Learning in the early grades. Questions parents ask -- What six-to-eight-year-olds are like -- Principles that make learning effective -- Why schools need to be different today -- What to look for. A parent's checklist -- How to get involved -- The best classroom for your child. The classroom as a workplace. The physical arrangement of the classroom -- Placement and accessibility of materials and supplies -- The daily schedule and routines -- Rules -- The classroom as a community. Making friends -- Respecting others -- Resolving conflicts -- Learning together -- How parents can help -- Questions to ask your child's teacher -- How children become readers. What's involved in learning to read -- Phonics and whole language. Defining the terms.
Cont.): How the debate misses the point -- How reading is taught -- How parents can help -- Questions to ask your child's teacher -- How children become writers. What's involved in learning to write -- How writing is taught. Learning the mechanics of writing -- Learning to be writers -- Integrating writing in other content areas -- How parents can help -- Questions to ask you child's teacher -- How children become mathematical thinkers. How children learn to think mathematically -- How math is taught. Using math materials -- Using calculators and computers -- Math throughout the day -- How parents can help -- Questions to ask your child's teacher -- How children learn social studies. What's involved in social studies. Learning social studies concepts.
Cont.): Learning social studies skills -- How social studies is taught. Long term studies and research -- Learning social studies in a classroom community -- How parents can help -- Questions to ask your child's teacher -- How children become scientific thinkers. What's involved in scientific thinking. Using science skills -- Learning content through first-hand research -- How science is taught. A study of living things -- A study of energy -- Making science part of everyday life in the classroom -- How parents can help -- Questions to ask your child's teacher -- How children's learning is assessed. The purposes of assessment. Assessment describes development and learning -- Assessment helps children succeed as learners.
Cont.): Assessment enables teachers to modify instruction -- Effective approaches to assessment. Descriptive information is most valuable -- A variety of methods are needed -- Conferences are part of assessment -- What about conventional tests -- The role of national standards -- How parents can help -- Questions to ask your child's teacher -- Developmental characteristics of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd graders -- Learning disabilities, special needs, and inclusion.
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