Good teaching is much more than a college degree and a collection of lesson plans. This book is unique in that it focuses on the basic and essential elements of quality teaching. It's designed specifically for teachers (both novice and experienced) looking for down-to-earth practical answers to their questions and concerns. From the first day to assessment and from homework to classroom management - this book has it all!

Tall Tall Tree is a tribute to the last remaining old-growth redwood forests that stand along the northern Californian coast. The perfect forest book for kids, Tall Tall Tree includes accurate scientific information about redwood trees and the habitat they create, making this book important for young readers at home and in the classroom. Tall Tall Tree is the perfect California book for kids eager to learn about the state and its surrounding environment. With its counting format and rhyming text, this book doubles as a counting book for kids and young readers. There's a world teeming with life that very few people ever see. Take a peek at some of the animals that make their home in a Tall Tall Tree-a magnificent coast redwood. Count the animals, one through ten-chipmunks chattering, bats roosting, slugs sliding, and many more. Tony Frederick's playful rhyme makes this a book young children will want to look at and listen to again and again, while early readers will enjoy reading it on their own. The turn of every page reveals a unique perspective on the redwood's many moods, illustrated with Chad Wallace's stunning colors. Enriching STEAM activities complement the content. Come discover and explore this wild and magic world! Parents, teachers, gift givers, and many others will find:backmatter includes further information about redwood trees and the animals that live thereAn explore more section for teachers & parents includes STEAM activities and further learning websitesA book for young readers learning how to count!

Focusing on the new NSTA standards, this activity-centered resource uses a wide variety of children's literature to integrate science across the elementary curriculum. Fredericks uses a thematic approach and features the best in science trade books; stimulating hands-on, minds-on activities and experiments in life, physical, earth, and space sciences; and a host of tips, ideas, and strategies that make teaching and learning science an adventure. Annotated bibliographies of more than 400 trade books, practical ideas for authentic assessment, a variety of language arts extensions and techniques, and the best technological resources and science Web sites are also featured. Grades 1-6.

On November 19, 1863 President Abraham Lincoln delivered what is arguably the most famous 272 words in the English language - The Gettysburg Address. In 2013, the United States will celebrate the 150th anniversery of that pivotal speech. With this convenient guide, you can energize your middle school or high school social studies curriculum with dynamic "hands-on, minds-on" projects and activities for The Gettysburg Address. You can help your students understand and appreciate this timeless document with a wide range of interactive and "classroom-tested" experiences appropriate for any program and any classroom. Geared towards national social studies standards (e.g. Time, Continuity, and Change) this teacher resource is a perfect addition to any curriculum.

In this book, funny tales and rhymes are presented as readers theatre scripts, specifically written to motivate beginning readers. Readers theatre continues to be popular with teachers and librarians endeavoring to enhance reading fluency. Humorous scripts are particularly in demand. In MORE Tadpole Tales and Other Totally Terrific Treats for Readers Theatre, bestselling author Tony Fredericks presents all-new scripts based on fractured fairy and folk tales. Building on the delightful and wildly humorous stories of his Tadpole Tales and Other Totally Terrific Treats for Readers Theatre, Fredericks offers more than two dozen reproducible, satirical, and downright funny scripts that will reinvigorate and reenergize the elementary language arts curriculum. Specifically targeted at beginning readers, his sidesplitting send-ups and wacky, fractured tales are guaranteed to bring snickers, chuckles, and belly laughs into any classroom, get everyone involved in production-and motivate kids to love reading. Nearly two dozen reproducible readers theatre scripts for primary readers, based on wild and crazy adaptations of popular stories, tales, and legends Scripts for kids to finish Drawings and illustrations An appendix of fairytales, folk tales, rhymes, and other stories A list of titles students can use to create their own readers theatre scripts Resources on readers theatre

Tony Fredericks presents a collection of best loved stories in the popular readers theatre format to integrate with the United States history and language arts curriculum in the upper elementary and middle school grades. This collection of over 20 well-known and not-so-well-known tales will be invaluable to teachers in American schools as they do their usual units of study in American history and literature. Plays focus on entertaining folklore, tall tales, and legends to aid teachers in building fluency skills in their young readers. Included are tips for introducing and using Readers Theatre with students in grades 4-8.

Teachers are continually looking for materials that will enhance their studies of cultures around the world. With this new book, author, Tony Fredericks and illustrator, Bongamon, present readers theatre scripts based on traditional African folklore. Plays are organized by area and identified by country. Included are tales from Algeria to Zambia and all areas in between. This title contains background information for teachers on each African country included as well as instruction and presentation suggestions. The rationale and role of readers theatre in literacy instruction is discussed and additional resources for extending studies of African folklore are included. Grades 4-8.

These dynamic literature-based activities will help teachers and school librarians energize the entire science curriculum and implement national standards. Fredericks presents hundreds of hands-on, minds-on projects that actively engage students in positive learning experiences. Each of the units offers book summaries, science topic areas, critical thinking questions, classroom resources, reproducible pages, and lots of easy-to-do activities including science experiments for every grade level. Chapters cover: Life Science, Space Science, Earth Science, Physical Science, and the Human Body for students in grades K-4. The author also provides practical guidance for teaching science through inquiry, for collaborative ventures with school librarians, for integrating literature across the curriculum, and an up-to-date section of annotated bibliographies of the best in children's science literature. All titles are new to this volume and linked to national science standards. An entire chapter on the advantage of collaboration between the classroom teacher and the school librarian is included. Each individual unit includes a section on one or more collaborative classroom/library projects. An added plus is a section of related Readers Theatre scripts keyed to the science topics and standards. Grades K-4.

Written for children reading at first and second grade levels, this readers theatre book uses Mother Goose rhymes as its basis, making it especially valuable to teachers and librarians working on building fluency skills in their beginning readers. The book offers plays based on well-known rhymes, complete with presentation and instructional follow up suggestions. The author also offers staging diagrams that enable teachers to use each script with entire classrooms of students, and he includes lists of further teaching resources for each play as well. Reading levels are based on accepted readability formulas. Several of the scripts feature simultaneous Spanish translations--a real plus for ELL programs. An introductory chapter discusses the educational value of using readers theatre with young readers and ELL students. Grades 1 and 2.

Fredericks presents hundreds of hands-on, minds-on projects that actively engage students in positive learning experiences. Each of the units offers book summaries, social studies topic areas, critical thinking questions, classroom resources, and lots of easy-to-do activities for every grade level. The author also provides practical guidelines for collaborative ventures with school librarians, tips for integrating literature across the curriculum, lists of relevant web sites useful in social studies curriculum. Everything is linked to the social studies standards. These dynamic literature-based activities will help you energize the entire social studies curriculum and implement national (and state) standards. Fredericks presents hundreds of hands-on, minds-on projects that actively engage students in positive learning experiences. Each of the 62 units offers book summaries, social studies topic areas, critical thinking questions, classroom resources, and lots of easy-to-do activities for every grade level. The author also provides practical guidelines for collaborative ventures with school librarians, tips for integrating literature across the curriculum, lists of relevant web sites useful in social studies education, and an up-to-date section of annotated bibliographies of the best in children's social studies literature. All titles are linked to national social studies standards. A chapter on the need for collaboration between the classroom teacher and the school librarian is included. Each individual unit also includes a section on one or more collaborative classroom/library projects. Grade levels are included. A crossover section points out how social studies literature can also be used to promote other aspects of the elementary curriculum.

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.

This participatory approach actively engages students in their own American history education. Arranged chronologically, these 24 readers theatre scripts put students in roles of selected historical figures, giving them a you are there perspective on the unfolding of critical milestones, memorable circumstances, and colorful venues that have shaped the American experience. Students can travel with a determined family along the Oregon Trail or to the moon with Neil Armstrong. Other opportunities to make history come alive include scripts having students work alongside Father Junipero Serra at Mission San Juan Capistrano and stand alongside Thomas Jefferson as he drafts the Declaration of Independence. Activity ideas and learning extensions follow each script.

Turn kids onto science with these exciting Internet learning adventures. The 88 lessons in this book connect young learners to the incredible array of science knowledge and resources on the Internet. Each unit includes engaging activities and Internet research projects based on specific science concepts, along with discussion questions and lists of relevant Web sites and related literature. Grades K-6.

Tap into the budding investigators within youngsters and help them connect to the incredible array of social studies knowledge and resources on the Internet. The 75 lessons in this book guide you and your students in exciting Internet projects that target specific content objectives for specific social studies concepts. Each unit includes activities, questions, and lists of relevant Web sites and related literature. A great way to motivate students, build online technology skills, and increase knowledge.

These dynamic literature-based activities will help you energize the social studies curriculum and implement national (and many of state) standards. Fredericks presents hundreds of hands-on, minds-on projects to stimulate actively and engage students in positive learning. Each of these 33 units offers book summaries, social studies topic areas, critical thinking questions, and dozens of easy-to-do activities for every grade level. The author also gives practical guidelines for integrating literature across the curriculum, lists of web sites useful in social studies classes, and annotated bibliographies of related resources.

Expanding literature beyond the covers of a single book into every facet of the curriculum, from reading/language arts to math, social studies, music, physical education, and science and health, this volume is truly a celebration of reading. Thirty-five high-quality books, selected on the basis of interest level and application to the needs of reluctant readers, are presented with critical thinking questions, activities, and a host of other energizing ideas for the reading program, from making wind socks and tree diaries to raising tadpoles and brine shrimp. Guidelines for motivating students and encouraging active participation introduce the concepts and methodology of this exciting approach. Demonstrating the power and beauty of literature, it stimulates the perception of reading not only as a requisite part of every course and every subject, but as a natural and normal part of every student's life. Grades 2-5.

Getting parents to participate in their child's education is easy with these take-home reproducibles! This book provides a single-source guide to selected reading and extension activities for grade levels K-6. Each activity sheet includes a summary of a book, discussion questions, and a list of engaging learning projects for adults and children. The activities are designed to increase discussion, build reading skills, and develop comprehension. More than 100 titles of quality children's literature are featured. Teachers will love this unique way to promote reading, and it's great PR for the library. A must for school and public libraries!

You'll appreciate these tools for parent participation in the learning process. Reproducible activity sheets based on quality children's books are designed as take-home assignments for children. Each sheet includes a book summary, discussion questions, and a list of engaging learning activities for adults and children that increase discussion, reading skills, and comprehension.

This work is designed to encourage parent participation in the learning process. Activity sheets based upon popular children's books are designed in a format for easy reproduction and distribution so they can be taken home by children. Designed to increase discussion, reading skills and comprehension, each sheet includes a summary of the book, discussion questions and a list of learning activities for parents and children.

Use this activity-centered, literature-based approach to get students excited about social studies. These 32 units have summaries of books, social studies topic areas, lists of content-related words, curricular perspectives, and critical-thinking questions, as well as myriad activities. Fredericks also gives you an excellent annotated bibliography of children's literature and a list of social studies resources.