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Archive for November, 2008
November 20, 2008 at 2:23 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
A producer of national titles and numerous female basketball icons, the UConn Huskies women's basketball teams have thrilled regional and national audiences alike. With their spirited play over the years and their equally spirited current coach, Geno Auriemma, these women have transformed the game into a major event. Stories include a feature on Kerry Bascom, the "kid from the crossroads;" a piece on the diehard fans who follow the team all around the country; a poignant profile on the ups and downs in the career of star Shea Ralph; and an insightful look at UConn's biggest star of all time, Diana Taurasi.
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November 19, 2008 at 1:39 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
A great new way to getall kids excited about math!
Fantasy sports are a hit worldwide, and now teachers and parents can take advantage of this phenomenon to give students a reason to look forward to doing math. The games and activities in Fantasy Basketball and Mathematics will get kids excited about learning and practicing math, even if they're not big sports fans. With this fun-filled educational resource, you can teach one math concept or many and plan lessons that can last for a week or a whole season.
Here's how it works. Students create fantasy teams by picking real-life professional basketball players, following their players' statistics, and calculating their team's total points using algebraic or nonalgebraic methods specifically designed to complement the math skills they are learning. The instructions are easy to follow, and the dynamic hands-on games address all learning styles and abilities. The book includes more than 100 scoring systems that give you the flexibility to customize the content according to your students' skill levels.
In addition to the basic Fantasy Basketball game, the book contains easy-to-use lesson plans, reproducible worksheets for extra practice on 46 different math concepts, graphing activities, quizzes, a pre- and post- test, and an answer key. More than just a fun way to learn math, the book's activities also support the NCTM Math Standards.
"The beauty of the Fantasy Sports and Mathematics programs is that while all the students are busy having fun, enjoying the competition, and building better relationships with sports-minded parents, they are, much to their surprise, learning to love math."
—Ryan D. Verver, math teacher,Southwest Chicago Christian School
"Students were eager to be the first in their math class to tally their scores and begin working with their team's stats. It was great to see boys and girls who were working both above and below grade level fully engaged in using their math skills and learning new ones."
—Sara Suchman, Harvard Graduate School of Education, former middle school director
Also available in the Fantasy Sports and Mathematics series:
Fantasy Basketball and Mathematics | Fantasy Football and Mathematics | Fantasy Soccer and Mathematics
Customer Review: Best math motivation tool
As a math teacher, I was able to keep my students motivated and interested in my math lessons much more easier with this set of fantasy math sport workbooks without falling behind schedule. My students success in math with the use of these workbooks and the additional support from the websites insipired me to start an after school program based on Fantasy Sport. I would recomend these workbooks to any teachers or parents who want to improve their students or childs' math skills.
Customer Review: Motivate students in math!!
I recently bought this book and I can't wait to get started with my students! We just finished drafting our basketball teams, and we will start competition after Christmas break. We are finishing up fantasy football season right now, and my students loved it. Dan's fantasy sports are easy to implement, even if you are not familiar with sports.
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November 19, 2008 at 11:48 am · Filed under Uncategorized
A legendary coach and five New York City players move south and change the face of college basketball forever.
Customer Review: The Worst Writing About The Best Game Ever
Lucas just doesn't have the panache to build up the dynamics nor convey the excitement / drama of the game. The fact that he is publisher of "Tar Heel Monthly" indicates that he is more of a homer and neither an objective journalist nor a literary talent to do justice to the topic. For those who grew up hearing about this game for years, you may not be able to tap into the thrill of the the game that "revolutionized college basketball" with this book.
Customer Review: A Pleasant Trip Down Memory Lane/Tobacco Road.
"The Best Game Ever" is about the 1956-57 University of North Carolina basketball team. All 5 starters and the coach, Queens own Frank McGuire, were New York City guys-"5 Irishmen and a Jew", as the coach termed it. McGuire is the principal character here as the Tar Heels sprint to a perfect 30-0 season and the NCAA championship. The spotlight is on the '57 tournament, in which Carolina won triple overtime victories on successive night to take the college crown. Those victories came against Michigan State in the semi and the University of Kansas in the final. There is virtual play by play commentary on the Kansas game as McGuire and rival coach Dick Harp match strategies. One wonders why the Jayhawks failed to make more use of 7-1 center Wilt Chamberlain or why they let the Tar Heels back in the game by slowing the pace late in the contest. This reviewer would have appreciated a fuller epilogue: What happened to these Tar Heels, especially the colorful McGuire? Chamberlain was so distraught by the loss that he dropped out of school, not to return to the UK campus for over 40 years. There are some factual glitches: Niagara University is located in Niagara Falls, not Buffalo and the old St. Ann's Academy was run by religious brothers, not priests. Also, what "back entrances" of the old Madison Square Garden did kids sneak in? This reviewer -and all his buddies-would have loved to known about that one! Despite the nitpicking, BGE is highly recommended. It is just what it purported itself to be, a straightforward sports story of a specific and special time in college basketball. A solid 4 stars is an appropriate rating but the faithful will wish to add back that 5th Carolina blue and white star.
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November 18, 2008 at 8:44 am · Filed under Uncategorized
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November 17, 2008 at 1:32 am · Filed under Uncategorized
With cooperation from Williams and his star players, this book sets up the tournament run with several heart-wrenching tales of overcoming adversity, expectations and even tragedy.
Customer Review: Great gift
I bought this as a Father's Day gift for the father who has everything and is a Terp fanatic! He loved it, read it in one day and shared it with his other Gary groupies.
Customer Review: Background on Maryland's March to Madness
If you enjoy stories on overcoming the odds to be a champion, this is up your alley.
There are always inside stories that make some of these triumphs improbable. Family tragedies, tough strategic decisions and Juan Dixon's determination are the key ingrediants in this turtle's march to basketball prowess. Fear the Turtle!
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November 15, 2008 at 7:41 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
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November 14, 2008 at 3:37 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
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November 13, 2008 at 8:51 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
Customer Review: Interesting background adds to story
When the book was published in 2002 in honor of the 50 years since Hebron won the state championship, I was familiar with the basic story: tiny Hebron the "giant killer" with its collection of farm boys and other kids, vs. the big time. A standard underdog story that Americans really love, especially when it can no longer be repeated, at least in Illinois.
The basic theme is of course true. After all, tiny Hebron did win. What the authors made clear, however, was that this was no fluke. David and Goliath, ok. Triumph of the underdog? Not really. I had not realized how solid a program Hebron had at the time nor that they were actually one of the favorites to win it all, sitting at 31-1 for the Sweet Sixteen and coming off a strong 1950-51 season. Thus, Hebron isn't exactly a "Hoosiers" equivalent, and the authors specifically compare the two stories in one section.
I appreciated the background material on the town, the families, the coaches, and the good teams of earlier years, such as when Howie Judson led them to the state tournament in 1940. Think back to the pre-WW II years when Elgin, Rockford, and other towns had only one high school, if they even existed. A certain sentimentality for the old days would only be re-enforced by a list of Coach Ahearn's "Instructions to the Basketball Team", reprinted. Who can argue with "3. If you can't be gentlemen around teachers, the school, students, and the community, do not go out for the team. We have plenty who will." With about 40 boys in the whole school? Well, maybe not, but you get the idea who was in charge and what was expected.
The authors move through the highlights and bumps of the Giants' 51-52 regular season, with the tournament starting at about the halfway point of the book. They found a good balance of sufficient detail about the games and the events, without too much play-by-play, considering we all know the outcome. The box scores in the back are a nice touch, as are copies of some press reports.
The final sections cover the newspaper stories about the win, the celebration, and the drop in Hebron's results the following years. The obligatory "where are they now" content updates the players, coaches, and other key people in the story.
No doubt this book has a small audience. I recommend it for any fan of Illinois HS basketball, especially those interested in some history. You don't have to be an old-timer, although perhaps that might help.
Customer Review: A Great Read
If you like the movie "Hoosiers," you'll love "Once there were Giants." I have seen the documentary and read the book and I am still in awe of what tiny Hebron accomplished, something that can never happen again because of division conferences nowadays. The personalities in this book are so sincere, it could only have come from the midwest.
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November 12, 2008 at 3:07 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
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November 11, 2008 at 6:50 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
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