Test scores across the country show American students are far more able to read narrative than nonfiction text. Some research speculates this is due to a great lack in the background knowledge of many children. Librarians are beginning to realize that a unique fit for the school librarian is as a provider of background knowledge materials for teachers to use. Teachers are continually looking for an interesting, fun way to input content knowledge to build that background information that will help push up expository reading scores. Nonfiction readers theatre is one way to accomplish this. Professor Fredericks offers 30 short, nonfiction readers theatre plays for the young reader (grades 1-3) on topics ranging from Earth and natural science to community helpers, holidays, and government. All topics are tied to usual curriculum in the primary grades. Reading the plays will expose students to factual, curricular-related information in a fun way, as well as contributing to the student's ability to understand nonfiction text and read fluently. Each play offers an activity or science experiment and a list of further readings and/or references.

Discover adorable freckle-faced Tappi Shuffle as she tries everything under the sun to "make" her very own pair of tap shoes so she too can be like the famous "tippity tappity" dancers she saw on the "big stage." Tappi's determination leads her to Daddy's workshop, her baby brother's room and even Mommy's kitchen, only to find that nothing was working. Finally, Tappi's Mommy comes to the rescue and gives her a very special birthday "surprise."

Protecting journalists' sources confidentiality helps the press in fulfilling its watchdog function. Disclosing these sources in front of the courts of law serves the interests of the justice. This book analyzes the case law, the statutory instruments and the journalists' professional codes of conduct in United Kingdom, the European Court of Human Rights and the United States to see how these jurisdictions accommodate these two legitimate and competing interests. The book examines the theories behind the journalists' privilege, the procedural issues surrounding the matter and the scope of protection. This book will be of interest to lawyers, students, scholars, journalists and policy makers.

This comprehensive and insightful guide provides a theoretical understanding of the forms and functions of short films, from a variety of production contexts in this country and abroad. The guide establishes a conceptual approach to the analysis of short films and builds on this foundation to provide helpful advice for teachers and students who are producing their own short films. In addition to providing a framework for the production process, the guide demonstrates how practical work can be used to engage with key aspects of the Media and Film Studies curriculum. Contents include: Introduction - Assessment contexts, Rationale, Schemes of work; Background - history and development of the short film form; short film production - effective pre-production; production technologies; post-production; and finding an audience for short films - new possibilities in marketing and distribution. As with all the guides in this series, this title is supported by additional student materials on dedicated password accessible web pages.

This newly revised edition of the American Cinematographer Film Manual, edited by Stephen Burum, ASC, continues to be the standard, providing fully updated, comprehensive coverage of cinematography from production to post.

Community Shakespeare Company Editions make Shakespeare's plays instantly accessible to everyone, from children through Shakespeare-shy adults. These unique performance scripts, developed in a youth theater company, inspire student actors and captivate their audiences. Award-winning playwright Richard Carter delivers the best of the Bard in original verse adaptation. CSC Editions represent a dynamic model that can be used in schools, clubs, camps, and communities worldwide. With nearly thirty years experience working with young people, Carter is Artistic Director of the Community Shakespeare Company.* Its mission: "to enrich young lives and cultivate community, with theater as the means and Shakespeare the inspiration."
(*www.communityshakespeare.org)

"This is to recommend Richard Carter with a full heart. We have enthusiastically shared many ideals and passions, especially regarding theatre by, with and for youngsters."
-Lenka Peterson O'Connor, author: "Kids Take The Stage" (Backstage Books)

"I take my theatre very seriously and I know what I am talking about when I say that we are indeed blessed to have Community Shakespeare in our midst."
-Kenneth W. Jenks: Director Emeritus,
University of Utah Playwriting Program

"Having taught all over the world, I can imagine how excited teachers would be to have the opportunity to introduce a Shakespeare play to their students, knowing they would be able to grasp meaning and still retain the Shakespearian experience."
-Ann H. Goss: Retired International School Teacher

Young people and improvisational theatre should be a natural combination - so why do we so rarely find this combo in today's classrooms? According to Elizabeth Swados - playwright, director, composer, poet, author of children's books and of an acclaimed family memoir - improvisational theatre is the perfect creative outlet for primary and secondary students...if only they can be given the tools and the guidance to make the most of this natural yet rigorous art form. Drawing on her own experience teaching inner-city children in the groundbreaking musical "Runaways" and in teaching the techniques of improv theatre in schools around the country, as well as on her own background in experimental theatre, Swados provides a step-by-step guide to bringing out the natural creativity and enthusiasm key to young people creating - and enjoying - improvisational theatre. Covering the basics - from freeing the imagination to learning about how to work with an ensemble, from how to master different forms of movement and sound to how to create different kinds of characters - this is the book for teachers and students eager to learn how to express fully the creative talent that all children are born with.

Community Shakespeare Company Editions make Shakespeare's plays instantly accessible to everyone, from children through Shakespeare-shy adults. These unique performance scripts, developed in a youth theater company, inspire student actors and captivate their audiences. Award-winning playwright Richard Carter delivers the best of the Bard in original verse adaptation. CSC Editions represent a dynamic model that can be used in schools, clubs, camps, and communities worldwide. With nearly thirty years experience working with young people, Carter is Artistic Director of the Community Shakespeare Company.* Its mission: "to enrich young lives and cultivate community, with theater as the means and Shakespeare the inspiration."
(*www.communityshakespeare.org)

"This is to recommend Richard Carter with a full heart. We have enthusiastically shared many ideals and passions, especially regarding theatre by, with and for youngsters."
-Lenka Peterson O'Connor, author: "Kids Take The Stage" (Backstage Books)

"I take my theatre very seriously and I know what I am talking about when I say that we are indeed blessed to have Community Shakespeare in our midst."
-Kenneth W. Jenks: Director Emeritus,
University of Utah Playwriting Program

"Having taught all over the world, I can imagine how excited teachers would be to have the opportunity to introduce a Shakespeare play to their students, knowing they would be able to grasp meaning and still retain the Shakespearian experience."
-Ann H. Goss: Retired International School Teacher

Uncover the secrets behind the first Alex Rider movie, "Stormbreaker", with this fascinating behind-the-scenes guide. Crammed with photographic stills from the film, character dossiers, behind-the-scenes gossip, comparisons of the book and script, insider information on the movie-makers and an insight into the mind-blowing special effects, this will grip Alex Rider fans and newcomers alike.

Ever since Tess revealed her musical genius at age three, every choice in her life has been made for her. She's been moved to New York, enrolled in a special school, given the best violin teachers, and told when to practice and for how long. But no one ever told Tess what to do if she failed. . . .

A well-organized guide to teaching film language, with examples from Hollywood, independent, British and World cinemas. Designed to be accessible to those who are new to Film or Media Studies, this book will also be very useful to more experienced practitioners. It centers on a concise account of key ideas in film analysis at the "macro" level (narrative, genre, representation) and "micro" level (cinematography, editing sound). The guide explains accessibly how the auditory and visual components of film language can be interpreted as a semiotic process. It does so mostly from an audience perspective, but also relates film language to film production. Contents include:
* Introduction: Assessment contexts; What is film language?; Schemes of work
* Background: Production processes; Macro analysis; genre and narrative; Micro analysis
* Case studies: Macro analysis; Micro analysis; Micro analysis of an action movie extract
* Focus Films: "Spider-Man 2, Donnie Darko, The Magdalene Sisters, High Noon, Die Hard: With a Vengeance"

More than ever before, the arts are shaping and influencing our daily lives through the media and the creative industries. The arts are no longer confined to museums and theatres, but are adding value to our national economies and improving the quality of education. This has implications for arts education. However, unlike other subjects taught at schools, the arts have rarely made their purpose clear: Why are they taught? What is good arts education? And what are the benefits of teaching creative subjects or using creative ways to teach? In 2004 Professor Anne Bamford conducted the first international analysis of arts education research for UNESCO, in partnership with IFACCA and the Australia Council. Comparing data and case studies from more than 60 countries, the book analyses the differences between 'education in the arts' and 'education through the arts'. While appreciating that arts programmes are embedded in their unique social and cultural contexts, Professor Bamford develops internationally comparable standards for quality arts education. In addition, she identifies a number of concrete educational, cultural, and social benefits of arts education. This definitive work is of major interest to policy-makers, educators and artists.

Harold Bloom on "The Merchant of Venice" "Shylock's prose is Shakespeare's best before Falstaff's...His utterances manifest a spirit so potent, malign, and negative as to be unforgettable."

One of the most popular series ever published for young Americas, these classics have been praised alike by parents, teachers, and librarians. With these lively, inspiring, fictionalized biographies -- easily ready by children of eight and up -- today's youngster is swept right into history.

This collection presents techniques for tapping a broad range of literary sources to inspire young writers. Drawing upon poetry, folk tales, story jokes, and more, "Literary Ideas" walks students in grades 3-8 through the process of creating new stories and developing them as scripts for choral readings, readers theatre, and classroom plays. The process inspires creativity, problem solving, observation, and listening skills within a writing and theatrical framework. Includes the following:

Poetry for Choral Readings

Fairy Tales for Reader's Theater

Folk Tale Plays Fairy Tale

Alterations for Reader's Theater

Fairy Tale Alterations for Plays

Modern Fairy Tale Plays

Story Joke Plays

Poetry Plays

Historical Plays

Modern Cultural Myth Plays

Annie Oakley was the original power girl in an age when most women stayed home. During the late 19th century, Annie Oakley became a famous sharpshooter and daredevil horseback rider with Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. Illustrations.

Harper and her fellow Dance Starz are headed to New York City for the big national competition! Not only will they be up against their arch-rivals, the Belles, but Harper will also face off against her old dance team. Does Harper have what it takes to finally prove that she belongs on the big stage?

The Competition, written in collaboration with Julia Devillers, is the third and final book in the glittering trilogy from international dance superstar Maddie Ziegler.

As a child his passions were comics and cars, but George Lucas grew up to be one of the most successful filmmakers of all time. He is a producer, screenwriter, director and entrepreneur whose company Lucasfilms pioneered the movie effects that changed the world of animation. He founded Industrial Light and Magic, which transformed special sound and visual effects throughout the Hollywood film industry. He is best known, of course, as the creator of the Star Wars movie, television, gaming, toy and merchandise empire, as well as the archeologist-adventure series Indiana Jones. Discover the man behind the magic in "Who Is George Lucas?"

The ultimate guide to the hit program Charmed, this is both a book of spells and a key to the mysteries of the show. The Book of Shadows celebrates the best of Charmed, from its roots in the ancient tradition of Wicca to insider information on the show's stars.  N.E. Genge not only provides fascinating background details for the show's Wiccan elements, but also guides readers in performing their own magic. Fans with a witchy bent will learn about the tools of magic and divination and the casting of spells. Recipes and rituals -- from those that beckon love or bless a new business venture to those that bequeath strength or bestow fortune -- are all included.  The Book of Shadows is a sassy celebration of witches, sisterhood, and magic.

This book has not been prepared, approved, licensed, endorsed, or in any way authorized by any entity that created or produced Charmed.

These popular Shakespeare editions attractively presented and designed to make Shakespeare relevant to students. The plays are initially summarised in lively line illustrations that present the story in pictures to assist students to recognise the plot and major issues. This is followed by an introduction to Shakespeare's life, historical background and settings, and the attitudes of the period. The full text of the play is included with copious notes on language, historical significance and cross-references to other scenes. All are near A4 in size.

Chris Hemsworth captivated audiences as Marvel's Thor. With compelling images, fun facts, and an Inside Hollywood special feature, this book provides an engaging overview of Hemsworth's life, acting career, and experience playing Thor.

Chadwick Boseman captivated audiences as Marvel's Black Panther. With compelling images, fun facts, and an Inside Hollywood special feature, this book provides an engaging overview of Boseman's life, acting career, and experience playing Black Panther.