eSource: Free Teaching Guides
Select a product from the list below to view available teaching guides. Use the tags on left to filter the list.
Hoop Genius
Taking over a rowdy gym class right before winter vacation is not something James Naismith wants to do at all. The last two teachers of this class quit in frustration. The students—a bunch of energetic young men—are bored with all the regular games and… View →
Indigo and Ida
When eighth grader and aspiring journalist Indigo breaks an important story, exposing an unfair school policy, she’s suddenly popular for the first time. The friends who’ve recently drifted away from her want to hang out again. Then Indigo notices… View →
Info Wise
Today’s students are bombarded with facts and opinions. They need strong information literacy skills to navigate our data-rich world and identify the best information. These books take students step by step through the research process—how to ask good questions and strategize their View →
Into the Wind
A character-driven novel about the unlikely friendship between a 10-year-old boy and an elderly woman. The old woman badgers the boy into taking her sailing, but when the weather turns bad, it becomes a wild sail. It becomes the last trip before she goes into the hospital where she dies: View →
It's Just an Expression
It’s Just an Expression explores the meaning and origin of common idioms in the English language, from “batting a thousand” to “bring home the bacon.” The series’ dual-level approach makes the books perfect for both striving readers as well as advanced learners looking… View →
Ivy Newt and the Storm Witch
It’s Ivy’s birthday, and her parents, the King and Queen of the Sand Witches, have prepared her a show-stopping present—a magic act where they disappear! But hold on, they really have disappeared! Foul work is at play, and to rescue Ivy’s… View →
Ivy Newt in Miracula
Ivy Newt, a young witch, and her shape-shifting friend, Tom, find themselves caught up in perilous adventures, but they always end up making friends, helping others, and defeating bullies. The fast-paced plot gallops along with lots of twists and turns, danger,… View →
Jack Death
Jack is an ordinary boy except that his father happens to be Death. Nadine is a perfectly normal girl except that her Mother is—oh well, that’s a Secret and not to be carelessly revealed on the back cover of a book. The important thing is that together, these two incredibly average View →
José and the Pirate Captain Toledano
Set in the shadows of the Spanish Inquisition, this is the coming-of-age story of José Alfaro, a young refugee who forms a powerful bond with the mysterious Pirate Captain Toledano. It’s also a dynamic pirate adventure on the high seas, with hand-to-hand combat and ship-to-ship… View →
Kwame Votes
Kwame is excited to tell his family who he voted for and why in his school student government election. To his surprise, his family is also getting ready to be part of Election Day. He spends a celebratory afternoon with his family eating and talking about why… View →
Last of the Name
April 1863, height of the US Civil War Twelve-year-old Danny O’Carolan arrives in New York City with nothing but his father’ songs, his brothers’ dancing steps, and his only remaining relative—his older sister, Kathleen. Driven from their home in View →
Little Wolf Adventures
Little Wolf often fails to live up to his family’s standards of badness, but his adventures are certainly full of fun. Told through letter or diary entries with hilarious wordplay and amusing illustrations, these easy chapter books are perfect for beginning readers or as read alouds. View →
Lorimer Sports Stories
Realistic, action-packed sports stories for reluctant middle-grade readers. Each book covers a contemporary theme—like bullying, friendship or prejudice—set against the backdrop of a specific sport. The themes will appeal to kids who play sports, such as rivalry, teamwork, competition… View →
Losing the Plot
A tremendous whooshing noise started up. It sounded like a million pages being riffled at once. I caught a strong whiff of gingerbread. Then The Complete Fairytales of the Brothers Grimm flew open and a human-shaped blur came shooting out . . . Basil… View →
Make a Little Wave
Swim with the current, or go against the flow? Savannah has been feeling out of place ever since her family moved to Sandy Dune, Florida. She finds it easier to make friends with animals than people. Plus, everyone in Sandy Dune seems to love spending time in the View →
Mallory
Meet Mallory McDonald, a spunky, energetic young girl whose comical exploits and joke-telling will hit the mark with early chapter book readers. Check out Mallory’s website at www.mallorymcdonald.com. Kids can meet Mallory’s creator (author Laurie Friedman), find out fun… View →
Mira's Diary
History comes alive as Mira travels through places and times, trying to right old wrongs, starting with the Dreyfus Affair. Each book introduces real political characters, writers, artists, and actual cases of great injustice. View →
My Ex-Imaginary Friend
Jack hasn’t seen his imaginary friend, George, since his tenth birthday, almost a year ago. His mom figures Jack simply outgrew George, but Jack suspects that George left of his own accord—just like Jack’s dad. Then Jack’s mom takes off too,… View →
Mystery Masters (Phonics Fun — Chapter Books)
Enhance reading skills while solving mysteries with this upper-level phonics series. Tailored for students in grades 3-5 needing extra support, these entertaining stories reinforce core skills, making learning engaging and effective. View →
Name Tags and Other Sixth-Grade Disasters
Lizbeth Murphy always has a plan, and most of her plans have worked—until now. No matter what she tries, she can’t get rid of her dad’s new girlfriend, Claire. And when she and her mom move to the other side of town, Lizbeth’s attempts to make friends in her new… View →
Name That Text Type!
This accessible new series introduces young readers to the basics of differentiating between genres. Readers will learn the characteristics of poetry, fiction, nonfiction, graphic novels, plays, and legends and folktales. Each book contains written examples of the text type in question,… View →
Noah Green Saves the World
Noah is a would-be filmmaker who has trouble making friends and understanding people. In Noah Green Saves the World, by Laura Toffler-Corrie, Noah thinks that this summer, the best place for him is the David Lynch Film Camp, to work on his film “opus,” and not his parents’… View →
Not So Shy
Twelve-year-old Shai hates everything about moving to America from Israel. She’s determined to come up with a plan that will get her back home. Maybe she can go back with her grandparents when they come to visit. Or maybe she can win a drawing competition… View →
One Wise Sheep
Tonight, the sheep can’t sleep. The pasture is floodlit by a strange new star and their shepherds have disappeared. They must have been kidnapped by a UFO—or perhaps they’ve gone to meet the child rumored to have been born in a stable. The sheep set… View →