Monthly Archive for March, 2010

3rd Edition Coming Soon!

Published
by
kirsten
on March 23, 2010
in New Titles
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The More-Than-Just-Surviving Handbook

ESL for Every Classroom Teacher
Third Edition
by Barbara Law and Mary Eckes

978-1-55379-232-1

978-1-55379-232-1

P&M Press is pleased to announce the bestseller, The More-Than-Just-Surviving Handbook, is being revised and expanded.

The first edition of The More-Than-Just-Surviving Handbook was meant to be modest, forthright, and easy to access, crammed with as many funny, wonderful examples of student work that the authors could find. Barbara and Mary have maintained that accessibility in the third edition, which has been adapted and updated to help you better serve your students, to give you ideas, strategies, and examples so you will have the tools you need to succeed in your classroom.

If you would like to receive an email announcing when the 3rd Edition is available, email us at pr@pandmpress.com. Please write “send me information about The More-Than-Just-Surviving Handbook” in the subject line of your email.

Join Author David Robertson

Published
by
kirsten
on March 18, 2010
in Join Us At and Press Bytes
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David Robertson

David Robertson

Please join David Alexander Robertson as HighWater Press (an imprint of P&M Press) and Chapters Booksellers present David’s new graphic novel, Stone. David will begin speaking at 7 pm with a reception and book signing to follow.

Location: Chapters Polo Festival
Date: Thursday, April 15, 2010
Time: 7 pm, Reception & Book Signing following

New Graphic Novel

Published
by
kirsten
on March 18, 2010
in New Titles and Press Bytes
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Stone

By Author David Alexander Robertson and Illustrator Scott B. Henderson
For Grades 9–12

Book 1

Book 1

Stone introduces Edwin, a young man who must discover his family’s past if he is to have any future. Edwin learns of his ancestor Stone, a young Plains Cree man, who came of age in the early 18th century. Following a vision quest, Stone aspires to be like his older brother, Bear, a member of the Warrior Society. But when Bear is tragically killed during a Blackfoot raid, Stone, the best shot and rider in his encampment, must overcome his grief and avenge his brother’s death. Only then can he begin a new life with his bride, Nahoway. It is Stone’s story that drives Edwin to embark on his own quest.

Stone is the first book of four in the graphic novel series, 7 Generations. For more information about the forthcoming books in the series visit www.pandmpress.com.

To place an order, please call toll free at 1-800-667-9673 or order online at www.pandmpress.com.

Join Our Authors at IRA

Published
by
kirsten
on March 15, 2010
in Author Spotlight, Join Us At and Press Bytes
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ira10

Several P&M Press authors are speaking at the International Reading Association Annual Convention. The sessions are listed below.  Each author has prepared a thoughtful, informative, and engaging session - plan on attending.

Tom Rossi and Dave Leochko

  • Title: Investigating the Language of Nonfiction Reading
  • Category: Strategies for Teaching Elementary Learners
  • McCormick South Building, S505a
  • April 26, 11:00 AM - 1:45 PM (ticketed)

Shelley Stagg Peterson, Robin Bright, Leyton Schnellert, and colleagues

  • Title: New Research to Transform Adolescent Literacy: Sharing Canadian Perspectives
  • Category: Special Interest Group Presentations
  • McCormick Lakeside Center, E261
  • April 26, 3:00 PM - 5:45 PM (not ticketed)

Marlene  McKay

  • Title: Using Story Vines and Readers Theatre to Develop Relationships with Text, Peers, and Audiences
  • Category: Strategies for Teaching Elementary Learners
  • McCormick Lakeside Center, E350
  • April 27, 4:15 PM - 5:15 PM (not ticketed)

For more information about these sessions or the annual convention visit www.reading.org.

A Time Smart Solution

Published
by
kirsten
on March 10, 2010
in Tips and Tid Bits
. 0 Comments

A Time Smart Solution for Change in a Teaching Position

When you change grades or schools, either by choice or by direction, expect to work harder until you have settled

From 101 Time Smart Solutions for Teachers

From 101 Time Smart Solutions for Teachers

into your new job. If you move to a new grade in the same shcool, you are most likely planning and preparing for new students, a new curriculum, different grade-team members, and perhaps, a new classroom. However, if you change schools, you have a different community, policies and procedures, building, staff, and students to become acquainted with. If you are new to the teaching profession, you have everything new to assimilate. Try to view change as growth—you have new goals to set and strive for. The attitude you bring to the change will directly impact your level of success.

If you change schools, use the “Things I Wish I Knew Checklist” shown to the right. (click on the image to download the checklist) If possible, visit your new school in advance. Get to know the policies, procedures, building layout, and school personnel. Having this information will help to ease your transition.

Please note that the above information is taken from the P&M Press publication 101 Time Smart Solutions for Teachers by Thea Morris. For more information or to order this title visit www.pandmpress.com.

5 Reasons to use Graphic Novels in Your Classroom

Published
by
kirsten
on March 8, 2010
in Tips and Tid Bits
. 0 Comments

Stone, a Great Graphic Novel for Your Classroom

by author David Alexander Robertson and artist Scott B. Henderson

Page 6, Stone

Page 6, Stone

Stone, book 1 of 4 in the 7 Generations series, is the first graphic novel published by HighWater Press, an imprint of Portage & Main Press. Graphic novel is a term used by librarians and educators to identify a specific publishing format - a book written and illustrated in the style of a comic book. Graphic novels are quickly becoming a compelling genre for use in the classroom.

Here are 5 reasons why the graphic novel is right for your classroom.

Reason 1
Graphic novels engage students and motivate them to read.

Reason 2
Graphic novels are popular with boys and struggling readers - students who are often difficult to reach.

Reason 3
The format helps to improve reading comprehension for many students who struggle, because the illustrations provide contextual clues that enrich meaning and support understanding.

Reason 4
Graphic novels generally have rich, complex plots and narrative structures that can satisfy all readers.

Reason 5
Reading graphic novels help students develop the critical skills necessary to read more challenging texts.

To purchase a copy of Stone*, please visit www.pandmpress.com.

*available for purchase March 21, 2010

5 Tips for Teaching Phonemic Awareness

Published
by
kirsten
on March 4, 2010
in Tips and Tid Bits
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From A Feast of Rhyme, Rhythm, and Song: Developing Phonemic Awareness Through Music

by Nancy Lee Cecil and Carol W. McCormick

Song Page 115

Song Page 115

Authors Nancy Lee Cecil and Carol W. McCormick have created this book for all children but specifically for children who are unaware of the subtleties of the sounds in the speech stream, or who do not realize that sounds represent letters in words. The many useful ideas and activities in this book prepare children for the introduction of letter and sound correspondences.

Below are just 5 of the many helpful ideas you can use in your classroom.

Tip 1: Phonemic awareness is basically oral in nature and is most appealing to and memorable for children when embedded in meaningful, interactive games and activities.

Tip 2: Phonemic awareness lessons should last no more than 30 minutes in length daily.

Tip 3: Songs, with their rhyme, rhythm, and repetition, are particularly potent pathways to language competence and literacy for children who have special language needs, or for whom English is an additional language.

Tip 4: Children appear better able to capture and gain control over larger units of sound before smaller units of sound. Therefore, with younger children, such a preschoolers, or older children who have little sensitivity to the sound structure of the English language, focus initially on whole words and sounds in general.

Tip 5: Syllables are acoustically and articulatorily distinct in the flow of oral language, making them easier to identify and distinguish than individual letter sounds, or phonemes. Therefore, syllables should be among the earliest phonemic awareness subskills introduced to children.

To purchase a copy of A Feast of Rhyme, Rhythm, and Song please visit www.pandmpress.com.

5 Tips for Teaching Art

Published
by
kirsten
on March 3, 2010
in Tips and Tid Bits
. 0 Comments

From Teaching Art: A Complete Guide for the Classroom

Noni Brynjolson, age 10

Noni Brynjolson, age 10

by Rhian Brynjolson

Author and artist Rhian Brynjolson believes that you do not have to be an artist to teach art. However, she does believe that a positive attitude toward trying art exercises will affect how your students respond to art. In her new book, Teaching Art, she includes many suggestions for helping you successfully teach art lessons.

Listed below are just 5 of the many helpful tips Rhian discusses in the book.

Tip 1: Ensure the theme or subject of an art lesson has relevance to the curriculum and is of interest to your students.

Tip 2: Careful preparation of materials is a key to successful art lessons.

Tip 3: View and discuss quality visuals to demonstrate a concept, medium, or technique.

Tip 4: Demonstrate the technique being taught. This is important because visual learners may have difficulty following oral or written instructions.

Tip 5: Start small when introducing a new technique, subject, or approach. It is better to discover problems on a postcard-sized painting than on a wall mural.

To purchase a copy of Teaching Art: A Complete Guide for the Classroom, please visit www.pandmpress.com.