A STAR IS BORN Nedrow, N.Y., elementary teacher Christine Chiappone has found a way to put a positive spin on parent/teacher conferences. She makes bright yellow laminated stars for each student as well as gray or pale yellow triangles. She writes positive comments on the bright stars (“Can count to 100 by 10s,” for example) and areas that need improvement on the triangles (“Keep practicing your sight words for Book A”). The triangles are “stars waiting to be born,” Chiappone says. “They just need a little practice to get their points.” Parents can encourage their children to practice the skills that need improvement.

ORDER, PLEASE To teach middle school students basic spreadsheet techniques, business teacher Laura Robinson of Amenia, N.Y., enlists the help of a Chinese take-out menu. Students set up a spreadsheet with column headings for item, price, quantity and price. Then they choose their favorite dishes, determine how many of each item they want and write a formula to calculate the total. They write a formula to calculate tax and figure out the grand total. Students have fun selecting dishes from the menu, and they learn an important computer skill.

GREETINGS AND SALUTATIONS  Ask students to bring colorful, cheerful used greeting cards to class for “recycling,” says retired teacher Paula Cohen of Philadelphia. Have the children cut off the “used” half of the card. They can write poems or create their own messages on the “new” card. Cards can be exchanged in class, displayed on the bulletin board or taken home to give to family and friends. Children learn how to recycle—and maybe even save a tree or two.