Math Caravan

If you are attending any of the math caravan sites, please stop by the First Team Education booth and pick up your free sample of ISTEP+ Finish Line Math! This program is based on the spring ISTEP+ and the newest math standards for Indiana. Many schools are already using these materials and you don't want to be left out! Just stop by the table, tell us what grade level you are interested in, and we will give you a free sample.

While you're there, take a look at the ETA Cuisenaire materials we will have on hand. The ETA Cuisenaire manipulatives can be used with any core math program. We will also have an Algebra Readiness and Algebra 1 programs available.

Caravan stops:
Indianapolis, Mariott East
West Lafayette, University Hotel
Hammond, Purdue Calumet
Plymouth, Swan Lake
Fort Wayne, IU campus
Muncie, Horizon Center
Clarksville, Holiday Inn
Jasper, Jasper Conference Center
Terre Haute, Holiday Inn

New 2010 Representation for First Team Education!

And we're off!!!! The new year of 2010 is here and First Team Education is proud to announce two new companies that they will be representing: ETA Cuisinaire and BMI.

ETA is the leader in manipulatives, both math and reading. (Think Versatiles and Reading Rods.) We just returned from our first sales meeting and were very impressed with the product this company has. You can see First Team Education on the caravan exhibiting some ETA materials.

BMI is a company that sells trade books. You can contact us with a list of trade books and BMI will give you a quote that offers a 25% discount and free shipping. BMI is a family owned business and has been in business for around 40 years. They are known for their great customer service. If you have used other companies in the past for trade books, I would suggest you give BMI a chance. Diana Hall will be working with First Team Education on promoting BMI.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

First Team Education would like to thank all who have helped make this past year a very successful one for us. We couldn't do it without your loyalty and support. We hope you are all enjoying a must needed break! On Monday we are going to start regrouping; organizing the warehouse, plowing through stacks of paper, and thinking about what all is needed for the upcoming math caravan. Have a nice relaxing holiday and we'll be back in touch after January 4, 2010!

Continental Press has the hottest test prep program in the market! If you have not received your ISTEP+ Finish Line Math or English/Language Arts sample yet you need to contact First Team Education. This test prep program is the only program available that meets the new standards and replicates the spring test. Free teacher's guides are available for 25 or more student books and for orders over $1000 you receive free shipping!

Conference Schedule

October is going to be a busy month for First Team Education. If you are going to be attending any of the following conferences, please stop by and say hello!
ICASE - Oct. 1-2
NCA - Oct. 5-6
ITW - Oct. 9
ICTM - Oct. 25-26

We will also be at the All-Write conference with Cris Tovani on Oct. 15 and at the SWITCM in Evansville on Oct. 29.

See you there!

Mentor Texts

Remember when reading aloud a book to your students was something you did right after lunch? Now children's books are used to teach all kinds of skills and strategies and they are called mentor texts. First Team Education sells children's books at a great discount; 25% off and free shipping! We have lists of recommended titles, such as 6+1 mentor texts, recommendations from Katie Wood Ray's Study Driven and Wondrous Words, Linda Dorn's list from Teaching with Deep Comprehension to name a few. If you have a list of children's books that you would like to get a price quote for, please contact First Team Education at bvanmol@aol.com.

New Test Prep Materials Available

Well summer is almost officially over! Although for teachers the summer usually ends the first day of school; which is coming earlier and earlier. Most of you have been in school now for 2-3 weeks. You have gotten to know your students and the ISTEP scores have been issued. Now is the time to look for a good test prep program for those kids that can benefit from some practice. Continental Press has just come out with a brand new test prep program for ELA, Math, and ECA. Since there recently was a change in the math standards, they have gone back and made some changes but the finished product should be out early October. Otherwise, the ELA materials are ready and if you would like to see a copy, contact First Team Education or Continental Press.