Hail to...
By Patricia Broderick and Allen Raymond

The Key to it All
There's a new kid on the block. It's called Key Education. And, like many new kids, this company brings a wealth of experience to your classroom.

Sherrie Flora, president of Key Education is a third generation supplementary materials developer. Sherrie taught, then turned her talents to creating products to help all teachers. For many years she worked with large supplementary materials producers, but decided last year that she would produce all of those products she wished she'd had available when she was tea-ching. A year later, she's done just that.

Sherrie's first 20 products rolled out last month and you're going to love them. These first items range from "I Can Tie My Shoes" learning lacing cards, to cards for increasing receptive and expressive language skills in the categories of nouns (foods) and verbs (actions). There are even – hallelujah – photographic learning cards with a manners theme. Another book includes 32 early learning thematic lesson plans for a developmentally appropriate curriculum.

It's best to check for the variousprices, but "I Can Tie…" has six 7" x 4.25" colorful shoe and boot cards, six 36" multicolored laces with safe plastic tips, directions in English and Spanish, all for $11.99. The thematic lesson plan book we mentioned has 160 pages and sells for $15.99. Carson Dellosa is handling Sherrie's marketing so check their website for all the other new products Key Education has for you.
Key Education Publishing Co.
www.carsondellosa.com

Shades of Greatness
This small company produces terrific calendars. Rita Hubbard is the president, and she sent us her newest effort, Shades of Women.

This black and white calendar highlights the inventions of Black women. It's a very impressive collection. We didn't realize that the laser apparatus used in a new cataract surgery technique was invented by a young Black female opthalmologist; nor that the home security system utilizing television surveillance, nor the concept of pre-paid insurance was created/invented by Black women. We learned a lot reading this calendar. When 2005 is over, you can unclip the top part of the calendar, which has all the research information on each woman, and keep it in your curriculum files for inclusion in planning science, history and math themes.

The calendar deserves a place in your classroom. Just $8 plus s/h.
Shades of Greatness

Free Spirit Press
This company we know and love has released a super new series on 40 developmental assets. The Adding Assets Series, for kids eight to 12, empowers them to participate in building their own assets.

Each book in the series focuses on one of the assets within the asset groups of: support, empowerment, boundaries and expectations, constructive use of time, commitment to learning, positive values, social competencies and positive identity. We saw the first two books of the series: People Who Care About You (94 pages – the support assets) and Helping Out and Staying Safe, (72 pages – the empowerment assets). These 5" x 7" paperbound books are really worth a look. Each book is $9.95 plus s/h.

Visit Free Spirit Publishing. Their titles are practical and well done.
Free Spirit Publishing
www.freespirit.com

Instructional Images
This company has every poster you could ever want. We know you're thinking that's an overstatement, but it's only a slight one. www.instructionalimages.com will knock your socks off. There are general inspirational posters and a huge range of math and critical thinking posters.

As we continue to be mired in the test - test - test mudhole, posters can not only teach, but their inspirational messages can make the classroom a nicer place to be. We couldn't list the various sizes, prices and titles available, but do visit the website.
Instructional Images
www.instructionalimages.com

Bare Books
These books are pretty unique and interesting. They're blank – and they come with lines, and without. They are available hardbound and spiral bound. There are more variations than you can imagine. There are also book covers avaiable.

The blank puzzles are neat. There are 12 piece puzzles, 35 piece puzzles and 25 piece puzzles (25" x 25"). There are so many things that can be done with these for the beginning of school, motivational projects within the year – you name it.

This company has a whole catalog of items you'll love, even down to crayons. Visit at www.barebooks.com or call 800-255-9228.

P.S. You can put digital images on the puzzles. Now, how's that for fun?
Treetop Publishing
www.barebooks.com

Kimbo
This company consistently produces the neatest CD's for classroom use. Songs About America celebrates America's history and is just perfect for this month of the presidents.

There are 21 songs included, each featuring historic people and events spanning the over 200 years of our history. There's Coming to America, an excerpt from Paul Revere's speech, O Susanna, When Johnny Comes Marching Home, Yellow Rose of Texas, ABC States Song, Turkey in the Straw, Erie Canal, The Statue of Liberty, Take Me Out to the Ballgame, an excerpt from Martin Luther King's "I Had A Dream..." speech and more. The comprehensive guide provides activities for phonemic awareness, geography, history, science, music and more. You just can't beat this recording for use across the curriculum.

Songs About America has received the Teachers' Choice Award for 2004 and was named one of Dr. Toy's 100 Best Children's Products. Just $14.95 plus s/h. We also saw another CD entitled Circle Time Activities. These are theme-based and transition-based activities that take young children through math, getting along with others, cooperation, community, manners, time, the five senses, letter recognition, feelings…all you could hope for and more. There are 17 songs on this CD and a comprehensive guide accompanies it. Another bargain from Kimbo Educational at $14.95 plus s/h.
Kimbo Educational
www.kimboed.com

Viking
If you're a Jon Scieszka fan – and who isn't? – you're going to love his two new books from Viking.

Jon brings back The Time Warp Trio to interact with DaWild, DaCrazy, DaVinci. In 71 pages, Joe, Sam and Fred travel to the 15th century to meet Leonardo. As described by Booklist, the book is filled with "snappy dialogue and classic boy humor." We think your intermediate kids – especially boys – will devour this one. Also great for middle school kids who need reading practice. $14.99.

The second of Jon's books we received is Science Verse. Familiar verse is given a new "twist" as Jon includes the "poetry of science in everything." This 38-page picture book is a lot of fun for science, language arts and learning in general. The end papers present the Table of Periodic Elements. $16.99 at your local bookstore.
Viking
us.penguingroup.com