The Education Continuum

New digital Continuum catalogue for schools

I'm VERY excited to be able to share the link for the new digital catalogue for our professional books: http://bit.ly/xxDsjI.

If you'd like a print copy, just get in touch and we'd be happy to send you one but we thought you might find it even more useful to be able to click through to the books you like the look of online.

Do let us know if you have any feedback - we are always pleased to hear constructive criticism!

Thanks,

Mel

Melanie Wilson
Commissioning Editor (professional education)

New edition of Getting the Buggers to Write out tomorrow!

The third edition of this bestselling book by education superstar, Sue Cowley, includes new material on writing in the Digital Age, creative ideas for getting boys to write and cross-curricular writing projects. There is also a brand new companion website, where you’ll find lots of useful extras, including advice about the teacher as writer – how you can use your writing skills beyond the school.

Sue also has a website dedicated to celebrating writing and the joy it brings to all. Sue is currently holding a writing competition, but entry closes soon. Why not have a go at entering it and you could win a copy of the new book! Check it out here.

 

Melanie Wilson
Commissioning Editor (Professional Education)

Fourth edition of Getting the Buggers to Behave is out now!

Pedigree Chum, anyone?

To celebrate the launch of the new edition of this international bestseller, we're offering you the chance to win a copy and a mention on the companion website!

For those of you who’ve never read Sue Cowley’s prodigious bestseller Getting the Buggers to Behave, you won’t yet be familiar with some of the slightly zany tactics Sue employs to get her kids to listen, and actually enjoy listening. My personal favourite is ‘The Can of Dog Food’, which can be found on p.115 of the new edition:

Description:

This activity was originally used for design technology, and it shocks the students into paying attention. Of all the suggestions I’ve ever made, this has attracted the most controversy. Your teaching style probably needs to be ‘comic and quirky’ or possibly ‘edge of madness’ to pull it off. Prepare your can ahead of time: cut the base off the tin or split open the pouch carefully; empty it out and wash it well; chop up the Mars bars and mix this with the jelly; refill the can or pouch and fix it back together with glue or tape. (Note: an easier alternative is to swap the labels over between dog food and something more appetizing.) Explain to the class that the lesson is about packaging. Show the students the can of dog food, open it up, and then eat from it. Offer it round the class, to see if anyone will have a taste. You’ll get a lively reaction to this opening, but your students will eventually quieten down to hear what you have to say.

Have you ever used a slightly off-the-wall starter to get your students’ attention? If so, we want to hear from you! If Sue likes your idea the best, you’ll win a free copy of the new edition and a mention on the companion website. To enter, just email mwilson@continuumbooks.com with your ‘edge of madness’ story before 30 September 2010.

Melanie Wilson
Commissioning Editor (Professional Education)

AERA 2010 - Denver, USA, 30th April - 4th May

With the American Educational Research Association (AERA) conference fast approaching we are keeping everything crossed that the volcanic ash that has plagued UK airspace will soon disperse! It has already caused havoc with London Book Fair - but I am sure that my  editorial colleague Ally Clark will be able to get to AERA safely in time to join our US education team.

Not only will the conference be a fantastic trip for those that haven't been to Colorado before - but the event itself is one of the biggest educational conferences in the US. Do come and see us at stand #321 - we have a wide range of our books at conference discount, plus we are running an exciting competition to win an iPod nano or a Flip Video Camcorder! To be in with a chance of winning, just stop by the stand and sign up to our education e-newsletters. There will be a number of books available to have a look through and purchase, including the best-selling Pedagogy of the Oppressed - we are currently building an exciting new website around this book, details of which can be found on the stand also.

For those of you that are attending and haven't been to Denver before there are some fantastic dining and 'what to do' links on the AERA website - it makes me wish I was going! If you would like to book an appointment with our Commissioning Editor Ally Clark do email her aclark@continuumbooks.com - alternatively, just drop by stand #321.

Jennifer Tighe

Marketing Executive

National Science and Engineering Week

Discover lots of free resources, videos and enter our giveaway during National Science and Engineering Week! (12th- 21st March). The theme this year is Earth and there are some great resources on the British Science Association website to engage your pupils with science - including a poster competition, a chance to win annual passes to the Eden project plus many more resources and activities. TeachersTV have a whole host of videos to knock your science socks off - from weird science to green power, you will be sure to find something of interest. Many thanks to Sam Hodaei for pulling hem all together into one place on his blog on bee-it.

If you need some help putting the 'wow' factor back into your science lessons, then you need to get your hands on 100 Ideas for Teaching Science. To celebrate National Science and Engineering Week, we have 1 copy to give away for free! To enter email us at education.uk@continuumbooks.com - with the subject header 'Science 2010'. The winner will be picked on Friday 19th March at 5.00 pm (GMT). Best of luck!

Getting the Buggers into Science is full of invaluable tips on how to engage students with science. From hosting a Victorian washday in your school to planning an entire science week - this book is essential reading for all science teachers. More information can be found here. 

I hope you find the links to those resources as interesting as we do, and let us know if there is anything else you find to get students into science!

Jennifer Tighe

Marketing Executive

Win £100 worth of books!

We have a £100 Continuum voucher to give away - that's right, you can browse through and select any of our education books up to the value of £100! If you need some inspiration why don't you check out our latest Education professional catalogue - showing our new books and bestsellers for education practitioners.

To be in with a chance to win & to sign up to our e-newsletters, email education.uk@continuumbooks.com with the subject header EDUCATION 2010. The winner will be selected at random on the 20th April 2010.

Good luck!

Jennifer Tighe

Marketing Executive

First Blog Competition!

To celebrate the launch of our new blog and twitter this month we have teamed up with Sue Cowley, author of the bestselling behaviour management book Getting the Buggers to Behave, to reveal the most off-the-wall ways of grabbing the attention of the class.

In her book, Sue explains that by doing something unexpected or bizarre you can introduce a topic and get the students intrigued and interested! Ever thought to set up a murder scene to bring a Science lesson to life? Or pretended to eat dog food from the tin to introduce the link between packaging and expectations?

If you share your favourite creative trick for getting your class to listen and learn, your idea could feature on the companion website as well as bagging you a copy of the book.

To be in with a chance of winning, please email education.uk@continuumbooks.com - you will also be entered into a competition to win £100 worth of books.

We have 3 copies to give away, and the competition ends on the 31st March so get emailing with your most creative ideas!