yeah these books are pretty wack!

there is a CD rom to them . just use that and edit some games based on the lesson. I'll post some stuff if I make it.

Here's my lesson for:

Thomas Orr Book Middle School Grade 1 Lesson 1 I'm Lucky

Pretty basic stuff but maybe it will help someone. I was shocked last year at how fascinating the information about American Middle Schools was for the kids.

Grade 1 - Lesson 2 - Speak out

Middle School English 2, Lesson 2 "Have you ever ______"

poor guy. Orr died before he could do anything to fix the books.

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/sacbee/obituary.aspx?n=thomas-edward-orr&pid=144257720&fhid=8305

if I know koreans, I'm betting they had him do a couple things and added his name to gain some credibility.

I taught with the first year book last year. I'll post all my lessons as I have time.

I am teaching the Orr 3rd year book (hot air balloon) this year. Would GREATLY appreciate if anyone has lesson plans for this book, please share them.

I've used the 1st and 2nd grade books for 1 1/2 years now, but my school switched to this book for 3rd grade this year also...I don't know which was worse, last year's book or this one. Anyway, I would also greatly appreciate any ideas for 3rd grade! And I'll try to post some of my former lesson plans from 1st and 2nd grade.

Could somebody explain the exact reason they hate these textbooks? I mean I often hear people voice their distaste for the textbooks, but I believe in constructive criticism rather than the 'lets just throw the book out' argument. Also, I am currently fine tuning some lessons and will post them soon.

Reasons the book is terrible,

first of all the drawings are really unappealing to an audience thats saturated with technology. The book needs to be able to able to catch their attention.  It's quite easy to relate most English to pop culture, or at least something interesting. It needs real pictures.  its middle school. they dont need cartoons and if you are going to use cartoons you should at least make them interesting or entertaining. its what keeps the kids attention.
Who ever wrote this book had no idea what its like to be a kid today.

2nd, the dialogs and activities are not engaging at all. Learning a language has to be appealing these days. it gets better results.  also the activities aren't practical or fun

i could keep going but i have to spend this time creating something worth a darn to supplement this junk

@ KoreanlostinKorean.    Say thank you and supplement the extra time with whatever you feel like. 

I recommend that predicitions lesson or unusual food lessson

Im in the same boat- have used these books last year fro 1st and 2nd Grade- trying to get 2lessons from each chapter can be tough- they used to want me to do 1lesson fro listen in and 1lesson for speak out. I used to used to find some grammar point or vocabulary or something and expand on that to fill out the lesson a bit! When they were doing the speak out I used to do listen and repeat with me for the dialogues and then would get them to write out each scenario along with one extra one that they had to make up themselves and then random students would read theirs for the class- this worked well and made the class last longer.

This year Ive the book for 3rd graders and I havent a clue what to do with it- any ideas would be great- never taught 3rd grade before and the book is more of a hindrance than a help! Any ideas?!