In Print

NEA Today, Sep 2005

In Print

A DAY IN THE LIFE

Author Karen English assumes the voices of six fictional third graders at a public school in Speak To Me (And I Will Listen Between the Lines). A range of personality types, including the daydreamer and the misfit, are represented in the raw and expressive free verse poems. While the language is simple and the subject matter may seem inconsequential (a pink-inked pen causes a big drama), English's well-worded pieces verify that children experience the same spectrum of emotions as adults. 32 pp. $16 from Farrar, Straus and Giroux. To order, go to www.fsgkidsbooks.com.

CONQUERING COLLEGE

Whether it's the SATs, ACTs, or just the Common Application, Joyce Slayton Mitchell gives good suggestions to applicants and their parents on how to make it into the college of their dreams in Winning the Heart of the College Admissions Dean. Mitchell's advice on how to research schools and what not to say during interviews is confirmed with excerpts from college admissions directors at schools such as Harvard and Stanford. 170 pp. $14.95 from Ten Speed Press. To order, visit www.tenspeedpress.com.

STOPPING BULLIES

Education and family psychologist Kenneth Shore takes a new approach in bullying prevention with his book The ABC's of Bullying Prevention: A Comprehensive Schoolwide Approach, instead of focusing on the sometimes devastating effects of bullying, such as depression and school shootings, Shore establishes a clear definition of the word bullying and steps to prevent it. He calls on school administrators, teachers, and parents to focus efforts into controlling and eliminating this growing problem. 79 pp. $14 from National Professional Resources, Inc. To order, call 800-453-7461.

HAVING OUR SAY

In Red hot Salsa: Bilingual Poems on Being Young and Latino in the United States, renowned Latino poets and literary figures in the United States share their hopes, dreams, and identities. Edited by Lori Marie Carlson, this compilation of moving, vibrant poems expresses the complexity, ethnic variation, linguistic diversity, and the yearning spirit of the Latino community. Written in both Spanish and English, the poems touch on universal themes such as language, neighborhoods, love, family, and victory. 140 pp. $14.95 from Henry Holt and Company. To order, go to www.henryholt.com.

THE POWER OF PORTFOLIOS

Student-Led Conferencing Using Showcase Portfolios, by Barbara Benson and Susan Barnett, reveals how to motivate students to excel and achieve higher standards of learning while increasing parent involvement in the process. With easy-to-use timelines, sample schedules, and guidelines on collecting work samples, this comprehensive text helps transform oft-dreaded parent conferences into productive discussions for all. 192 pp. $29.95 from Corwin Press. To order, go to www.corwingpress.com.