Before he found his passion for writing, he was just an 11-year-old boy with buck teeth, trying to find his way born with Cerebral Palsy. Austin Keller loves science, and someday he hopes to discover the cure for Cerebral Palsy, but as he enters middle school and deals with the everyday struggles of being a preteen with Cerebral Palsy, he soon finds himself in a pickle as he discovers he has a new passion that has always been there. He discovers he loves to write, and he finds his passion in writing stories and poetry. He starts to write every day and soon discovers that writing helps him to cope with his disability and the struggles he faces. Toni Morrison, Nobel Prize winner, wrote: “Writing is really a way of thinking--not just feeling but thinking about things that are disparate, unresolved, mysterious, problematic or just sweet.”

A Not So Typical Eighth Graders Story follows 13-year-old Austin Keller, a writer with Cerebral Palsy, who uses a wheelchair to get from place to place due to the obstacles he faces due to his condition. In addition to having Cerebral Palsy, his parents divorced because of his father's PTSD and alcoholism, which led to him being labeled an outcast at Plantation Middle School. A MacBook Pro gives him a sense of belonging for his 13th birthday and he is encouraged to join the school creative writing club, changing his life forever In this inspiring story, Austin Keller, an eighth-grader with cerebral palsy, shares his story that differs greatly from that of most eighth-graders. Austin uses a wheelchair to get around since he has cerebral palsy. Writing became his passion due to his disability Austin has been able to use writing as an outlet for his feelings and as a way to express himself. Through writing he has been able to share his experiences with others, something he wouldn't have been able to do without his disability. Writing has given Austin the opportunity to connect with and inspire people all over the world. He has been able to develop his own unique voice and style, and share his story with people who may not have been in a position to understand it in any other way. Through writing, he was able to express himself and gain self-confidence despite living with a disability. He used writing to express his thoughts and feelings about his experiences and to inspire others. In order to cope with living in a world where he is not understood, he entered the Youth Writers Competition. By entering the competition, he was able to share his story with others and have it validated, which helped boost his self-esteem. Participating in the competition also allowed him to connect with other people who have similar experiences and to find support and community.

Offers advice, tools, and strategies to build struggling learners' language skills.

When Laura Sibbie starts a club called Pig City, she incites a near-war among her sixth-grade classmates and generates the creation of a rival club that has designs on Pig City's precious box of secrets.

The strategies you need to teach common standards to diverse learners The elementary years are a critical opportunity to help students of all backgrounds meet the demands of the Common Core Standards. In this realistic, thorough book, Maria Dove and Andrea Honigsfeld show how to help every K-5 student, including English Learners, students with disabilities, speakers of nonstandard English, and other struggling learners, meet the Common Core Standards for English Language Arts (ELA). Educators will find an adaptable approach that ensures all students develop lasting language skills. This resource Familiarizes readers with each of the Common Core′s 32 ELA anchor standards Outlines the specific skills that students need to master each standard Presents a wealth of flexible teaching strategies and instructional tools aligned to each anchor standard Includes guidance on collaboration and co-teaching for student success Common Core for the Not-So-Common Learner is the standards-based ELA resource that elementary teachers have been waiting for! "Each anchor standard in all five domains is fully explained with practical, engaging activities that can add fun and learning to any classroom. Readers will feel supported and energized for the challenges ahead, with a toolkit for meeting the needs of all learners." —Elizabeth Gennosa, English/AIS Teacher Sagamore Middle School, Holtsville, NY "Here′s a resource that will make your teaching life easier and support those learners in your classroom who worry you the most." —Dolores Hennessy, Reading Specialist Hill and Plain School, New Milford, CT

The Breakfast Club meets Five Feet Apart in this big-hearted novel from debut author Gretchen Schreiber. Ellie Haycock has always separated her life into sections: Ellie at home and Ellie at the hospital. At home, Ellie is a proud member of her high school’s speech and debate team alongside her best friend and her boyfriend. At the hospital, Ellie has a team of doctors and a mom who won’t stop posting about the details of her illness online. It’s not hard for Ellie to choose which of the two she prefers. But this latest hospital stay is different. Ellie becomes close with a group of friends, including Ryan, a first-timer who’s still optimistic about the doctors that Ellie stopped trusting years ago. Despite their differences, she can’t seem to keep him out of her head. Ellie’s life has never been ordinary—but maybe this time it will be extraordinary.