process of curriculum development may not be novel, but it seems lacking with regard to controversial issues such as lessons on diverse family structures, homosexuality, and other special situations. Disparity in values and convictions can lead one person to support a decision, while another person might hold an…

In this article, the author shares his thoughts about who he is as a teacher and what his goals as a teacher turn out to be. The author describes his role as researcher, teacher, and educator. He begins with his take on mathematics teaching and learning, because the question of which mathematics educators teach and how they teach it is really…

With the increase of diversity in classrooms and conflicting or confusing advice from experts, teachers may feel pulled in many directions as they race to cover the curriculum. Successfully meeting the challenge of teaching in diverse classrooms depends, in part, on using research-based instructional methods that boost academic skills and foster…

The middle school years are among the most formidable, as students transition from youth to adulthood. Self-esteem, consequently, is a significant attribute in developing the strong character necessary to successfully navigate middle school. Because a student's grades can influence how the student feels about his or her ability to learn, teachers…

Teaching literacy to struggling readers can present many challenges. This article suggests 10 strategies that can help middle and high school language arts and content area teachers meet them: (1) Ask for help; (2) Support word recognition needs; (3) Select appropriate materials; (4) Develop reading fluency; (5) Foster vocabulary acquisition; (6)…