A young kindergarten teacher and moonlighting accordionist turns amateur sleuth when she becomes a suspect in a bizarre murder.

Death By Accordion (Ella Polansky Mystery)

Mystery, Thriller & Suspense

Thurston, Cheryl Miller

Mystery

Scattershot Entertainment

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.

Step, Shuffle, DIE

Some students are just not comfortable with sharing intimate details about their thoughts, feelings, and lives― at least, not with others in a class or group. Unjournaling, Second Edition is brimming with playful writing prompts that are entirely impersonal, easing the way for hesitant writers while still offering creative challenges for those who are more experienced. 
This edition updates existing prompts while introducing 50 brand new ones. It includes sample responses― a helpful tool for anyone who gets stuck with a topic and wants to see how it can be done! Two examples of the 250 writing prompts include: Somebody’s sitting behind you on the bus. You hear only one side of an odd cell phone conversation, but it is intriguing and alarms you. What do you hear? Igor could hardly wait to get his new special license plates for his car. He paid extra for these plates: BIM- BB1. Explain the meaning behind this very special license plate. 
Suited for seventh grade to adulthood, Unjournaling is a flexible, varied, interesting, and, most of all, fun approach to creative writing.

Unjournaling

Reference

DiPrince, Dawn

Words, Language & Grammar

Routledge

This classroom-tested book includes 101 quick writing topics for short assignments or journals and 25 longer assignments complete with pre-writing activities.

When They Think They Have Nothing to Write about: Over 125 Practical Composition Activities Based on the Writing Process

Education & Teaching

Schools & Teaching

Cottonwood Press (Fort Collins, CO)

Tired of the mindlessness of word search puzzles or the same old games on homonyms and synonyms? Try "Games for English and Language Arts." This book of reproducibles includes everything from oral and group games to word puzzles and creative challenges. Activities in "Games for English and Language Arts" include: Alphabet Trade Names; Ik!; Rhyme Time; and Chris Rock Meets the Slimy Rubber Band Monster in the Center of Mom's Microwave. Help your students discover the pleasure of playing with words, language, and communication with "Games for English and Language Arts." This activity book is perfect for middle school and most games are suitable for high school as well.

Games for English and Language Arts

Children's Books

Miller, Pat

Zeinert,Karen

Hunter, Charlene

Livingstone, Isobel L.

Loeffelbein, Bob

Activities, Crafts & Games

Prufrock Pr

Ideas that Really Work! has been one of our most popular books, ever since the first edition came out several years ago. If you are going to order just one book from Cottonwood Press, this is the one we recommend. 
The book includes a wide variety of materials that will make your life easier. Just a few topics: 
understanding plagiarism 
using quotation marks correctly 
using commercials to teach critical thinking 
planning a school English trivia bowl 
One customer favorite is "Word Snapshot Posters," which uses a unique blend of graphics and words to help students capture a moment in time. There are also composition ideas, speech activities, grammar and punctuation lessons, seasonal activities and more in this large and varied collection. Best of all, the ideas really do work. 
For grades 7-9, though much of the book can be used with older students as well. 169 pages, 81/2" 11", reproducible, illustrated.

Ideas That Really Work: Activities for English and Language Arts

Cottonwood Pr

This refreshing book takes an honest, realistic approach to helping students become better learners. It recognizes that many of today's students don't seem to care about school--or, if they do, it's for all the wrong reasons. This book helps them want to learn. Yet it also appeals to students who are already motivated and positive about school. Attitude is filled with interesting, fun-to-do activities that help students of all abilities do the following: see and understand the value of knowledge and learning; look realistically at the future; recognize and build on their strengths; change bad habits; and learn practical ways to improve school performance. Even if you try nothing else from the book, the chapter on WABs (Whiners And Blamers) is one you shouldn't miss. It includes humorous activites that will help your students take responsibility for their actions. Perfect as a supplemental tool in any classroom, grades 6-9. Most activities suitable for older students as well.

Attitude!: Helping Students Want to Succeed in School and Then Setting Them Up for Success

Capitalization is not likely to leap to the top of any teacher's list of "My Favorite Units to Teach." However, it is possible to teach students to capitalize correctly without having them fall asleep over their text—if you are using a text designed with real kids in mind, and if the text leaves students some room to exercise their own creativity. Capitalization definitely does both. The activities in the book are short and filled with humorous characters and situations that appeal to young people. The activities always involve student writing, as well as practice sentences for students to correct. Give the activities a try. Your students will have some fun with writing as they learn to recognize and apply capitalization rules, one step at a time.

Capitalization: Teaching Correct Capitalization to Kids Who Aren't Crazy About Writing in the First Place (Teaching the Boring Stuff Series)

How to Avoid English Teachers' Pet Peeves is a book that helps writers avoid the annoying little errors that English teachers encounter nearly every day as they read student papers. It addresses the mistakes that make English teachers wince. It is not intended to address major problems, like disorganized writing or writing that does not make sense. The 50 pet peeves in this practical book were those mentioned most often by 125 English teachers from across the country. Topics covered include:<ul>
<li>spelling "a lot" as one word;</li>
<li>writing "could of" instead of "could have" and</li>
<li>mixing up "your" and "you're."</li>
</ul>The short, sensible explanations and exercises can help anyone learn to avoid common writing errors.

How to Avoid English Teachers' Pet Peeves: Improve Your Writing by Eliminating the Common Errors That English Teachers See Most Often

Education & Reference

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Thurston, Cheryl Miller. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Thurston, Cheryl Miller

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Thurston, Cheryl Miller. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Death By Accordion (Ella Polansky Mystery)

Step, Shuffle, DIE

Unjournaling

Unjournaling

When They Think They Have Nothing to Write about: Over 125 Practical Composition Activities Based on the Writing Process

Games for English and Language Arts

Ideas That Really Work: Activities for English and Language Arts

Attitude!: Helping Students Want to Succeed in School and Then Setting Them Up for Success

Capitalization: Teaching Correct Capitalization to Kids Who Aren't Crazy About Writing in the First Place (Teaching the Boring Stuff Series)

How to Avoid English Teachers' Pet Peeves: Improve Your Writing by Eliminating the Common Errors That English Teachers See Most Often