The Winds of Magic are a central concept in the Warhammer Fantasy universe. These are supernatural forces that exist within the world and can be harnessed by individuals with magical abilities. The Winds of Magic are represented by eight different types of energy, each corresponding to a specific aspect of the world. The different types of Winds of Magic are Aqshy (Fire), Ghur (Beasts), Azyr (Heavens), Ghyran (Life), Ulgu (Shadow), Shyish (Death), Hysh (Light), and Chamon (Metal). Each wind is associated with certain characteristics and spells, and spellcasters can draw from these winds to perform their magical abilities. The Winds of Magic are not evenly distributed across the world and can vary in strength at different locations and times.
“My middle school students were empowered with Sharon Zinke’s strategies. The students who sit at the back of the class and never say anything, are so excited when they realize that they can read books they never thought they could read. I’ve seen them jump right out of their seats with enthusiasm and new success.”
A special education teacher who works with challenged 5th graders is thrilled to watch his students spell big words and decode words in text with confidence for the first time. This kit includes o Teacher s Guide o Rime and Word Cards o Short Vowel and Endings Cards o Power Pak intervention set o Poem Cards o Trade books for younger readers o High-interest articles for older readers o How-to videos that show each Rime Magic step in action o Downloadable student pages and teaching tools.
The Winds of Magic are not evenly distributed across the world and can vary in strength at different locations and times. This means that certain regions may have a stronger affinity for certain types of winds, and spellcasters in these areas will have easier access to their associated spells. Magic users in the Warhammer Fantasy universe, such as wizards and sorcerers, must learn how to tap into the Winds of Magic and manipulate them to cast spells.
Rime Magic: Phonics-Powered Prevention and Intervention for All Students
What is Rime Magic? It’s a new word recognition resource that’s changing the lives of all readers—beginning readers, English learners, and older striving readers who need more support. The rime is the key part of a word that makes it easy to see the structure (for example, the /ip/ in slippery or the /at/ in splattered). Teachers carry out instruction using rime and word cards and engaging lessons found inside the Rime Magic kit. Students add onsets and endings to the rimes to identify, analyze, and combine into words—like magic! These onset/rime lessons help students “crack the code” of the written word and, when used repeatedly in five-minute lessons, bolster reading and spelling proficiency. With practice, students pick up the pace and the rime jumps out at them as they read. Confidence soars and word recognition becomes more and more automatic, leading to enhanced comprehension and fluency.
This kit includes:
o Teacher’s Guide
o Rime and Word Cards
o Short Vowel and Endings Cards
o Power Pak intervention set
o Poem Cards
o Trade books for younger readers
o High-interest articles for older readers
o How-to videos that show each Rime Magic step in action
o Downloadable student pages and teaching tools
With Rime Magic, teachers carry out instruction using various sets of cards and lessons. The cards contain onsets and rimes that students identify, analyze, and combine into words - like magic! The onset and rime lessons help students "crack the code" of the written word and, when used repeatedly, bolster reading proficiency. Over time, word recognition becomes more automatic, leading to enhanced comprehension and fluency.
Each kit contains:
• Magic Rime Cards (two sets - total of 60 cards)
• Power Pak Cards (one set - 450 cards representing 30 key rimes with 15 rime-embedded words each for intervention work)
• Endings and Short Vowel Cards
• Poem Cards
• Three trade books: What Bears Like, Frog and Toad are Friends, and Fables
• Rime Word Spelling Activity Sheet, Base Word Constancy Activity Sheet, Long Vowel Spelling Activity Sheet, and a Word Juggling Sheet
"We began by piloting one Rime Magic kit with a struggling 2nd grade reading group. In spite of working with a highly experienced Title I reading specialist and their classroom teacher, they were not independently solving challenging words and this prevented them from moving ahead in their literacy journey. After a few short weeks, the results from using Rime Magic with this group were so powerful that other specialists and teachers from Kindergarten through 6th grade were asking for their own kits! A seasoned Title I Kindergarten teacher is no less than amazed at the affect Rime Magic is having on her class in reading and writing. A special education teacher who works with challenged 5th graders is thrilled to watch his students spell ‘big words’ and decode words in text with confidence for the first time. After seeing the small group shifts in spelling and decoding using just five minutes of Rime Magic a day, classroom teachers in K and 1 decided to begin their morning message with Rime Magic. One teacher commented that it’s a literacy warm up for the brain—and a great way to start the day for a classroom full of kids! We can see tangible shifts in both reading and writing in our ELL students as well as our struggling readers. We’re now using Rime Magic in Tiers I,2, and 3 instruction from Kindergarten through 6th grade and thrilled with the results. I highly recommend using Rime Magic with your students. It’s a very powerful five minutes of phonics instruction that will support all of your readers and writers."
-- Ellen O. Lewis, Reading Recovery Teacher and Literacy Consultant. Springfield, VA
“My middle school students were empowered with Sharon Zinke’s strategies. The students who sit at the back of the class and never say anything, are so excited when they realize that they can read books they never thought they could read. I’ve seen them jump right out of their seats with enthusiasm and new success.”
Alma Owens, Reading Intervention Teacher, King Middle School. Berkeley, CA
“Based on our school-wide data, students who participated in Sharon Zinke’s reading intervention made significant academic gains based on their CST performance data. Seventy percent of the students participating in the intervention groups made at least one proficiency level increase and 30% made two proficiency level increases. They moved from Far Below Basic to Basic within six months of participation. It’s phenomenal how much progress our students have made in such a short time. It’s amazing!”
Kim Watts, Principal, Lorin Eden Elementary School. Hayward, CA
“As a literacy coach in an urban school, using Sharon Zinke’s strategies addresses the diverse needs of my students. In a matter of weeks, children increased their accuracy, fluency and spelling skills in a fun yet effective way. This book is a must- read for classroom teachers, literacy coaches, special ed. teachers and reading specialists!”
Hazelle Fortich, Literacy Coach, Berkeley Unified School District
“This is working! My guys love it— they never get tired of it! Rime Magic is the best strategy I have learned in the past ten years that I have added to my toolbox for helping struggling readers. It engages even the most reluctant students and helps English Learners and students with learning differences quickly gain decoding skills and the confidence they need to see themselves as readers. I can’t recommend Rime Magic enough to those who work with students who need to learn decoding skills.”
-- Sue Mitsuno, M.Ed., Learning Specialist. El Cerito, CA
“What a difference Rime Magic makes with English Learners who have fallen significantly behind in word recognition! The Rime Magic sequence will erase the gap in word recognition forthwith.”
-- Angela Barra, ELL Coach/Consultant, West Contra Costa School District
“I have been a Reading Specialist and Literacy Coach for many years. This winter, I purchased 14 Rime Magic Kits and Power Paks (Scholastic) for the three tier intervention model in our K-2 school of 270 children. Utilizing a 3-5 minute lesson each day (that's it), the children are making amazing progress solving multi-syllabic words! What makes this intervention powerful and effective is the focus on immersion into word solving by simply practicing from both an encoding and decoding direction in a logical, fun manner. It is not a rules based program that leaves challenged decoders scratching their heads at word difficulties trying to recall a rule and apply it. I highly recommend Rime Magic for individual students, small groups as well as whole class.” -- Mrs. Rosemary Rancourt, M.Ed., Reading/Writing Specialist, Berlin Public Schools, Brown School
Alma Owens, Reading Intervention Teacher, King Middle School. Berkeley, CA
They do this through years of study, practice, and often the guidance of a teacher or mentor. Each wind has its own unique set of spells and abilities, and practitioners of magic must specialize in one or more of these winds. Additionally, the Winds of Magic can be affected by external factors, such as the alignment of stars, the seasons, or the presence of magical artifacts. This adds another layer of complexity to the practice of magic and allows for a dynamic and ever-changing magical landscape. The Winds of Magic are a crucial element in the Warhammer Fantasy universe. They shape the world and its inhabitants, providing a source of both power and danger. Spellcasters who master the manipulation of these winds can become powerful allies or formidable foes, depending on their intentions. Whether used for good or evil, the Winds of Magic are an integral part of the rich and immersive world of Warhammer Fantasy..
Reviews for "The Winds of Nature: How the Elves Harness Magic in Warhammer"
1. John - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Winds of Magic Warhammer". The storyline was weak and poorly developed, and the characters felt one-dimensional and uninteresting. The pacing was also off, with the action sequences feeling rushed and lacking in excitement. Overall, I found it difficult to become fully engaged in the book and didn't feel invested in the outcome of the story. I had high hopes for this novel, but it fell short of my expectations.
2. Sarah - 1 star - I couldn't get through "Winds of Magic Warhammer". The writing style was convoluted and confusing, making it difficult to follow along with the plot. The author seemed to rely heavily on world-building and introducing numerous magical elements without adequately explaining them, leaving me feeling lost and disconnected from the story. Additionally, the dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it hard to connect with the characters. I had to give up on this book as it just couldn't hold my interest.
3. David - 2 stars - "Winds of Magic Warhammer" had potential, but it fell flat for me. The pacing was incredibly slow, with long periods of inaction and overly detailed descriptions that didn't contribute much to the overall story. The characters were also disappointing, lacking depth and failing to evoke any emotional connection. The world-building was impressive, but it wasn't enough to salvage the book. Overall, I found it to be a tedious and unengaging read.
4. Emily - 3 stars - While "Winds of Magic Warhammer" had its moments, I ultimately found it to be a mediocre read. The plot started promisingly, but it didn't evolve in a way that kept me interested. The action scenes were thrilling, but they were few and far between, making the book feel drawn out. The character development was also lacking, with the protagonists feeling flat and predictable. The book had potential, but it needed more depth and excitement to truly capture my attention.
5. Mark - 2 stars - "Winds of Magic Warhammer" was a disappointment for me. The writing style felt disjointed, with abrupt shifts in perspective and poorly executed transitions between scenes. The pacing was also off, with certain sections dragging on while others felt rushed. The lack of a clear and compelling plot made it difficult for me to stay engaged, and I found myself losing interest in the story as it progressed. Overall, I was left underwhelmed by this book.