New Releases by Cheryl Miller Thurston

Some students just don't want to share intimate details about their thoughts, feelings and lives—at least, not with others in a class or group. That's where Unjournaling comes in. All the writing prompts in this book are entirely impersonal but completely engaging for both kids and adults. Two examples of the 200 writing prompts include: Write a paragraph about a girl named Dot, but use no letters with a dot (in other words, no i or j). Why on earth would Yankee Doodle stick a feather in his cap and call it “macaroni”? Come up with a plausible explanation. The book includes sample responses to all of the questions—a helpful tool for anyone who gets stuck with a topic and wants to see how it can be done! Grade 7-Adult

He's a hunk. He's kind of famous. And he's very much dead. Ella Polansky doesn't for a moment believe that a tap shoe is what killed her best friend Sammie's one-time (literally one-time) lover. Unfortunately, much of America does. And the prime suspect is Sammie. Ella is determined to prove Sammie's innocence. But how does she handle pushy paparazzi, a blogger with a political agenda, attacks on her own reputation, and a 15-year-old girl who is now a part of Ella's life-and not her biggest fan? Family. Small town connections. Stories. Ella taps into them all to save her best friend, learning along the way that life and love are never perfect-but maybe that's okay.

Capitalization exercises include practice sentences and student writing exercises.

Live! From the Classroom! It's Mythology is a book of five read-aloud plays. Students love the adventure and magic in these funny, fast-paced plays based on the following hero myths from around the world: Sigurd and the Dragon (Viking); Atalanta and the Calydonian Boar (Greek); Glooscap and the Water Monster (Native American); Gum Lin (Chinese); and Gilgamesh and the Cedar Forest (Mesopotamian).The plays include background material on each culture and is for grades 7-9.

Need an activity to help you teach a specific language arts skill? You're likely to find it in this new book of activities, all loosely centered on a theme of interest to all--food.

Yes, it's a comic book, but it's a comic book with a difference. It helps students learn something they're supposed to know! In Captain Intro and the Conclusionator, two students are stumped when it comes to beginning and ending their compositions. First, Captain Intro comes to the rescue with practical advice, tips, and examples for writing introductions. Then the Conclusionator skateboards in to provide help with writing conclusions. These short comics are best used as something students slip into their notebooks and refer to as necessary. Another option is having a set that students can use in your classroom. The comic book also includes four activity pages for students to complete. 5-8

Even kids who think they don't like to sing can't resist the goofy songs in SINGuini. They love up-to-the-minute song parodies such as "My Bonnie Went in for a Face Lift" and "Oh, My Darling Frankensteen." "Snot Is Not the Proper Subject for a Song" is fun for any young person, and the tongue-twisting "Impossible to Sing Song" is a challenge no one can resist. The songs vary widely, including everything from warm-ups and rounds to parodies and partner songs.SINGuini is perfect for scout leaders, camp counselors, choral directors, church group leaders, and others who work with young people. Give it a try with the young people in your life. (And tell music teachers in your school about it, too!).

Designed to be a lifesaver and refresher for teachers, this book contains quick lesson plans for a substitute teacher, ideas for extra credit, and routine-breakers.

Takes an honest, realistic approach to helping students become better learners.

"This book if full of language arts games and activities designed especially to interest junior high/middle school students"--Page 5.

We can't promise that buying When They Think They Have Nothing to Write About will stop students from whining, "I don't know what to write about." We can promise that, with over 125 composition activities, the book will at least arm you against such complaints. The first part of When They Think They Have Nothing to Write About consists of 25 longer activities, such as "Scared to Death," "Monsters," and "What to Do With a Glopsnerch"-all based on the writing process. The second section is filled with 101 quick, thought-provoking topics that are perfect for journal writing or brief in-class writing assignments. This Prufrock Press classic is a solid source of writing activities for any middle school or junior high classroom.

Frustrated about teaching writing to kids who aren't wild about writing? Try Common Sense Tips on the Teaching of Writing from a Writer, Teacher & Editor, a book for teachers who are secretly (or not so secretly) confused and uncertain in this era of testing, testing, testing. This very practical 57-page book has been used as a manual in writing classes for teachers, and one of its strengths is that it is easy to read and gives sensible advice that is refreshing and a bit different from what you see in most books about writing.

Contains explanations and exercises that help young writers to eliminate the common errors that English teachers see most often.

This popular, award-winning book was temporarily out of print as the author updated the poems and added new ones. The poems about schools, kids, teachers and education are sometimes funny, sometimes poignant, always insightful. The book makes a wonderful gift for teachers.

Selections from the Cottonwood monthly, a newsletter written specifically for 7th-, 8th-, and 9th grade English teachers.

Melanie and the Trash Can Troll makes a perfect junior high or middle school production. The play has a flexible cast, simple sets, easy costumes and-best of all-lots of humor. The funny fairy tale stars a young waitress who is forced to confront a terrifying creature called the Trash Can Troll. She discovers a secret the Troll has been hiding for years, as well as the courage to stand up for what is right. The play runs about an hour and fifteen minutes and includes 16 characters, plus extras. The complete Melanie Play Package (required for performances) includes rights to performances at one location for a year, 16 scripts and 10 bright, glossy posters for advertising.