The BirdSleuth team is proud to announce the release of the newly redesigned Classroom BirdScope! Featuring original student research reports, nonfiction science writing, and bird-inspired creative writing, poetry, and art, the Fall 2008 edition of CBS is a must-have for BirdSleuth classrooms everywhere.

When we sat down at the beginning of the summer with the idea to revamp the look of CBS, we saw an opportunity to transform our little publication into a true classroom tool. The new CBS emphasizes the student research reports, with a new focus on guided critical analysis through the inclusion of discussion questions and talking points. Students will follow Inspector Grackle and Detective Finch through the reports, practicing critical thinking and peer review along the way. We’ve even created a new section called “BirdSleuth Investigates,” which we hope will be filled with a free mini-lesson inspired by the years’ submissions.

And let’s not forget the teachers. We know that CBS is an important publication to you as well. Each year, CBS gives teachers something tangible they can use to show their districts the value of using BirdSleuth in the classroom. That’s why we’ve included new sections called “News Briefs” and “Teacher’s Lounge.” Through them we can highlight not only major successes of the BirdSleuth program, but also turn the focus onto extraordinary BirdSleuth teachers by focusing on their careers and classrooms. CBS isn’t just for students anymore—teachers can use it to celebrate their accomplishments, receive hard-earned acknowledgments and thanks, and show others the strength of the program.

As if that wasn’t enough, the BirdSleuth team also managed to slash prices! This year’s CBS retail price is only $2 per issue, and $12.50 for a classroom set of ten magazines! You can click HERE for an order form.

Remember, publication is the final step of the scientific process. As with professional scientists, BirdSleuth students are offered the opportunity to publish original student research and other works once yearly through Classroom BirdScope, and twice yearly through our online supplement webzine BirdSleuth Reports. Click here for more information on publication, or to submit your students’ work today!

And of course, congratulations to all the students featured in this year’s issue. Wonderful work!