Books for Educators
Current Projects and
Children's Books
Presentations and Courses for Educators
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The
Dramatically Different Classroom Christine Laitta and Mark Weakland Published by Kagan Corporation, 2002 |
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The Dramatically Different Classroom celebrates the diversity of students’ intelligences, strengths and abilities with instructional activities that promote an inclusive classroom environment, build an ensemble of cooperative learners, and provide for the delivery of curriculum content. Containing over 75 multi-level activities that use music, movement and drama, this book is an informative and user-friendly resource for busy teachers who are called upon to meet the learning needs and styles of so many different students. Book activities, such as “I am a Tree”, “Only Skin Deep” and “Our Town”, help to make information tangible and concrete. Other activities, such as “Mirror, Mirror”, “Find Your Center”, “Tableaux”, and “Talk Show” help students create a caring ensemble of learners and are fun vehicles for delivering lots of instructional content in any subject area grades one to twelve. Published by Kagan Corporation, leaders in cooperative learning theory, multiple intelligences, and teacher training. Explore the Kagan Web site and order materials at Kagan Publications On Line |
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Rap It Up! Using Rap Rhythms to Enhance Learning
Mark Weakland
Available from Academic Communication Associates
http://www.acadcom.com
Please note: You can order
"Rap It Up" from the ACA catalog. Please request a
catalog when you visit the ACA Web site.
Motivate your students to participate actively in the learning process by incorporating rhythms and raps into your instructional activities. Speech sounds, language concepts, sight vocabulary, math facts and other skills can be taught through oral activities in which rap rhythms are used. The rap rhythms and procedures in this kit can be adapted to teach any subject in all grades!
- Teacher's manual includes specific procedures for using rap music within the classroom.
- Audiotape with all the drum rhythms is included.
- Just turn on the audiotape and start rapping!
No musical ability is required for use of the materials in this kit. Reproducible, ready-to-use raps are included with the program. The activities are suitable for students four years of age and up.
Current Projects and Children's Books
These books are looking for a publishing house home. Please e-mail Mark Weakland at springwatermg@earthlink.net for more information.
Macaroni and
Cheese
Mark Weakland, Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Macaroni and Cheese is a collection of 70 poems lovingly crafted in the tradition of Shel Silverstein and Jack Prelutsky and appropriate for children ages 7 to 12 years old, as well as parents, teachers and adults still young at heart.
The content covers the ordinary (fear of bugs, a baseball game) and the fantastic (a stormy ocean of plastic toys, a six-inch fifth grader). Along the way readers also encounter social commentary, aspects of parental love and special poems to be read aloud by two readers. The tone of the collection is whimsical, humorous and wise; the theme is one of reflection upon and rejoicing in a child’s day to day conundrums, fears, adventures, choices and challenges.
View Excerpt of Macaroni and Cheese
Stinky Pete's
Big Book of Bad Smells
Mark Weakland, Copyright 2005. All rights reserved.
With humorous dialogue, word play and puns, and lots of facts about smelly things, Stinky Pete’s Big Book of Bad Smells explains how the sense of smell works and why certain things smell really bad. This character-driven science book features Stinky Pete, an irreverent cowboy, who acts as the reader’s guide on a journey past garbage dumps, skunks, and cow pies found in the countryside of the American West.
Jazz Band, Jazz Band,
What Do You Say?
Mark Weakland, Copyright 2005. All rights
reserved.
This children's picture book and accompanying CD tells the story of the formation of a traditional jazz band through repeating text and onomatopoeia. Teachers and parents can use the accompanying historical, factual text to broaden and deepen children's understanding of the history of jazz as well as roles of the specific instruments, such as the upright bass, drums, piano and saxophone.
First Sound, First
Song:
The History of Music Told in Pictures, Rhyme and Prose
Mark Weakland, Copyright 2000. All rights reserved.
This non-fiction children's book tells the history of music through the ages. First Sound, First Song pairs lyrical rhymes with the story of music, a time line, and a glossary. Children, teachers and parents can enjoy this musical, magical journey through music from long ago to today. Appropriate for ages five through 12.
Listen,
Listen, Now Let's Look!
Mark Weakland, Copyright 2001. All rights
reserved.
Picture book for very young children. Engaging picture help children pair sounds with letters and vice versa. Promotes early literacy and phonemic and phonological awareness.
