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Product Reviews May 2003
Each month Teaching Pre K-8 reviews outstanding products for the classroom.
This month's products are:
Howbrite Solutions Inc.
Dominie Press, Inc.
StikkiWorks
Scholastic Press
Heinemann Publishers, Inc.
McWiz Games
Future Horizons Inc.
The Basic School
The Boyer Center/Messiah College
Mathline® is the name of your newest classroom aide...
It's a math concept-building system you'll wonder how you ever did without. There's a 19" numbered rod with 30 rings. After each four rings there's either a blue ring (to mark five), or a red ring (to mark ten). As these rings slide along the bar, the numbers on the bar appear, counting the correct number of rings that have been moved. This is sort of like a mobile number line. And, in this case, a picture really is worth a thousand words, so see right.
Now, doesn't that look like fun? it really is, even for the half of this duo who's a bit of a mathphobe.
For preK through grade two, there is a 31-ring bar. There are also Student Activity Books and various size Teacher's Guides. These Teacher's Guides also include different numbers of lessons from counting to number recognition, regrouping, fact families, word problems and so on.
When we get to third grade, students use the 100-ring bar. This bar is used through eighth grade, but at grades six to eight, it's basically remedial. The lessons for these levels can include conversions, multiplication, long division and so on.
We can't possibly tell you about all the opportunities you'll have to cement math learning with this terrific product. Call 800-505-6284 or visit this company at www.howbrite.com for information and for pricing.
Howbrite Solutions Inc.
Cokato, MN 55321
Do you know Dominie Press, Inc.?
They produce Dominie Readers – among a lot of other things. We're going to tell you about this new series of readers. There are 54 fun readers that support phonemic awareness and phonics instruction, build fluency and vocabulary and develop text comprehension skills. They're basically for grades K-2, but if you have some kids struggling beyond that, these readers could provide successful experiences. The story lines are engaging and truly are lots of fun. You know you've read those deadly dull repetitive readers; these are different. We found there's a solid thinking-skills overlay in the stories. Curriculum extension suggestions are in the back of each of these 22-page gems.
The art is excellent; illustrative and easily used for context clues by young readers. There's also a chart inside the back cover of each book that gives the guided reading level of each book at that particular level.
The books are 5 1/2 x 7 and have extra-durable covers which are so much appreciated with younger readers. The Giraffe Set cover grade K-1; the Squirrel Set covers Grade One and the Elephant Set covers Grade Two. There are 18 titles in each set. As you might expect, there are many ways of purchasing just what you need, so it's best to contact Dominie on pricing information. You can reach them at 800-232-4570 or www.dominie.com.
Dominie also has a very neat line of non-fiction paperback titles. They are all 24 pages and cover the environment and its inhabitants pretty thoroughly. The number of words in each is noted on the back cover. Nice.
Dominie Press, Inc.
1949 Kellogg Ave.
Carlsbad, CA 92008
From the Wonderful People Who Gave Us StikkiClips...
Come Magnetic Marker Rings. You know how hard it is to keep markers from rolling around? Well, that problem is over. These plastic marker rings slip onto all but the slimmest markers (and Stikki-Works is presently working on those) and helps them stay put. There's a magnet on the flat side of the ring. A simple but ingenious solution to kids chasing the uncapped marker around the floor.
The pack of six rings is about $4 at your local school supplier or stationer.
StikkiWorks
www.stikkiworks.com
If You're Looking for a Great Summer Non-fiction Read to Recommend...
Look no further than Pat and Fred McKissack's Days of Jubilee: The End of Slavery in the United States. These two are masters of their craft and this book finds them at the top of their form.
There are 144 pages in this 8" x 10" book, which also includes a great time- line highlighting the important dates in emancipation from 1860 through December 13th, 1865 and the ratification of the 13th Amendment. This is a book to use throughout the year, not just for Black History celebrations. It's for grades 4-7 and is $18.95 at your favorite bookstore. If you order directly from Scholastic Press, you'll need to add s/h.Visit the Scholastic website www.scholastic.com for more information. Whatever outlet you choose, choose Days of Jubilee.
Scholastic Press
www.scholastic.com
Firsthand...
Is the name of the newest division of Heinemann that's producing absolute treasures. Teachers requested a bridge between the inspiration and ideas presented in Heinemann's professional development books and the application and practice of those ideas. A star was born: firsthand.
Firsthand will bring us a series of books, but right now firsthand – Lessons That Change Writers by Nancie Atwell and Phonics Lessons – A Complete Phonics and Word Study Curriculum for Grades K, 1, 2 are available.
We all know – and love – Nancie Atwell. She's the miracle worker who makes teaching seventh and eighth grade reading and writing seem do-able. She's provided a step-by-step approach for each lesson. There's a preparation list, a "What I Was Thinking" (that's invaluable!), a script (actually what Nancie says when she talks with students about ideas for their writing, how to craft writing as literature, why coventions matter, how they work, and reproducibles and overheads (shown at point-of-use within the lesson).These minilessons can help us all.
The whole package includes a book of minilesson scripts, along with the theory behind each lesson, an accompanying binder of hundreds of reproducibles, overheads of principles, approaches, readings for your students, wonderful posters of essential quotations for aspiring writers and examples of kids' work. This is a beautifully comprehensive package. The book has 288 pages, then we have the reproducibles and the three-ring binder, all for $62 plus s/h. Don't miss this one, no matter what you have to do to get it.
The Phonics Lessons are from Gay Su Pinnell and Irene Fountas; two names synonymous with good teaching. There are 100 minilessons for each of three grade levels with a Month-by-Month Planning Guide, Assessment Checklists and a Lesson Selection Map to choose the lessons that align with students' needs based on the Word Study continuum. The Continuum encompasses nine categories of learning: Early Literacy Groups, Phonological & Phonemic Awareness, Letter Knowledge, Letter/Sound Relationships, Spelling Patterns, High-Frequency Words, Word Meaning, Word Structure and Word-Solving Actions.
There's a four-page lesson for each of these areas. The lessons include professional understandings, a teach/ apply/share area and follow up. This approach promotes continuous assessment and enables the teacher to deliver targeted instruction.
The package is really reasonably priced: all the minilessons, an accompanying binder of reproducibles (over 450 pages) and Teacher's Guide are all yours for $68 plus s/h. Visit www.firsthand.heinemann.com or call these nice people at 800-225-5800.
Heinemann Publishers, Inc.
P.O. Box 6926
Portsmouth, NH 03802
McWiz Games...
Has terrific learning games that will really enhance your instruction. We saw McWiz Junior™ and your kids from six to 12 will love it. Created by a teacher, the object of the game is to take turns answering questions, thereby earning pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. The first to complete his/her jigsaw is the winner. There is lots of learning going on here. Call 888-691-2849 or visit www.mcwiz.com
Navigating the Social World – A Curriculum for Individuals with Asperger's Syndrome, High Functioning Autism and Realated Disorders...
If you've had a child that you just couldn't seem to reach, this book could be your – and the child's – life saver. The author, a medical doctor, took her child to all kinds of medical specialists. Rachel, the child, was finally diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, High Functioning Autism (AS/HFA). Although it was a relief to have a diagnosis, there were not any appropriate treatment programs.
Jeanette McAfee then turned to her local school system for help with Rachel. The special education team faced the same dilemma. It is only now that curricula designed specifically to teach social/emotional, abstract thinking and behavior management skills to individuals with AS/HFA are beginning to appear. In Dr. McAfee's book, we find that she has incorporated some tried and true ideas along with specific solutions she has had to create for Rachel.
The definition of AS/HFA used in the book is that it is a pervasive, neurodevelopmental disorder of the brain that affects a number of abilities. These include the abilities to communicate, make and keep friends, carry out everyday social interactions, and deal with change. Many of these people also have problems with abstract thinking, motor and coordination skills and recognizing and coping with emotions. Some children are even "plagued with atypical sensitivity to sensory input (i.e. uncomfortable or even painful responses to everyday sounds, lighting, touch, smells, tastes, or textures of certain foods)."
First described in 1944, the diagnosis implies normal to above-average cognitive abilities and at least superficially normal expressive and receptive language abilities.
All theory aside, Dr. McAfee gives very specific goals, instructions and ideas to help these children. Section One of the book covers recognizing and coping with one's own emotions, Section Two covers communication and social skills, Section Three deals with abstract thinking skills, Section Four focuses on behavioral issues. There are terrific appendices which provide additional resource materials, handouts, templates, program tracking forms and a very handy glossary.
This 349-page Wire-O bound book is published by Future Horizons and is $49.95 plus s/h. They have many other resources on autism and Asperger's Syndrome so call them at 800-489-0727 or log on to their website at www.futurehorizons-autism.com to receive a catalog. This address and phone number deserve a permanent place in your records.
Future Horizons Inc.
721 West Abram St.
Arlington, TX 76013
Teaching Can Be Fun Again...
Are you missing the satisfied feeling of knowing you're growing as a professional while bringing your class the best strategies you can locate? The Basic School: A Community for Learning will help you tomorrow!
From that all-important building of community to incorporating that vitally important "C" word – character – this book is right at your side. Terrific for inservice, teacher book groups or individual study Just $15 plus s/h Order your copy at www.amazon.com
FREE...
Among The Best: Innovative Elementary Schools and Their Award-Winning Practices – a 48-page book telling the story of 14 Award-winning schools and their adaptations of best practices. You'll love reading about the Running 'Roos club for parents and kids at Kipps Elementary in Blacksburg, VA and about the New York City public school that teaches through the arts. The Parent Place at Kipps Elementary has lots of ideas for the taking and St. Francis de Sales in Philadelphia can show you their take on character education.
Just send your name, address and a note requesting a copy of Among the Best... and this best practices book will arrive on your doorstep.
The Boyer Center/Messiah College
One College Ave.
Grantham, PA 17027
May 2003, Vol.33, No.8
