The Basics of Reading... Revised Test-prep Book, Aligned to McRel Standards

We've just finished revising our popular Basics Made Easy: Reading Review book. And guess what?

This book is now up to standards... Content standards published by highly respected education research organization McRel, that is. What does this mean for you? It means this book is closely aligned to state standards very similar to those used by your state. *

Our BME series is meant to provide thorough, general review for middle schoolers and high schoolers, especially those facing impending standardized tests.

Basics Made Easy: Reading Review's new version features two new complete reading practice tests, plus plenty of enhancements to exercises, passages, and explanations throughout. We improved the arrangement of the book's sections, making it easier for your students to use effectively.

(Oh, and we updated all sorts of decade-old references, making everything more timely--your students won't balk at any passages about "compact discs," whatever those are.)

Take a look at sample pages, and request a free preview copy.

* - Of course, we still boast an ever-expanding line of state-specific products.

NEW: Two Sets of Dolch Sight Words Flash Cards (with activities and more!)

Dolch Word Flash Cards PLUS covers the entire list of 220 Dolch high-frequency sight words. And, not to sound like an infomercial, but that's not all. We also included dozens of cards on numbers, shapes, and common nouns--and 15 vocabulary activity cards.

These big, clear, high-quality flash cards are divided into two sets...

Set 1: Dolch Flash Cards for Pre-primer, Primer, and First Grade

Features 40 pre-primer, 52 primer, and 41 first-grade Dolch high-frequency word cards... AND cards reviewing 20 nouns, 4 shapes, and numbers 1-10. Also includes 7 activity cards for Dolch sight word practice. 174

Set 2: Dolch Flash Cards for Second and Third Grade

Offers 46 second-grade and 41 third-grade Dolch sight word cards. This set also covers 74 nouns, 12 months, and numbers 11-20, plus 8 unique activity cards.

We provide flash cards for other subjects (and languages) too. As always, just e-mail us to request a free sample pack of flash cards.

Writing Test-prep Book? Revised Basics Made Easy: Writing Review Is Here to Help!

The freshly revised Basics Made Easy: Writing Review is perfect for middle or high school students in need of writing test preparation. Featuring...

• A diagnostic writing test, designed to empower students to evaluate their own writing.


• An evaluation chart, showing students which chapters will provide the most beneficial review.


• Two additional sample writing tests, each loaded with multiple writing prompts and essential writing checklists.


• Fourteen chapters of writing test-prep explanations, exercises, and examples, starting with "Writing Paragraphs" and ending with "Scoring the Essay."

And remember...

The new Basics Made Easy: Writing Review test-prep book is now based on McRel writing standards.

Basics Made Easy: Writing Review aligns to standards much like your state's. (Of course, we may have a writing test-prep book written specifically for your state... Take a look!)

Why not look through some sample pages from Basics Made Easy: Writing Review while you're here... And then request a free preview copy?

Tips for Teachers #1: Make Attending a Conference Easier

Educational conferences and expos are wonderful for gaining insights and gathering new materials. But they can be exhausting! Trying to decide what speakers to see, running around the displays, fitting in a little nourishment between activities … it can all be daunting. Here are a few tips to make your next conference experience a mellower one.

• Save your back. If you know that you will want to pick up materials, bring along a rolling attaché or bag of some type. Alternatively, check out what the exhibitors have to offer but, instead of grabbing samples, sign up for materials to be mailed to you later.
  
• Carry self-addressed labels. Avoid hand cramps, memory loss, and missing the next speaker as you try to sign up for all the goodies that exhibitors offer. Take a sheet of small labels to each conference, containing your name, title, and school address. Many sign-up sheets ask for an email address too, so consider including that.
  
• Divide and conquer. If you attend a conference with colleagues, agree to divide up the interesting presentations. You can also divvy up visiting exhibits, if there are many of them. Then, you can meet to trade notes and materials. If you alone represent your school or district, find someone at the conference who is in the same boat, and divide tasks between you.
  
• Smell the roses. Schedule some down time—like a short nap after a full day and before an evening out—and plan for a little fun. Especially if a conference is in an interesting location, make it a point to see more than just the hotel. This will help make the entire experience more memorable. If an excursion is not part of the conference itself, take an evening or even a half-day to explore. The “divide and conquer” advice above will help you make sure you do not miss anything!
  
• Nosh when you can. Even if you’re not hungry when the break snacks come out, nibble on something. You never know what might happen—I have seen scheduling errors or miscounts deprive people of their lunches or dinners at keynote events.

Of course, there are other smart tips that most people know—wear comfy shoes, dress in layers because you never know what how the rooms are heated or cooled, and so on—but these should get you started. If you have other tips gleaned from experience, please reply to this post and share them!

Check back or subscribe for more Tips for Teachers.

Zuzana Urbanek, English Language Arts Coordinator at American Book Company.

Georgia teachers: Looking for help with the 2nd grade Reading CRCT?

Mastering the Georgia 2nd Grade CRCT in Reading is based on CRCT and GPS standards and loaded with great exercises and examples.

Like all our test-prep books, it features multiple practice tests plus a diagnostic test, all modeled on the real deal.

Interested in receiving a free preview copy of this book?

New Texas EOC Biology Test-preparation Book

Passing the Texas Biology End-of-Course Assessment... available now!

Texas educators, contact us to request a free preview copy.

Georgia Accelerated Math I Test-prep Book: Now Available

Mastering the Georgia Accelerated Math I Course is designed to help your students pass the (often-troublesome) Math I EOCT and the Accelerated Math I course.

Contact us to request a free preview copy!

North Carolina 7th Grade EOG Math: New Test-prep Book

North Carolina educators... Take a look at the brand new Passing the North Carolina 7th Grade End-of-Grade Test in Mathematics.

Want more info? Like to request a free preview copy? Contact us today!

Want to Know More about American Book Company? Read Up on Wikipedia and Knol

On our site, we like to focus on what we can do for you. But if you'd ever like to read more about our story, why not rummage through the entries about us at Wikipedia and Knol?

American Book Company Answers Demand... New 1st Grade CRCT Reading Workbook

Now available: Mastering the Georgia 1st Grade CRCT in Reading. We still offer free preview copies of all our books, of course. Click to request a copy.

And remember...

We include answer keys with every purchase of our books. If you have a preview copy of American Book Company books and need to order a classroom set plus answer keys, let us know!