Amy B. Rogers

Grades are often seen as a way to measure students' progress and determine their understanding of important topics. However, the pressure to get good grades can harm students' mental health, and grades don't always accurately reflect a students' understanding of the material. These two conflicting viewpoints are presented to readers in an unbiased manner as they are encouraged to develop their own informed opinion about the necessity of grading students' work. Fact boxes and a helpful graphic organizer help readers strengthen their understanding of different points of view, which is an important critical-thinking skill.

Grades are often seen as a way to measure students' progress and determine their understanding of important topics. However, the pressure to get good grades can harm students' mental health, and grades don't always accurately reflect a students' understanding of the material. These two conflicting viewpoints are presented to readers in an unbiased manner as they are encouraged to develop their own informed opinion about the necessity of grading students' work. Fact boxes and a helpful graphic organizer help readers strengthen their understanding of different points of view, which is an important critical-thinking skill.

Professional athletes are often paid millions of dollars. Many sports fans believe athletes deserve to make a lot of money because they have special skills, make money for their teams and for the cities they play in by attracting fans, and often have short careers and deal with serious injuries. Others, however, believe they make too much money for playing a game and workers such as teachers should make more than athletes. Readers are invited to form their own opinion on this issue as they explore the accessible text, fact boxes, and a helpful graphic organizer.

Watching sports is more fun when you understand the game, and learning as much as you can about a sport can make you better at playing it. With this in mind, young athletes and sports fans are sure to enjoy this exciting look at a variety of sports at the positional level. What does a quarterback do? How does a point guard run the offense in basketball? What's a shortstop? The answers to these questions and many more are presented through detailed main text, sidebars, and fact boxes. In addition, readers can find full-color photographs of athletes in action.

Who controls the offense on a basketball team? Who's responsible for getting rebounds? What skills do you need to be an effective forward or center? These are just some of the questions readers will be able to answer after they finish this deep dive into the different positions on a basketball court. With the help of detailed main text, fun fact boxes, and informative sidebars, readers get a stronger understanding of the ins and outs of basketball. Full-color photographs of this fast-paced sport add to this exciting reading experience for fans and budding basketball stars.

A person's body language gives us important insight into what they're really thinking and feeling, and our own body language is a valuable communication tool. Being aware of what signals different aspects of body language send is an important part of being an effective communicator. Readers explore these different aspects--from facial expressions and hand gestures to posture and personal space--with the help of relatable examples, insightful facts, and full-color photographs. Sidebars introduce important topics such as setting boundaries and the relationship between nonverbal communication and autism spectrum disorder.

Most people want to be known as a good listener, but listening involves so much more than sitting quietly while someone else is speaking. It's a skill that requires practice, patience, and plenty of help along the way. Readers are given valuable advice on how to develop active listening skills and apply them in a variety of situations--from interactions with family and friends to time at school and work. Helpful sidebars provide additional information, and resources for further research encourage a closer study of communication. Relatable examples and full-color photographs enhance this engaging learning experience.

How can you talk to your parents about difficult topics? What are examples of negotiating boundaries in relationships? Whom can you go to at school to ask for help? Readers find the answers to these and many other common questions as they develop the skills needed to speak with confidence. Relatable examples, from family conflicts to disagreements with friends and even asking for a raise at work, are presented, and full-color photographs enhance the reading experience. Sidebars explore a variety of important topics, including social anxiety disorder, and additional resources are listed to encourage further research.

Rosa Parks was a legendary woman who dared to stand against authority and helped spark a boycott and a movement in 1955. This book explores her life, her key decisions, and her role during the civil rights era of the 1950s and 1960s. Using historical photographs, fact boxes, sidebars, timelines, and critical thinking questions, readers explore her personal history, including her interaction with many leaders of the civil rights movement. They'll be inspired by her commitment to social justice issues throughout her life, and form their own opinions about this important figure of the civil rights movement.

Rosa Parks was a legendary woman who dared to stand against authority and helped spark a boycott and a movement in 1955. This book explores her life, her key decisions, and her role during the civil rights era of the 1950s and 1960s. Using historical photographs, fact boxes, sidebars, timelines, and critical thinking questions, readers explore her personal history, including her interaction with many leaders of the civil rights movement. They'll be inspired by her commitment to social justice issues throughout her life, and form their own opinions about this important figure of the civil rights movement.

Malcolm X was a leading figure during the civil rights movement, most known for his advocacy for extreme methods to achieve social justice and civil equality. Readers discover his philosophies, ambitions, contemporaries, and accomplishments during the rise of the Black Power movement. Through the integration of carefully constructed text, critical thinking questions, historical photographs, and engaging sidebars, readers dive deep into Malcolm X's complex story. They'll gain a deeper understanding of the era in which he lived, ultimately forming their own opinions about his beliefs, methods, and legacy.

The first African American Supreme Court justice, Thurgood Marshall is a name synonymous with determination. He was an active voice in the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s, taking a prominent stance behind key court decisions that helped better the lives of African Americans all over the United States. This biography reveals his story: from birth to adulthood and death, exploring his dreams, decisions, and legacy. Readers learn about Marshall's life through the integration of sidebars, fact boxes, critical thinking questions, and age-appropriate text that challenge and inform.

The first African American Supreme Court justice, Thurgood Marshall is a name synonymous with determination. He was an active voice in the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s, taking a prominent stance behind key court decisions that helped better the lives of African Americans all over the United States. This biography reveals his story: from birth to adulthood and death, exploring his dreams, decisions, and legacy. Readers learn about Marshall's life through the integration of sidebars, fact boxes, critical thinking questions, and age-appropriate text that challenge and inform.

Martin Luther King Jr. is an iconic figure of the civil rights movement. His influence during the 1950s and 1960s led to key moments that defined the era, including impassioned speeches and marches through dangerous territory. Readers explore his life story, from birth to death, examining the ways he worked for social justice and civil equality in America. Through the use of historical photographs, sidebars, fact boxes, and critical thinking questions, readers will comprehend the civil rights era as witnessed through the eyes of one of its most beloved and brave leaders.

What rights do students have, and how do they differ from the rights of adults? Readers are challenged to think deeply and critically about these questions as they explore their rights as students. The informative main text provides essential historical context and explains legal rulings in accessible language. Fact boxes and graphic organizers enhance readers' knowledge of this important topic. Full-color photographs provide relatable examples of students exercising their rights. This helpful introduction to student rights encourages activism, informed citizenship, and a deeper understanding of the relationship between rights and responsibilities.

What are human rights? This is a complex question, and the way people answer it affects government policies, laws, and even wars around the world. Readers are introduced to the concept of human rights in an accessible way that features concrete statistics presented in fact boxes and full-color photographs that depict this issue in a global setting. Graphic organizers provide additional information as well as ideas for how young people can respect the rights of others and support the work of human rights organizations around the world.

Some people strongly believe boys and girls should go to separate schools. Others believe this separation isn't good for students. People on each side of this debate use different facts to support their point of view. Readers discover these facts and how they're used to support opinions in this engaging critical thinking exercise. As the main text encourages respect for other opinions, fact boxes, graphic organizers, and vibrant photographs provide additional information and exciting visual elements. Gender equality is an important issue, and this look at gender and education provides an accessible introduction to this topic for elementary readers.

What are human rights? This is a complex question, and the way people answer it affects government policies, laws, and even wars around the world. Readers are introduced to the concept of human rights in an accessible way that features concrete statistics presented in fact boxes and full-color photographs that depict this issue in a global setting. Graphic organizers provide additional information as well as ideas for how young people can respect the rights of others and support the work of human rights organizations around the world.

Sports are fun, but they can be dangerous, too. As more information becomes available about concussions and other injuries, many people have wondered if certain sports, such as football, are too dangerous for kids to play. People often have strong opinions about this topic, and readers are introduced to these opinions in a way that enhances their critical-thinking skills. The facts readers need to develop their own informed opinion are included in the thoroughly researched main text and accompanying fact boxes. A graphic organizer and full-color photographs help readers visualize the many parts of this complex issue.

Sports are fun, but they can be dangerous, too. As more information becomes available about concussions and other injuries, many people have wondered if certain sports, such as football, are too dangerous for kids to play. People often have strong opinions about this topic, and readers are introduced to these opinions in a way that enhances their critical-thinking skills. The facts readers need to develop their own informed opinion are included in the thoroughly researched main text and accompanying fact boxes. A graphic organizer and full-color photographs help readers visualize the many parts of this complex issue.