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Bring out the poet in your students! These activities are engaging and easy-to-use with great ideas for quick implementation and little preparation. Poetry is a wonderful catalyst for helping students understand and appreciate written and oral language. And this book includes a variety of activities and poetry types to reinforce language elements such as the alphabet, syllables, words, and phrases. Create a fun, unique learning atmosphere with poetry!Ê

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A Practical Resource
Help elementary students develop enthusiasm for poetry! Find easy, interesting lessons and important information in this convenient volume. Well-organized and complete. ... Read more

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A myriad of exciting opportunities for collaboration and networking awaits you! This guide shows you how to identify and optimize partnerships that benefit your library media center and help you build a true learning community. In addition to theoretical foundations of collaboration and learning, hands-on guidance is given for teaming up with school members, families, universities, libraries, community agencies, professional organizations, and businesses. A valuable professional reference for school librarians, administrators, teachers, and anyone seeking the skills and intellectual background to nurture a culture of lifelong learning and assume the lead in taking the library media center to the next level. ... Read more

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About building coalitions and holding them together
Superbly developed and presented by Lesley Farmer (Coordinator of Library Media Teacher Services Credential Program and Associate Professor of Library Media Technology at California State University, Long Beach) Teaming With Opportunity: Media Programs, Community, Constituencies, And Technology is a remarkable guide written on the premise that people who specialize in media within the educational community must work with a broad variety of allies in order to truly promote learning to their maximum ability. Teaming With Opportunity is all about building coalitions and holding them together despite conflicting interpersonal forces that tend to undercut harmony and pull people apart. The ultimate goal is to better enhance the school library's media center and improve the opportunities for students to learn; with that desire firmly in mind, the sky is the limit. Teaming With Opportunity is an adventurous yet practical guide, which provides more than mere theory; there is also hands-on, step-by-step guidance for teaming up with school members, families, universities, libraries, community agencies, professional organizations, and businesses. The clear language and detailed case studies make Teaming With Opportunity a "must" for librarians seeking to make a good student media center even better! ... Read more

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Pleasurable reading
In this book, Victor Nell reports research that he carried out regarding what he terms ludic reading, or reading for pleasure. It makes extremely interesting reading, despite its technical content - it is in fact an absorbing narrative in itself. Nell shoots down a number of misconceptions about teaching people to read more effectively, such as attempts to train eye movements, and he gives an account of readers' approaches and experiences that are enlightening for educators, readers and writers. No mean stylist, either. I heartily recommend it.

There is Truth In Fiction.
This book proves that reading is more than for research; it can be a source of real pleasure to lose yourself in a tempting novel or to learn from biographies about your heroes.When I chose this 'history' at a book sale, I was told it's a textbook. It does give sevreal theories about how we are able to read, but we are not told what to read. We are what we read. "You should make it a habit, when reading books, to attend more to the sense than to the words, to concentrate on the fruit rather than the foliage" was the advice from the 13th Century as it should be
today as well.

Writing requires a reader. Many authors have public appearances to read from their works. It was thought that listening to a text led the audience to buy the published piece. "Reading publicly was the best way for an author to acquire an audience. In fact, reading publicly was in itself a rudimentary form of publishing." Before I left Pulaski, our local celebrity/writer, Gregory Mcdonald read his poem for a group of us there for him to sign the books of his we already owned. We had no idea he had written a poem, of all things! He wrote in my A WORLD TOO WIDE "To an exciting future..."

In the movie, "Capote," we watched as Truman received a standing ovation when he read from a work in progress. Here in Knoxville, several local writers read from their new books; I've heard only one and disappointed that he had not acquired public-speaking skills and did not read as good as he wrote.There is a photo in this 'textbook' of Charles Dickens giving a reading. Back then, there were illustrated novels, like his A CHRISTMAS CAROL.

Now, this type of using drawings or pictures throughout a book has revived, starting with Jack Finney's back-in-time stories. The first published books were world classics like "Everyman," Goethe's "Faust," and Ibsen's plays. Oscar Wilde is reported to have remarked, "I never read a book I must review...." It has been proven that singing and reading to can slow down the destruction of the brain cells which causes Alzheimer's disease; "if you can't think of what to do, sit and read to your loved one -- if you read poetry, it's almost like singing."

There have been censorship on certain books since time immemorial; Nazis used it at a public book burning of some American books. I remember when Salman Rushdie's THE SATANIC VERSES was burned and he had a death threat on his head by Islamic fundamentalists. "The parents who took the Hawkins County Public Schools to court in Tennessee in 1980... argued that an entire elementary school series, which included "Cinderella," "Goldilocks" and THE WIZARD OF OZ, violated their fundamentalist religious beliefs."

This book is a reasonable history not only of reading but also of common readers, the individuals who, through the ages, chose certain books over others...at times rescued forgotten titles from the past...." This is the story of their small triumphs...and of the manner in which these things came to pass. How it all happened is minutely chronicled in this book." Writers read mainly from their own works to entice the listener to desire to possess and read all of the book. There are book collectors who never read the books they obtain and yet they won't give them as gifts or share with others.

Reading is a major pasttime to pass the time and to be occupied with a hobby which has been around for thousands of years.You can learn almost as much from fiction as the new non-fiction as, these days, we use a new style of writing history with the author's opinions included, not as objective as it was in the past.I've just finished one about Disraeli which was delightful. ... Read more

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The author designed this book, like Volume I of the set, to give elementary school librarians a quick, enjoyable way to coordinate with teachers to teach information literacy and literacy skills aligned with national standards. Each chapter consists of lesson plans for each grade level from K-5. In this second volume, as in the first, each chapter gives quick and easy, standard-based lessons with reproducible lesson sheets and simple directions. Each set of directions mentions teaching teams, objectives, learning modalities/Gardner's Multiple Intelligences, McCREL National Standards, AASL/AECT Standards, and detailed teaching resources/book titles. The volume contains all new lesson plans. Grades K-5.

Customer Reviews (2)

Don't waste your money
I was extremely disappointed by the lessons in this book. They are really nothing special at all and I don't think I found a single lesson in the book worth doing with my K-5 students. Two thumbs down.

Can't believe I bought this book!
Most of these lesson plans could be found elsewhere, for instance on state curriculum websites. The graphics are laughable. I wanted some new and different lesson plans, and these ideas are stale. Try "Funbrarian." Cheaper book, more FUN! ... Read more

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Take the pressure off your busy schedule with these standards-based library lessons! Quick and easy to implement, these proven 20-minute instructional lessons, organized by grade level, equip you with everything you need to effectively teach library and information literacy skills to students in kindergarten through fifth grade. Based on AASL/AECT standards and McREL benchmarks, each lesson plan includes standards, learning objectives, teaching directions, reproducible worksheets and graphics, learning styles, teaching team, and related resources. Students will learn how to effectively employ print and electronic resources to find the information they need, and you will be thrilled with how effortlessly you can bring information and literary appreciation into every classroom and still have time for other library and teaching responsibilities! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Not what I expected.
With a title like "Lesson Plans for the Busy Librarian," this book seemed like a must have for me, a busy librarian. When I received the item I was very disappointed to find that none of the lessons were that unique or interesting. In addition to being the same old thing, the clip art is subpar, and the organization is very random. Let me just say this, I have owned the book for over a year and am yet to use a single lesson plan from it.

Save your money...
As a "busy librarian" the title drew the money from me in a hurry, but I was disappointed by the lack of depth- lots of coloring!Occasionally I use some of the reproducibles when I have a sub, however the quality of the graphics are poor.

Better books out there
I am an elementary school librarian. While this book has a few good lesson plans, I find the majority of them to be overly simplistic. Also, a lot of the graphics on the reproducibles are of very poor quality.

Time saver for teachers too!
Although directed to librarians, this book is also fantastic for elementary teachers.It's indexed to the Language Arts standards, learning styles and Multiple Intelligences. It contains patterns, instructions, hands-on activities and more, for literature-based multi-disciplinary units.A super resource! ... Read more

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Here is everything you need to plan, execute, and assess school library events. Aside from emphasizing the benefits of effective programs, the authors offer details on providing support services to enrich programming. Several examples of successful programs from across the nation provide the necessary inspiration to create your own imaginative and memorable events-events that motivate young students to fully take advantage of media center resources. ... Read more

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Energize your story programs by infusing them with the power of movement! This guide offers you dozens of interactive, ready-to-use, age-appropriate and story-based activities that get children actively involved in learning. Designed to expand the child's self-awareness, range of expression, and aesthetic sensibility at particular stages of development, from infancy to puberty, these literature-based programs are simple enough to be used by any educator, even if you have little or no dance experience. Included for each program are learning goals/skill development, a literature-story connection, and detailed instructions for movement and vocal improvisation and creative dramatics. A great resource for after school programs, home schools, and daycare centers. Ages Infant-14

Stories on the Move develops a child's emergent, cultural, and interpretative literacy skills. The first three chapters for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers are based on nationally recognized standards and methods for tapping emergent literacy skills. The fourth chapter takes children on StoryTrips to other countries and includes language, stories, dances, and customs of those countries.The fifth and sixth chapters for older children show them how to interpret story structure and the elements of character, setting, mood, plot, and theme.

Included for each program are learning goals/skill development, a literature-story connection, and detailed instructions for movement and vocal improvisation and creative dramatics. A great resource for after school programs, home schools, and daycare centers. Ages Infant-14.

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Doggett explores the pros and cons of using technology in the schools and describes how it affects the roles and interaction of media specialists, teachers, students, administrators, school system, community, and parents. Various research processes, emerging technologies, filtering, and search engines are just some of the topics covered in this valuable guide. ... Read more

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Social Readers: Promoting Reading in the 21st Century is about making reading meaningful to the Web 2.0 generation through active engagement and socially interactive projects. Organized into four broad categories—entertainment, active participation, control and choice, and technology—the book offers more than 50 specific project ideas for promoting reading in the classroom, school, library media center, or public library.

Each project includes a description, cost estimate, planning time needed, suggested supplies, and instructions for running the project successfully. Topics such as sharing, involvement, book promotions, social networking, and developing informed readers are also covered. A preface and introduction provide an overview of the needs and preferences of the current generation of students, a discussion of the necessity for socializing reading, and insights into how to use the book effectively. Bottom line: Social Readers will help librarians and educators change their practices to accommodate the ever-evolving needs of today's students.

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This practical handbook provides more than 30 ready-to-use lesson plans that connect picture books to the national language arts standards set forth by NCTE and IRA. Designed for the primary grades, all lessons have been classroom tested and come with dozens of reproducible patterns and worksheets. ... Read more

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Build excitement about reading with successful author/illustrator visits and "virtual visit" celebrations!

Here's step-by-step help in organizing actual visits or "virtual" celebrations—including lively curricular activities. You'll find new models to help you gather community support, plus new ways to obtain funding and involve co-sponsors. All the necessary steps are covered: the choice of person, timing, place, equipment...getting the books, resource booklets, and videos...helping teachers publicize the event to students (including activities tied to various content areas)...and holding "proxy visits", events celebrating author/illustrator works, "Read-ins," or visits by e-mail. A number of reproducible forms help make any event flow smoothly—also aided by all the updated contact and related information in the resource section.

· Expanded with more ideas, guides, and updated resource information, including websites and new books

· Gives many examples of curriculum-related activities and ways to use the event to promote literacy

· Presents alternatives to on-site visits, author-focused celebrations, and virtual visits

· Promote enhanced literacy through an exciting celebration of books and the authors and illustrators who create them! You'll build a love of reading, show connections between books (developing higher order thinking skills), and promote reading comprehension as young readers grow in authentic response to their reading.

Product Description
This text provides the elements of a well-designed reading incentive programme and describes programmes available from commercial sources and associations. It includes 16 thematic programmes which cover such topics as "Reading Razzmatazz", "Election Year Simulation" and "Oceans of Opportunity". ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Inspiring students to learn reading the fun way
This is a great book by Ms. Bauer that focuses on different approaches and techniques to help students learn creative and fun ways to reading. The author focuses on a case study approach, where she uses several examples of techniquesthat have been successful, mapping out the how-to process. Oneapproach to a creative reading is called storytelling in which students actout a short story the have read and memorized, involving the entire classon one person's adventure through a book. The author gives several examplesof how to get students involved in this. This technique was used in myelementary school where it was proven very successful.

This is a greatbook for teachers, librarians, and other professionals interested inteaching elemntary and jr. high age students more creative ways to enjoyreading. ... Read more

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Designed to help teachers and librarians introduce students to reference tools in a way that is memorable and fun, the material in this book was developed for use with grades 7-12, an age group that seems often neglected in the publishing of "teaching" puzzles. The puzzles use basic reference sources such as almanacs, encyclopedias, atlases, dictionaries, thesauri and quotation books. The vast majority of the questions can be answered by using these basic works. Some questions may be answered by using the card catalog and other library resources such as the vertical file. There are 80 activities in all--20 each of crosswords (arranged according to the number of clues, beginning with the shortest puzzles); word searches (blocks of letters in which certain words can be found running horizontally or vertically), multiple choice (thirty questions with a choice of five answers each); and match-ups (a list of 30 questions per activity followed by a list of 30 partially completed answers in scrambled order). ... Read more