Science and Math through Literature |
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News Articles: Blog & Media Clippings "Sylvan Dell is one of my favorite publishers - every book they publish is not only beautiful and of high quality, but it also is the best of the best and is backed by irrefutable facts. I LOVE to review your books!" - Gayle Jacobson-Huset, Stories for Children Magazine “I will say, Sylvan Dell Books are some of the best I receive even from your "bigger" publishers!” – JenniferReed, editor of Wee Ones Children’s Magazine "As an elementary teacher and a strong advocate for informal science education, I really appreciate and value the quality of Sylvan Dell Publishing books. I would say that I will eagerly risk my reputation by promoting these books. I've seen teachers go from 0 to 95 on getting excited for the books and your resources. These are great and what I observed in Saturn exmplifies what I value. Science facts integrated into fiction in a picturebook format, tackling difficult topics while making teachers feel comfortable, these are what I think teachers appreciate. You guys are great!" – Patsy Side, Epinions.com "Probably one of my favorite boxes to open here at the library is from Sylvan Dell Publishing. Thank you Sylvan Dell - I can not tell you how much I give these books to parents AND teachers alike and ALWAYS send them to your website as well - you are REALLY leaving your mark in the education world!” –Becky Bilby, In the Pages
PARENTS "A new publisher from South Carolina, Sylvan Dell Publishing, has as its mission to provide children with a special and unforgettable reading experience." Moreover, Sylvan's goal is to help kids learn -- and especially learn science -- through the enjoyment of reading. It's a laudible goal, and it's one that, I am pleased and grateful to say, they attain. Not only is each book engaging and the story rendered in wonderful illustrations, but each includes a "Creative Minds" section at the back with additional facts about the natural world, with suggestions for games and even fun math exercises. I can also say that each of these books contained at least one fact that I didn't know!" "My, but your books are a hit with the reviewers. As well they should be!" (About The Giraffe Who Was Afraid of Heights) "...I bought it for my 8 yr old son's birthday. He has Asperger's Syndrome and perseverates on animals. He also has a lot of anxieties. He really liked the book! The information at the end was great too!" "Author Gail Langer Karwoski's inspired and award-winning new children's book [Water Beds] is, well ... dreamy! Fascinating facts about how marine mammals sleep in their ocean home are gently shared with the reader as they are taken of a drift dive through the night sea in the wonderful illustrations by Connie McLennan. A perfect bedtime story, this book is recommended for 2 to 8- year olds, but don't let that quide you - the story was completely enjoyable to my 8 and 11-year old children, as well as to me (not telling my age)!"
(About Pieces of Another World) "Rockliff could have chosen to have Jody's father answer Jody's questions metaphorically, with fanciful imagery about fairies or American Indian gods or angels. But instead, the author stuck to science. It was probably much more difficult to integrate actual information into her rich prose, but she did so seamlessly, in an accessible way that my 4 and 6-year-old daughters grasped on the first reading, and remembered afterward. I was impressed. And, in a departure from typical children's books, the book includes a bonus "Creative Minds" nonfiction section at the back, with facts about meteors, meteor showers, and comets, plus a fun "comet cookie" activity. I now know the difference between meteors, meteoroids, and meteorites -- which, as someone who strives to be as culturally and scientifically literate as possible, I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to relearn."
"Sylvan Dell Publishing has created picture books that will not only entertain your children but educate them as well!...The stories are fun and easy to read in one setting. The illustrations are beautiful as well. And best of all, in the back of the book are activities and ideas for teaching math and science." "We just LOVE Sylvan Dell's picture books at Book Bytes for Kids!" TEACHERS / LIBRARIANS
“Over the past few years I've realized that Sylvan Dell books arereliable sources for quality education as well as valuable books." – Patsy Side, Epinions.com "Water Beds is awesome. It's beautifully written, illustrated and fullof cool information. I just included it in my monthly column in the local paper for parents." -Noreen Bernstein, Youth Services Director Williamsburg RegionalLibrary "Thanks so much for In Arctic Waters. I can't wait to share it with my granddaughters as well as media specialists around the state. And what a surprise to also receive Turtle Summer and Swimming Lessons! I would love to start reading now!" -Martha Alewine, School Library Media Services Office of Technology, SC Department of Education "Thank you for the wonderful resource on using picture books to teach core curriculum! I'm an instructor at Piedmont Virginia Community College teaching a class in Children's Literature. About half my students are planning to be teachers and I am showing them your web site and giving them copies of your educational resources and activities for the classroom. Last semester the students said they wanted more information on how to use books in the classroom and I'm trying to provide this." "I just wanted to write and tell you how much I love your book titled If a Dolphin Were a Fish. It is absolutely wonderful and my new favorite book. I was wondering if perhaps you could pass on my thanks to the author and illustrator, because the book is truly great and I am using in it in my marine science classes. "I just got back from the state reading conference and saw some great stuff. I would like to encourage you all to go see the sylvan dell booth at fame. If they are not there, please let me encourage you to go to their website and order their books. They are AMAZING! I ordered all of their books and I got free shipping and 25% discount. All are hardback, beautifully illustrated with more info and activites included at the end of the story. I’m getting 14 books for 167.44! Take a look at SylvanDellPublishing.com." "I think this book has a good story that will help children understand the facts. I like the way the author talks about the habitat and what the turtles eat. I think this is a great book for elementary school kids learning about turtles or ocean life." “I think Doris is a gifted children's book writer and I love One Odd Day – very clever for another math concept. What fun for kids who have learned even and odd numbers, to keep it clear in their minds, and to have fun with the notion, too. It's quite entertaining!” "I just got [ the books] the other day and I can't keep them on the shelves. One of the best parts is the kids who borrow them are anxious to show me the information in the back. They come up to me like they've discovered gold!" " As a teacher for over forty years and the author of non-fiction books that try to combine rhymes, riddles, and jokes with educational objectives, I especially appreciate the “For Creative Minds” section in the back of this [Happy Birthday to Whooo?], and all Sylvan Dell books. The owner of the book, either a teacher or parent, can photocopy the “For Creative Minds” section or download it from the publishing company’s Web site and use it for at-home learning or in-school instruction." "[The students] enjoyed studying the turtle facts and playing the math games suggested at the back of [Carolina's Story]. We all found that this book helped us to think carefully about organisms, their environments, and the role that people have in helping sick and endangered animals. My students and their teacher are sure that other classes would enjoy this book as much as we did and so we enthusiastically recommend it". -Nancy McDonough, 1st & 2nd grade teacher "My class, old-hands at listening to nonfiction texts read aloud to them, could not wait to reread [Water Beds] independently, and they unanimously recommended it for other children to enjoy. I agree!" "[Pieces of Another World] closes with the characters understanding what a meteor shower is. If readers are left wondering, they can continue to read the "Creative Minds" page where they are given more facts about meteors and are challenged to some meteor math. The author goes on to give readers five steps to a "Fantastic Meteor Watching Party" and a website to check for the best nights to see a meteor shower. This book would make a perfect book to start young minds on the road to inquiring about the night sky. Share this book with them, check the date for an upcoming shower, grab a blanket, and head out to the country. I’m sure you’ll make memories that will last forever! BOOKSTORES & GIFT SHOPS I just wanted you to know that we love your books here at the Seymour Center. We focus on marine life and your books are a wonderful new addition. My college age student staff love them too...People appreciate the extra efort you make for teachers - Fran Bush, Booklovers Bookstore "These books are so cute and the illustrations are wonderful. The children love them." -Joyce DeBroux, "Your response is the kind of thing that distiguishes nimble young companies as ones with real promise and can-do. I would love to see further samples as titles are released...Believe me, I'm keeping an eye on you folks from know on. Sylvan Dell reminds me very much of Charlesbridge in its beginnings."
"I really like the books that Sylvan Dell publishes and the Parrot book is my favorite (and my daughter - who is almost 5 loves it too - she requests we read it to her all the time). I'm glad to see you have another book coming out in 2007 - I look forward to seeing it!" "I am becoming a huge fan of Sylvan Dell Publishing...they don't follow a pat format with their choices. They always include excellent Creative Minds sections that follow up the story with educational information, games and crafts. These are books that should be used in schools and at home." "[One Odd Day is] An inventive and offbeat yarn about a day when all the even numbers disappear and only odd things can be found. Kids will groove on the cute rhymes and bright illustrations of the odd twists that occur on this unique school day, and they'll certainly know what odd and even numbers are after reading this fun picture book." "We love your books here at the Seymour Center. We focus on marine life and your books are a wonderful new addition. My college age student staff love them, too. Our education programs' people appreciate the extra effort you make for teachers." eBook SITE LICENSE AND RESOURCE GRANT We plan to use these ebooks to supplement our current math and science curriculum. We also plan to make these books available to our Gifted and Talented students to enrich thier educational experience. We are also looking forward to discovering many other uses for these books.
We are very excited to have this experience. I have purchased books from Sylvan-Dell for my personal classroom use, and have been very impressed with the quality of the materials. I hope to be able to offer the opportunity to other teachers at my site to use the online e-book feature to enhace all of our science and math resources. Teresa Wilson, 3rd Grade Teacher, Desert Harbor Elem, Peoria, AZ I plan on making it available to all my classroom teachers K-6 (42 teachers) to supplement primarily their Science and ELD instruction. I would also like to incorporate it into a parent ESL class we also have on campus. Isel Taylor, Principal, Washington Elem, Bellflower, CA We will use these books to help meet the new standards being implemented in science and math over the next couple of years. We will be a laptop school with the hopes of eventually having computers for every student. We will also be using Accelerated Reader and these ebooks can be a big part of that particular program. We are developing a leveled book room and using ebooks for our guided reading program will help add a new dimension to the classroom reading programs. As the media specialist, I would be willing to provide workshops for teachers and parents to help highlight the additional resources available on the Web site and to develop strategies on how to use this resource to influence our students knowledge in the areas of math and science. Melanie Tahan, Media Specialist, Liberty Pines Academy, St Augustine, FL As a Reading First school we are always looking for ways to supplement the reading program with materials to support and enhance science and math for our readers. Students will be able to access this during the reading block at center time, teachers will build background knowledge and vocabulary for reading science themes using the smartboards, students will access ebooks in the computer lab, and at home. Donna Ware, Literacy Coach, Whitehead Elem, Athens, GA I can see these being used as reading support and enrichment, science interest centers, ELL support, literature appreciation/LMC. Barbara Ungar, Library Media Director, Central Elem, Wilmette, IL Supplement science, math and reading. Computer lab resource, Special ed, ESL, integration in all subject areas. What a great resource! Thank you! Vickie Hall, Teacher, Lincoln, Elem, Ottawa, KS Before school starts, all of our children Pre-K through 3rd grade meet in our multipurpose room. Our multipurpose room has a projection screen and sound system. This would be perfect for all grades to listen and watch good literacy and numeracy at the same time. Vicki Testa, Literacy Coach, Zwolle Elem, Zwolle, LA To help the students with Science and math as well as reading. This will also help with Spanish classes as well as my ESL students. Victoria Wheller, Elementary Teacher, Casa De Los Ninos, Blue Springs, MO This year we are focusing on intergrating our themes of study around the North Carolina standard course of study for science and social studies. This technology will help teachers and students access exciting book for research and project based learning at every level. Sandra Wilcher, Principal, Covington Street Elem, Laurinburg, NC We are starting a balanced literacy reading approach in September and these would be great to use with the students. Our ESL teacher could use these with her students and families to use at home to help learn how to read in English. The library media specialist will also add these interactive books to her collection to use in the library or for individual teachers to use in their classrooms. Robyn Toledo, 2nd Grade Teacher, Samuel R. Donald School, Bloomington, NJ The format of the books provides access to incorporating technology into learning activities for both our English and Spanish speaking students. Thank you for providing an opportunity to experience this learning experience. We have a growing number of students who are reluctant readers,economically disadvantaged and special education students. We have tried books on tape, graphic novels and other avenues to hook these students into developing a deeper appreciation of reading which would in turn, increase their literacy skills. Although there is one reading test per grade level, we also have math, science and social studies tests at this grade level. Not only do these students need to know the content information for those subjects, they need stronger reading skills. This opportunity for ebooks will enhance their interest in reading, strengthen the school-home connection, and empower our teachers in their instructional programs.
This is such a tremendous opportunity for schools. We look forward to being a part of this grant and are willing to submit results for the research. Thank you! All our students have access to computers in the classroom, library, and through lap top use. This school has a reading requirement which focuses on in and out of school reading. Students participate in book clubs both before and after school to assist them in meeting their reading goals. The grant would ensure all students have access to appropriate materials in a way that would make even better use of our cutting edge technology. We already encourage our students to take advantage of educational technology at home by using "Study Island", so access to your books at student homes would be highly encouraged and heavily used. Dr. Margaret Schaffer, Principal, Shohola Elementary School, Shohola, PA This will be introduced to all faculty/staff members during a staff development meeting prior to the arrival of students for the new school year... Teachers will work together in planning groups to develop hands-on, interactive lessons that center around the themes and concepts of the books utilized. In addtion to this, students will be allowed to access these books during literacy workstation/center time in their classrooms. Our media specialist will support classroom teachers by maintaining a section of our library with these books that are available for students, teachers, and parents to check out for further use. We will introduce this program to parents as early in our school year as possible (at our back-to-school night, or our first PTO meeting), and follow this up with a letter to parents giving them the information that they will need to access this from home with their children... I have shared the e-mail address for your site, along with some of the information there, with faculty members during a meeting by using the smart board in our media center so that they could see for themselves how wonderful, useful, and easy to employ it is. Tammy Taylor, First Grade Teacher, Goose Creek, SC I fully integrate all the subjects when I teach... I see these books as a great bridge for good science content in ESL, and differentation for each student. We need to teach great content, and not let ability or language be a problem. I would let this program be an engaging activity for the content of reading and science. It would also become an activity for small group investigation and nonfiction reading. It would become a home activity as well... I have years of experience in grades K-4 science lab. These students today come with all levels of abitlity... My goal is to make science a part of their lives, not a seperate subject. Your books are very friendly and informative. I think with the use of technology and the smart boards in classrooms being important, these books will just make teaching so much easier. The time we have to teach is a high priority, and this integrates into several TEKS for integration so well, it will be like teaching smarter, not harder. The kids will eat this stuff up, and retain it longer. That is our goal! Diana Murray, Teacher, Morris Fifth Grade Center, Houston, TX This would be a wonderful tool to enhance learning in our school that is struggling to bring up the reading scores of our students. Debbie Teague, Media Specialist, Holladay Elem, Richmond, VA
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