In this memoir about kids, creativity, and the power of songwriting, Gary Dulabaum inspires and entertains. Whether recounting his early days as a struggling reader and writer or outlining the songwriting process he uses in student workshops around the country, Gary's belief in creativity as a learning tool is empowering. This book includes the tools and processes teachers need to begin writing songs in their classrooms, a CD of songs students can sing along with, and classroom activities to enhance the educational value of the songs. Throughout, Gary shows concern for children and their ability to communicate. A great way for teachers to expose their students to the writing process and encourage their personal creativity. Book jacket.

"This is a time-saving treasure with a comprehensive selection of literacy activities. The literature choices and related lessons will motivate and engage a diverse population of learners." —Eileen Baker, Supervisor of K–12 Reading and K–8 Language Arts, Cinnaminson Township School District, NJ "These easy-to-follow lessons provide educators with opportunities to help children meet the standards while enjoying children′s literature and positive interactions." —Kathleen Quinn, Professor, Holy Family University Build your students′ literacy skills through a full range of outstanding lessons and activities! Offering a wealth of complete, classroom-ready activities and lesson plans, this standards-based guide helps K–8 teachers advance student achievement in all areas of literacy, including reading, writing, speaking, listening, and viewing. Helen Hoffner shows teachers how to engage students by connecting literacy learning with students′ lives, involving family, friends, and the community. Tied to IRA/NCTE and McREL literacy standards, the lessons include everything teachers need for implementation, featuring: Step-by-step directions, sample student forms, and assessments A literature list with recommendations for Grades K–2, 3–5, and 6–8 Adaptations for English language learners Methods for differentiating by grade level and student ability Samples of student work With bonus literacy-focused arts and crafts projects included, this is your go-to resource for hands-on activities that build connections between students, literature, and the community.

Grammatical concepts like the passive voice and impersonal pronouns become characters in short, funny plays that students in grades 3-10 love to read aloud or perform. ELL, struggling students, or anyone else who needs a light-hearted look at the sometimes baffling rules of English grammar and usage will love and benefit from this off-beat approach to grammar instruction. A CD included with this book allows you to customize and duplicate student scripts and listen to and model from three plays on audio.

Provides silly, school-themed lyrics to popular tunes.

Make storytelling a part of your daily curriculum! This practical guide from Nile Stanley and Brett Dillingham shows busy K8 teachers how to use storytelling to motivate and engage all readers and writers while supporting the standards. Mini-lessons at beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels help teachers weave storytelling into the fabric of today's standards-based classroom and construct their own skillful literacy lessons. Reluctant and striving readers and writers, English language learners, and even more advanced storytellers will love the confidence they gain as they move from developing to delivering a variety of stories for a variety of audiences. Teachers will love the many benefits of "performance literacy," or teaching children how to write and perform stories: [[ Develop literacy skillslanguage, vocabulary, comprehension, writing process, speaking, and listeningalong with performance skills and self-expression; [[ Easily integrate learning across the content areas; [[ Deepen the connection between home, school, and community; [[ Promote students' creativity and activate their prior knowledge; [[ Encourage respect and self-improvement as students learn to critique each other's stories and performances in a non-threatening manner. Developing Literacy Through Storytelling comes complete with a story index, curriculum tie-ins, digital storytelling tips, and information for using the companion website with supplemental multimedia. An audio CD includes more than 70 minutes of stories and songs from the authors themselves, in addition to other well-known storytellers, performers, and educators: Karen Alexander, John Archambault, David Plummer, HeatherForest, Brenda Hollingsworth-Marley, Gene Tagaban, and Allan Wolf. Don't just teach literacyperform it!

In this no-holds-barred memoir, a legendary biker recounts his life of sex, drugs, rock & roll and lots of broken laws. Here is the true-life story of Richard “Deadeye” Hayes in all its bad-ass, balls-to-the-wall glory. This is a man who stole a machine gun before he was seven and lost his left eye when a good friend shot him in the face. As a member—and then president—of the infamous Los Valientes Motorcycle Club, he broke more laws and had more fun than any six of the coolest guys you know. One of the last true Outlaw Bikers, Deadeye knows what it means to be a man, take shit from no one, and have tattoos that actually say something. Riding, drug dealing, and sending men to the hospital with his bare hands, Deadeye made himself a legend among bikers—all the while making sure his daughters never got mixed up with guys like him. “This may just be the best book ever written by an author who's been shot twice, stabbed once, and bitten by a rattlesnake!” —Geoffrey Leavenworth, author of Isle of Misfortune

Jean Davidson, also known as Jeannie, tells the story of the first Harley-Davidson motorcyles as a blue-eyed, blond-hair 8-year-old tomboy. Have fun with Jean as she rides behind her father or with her family on early versions of the Harley-Davidson. Bright, colorful illustrations by Theresa Hammerquist add fun and zest to the words of young Jeannie. Children will delight in the playful text and illustrations while learning how early Harley-Davidson motorcycles were built and enjoyed. For children ages 3-7