The theme is the heart of a story. However, students often confuse theme with the main idea or an important topic. The main idea consists of what the story is mostly about. When the story’s content is studied in depth, typically several relevant topics emerge. In the same manner, a theme cannot be a one-word statement, […]
A good book fills a reader’s time. A great book fills a reader’s mind. An unforgettable book raises questions. I’ve noticed this in other forms of media, too. Television shows and movies that raise questions are more memorable. This makes sense. The brain is uncomfortable with unanswered questions, and it will pursue answers long after […]
Would having 32 kid-friendly parts-of-speech and grammar titles at your fingertips be handy? Look no further! These titles come from collections created by four authors we recommend.
What event can create a buzz across many grade levels, foster parent involvement, and inspire students? An author visit!
We were asked to provide a quality collection of 25 titles for an Early Childhood conference this month. We sent 25 titles, but were ready with 35 more! Here are all 60 recommended titles. Here’s a handout we gave to conference attendees. Please share it with your Early Childhood parents and teachers!
As teachers, repeating ourselves ad nauseam is not our intention, but we all do it. We engage, refocus, and double check our students have learned what we taught. Sometimes it feels like we work significantly harder than our students. Focus is the beginning of all learning in the classroom I attended a Learning and the […]
Through books we encounter people who overcame tremendous odds, served humanity, invented and discovered new horizons, or created wonderful works for our enjoyment. There are also those we identify as “anti-heroes” whose example give us pause for discernment. Even the Bible is filled with one biography after another, each one reporting highs and lows of […]
This month’s 12 (mostly) biographies represent many walks of life and periods of time—most interestingly, some of their paths could have crossed. Their stories challenge us to live a story worth writing about. (Check out our History’s Stories pages to find these stories and more arranged chronologically.) Winnie: The True Story of the Bear Who […]
This month we highlight 12 nonfiction titles for a variety of ages. Some are novel in their approach to conveying information, while others inspire by exquisite writing, sound reasoning, or well-balanced visual design and historical retelling. Feathers: Not Just for Flying by Melissa Stewart, illustrated by Sarah S. Brannen (Random House, 2014) Publisher Summary Young […]
If You Wish by Kate Westerlund, illustrated by Robert Ingpen (Independent Pub Group, 2014) Publisher Summary A strange man and a flying horse teach Willow that when she re-reads a book her imagination can show her brand new stories…This marvelous fantasy, illustrated by the internationally acclaimed Robert Ingpen, will have children re-reading their favorite stories […]
