Best of
Teachers

2007

The Lemonade Club


Patricia Polacco - 2007
    That's where they learn that when life hands you lemons, make lemonade! They are having a great year until Traci begins to notice some changes in Marilyn. She's losing weight, and seems tired all the time. She has leukemia - and a tough road of chemotherapy ahead. It is not only Traci and Miss Wichelman who stand up for her, but in a surprising and unexpected turn, the whole fifth-grade class, who figures out a way to say we're with you. In true Polacco fashion, this book turns lemons into lemonade and celebrates amazing life itself.

You're a Good Dog, Carl


Alexandra Day - 2007
    What she doesn't know is that the minute she's gone, Carl and the baby gallop off on adventures. In this collection of six of Alexandra Day's popular Carl stories, Carl and the baby explore a department store, a park, and even a masquerade ball and always make it back before Mother knows they're gone. Carl and Madeleine's joyful romps, told mainly through lush, wordless spreads, are gathered together here for the first time, and will delight children and all those who take care of them."

Ramona the Pest/ Ramona Forever (Ramona #2, #7)


Beverly Cleary - 2007
    Howie and his sister, Willa Jean, talk only about Uncle Hobart. Ramona's mother and Aunt Bea seem to be keeping secrets. Life for Ramona, now a grown-up third-grader is full of beginnings and discoveries and surprises – one very big surprise and one very small, but just as special!Through all the happiness and confusion, and some small moments of sadness too, Ramona tries hard to be pleasant and helpful. Whether she's pleasant or pesty, brave or blunderful, she's always wonderful Ramona – forever!

Unscripted Learning: Using Improv Activities Across the K-8 Curriculum


Carrie Lobman - 2007
    In this practical book, teachers will discover how to use improv throughout the K-8 curriculum to boost creativity and to develop a class into a finely tuned learning ensemble. Readers will learn how to use this revolutionary tool to teach literacy, math, social studies, and science...and have fun doing it!Taking group work in the classroom to the next level, this book features:Over 100 activities with step-by-step instructions appropriate for those with no prior experience as well as for seasoned performers. An index to help choose improv games according to age group, subject area, and level of difficulty. A framework for understanding the skills that are developed when children learn particular improv activities. Tips for how to extend the activities to acquire additional skills.

Jack's Talent


Maryann Cocca-Leffler - 2007
    "Everyone has a special talent."On the first day of school, Miss Lucinda asks the students to share their special talents. Francesca is a star soccer player, Matthew can catch huge fish with his grandpa, and Candace is an excellent artist. It seems that everyone has something to share. But Jack is worried. He doesn't have any talent at all . . . or so he thinks.Acrylic paintings that pop with energy and charm make this story by veteran author and illustrator Maryann Cocca-Leffler the perfect boost for any child who questions his or her abilities.

Cyber-Safe Kids, Cyber-Savvy Teens: Helping Young People Learn to Use the Internet Safely and Responsibly


Nancy E. Willard - 2007
    News stories about online sexual predators, child pornography, cyberbullies, hate groups, gaming addiction, and other dangers that lurk in the online world make us feel increasingly concerned about what our children are doing (and with whom) in cyberspace. In Cyber-Safe Kids, Cyber-Savvy Teens, Internet safety expert Nancy Willard provides you with need-to-know information about those online dangers, and she gives you the practical parenting strategies necessary to help children and teens learn to use the Internet safely and responsibly. Parents protect younger children by keeping them in safe places, teaching them simple safety rules, and paying close attention. As children grow, we help them gain the knowledge, skills, and values to make good choices--choices that will keep them safe and show respect for the rights of others. In Cyber-Safe Kids, Cyber-Savvy Teens, Willard shows you how those same strategies can be translated from the real world to the cyberworld, and that you don't have to learn advanced computer skills to put them into effect. As you work on these strategies with your child, you will also discover that remaining engaged with what your children are doing online is much more valuable than any blocking software you could buy. Willard blends the perspectives of a wise parent and a serious scholar about issues related to Internet behavior and safety. . . . Pick up the book, open it to any random page, and you will find on that page or nearby a wealth of helpful advice and useful commentary on the cyberreality facing our children and on how to deal with any of the issues she's identified. --Dick Thornburgh, J.D., former U.S. Attorney General; chair, National Academy of Sciences Committee on Youth Pornography and the Internet Simply put, this book is a must-read for anyone--parents, educators, law enforcement, and policymakers alike--concerned with the critical issue of children's internet safety and what to do about it. --Douglas Levin, senior director of education policy, Cable in the Classroom

Restoring Safe School Communities: A Whole School Response to Bullying, Violence and Alienation


Brenda Morrison - 2007
    

Staying Alive


Debra Webb - 2007
    Now, catching him depends on her--and her ability to play the deadly revenge game the terrorist is plotting. One wrong move, and she'll die. And so will an innocent.Her best chance for staying alive is charismatic FBI agent Luke Krueger--a man with his own agenda. Separate, Claire and Luke are pawns. But together, can they uncover the terrorist's weakness and stop the madman once and for all?