Below is an example review from the Literary Book Club. Attention, Teachers: have your students submit their own book reviews! All grade levels welcome! Instructions are on the site.

The year is 2057 endless wars have torn the U.S.A. apart and enslaved Americans to the evil C.C.R. Growing up in war times has made 14 year old Cody Pierce wise in survival skills. 

The C.C.R. (Confederation of Consolidated Republics) prison camp is a camp of republics that have captured and killed innocent Americans and if they keep who they caught alive then that's where prisoners are kept.

Cody Pierce used to be afraid of his own shadow but now he's escaping and saving children & adult's from prison camp destroying train's and making it through many wounds.

Cody learns not to survive by strength but by his wits, courage and loyalty.

Cody must make it through his journey without getting caught or killed by the C.C.R. see if its accomplished by reading this book.

This was my favorite book of all time because it had a whole lot of adventure and adventure books are my favorite type of book's.

News from the Talk website

Activities at the TALK website are practical ways to address literacy in various content areas and include technology.  They have been aligned with The Classroom Literacy Guide.  This guide is a rollup of best practices in literacy, consistent for all grade levels, that is put into a form useful for instructional planning, self-evaluation, peer-mentorship and staff development.  It is the "how to" for a good literacy-based program. This week's contribution comes from classroom teacher Cindy Brewer.

The Water Cycle

What goes up must come down? What comes down goes back up? Sure it can when we're talking about the water cycle. Use this slide show to activate background knowledge or use it for student review of the water cycle. Once your science lesson and discussion have concluded use the online story, Drippy the Raindrop, to reinforce science vocabulary and concepts.

Teacher Lesson Link: /talk/activities/water_cycle/default.htm

Student Lesson Link: /talk/activities/water_cycle/student.htm

We would love to include YOUR classroom activities which use technology in support of literacy in any area of the curriculum. Send us  ideas and activities you would like to see included in the TALK website. For information on this, or more information on how to use TALK , contact Cathy Brandt via email or at 381-4124.