Books with author Nancy Polette

Imagine a typical research report day. Most of the class is asleep! The teacher is nodding off, too! Why? Because listening to copied encyclopedia reports is not the most exciting way you can think of to spend a morning.Finally it is your turn. You put on your bush hat, greet the class with "g'day", put a taped drumbeat on the tape player and launch into a WOMBAT CHANT! (See page 2!)Your classmates pick up the beat. They clap along to the rhythm. When you finish, there are cries of "Do it again!" This time they chant along. So does your teacher. Your report is the hit of the morning and sure to get an "A."How did you do it? It was easy. You simply organized your information in a new way.With easy directions and specific models and examples, this book shows you different ways to organize information about animals, people, places, and events, making research both fun and rewarding.Report about: Animals, People, Places, Events!

Are you and your students tired of the written report? When the assessment is for a written product, give students the opportunity to choose from these 60+ writing models from advertisement to fable, from character sketch to parody, from metaphor to surprise ending. Students read, observe, and write - answering questions about the model or reading excerpt and then completing their own written product.

Sing A Song of Presidents is a mini-course in American history exploring the life of each man who led the country and learning about interesting events that happened during his administration. These fascinating facts about the presidents are included in the original lyrics of the songs that are sung to familiar tunes. The accompanying CD was performed by 4th and 5th grade students just like yours! Distribute the lyric sheets, turn up the volume, and have fun singing along with the kids.In addition to learning basic information about the presidents, students have the opportunity to respond to events in American history. An activity page relating events that happened during the presidents terms accompanies the presidents songs. Thought- provoking questions related to the events stimulate higher-level thinking. Web sites are suggested for further exploration of each president.*Now includes President Obama*

This valuable reference guide provides suggestions of picture books set in more than 70 countries in each continent of the world, along with standards-based activities.Reading the World with Picture Books presents an exhaustive collection of booktalk options with picture books that are set in the major countries of each continent. Hundreds of children's books with an international flavor are organized by continent and then by country, and suggested activities accompany the titles, encouraging students to interpret information related to historical or geographic concepts and use problem-solving skills. Activities range from those appropriate for beginners to experienced researchers/writers. All call for high-level thinking and most provide opportunities to respond in creative ways. In addition, all of the activities are keyed to selected national standards in language arts and social studies. The picture books suggested are not only excellent choices to capture a booktalk audience's attention and educate young readers about world culture, but also to demonstrate how human beings have adapted to the various environments of the world.• Features original booktalk activities and a bibliography of books from around the world that exceeds 400 titles, spanning over 70 countries• Each section begins with a list of the countries within that continent and provides basic information about the continent• Provides fun mnemonics to help young students remember countries and continents• Includes indexes by title, author, and illustrator

Another winner from prolific author, Nancy Polette, this title focuses on setting the stage for 200 popular picture book read-alouds. Similar to her LU book for the intermediate-grade audience, 300 Junior Novel Anticipation Guides, this book introduces picture books to preschool and primary grade students by encouraging them to think about how they or someone in their group can relate to what is happening in the story. Each of the 200 titles is described on a reproducible page that features a short introductory book talk and 10 questions to give to students.Another winner from prolific author, Nancy Polette, this title focuses on setting the stage for 200 popular picture book read-alouds. Similar to her book for the intermediate grade audience, 300 Junior Novel Anticipation Guides, this book introduces picture books to preschool and primary grade students by encouraging them to think about how they or someone in their group can relate to what is happening in the story. Each of the 200 titles is described on a reproducible page that features a short introductory book talk and 10 questions to give to students. Students are encouraged to use the page to find someone in the group who has climbed a tree (The Alphabet Tree), has broken a dish (And the Dish Ran Away With the Spoon), has been bothered by a bully (Wemberly Worried) or has been teased by someone else(Chrysanthemum).The lessons can be adapted for nonreaders by using the pages as group read aloud activities. Librarians will also find this a great tool for icebreaker activities in staff development settings.Titles covered range from award winners, to fairy tales, to classics.