Curriculum Resources

AL-HAZZÁ, Tami C. & Katherine T. Bucher. Books About the Middle East: Selecting and Using Them with Children and Adolescents. 168p. bibliog. index. CIP. Linworth. 2008. pap. $39.95. ISBN 978-1-58683-285-8. LC 2007040149.

The authors offer a history of the region including information on its diverse populations. They discuss selection criteria for books about the Middle East and provide an extensive, up-to-date annotated bibliography of relevant, quality literature. Explicit strategies for integrating recommended materials into the curriculum are given. A timely and important text. B

BERMAN, Sally. Thinking Strategies for Science, Grades 5-12. 2nd ed. 144p. bibliog. further reading. index. CIP. Corwin. 2008. Tr $62.95. ISBN 978-1-4129-6288-9; pap. $28.95. ISBN 978-1-4129-6289-6. LC 2008006268.

Both new and experienced teachers can easily incorporate the framework provided here into their daily practice as they work to develop and enhance students’ critical thinking skills. Research and assessment components are offered along with templates that will allow educators to design extension activities and modules. The recommended strategies are clearly aligned with national science standards. B

COLLINS, Kathy. Reading for Real: Teach Students to Read with Power, Intention, and Joy in K-3 Classrooms. 240p. bibliog. index. CIP. Stenhouse. 2008. pap. $21. ISBN 978-1-57110-703-9. LC 2008011559.

In her first book, Growing Readers (Stenhouse, 2004), Collins demonstrated how to create an effective readers’ workshop. In this title, she masterfully presents reading clubs as an alternative, “intermittent” structure that will engage students in purposeful and joyful reading. The author clearly guides primary teachers in understanding, preparing, and implementing these clubs as an important component of balanced literacy instruction. B

CONKLIN, Wendy. Applying Differentiation Strategies: Teacher’s Handbook for Grades K-2. ISBN 978-1-4258-0078-9.

––––.Applying Differentiation Strategies: Teacher’s Handbook for Grades 3-5. ISBN 978-1-4258-0018-5.

ea vol: 304p. w/CD-ROM. Shell. 2007. Tr $59.99. LC number unavailable.

Increasingly diverse school populations require teachers to adjust curriculum and instruction to ensure they reach students of all backgrounds. These volumes include discussions on tiered assignments, questioning, multiple intelligences, inquiry-based learning, and self-paced strategies, as well as classroom management and flexible grouping. Sample lessons, activities, and reproducibles are provided. The appendix summarizes each section, offers additional vocabulary and mathematics activities, and a table of contents for the Teacher Resource CD. BCD

DONOHUE, Lisa. Independent Reading Inside the Box: How to Organize, Observe, and Assess Reading Strategies That Promote Deeper Thinking and Improve Comprehension in K-6 Classrooms. 160p. appendix. bibliog. index. CIP. Pembroke. 2008. pap. $19.50. ISBN 978-1-55138-225-8. LC C2008-903369-8.

They’re reading, but are they thinking? This resource outlines a way to answer this question. The tasks related to book selection, identifying text features, word work, and strategy connect instruction to independent reading. The graphic organizers, rubrics, and open-response suggestions provided offer teachers ways to support, monitor, and assess students’ reading engagement. B

FREDERICKS, Anthony D. Much More Social Studies Through Children’s Literature: A Collaborative Approach. illus. by Judy Grupp. 256p. (Through Children’s Literature Series). illus. appendix. bibliog. index. CIP. Teacher Ideas. 2007. pap. $35. ISBN 978-1-59158-445-2. LC 2006037630.

Fredericks doles out a bevy of engaging new literature-based social studies lessons. Up-to-date book recommendations are varied in both genre and topic and each is accompanied by modifiable lesson plans. The readers’ theatre scripts are unremarkable but an excellent section on literature response makes up for them. B

KARTEN, Toby J. Embracing Disabilities in the Classroom: Strategies to Maximize Students’ Assets. 285p. bibliog. index. CIP. Corwin. 2008. Tr $80.95. ISBN 978-1-4129-5769-4; pap. $38.95. ISBN 978-1-4129-5770-0. LC 2008049091.

Karten explores how to create truly inclusive classrooms and communities in which all students can be successful. The book includes specific adaptations and accommodations, as well as lessons and information on literature that supports sensitivity towards those with disabilities. A valuable and comprehensive resource. B

MCKENNA, Michael & Richard D. Robinson. Teaching Through Text: Reading and Writing in the Content Areas. 5th ed. 250p. bibliog. index. Allyn & Bacon. 2008. pap. $57.20. ISBN 978-0-13-207472-8. LC 2008035788.

Chapters offer both theory and practical suggestions for supporting students’ comprehension of text in middle and high schools. Areas of focus include reading aloud, vocabulary development, reading guides, and reciprocal teaching. The authors also share great Web sites that support instruction. B

OPITZ, Michael F. & Michael P. Ford. Do-able Differentiation: Varying Groups, Texts, and Supports to Reach Readers. 160p. appendix. bibliog. index. CIP. Heinemann. 2008. pap. $19.50. ISBN 978-0-325-01283-4. LC 2008004609.

One size does not fit all learners. The authors take some common literacy techniques, such as jigsawing, literature circles, and readers’ workshop, and illustrate how these methods can be used to differentiate instruction and meet the goals of Response to Intervention (RIT). Practical lessons for both primary and intermediate grades are included. B

Smithsonian Education: The Gateway to Smithsonian Educational Resources. http://smithsonianeducation.org. Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies. Washington, DC. (Accessed 2/28/09).

Designed for use by educators and students, this portal offers entry to the Smithsonian’s vast resources. Teachers can search for lesson plans aligned with each state’s standards in the areas of art, science, history, and language arts. Additionally, a section on “Field Trips” offers downloadable worksheets that encourage meaningful interaction by students on visits to any museum. W

STEBBINS, Robert, David Ipsen, & Gretchen Gillfillan. Animal Coloration: Activities on the Evolution of Concealment. rev. ed. 174p. charts. appendix. bibliog. index. CIP. NSTA. 2008. pap. $21.95. ISBN 978-1-933531-29-8. LC 2008007215.

These challenging classroom-ready activities for the elementary grades provide an enriching look at how animals behave and exist in the natural world. The exercises, which can be modified, would pair well with and support habitat studies and nature field trips. B

STONE, Randi, ed. Best Practices for Teaching Reading: What Award-Winning Classroom Teachers Do. 176p. Tr $56.95. ISBN 978-1-4129-2458-0; pap. $25.95. ISBN 978-1-4129-2459-7. LC 2008022902.

––––.Best Practices for Teaching Social Studies: What Award-Winning Classroom Teachers Do. 120p. Tr $46.95. ISBN 978-1-4129-2452-8; pap. $20.95. ISBN 978-1-4129-2453-5. LC 2008001264.

ea vol: bibliog. index. CIP. Corwin. 2008.

The subtitles say it all. Chapters in both books describe K-12 classroom-tested strategies. Reading focuses on motivation, reading skills, content-area reading, and differentiation, while Social Studies provides hands-on ideas to make content more engaging. Great ideas in a ready format. B

Teachers’ Domain: Digital Media for the Classroom and Professional Development. www.teachersdomain.org. WGBH Educational Foundation. (Accessed 2/28/09).

Searchable by curriculum area and grade level, this online library organizes “video and audio segments, Flash interactives, images, documents, lesson plans for teachers, and student-oriented activities” from public television programs, such as Nature, NOVA, and American Experience. Funded by the National Science Foundation, registration is free and the site allows users to correlate resources to state standards. W

Teaching Tolerance: A Project of the Southern Poverty Law Center. www.tolerance.org. Southern Poverty Law Center, Montgomery, AL. (Accessed 2/28/09).

With sections for teachers, parents, teens, and children, this important effort supports the teaching of tolerance across age and grade levels, supplying free materials for exploring friendship, the American Civil Rights Movement, the Holocaust, and César Chávez’s efforts on behalf of migrant workers. In addition, a collection of classroom activities, lesson plans, and interactive materials, searchable by grade level and subject area, is accessible online. W

Wordle: Beautiful Word Clouds. www.wordle.net. Jonathan Feinberg. (Accessed 2/28/09).

Use this free, fun application to create eye-catching, printable graphics featuring groups of selected words or text. Made available under a Creative Commons Attribution license, anyone can generate and use “word clouds,” as long as credit is given to the site. The site is not recommended for use by students since the content is not moderated. W