Recent Acquisitions
A-J    K-Z 

Keeping Things in Proportion: Reasoning with Ratios
Schmitt, Mary Jane and Steinback, Myriam and Donovan, Tricia and Merson, Martha and Curry, Donna (2005).
Cambridge, MA: Key Curriculum Press.
EMPower is designed to give adult learners and out-of-school youth mathematics skills for daily life. EMPower combines insights from educational research and classroom practice. This comprehensive curriculum works in adult and workplace education, alternative high schools, correctional settings, and GED/high school equivalency programs. Students who need help transitioning to college also benefit from EMPower's dynamic approach. Rather than focusing on memorizing formulas, students develop useful mathematics skills through engaging exercises that relate to their lives. They investigate concepts, work collaboratively, share ideas orally and in writing, and discover multiple ways to solve problems. The full curriculum comprises eight non-sequential units emphasizing whole numbers, fractions, decimals, percents, proportions, geometry and measurement, algebra, and data and graphs. In this set (teacher book and student book) students use various tools—objects, diagrams, tables, graphs, and equations—to understand proportional and non-proportional relationships.

Set of 2 Books: Loan Item for Texas Educators ONLY (510 EMP KTP).

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Ladders to Literacy: A Preschool Activity Book , Second Edition
Notari-Syverson, Angela and O'Connor, Rollanda E. and Vadasy, Patricia F. (2007).
Baltimore, MD: Brookes Publishing.
This field-tested, activity-based program gives preschool teachers more than 60 culturally sensitive, developmentally appropriate student activities organized into three sections: print/book awareness, metalinguistic awareness skills, and oral language skills. Features include field-tested games, crafts, role plays, and other activities to improve children’s basic preliteracy skills. New features in this edition include: well-defined links between the activities and Head Start Recommended Outcomes; a scope-and-sequence chart; 11 new activities; dozens of activities to strengthen the home-school link, including photocopiable handouts to give parents for home activities; and modifications for children with disabilities.

Book (486 pages): Loan Item (649.58 Not).

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Legacy of the Blue Heron: Living with Learning Disabilities
Sylvester, Harry (2002).
Farmington, ME: Oxton House Publishers.
Harry Sylvester started life as a youngster with serious learning disabilities. Now retired, he has been a mechanical engineer, business owner, and boatbuilder – and he still has the same disabilities with which he began the first grade in rural Maine. His book is a story of persistence in the face of misunderstanding, a story of survival by patient perseverance through years of puzzlement and frustration, and much more. Harry Sylvester shares with us many lessons he learned the hard way, during the years in which our society was discovering what learning disabilities are. In so doing, he offers to spare us some of the deep individual and social pain that misunderstanding inflicts. He lays out coping tactics for the estimated 10% of us who have learning disabilities and describes productive strategies for the people and social agencies that interact with them.

Book (179 pages): Loan Item (371.9 Syl).

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LifePrints: ESL For Adults: Level One
Florez, MaryAnn Cunningham (2002).
Syracuse, NY: New Readers Press.
Lifeprints is a four-level program that helps adult English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) students gain the English language skills they need to participate effectively at work and in their communities. This multimedia kit contains the level one in the series. It is divided into twelve units: "Neighborhoods," "Families," "Keeping in Touch," "Getting from Here to There," "Feelings," "Discovering Patterns," "What Did You Do Before?," "The Cost of Things," "Getting Well," "Asking for Help," "The Spice of Life," "Discovering Patterns." The teacher's guide contains photocopy masters for resource activities and self-assessment tools. The audio CD and audiotape provide conversations and prompts used in listening activities, which also serve as models of natural speech.

3 Books and Audio CD: Loan Item for Texas Educators ONLY (428.007 Flo-1).

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LifePrints: ESL For Adults: Level Three
Florez, MaryAnn Cunningham (2002).
Syracuse, NY: New Readers Press.
Lifeprints is a four-level program that helps adult English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) students gain the English language skills they need to participate effectively at work and in their communities. This multimedia kit contains the level three in the series. It is divided into twelve units: "Continuing Education," "What the Community Offers," "Making Ends Meet," "Living with Machines," "Travels in America," "Discovering Patterns," "Problems on the Job," "Saving the Environment," "Real Costs of a Car," "Under the Law," "Can I Buy a House?," and "Discovering Patterns." The teacher's guide contains photocopy masters for resource activities and self-assessment tools. The audio CD and audiotape provide conversations and prompts used in listening activities, which also serve as models of natural speech.

3 Books and Audio CD: Loan Item for Texas Educators ONLY (428.007 Flo-3).

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LifePrints: ESL For Adults: Level Two
Florez, MaryAnn Cunningham (2002).
Syracuse, NY: New Readers Press.
Lifeprints is a four-level program that helps adult English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) students gain the English language skills they need to participate effectively at work and in their communities. This multimedia kit contains the level two in the series. It is divided into twelve units: "Getting a Job," "On the Job," "Making Choices about Money," "Driving a Car," "Having a Good Time," "Discovering Patterns," "Wash and Wear," "What the Doctor Said," "Going to School," "Becoming a Citizen," "Getting Used to a New Land," and "Discovering Patterns." The teacher's guide contains photocopy masters for resource activities and self-assessment tools. The audio CD and audiotape provide conversations and prompts used in listening activities, which also serve as models of natural speech.

3 Books and Audio CD: Loan Item for Texas Educators ONLY (428.007 Flo-2).

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LifePrints: ESL For Adults: Literacy
Florez, MaryAnn Cunningham (2002).
Syracuse, NY: New Readers Press.
Lifeprints is a four-level program that helps adult English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) students gain the English language skills they need to participate effectively at work and in their communities. This multimedia kit contains the Literacy level in the series. It is divided into six units: "Welcome to English Class," "Personal Information," "In the Neighborhood," "Going Shopping," "I Am Sick," and "I Want a Job." The teacher's guide contains photocopy masters for resource activities and self-assessment tools. The audio CD and audiotape provide conversations and prompts used in listening activities, which also serve as models of natural speech.

3 Books and Audio CD: Loan Item for Texas Educators ONLY (428.007 Flo-L).

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Linking Adults with Community: Promoting Civic Engagement through Community Based Learning
Reed, Susan C. and Marienau, Catherine, Editors (mmer 2008).
San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass Publishers.
Number 118 in the New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education series. From the Editor: Employing community-based learning with adults presents unique challenges and opportunities; it requires an analysis of the adult-learning literature as well as identification of service-learning practices that will be effective with adults. In this volume, drawing upon adult-learning and service-learning literature and case studies, scholars and practitioners articulate best practices in community-based adult learning and illustrate its implementation. Adults are increasingly called upon to become involved in the body politic, strengthening their communities, promoting change, and enlivening our democracy. Competing with the call for civic engagement are the demanding priorities of modern life that adults face in the workplace, at home, and in their community. In community-based learning, universities partner with local organizations and nonprofits to provide experiences that promote the growth and development of both students and community residents. Careful project design is crucial to the accomplishment of these laudable outcomes. This volume provides a guide to service-learning professionals meeting these challenges.

Book (114 pages): Loan Item for Texas Educators ONLY (374.02 NDACE 118).

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Literacy Begins at Home: Teach Them to Read
National Institute for Literacy (2006).
Jessup, MD: National Institute for Literacy.
This brochure encourages parents to teach their children to read and provides checklists of helpful practices and benchmarks by age group (toddlers, preschoolers, kindergarteners, first graders, second graders, and third graders). It can be used with the Shining Stars booklet series (available from TCALL as a separate title). Free copies are available from edpubs@inet.ed.gov or can be downloaded from the website.

Brochure (8 pages): FREE copies available (649.58 LBH).

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Live It Learn It: The Academic Club Methodology for Students with Learning Disabilities and ADHD
Smith, Sally L, (2005).
Baltimore, MD: Brookes Publishing Company.
Improve school success for students who have learning disabilities and ADHD with “Academic Clubs,” the learning-by-doing approach presented in this guidebook. Sally Smith shows elementary school educators how to immerse students in any subject using drama, painting, sculpture, music, and other art forms. To help educators use this fun, multisensory teaching technique to motivate students, this handbook gives them an easy-to-follow 15-step process for establishing an Academic Club with minimal expense; information on how the clubs promote positive behavior and foster cooperation among students; detailed profiles of Academic Clubs, complete with suggested activities, decorations, character roles, and costume ideas; insightful interviews with teachers who have used the Academic Club Approach; chapters on using the approach in different settings, including junior high, high school, and summer programs; and principles for effective group management.

Book (213 pages): Loan Item (371.94 Smi).

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Many Points Make a Point: Data and Graphs
Schmitt, Mary Jane and Steinback, Myriam and Donovan, Tricia and Merson, Martha (2005).
Cambridge, MA: Key Curriculum Press.
EMPower is designed to give adult learners and out-of-school youth mathematics skills for daily life. EMPower combines insights from educational research and classroom practice. This comprehensive curriculum works in adult and workplace education, alternative high schools, correctional settings, and GED/high school equivalency programs. Students who need help transitioning to college also benefit from EMPower's dynamic approach. Rather than focusing on memorizing formulas, students develop useful mathematics skills through engaging exercises that relate to their lives. They investigate concepts, work collaboratively, share ideas orally and in writing, and discover multiple ways to solve problems. The full curriculum comprises eight non-sequential units emphasizing whole numbers, fractions, decimals, percents, proportions, geometry and measurement, algebra, and data and graphs. In this set (teacher book and student book) students collect, organize, and represent data using frequency, bar, and circle graphs. They use line graphs to describe change over time. They use benchmark fractions and the three measures of central tendency—mode, median, and mean— to describe sets of data.

Set of 2 Books: Loan Item for Texas Educators ONLY (510 EMP MPMP).

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A More Perfect Union: America Becomes a Nation
Slover, Tim, Writer and Johnson, Peter N., Director (1989).
Malta, ID: National Center for Constitutional Study.
Journey back to 1787 to witness crucial events in our nation's founding. You'll meet Madison, Washington, Franklin, and others and marvel at the labor and godly wisdom that went into drafting our Constitution. This timely reminder of the underlying principles that established and still protect our freedoms will reinforce the concept of responsible citizenship. Filmed in Philadelphia's Independence Hall and other historic sites. The teacher's guide (16 pages) is available online. The DVD video is 114 minutes. Included in this set is a copy of the Constitution of the United States.
Online availability: http://www.constitution-week.nces.net

Teacher's Guide, DVD, Booklet: Loan Item (900 Slo).

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Omar and Pete
Lending, Tod (2005).
New York, NY: New Video.
In and out of prison for more than 30 years Omar and Pete are determined to change their lives. This intimate and penetrating film by Tod Lending follows the two long-time friends after what they hope will be their final prison release. Their story boldly exposes critical issues concerning reentry and the complex challenges men face when reentering society.

DVD Video (71 minutes): Loan Item (365.66 Len).

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On Their Own: Creating an Independent Future for Your Adult Child with Learning Disabilities and ADHA
Ford, Anne (2007).
New York, NY: Newmarket Press.
Here is a guide to the special challenges faced by parents of learning-disabled children as they enter adulthood, by the author of Laughing Allegra, a leading activist and parent of an adult child with LD. On Their Own is a road map to ease these parents' fears and answer their questions, especially the one that haunts them daily: Will or can their child be on their own, and how? Laced with real-life stories, the book covers such topics as social skills and dating, staying healthy, sibling relationships, interaction with employers and co-workers, job hunting, finding the right college or trade school, and estate planning.

Book (301 pages): Loan Item (371.9 For).

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Operation Sense: Even More Fractions, Decimals, and Percents
Schmitt, Mary Jane and Steinback, Myriam (2007).
Cambridge, MA: Key Curriculum Press.
EMPower is designed to give adult learners and out-of-school youth mathematics skills for daily life. EMPower combines insights from educational research and classroom practice. This comprehensive curriculum works in adult and workplace education, alternative high schools, correctional settings, and GED/high school equivalency programs. Students who need help transitioning to college also benefit from EMPower's dynamic approach. Rather than focusing on memorizing formulas, students develop useful mathematics skills through engaging exercises that relate to their lives. They investigate concepts, work collaboratively, share ideas orally and in writing, and discover multiple ways to solve problems. The full curriculum comprises eight non-sequential units emphasizing whole numbers, fractions, decimals, percents, proportions, geometry and measurement, algebra, and data and graphs. In this set (teacher book and student book) students extend their understanding of the four operations with whole numbers as they puzzle over such questions as, "How is it possible that two fractions multiplied might yield a smaller amount?" and "What does it mean to divide one-half by six?"

Set of 2 Books: Loan Item for Texas Educators ONLY (510 EMP OS).

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Over, Around, and Within: Geometry and Measurement
Schmitt, Mary Jane and Steinback, Myriam and Donovan, Tricia and Merson, Martha (2005).
Cambridge, MA: Key Curriculum Press.
EMPower is designed to give adult learners and out-of-school youth mathematics skills for daily life. EMPower combines insights from educational research and classroom practice. This comprehensive curriculum works in adult and workplace education, alternative high schools, correctional settings, and GED/high school equivalency programs. Students who need help transitioning to college also benefit from EMPower's dynamic approach. Rather than focusing on memorizing formulas, students develop useful mathematics skills through engaging exercises that relate to their lives. They investigate concepts, work collaboratively, share ideas orally and in writing, and discover multiple ways to solve problems. The full curriculum comprises eight non-sequential units emphasizing whole numbers, fractions, decimals, percents, proportions, geometry and measurement, algebra, and data and graphs. In this set (teacher book and student book) students explore the features and measures of basic shapes. Perimeter and area of two-dimensional shapes and volume of rectangular solids provide the focus.

Set of 2 Books: Loan Item for Texas Educators ONLY (510 EMP OAW).

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The Pain of Depression: A Journey through the Darkness
N/A (2008).
Staten Island, NY: Freedom From Fear.
The Pain of Depression: A Journey through the Darkness tells the compelling stories of individuals who suffered from clinical depression, a medical illness, which affects more than 20 million Americans each year. Depression affects people of all backgrounds and walks of life, including many famous people throughout history. This film, broadcast on PBS stations nationally, profiles everyday people who experienced depression and tells their stories through their won words. The documentary also explores the different ways depression can manifest itself, including both emotionally and physically. Individuals may not receive appropriate treatment because the physical impact of depression can mask the illness. The film also examines how family, friends and communities are impacted by the depression of their loved one.

DVD video: Loan Item (613.07 FFF).

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Poetry Workshop for Middle School: Activities That Inspire Meaningful Language Learning
Ambrosini, Michelle and Morretta, Teresa M. (2003).
Newark, DE: International Reading Assocation.
Noting that when students are immersed in reading and writing poetry they benefit from revisions in writing and learn to critically analyze text, this book outlines the ways that poetry workshops can excite students' interest. Chapter 1, "Laying a Foundation for Poetry Workshop" defines poetry workshop and explains its value in the reading and writing classroom. The second chapter, "Getting Started with Poetry Writing" provides initial activities to tap into students' background knowledge of poetry, and the activities in Chapter 3, "Diving into Poetry Writing," provide a plethora of poetry writing activities. The fourth chapter, "Taking the Next Steps With Poetry Writing," highlights what professional writers do, while the fifth and final chapter, "Responding as Poets Outside of Poetry Workshop" is a compilation of poetry writing activities. Eight appendixes contain: a poet's toolbox; mystery slips; an imagery graphic organizer; poems for personal response; professional publishing opportunities; rubric for class poetry book; poetry assessment; and a two-voice poem graphic organizer. Includes 27 references; 30 poetry and literature references; and 7 musical references.

Book (118 pages): Loan Item (808 Amb).

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The Power of the Arts: Creative Strategies for Teaching Exceptional Learners
Smith, Sally L. (2001).
Baltimore, MD: Paul H. Brooks Publishing.
From the founder and director of the Lab School in Washington, D.C., this book provides an alternative method for teaching academic subjects to students with disabilities - the arts. Educators, art teachers and therapists, learning disability specialists, recreation leaders, and parents will discover how to infuse academic material and life skills into arts activities in order to help students learn. Through interviews with Lab School teacher-artists, readers will get step-by-step instructions for a variety of projects that enable students to see science in woodwork, find geometry in sculpture, learn vocabulary through theater, and study math through music. Case examples illustrate that this approach builds on students' individual strengths and interests and raises their self-esteem - and that all children will learn and be uplifted through the power of art.

Book (169 pages): Loan Item (371.9 Smi).

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The Pre-K Promise
I Am Your Child Foundation (formerly The Reiner Foundation) (2006).
Beverly Hills, CA: Parents' Action for Children.
Quality preschool (or pre-k) programs for 3 and 4 year olds are one of the surest routes to success in school and beyond, according to various studies, but finding a high-quality pre-k program at an affordable price can be challenging. This video, featuring well-known experts on early care and education, provides guidance to help parents understand how preschool programs can benefit young children; what a quality preschool program looks like; what questions to ask when evaluating a preschool; and how to help make quality, affordable preschool programs more widely available.

Video DVD (28 minutes): Loan Item (649.58 Rei Pre-K).

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Put English to Work
Podnecky, Janet (1996).
Chicago, IL: McGraw-Hill.
Put English to Work is a seven-level interactive workplace-literacy course for students of English as a second or foreign language. The series of student workbooks spans the entire range of levels usually taught in ESL/EFL programs – from the beginning-literacy level to the high-advanced level. This series features an integrated syllabus focusing on workplace competencies, general English-language skills, communicative functions, form, and culture. Each student book contains a Picture Dictionary for vocabulary building. Teacher’s guides and audiocassettes are available from Contemporary’s website.

7 books (about 120 pages each): Loan Item for Texas Educators ONLY (428.24 Pod).

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Reach Higher, America: Overcoming Crisis in the U. S. Workforce
National Commission on Adult Literacy (June 2008).
Washington, DC: Council for Advancement of Adult Literacy.
REACH HIGHER, AMERICA, the report of the National Commission on Adult Literacy, was released in Washington, DC, on June 26, 2008. The report documents the adult education and skills crisis facing American workers, proposes a fundamentally new approach to adult basic education and workforce skills preparation in America, and lays out the fiscal and social benefits that will result from substantially increased public expenditures for programs and services. Focus is on the need of the unemployed, low-skilled incumbent workers, immigrants with limited or no English, parents or caregivers with low basic skills, incarcerated adults, high school dropouts, and high school graduates not adequately prepared for college.
This report and various related materials are available in PDF from the Commission's website. Instructions are given there for purchase of hard copies.
Online availability: http://www.nationalcommissiononadultliteracy.org/ReachHigherAmerica/ReachHigher.pdf

Print Materials (61 pages): Loan Item (344.08 NCAL3).

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Ready for Anything: Supporting New Teachers For Success
Howard, Lynn F. (2006).
Englewood, CO: Advanced Learning Press.
The author describes a yearlong, month-by-month, school-based model to provide a beginning teacher with the skills, strategies, confidence, and experience to become a professional educator. Although written from a K-12 perspective, the goal of supporting and retaining teachers through effective professional development is common to adult education as well. Eleven monthly seminars are outlined on topics such as: beginning the teaching profession; classroom atmosphere; classroom management; strategic planning and lesson design; the engaging classroom; observations and evaluations; stress management; effective questioning; the test; and success and celebrations.

Book (256 pages): Loan Item (378 How).

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Report of the National Reading Panel: Teaching Children To Read: An Evidence-Based Assessment of the Scientific Research Literature on Reading and Its Implications for Reading Instruction
National Institute for Literacy (December 2000).
Jessup, MD: National Institute for Literacy.
This document contains the full report of the National Reading Panel which was created by Congress in 1997 to review the research on reading instruction and identify those practices proven effective through quality research. The report contains sections on seven major topics in reading instruction for kindergarten through grade 3: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, text comprehension, computer technology, and teacher education. This highly-detailed report is designed for educators, teachers, and policy-makers interested in a thorough grounding in evidence-based reading research. The NRP also offers a summary of this report and a video.
Online availability: http://www.nationalreadingpanel.org

Printed Materials (33 pages): FREE copies available to Texas Educators ONLY (649.58 NRP).

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Resiliency in Action: Practical Ideas for Overcoming Risks and Building Strengths in Youth, Families, and Communities
Henderson, Nan and Benard, Bonnie and Sharp-Light, Nancy, Editors (2003).
Ojai, CA: Resilency in Action.
This manual is an updated and expanded (with 50% new material) 2nd edition, which includes sections on "The Foundations of Resiliency," "Resiliency and Schools," "Resiliency and Communities," "Resiliency and Mentoring, Support, and Counseling," "Resiliency and Youth Development," "Resiliency and Families," and "Resiliency and the Brain." Foreword is by Peter Benson, Ph.D., President of Search Institute. The book is filled with research summaries on how to foster a resilient overcoming in the face of adversity, suggestions for practical applications of the research, examples of successful programs and practices, and individual stories of resilience in the face of abuse, trauma, crises, stress, and other adversity. Contributors include Emmy Werner, Ph.D., Peter Benson, Ph.D., Steve Wolin, M.D., Sybil Wolin, Ph.D., Bonnie Benard, M.S.W., Nan Henderson, M.S.W., and many other leading voices in the field.

Book (248 pages): Loan Item (301 Hen).

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Returning to Learning: Adults' Success in College is Key to America's Future
Pusser, Brian, et al (March 2007).
Indianapolis, IN: Lumina Foundation for Education.
Report includes findings of the Lumina Foundation's Emerging Pathways project and discusses the need to develop the untapped potential of the 54 million working adults who have not completed a four-year degree. The report calls for colleges to, among other things, provide more convenient and affordable access for adult learners and to work to get older students out of non-credit programs and into courses that lead to degrees and certificates.
Online availability: http://www.luminafoundation.org/publications/ReturntolearningApril2007.pdf

Print Materials (32 pages): FREE copies available to Texas Educators ONLY (378 Pus).

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Rights and Responsibilities: Reading and Communication for Civics
Sloan, Stephen and Flamm, Jacqueline (2004).
New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
This set helps newcomers to the United States who must simultaneously learn English and adjust to American housing, work, school, finance, health, and political systems and practices. Each chapter combines practical, down-to-earth information with activities that develop English reading skills. Rights and Responsibilities can be used as a core text for adult classes to focus on EL civics education, a civics-oriented supplement to a secondary ESL language arts program, and a supplement to an ESL/ELD basal series.

2 books and Audio CD: Loan Item for Texas Educators ONLY (323 Slo).

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Seeking Patterns, Building Rules: Algebraic Thinking
Schmitt, Mary Jane and Steinback, Myriam and Donovan, Tricia and Merson, Martha (2005).
Cambridge, MA: Key Curriculum Press.
EMPower is designed to give adult learners and out-of-school youth mathematics skills for daily life. EMPower combines insights from educational research and classroom practice. This comprehensive curriculum works in adult and workplace education, alternative high schools, correctional settings, and GED/high school equivalency programs. Students who need help transitioning to college also benefit from EMPower's dynamic approach. Rather than focusing on memorizing formulas, students develop useful mathematics skills through engaging exercises that relate to their lives. They investigate concepts, work collaboratively, share ideas orally and in writing, and discover multiple ways to solve problems. The full curriculum comprises eight non-sequential units emphasizing whole numbers, fractions, decimals, percents, proportions, geometry and measurement, algebra, and data and graphs. In this set (teacher book and student book) students use a variety of representational tools— diagrams, words, tables, graphs, and equations— to understand linear patterns and functions. They connect the rate of change with the slope of a line and compare linear with non-linear relationships. They gain facility with and comprehension of basic algebraic notations.

Set of 2 Books: Loan Item for Texas Educators ONLY (510 EMP SPBR).

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Shining Stars: First Graders Learn to Read
Goldman, Elizabeth and Adler, C. Ralph (2006).
Jessup, MD: National Institute for Literacy.
Based on A Child Becomes A Reader – Birth to Preschool (a separate Clearinghouse free item), this brochure is one in a series that includes activities to help build a child’s reading skills and tells a parent’s story of how a mom or dad helps a child learn to read. The Shining Stars series includes a booklet for Toddlers, Preschoolers, Kindergartners, First Graders, and Second & Third Graders. Each booklet includes a checklist of ways to encourage your child which can be detached and hung on the refrigerator for easy reference.
Online availability: http://www.nifl.gov

Booklet (5 pages): FREE copies available (649.58 SS 1).

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Shining Stars: Kindergartners Learn to Read
Adler, C. Ralph and Goldman, Elizabeth (2006).
Jessup, MD: National Institute for Literacy.
Based on A Child Becomes A Reader – Birth to Preschool (a separate Clearinghouse free item), this brochure is one in a series that includes activities to help build a child’s reading skills and tells a parent’s story of how a mom or dad helps a child learn to read. The Shining Stars series includes a booklet for Toddlers, Preschoolers, Kindergartners, First Graders, and Second & Third Graders. Each booklet includes a checklist of ways to encourage your child which can be detached and hung on the refrigerator for easy reference.
Online availability: http://www.nifl.gov

Booklet (5 pages): FREE copies available (649.58 SS K).

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Shining Stars: Preschoolers Get Ready to Read
Goldman, Elizabeth and Adler, C. Ralph (2006).
Jessup, MD: National Institute for Literacy.
Based on A Child Becomes A Reader – Birth to Preschool (a separate Clearinghouse free item), this brochure is one in a series that includes activities to help build a child’s reading skills and tells a parent’s story of how a mom or dad helps a child learn to read. The Shining Stars series includes a booklet for Toddlers, Preschoolers, Kindergartners, First Graders, and Second & Third Graders. Each booklet includes a checklist of ways to encourage your child which can be detached and hung on the refrigerator for easy reference.
Online availability: http://www.nifl.gov

Booklet (5 pages): FREE copies available (649.58 SS P).

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Shining Stars: Second and Third Graders Learn to Read
Goldman, Elizabeth and Adler, C. Ralph (2006).
Jessup, MD: National Institute for Literacy.
Based on A Child Becomes A Reader – Birth to Preschool (a separate Clearinghouse free item), this brochure is one in a series that includes activities to help build a child’s reading skills and tells a parent’s story of how a mom or dad helps a child learn to read. The Shining Stars series includes a booklet for Toddlers, Preschoolers, Kindergartners, First Graders, and Second & Third Graders. Each booklet includes a checklist of ways to encourage your child which can be detached and hung on the refrigerator for easy reference.
Online availability: http://www.nifl.gov

Booklet (5 pages): FREE copies available (649.58 SS 2-3).

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Shining Stars: Toddlers Get Ready to Read
Adler, C. Ralph and Goldman, Elizabeth (2006).
Jessup, MD: National Institute for Literacy.
Based on A Child Becomes A Reader – Birth to Preschool (a separate Clearinghouse free item), this brochure is one in a series that includes activities to help build a child’s reading skills and tells a parent’s story of how a mom or dad helps a child learn to read. The Shining Stars series includes a booklet for Toddlers, Preschoolers, Kindergartners, First Graders, and Second & Third Graders. Each booklet includes a checklist of ways to encourage your child which can be detached and hung on the refrigerator for easy reference.
Online availability: http://www.nifl.gov

Booklet (5 pages): FREE copies available (649.58 SS T).

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Split It Up: More Fractions, Decimals, and Percents
Schmitt, Mary Jane and Steinback, Myriam and Donovan, Tricia and Merson, Martha and Kliman, Marlene (2005).
Cambridge, MA: Key Curriculum Press.
EMPower is designed to give adult learners and out-of-school youth mathematics skills for daily life. EMPower combines insights from educational research and classroom practice. This comprehensive curriculum works in adult and workplace education, alternative high schools, correctional settings, and GED/high school equivalency programs. Students who need help transitioning to college also benefit from EMPower's dynamic approach. Rather than focusing on memorizing formulas, students develop useful mathematics skills through engaging exercises that relate to their lives. They investigate concepts, work collaboratively, share ideas orally and in writing, and discover multiple ways to solve problems. The full curriculum comprises eight non-sequential units emphasizing whole numbers, fractions, decimals, percents, proportions, geometry and measurement, algebra, and data and graphs. In this set (teacher book and student book) building upon their command of common benchmark fractions, students add 1/3's, 1/8's, and 1/100's, and their decimal and percent equivalents, to their repertoire of part-whole relationships.

Set of 2 Books: Loan Item for Texas Educators ONLY (510 EMP SIU).

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Strategic Spelling: Moving Beyond Word Memorization in the Middle Grades
Wheatley, Jonathan P. (November 2005).
Newark, DE: International Reading Association.
Strategic Spelling provides a powerful alternative to traditional word-memorization spelling programs. The classroom-tested, research-based methodology is built on four core principles to help you better match classroom instruction with how students access real-world spelling.

Book (140 pages): Loan Item (372.632 Whe).

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Taking Off: Beginning English , Second Edition
Fesler, Susan Hancock and Newman, Christy M. and Vargo, Mari (2008).
Chicago, IL: McGraw-Hill.
Taking Off is a four-skills, standards-based program for low-beginning adult ESL students. Picture dictionary art pages teach life skills vocabulary in a clear and visual way. The gradual pace of the course instills confidence in students as they establish a solid foundation in the basics of English. Four-skills foundation course prepares true beginners for higher adult ESL series material. Activities correlated to CASAS, SCANS, EFF, and other key standards prepare students to master a broad range of critical competencies, picture dictionary art pages highlight life skills vocabulary in real-life contexts, listening preparation activities help students develop speaking and writing skills, In the Community lessons introduce EL/Civics topics, a numbers page in each unit helps build numeracy skills for basic math work. Student books are available from McGraw-Hill.

2 books, 4 audiocassettes, 4 CDs, transparencies, character cards: Loan Item for Texas Educators ONLY (428.24 Fes).

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Talk of the Block: Long Vowel Stories and Activities
Haffner, Ann (2005).
Syracuse, NY: New Readers Press.
Written on a low beginning literacy level, The Talk of the Block series provides phonetic instruction and reading practice in the context of highly engaging and motivating stories and activities. Adult learners will read and recognize short- and long-vowel words, build everyday vocabulary, and develop reading and writing fluency. Organized into two sets of four books each, materials focus on highly relevant themes, including family, home, shopping, and health. All of the books include story content that covers real-life issues for ESL learners at the lowest reading levels. Learners will develop sight vocabulary and learn targeted word-analysis skills. Featuring a core group of characters who live and work within a city block, the stories are written in a variety of accessible formats, including narratives, problem-posing anecdotes, and dialogues. This set contains stories and activities for long vowel sounds and one teacher’s guide. Each book is 48 pages.

Set of 5 books: Loan Item for Texas Educators ONLY (372.4145 Haf L).

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Talk of the Block: Short Vowel Stories and Activities
Haffner, Ann (2005).
Syracuse, NY: New Readers Press.
Written on a low beginning literacy level, The Talk of the Block series provides phonetic instruction and reading practice in the context of highly engaging and motivating stories and activities. Adult learners will read and recognize short- and long-vowel words, build everyday vocabulary, and develop reading and writing fluency. Organized into two sets of four books each, materials focus on highly relevant themes, including family, home, shopping, and health. All of the books include story content that covers real-life issues for ESL learners at the lowest reading levels. Learners will develop sight vocabulary and learn targeted word-analysis skills. Featuring a core group of characters who live and work within a city block, the stories are written in a variety of accessible formats, including narratives, problem-posing anecdotes, and dialogues. This set contains stories and activities for short vowel sounds and one teacher’s guide. Each book is 48 pages.

Set of 5 books: Loan Item for Texas Educators ONLY (372.4145 Haf S).

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Texas Adult and Family Literacy Quarterly , Vol. 12 No. 3
Texas Adult and Family Literacy Clearinghouse (July 2008).
College Station, TX: Texas Center for the Advancement of Literacy and Learning.
The annual success stories issue has 22 stories of adult learner success. Four of those articles feature GED learners and 18 are tales of English language learner success. Five articles describe successful teaching experiences or strategies. Texas Tech University linguistics major Rebecca Neitzel describes her life-changing experience as a tutor in the Texas Tech ESL Initiative. Dr. Clarena Larotta of Texas State University-San Marcos contributes an article based on her study of inquiry circles and other curricular interventions in adult English as a second language classrooms. Local program successes are featured in articles by Ricardo Brambila, Paul L. Murad, and Sue Barker. At the level of statewide success stories, Barbara Tondre-El Zorkani of Texas LEARNS hopes her description of the first annual Workforce Literacy Summit held in San Antonio April 21-23 will inspire readers to attend the next Summit in Spring 2009. Chris Palacios of Del Mar College writes of being the first to complete the new Texas Adult Education Administrator Credential. Finally, , all the teachers, administrators, state leadership, and adult learners who contributed to the development of the Texas Adult Education Content Standards and Benchmarks for our state should take pride in the words of our colleague Melody Clegg from the state of Idaho, whose imitation/adaptation of Texas’ Standards and Benchmarks for their own state’s use is indeed the sincerest form of praise.
Online availability: http://www-tcall.tamu.edu/newsletr/pub08.htm

Periodical (36 pages in print version): FREE copies available (374.012 TALC).

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To Read or Not to Read: A Question of National Consequence
National Endowment for the Arts (November 2007).
Washington, DC: National Endowment for the Arts.
To Read or Not To Read: A Question of National Consequence, a new and comprehensive analysis of reading patterns in the United States, gathers statistics from more than 40 studies on the reading habits and skills of children, teenagers, and adults. The compendium reveals recent declines in voluntary reading and test scores alike, exposing trends that have severe consequences for American society. To Read or Not To Read expands the investigation of the NEA's landmark 2004 report, Reading at Risk. While that report focused mainly on literary reading trends, To Read or Not To Read looks at all varieties of reading, including fiction and nonfiction genres in various formats such as books, magazines, newspapers, and online reading. Whereas the earlier report assessed reading among adults age 18 and older, To Read or Not To Read analyzes reading trends for youth and adults, and readers of various education levels. To Read or Not To Read is unique for its consideration of reading habits alongside other behaviors and related outcomes including academic achievement, employment, and community involvement. Free copies may be ordered at the website.
Online availability: http://www.arts.gov

Book (99 pages): FREE copies available to Texas Educators ONLY (028.9 NEA).

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Top Notch TV: The Complete Series
Saslow, Joan and Ascher, Allen (2007).
Old Tappan, NY: Pearson Longman.
Top Notch is a course for international communication that focuses on the natural language that people really speak. With a rock-solid approach, Top Notch provides students with an opportunity to confirm their own progress at the end of every easy-to-teach lesson. Key features include essential model conversations that make key social language easy to personalize. "Top Notch Interactions" is a step-by-step discussion builder and contains both self-study audio and interactive exercises to motivate students after class. The series has activity worksheets and teaching notes that can be ordered separately and are not included in this loan set.

4 DVDs: Loan Item for Preferred Borrowers ONLY (371.967 Sas).

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Using Benchmarks: Fractions, Decimals, and Percents
Schmitt, Mary Jane and Steinback, Myriam and Donovan, Tricia and Merson, Martha and Kliman, Marlene (2006).
Cambridge, MA: Key Curriculum Press.
EMPower is designed to give adult learners and out-of-school youth mathematics skills for daily life. EMPower combines insights from educational research and classroom practice. This comprehensive curriculum works in adult and workplace education, alternative high schools, correctional settings, and GED/high school equivalency programs. Students who need help transitioning to college also benefit from EMPower's dynamic approach. Rather than focusing on memorizing formulas, students develop useful mathematics skills through engaging exercises that relate to their lives. They investigate concepts, work collaboratively, share ideas orally and in writing, and discover multiple ways to solve problems. The full curriculum comprises eight non-sequential units emphasizing whole numbers, fractions, decimals, percents, proportions, geometry and measurement, algebra, and data and graphs. In this set (teacher book and student book) students use the fractions 1/10, 1/2, 1/4, and 3/4; the decimals 0.1, 0.5, 0.25, and 0.75; and the percents 50%, 25%, 75%, 100%, and the multiples of 10% as benchmarks with which to describe and compare all part-whole relationships.

Set of 2 Books: Loan Item for Texas Educators ONLY (510 EMP UB).

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What is Scientifically Based Research?: A Guide for Teachers
RMC Research Corporation (2005).
Jessup, MD: National Institute for Literacy.
Based on Using Research and Reason in Education (a separate Clearinghouse loan item) this brochure outlines the basic methods of evaluating educational research and using the scientific method in the classroom. Effective teachers use scientific thinking in their classrooms all the time. They assess and evaluate student performance, develop Individual education Plans, reflect on their practice, can engage in action research. Teachers use experimental logic when they plan for instruction; they evaluate their students’ previous knowledge, construct hypotheses about the best methods for teaching, develop teaching plans based on those hypotheses, observe the results, and base further instruction on the evidence collected.
Online availability: http://www.nifl.gov/partnershipforreading

Booklet (9 pages): FREE copies available (370.72 RMC).

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Word by Word Picture Dictionary , Second Edition
Molinsky, Steven J. and Bliss, Bill (2005).
White Plains, NY: Longman.
The Word by Word Picture Dictionary and CD program presents 3,000+ English vocabulary through full-color illustrations and support materials. Workbooks at three levels - Literacy, Beginning, and Intermediate - offer reinforcement through reading, writing, and listening comprehension practice. Other components available from the publisher include audio practice programs, test packages, songbooks and song albums, wall charts, transparencies, vocabulary game cards, teacher's resource binder with activity masters, and a handbook of vocabulary teaching strategies. This set includes the dictionary, teacher's guide and lesson planner.

Set of 3 Books & 2 CDs: Loan Item for Texas Educators ONLY (428.007 Mol).

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Working with Adult English Language Learners with Limited Literacy: Research, Practice, and Professional Development
Burt, Miriam and Peyton, Joy Kreeft, and Schaetzel, Kirsten (July 2008).
Washington, DC: Center for Applied Linguistics.
"Adult education programs serve both learners who are native English speakers and those whose first, or native, language is not English. Native English speakers attend adult basic education (ABE) classes to learn basic skills needed to improve their literacy levels and adult secondary education (ASE) classes to seek instruction to help them earn high school equivalency certificates. Both ABE and ASE instruction help learners achieve other goals related to job, family, or further education. English language learners attend English as a second language (ESL), ABE, or workforce preparation classes to improve their oral, written, and literacy skills in English and to achieve goals similar to those of native English speakers. This brief is written for teachers, program administrators, education researchers, and policy makers to ensure those who work with adult English language learners with limited literacy have the knowledge and skills needed to work effectively to address the literacy needs of adult English language learners." - from the Introduction.
Online availability: http://www.cal.org/caelanetwork/pd_resources/literacy.html

Print Materials (9 pages): FREE copies available to Texas Educators ONLY (428.007 Burt WAELL).

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Workplace Educator Training: A Guide to Creating Worker-Centered Education Programs
Utech, Jenny Lee (2004).
Boston, MA: Massachusetts Worker Education Roundtable.
Workplace Educator Training Manual has been developed by the Massachusetts Worker Education Roundtable. Included are activities, over 100 handouts, and a Readings Collection. The manual focuses on basic skills workplace education (ESOL and ABE), but many activities can be adapted for pre-employment programs or higher education preparation. The five-section manual includes an Overview, Workplace Needs Analysis, Labor-Management Setting, Classrooms and Curriculum, and Assessment and Evaluation.

2 Binders: Loan Item for Texas Educators ONLY (374.013 Utec).