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  • Publishing English Literacy Workbooks for Spanish-Speaking Teens and Adults for Over 30 Years

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Red Product Initiative
Red Product Initiative 150 150 fisherhilladmin

For Christmas this year, I am getting a mini iPad. I will get a red (Red) case for it because a percentage of the profit is donated to the Global Fund.  The Global Fund supports programs that fight against AIDS, Tubercuosis and Malaria.  The musician Bono and Bobby Shriver started the Red Product initiative.


In our workbook English Reading Comprehension for the Spanish Speaker Book 5, there is a story about Bono.



Bono
Bono is the lead singer and writer for the band U2.  His songs often deal with social and political themes. He and his band are from Ireland.  Bono got his nickname from a hearing aid shop called “Bono Vox” which he and his friends often passed in Dublin. His friends said he sang so loud it was like he was singing to the deaf.  At first, Bono did not like the nickname; but when he found out it loosely translated to “good voice,” he began to like his new nickname.  Since the late seventies, even prior to the formation of U2, he has been known as Bono.


Bono is almost never seen in public without wearing sunglasses.  He says his eyes are very sensitive to light.  Without sunglasses, if someone takes his photograph, he will see the flash for the rest of the day.  His right eye can swell up if there is too much light.  His eyes also get red.  So he wears sunglasses to protect his eyes.


Bono’s real name is Paul David Hewson.  He was raised in Dublin, along with his brother, by his mom and dad.  Unfortunately, his mother died of a cerebral aneurysm when Bono was fourteen.  Some of his songs focus on the loss of his mother.


For over twenty years, Bono and U2 have been involved in humanitarian work.  Since 1999, Bono has become very active in bringing aid for third world debt relief and raising awareness of the plight of Africa including the AIDS pandemic.  Bono and Bobby Shriver have started an initiative called the Red Product.  Red Products raise money for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (often called the Global Fund).  Red Product is a brand which is licensed to partner companies.  Some of these companies are Apple Computer, Converse, Motorola, The Gap, Girogio Armani, and American Express.  Each company creates a product with the Product Red logo; and a percentage of the profits from the sale of these labeled products will go to the Global Fund.  So the next time you’re at The Gap, buy a shirt, bracelet, necklace, pin, or candle with the Product Red logo, 50% of the proceeds will go to help prevent HIV/AIDS in Africa.  Or if you’re planning to purchase an ¡Pod nano, buy one with the Product Red theme so a percentage of the profit from its sale will go to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis, or malaria.


Bono is not only a famous singer and songwriter but also a humanitarian.  He has used his fame and fortune to help people around the world, especially in Africa.


This year you might want to get a RED Product for someone on your Christmas list. 



Visit our website at www.Fisher-Hill.com to see all of our workbooks for Spanish-speaking teens and adults.


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Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving 150 150 fisherhilladmin


Thanksgiving is a national holiday we celebrate in the United States.  If you’re an immigrant to this country, do you celebrate Thanksgiving?  Do you enjoy the turkey, mash potatoes, dressing, cranberries and pumpkin pie?  My son who recently moved to the Netherlands, will he be eating Thanksgiving dinner on the last Thursday in the month of November or will he be going to work?  For many people in the United States, Thanksgiving is their favorite holiday.  It is a time when friends and family get together.  Many people get four days off from work, Thursday through Sunday. 
Thanksgiving is a time to think about what we are thankful for.  When I walk my dogs around my neighborhood in the early evenings, I am thankful for such a peaceful neighborhood.  I am thankful for the beautiful homes that have not been damaged by wars or weather.
I am thankful for the parent volunteers in my classroom.  As I’ve said before, I am a kindergarten teacher.  This year we started with 39 children in our all day kindergarten classrooms with no help from hired aides.  Now, we are down to 32 kindergarten children in our classrooms.  I am thankful for the wonderful parent volunteers.  They make this overcrowded situation doable and enjoyable.
And of course, I am thankful for my wonderful family.  I am thankful that they are healthy and safe.
One of my favorite activities is reading, I am thankful to have the skills to enjoy reading.  Fisher Hill workbooks are geared to help Spanish-speaking teens and adults develop reading and comprehension skills so they can enjoy and use the gift of reading.
Visit our website at www.Fisher-Hill.com to see all of our workbooks for Spanish-speaking teens and adults.
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Children with Reading Difficulties Part 2
Children with Reading Difficulties Part 2 150 150 fisherhilladmin


In Part 1, I talked about my older son who had a reading difficulty.  Now, I will talk about my younger son.  He too had difficulty learning to read.  Like my older son, Peter also went to Mommy and Me classes starting at the age of six months.  At four, I enrolled Peter in a Montessori school which he attended for two years.  Having a late birthday (October) I did not enroll him in kindergarten until he was 5 years 11 months.  I gave him the extra year because he was not interested in the ABCs.  Being a teacher, I had tried teaching him his letters.  I tried doing it in fun ways but he was not interested.  Having difficulty learning the ABCs is an indicator that a child may have difficulty learning to read. 
In first grade, Peter could read the basal reader which was a whole language book (not phonetic).  He could read those stories!  But when it came to Hop on Pop he could not read it.  He had memorized the stories in his basal reader.  Peter was never very interested in school.  In high school, he dropped out.  We took him to a private school where it was one on one but he still was not interested.  When he should have been a junior, he took the High School Proficiency Test and passed.  Now, he could go to junior college.  He did that for a couple of years but what he really enjoyed were computers.  He had part time jobs starting at age 16 working at different computer places.  At nineteen he got a full time job at Talend and then at 22 he got hired at Twitter.  After two years at Twitter, he is now working for Books.com and living in the Netherlands.  He very much enjoyed both Talend and Twitter and I am sure he will enjoy working for Bookings.com.
Both boys are now avid readers, especially Peter.  He’s always got his nose in a book whether its fiction or a computer book.  Steven always has his nose in a science book. The last two trips we went on: one to the Amazon rainforest and the Galapagos; the other to Africa, Steven brought a big heavy chemistry book that he was constantly looking at.
It’s amazing the adults your children become.  Both of my boys had difficulty in school but now they are doing fine.  I have seen the same with their friends who also had a rough time in school.  Most of them are doing well.  What’s the secret?  I believe it’s parents!  The parents who continued to give support to their kids through thick and thin, their kids are the ones who are now doing well. 
Our series English Reading and Spelling for the Spanish Speaker is an excellent place to begin for Spanish speakers who need to learn how to read and spell in English.  This series uses a very systematic and explicit approach in teaching the English speech sounds which are necessary in learning to read.
Visit our website at www.Fisher-Hill.com to see all of our workbooks for Spanish-speaking teens and adults.
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Children with Reading Difficulties
Children with Reading Difficulties 150 150 fisherhilladmin


english for spanish speakers
Does your child have a reading difficulty?  Both of my boys had difficulty learning to read.  I was surprised when this happened.  I had read to them since they were babies.  We visited the public library and checked out books.  They went to toddler story hour every Thursday morning.  Yet, they had difficulty learning to read.  If your child has a reading difficulty, this can make school difficult for them and you.  It’s hard for them to read their social studies book or their science book.  I remember reading those books with my kids.  “OK.  You read a paragraph and then I’ll read a paragraph.”  Homework was not a pleasant time in our family.  In fact, it caused great disharmony at home.  We never gave up though, year after year we struggled along.  When they were in  junior high and high school, I hired college students to help with homework.  They were lucky to get this extra help from me and tutors. 
Now the boys are twenty-six and twenty-four.  The oldest one who was in RSP (a branch of Special Education) in grades third through sixth is now getting his PH.D in Organic Chemistry.  In high school, I had him reevaluated and from this evaluation he was able to get extra time on the SATs which is a test that is required for most colleges.  He took the SATs three times before he got a high enough score.  In college, I told him “Cs get a degree.”  In the first two years of college, I was happy to see Cs.  When he took Organic Chemistry, he got an A and had found his niche.  Oh, happy day!  It took him seven years to get an undergraduate degree.  With his slow reading, he only took three classes a semester.
In my next blog, I will talk about my younger son’s difficulty with reading. 
Many immigrants or migrants in the United States may have had little prior schooling in their home country and may only be able to read a few words in their native language.  When immigrants have access to language and literacy instruction, they can increase their literacy skills.  Which in turn will help them participate more in their community and the job market.
Our series English Reading and Spelling for the Spanish Speaker is an excellent place to begin for Spanish speakers who need to learn how to read and spell in English.  This series uses a very systematic and explicit approach in teaching the English speech sounds which are necessary in learning to read.
Visit our website at www.Fisher-Hill.com to see all of our workbooks for Spanish-speaking teens and adults.
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Halloween
Halloween 150 150 fisherhilladmin

Halloween is a favorite holiday for many people.  It is celebrated around the world.  In the United States, it is celebrated with pumpkins, jack-o-lanterns, costumes, candy, parties, and decorations.  In my neighborhood, we have over seven hundred trick-or-treaters. That’s a lot of candy! My neighbor said she spent over $300 on candy.  I’m sorry to say but I have not passed out candy for many years.  The last year we passed out candy, my younger son’s girlfriend, in her darling winged costume, sat on the front porch the entire evening passing out candy.  Our cul-de-sac looked like a crowed mall.  Why so many people?  Two doors down, our neighbor goes all out with billowing smoke and animated creatures that will jump out at you.  For the past few years, our house has been dark on Halloween night.  For one reason, my son no longer has the girlfriend who will sit on the porch all evening until 9:00 passing out candy. 
Many children, instead of trick-or-treating in neighborhoods, go to the mall, Disneyland or church on Halloween night to trick-or-treat or to enjoy other types of fun activities. 
Halloween is celebrated around the world.  Each country has different activities for the holiday.
It is fun to read about how different countries celebrate Halloween and other holidays.  People who have low literacy skills can improve this skill by practicing their reading. Fisher Hill books are excellent for Spanish-speaking teens and adults who want to improve their reading skills. Visit our website at www.Fisher-Hill.com to see all of our workbooks.
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Audio Books
Audio Books 150 150 fisherhilladmin


Last spring I drove from southern California to the Grand Canyon.  It was approximately eight hours and on the way, I listened to audio books.  Before leaving for the trip I went to the library to check out several audio books.  You can’t beat the library’s price of $1.00 a book.  If you bought an audio book from a store it could cost as much as $30.  After that trip, I was hooked on audio books. Now instead of listening to the radio or a music CD, I listen to stories.  The readers of audio books can really bring the characters to life with their different accents and voices.  If you haven’t listened to an audio book, I recommend you go to the library and check one out. I always check out two at a time (unless I’m going on a long trip and then I’ll check out more)  in case one of them is not very good.  But so far there has only been one that I did not care for. 
Fisher Hill has one series English for the Spanish Speaker that has CDs to go along with the books.  English for the Spanish Speaker is a four book series and each book has a CD. Each book in the series has eight lessons.  In Books 1 and 2, the lessons are about every day activities.  In Books 3 and 4, four lessons are about every day activities and the other four are about United States history or government.  The CD for each book contains the vocabulary lists, conversations and stories from each lesson in the book.  A person could listen to these CDs on a long road trip or while stuck in traffic to practice their English.  This series has been very popular with adult education classes.
Visit our website at www.Fisher-Hill.com to see all of our workbooks and CDs for Spanish-speaking teens and adults.
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Fisher Hill Workbooks Part Two
Fisher Hill Workbooks Part Two 150 150 fisherhilladmin


This week’s blog is about the four workbook series offered by Fisher Hill that can be used together by Spanish-speaking teens and adults to learn how to read, spell, and write in English.   The four series are English Reading and Spelling for the Spanish Speaker, English Reading Comprehension for the Spanish Speaker, English Writing Composition for the Spanish Speaker and English Vocabulary for the Spanish Speaker.
When using the four series, English Reading and Spelling for the Spanish Speaker comes first.  This series is the foundation for the other series.  After completing Book 1 in the English Reading and Spelling for the Spanish Speaker series, Book 1 from any of the other three series may be used.
English Reading and Spelling for Spanish Speakers is a six book series.  The series uses a very systematic and explicit approach in teaching the speech sounds that are necessary to read and spell.  The word lists are in Spanish and English and all the directions are in Spanish with English translations.
English Reading Comprehension for the Spanish Speaker is also a six work series.  This series helps Spanish speakers improve their English reading comprehension.
The six book series English Writing Composition for the Spanish Speaker helps students improve their writing skills.
The six book series English Vocabulary for the Spanish Speakerreinforces the vocabulary presented in the other three series.
Visit our website at www.Fisher-Hill.com to see all of our workbooks for Spanish-speaking teens and adults.
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Fisher Hill Workbooks
Fisher Hill Workbooks 150 150 fisherhilladmin

Fisher Hill workbooks are for Spanish-speaking teens and adults who want to learn English.  We have many books so it can be confusing to know which workbook series to use.  In this blog and the next one, I will explain about our different workbook series.
Our most popular series is English for the Spanish Speaker.  This is a four book series.  It is for Spanish speakers who know how to read and write Spanish.  Each book in the series has eight lessons.  In Books 1 and 2, the lessons are about every day activities.  In Books 3 and 4, four lessons are about every day activities and the other four are about United States history or government.  The print in the workbooks is large.  The reading level in Book 1 is at the first and second grade level.  The books get progressively more difficult.  The reading level for Book 4 is at the fourth grade reading level.  Each lesson begins with a vocabulary list, then a conversation, story, activity pages, and finally an answer key. The lessons are bilingual with the word lists, conversations, and stories presented in Spanish and English.  The directions for the activity pages are in Spanish but the activities are in English.  There are two dictionaries at the back of each workbook: a Spanish dictionary and an English dictionary. There is a CD available for each workbook so the student can listen to the vocabulary lists, conversations and stories in English.  This series has been very popular with adult education classes.
Spanish Made Fun and Easy is a two workbook series.  It is for English speakers to learn Spanish.  It uses the same vocabulary lists, conversations, and stories that are found in the English for the Spanish Speaker series.  The activity pages include exercises to learn Spanish and the directions on the activity pages are in English.  The print in these two workbooks is also large.   Each workbook includes twelve lessons.  The twelve lessons are about everyday activities.
United States of America Stories Maps and Activities is a four workbook series.  The books are bilingual and were written to help students improve their literacy in English, Spanish, history, and geography. Each book includes information about twelve or thirteen states.  Information for each state includes a story, a vocabulary and comprehension page, map and questions, and finally a chart, table, graph, or another type of activity, which presents information to the reader.  Most stories deal with a historic topic.  The stories are written on a fourth – sixth grade reading level.
Visit our website at www.Fisher-Hill.com to see all of our workbooks for Spanish-speaking teens and adults.

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Fisher Hill Workbooks
Fisher Hill Workbooks 150 150 fisherhilladmin



Fisher Hill workbooks are for Spanish-speaking teens and adults who want to learn English.  We have many books so it can be confusing to know which workbook series to use.  In this blog and the next one, I will explain about our different workbook series.


Our most popular series is English for the Spanish Speaker.  This is a four book series.  It is for Spanish speakers who know how to read and write Spanish.  Each book in the series has eight lessons.  In Books 1 and 2, the lessons are about every day activities.  In Books 3 and 4, four lessons are about every day activities and the other four are about United States history or government.  The print in the workbooks is large.  The reading level in Book 1 is at the first and second grade level.  The books get progressively more difficult.  The reading level for Book 4 is at the fourth grade reading level.  Each lesson begins with a vocabulary list, then a conversation, story, activity pages, and finally an answer key. The lessons are bilingual with the word lists, conversations, and stories presented in Spanish and English.  The directions for the activity pages are in Spanish but the activities are in English.  There are two dictionaries at the back of each workbook: a Spanish dictionary and an English dictionary. There is a CD available for each workbook so the student can listen to the vocabulary lists, conversations and stories in English.  This series has been very popular with adult education classes.


Spanish Made Fun and Easy is a two workbook series.  It is for English speakers to learn Spanish.  It uses the same vocabulary lists, conversations, and stories that are found in the English for the Spanish Speaker series.  The activity pages include exercises to learn Spanish and the directions on the activity pages are in English.  The print in these two workbooks is also large.   Each workbook includes twelve lessons.  The twelve lessons are about everyday activities.


United States of America Stories Maps and Activities is a four workbook series.  The books are bilingual and were written to help students improve their literacy in English, Spanish, history, and geography. Each book includes information about twelve or thirteen states.  Information for each state includes a story, a vocabulary and comprehension page, map and questions, and finally a chart, table, graph, or another type of activity, which presents information to the reader.  Most stories deal with a historic topic.  The stories are written on a fourth – sixth grade reading level.


Visit our website at www.Fisher-Hill.com to see all of our workbooks for Spanish-speaking teens and adults.

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Common Core Standards
Common Core Standards 150 150 fisherhilladmin

The Common Core Standards were developed to prepare students for the demands of college and careers. The Common Core Standards provide a clear understanding of what students are expected to learn, so teachers and parents know what they need to do to help them. Forty-five states have adopted the Common Core Standards. The Common Core Standards are for students in kindergarten through twelfth-grade. Some states are implementing these standards in the 2013-14 school year. Others will wait until the 2014-15 school year. English language arts and math were the subjects chosen for the Common Core Standards because they are as upon which students build skill sets which are used in other subjects.

Students will continue to read a diverse array of classic and contemporary literature as well as informational text in a wide range of subjects. In the past, literature has often been more dominant in schools especially in the primary grades. Now, an emphasis for more informational text especially in the primary grades will be emphasized to establish this “staircase” of increasing complexity in what students must be able to read.Fisher Hill’s six book series English Reading Comprehension for the Spanish Speaker contains many examples of informational text for students to read and enjoy. Following is an example of informational text from the fourth book in the series.

The Amazon River

Did you know that dolphins live in the Amazon River? The Amazon River also has the largest watershed in the world and the most tributaries. The Amazon and its tributaries wind through the northern half of South America flowing through the countries of Peru, Bolivia, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and Brazil before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean 6,437 kilometers (4,000 miles) from the its headwaters high in the Andes mountains of Peru. This huge watershed includes the largest tropical rainforest in the world as well as areas of dry grassland.Many animals live in the Amazon. The Boto dolphins live in the Amazon. These dolphins are vulnerable because of the continued destruction of the rainforest environment. The major threats to their survival are pollution, deforestation, entanglement in fishing nets and competition for fish with human fishers. The carnivorous piranhas (fish) also live in the Amazon. They swim in large shoals or schools and may attack livestock and humans. In 1981 300 people were killed by a school of piranhas when their boat capsized. With their sharp teeth, piranhas can strip the flesh from bones in just a few minutes. But only a few species of piranhas attack humans, and many are solely fish-eaters, and do not swim in packs or schools. The Anaconda is the largest snake in the world and is found in shallow waters in the Amazon basin. It spends much of its time in the water with just its nostrils above the surface. Thousands of species of fish, crabs and turtles also live in the Amazon River.

The Amazon is home to a variety of Indian cultures that have a great deal of knowledge about the Amazon rainforest. As settlements bring changes to the forest, these cultural groups are also changing, and the lessons they have gained through thousands of years of living within the rainforest are in danger of being lost. Scientists are trying to learn from the native people of the Amazon about the rainforest plants and animals that may hold cures to many diseases.

Amazon River with its huge watershed includes the largest tropical rainforest in the world. The destruction of the forest as settlers clear the land for farming and companies harvest trees for lumber is believed to be contributing to the problem of global warming. It’s important to preserve the Amazon River and its huge watershed that includes the largest rainforest in the world!

The six book series English Reading Comprehension for the Spanish Speaker contains many examples of informational text for students to read and enjoy. Fisher Hill workbooks are bilingual to help facilitate and accelerate Spanish speakers in their development of English reading and writing. Fisher Hill workbooks are written for Spanish-speaking teens and adults.

Visit our website at www.Fisher-Hill.com to see all of our workbooks for Spanish-speaking teens and adults.

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