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Best Arts & Humanities Teaching Materials

Art & Fear: Observations On the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking
For all practical purposes making art can be examined in great detail without ever getting entangled in the very remote problems of genius." The book's co-authors, David Bayles and Ted Orland, are themselves both working artists, grappling daily with the problems of making art in the real world. Their insights and observations, drawn from personal experience, provide an incisive view into the world of art as it is expeienced by artmakers themselves. Art & Fear has attracted a remarkably diverse audience, ranging from beginning to accomplished artists in every medium, and including an exceptional concentration among students and teachers. Both authors are teachers and working artists.
Reviews
"This book is amazing."
"Honestly, the best, most affirming and enlightening book I’ve ever read on making art (I’m a musician to be clear)."
"An excellent insight into the thought processes and predicaments of art."
"A neatly written nice little book on just what the title suggests."
"This was recommended by a writer friend, but the wisdom in the book applies to any art form or issues of creativity."
"Art philosophy and psychology making for a noteworthy read."
"Also, the fact that they kept referring to themselves in third person ("the authors") was a bit awkward."
"A great and very easy read, a "must" for any artist."
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The Story of the World: History for the Classical Child, Volume 2 Audiobook: The Middle Ages: From the Fall of Rome to the Rise of the Renaissance, Revised Edition (9 CDs) (v. 2)
Susan Wise Bauer has provided a captivating guide to the history of the ancient world. For fifteen years, she taught literature and composition at the College of William and Mary.
Reviews
"The thing I love about this book is that is can be used for so many different age groups and since it is a story book, you can read it over and over again."
"The stories are great for us."
"It does a good job of discussing history across the world (not just Europe) and showing interrelations between places and events."
"My kids did not enjoy Story of the World that much until we bought this activity guide, and now they love it!"
"Great series, and the workbook is pretty cool too."
"This is the second book in this series that I have read with my children as part of our homeschool curriculum."
"My 9 year old son specifically asks to listen to this, even on short car trips."
"On a flip side, there are serious flaws: 1) the complete lack of time-lines robs a student of history of the crux of the matter: time frame and dates."
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The Story of the World, Activity Book 1: Ancient Times - From the Earliest Nomad to the Last Roman Emperor
This comprehensive, 8.5" x 11" curriculum guide and activity book contains map activities, coloring pages, games, projects, review questions, cross-references to illustrated encyclopedias, and extensive book lists. -- Cathy Duffy, author of The Christian Home Educator's Manual; The Elementary Grades --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Reviews
"I really wish the teacher's materials had been printed in the hardcover text rather than this activity book, that way parents could purchase one "teachers book" and as many "student books" as they need."
"We are reading it together for our history in our homeschool and he is really engaged and excited about reading each chapter, and even loves the quizzes in the other accompanying book!"
"My son enjoys the activities and I like how there are multiple options for different ages."
"Very helpful to go along with the book."
"Love, love, love Story of the World."
"This has been great for my first grader."
"My son is 6 (1st grade) and we were needing a history book to read together."
"In addition to guidance on material review, this book also provides suggestions on hands-on activities that correspond with each lesson as well as student material in the back of the book (maps and drawings to color in, etc.)."
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Best Language Arts Teaching Materials

The Next Step Forward in Guided Reading: An Assess-Decide-Guide Framework for Supporting Every Reader
In this resource-rich book, you’ll find: - All the planning and instructional tools you need to teach guided reading well, from pre-A to fluent, organized around Richardson’s proven Assess-Decide-Guide framework. Reading Next Step Forward in Guided Reading is like talking with Jan. You get clear, practical, and actionable suggestions for helping children move along a trajectory of growth toward evermore challenging texts.”. ―Holly Slaughter, Reading and Language Arts Specialist, Pinellas County Schools, FL.
Reviews
"It has helped me stream line my guided reading lessons!"
"My teachers love this book!"
"great book and resource but expensive!"
"super useful for new teacher."
"Best book for guided reading."
"Great book!"
"If you teach guided reading, this is a must!"
"This book is an excellent resource!"
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Best Social Studies Teaching Materials

Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong
This updated and revised edition of the American Book Award-winner and national bestseller revitalizes the truth of America’s history, explores how myths continue to be perpetrated, and includes a new chapter on 9/11 and the Iraq War. James W. Loewen is the bestselling author of Lies My Teacher Told Me and Lies Across America.
Reviews
"Every teacher in the country should read this book and be guided by it when teaching students of all ages."
"just an all around great read."
"It has tons of great information about things that are often taught to "favor" the United States in American History classrooms."
"This book should be mandatory in all middle - high school classrooms."
"What was bought was a piece of paper that Columbus made a claim, it wasn't anything."
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Best Math Teaching Materials

Mastering Essential Math Skills: 20 Minutes a Day to Success, Book 1: Grades 4-5
Used by hundreds of thousands of students each year Perfect Math For Students Who Are Math Challenged. This ensures that students will learn to apply their knowledge to real-life-situations. Whole Numbers Fractions Decimals Ratios, Proportions, Percents Geometry Number theory & Algebra Integers Charts & Grapsh Probability & Statistics Word problems. This program was written by a teacher for teachers, tutors, and most importantly students.
Reviews
"The everyday speed drills have really improved how quickly he performs multiplication problems, and because they're on every page: he PLANS-ON and ENJOYS testing himself everyday! But don't let that deter you: it's an excellent program and I can't wait to purchase other books from this series!"
"The presentation of each concept is straightforward; the online videos are perfect for a student who wants to work independently (or without mom's help)."
"We received the school district's grade/score and the middle school's math efficiency is an F at 54%, which means that a majority of the students are behind in math."
"If you get the wrong answer and you know it was right check your work because very quickly in you'll find that not all of the answers are correct."
"When I don't understand there is videos that help me understand I think this book would be great for children and for grown ups that are bad at math I just got this book a few days and already on page 31."
"Each page provides ten problems of work in one particular area, with a small reminder of the process involved. Each page also begins with a review of concepts taught previously, so that ongoing practice is incorporated."
"This book is wonderful."
"When I received it, I couldn't figure WHY there were so many 5-star reviews until I looked at the bottom of the title page where the publisher/author offers a free gift in exchange for a 5-star review."
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Best Reading & Phonics Teaching Materials

Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons
Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons is a complete, step-by-step program that shows parents simply and clearly how to teach their children to read. One hundred lessons, fully illustrated and color-coded for clarity, give your child the basic and more advanced skills needed to become a good reader.Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons will bring you and your child closer together, while giving your child the reading skills needed now, for a better chance at tomorrow. (Point to m )I'm going to touch under this sound and say the sound. Your turn to say the sound when I touch under it. (To correct child saying a wrong sound or not responding:) The sound is mmmmmm. (Point to s. )I'm going to touch under this sound and say the sound. Your turn to say the sound when I touch under it. (To correct child saying a wrong sound or not responding:) The sound is ssssss. TASK 2 SAY IT FAST. My turn: motor (pause) boat. (To correct child saying word slowly -- for example, "motor [pause] boat":) You didn't say it fast. Here's saying it fast: motorboat. Listen: ice (pause) cream. Listen: sis (pause) ter. Listen: ham (pause) burger. Listen: mmmeee. Listen: iiifff. (Repeat any words child had trouble with.). I'm going to say some words slowly, without stopping. Listen: aaammm. Listen: mmmeee. Listen: iiinnn. Listen: shshsheee. Now it's your turn to say the words slowly with me. (To correct if child stops between sounds -- for example, "aaa [pause] mmm":) Don't stop. (Don't pause between sounds a and m as you say aaammm. ). (Repeat until child responds with you.). Your turn to say words slowly by yourself. Good saying the words slowly. (Touch first ball for m,) Get ready. (Touch first ball for s.) Get ready. TASK 5 SAY IT FAST. Listen: motor (pause) cycle. TASK 6 SOUNDS WRITING. You're going to write a sound on each line. I'll show you how to make each sound. Then you'll write each sound. Here's the first sound you're going to write. (Point to m.) What sound? (Help child trace sound two or three times. Child is then to make three to five m 's on top line. For each acceptable letter child makes, say:) Good writing mmm. Here's how to make sss. Point to s.) What sound? (Help child trace sound two or three times. Child is then to make three to five s's on second line. For each acceptable letter child makes, say:) Good writing sss. (Point to m.) I'm going to touch under this sound and say the sound. Your turn to say the sound when I touch under it. (To correct child saying a wrong sound or not responding:) The sound is mmmmmm.
Reviews
"I become painfully aware of how naive I was to the processes of reading when my daughter was at the age that she should be knowing her letters and stuff. Despite the fact that my husband and I are voracious readers, and that we read to our daughter daily, she had developed a loathing towards all things letters. When she was still mixing up her letters and sounds, and resistant towards all reading games at 5 years old, I began to worry. So I scoured the internet for various books and programs to help me, as I, by then, understood fully I knew jack squat about how to teach a kid to read."
"To me, this is actually a bonus because I want my boys to learn that boring isn't bad and that sitting still is a skill just as much as reading. When reading the slow way, they step from one sound to the next, if they're not sounding it out, they can't move- that helped with pausing."
"Good teaching manual for non teachers."
"My daughter, the home schooler, has more energy for the task than I would have and will probably benefit from the book."
"I love the fact that I get to teach my kids kid at a pace I know they will grasp everything that is taught to them."
"I have a moderately bright 4 year old who has NO interest in learning new things, and she dove into this."
"Excellent source for teaching your child to read."
"This technique makes a lot of sense to me."
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Best Health Teaching Materials

Health, Safety, and Nutrition for the Young Child, 9th Edition
HEALTH, SAFETY, AND NUTRITION FOR THE YOUNG CHILD, 9th Edition, covers contemporary health, safety, and nutrition needs of infant through school-age children--and guides teachers in implementing effective classroom practices--in one comprehensive, full-color volume. She has been interviewed for numerous articles about children's health and nutrition and parenting that have appeared in national trade magazines, has served as a consultant for children's museums and training film productions, has presented extensively at international, national, and state conferences, and continues to hold appointments on national, state, and local committees and initiatives that advocate on behalf of children and their families.
Reviews
"I have had textbooks that didn't have the key terms in the index but had seemingly irrelevant topics listed, but this book has a very thorough index which is a plus!"
"The text was a good size and included a variety of vivid diagrams and pictures throughout."
"Great guide for my kids look.."
"I know this is technically a textbook but I thought it would be easier to read."
"Very informational."
"I was very pleased with the condition of the book."
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Best Library Skills Teaching Materials

2017 — 2018 Student Planner; Get Shit Done: 6”x9” Academic Planner and Daily Organizer, August 2017 – July 2018 (Daily and Weekly Planners, Organizers ... for College, University and High School)
This must-have student academic organizer allows plenty of room to view your entire academic year at a glance, keep track of class schedules for Fall/Winter, Spring and Summer semesters, record assignments and due dates and take plenty of notes! Daily Journal offers a vast array of beautiful, professionally designed journals, notebooks, diaries and planners for those who embody the creative spirit.
Reviews
"I was a little nervous to buy this since it didnt have any reviews but I thought I'd give it a try. I am posting some pictures since you can't see what's important on the inside."
"I love this planner!"
"The cover has an interesting texture that I really like, and the design is exactly what I expected."
"Love the cover!"
"Perfect for my college students academic and work schedule."
"Boyfriend loves this!"
"Seemed a little dirty when I first got it and dirties easily but overall it does accomplish what it has to accomplish!"
"I love this planner."
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Best Science & Technology Teaching Materials

Child's Introduction to the Night Sky: The Story of the Stars, Planets, and Constellations--and How You Can Find Them in the Sky
Children eight and up will enjoy this conversational but information-packed introduction to astronomy and stargazing, which includes the achievements of the great scientists, the history of space exploration, the story of our solar system, the myths behind the constellations, and how to navigate the night sky. The study of the night sky and all of the objects and forces up there is called astronomy, and A Child's Introduction to the Night Sky is a great introduction to what astronomers have learned (and are still discovering), what astronauts and scientists explore--and what you yourself can find by gazing up into the night sky. Finally, you will find out how to take the handy Star Finder outside with you and find all of your favorite stars, constellations and planets in the sky, just like professional astronomers do.
Reviews
"This book teaches about the night sky, solar system, planets, and universe."
"A great addition to our daughters library."
"Wonderful book for children!"
"A beautiful book that both my kids enjoyed( age 3 and 9)."
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