About Us

(Updated last on September 10, 2008)

What Is TeachingBooks.net?

TeachingBooks.net is a time-saving portal to thousands of online resources you can use to explore children's and young adult books and their authors.

We provide immediate access to useful materials and exciting programs (short movies, audio book readings, book discussion guides, and more) that add a multimedia dimension to reading in the classroom, library, and home.

Use TeachingBooks.net to look up any favorite author — from David Macaulay to J.K. Rowling, from Dr. Seuss to Shakespeare — or any title (fiction or nonfiction). You instantly get search results filled with online teaching / learning resources about that author or specific book.

These resources are also perfect for lesson planning, author studies, and professional development to support the many ways books can be integrated into all subject areas in the K–12 curriculum.

We are currently enjoyed in more than 21,000 schools coast-to-coast, helping to nurture a love of reading and books.

Visit us often for multimedia resources to better understand the spirit and personality behind books and discover exciting new ways to share those insights with children and teens.

Original Content

TeachingBooks.net specializes in creating original content with award-winning authors and illustrators to enable you to connect with the author the moment you are reading a book — for any subject area you are teaching.

Authors talk about journaling, doing research, bringing history to life, and working with inspiring ideas. Illustrators show techniques they use to create picture books, graphic novels, and more. TeachingBooks.net original content highlights the opportunity for you to have the author as a primary-source resource, sharing the professional work they do.

TeachingBooks.net original content includes:

"Meet the Author" movies and comprehensive virtual author visits — filmed in the authors' homes and studios. Full list of Original TeachingBooks.net Author Programs
Audio Readings — award-winning authors introduce and read an excerpt from a favorite book.
Full list of Original TeachingBooks.net Book Readings
A collection of original recordings with authors and illustrators saying their names — "Hello, my name is . . ."
Author Name Pronunciations

[+] Web 2.0 Tools

These components foster collaboration and community among colleagues who wish to learn together about using the multimedia resources on TeachingBooks.net.

Blog / News from TeachingBooks.net

Articles that offer strategies for using featured resources, insights from the authors we talk to, and helpful hints from the staff at TeachingBooks.

Read the blog.
Subscribe by RSS to receive all posts.

Subscribe by Email to only receive articles that match your specific grade levels and curricular areas of interest (part of our Eye-on-the-Web service).

Teacher Tips (beta)

Exchange strategies for using multimedia book and author resources with educators from around the world. Publish how you use specific resources on TeachingBooks.net, and learn applications from others for using online materials to enhance your reading and library activities.

Sign up to begin submitting and reading tips.

Resource Rating (beta):

An easy rating tool for you to rate every resource in our collection.

Sign up as part of Teacher Tips.

Wikipedia Entry:

Read or contribute to the TeachingBooks.net Wikipedia entry.

Facebook Fan Page:

Join this social networking space for fans of TeachingBooks.net. Includes one-click access to featured TeachingBooks resources, discussion forums, upcoming events, and news about TeachingBooks.

Become a fan.

[+] Common Uses

Host virtual author visits so that students learn the craft of writing from favorite professional writers.
Collaborate with fine-arts classes to show movies of Caldecott-winning illustrators designing and creating their art.
Encourage English Language Learners to independently listen to audio excerpts of books to hear the rhythm, pace, and sound of books they are reading.
Train colleagues on the benefits of Reader's Theater and find ready-to-use scripts.
Teach poetry units by listening to poets read their work.
Enliven teaching fiction and nonfiction titles with access to 10,000s of book guides.
Get reliable, multimedia information for author studies.
Use at home with families to share the excitement of books.
Find bilingual resources to hear native-Spanish authors read from their books.

[+] Key Benefits

Fast access to 10,000s of resources for elementary, middle, and high school.
Fiction and nonfiction resources.
Useful throughout all content areas within the K–12 environment.
Accessible from school and home.
Inspires students to read.
Helps students understand more deeply the creative process.
Many in-service materials and free online training sessions.

Affordable Access for Your Entire Community

Many of you are already included in licenses. For others, here's our pricing. We strive to make our service affordable, so that everyone in your community can share and enjoy these multimedia resources.

A license gives unlimited campus and remote access to everyone in your school, library, or educational district — every teacher, librarian, staff member, curriculum specialist, family, and student. We want all boundaries of access broken down to equalize the opportunity for everyone to experience these multimedia author and book connections.

Home access, by the way, makes TeachingBooks.net ideal for at-home study projects and home/school community-building efforts. Flyers and bookmarks with access passwords, already translated into several dozen languages, help non-English speaking families know about this reading resource available to their children.

Try TeachingBooks.net

We'll send helpful hints on how to use the site during your trial.

Or contact us if you would like to discuss an extended trial so that everyone in your educational community can use the site freely for a longer trial, perhaps with an online in-service training session on best uses of the site's many features.

[+] History & Vision of TeachingBooks.net

History

TeachingBooks.net was founded upon the premise that educators find enjoyment and professional value in seeing and hearing authors talk about their work. Nick Glass, the founder and principal of TeachingBooks.net, had hosted many author presentations in his previous work — bringing authors to bookstores, schools, libraries, and conferences — and had arranged live author programs for educators over a distance-learning video network. Each author interaction with educators inspired new insights for teaching and sharing books with children — and Nick wanted to give this opportunity to everyone.

In April 2000, the genesis for TeachingBooks.net took form. It debuted at the American Library Association convention in San Francisco in June 2001 and was launched on the Internet September 1, 2001. TeachingBooks.net began selling licenses in November 2003.

Mission & Methods

TeachingBooks.net's mission is to generate enthusiasm for books and reading by bringing authors, illustrators, and engaging resources about books for children and teens to every school, library, and home.

From one easy-to-use website, TeachingBooks.net makes instantly available a wealth of multimedia resources on children's and young adult literature.

TeachingBooks.net uses online technology to enable authors and illustrators to be seen and heard on demand in every school, library, and home. Our database of tens of thousands of reliable links — professionally vetted and authoritative — makes it intuitive to bring books to life for everyone across the K–12 educational landscape.

Educators find materials through our search box, advanced search tools, and instantly sortable tables. "Eye-on-the-Web" emails deliver tailored reports filled with hotlinks that match each teacher's specific subject and grade-level interests.

TeachingBooks.net integrates insights about books throughout all content areas of the school curriculum. With a wealth of resources on children's and young adult literature, TeachingBooks.net helps everyone become knowledgeable and inspired about the world of books.

A Letter from TeachingBooks.net's Founder

Nick Glass I started TeachingBooks.net to give every teacher, librarian, student, and family a chance to see and hear directly from the creators of the very best books for children and young adults. Having hosted hundreds of author programs in my home state of Wisconsin, I experienced firsthand how seeing and hearing an author inherently changes a relationship with the book — both for the student and educator. Coming from an Educational Policy background, I knew there could be a way to give everyone this opportunity.

Now, with the amazing technology of the Internet, we make it simple for you, your colleagues, and your students to get excited about books and reading in new ways. You and all your students and staff can be transported into the homes and studios of the best authors, while accessing exceptional support materials for all your favorite books! Think of the excitement generated when each of you can meet the author of the book the moment you are reading it.

Thanks for your interest in TeachingBooks.net. I'd love to hear from you, so we can learn better how to serve your needs and interests.

Nick Glass
nick@TeachingBooks.net
(800) 596-0710

[+] Staff Directory

Team

Nick Glass — Founder & Principal
	Nick Glass has thoroughly enjoyed his circuitous professional route to the founding of TeachingBooks.net. Right after graduating from Grinnell College, he spent six fabulous seasons as an executive in Major League Baseball (the Chicago White Sox, the Office of the Commissioner, and the San Francisco Giants), and then completed his MA in the history of multicultural education. It was while working on his dissertation (at the Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison) that he became a bookseller at the independent Pooh Corner bookstore and realized that his calling was in children's books. Nick has spoken at a few dozen educational conferences on integrating 21st century skills and multimedia materials to equalize access to authors and materials about books. He is an active member of the ALA and IRA, and writes monthly columns for the School Library Journal / TeachingBooks.net 'Curriculum Connections' e-newsletter, LibrarySparks magazine, and a new column in collaboration with colleague Carin Bringelson for School Library Monthly. He served on the ALSC 2009 Newbery Medal selection committee, the Coretta Scott King Book Award 40th Anniversary Public Awareness Campaign committee, and is currently on the ALSC Oral History committee. Hear Nick pronounce and tell about his name:

Alyssa Yokota-Lewis — Educational Outreach Coordinator
	An English major from Grinnell College, Alyssa Yokota-Lewis has been read-aloud to since before she can remember and has held a love of literature her entire life. After doing research on reading programs in public schools in the U.S., she struck on a particular interest in the way that students interact with literature. Working as Educational Outreach Coordinator at TeachingBooks.net not only brings her closer to the fascinating world of reading it also demonstrates the variety of ways in which we can bring books into the classroom. It allows her to speak with wonderful educators, surround herself with new and exciting K–12 literature, and discover more and more about authors and illustrators everyday. Hear Alyssa pronounce and tell about her name:

Bret Hoffman — Special Projects Manager
	After receiving a degree in Finance, Investment and Banking from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Bret Hoffman is refreshed to be working at a company without an exclusive bottom-line orientation. Bret was drawn to TeachingBooks.net because of its educational mission and drive to promote technological literacy. He first became familiar with publishing and the world of children's literature as a summer intern with Scholastic, Inc. in New York. As the Special Projects Manager at TeachingBooks.net, Bret is helping to guide the development of the next phase of the TeachingBooks website. He is grateful for the opportunity to be interacting primarily with teachers and librarians, whose positive energy and intentions are continuously encouraging. Hear Bret pronounce and tell about his name:

Brian Wulff — Accounts Manager
	With a degree in English and creative writing from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Brian Wulff has long been interested in books, authors, and the writing process. He spent the 2007-08 school year in two elementary schools as a volunteer coordinator with the Schools of Hope AmeriCorps project, working primarily on youth literacy initiatives. His experience in the schools guides his efforts as an Accounts Manager with TeachingBooks. In his role, Brian connects with administrators, teachers, and other educators, whose insights and input help TeachingBooks become an ever more relevant and powerful teaching resource. Brian's favorite children's books include: The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, Number the Stars by Lois Lowry, and James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl. Hear Brian pronounce and tell about his name:

Carin Bringelson, MLS — Information Manager
	With two Masters degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison — one in Educational Policy Studies and one in Library and Information Studies — Carin Bringelson enjoys being able to combine two of her interests (education and children's/young adult books) into one career. Carin has a particular passion for Intellectual Freedom, which informs her work at TeachingBooks.net. As the Information Manager, she welcomes new license holders with a "Getting Started with TeachingBooks" phone call, and she also is responsible for identifying, cataloging, and uploading new resources for the website. Hear Carin pronounce and tell about her name:

Danika Brubaker, MLS — Web 2.0 Content Producer
	While completing her Masters in Library and Information Science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Danika Brubaker discovered her passion for online communities and discourse generated by Web 2.0 applications such as blogs, wikis, widgets, and social networking tools. Danika sees nearly infinite educational applications in the ever-developing world of Web 2.0 technologies. In her role as Web 2.0 Content Producer she is constantly exploring how new Internet technologies might enhance the way educators can collaborate and communicate about using the multimedia resources on TeachingBooks to bring authors into their classrooms. Hear Danika pronounce and tell about her name:

Dennis Best — Web Technology Manager
	If he'd even heard about the Internet or the Web, Dennis Best would not have chosen to major in philosophy and political science at Southwest Missouri State University. He would have been too distracted. He's passionate about creativity, online communication tools, and helping others. For him, TeachingBooks.net is the ideal environment. Dennis and his wife Connie live in downtown Madison where they are walked daily by their dogs Maggie and Baba Ganoush. Hear Dennis pronounce and tell about his name:

TaNisha N. Templeton — Accounts Support Administrator
	As the Accounts Support Administrator, TaNisha Templeton is happy to join such a positive and encouraging collection of people — her colleagues at TeachingBooks.net, authors and illustrators she's able to either learn about or learn more about, and the appreciative educators who are enthused to incorporate multimedia resources into their teaching styles. She enjoys reading to her niece and watching how excited a four year old can get over a colorful illustration or well-worded rhyme and is therefore quite happy she's working for a company where she can learn about the latest happenings in the literary world. The skills she acquired while earning her B.S. in Marketing help her to couple business concepts with building successful relationships. Therefore, she's delighted to be working for a small company where she can contribute her ideas and really get to know the educational community that TeachingBooks serves. Hear TaNisha pronounce and tell about her name:

Web development and site maintenance: Root Level Services, LLC
Graphic web and print design: Matheson Creative
Web hosting: Root Level Services, LLC
Movie editing and video consultation: Gretta Miller
Audio editing and consultation: Aarick Beher
Legal support: Michael, Best & Friedrich's intellectual properties unit
Accounting: Brian Burant, CPA at Petkovsek & Moran, LLP
Business Incubator / Office: Genesis Enterprise Center
Business consultation: Jack Reiners, University of Wisconsin's Small Business Development Center
Business insurance: American Family Insurance
Additional Content Maintenance: Heather Raabe, teacher; Susan Herr-Hoyman, librarian

A myriad of talented and enthusiastic friends provide invaluable support, including the following whose efforts have earned them lifetime subscriptions to TeachingBooks.net. Barbara, Cathy, Eileen, Heather, Jack, Jenny, Jim, Jonathan, Marjorie, Richard, Rink, Sally, Stanley, Susan, Tim and Virginia. Of course, none of this would be possible without the familial patience and support of MJ, Sasha and Talia.

TeachingBooks.net LLC
313 West Beltline Highway
Suite 204
Madison, WI 53713
info@TeachingBooks.net

Phone: (800) 596-0710
Fax: (608) 327-8010

If we can be of any assistance with your use and enjoyment of our service, please ask. We appreciate the opportunity to work with you and your community, sharing multimedia connections to authors and books.

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