Research Guides: Curriculum Resources for PK-12: ERC Ebooks

Ebook Collections

eBooks K-8 This link opens in a new window
Ebooks for grades K-8. Picture books, chapter books, and young adult fiction, homework topics, foreign languages. Also, professional books for K-8 teachers.
Access Tips: Also available via mel.org
eBooks High School This link opens in a new window
Ebooks for high school students and educators.
Access Tips: Also available via mel.org

Epic for Educators
Educators can register for a free account
Over 15,000 ebooks for use in pre-K thru 6th grade classrooms. Includes both fiction and nonfiction books--also online educational videos.
Tip: Use Advanced Search to find books by Lexile or AR level.

All Subjects

The Art and Science of Lesson Design: Practical Approaches to Boosting Cognitive Rigor in the Classroom by John R. Walkup
Publication Date: 2020
This book, aimed at secondary school teachers of all subjects, provides a systematic means of leveraging the Rigor Cube to develop rigorous, standards-based lesson plans. Includes sample lesson plans.
Bringing School to Life: Place-based Education Across the Curriculum by Sarah K. Anderson
Publication Date: 2017
3-user ebook
The place-based approach brings students into their communities to learn necessary content and skills by working to meet the needs of local agencies and organizations. Students are more engaged because they know they are doing real work, teachers are reinvigorated by creating exciting learning opportunities, and the school takes on a more active role in the community. This book offers insights into how to build a program across the K-8 grades.
Concept-Based Curriculum and Instruction for the Thinking Classroom, 2nd ed. by H. Lynn Erickson, Lois A. Lanning, & Rachel French
Publication Date: 2017
Supports preschool through high school teachers in creating Concept-Based curricula designed to develop students’ critical thinking, abstract reasoning, and creative learning skills.
Concept-Based Inquiry in Action: Strategies to Promote Transferable Understanding by Rachel French
Publication Date: 2018
A framework for inquiry that promotes deep understanding by using guiding questions to help students inquire into concepts and the relationships between them. For K-12 classrooms.
Cultivating Kindness: An Educator's Guide by John-Tyler Binfet
In addition to research on kindness in school children, this book provides a kindness checklist to guide educators wishing to implement and foster kindness in their classrooms or schools and a repository of kindness resources.
Developing Digital Detectives by Jennifer LaGarde; Darren Hudgins
Publication Date: 2021
Easy-to-implement lessons to engage students in becoming media literacy "digital detectives," looking for clues, questioning motives, uncovering patterns, developing theories and, ultimately, delivering a verdict.
Developing Life Skills Through Math and Science Games by Wee Khee Seah
Publication Date: 2013
Describes 50 high energy games designed to teach both STEM knowledge and interpersonal skills.
Essential Questions by Jay McTighe; Grant Wiggins
Publication Date: 2013
This book explains what essential questions are, why they are so useful, and provides "practical guidance on how to design, initiate, and embed inquiry-based teaching and learning in your classroom.Offering dozens of examples, the authors explore the usefulness of EQs in all K-12 content areas, including skill-based areas such as math, PE, language instruction, and arts education."
Fires in the Mind: What Kids Can Tell Us about Motivation and Mastery by Kathleen Cushman
Publication Date: 2010
Teens talk to adults about how they develop motivation and mastery. Book includes a 5-day curriculum outline, as well as worksheets, tips, and discussion guides.
How to Create and Use Rubrics for Formative Assessment and Grading by Susan M. Brookhart
Publication Date: 2013
A "resource for writing effective rubrics and for choosing wisely from among the many rubrics that are available on the Internet and from other sources." unlimited ebook.
Humanizing the Classroom: Using Role Plays to Teach Social and Emotional Skills in Middle and High School by Kristin Stuart Valdes
Publication Date: 2019
Provides the pedagogical basis for using role plays to teach social and emotional skills, creating a clear link between SEL and the need for culturally relevant teaching, and provides over 45 model lessons.
Life Skills and Career Coaching for Teens : A Practical Manual for Supporting School Engagement, Aspirations and Success in Young People Aged 11-18 by Nikki Giant
A year-long curriculum for developing school engagement and ambitions in young people aged 11-18. Informed by CBT, the curriculum readies students for life post-education through eight core themes, including 'believing in me', 'money matters' and 'business basics'. The second part of the book is a photocopiable manual for use in classroom settings.
Making Thinking Visible by Ron Ritchhart; Mark Church; Karin Morrison
Publication Date: 2011
Visible Thinking is a research-based approach to teaching thinking, begun at Harvard's Project Zero, that develops students' thinking dispositions, while at the same time deepening their understanding of the topics they study. Rather than a set of fixed lessons, Visible Thinking is a varied collection of practices, including thinking routines'small sets of questions or a short sequence of steps, as well as the documentation of student thinking.
Note: this ebook does not include the DVD.
The New Teacher's Companion by Gini Cunningham
Publication Date: 2009
Provides advice on "setting up classroom procedures and managing class time; coordinating standards, curriculum, and textbooks; developing manageable lesson and unit plans; handling discipline problems and engaging students in learning; using effective assessment practices; and monitoring student achievement." unlimited ebook.
Storying Beyond Social Difficulties with Neuro-Diverse Adolescents
Publication Date: 2019
Traditional approaches to social skill development may often be ineffective for those in most need of them - those who are neuro-diverse (for example: on the Autism Spectrum, with dyspraxia, or with ADHD), those who have experienced trauma, those with an intellectual disability and those who present with Complex Communication Needs. This manual outlines an 8-session programme, called "Imagine, Create, Belong", that involves a range of activities designed to develop theory of mind, flexible thinking, empathy and narrative ability.
The Strategic Teacher: Selecting the Right Research-Based Strategy for Every Lesson by Harvey F. Silver; Richard W. Strong; Matthew J. Perini
Publication Date: 2007
20 researched based teaching strategies are presented. For each strategy, there is a brief intro; an example of a teacher using the strategy; the research base for the strategy; steps for implementing the strategy; •guidance for planning and designing lessons; and more.
The Teacher's Sourcebook for Cooperative Learning by George M. Jacobs; Michael A. Power; Loh Wan Inn
Publication Date: 2016
This teaching guide will coach the reader through using cooperative learning techniques in their classroom.
Teaching in the Cracks by Brian D. Schultz
Publication Date: 2017
"For meaningful learning that develops transferable skills and engages students, teachers and sometimes whole schools need to find spaces to “teach in the cracks” so that students can connect with issues relevant to their lives. . . .provides both a theoretical and practical foundation for incorporating an action-focused curriculum that meets academic standards and provides students with opportunities for agency and to use their voices in their own learning."
Thinking Diagrams: Processing and Connecting Experiences, Facts, and Ideas by Kolis, Mickey; Kolis, Benjamin H
Publication Date: 2016
This book provides examples of teachers using diagrams to teach metacognition and critical thinking.
Understanding by Design, Expanded 2nd Ed by Grant Wiggins; Jay McTighe
Publication Date: 2005
Drawing on feedback from thousands of educators around the world who have used the UbD framework since its introduction in 1998, the authors have greatly revised and expanded their original work to guide educators across the K-16 spectrum in the design of curriculum, assessment, and instruction. With an improved UbD Template at its core, the book explains the rationale of backward design and explores in greater depth the meaning of such key ideas as essential questions and transfer tasks.
The Understanding by Design Guide to Creating High-Quality Units by Grant Wiggins; Jay McTighe
Publication Date: 2011
With Drama in Mind: Real Learning in Imagined Worlds by Patrice Baldwin
Publication Date: 2012
The book offers advice on planning and managing drama across the curriculum from ages 5-14, and provides carefully annotated schemes of work complete with photocopiable resource sheets and online templates.

Arts Education

Building Strong Music Programs by Charlene Ryan
Publication Date: 2009
Focuses on music programs in the public school community, providing strategies and tools for developing a vibrant music program and building community support. The questions for discussion and student assignments make this an excellent choice for preservice teacher training courses
Engaging Learners Through Artmaking by Katherine M. Douglas; Diane B. Jaquith
Publication Date: 2018
Supports those who are new to choice-based authentic art education, as well as experienced teachers looking to go deeper with this curriculum. Includes sample lesson plans and demonstrations, assessment criteria, curricular mapping, room planning, photos of classroom set-ups, media exploration, and many other concrete and open-ended strategies for implementing TAB in kindergarten–grade 8.
Getting Started with Middle School Chorus, 2nd ed. by Patrick K. Freer
Publication Date: 2009
Offers information on working with young adolescent changing voices, designing optimal rehearsals for middle schoolers, managing growing choral programs, and helping youngsters gain musical skills they can carry with them for a lifetime of making music.
Integrating the Visual Arts Across the Curriculum: An Elementary and Middle School Guide by Julia Marshall
Publication Date: 2019
Covers methods of creative inquiry-based learning, art and how it connects to the “big ideas” addressed by academic domains, flexible structures teachers can use for curriculum development, creative teaching strategies using contemporary art, and models of art-based inquiry curriculum. Includes research-based project ideas and curriculum models for arts integration.
The More We Look, the Deeper It Gets by Nicola Giardina
Publication Date: 2018
Introduces the Pyramid of Inquiry, a flexible framework that teachers of all subject areas can use to support connections between students' lives, academic curriculum, and works of art from across time and place. Based on three years of research with New York City K-12 public school students and educators at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the book highlights best practices for teaching with works of art and shares exemplars from diverse classrooms.
Studio Thinking 2: The Real Benefits of Visual Arts Education
Publication Date: 2013
This book offers “research on the positive effects of art education on student learning across the curriculum” and information on using the Studio Thinking Framework, including information on how this aligns with English Language Arts and Mathematics Common Core.
This is a single-user ebook - if you get a busy signal, try again later.
Studio Thinking from the Start: The K-8 Art Educator's Handbook by J. Hogan; L. Hetland; D. B. Jaquith; E. Winner;
Publication Date: 2018
Shows how the eight Studio Habits of Mind and four Studio Structures can be used successfully with younger students in a range of socioeconomic contexts and school environments.
Visual Thinking Strategies: Using Art to Deepen Learning Across School Disciplines by Philip Yenawine
Publication Date: 2013
Demonstrates how teachers are using art—as well as poems, primary documents, and other visual artifacts—to increase a variety of skills, including writing, listening, and speaking, across a range of subjects.

Early Education Curriculum Books

Beyond Coding: How Children Learn Human Values Through Programming by Marina Umaschi Bers
Publication Date: 2022
A leading proponent of teaching computational thinking and coding as early as preschool and kindergarten, presents examples of children and teachers using the Scratch Jr. and Kibo robotics platforms to make explicit some of the positive values implicit in the process of learning computer science.
Books As Partners: Diverse Literature in the Early Childhood Classroom by Lesley Colabucci; Mary Napoli
Publication Date: 2020
For K-3, provides research-based evidence for incorporating diverse literature in the early childhood classroom and features annotated bibliographies with a critical analysis based on knowledge of child development and best practices in literacy education. Offers classroom vignettes, multimodal text sets, and author/illustrator spotlights throughout the book.
Book Talk: Growing into Early Literacy Through Read-Aloud Conversations by Sherry Sanden; Cassandra Mattoon; Sandra L. Osorio; Mariana Souto-Manning (Foreword by)
Publication Date: 2021
Provides detailed recommendations for setting up the classroom reading environment, selecting books, preparing materials, setting goals, and integrating discussions with curricular demands, while maintaining a child-centered philosophy and addressing needs of culturally & linguistically diverse students.
Breaking the STEM Stereotype by Amanda Alzena Sullivan
Publication Date: 2019
Explores why early childhood is a critical time to address the STEM gender divide, explores identity development and the influences of the media and models on young children. Provides materials to design effective curricula and activities to engage girls with STEM in playful ways that build on their personal interests.
Celebrate! An Anti-Bias Guide to Including Holidays in Early Childhood Programs by Julie Bisson; Louise Derman-Sparks (Foreword by)
Publication Date: 2017
Developmentally appropriate strategies and activities to celebrate, rather than exclude, diversity, traditions, and holidays. Many programs are establishing a'no holiday'policy, but this book shows you how to celebrate and adhere to school policy. Among other topics, it includes evaluating holiday activities for appropriateness, addressing commercialism and stereotypes, involving families, and developing inclusive policies.
The Chatterbugs Manual: A 12-Week Speech, Language and Communication Programme for Early Years by Andrea Richards
Publication Date: 2018
Enables school staff to prepare children--including those with delayed communication skills, ELL students, or children with suspected special education needs--for learning in school by developing their communication skills through the use of robust communication strategies.
Connecting Animals and Children in Early Childhood by Patty Born Selly
Publication Date: 2014
Provides real-life examples of how to bring animals into your classroom with suggestions for planning, ideas for finding the right pet, and resources for making experiences meaningful, relevant, and joyful for children. Also offer adaptations if live animals are not permitted in your setting.
Cybersafe Young Children: Teaching Internet Safety and Responsibility, K-3 by Barbara Sprung; Merle Froschl; Nancy Gropper
Publication Date: 2020
Learn how to integrate lessons about good digital citizenship into the daily life of the early childhood classroom. Provides suggested readings and annotated lists of children's books and organizational resources.
Easy Songs for Smooth Transitions in the Classroom by Nina Araujo; Carol Aghayan
Publication Date: 2006
The simple songs in this book will help you glide smoothly through tough transitions such as greetings and good-byes, calling attention, cleaning up, moving, waiting, and slowing down. Red Leaf Press provides related Videos
Jim Trelease's Read-Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease; Cyndi Giorgis
Publication Date: 2019
This book discusses the benefits, the rewards, and the importance of reading aloud to children of a new generation. Inlcudes lists of recommended read-aloud books.
Kindercoding Unplugged: Screen-Free Activities for Beginners by Deanna Pecaski McLennan
Publication Date: 2020
Using photos, vignettes, narrative, and more than eighty unplugged coding activities, this book helps readers better understand what coding is and how they can implement easy and developmentally appropriate coding games and activities into their early childhood programs.
Loose Parts by Lisa Daly; Miriam Beloglovsky; Jenna Daly (Photographer)
Publication Date: 2014
Use loose parts to spark children's creativity and innovation. This ebook provided via the Michigan eLibrary.
Picture-Perfect STEM: Lessons, K-2 by Emily Morgan; Karen Rohrich Ansberry
Publication Date: 2017
This book's 15 kid-friendly lessons convey how science, technology, engineering, and mathematics intersect in the real world. They embed reading-comprehension strategies that integrate the STEM subjects and English language arts through high-quality picture books. You'll help your K-2 students engage in STEM activities while learning to read and reading to learn.
Provocations for Learning in Early Years Settings by Margaret Longstaffe
Publication Date: 2020
Full of practical guidance and easy-to-implement strategies on how to provoke learning and creativity in early years settings, allowing children to freely explore their environment and develop their ability to critically think.
Retro Toddler: More Than 100 Old-School Activities to Boost Development by Anne H. Zachry
Publication Date: 2018
The book includes detailed instructions for developmentally stimulating, screen-free toys that parents and toddlers can make together out of everyday household items. Pubished by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Roots and Wings: Affirming Culture and Preventing Bias in Early Childhood by Stacey York
Publication Date: 2016
Use the updated activities, examples, and research to improve your anti-bias and multicultural education programs. This clear and practical guide includes expanded information on English language learners, family engagement, culturally responsive teaching, and staff training.
Ebook provided by the Michigan Electronic Library.
Starting with Character by Cathy Waggoner; Martha Herndon
Publication Date: 2015
Focuses on character development in infants, toddlers, and twos and includes lesson plans fo facilitate the development of key character traits in children: caring, honesty, integrity, respect, responsibility, and self-discipline.
Treasure Basket Explorations: Heuristic Learning for Infants and Toddlers by Laura Wilhelm
Publication Date: 2017
Grounded in the theory of early education pioneer Elinor Goldschmied, the book explains heuristic learning--discovery by trial and error--and how to encourage this type of learning to boost development. Teachers will learn how to set up treasure baskets that encourage heuristic play: containers filled with easy-to-find items that support explorations in emergent language, math, and science skills.

Language Arts

200+ Proven Strategies for Teaching Reading, Grades K-8 by Kathy Perez
Publication Date: 2016-11-21
Provides practical, brain research-based intervention techniques and reading strategies teachers can use to help all students, especially those who are struggling, make strides in literacy achievement.
Anything You Can Do: a Grammar Tales Book to Support Grammar and Language Development in Children by Jessica Habib
Publication Date: 2022
Targeting Subject-Verb sentences, pronouns and the auxiliaries 'can' and 'do', this book provides repeated examples of early developing syntax and morphology which will engage and excite the reader while building pre-literacy skills and make learning fun, as well as exposing children to multiple models of the target grammar form. Perfect for a speech and language therapy session.
Best Practices in Writing Instruction, 3rd ed. by Steve Graham, Charles A. MacArthur, Michael Hebert (Editors)
Publication Date: 2018
Guidelines for teaching writing in grades K-12. Offers strategies for teaching narrative and argumentative writing; using digital tools; helping students improve specific skills, from handwriting and spelling to sentence construction; teaching evaluation and revision; connecting reading and writing instruction; teaching vulnerable populations; using assessment to inform instruction; and more.
Big Ideas for Little Kids by Thomas E. Wartenberg
Publication Date: 2014
Everything a teacher needs to teach philosophy to elementary school children from picture books.
Bridging Technology and Literacy: Developing Digital Reading and Writing Practices in Grades K-6 by Amy Hutchison; Jamie Colwell
Publication Date: 2015
This book provides a practical understanding of digital literacy and information on integrating digital technology into English Language Arts and literacy instruction at the K-6 grade levels.
Comprehensive Reading Intervention in Grades 3-8 by Lynn M. Gelzheiser; Donna M. Scanlon; Laura Hallgren-Flynn; Peggy Connors
Publication Date: 2018
This book provides innovative tools and strategies to support reading intervention for students in grades 3-8 who do not yet read with grade-level accuracy. Uses the Interactive Strategies Approach--Extended (ISA-X) . Includes some reproducible materials.
Developing Digital Detectives by Jennifer LaGarde (Libretto by)
Publication Date: 2021
Easy-to-implement lessons to engage students in becoming media literacy "digital detectives," looking for clues, questioning motives, uncovering patterns, developing theories and, ultimately, delivering a verdict. Includes lessons for K through high school.
Differentiating Phonics Instruction for Maximum Impact by Wiley Blevins
Publication Date: 2024
High-impact routines that focus on the skills known to develop students' literacy best. Differentiated application of these routines--with fun multi-modal games and variations--for students working on- below-, and above grade-level expectations, and for multilingual learners. Includes several reproducible phonics and spelling assessments for placement, progress monitoring, and formative assessments.
Dramathemes, 4th ed. by Larry Swartz
Publication Date: 2014
Full of engaging ideas, Dramathemes brings drama and play together with literacy sources to explore challenging issues such as identity, poverty, diversity, bullying, and immigration.
Dyslexia & Spelling: Making Sense of it All
Exlains how to identify, and learn from, kids' spelling miscues, and use them to further inform our teaching and instruction. Includes activities (called Teachable Moments) and other teaching tips.
Educating for Empathy
Publication Date: 2018
Educating for Empathy reviews core elements of ELA instruction--response to literature, classroom discussion, research, and digital literacy--and demonstrates how to adapt these activities to foster critical thinking and empathetic perspectives among students. Chapters depict teachers and students engaging in this transformative learning, offer strategies for the classroom, and pose questions to guide school communities in collaborative reflection.
The ELL Writer: Moving Beyond Basics in the Secondary Classroom by Christina Ortmeier-Hooper
Publication Date: 2013
This resource for secondary school ELA and ELL teachers brings together compelling insights into student experiences, current research, and strategies for building an inclusive writing curriculum.
Grammar to Get Things Done by Darren Crovitz; Michelle D. Devereaux
Publication Date: 2017
Co-published by the Natl Council of Teachers of English this is designed for middle & secondary English teachers. It shows how form, function, & use can help teachers move away from decontextualized grammar instruction (such as worksheets and exercises emphasizing rule-following) and begin considering grammar in applied contexts of everyday use. Modules (organized by units) succinctly explain common grammatical concepts.
Teaching Literacy in the Visible Learning Classroom, Grades K-5 by Douglas Fisher; Nancy Frey
Publication Date: 2017
Demonstrates how to use learning intentions, success criteria, formative assessment and feedback to achieve profound instructional clarity.
Infusing Grammar into the Writer's Workshop: A Guide for K-6 Teachers by Amy Benjamin; Barbara Golub
Publication Date: 2015
Best practices for fortifying the writer’s workshop model with meaningful, relevant instruction in grammar. Examples are provided for different grade levels.
Inquiry Paths to Literacy Learning: A Guide for Elementary and Secondary School Educators
Publication Date: 2019
Offers secondary level English language arts teachers several models and considerations for how to design and implement inquiry-based teaching and learning. An inquiry approach can significantly boost student achievement. Includes classroom-tested approaches, activities, and assignments focusing on issues that adolescents find consequential.
Into the Story 2: More Stories! More Drama! by Miller Carole and Saxton Juliana
Publication Date: 2016
Presents an approach to the value of children’s picture books as a way to look at contemporary issues of social justice while building connections that promote a literacy that is multi-dimensional. Story drama structures offer teachers opportunities for the rich conversations and deep reflections that foster habits of mind critical for life in the twenty-first century.
Listen Wise: Teach Students to Be Better Listeners by Monica Brady-Myerov
Publication Date: 2021
Builds a case for the importance of teaching listening to K-12 students and offers advice on using audio in teaching with activities for elementary and middle/high school students.
Literacy Classrooms That S. O. A. R. by Susan O'Hara; Robert Pritchard; Debi Pitta; Douglas Fisher (Foreword by)
Publication Date: 2020
SOAR Teaching Frames provide a common language and a set of tools to foster informal self-evaluation, as well as teacher-to-teacher and coach-to-teacher collaboration.
Literacy for Learning: A Handbook of Content-Area and Disciplinary Literacy Practices for Middle and High School Teachers, 2nd ed. by Gregory Berry; Charlene K. Aldrich (Revised by)
Publication Date: 2022
Enables readers to discover how content area teachers are now using a literacy model of instruction to maximize learning in every discipline and meet the Reading Informational Text Standards of the Common Core.
Literacy Instruction with Disciplinary Texts: Strategies for Grades 6-12 by William E. Lewis; John Z. Strong
Publication Date: 2020/2021
A blueprint for constructing literacy-rich instructional units in English language arts, science, and social studies--including writing argumentative, informative, and narrative essays, and conducting discipline-specific inquiry. Offers sample text sets, 24 reproducible planning templates, and other teaching tools.
Literacy in the Disciplines: A Teacher's Guide for Grades 5-12 by Thomas DeVere Wolsey; Diane Lapp
Publication Date: 2016
Discusses ways to teach close reading of complex texts, discipline-specific argumentation skills, academic vocabulary, the use of multimodal tools and graphic organizers, and more. Includes classroom materials, lesson plans, practice activities, and recommended online teaching videos.
More Grammar to Get Things Done by Darren Crovitz; Michelle D. Devereaux
Publication Date: 2019
The National Council of Teachers of English provides ten adaptable activity guides for middle and high school level to teach 10 grammar concepts, giving teachers a model and vocabulary for discussing grammar in real ways with their students
Playing with Language by Marcy Zipke
Publication Date: 2021
Shows K-6 educators how to think about, talk about, and manipulate language out of context. Offers suggestions for introducing metalinguistic concepts like phonological, semantic, and syntactic awareness with fun activities like games, songs, rhymes, and riddles.
Pose, Wobble, Flow: A Culturally Proactive Approach to Literacy Instruction by Antero Garcia; Cindy O'Donnell-Allen; Linda Christensen (Foreword by)
Publication Date: 2015
Offers culturally proactive teaching stances or “poses” that secondary ELA teachers can use to meet the needs of all students, historically marginalized or privileged. Describes how teachers can expect to “wobble” as they adapt instruction to the needs of their students, while also incorporating insights about their own cultural positionality and preconceptions about teaching. Teachers are encouraged to recognize this flexibility as a positive process or “flow” that can be used to address challenges and adopt ambitious teaching strategies."
Protocols in the Classroom: Tools to Help Students Read, Write, Think, & Collaborate by David Allen; Tina Blythe; Alan Dichter; Terra Lynch; Joseph P. McDonald (Foreword by)
Publication Date: 2018
Provides teachers with the tools they need to use discussion protocols to support students in developing crucial skills as readers, writers, critical thinkers, and active participants within the classroom community. For each protocol the author provides a clear set of steps, tips for teachers and students in facilitating the protocol, and a story of a teacher using the protocol with students.
Pupils As Playwrights by Brian Woolland
Publication Date: 2008
An innovative approach to drama and to developing the literacy skills of children from the ages of 6 to 12. Offers extensive practical exercises and activities, including photocopiable material.
Puzzle Me the Right Answer to That One: the further possibilities of Literature and Composition in an American High School by Joseph F. Riener
Publication Date: 2015
Presents a method to increase students' writing skills in AP English classes.
Reading for Action: Engaging Youth in Social Justice through Young Adult Literature by Ashley S. Boyd; Janine J. Darragh
Publication Date: 2019
Each chapter centers on one novel that represents a contemporary topic including police brutality, women's rights, ecojustice, and bullying. Authors provide reading strategies for teaching that connect the social issues in the texts to students' lives. Also offersresources such as documentaries, canonical companions for study, connected music, and supplementary lesson plans.
Seeing the Spectrum by Robert Rozema
Publication Date: 2018
Offers practical evidence-based strategies for teaching literature, informational texts, and writing in classrooms with both neurotypical students and students with autism. The first chapter includes a complete unit plan on Of Mice and Men, illustrating how curriculum focused on commonly taught literary works can be reimagined to accommodate the needs and draw on the strengths of students on the spectrum.
Social Justice Literacies in the English Classroom - Teaching Practice in Action by Ashley S. Boyd
Publication Date: 2017
This timely book focuses on different social justice pedagogies and how they can work within standards and district mandates in a variety of English language arts classrooms.
Speech to Print: Language Essentials for Teachers, 3rd ed. by Louisa Cook Moats
Publication Date: 2020
Aims to "make language concepts accessible for teachers so that they can use instructional programs with confidence and flexibility."
Still Learning to Read: Teaching Students in Grades 3-6, 2nd ed. by Franki Sibberson; Karen Szymusiak
Publication Date: 2016
Focuses on the needs of students in grades 3–6 in all aspects of reading workshop, including reading workshop, read-aloud, classroom design, digital tools, fiction, nonfiction, and close reading.
Teaching for a Living Democracy: Project-Based Learning in the English and History Classroom by Joshua Block; Carla Shalaby (Foreword by)
Publication Date: 2020
Provides project-based units of study and classroom practices that allow students to reconfigure understandings of themselves, their capabilities, and their roles in the world. Offers the realistic perspective of a teacher working in an urban public high school.
Teaching Informational Text in K-3 Classrooms by Mariam Jean Dreher; Sharon Benge Kletzien
Publication Date: 2015
Describes ways to use informational text creatively and effectively in reading and writing instruction. Presents lessons, read-alouds, and activities that motivate students to engage with a wide variety of exemplary texts. Links to the Common Core State Standards. Includes how to build academic vocabulary, balance fiction & nonfiction, and address needs of English language learners.
Teaching Media Literacy, 2nd ed. by Belinha S. De Abreu
Publication Date: 2019
Lesson plans and activities designed to help promote critical thinking skills for K-12 students.
Teaching Young Adult Literature: Integrating, Implementing, and Re-Imagining the Common Core by Judith A. Hayn (Editor); Jeffrey S. Kaplan (Editor); Amanda L. Nolen (Editor); Heather A. Olvey (Editor)
Publication Date: 2015
Provides strategies on using Young Adult Literature to meet Common Core standards.
Teach Me How to Work and Keep Me Kind by Joseph F. Riener
Publication Date: 2015
Offers curriculum for AP English classes explains how to present challenging material to high school students.
Vocabulary in Action by Gay Fawcett
Publication Date: 2012
K-6 classrooms teacher share vocabulary routines, which you can use as-is or adapt for your own classroom.
With Drama in Mind by Patrice Baldwin
Publication Date: 2012
The book offers sound advice on planning and managing drama across the curriculum from ages 5-14, and provides carefully annotated schemes of work complete with photocopiable resource sheets and online templates.
Write Like This by Kelly Gallagher
Publication Date: 2011
Recognizing the importance that modeling plays in the learning process, high school English teacher Kelly Gallagher shares how he gets his students to stand next to and pay close attention to model writers, and how doing so elevates his students' writing abilities.
Writing Outside Your Comfort Zone: Helping Students Navigate Unfamiliar Genres by Cathy Fleischer; Sarah Andrew-Vaughan
Publication Date: 2009
The Unfamiliar Genre Project helps you:
*develop students' thinking about writing fundamentals such as purpose, audience, form, topic selection, and word choice
*support adolescents' test-taking abilities by increasing their awareness of the genre characteristics of test writing
*fully engage students by connecting school writing to their outside interests
*truly integrate the English curriculum by studying genre from the points of view of both readers and writers.
Writing Workshop: the Essential Guide by Ralph Fletcher & JoAnn Portalupi
Publication Date: 2001
Provides everything a teacher needs to get the writing workshop up and running. Each chapter addresses an essential element, then suggests five or six specific things a teacher can do to implement the idea.

Mathematics

Bringing the Common Core Math Standards to Life by Yvelyne Germain-McCarthy
Publication Date: 2014
Real examples of how exemplary teachers are meeting the CCSS by teaching problem solving for different learning styles, proportional reasoning, the Pythagorean theorem, measurements, and more. A detailed analysis of each example to help you understand why it is effective and how you can try it with your own students, Practical, ready-to-use tools you can take back to your classroom, including unit plans and classroom handouts.
Developing Mathematical Thinking by Jonathan D. Katz
Publication Date: 2014
The goal of this book is to begin to change the way students experience mathematics in the middle and high school classrooms. In this book you will find a theoretical basis for this approach to teaching mathematics, multiple guides and questions for teachers to think about in relation to their everyday teaching, and over 30 examples of problems, lessons, tasks, and projects that been used effectively with urban students.
Teaching Mathematics in Grades 6 - 12 by Randall E. Groth
Publication Date: 2012
Provides prospective teachers of mathematics in grades 6 − 12 with guidance on what to cover in secondary mathematics courses and how to cover those topics. The text is based on the premise that engaging prospective teachers in the study of students’ mathematical thinking is a powerful and under-utilized strategy for secondary teacher education.

Physical Education

Teaching Personal and Social Responsibility Through Physical Activity by Donald R. Hellison
ISBN: 9780736094702
Publication Date: 2010-11-23
3-user ebook
This 3rd edition presents practical, proven, easy-to-implement ideas for teaching personal and social responsibility (TPSR) in school, after school, and in alternative settings. It also supplies direction in teaching affective and social moral goals, an in-depth look into teaching character development and values, and a method for helping students develop personal and social responsibility.

Science & Technology

Ambitious Science Teaching by Mark Windschitl; Jessica Thompson; Melissa Braaten
Publication Date: 2018
Outlines a framework for science teaching to ensure that instruction is rigorous and equitable for students from all backgrounds.
Argument-Driven Inquiry in Physical Science by NSTA
Publication Date: 2016
The book is divided into two basic parts: 1. An introduction to the stages of argument-driven inquiry--from question identification, data analysis, and argument development and evaluation to double-blind peer review and report revision. 2. A well-organized series of 22 field-tested labs designed to be much more authentic for instruction than traditional laboratory activities. The labs cover four core ideas in physical science: matter, motion and forces, energy, and waves.
Argument-Driven Inquiry in Physics, Volume 1 by NSTA
Publication Date: 2017
Argument-Driven Inquiry in Physics, Volume 1 focuses on mechanics and has two parts. The first part describes the ADI instructional model and the components of ADI lab investigations. The second part provides 23 field-tested labs covering a wide variety of topics related to forces and interactions, energy, work, and power. Some investigations are introductory labs that expose students to new content; others are application labs to help students try out a theory, law, or unifying concept.
Brainball: Teaching Inquiry Science as a Team Sport by Benjamin H. Kolis; Todd Lenz; Mickey Kolis
Publication Date: 2014
Lesson plans that use team games to teach science.
Everyday Engineering by Richard Moyer
Publication Date: 2012-01-01
Engineering lessons using ordinary objects such as ballpoint pens, ziploc bags, tooth brushes, flashlights, etc.
Exploring Science with Dyslexic Children and Teens by Diana Hudson
Publication Date: 2021
This book is a collection of ideas, activities and approaches for science learning, to support kids with learning differences aged 9+ to grow in confidence, recall and understanding. The multi-sensory and fun ideas and activities can be adapted to suit individual students' needs and skills, and curriculum stage.
Front-Page Science: Engaging Teens in Science Literacy by Wendy Saul
Publication Date: 2012
Uses science journalism techniques to help students become better consumers of, and contributors to, a scientifically literate community. From the National Science Teachers Association.
A Guide to Teaching Elementary Science by Yvette F. Greenspan
Publication Date: 2015
Helps teachers develop curricula compatible with the Next Generation Science Standards and the Common Core Standards; offers detailed sample lesson plans in each STEM subject; and more.
Picture-Perfect Science Lessons by Karen Rohrich Ansberry; Emily R. Morgan
Grades 3-6
Classroom lessons that combine use of children's books with lessons related to physical science, life science, and earth and space science.
Picture-Perfect STEM: Lessons, K-2 by Emily Morgan; Karen Rohrich Ansberry
Publication Date: 2017
This book's 15 kid-friendly lessons convey how science, technology, engineering, and mathematics intersect in the real world. They embed reading-comprehension strategies that integrate the STEM subjects and English language arts through high-quality picture books. You'll help your K-2 students engage in STEM activities while learning to read and reading to learn.
The Science Teacher's Toolbox: Hundreds of Practical Ideas to Support Your Students
Publication Date: 2020
Concise chapters fully explain the research basis, necessary technology, Next Generation Science Standards correlation, and implementation of each lesson and strategy. Lessons cover topics such as setting up labs, conducting experiments, using graphs, analyzing data, writing lab reports, incorporating technology, assessing student learning, teaching all-ability students, and more.
Teaching Science Fact with Science Fiction by Gary Raham
Publication Date: 2004
Offers deas and resources for teaching concepts in the physical, earth, space, and life sciences, as well in history and mathematics; and suggested activities for a variety of grade levels (4th thru 12th grade).
Teaching Science Through Trade Books by Christine Anne Royce
Publication Date: 2012
By using children's books to pique students interest, you can combine science teaching with reading instruction in an engaging and effective way. From the National Science Teachers Association.
Uncovering Student Ideas in Physical Science, Vol 1, Force and Motion
45 assessment probes enable teachers to find out what students really think about key ideas in force and motion. Teacher Notes provide info on the purpose of the probe; related concepts; an explanation-for the teacher-of the force and motion idea; related ideas in Benchmarks for Science Literacy and the National Science Education Standards; research on typical student misconceptions; and suggestions for instruction & assessment.The book specifies grade spans-K-4, 5-8, 9-12-for each probe.
Uncovering Student Ideas in Primary Science, Volume 1 - 25 New Formative Assessment Probes for Grades K-2 by Page Keeley
Publication Date: 2016
Offers 8 life science probes, 11 physical science probes, and 6 Earth and space science probes that target K-2 disciplinary core ideas, including reproducible pages for students , detailed teacher notes, and connections to national standards.
Understanding Climate Change: Grades 7-12 by Laura Tucker; Lois Sherwood
Publication Date: 2019
From the National Science Teachers Assn, a nine-session module for teaching middle school or high school students about climate change. The unit addresses Next Generation Science Standards and was created is using the Learning Cycle and the BSCS 5E Instructional Model.

Social Studies

100 Ideas for Primary Teachers: History
With each idea based on an original historical source from The National Archives (Great Britain), this book takes a skills-based approach that will help pupils understand the methods of historical inquiry. Themed to cover different source types, including photographs, government reports, cartoons, royal seals, manuscripts, & letters. The historical sources can be previewed in the book and downloaded from a Companion Website.
Bringing Human Rights Education to US Classrooms by Susan Roberta Katz (Editor); Andrea McEvoy Spero (Editor)
Publication Date: 2015
This book offers research-based models of exemplary practice for educators at all grade levels, from primary school to university, who want to integrate human rights education into their classrooms. It includes ten examples of projects that have been effectively implemented in classrooms: two from elementary school, two from middle school, three from high school, two from community college, and one from a university.
Building Students' Historical Literacies: Learning to Read and Reason with Historical Texts and Evidence by Jeffery Nokes
Publication Date: 2013
Explores historical literacy, adopts a research-supported stance on literacy processes, and promotes the integration of content-area literacy instruction into history content teaching. Surveys a broad range of texts and offers teaching strategies aligned to national standards.
Additional resources offered at https://historicalliteracies.byu.edu/
Developing Digital Detectives by Jennifer LaGarde (Libretto by)
Publication Date: 2021
Easy-to-implement lessons to engage students in becoming media literacy "digital detectives," looking for clues, questioning motives, uncovering patterns, developing theories and, ultimately, delivering a verdict. Includes lessons for K through high school.
A Different Mirror for Young People by Ronald Takaki
Publication Date: 2012
Brings ethnic history alive through the words of people, including teenagers, who recorded their experiences in letters, diaries, and poems.
A Different World Series: Color Blindness, Deafness, Dyslexia, and Using a Wheelchair. by Robin Twiddy
Publication Date: 2021
Four short illustrated books suitable for 2nd grade through upper elementary students. Created to help those with these conditions feel less alone & help others better understand.
DIY Project Based Learning for ELA and History by Heather Wolpert-Gawron
Publication Date: 2015
Part I of the book features six full units, complete with student samples, targeted rubrics, a checklist to keep students on track, and even "Homework Hints." Part II is a mix-and-match section of tools you can use to create your own PBL-aligned lessons.
Engaging Youth with Public Policy by Andrea Prado Tuma; Alice Huguet
Publication Date: 2022
These middle school lesson plans are part of the Countering Truth Decay initiative, which is focused on restoring the role of facts, data, and analysis in U.S. political and civil discourse. The lesson plans introduce students to public policy research and emphasize the importance of media literacy skills.
Her Right Foot by Dave Eggers; Shawn Harris (Illustrator)
Publication Date: 2017
She's holding a torch. And she's taking one step forward. But why? What they find in the Statue of Liberty's right foot is the powerful message of acceptance that is essential to an entire country's creation.
Lies My Teacher Told Me by James W. Loewen
Publication Date: 2007
Beginning with pre-Columbian history and ranging over characters and events as diverse as Reconstruction, Helen Keller, the first Thanksgiving, and the Mai Lai massacre, Loewen offers an eye-opening critique of existing textbooks, and a wonderful retelling of American history as it should--and could--be taught to American students.
Literacy and History in Action: Immersive Approaches to Disciplinary Thinking, Grades 5-12
Publication Date: 2015
Offers a solid research and theoretical foundation for combining social studies and literacy instruction. Shows how to engage middle and high school students in historical inquiry that incorporates literacy skills like reading complex texts and writing elaborated arguments. Presents simulation activities that immerse students in three eras of U.S. history: European incursions into North America, pre-Revolutionary War colonialism, and the Civil War and Reconstruction.
Mindfulness for Students: A Curriculum for Grades 3-8 by Wendy Fuchs
Publication Date: 2018
How to teach mindfulness strategies to your elementary and middle school students to provide a foundation for social-emotional well-being and academic engagement. Based on research, the curriculum covers 5 key mindfulness practices: Breath awareness, Body awareness, Focusing on gratitude, Kindness toward self and others, Open awareness . Each chapter includes a detailed lesson plan with support materials. These tools, as well as audio recordings of the practices, are also available for classroom use at http://www.routledge.com/9781138586550
More Social Studies Through Children's Literature by Fredericks, Anthony D.
Each of these 33 units offers book summaries, social studies topic areas, critical thinking questions, and dozens of easy-to-do activities.
News Literacy: Helping Students and Teachers Decode Fake News by Robert W. Janke; Bruce S. Cooper
Publication Date: 2017
A resource for educators to develop “news literacy” skills of students in objectively evaluating the news.
Next Spring an Oriole by Gloria Whelan; Pamela Johnson (Illustrator)
Publication Date: 1987
This is a 2-readers-at-a-time ebook. If you are the 3rd reader, you may get a "busy signal" and have to try again later. If you plan to rely solely on the ebook, it's wise to read ahead. Scroll down to find chapter links or use the PDF or EPUB link in the left column. You can read the entire book when logged in online, but can only print, download or email a limited number of pages. If you get an odd error message when trying to log in, try refreshing the browser page. More tips for EBSCO ebooks.
Made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
Notable Books, Notable Lessons: Putting Social Studies Back in the K-8 Curriculum
Publication Date: 2017
Using books from the Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, selected by the National Council for the Social Studies and Children's Book Council, this book offers strategies, lesson plans, and activities for using literature as a springboard to social studies thematic instruction. Engaging lessons foster critical thinking and integrate social studies & English language arts.
Preparing Children and Youth for Civic Life in the Era of Truth Decay by Laura S. Hamilton; Julia H. Kaufman; Lynn Hu
Publication Date: 2021
Nationally representative survey results demonstrate how social studies teachers in U.S. public schools promote students' civic learning, teachers' beliefs about the importance of civic-related topics and skills, and which conditions they perceive as supporting or hindering civic education.
Reading, Thinking, and Writing about History by Chauncey Monte-Sano; Susan De La Paz; Mark Felton
Publication Date: 2014
Offers six research-tested historical investigations with teaching materials and tools to improve historical thinking and argumentative writing. Each investigation integrates reading, analysis, planning, composing, and reflection into a writing process for an argumentative history essay. Primary sources have been modified to allow struggling readers access to the material. Also, provides links to original unmodified primary sources, additional web resources, and sample student essays.
Reading Like a Historian: Teaching Literacy in Middle & High School Classrooms by Sam Wineburg; Daisy Martin; Chauncey Monte-Sano
Publication Date: 2012
Each chapter begins with an essay that sets the stage of a key moment in American history. Primary documents, charts, graphic organisers, visual images, and political cartoons follow each essay, as well as suggestions for where to find additional resources on the Internet and guidance for assessing students' understanding of core historical ideas.
Reassessing the Social Studies Curriculum: Promoting Critical Civic Engagement in a Politically Polarized, Post-9/11 World by Wayne Journell (Editor)
Publication Date: 2016
"This book, which contains chapters from many leading scholars within the field of social studies education, both assesses the ways in which the social studies curriculum has failed to live up to the promises of progressive citizenship education made in the wake of the attacks and offers practical advice for teachers who wish to encourage a critical understanding of the post-9/11 global society in which their students live."
Social Studies, Literacy, and Social Justice in the Common Core Classroom by Ruchi Agarwal-Rangnath
Publication Date: 2013
Presents a unique framework to help educators (grades 3-8) in their efforts to teach for social justice. Each chapter explains how teachers can restructure, reshape, and manipulate mandated curriculum materials to teach from a critical perspective.
The Social Studies Curriculum: Purposes, Problems, and Possibilities, 4th ed. by E. Wayne Ross (Editor)
Publication Date: 2014
Readers are encouraged to reconsider their assumptions and understanding about the origins, purposes, nature, and possibilities of the social studies curriculum.
The Social Studies Teacher's Toolbox: Hundreds of Practical Ideas to Support Your Students by Elisabeth Johnson; Larry Ferlazzo
Publication Date: 2020
Offers numerous strategies for teaching Social Studies with explanations of how both Common Core and National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) standards and themes are addressed. Written with secondary students in mind.
Take the Journey : Teaching American History Through Place-Based Learning by James A. Percoco
Publication Date: 2017
Offers practical and easy-to-implement lessons, including:
- Specific directions for employing place-based best practices in the classroom
- Ways to meet state standards without sacrificing teacher creativity or hands-on learning
- Lists of resources and primary source materials
Teaching Controversial Issues by Nel Noddings; Laurie Brooks
Publication Date: 2017
The authors describe how critical thinking that encourages dialogue across the school disciplines and across social/economic classes prepares students for participation in democracy. They offer specific, concrete strategies for addressing a variety of issues related to authority, religion, gender, race, media, sports, entertainment, class and poverty, capitalism and socialism, and equality and justice. The goal is to develop individuals who can examine their own beliefs, those of their own and other groups, and those of their nation, and can do so with respect and understanding for others values.
Teaching for a Living Democracy: Project-Based Learning in the English and History Classroom by Joshua Block; Carla Shalaby (Foreword by)
Publication Date: 2020
Provides project-based units of study and classroom practices that allow students to reconfigure understandings of themselves, their capabilities, and their roles in the world. Offers the realistic perspective of a teacher working in an urban public high school.
Teaching on Days After: Educating for Equity in the Wake of Injustice by Alyssa Hadley Dunn
Publication Date: 2021
What should teachers do on the days after major events, tragedies, and traumas, especially when injustice is involved? Examples of days after that teachers remember, including 9/11, elections, natural disasters, gun violence, police brutality, social uprisings, Supreme Court decisions, immigration policies, and more.
Teaching U.S. History Thematically : Document-Based Lessons for the Secondary Classroom by Rosalie Metro
Publication Date: 2017
"This book offers the tools teachers need to get started with an innovative approach to teaching history, one that develops literacy and higher-order thinking skills, connects the past to students’ lives today, and meets Common Core State Standards (grades 7–12). The author provides over 60 primary sources organized into seven thematic units, each structured around an essential question from U.S. history."
Teaching with DBQs by Kevin Thomas Smith
Publication Date: 2018
Help your students navigate complex texts in history and social studies. This book shows you how to use document-based questions, or DBQs, to build student literacy and critical thinking skills while meeting rigorous state standards and preparing students for AP exams.
Teaching World History Thematically: Essential Questions and Document-Based Lessons to Connect Past and Present by Rosalie Metro
Publication Date: 2020
Promotes student engagement and critical thinking to replace or augment a traditional textbook. Over 90 primary sources organized into seven thematic units, each structured around an essential question from world history. Each unit connects to current events with dynamic classroom activities. Printable copies of the documents included in the book can be downloaded at tcpress.com.
Turning Pragmatism into Practice by Daniel W. Stuckart
Publication Date: 2018
Dewey's instrumentalism offers social studies educators a tool for addressing vexing problems such as whether they should design classroom experiences using a traditional or a social studies approach to learning history, the role of digital technologies, the purpose and challenges of younger learners working with an expanding horizons curriculum, and many more.
Voices of a People's History of the United States, 3rd ed (10th Anniversary ed.) by Howard Zinn
Publication Date: 2014
Selected testimonies to living history—speeches, letters, poems, songs—offered by the people who make history happen, but are often left out of history books: women, workers, nonwhites.
We, the Students and Teachers: Teaching Democratically in the History and Social Studies Classroom by Robert W. Maloy; Irene S. LaRoche
Publication Date: 2015
Provides practical applications of democratic teaching for classes in history/social studies.
What Can a Citizen Do? by Dave Eggers; Shawn Harris (Illustrator)
Publication Date: 2018-09
A citizen can pick up litter A citizen can pull a weed A citizen can help that critter A citizen can plant a seed A citizen can aid a neighbor A citizen can join a cause A citizen can write a letter A citizen can help change laws . . . This is a book for today's youth about what it means to be a citizen.
Why Won't You Just Tell Us the Answer? by Bruce A. Lesh
Publication Date: 2011
Historical study that centers on a question, where students gather a variety of historical sources and then develop and defend their answers to that question, allows students to become actual historians immersed in an interpretive study of the past.
A Young People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn; Rebecca Stefoff (Contribution by)
Publication Date: 2009
A new, revised and updated single-volume young adult version of Howard Zinn's classic telling of American history. A Young People's History of the United States brings to history the viewpoints of workers, slaves, immigrants, women, Native Americans and others whose stories, and their impact, are rarely included in books for young readers.

Michigan Open Book Project
A project to bring free open textbooks to Michigan K-12 students. At this site you can learn about the project, about using open texts, and you can download the currently available free social studies texts, which include:
My Self and Others (KIndergarten)
Families and Schools (1st grade)
Community Studies (2nd grade)
Michigan Studies (3rd grade)
United States Studies (4th grade)
United States History (5th grade)
World Geography (6th grade)
Ancient World History (7th grade)
United States History (8th grade)
United States History (high school)
World History (high school)
Civic Life (high school)
Economics and You (high school)

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