Linda J. Armstrong

More than 30 original verses, accompanied by simple crafts with patterns, such as a mask made from a large letter M, help children learn letter symbols, names and sounds.

From the back of the book: "This book focuses on counting and simple math, and contains thirty-two original response verses that are designed to teach and reinforce early math skills. Associated with NCTM Standards, these creative activities strengthen the key math skills students are required to master. Reproducible activity pages, including a mix of puzzles, patterns, creativity-boosters, and exercises, follow all verses. The chants consist of modified verse patterns from public-domain songs, sports cheers, and folk sources. This is a great resource for teaching counting and simple math to kindergarten and first-grade students.

From the publisher:
Teach word patterns to emergent readers using this terrific resource!
Includes reproducibles to teach word families to new and striving readers.
Easy to use, tied to national standards, and targeted to all students struggling to make adequate yearly progress (AYP) in reading.
Reviews basic consonant sounds, blends, and digraphs.
Includes take-homes for parents to provide reinforcement at home.
A companion to the ABC Follow Me: Phonics Rhymes and Crafts, Grades K-1, which teaches phonics, this new book moves to the next level and teaches rhyming phonetic chunks, or word families. It is a valuable resource for any teacher, librarian, or literary coach who teaches beginning reading. Teach rimes through verses, crafts, and other motivating age-appropriate activities in these short, easy-to-use hands-on lessons and reproducibles. This resource could be a staple for those who work with emergent readers.

From the back cover:
"With tight budgets for art in schools, "Everyday Art for the Classroom Teacher" gives educators an exciting opportunity to open the minds and hearts of students to art. Most materials needed for projects are either recycled or are standard school supplies, Many projects spill over into other areas, such as math and writing, and are excellent for encouraging these skills. Some projects are structured, and others are open-ended, giving you the flexibility to combine and create whatever's best for your classroom situation. This book, chock-full of great project choices, is a surefire way to have fun and rewarding time teaching the beauty of art."

A touching middle-grade novel about a girl who has faced some painful losses in her young life and is trying to find the happiness that is almost within reach. At the center is a new friend and a wonderful, beautiful dog who show Tanya that not every good thing goes away. Willowisp Press imprint.

From the back of the book:
"Reading Comprehension Mysteries" is a collection of intriguing stories that draw in readers and activate their thinking skills. The story format is designed to develop the skills of interacting with text before, during, and after reading. Each "Case File" begins with prereading activities, breaks during the story to ask "evidence" questions, and concludes with vocabulary and creative extension activities. Comprehension skills addressed include predicting and evaluating, sequencing, indentifying cause and effect, sorting fact from opinion, recognizing basic elements of fiction, reading for details and summarizing. Whether as part of reading instruction, supplementary activities, or a mysteries unit, the excitement of cracking these cases is sure to transform your students into reading detectives.

Stories include:
The Secret of the Estate-Sale Dresser (Catskills)
The Ghost in the Attic (Music camp)
The Case of the Inverted Airplane (Stamps)
Phantom of the Desert (Utah)
Have You Seen Hans? (Chicago fire)
The Case of the Mysterious Message (Communications)
The Mystery of the Missing Bestseller
The Treasure of Black Mountain Mine (Ouray, Colorado)
For Your Eyes Only (Codes)
The Case of Toby Casey's Missing Calico (Oregon Trail)
The Mystery of the Missing Necklace (Zoology)

Now out of print, three creative, practical activity books include beautiful full-color Power Point slides that can be used with a white board, on computer monitors, or printed out on transparency sheets for an overhead projector. You can still get them used.

Illustrated by my own line drawings, this hand-bound collection from Bellowing Ark Press in Shoreline, WA, was my first book. Robert Ward has a passion for poetry that shows in every book he publishes.