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 For a lifetime of learning fun! |
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Also by Paul Fleischman:
Early Readers
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The First Set of Six Early Readers written and illustrated by Shelley Davidow - These early readers are phonetically based and contain stories that young children will find enjoyable and entertaining. Each story has a beginning, middle and an ending. The stories are gently humorous while honoring nature, animals and the environment. The six books use simple words that the early reader will easily grasp. They have been carefully chosen by a reading specialist to help readers advance from the short vowels to the silent "e" to the vowel combinations. At the back of this book is a list of sight words that should be reviewed with the child before reading the book. It is recommended that the books be read in this order: Sam Cat & Nat Rat, Ned and Fred, Len Bug & Jen Slug, Jake the Snake, Tim's Boat, and Kay and Jay. These are slim books: 5.5" x 8.5", 20 pages per book. The illustrations are gentle, warm and very sweet. The cover of each book is four-color and the inside pages are gray-scale. Printed on natural paper. Available as a set of six only. #7200  About the Author and Illustrator: Shelley Davidow is originally from South Africa. Her young adult book, In the Shadow of Inyangani, was nominated for the first African Writer's Prize by Macmillan/Picador and BBC World. The author of numerous books, Shelley lives in Florida, where she is a class teacher at the Sarasota Waldorf School.  |
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 The
Secret Pet, written and illustrated by Shelley Davidow is a continuation
of the phonetically based
First Set of Six Early Readers. The Secret Pet is the first
chapter book in this series and focuses on the phonetic vowel teams, such as ea,
ie, oe, ue, diagraphs, open and closed syllables and more. The story interweaves the animals from the first six books into a more in depth, entertaining and adventurous story. Shelley’s ability to create a humorous and thoughtful story is once again shown in The Secret Pet. Her beautiful drawings bring the story to life and capture the attention of those early or struggling readers and keep them reading until they finish the entire book. Paper, 110 pages. 5.5"x8.5". #7217X $9.95 |
 The Last Little Cat by Meindert
DeJong is a loving, compassionate book perfect for the early reader. It's filled
with simple limited vocabulary and repetitive text. The ideal book for ages 6-9,
and younger children delight in having the story read to them over and over
again. The last little cat was born in a kennel, surrounded by dogs and dog cages and dog noises. The little cat was always half-cold and half-hungry - until the day it fell into the cage of the old, blind dog. Then, for a while, the last little cat was warm, and the last little cat was well fed. But how could such a small cat know that barn doors are closed at night and that there are people in the world who do not want to help a helpless kitten. The story of how the last little cat found a home, and not only a home, but the perfect home, again confirms Meindert DeJong's place among the finest writers of this or any day. Paper, 70 pages, illustrated, 5.5" x 8.5". Originally published nearly four decades ago and recently brought back in print. #7006 $7.95 |
 Word
Roots B1 Software: Learning the Building Blocks of Better Spelling and
Vocabulary (Critical Thinking Press) - Word Roots teaches
students the meanings of Latin and Greek prefixes, roots, and suffixes commonly
used in English. Learning word elements dramatically improves spelling and the
ability to decode unfamiliar words. Word Roots will add hundreds of words to
your students' vocabulary and greater depth to their thinking and writing.For each lesson students first learn the meanings of prefixes, roots, and suffixes. Then they: - Divide known and unknown words into their elements or assemble elements to form whole words. - Match word parts or whole words to their definitions by analyzing their meanings. - Apply their new vocabulary in sentences. Teaching Support: Includes help and hints, automatic grading, and printable scores. Features: - 50 activities - Can be played with or without automatic grading - Self-tutoring for independent study - On-screen and printable instructions - On-screen hints - Self-grading - Printable scores - Saves unfinished games System requirements: Platform: Windows®/XP/2000/Me/NT/98/95 Media: CD-ROM CPU: 200 MHz or faster RAM: 64MB 800 x 600 res. or higher Platform: Macintosh® OS X PowerPC/Intel based Mac Media: CD-ROM CPU: 200 MHz or faster RAM: 64MB 800 x 600 res. or higher Home License. One CD-Rom. Ages 12-17+. #8382
One copy available. |
 English
from the Roots Up, Vol I: Help for Reading, Writing, Spelling and S.A.T. scores
by Joegil Lundquist. If you are interested in learning important Greek and Latin
roots, without studying the entire Latin language, English from the Roots Up
is for you. It uses 63 Latin and 37 Greek root words. Included is a
pronunciation guide, and a neat little explanation of Roman numerals (now you
can translate the darn numbers at the end of movies!) My husband, Bill, took
Latin in high school and says it helped him with English and prepared him for
all the science classes he took as a biology major in college. Paper, 125 pages,
Ages 7-adult. You may also be interested in the cards
that go with this book and Volume II of the series). #1033 $29.95
English
from the Roots Up, Vol 1 Book & Word Cards FUNPak - English from the Roots Up, Vol 1 and one
set of the English from the Roots Up word cards for Volume 1. #FUN71
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 English
from the Roots Up, Volume II by Joegil Lundquist- The long-awaited
second volume of EFTRU is finally here! Continuing the popular program begun in
Volume I, this book gives you 100 new Greek and Latin
root words to learn. The new words are a little more advanced than those in the
Volume I edition, but are still easy enough for young learners. Many of the
lessons also refer to lessons already presented in Volume I. A new feature in
this volume: pronunciation guidance for Latin and Greek words on every page. In
additions to more advanced content, there are also new activities. You do not
need a background in Latin to learn or teach this program. Paper, 107 pages.
Ages 9-adult.#2311 $29.95
English
from the Roots Up, Vol II Book & Word Cards FUNPak - English from the Roots Up, Vol
II and one
set of the English from the Roots Up Word Cards for Volume II. #FUN72
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Rummy
Roots: English Vocabulary Building Games - Our whole family had fun with this
card game. After playing, the kids became very aware of all the words in our language that
are based on Greek and Latin. "Hey, mom, bicycle-tricycle, two wheels-three
wheels!" Exclamations like that would come from the back seat of our car on the way
to the post office or from the kitchen table as we ate breakfast. It is designed for 2-4
players, ages 8-adult (our 6-year old played, with help. We also copied the vocabulary
list so everyone could have one for reference).
Rummy Roots teaches 42 Greek and Latin roots, alphabetizing, dictionary
skills, vocabulary and
more using rules based on popular card games like Go Fish. It is fun and challenging, and there are several games on different
levels. Play is enhanced by combining Rummy Roots with More Rummy Roots (see
below).
Ages 8-adult. For 2-4 players.
Rummy Roots #RR1 $15.95
More Roots:
English Vocabulary Building Games - Ready to learn more? More Roots continues along in the same format as
Rummy Roots (above) and
introduces new Greek & Latin roots to increase your knowledge and skill
level.
There are several games on various levels so it's fun for a variety of ages and
abilities.
Ages 8-adult. For 2-4 players.
More Roots #MRR $15.95
 Mad Libs by Stern & PriceI remember having fun with Mad Libs when I was child (several decades ago),and I still have loads of fun creating zany sentences with my children and their friends. Each Mad Libs book is composed of one-page stories that contain blank spaces where words are left out. The person(s) in possession of the book asks other players to give him words (nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, etc.) without them knowing the story. He then reads the story aloud with their words filled in. Kids and adults love the silly results. It’s a fun AND easy way to learn parts of speech. Other aspects we like: * It’s a fun ice-breaker for social gatherings. * You don’t need to read lots of instructions before playing. * It’s very transportable and great for car trips! * It’s fun for multiple age levels (see below for Mad Libs Junior) * Great as a party game or to give away as a party favor * Even though it’s great to play with others, you can play on your own if you don’t pay attention to the sentences until after you fill in the parts of speech. * You can reuse the books (use a pencil and erase original results) (We especially had fun with the Christmas Carol Mad Libs because we made ourselves sing the resulting songs. The element of singing added to the hilarity.) Paper, 48 pages.
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 Mad Libs Junior
Featuring the same fun humor as the original series, Mad Libs Junior is tailored for the younger reader. “Each puzzle includes four categories of words to choose from, indicated by a distinct symbol. Each symbol represents a part of speech and a list of words is offered. To play, kids are told the category from which to pick a word, including categories such as nouns, adjectives, verbs and miscellaneous.” Compared to the regular Mad Libs series, Mad Libs Junior books are larger, the font (text) is bigger, and a larger space to fill in the blanks is left for beginning writers. The publisher recommends these for ages 5-8, though some 8 year-olds might find the format too childish (for instance if they don't like books with large font sizes). The regular Mad Libs books are perfectly fine for young children, especially if an older child or adult is participating. The junior books may be more helpful for the younger child if they want to independently read the material aloud to others and fill in the blanks themselves and may cover subject material that is more interesting to a young person. Paper, 48 pages.
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 The Chortling Bard: Caught'ya! Grammar with a
Giggle for High School (A
Method for Teaching Grammar, Mechanics, Usage, Vocabulary, and Literary Devices
with Plots and Vocabulary Borrowed from Shakespeare)
by Jane Bell Kiester -
Created
to meet the special needs of high school teachers, this resource transforms
three of Shakespeare's comedies into challenging and humorous daily doses of
grammar, usage, mechanics, vocabulary, and literary devices. Easy to adapt,
The Chortling Bard supplies three years' worth of sentences, texts, and
keys, and a complete grammar reference.Paper, 240 pages. 10.9 x 8.5 x 0.6. #5258
One copy available. |
 Creating
Writers Through 6-Trait Writing Assessment and Instruction, 3rd edition
by Vicki Spandel
offers a comprehensive overview
of the best education strategies and philosophies of writing assessment and
instruction. It provides clear guidelines to students on how to draft, assess,
and revise their writing. Designed for teachers.Paper, 416 pages. 9.25"x7.5"x.75". #2524 |
 E-Z Edit Tablet - Designed by a professional journalist, this tablet makes it easy to help students strengthen their writing skills. The pages in this 50-page tablet have alternating white and yellow lines. The students write on the white lines, the “editors” (teachers, parents, fellow students, etc.) make their comments on the yellow lines. There is a yellow box on the bottom of each page for detailed explanations and helpful tips. And, because the lines are numbered, it’s easy to reference a comment back to a specific sentence on the page. All of the pages in the E-Z Edit tablet are perforated at the top and three-hole punched along the side so they can be easily removed and placed in a three-ring binder. #5502 $4.99 |
 Editor
in Chief C1 Software (Critical Thinking Press) - Editor in Chief
improves your child's grammar, punctuation, spelling, capitalization, and
attention to detail using a standards-based thinking approach rather than drill
and practice. This effective method teaches students to carefully analyze and
edit stories that contain errors in writing mechanics and story details.The stories involve mixed-skills practice, starting with easier errors and becoming more challenging as students become adept at the editing process. The books and software both use the same stories, errors, and rules. The difference is in the way students edit the stories. Students identify and click on errors in each story. Then they select the category and specific rule that applies to each error, prompting the software to correct the error. On-screen instructions, hints, rules, and answers allow students to work, learn, and succeed independently. Features: Provides high-quality independent learning (not "edutainment") with immediate feedback for students and parents. 33 activities Beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels of play. Quick and detailed instructions Hints that help students keep learning even if they don't know a rule-no getting stuck. Guide to grammar, usage & punctuation that teaches and reinforces concepts Saves unfinished games Self-grading, with printable student data System Requirements: Platform: XP/2000/ Me/NT/98/95 Media: CD-ROM CPU: 200 MHz or faster RAM: 32MB Platform: Macintosh OS X/OS 9-7.5 Media: CD-ROM CPU: 200 MHz or faster RAM : 32MB #6920 |
Games
for Writing: Playful Ways to Help Your Child Learn to Write by Peggy
Kaye. As with the author's other books, the games in this book are easy,
inexpensive, and fun. She covers handwriting, creative writing, spelling, and
grammar through the use of more than fifty activities (mazes, baking pretzels,
and playing rhyming games are just a few.)
Lists of spelling words and books to read, and a chart listing games by age
level are included.
Paper, 213 pages. See also Kaye's
books, Games for Reading and
Games for Math.
#4270 $16.00 $12.99
 Great
Explorations in Editing, Volume I - Learners learn and review
writing skills and grammar as they search for the errors in each written
passage:Editing exercises teach learners to identify and use the techniques of good writing. Specific skills are defined, utilized, and reviewed, with many examples. A complete glossary of writing skills are included, plus vocabulary and more. Two separate sections: A Lesson in History and Amazing Facts. A total of 90 lessons. Paper, 108 pages. 8.5"x11" #2794 $15.00 |
Handwriting, Early Skills (World's #1 Quick Reference Guides) by Barcharts - A single, double-sided laminated page. 8.5"x11.5". Contains tips for teaching beginning writing skills. #3634
One copy available. |
 Learn
to Write the Novel Way by Carole Thaxton, M.S. - Learn to Write the
Novel Way is a language arts curriculum for grades 5-12 that: • Teaches all language arts skills in one writing project • Provides a finished novel for the student's portfolio • Is multi-level (review for more advanced students and is introductory for the less proficient in writing skills) • Reveals the gaps in a student's writing ability and provides specific practices for areas of weakness • Encourages independent work by "nuggetizing" the task into a thirteen-step process • Is easy to use for the "coach" (teacher/parent) with clear lesson plans • Can be used with a group As parent/teacher you are referred to as "coach" since the best way to learn writing is through the coaching process. You will work along with the student to instruct, oversee the practices, and enjoy together the finished writing assignment each week. Paper, 242 pages. 8.37"x10.87". Includes student worktext and teacher's guide. #9006
One set available. |
 The Lively Art of Writing: Words, Sentences, Style, and Technique
by Lucile Vaughan Payne - Everyone needs to express successfully ideas,
opinions, arguments, problems, explanations, or instructions through the medium
of the written word. The Lively Art of Writing will answer all your
questions, provide you with the best techniques, and offer important information
about: Choosing a subject Working with words The sound of sentences The power of paragraphs Essentials of style, essays, theses and term papers and much, much more This is a small paperback with smallish print, but it packs a powerful punch. The copyright is 1965, and the fact that it is still available shows how useful it has been to users for many years. Some examples are a bit dated which, I think, gives it charm. Paper, 192 pages. 6.7 x 4.2 x 0.6". #7121 $6.99 |
 Proper
Penmanship Mini Kit (Original Famous Teacher Family Brand) -This mini
kit recalls a simpler time when writing legibly and neatly was one hallmark of a
civilized person. The box includes a bottle of ink, an old-fashioned pen with a nib, lined paper, and a penmanship book (all in miniature). #8671 $6.95 $4.99
One available. |
The 3
R's
by Ruth Beechick. Designed for grades K-3, this useful package includes three
booklets: A Home Start in Reading, A Strong Start in Language, An Easy Start in
Arithmetic. Also included is a reversible wall chart that includes a hundreds chart and
phonics information. Excellent!
Paper.
#9063 $12.00 $10.99
 What Are You Laughing At?: How
to Write Funny Screenplays, Stories, and More by Brad Schreiber - The
definite book on how to "write funny" is the first to compare writing comedic
screenplays with fiction and nonfiction in all forms. Using principles developed
in his popular UCLA Extension Writers' Program class on humor writing and his
CBS Studio City seminars on screenwriting, Schreiber includes:
More than 70 excerpts from such top
prose and screenwriters as Woody Allen, Steve Martin, and Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. |
Write Away!: A Friendly Guide for Teenage Writers by Peter R. Stillman. The
author of Families Writing incorporates some of that book's excellent ideas
targeted for teens. Stillman doesn't provide a step-by-step program for writing in
this book; rather he encourages teenagers to use writing as a method of self-discovery and
reflection.
With that said, this isn't simply a theoretical book. Rather, it gives
plenty of techniques to help young writers to become better writers, to enjoy the writing
process, and to take writing seriously.
Paper, 174 pages.
#3501 $14.95
Out of print, limited copies available.
 Writing Because
We Love To: Homeschoolers at Work by Susannah Sheffer, editor of
Growing Without Schooling, Through her work with homeschoolers ages 10-15,
the author explores how to help kids with their writing and looks at what
children do when they are in charge of their own learning. Provides many
examples of young writers' work and their reflections on it. This book is out of print, but we have some used copies. They may have creases, library marks, or highlights. Paper, 122 pages. #3013 $18.99 |
Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within by Natalie Goldberg is a great
book about writing, but it is also about how to use writing to gain understanding about
one's self. The author writes "what is said here about writing can be applied to
running, painting, anything you love and have chosen to work within your life."
Paper, 171 pages
#3759 $12.95 $10.35
 Wordsmith
Apprentice by Janie Cheaney - All the practicality, humor and fun of
Wordsmith, but written for the younger student, ages 9-12. An easy to
use writing course encouraging students to develop their writing skills as they
participate in every role on a newspaper staff: editor, reporter, writer, etc.
Children develop a love for writing as they express themselves through sentence
and paragraph writing, persuasive writing, and much more. Paper, 126 pages. Spiral-bound. #3178 $16.00 |
 Wordsmith
by Janie B. Cheaney - For young people who want to improve their writing skills,
step-by-step instructions are provided that will help any writer improve his
techniques. The introduction provides a brief review of grammar followed by
instruction on building stronger sentences, exercise in descriptive and
narrative writing, creating dialogue, story writing, and writing from a
particular point of view. Plus, the essential skills of every good writer,
practice in proofreading and revising.Paper, 106 pages. Ages 12+. #3185X $16.00  A
Teacher's Guide to Wordsmith by Janie B. Cheaney - Provides the answers
to review quizzes found in the above Wordsmith book, as well as an
overview, syllabus, and teaching suggestions. Includes a week-by-week suggested plan of study (based on 36 weeks). Paper, 45 pages. #3192 $7.00 |
 Wordsmith
Craftsman by Janie B. Cheaney - The third and last of the Wordsmith
series focuses on building, integrating, and polishing practical writing skills.
This self-directed program allows students to take charge of their assignments
and schedules. Strong in preparing the student for college, Part 1 addresses practical, everyday writing: notes, outlines, personal correspondence, summaries, business letters and reports. Part 2 focuses on the power of language: paragraphs (principles, types, and organization), writing techniques, and developing a personal writing style. Part 3 concentrates on essay writing: descriptive, narrative, expository, and persuasive essays. Wordsmith equips young adults for a lifetime of excellence in communication skills. Paper, 118 pages. Ages 15+. #3208 $16.00 |
Draw-Write-Now Series
By popular demand, we are now carrying Draw Write Now, a series of books that contains simple drawing and handwriting lessons for young children.
Each book is 64-pages long and includes 3 unit studies, with a total of 21 step-by-step drawing lessons in each book. Four short, topic-related sentences are included with each lesson and may be copied by the learner in manuscript, cursive, or italic - whatever style they are learning - for handwriting practice; or they can be used as a starting point for creative writing, reports or journaling.
Each book also includes factual information on each topic, recommended book lists, and numerous ideas to spark a learner's imagination.
Recommended for ages 5-9.
| #0712 Book One: On the Farm |
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| #0729 Book Two: Christopher Columbus |
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| #0737 Book Three: Native Americans, Pilgrims |
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| #0745 Book Four: The Polar Regions |
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| #0753 Book Five: The United States |
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| #0761 Book Six: Animals and Habitats |
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| #077X Book Seven: Animals of the World |
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| #0788 Book Eight: Animals of the World, Pt 2 |
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Buy the boxed set of all 8 books and save even more!
#0798 Draw-Write-Now boxed set $95.99
$75.99
 Writing
Strands by Dave MarksThe goal of this series is to help youngsters become skilled in the following four modes of writing: 1) argumentative 2) explanatory 3) creative and 4) research and report. The series does not focus on grammar skills but instead shows children how to
communicate through their writing. At each level, the learner follows directions
that focus on specific abilities and learns to work independently. The work is
broken up into manageable pieces that progress over time. Each assignment
produces a report, an essay or a piece of fiction. I find the author, Dave Marks, to be very respectful of children and their innate desire to learn. Some of the principles that he followed when writing these guides: every person can learn to express ideas and feelings in writing; there is no one right way to write anything; the ability to write is not an exercise of a body of knowledge that can be learned like a list of vocabulary words; all student writing efforts are worthy of praise.
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| Italic Handwriting Series I have listed the publisher's recommended grade level in parentheses, but the books themselves do not list a grade level. I like this because both our children (ages 8 and 12 when they started using the books) started with Book A. I think it would have bothered our son if the books had been labeled with a grade level. Our 12-year-old moved through the books more quickly than our 8-year-old and is almost two books ahead of her now. The style is different from the kind of printing either of our children was doing, so I think starting with Book A was useful for them. They also like the progressive repetition, and the writing becomes progressively smaller as they move through the series. Certainly, other learners may prefer to start later in the series (cursive begins with Book C) or do fewer of the exercises. By Barbara Getty and Inga Dubay. Paper, consumable.
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 Green Alligators: Zoo and Farm Animals
(El Lagartito Verde: el zoologico y la granja) - The Giggly-Silly
bilingual descriptive word game! No reading required. Pictures are identified to
encourage early readers of both English and Spanish. Green Alligators is that wonderful little "I'm thinking of" kind of card game, but this one has pictures so you can't change your mind part way through the game! Play with your little one while doing other things around the house; just take a look at your card and start giving clues. Your little one will delight in trying to guess what your card is. Then it is the child's turn to give clues. It is a non-competitive activity for 2 players, or it becomes competitive when the "big kids" try to out-guess the others! Ages 4 and up, 2 to 4 players. #307AX $10.00 |
Quiddler:
The Short Word Game Because words, like at, is, of, ax, and zoo can lead to
winning, readers of all ages can play and win. There are bonuses for both short
and long words. You simply combine all the cards in your hand into words. The
beautiful letter design on the cards is based on Celtic artwork. 1999 Parents'
Choice Award winner, and it has received kudos from many homeschoolers.
1-8
players, ages 8+.
Save even more with the
SET FUNPak!
#9150 $12.00 $10.99
Rummy
Roots: English Vocabulary Building Games - Our whole family had fun with this
card game. After playing, the kids became very aware of all the words in our language that
are based on Greek and Latin. "Hey, mom, bicycle-tricycle, two wheels-three
wheels!" Exclamations like that would come from the back seat of our car on the way
to the post office or from the kitchen table as we ate breakfast. It is designed for 2-4
players, ages 8-adult (our 6-year old played, with help. We also copied the vocabulary
list so everyone could have one for reference).
Rummy Roots teaches 42 Greek and Latin roots, alphabetizing, dictionary
skills, vocabulary and
more using rules based on popular card games like Go Fish. It is fun and challenging, and there are several games on different
levels. Play is enhanced by combining Rummy Roots with More Rummy Roots (see
below).
Ages 8-adult. For 2-4 players.
Rummy Roots #RR1 $15.95
More Roots:
English Vocabulary Building Games - Ready to learn more? More Roots continues along in the same format as
Rummy Roots (above) and
introduces new Greek & Latin roots to increase your knowledge and skill
level.
There are several games on various levels so it's fun for a variety of ages and
abilities.
Ages 8-adult. For 2-4 players.
More Roots #MRR $15.95
 Starwords
(cooperative board game) Everyone makes words to cover as many Star
Spaces as possible, but each word must be about what you see in the picture.
Discuss, share and compare ideas in a natural, friendly way. You can look up
words in the dictionary, and you don't have to hide behind your letters. The
advanced version involves rolling dice to see what kind of word has to be formed
(antonym, adjective, adverb, noun, verb, rhyme). Beginners can play alongside
experts. Ages 10-adult, 1-10 players. #SWX $25.00 Damaged Starwords Game - The box edge is crumpled a bit and there a small wrinkle on the top. #D-SWX
(One copy available). |
See our college section for Vocabulary Cartoons, and Tooth and Nail
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Games
for Reading: Playful Ways to Help Your Child Read by Peggy Kaye contains
some marvelously inventive games to fire a child's enthusiasm for reading. There
are bingo games, mazes, puzzles, games where the child acts silly, games for
parents, and more (over 70 games). These are quick, easy, and inexpensive using
materials easily found around the house. 
Hey!
Listen to This: Stories to Read Aloud edited by Jim Trelease - The
author of, The New Read Aloud Handbook, presents a collection of 48
read-aloud chapters ideal for parents to share with children ages five through
nine.
How
to Grow a Young Reader: Books from Every Age for Readers of Every Age,
revised and updated edition by Kathryn Ann Lindskoog, Ranelda Mack Hunsicker -
The authors take parents, educators, and book lovers on a lively and
informative journey through the world of children's literature, revealing
strategies for nurturing the love of books and convincing reasons to encourage
children to read.
Joyful
Noise: Poems for Two Voices by Paul Fleischman. This slim volume of poems about
the insect world is wonderful! It is written to be read by two voices - sometimes
alternating, sometimes simultaneous. When first reviewing it, I had my husband sit down
with me to read it aloud to our two children. It was so much fun to read along with
another person, especially my husband (we'd never done anything like it before). Then
I read some poems with my son, a beginning reader. What a thrill! (I suppose we were also
doing what's called "choral reading.") 
Ox,
House, Stick: The History of Our Alphabet by Don Robb, illustrated by
Anne Smith - In clear, straightforward prose, this book describes the
development of our Roman alphabet, from the early Semitic peoples, through the
Phoenicians and Greeks, to the letters we know today. You'll never look at ABC
the same way again!
Vocabulary Cartoons: Elementary Edition by
Sam, Max and Bryan Burchers - Learn new words and retain them through mnemonics!
"A mnemonic (NEH mon ik) is a fancy word which simply means 'assisting' the
memory.' Memory experts tell us that mnemonics are just about the best way to
remember anything." 
