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February 2006
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Dear Educator:
February is filled with special days and themes you'll most likely want to incorporate into your teaching. As "National Heart" and "Children's Dental Health Month", February is the time to load up your lesson plans with great science and health activities. Honoring African American history, Presidents' Day, and Valentine's Day gives you the perfect opportunity to instill in students valuable social studies and citizenship lessons–those lessons of responsibility, kindness, and fairness that can never be reinforced too often! This month, as you celebrate friendship with hearts of pink and red, or talk about heroes past and present, we hope you will consider Weekly Reader to be a partner in your efforts. Our products have been created to meet your classroom needs. We welcome the chance to give your students timely and age-appropriate curriculum content that sparks their interests and makes learning so accessible.
Don't forget to check your inbox for each month's edition of our Teacher's Companion! We'll highlight stories from our current Pre-K–Grade 1 publications and bring you up to date on other Weekly Reader products designed to support your curriculum and engage your students.
Leap into Literacy with this cool tool kit!
Leap into Literacy with this cool tool kit!
This month we celebrate friendship, Groundhog Day, and shadows! Help students understand what being a friend really means. Invite students to tell a story about a shadow. Then wish "Happy Birthday" to author Judith Viorst, whose books have continually delighted young readers.
Note: Teachers who ordered ten or more subscriptions of Weekly Reader K–Senior automatically received a "What's Your Story?" activity kit. You may also visit www.weeklyreader.com/wys for grade-appropriate activities and resources.
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WEEKLY READER IN YOUR CLASSROOM—FEBRUARY
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PRE-K EDITION
We Have Healthy Teeth! For dental health month we demonstrate
ways for young children to keep their teeth healthy. Reinforce the lesson by inviting a dental hygienist to visit. Invite children to share ways that they care for their teeth. Invite them to make charts to check off each morning and evening. Practice the brushing song and be sure to have children perform it before your visitor leaves.
Use the Presidents' Day issue to share some facts about our president. After the lesson, display the Big Issue and encourage children to review any new facts that they remember about the president. Introduce the issue about the blue whale by talking about large animals. Ask children to help you make a list of large animals. Tell children that the blue whale is the largest animal that ever lived. Use the Big Issue during circle time to discuss the different parts of a whale's body. Tape butcher paper on a wall and invite children to make a huge wall mural of a whale and other sea animals. The make-a-book shows colorful pictures of children making music. Ahead of time, gather real or toy instruments shown in the issue. Invite children to use the instruments. Encourage children to talk about their favorite instrument and to draw a picture of themselves playing their favorite instrument.
Attention Teachers: Download the Teacher's Guide for more information.
Weekly Reader Web Watch!
Print out this month's reproducible BLAST! (Balanced Literacy Activities and Skills for Today!). With children, read the word or words on each heart aloud. Then invite them to color and cut out the hearts to pass to their friends.
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 KINDERGARTEN EDITION
February is dental health month. Inform children that dental health is important for grown-ups, children, and even pets.
Use this month's Make-a-Book to get children excited about reading words. Make a list of all of the words that your class can write, read, say, and hear. Talking about the difference between letters and words will reinforce children's decoding skills as they learn that each word is made up of letters and sounds. Getting children enthusiastic about things they already know will motivate them to want to learn more. Celebrate Presidents' Day on February 20th by telling children about two famous presidents from long ago. As children understand some facts about each president, they will begin to appreciate why America celebrates them. Use the issue about maps to show children that a map is a picture, and to demonstrate other map characteristics. Display the Big Issue and show children where your state is on the map. With children, make a map of your room and invite each child to name one thing you should draw on the map.
Attention Teachers: Download the Teacher's Guide for more information.
Weekly Reader Web Watch!
Print out this month's coloring page featuring Zip at a baseball game. Invite children to color the picture.
Print out this month's reproducible BLAST! (Balanced Literacy Activities and Skills for Today!) and encourage children to practice saying and writing beginning letter sounds.
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 GRADE 1 EDITION
Teeth are important! Encourage children to take better care of their teeth by explaining to them why their teeth are so important. Then take a survey and make a chart to see how many children have lost baby teeth. Celebrate Black History Month by introducing children to admirable African Americans such as Rosa Parks, Jackie Robinson, and Nikki Giovanni. Other topics for this month include a Make-a-Book about Presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, and an issue about the names of different animal groups. (Please note that you will be receiving corrected copies of the Week 3, Make-a-Book issue in early February.)
Attention Teachers: Download the Teacher's Guide for more information.
Weekly Reader Web Watch!
Print out this month's reproducible BLAST! (Balanced Literacy Activities and Skills for Today!). Then print out February's skills calendar, and invite students to fill in the missing letter of each picture's name and complete the calendar.
 GRADE 2 EDITION
Presidents' Day is celebrated in February and Weekly Reader , Edition 2 has dedicated an entire issue to this important holiday. In this issue, students will learn about the president's job and get a sneak peek at some of the rooms in the White House. Students will also learn about George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, the two presidents that the holiday traditionally honors.
Open wide! February is also "National Children's Dental Health Month". Our dental health issue features some facts about animal teeth. The proper ways to take care of your teeth are also outlined. Each issue includes a "Whiskers' Corner" for an important lesson in citizenship and an activity that tests students' understanding.
Attention Teachers: Download the Grade 2 Edition, Issue 18, Teacher's Guide for more information.
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 GRADE 3 EDITION
Weekly Reader Edition 3 honors Black History Month with an issue focusing on several African American newsmakers. Their influence on society, charitable works, and remarkable talents are outlined in the issue. Later in the month, students will read success stories about the bald eagle and other endangered animals that have been making a comeback thanks to tough laws and hardworking scientists. Both issues feature other news-related topics, as well as activities that test reading comprehension.
Attention Teachers: Download the Grade 3 Edition, Issue 17, Teacher's Guide.
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 GRADE 4 EDITION
Are the world's biggest cats on the verge of extinction? This month, your students will learn how wildlife officials are working to save Asia's dwindling tiger populations. Recent reports show that U.S. savings are at their lowest rates in decades. In our "Money Matters" issue later this month, students can learn about responsible spending and responsible saving. As students get ready to celebrate Black History Month, they can learn about trumpet-master Wynton Marsalis, jazz, and the contributions of African Americans to this lively music form. And don't miss our interview with Aidan Gold, the 8-year-old mountaineer who is scaling new heights. Aidan and his family just returned home after climbing some of the world's highest peaks! Each issue this month is packed with reading comprehension questions, along with maps, graphs, and charts.
Attention Teachers: Download Grade 4 Edition, Issue 17, Teacher's Guide.
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 SENIOR EDITION
Weekly Reader's Topics for Teaching
This month, Senior Edition explores global warming. Last year was the second hottest year on record, and rising temperatures are taking a toll on people and animals around the world. Students will learn what causes global warming, and what world leaders are doing to try to stop the rise in Earth's temperature. This article is accompanied by map and graph exercises.
In other issues this month, students will learn about the mystery of Easter Island; a kid who's climbed mountains around the world; a new project to stop Venice, Italy, from sinking; and a plan to restore Angel Island, the port of entry for thousands of Chinese immigrants to the United States. Each issue is packed with pictures, charts, maps, and graphs to help bring the stories to life.
Also this month, you will receive a full-color classroom poster, "All-Stars of African American History", in honor of Black History month. The poster is an oversized crossword puzzle featuring important African Americans.
Attention Teachers: Download the Senior Edition, Issue 17, Teacher's Guide for more information.
Relevant Reading!!
Be sure to include our Civil Rights/Black History Classroom Pack, from the series "Landmark Events in American History", as part of your classroom library to supplement your black history lessons. The pack which includes The Scottsboro Case, The Montgomery Bus Boycott, and The 1963 Civil Rights March Presents the events and people that were part of the African American struggle for freedom and equality. Winner of the NAACP Image Award—Outstanding Literary Work for Children!
- Pack includes six sets of three titles
- Each title is 48 pages
- Books feature illustrations, photos, maps, charts, graphs and more
- Text is written for students in grades 5-6.
Super saver! Save $30.00 when you order a Classroom Pack!
Ordering Information
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| Title |
Item # |
Price* |
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| Classroom Pack |
#00006-131 |
$179.10 |
Order Now! |
| The 1963 Civil Rights March |
#5420-9-131 |
$10.95 |
Order Now! |
| The Scottsboro Case |
#5416-0-131 |
$10.95 |
Order Now! |
| The Montgomery Bus Boycott |
#5403-9-131 |
$10.95 |
Order Now! |
| *Prices apply to orders of 6+ copies. For orders of fewer than 6, please add $1.00/book. |
Make a Connection!
Living in the U.S.A. Series
We have chosen to highlight Living in the U.S.A. which underscores your lessons on responsibility, kindness, caring, and sharing, while bringing fun learning to your students! It shows that good citizenship is important all year long, but February's teaching themes seem to lend themselves to the topic.
Living in the U.S.A.TM for Grades K-1
Prepare students to be informed citizens and understand our government with this grade-appropriate series of student practice books. Full-color illustrations and photographs, with 32 pages of engaging content reinforces vocabulary, writing, research, and analytical skills.
| Title |
Grade(s) |
Item # |
Price |
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| The Good Citizen Club |
Grade K-1 |
#845 |
$4.95 |
Order Now!
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Take a Look Inside!
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To download, view, and print PDF files, you must have a copy of Adobe's Acrobat Reader installed. Visit Adobe's Web site to download Acrobat Reader.
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Take a Look…
It's Weekly Reader's
Student Practice Books!
New and updated, our student practice books will get your students involved while reinforcing important skills! Read on to find out about some super savings and gifts for you!
Order any series by 2/27/06 and you'll save 10%. Use priority code 125756 to receive your discount.
There's More! By ordering 10 or more copies online or by calling 1-800-446-3355, you'll receive a FREE GIFT—a Battery-Operated Stopwatch! Perfect for timing activities, testing, and much more!
Editing Skills for Grades 2, 3, 4
Each grade-appropriate Editing Skills student practice book in the Find the Mistakes series includes 32 full-color pages of mistakes that have been purposely planted in fascinating, nonfiction articles taken from Weekly Reader magazines.
Click here to order!
Take a Look Inside! (grade 3)
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To download, view, and print PDF files, you must have a copy of Adobe's Acrobat Reader installed. Visit Adobe's Web site to download Acrobat Reader.
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Map Skills for Today® for Grades 2, 3, 4
This grade-appropriate series of student practice books helps students develop geographic literacy for the modern world. Each engaging, 32-page book includes full-color maps and helps students understand crucial national and world events.
Click here to order!
Take a Look Inside! (grade 3)
Living in the U.S.A.
for Grades 2-3 and 4-6
Prepare students to be informed citizens and understand our government with this grade-appropriate series of student practice books. Full-color illustrations and photographs. 32 pages of engaging content reinforces vocabulary, writing, research, and analytical skills.
Click here to order!
Take a Look Inside! (grades 2-3)
Table and Graph Skills for Grades 2, 3, 4
A colorful series of grade-appropriate student practice books that include real-world data presented in a highly engaging format. Individual 32 or 48 page books that target a different level of skill, and include full-color photographs.
Click here to order!
Take a Look Inside! (grade 2)
Take a Look…
It's Weekly Reader's
Student Practice Books!
New and updated, our student practice books will get your students involved while reinforcing important skills! Read on to find out about some super savings and gifts for you!
Order any series by 2/27/06 and you'll save 10%. Use priority code 125756 to receive your discount.
There's More! By ordering 10 or more copies online or by calling 1-800-446-3355, you'll receive a FREE GIFT—a Battery-Operated Stopwatch! Perfect for timing activities, testing, and much more!
Map Skills for Today® for Grades 5, 6
This grade-appropriate series of student practice books helps students develop geographic literacy for the modern world. Each engaging, 32-page book includes full-color maps and helps students understand crucial national and world events.
Order Online Now!
Take a Look Inside! (grade 6)
Tables and Graph Skills for Grades 5-6
A colorful series of grade-appropriate student practice books that include real-world data presented in a highly engaging format. The individual 32 or 48 page books target a different level or skill, and include full-color photographs.
Order Online Now!
Living in the U.S.A.TM for Grades 4-6
Prepare students to be informed citizens and understand our government with this grade-appropriate series of student practice books. Full-color illustrations and photographs, with 32 pages of engaging content reinforcing vocabulary, writing, research, and analytical skills.
Order Online Now!
Take a Look Inside! (grades 4-6)
Editing Skills for Grade 5
Each grade-appropriate Editing Skills student practice book in the Find the Mistakes, series includes 32 full-color pages of mistakes that have been purposely planted in fascinating, nonfiction articles taken from Weekly Reader magazines.
Order Online Now!
Take a Look Inside! (grade 5)
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Weekly Reader has teamed up with a variety of high-quality organizations to produce educational materials that we believe will benefit your classroom. Check out their Web sites below. We guarantee that you'll find something to enliven your classroom and make teaching more effective!
Internet safety message: We recommend that you view all Web sites before sharing the URLs with students.
Deep Sea 3D will transport your students deep below the ocean surface to discover some of the most exotic creatures on the planet, from the bizarre Rainbow Nudibranch to the giant Pacific Octopus. Witness their humorous, threatening and sometimes peculiar behavior as they depend on one another for survival to maintain a balanced ecosystem.
A comprehensive Educator's Guide for grades 3-9 is provided FREE when you book your school trip. This tool allows you to extend your Deep Sea learning experience into the classroom with engaging lesson plans and activities tied to the film. Curriculum tie-ins include oceanography, language arts, science, math and more!
For more information on the film, for a list of theatres and more, please visit: www.imax.com/deepsea.
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The ocean is full of fascinating creatures and this Web site will make a big splash with kids! Help make waves and protect our Water Planet by subscribing to Cousteau Kids, a magazine for kids ages 8-12 developed by The Cousteau Society and published by Weekly Reader. Dive deep into the Teacher's Guide that accompanies each issue.
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Quote of the Month:
"Few things can help an individual more than to place responsibility on him, and to let him know that you trust him."
–Booker T. Washington
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Weekly Reader Customer Service | Privacy Policy
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Weekly Reader and WRToolkit are federally registered trademarks of Weekly Reader Corporation.
©2006 Weekly Reader Corporation
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