Free Publications For Parents, Teachers, and Child Care Providers of Foster Children

If one of the children's literacy experts that you saw on Oprah told you that you don't need to buy a book on reading to find good help and advice, that you can simply ask and it will be delivered free to your door, would you believe it? It's true. The best kept secret is the wealth of information provided by the U.S. Department of Education that you can order online or by phone, and have it delivered to your door FOR FREE: No strings, no hidden fees, and NO shipping and handling!

If you are a parent or child care provider, you will find resources on reading, math, science that include tips on how to engage kids at an early age with appropriate activities and books. In addition, teachers can order research reports. information on federal grants and more.

Take a look at some of the great resources every parent, child care provider, and teacher should know about.

Two of the Best New Resources:

1. Dad's Playbook: Coaching Kids to Read Publication ID: ED002542P
Description: Provides information about the importance of teaching children to read, and how fathers can use simple skills to help their children be even better readers. This publication describes some strategies proven to work by the most rigorous scientific reading research available on the teaching of reading. This publication includes stories about how 20 different fathers are helping their children learn to read. (September 2006)

2. Big Dreams, A Family Book about Reading: Preschool through Grade Three Publication ID: ED002549P
Description: This family booklet about reading is aimed at parents of children in Preschool through 3rd Grade. The simple text provides ideas for parents of all literacy skill levels to read with their children and find lessons for reading in everyday activities. (October 2006)

The Helping Your Child publication series, U.S. Department of Education

Description: These booklets feature practical lessons and activities to help their school aged and preschool children master reading, understand the value of homework and develop the skills and values necessary to achieve and grow.

• Helping Your Child Become A Reader.
Publication ID: ED000743P ERIC Num: ED468665

• Helping Your Child Learn Mathematics.
Publication ID: ED000764P

• Helping Your Child Become A Responsible Citizen
Publication ID: ED000754P

• Helping Your Child Learn Science
Publication ID: ED000765P

The National Institute for Literacy Gems

• Shining Stars: Kindergartners Learn To Read: How Parents Can Help Their Kindergartners Learn To Read Publication ID: ED002550P

• Shining Stars: First Graders Learn To Read: How Parents Can Help Their First Graders Learn To Read Publication ID: ED002551P

• Shining Stars: Second & Third Graders Learn To Read: How Parents Can Help Their Second & Third Graders Learn To Read
Publication ID: ED002552P

• A Child Becomes A Reader: Kindergarten Through Grade 3
Publication ID: ED001959P

• A Child Becomes A Reader: Proven Ideas From Research For Parents: Birth Through Preschool (Third Edition) (Revised 2006)
Publication ID: ED002710P

More from the Department of Education on Special Topics

• Identifying And Treating Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Resource For School And Home (2006) Publication ID: ED002608P

• Opening Doors: Technology And Communications Options For Children With Hearing Loss (Spring 2006 Revised) Publication ID: ED002391P

Publications Especially for Teachers

• Actually, It Is A Lot Like Rocket Science [Poster]
Publication ID: ED001971R

• Teaching Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Instructional Strategies And Practices (2006) Publication ID: ED002620P

• The Effect Of Family Literacy Interventions On Children's Acquisition Of Reading: From Kindergarten To Grade 3 Publication ID: ED002548P

ED Pubs Online Ordering System-How to Search and Order

The ED Pubs Online Ordering System is the best and easiest way to order publications from the Department of Education. All publications here are free, no cost to you and provided by the U.S. Department of Education.

Some things you should know about searching ED Pubs Online:

• Search from the home page in several ways: by title, keyword, Publication ID number, or browse for titles by clicking on the "Top 10 Publications" or the "Recently Added Publications" links.

• Some publications are available in Spanish, Large Print, or Braille.

• The full text of many publications are online; the option to download or read online is found on the "Read More" page; click the button underneath the title on the EdPubs search/order page for that particular item.

• You can order all of the publications of The National Institute for Literacy mentioned above at Ed Pubs On-Line Ordering System. The full text of these are available online at The National Institute for Literacy "Publications" page (www.nifl.gov/nifl/publications.html).

How to Order:

• Online:www.edpubs.org

• Phone::1-877-4-ED-PUBS

• Fax: 1-301-470-1244

• TTY/TDD: 1-877-567-7723

• Email: edpubs@inet.ed.gov

• Mail: Ed Pubs, P.O.Box 1398, Jessup, MD 20794-1398

More government publications on a wide variety of topics including everything from "How to Buy a Home with a Low Down Payment," to "Affinity Fraud," are available at the Federal Citizen Information Center of the U.S. General Services Administration, though some have a low cost. Search online, or request the Consumer Information Catalog online (pueblo.gsa.gov) or by phone (1-888-8-PUEBLO).

By now, you might be saying to yourself, why didn't I know about this before? It may be because government documents are not marketed in ways that trade books are. Still, just because you won't see the author of "Teaching Reading IS Rocket Science" on the Today Show, The View, or Good Morning America, doesn't mean that these publications aren't well researched and well written by credible experts in their fields. They offer easy activities, sound research, understandable points, and great advice. You paid for these publications, why not take advantage of the free help available at the click of a button? And then, pass the word; maybe the best secret has been kept long enough.