Shopping Cart

Home > Shopping Cart 
Stenhouse Newslinks
March 31, 2004

C O N T E N T S

1) Time for Nonfiction
2) PD Corner: Test anxiety
3) New on-line resources just posted at stenhouse.com
4) Tapping into PD funds from NCLB
5) Celebrate National Poetry Month

----------------------------------------------------------------
1) Time for Nonfiction
----------------------------------------------------------------
Tony Stead makes nonfiction come alive in two primary classrooms 
in the new four-part video series TIME FOR NONFICTION, available 
now from Stenhouse. You will see how to organize the classroom 
library, conduct mini-lessons & conferences, and increase the 
presence of nonfiction in your reading/writing curriculum.

The free Viewing Guide provides background information and 
discussion points tied to each video segment, with time codes and 
reproducible handouts--everything you need for an effective staff 
development workshop.

TIME FOR NONFICTION
Tony Stead * 4 30-minute VHS tapes + Viewing Guide * $395.00
http://www.stenhouse.com/0378.asp
(Click the "Viewing Guide" link at the beginning of the product 
description to access the free Guide.)

Also by Tony Stead:
IS THAT A FACT? Teaching Nonfiction Writing K-3
264 pp/paper * $19.50
http://www.stenhouse.com/0331.asp

----------------------------------------------------------------
2) PD Corner: Test anxiety
----------------------------------------------------------------
*Quote of the Month* 

"It's scary. Sometimes I feel like answering the phone, 'Rollins 
Test Center' instead of Rollins School. We're dancing as fast as 
we can. But we're not all Lake Wobegon, and we're not all going 
to be above average."
--Karen Hart, Illinois Principal
 
Fatigue and worry about high-stakes tests this time of year have 
become as much a rite of spring as first tulips. It's no surprise 
that more professional resource materials are available for short 
sessions on test anxiety and how to deal with it.
 
This article from USA Today can be used as a good discussion 
piece with colleagues. It shows how test anxiety for kids is 
becoming a hot topic in books and movies:
 
Tests make mark in in kids' psyches

The National Principals Resource Center has suggestions for how 
to plan a professional development session on tackling test 
anxiety:
 
Test Anxiety Awareness as Professional Development Topic

And for an innovative and optimistic alternative to traditional 
test prep, check out Ardith Cole's BETTER ANSWERS. You can 
preview two sample chapters here:
 
http://www.stenhouse.com/0341.asp

----------------------------------------------------------------
3) New on-line resources just posted at stenhouse.com
----------------------------------------------------------------
We've just posted the full text of the forthcoming book BECOMING 
ONE COMMUNITY: Reading and Writing with English Language 
Learners, by Kathleen Fay and Suzanne Whaley. The book will be 
available in late April, but you can preview it on-line now:

http://www.stenhouse.com/0368.asp

The free Viewing Guide for the video series STRATEGIC THINKING: 
Reading and Responding, Grades 4-8 by Stephanie Harvey and Anne 
Goudvis can be downloaded now. This new video series will also be 
available in late April.

http://www.stenhouse.com/0370.asp
(Click the "Viewing Guide" link at the beginning of the product 
description.) 

Finally, the following recently published books can now be viewed 
on-line in their entirety:

THE SPELLING TEACHER'S BOOK OF LISTS
http://www.stenhouse.com/0390.asp

WRITING EVERY DAY: Reading, Writing, and Conferencing Using 
Student-Led Language Experiences
http://www.stenhouse.com/8169.asp

KEEP COOL! Strategies for Managing Anger at School
http://www.stenhouse.com/8168.asp

----------------------------------------------------------------
4) Tapping into PD funds from NCLB
----------------------------------------------------------------
A recent survey from the National Staff Development Council 
suggests that the No Child Left Behind Act is having a limited 
effect on professional development. In fact, 33% of the 
respondents were not familiar with the PD provisions in Title II 
of NCLB:

http://www.nsdc.org/library/policy/nclbsurvey2_04.cfm

With a focus on collaborative learning and lasting change, 
Stenhouse books, videos, and RST workshops are fully consistent 
with NCLB's definition of professional development. More 
information on Title II of NCLB is included in this summary 
document from the U.S. Department of Education:

http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/nclbreference/index.html

----------------------------------------------------------------
5) Celebrate National Poetry Month
----------------------------------------------------------------
April is National Poetry Month, sponsored by The Academy of 
American Poets. Visit the event's Web site for a daily almanac, 
tips for teachers and librarians, book suggestions, and a free 
poster:

http://www.poets.org/page.php/prmID/41

In addition, The Children's Book Council sponsors Young People's 
Poetry Week from April 12-18. This year's featured poet is Jane 
Yolen, and she will participate in an e-mail Q&A session 
throughout April. Details:

http://www.cbcbooks.org/yppw/

For a great way to extend National Poetry Month throughout the 
year, check out Poetry 180, a Library of Congress program for 
hearing and reading a poem each day of the school year:

http://www.loc.gov/poetry/180/

Finally, consider the following Stenhouse titles to increase the 
presence of poetry in your curriculum:

POETRY GOES TO SCHOOL: From Mother Goose to Shel Silverstein
Bob Barton and David Booth
96 pp/paper * $18.00
http://www.stenhouse.com/8161.asp

A NOTE SLIPPED UNDER THE DOOR: Teaching from Poems We Love 
Nick Flynn and Shirley McPhillips
256 pp/paper * $19.50
http://www.stenhouse.com/0320.asp

TEETH, WIGGLY AS EARTHQUAKES: Writing Poetry in the Primary 
Grades
Judith Tannenbaum * 88 pp/paper * $12.50
http://www.stenhouse.com/0323.asp

THREE VOICES: An Invitation to Poetry Across the Curriculum 
Bernice E. Cullinan, Marilyn C. Scala, and Virginia C. Schroder
152 pp/paper * $20.00
http://www.stenhouse.com/0015.asp

COUNT TO FIVE AND SAY "I'M ALIVE!" Two Poetry Workshops 
Michael Rosen and Judith Nicholls
30 minute VHS videotape * $65.00
http://www.stenhouse.com/0006.asp

----------------------------------------------------------------
Please send comments and questions to Chuck Lerch, Newslinks 
Editor, at  or call (800) 988-9812.

View archives of past issues here:
http://www.stenhouse.com/nlindex.asp

To subscribe to Stenhouse Newslinks, please send an e-mail with 
your request to  or visit our Web site at 
http://www.stenhouse.com.

Stenhouse respects your privacy, and we never share e-mail 
addresses with anyone. If you no longer wish to receive e-mail 
communications from us, just forward this message to 
.

Stenhouse Publishers
P.O. Box 11020
Portland, ME  04104-7020
Tel (800) 988-9812
Fax (800) 833-9164
http://www.stenhouse.com
----------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright (c) 2004 Stenhouse Publishers