Books by Walton Burns

This tale from Kazakhstan, adapted for beginner readers, tells the story of a discontent young man who discovers that wealth and treasures mean nothing without the real treasure-yourself. Illustrations, large font-size, and minimal text on each page make it easy for language learners and young readers to improve reading skills. There is also an introduction to Kazakhstan, comprehension and discussion questions, a map, and a link to a simple article on the country, as well as an extension writing prompt.The World Folktales Graded Readers bring stories from around the world into the ESL classroom. Traditional tales interest people of all ages who love folk stories, as well as learning and sharing wisdom from around the world. Inspire students to share stories from their own culture as they improve reading speed and fluency!

Students thrive in classrooms where they feel safe, welcome, and supported. Building a sense of community and teamwork is an effective means of facilitating student success.Burns skillfully blends community-building activities with real classroom content, providing students with opportunities to practice language skills while acclimatizing to the classroom. While intended primarily for language arts and English as a second language classrooms, Burns's activities readily adapt to a range of disciplines and age groups.Beginning with a section on setting classroom and instructor expectations, Burns moves on to team-building exercises focused on lesson content. His section on getting-to-know-you activities is designed to foster a sense of belonging, while the five get-to-know-your-teacher exercises introduce you to your students in a fun, relaxed manner.Supported by information on material requirements, time limits, and resources, Classroom Community Builders provides handouts and worksheets, available both within the book and online, offering new ideas to experienced and novice instructors alike.