Resources Books

I spent my summer researching mentoring as an independent study project for my PhD program. This guide incorporated much of what I found to be essential in an effective mentoring program: incorporation of adult learning theory, focus on the responsibilites of the mentee, practical exercises and reading for the mentors, and much more. I have used the exercises with great success and highly recommend this book to anyone considering implemeting a mentoring program.

This book provides the best definition of a mentor that I have come across thus far with the statement "...and at there best they inspire us to reach beyond ourselves; they show us how to make a positive difference in a wider world". It is an easy to read reference tool filled with applicable information about how to prepare for and what to watch for during your journey as a mentor. The author does an excellent job of inspiring a can do attitude by giving the reader the ability to use this book as a workbook to be able to work through real life experiences. This book is a must have for anyone desiring to be in a mentoring relationship.

I just finished my thesis on mentoring child care center directors. The Mentor's Guide was the best resource. My thesis quotes many authors but there was non better than Lois Zachary. Her book is the easiest to read and she puts into words what I was thinking. I can't say enough about the wealth of information, ideas, quotes and straight comments that I found useful in this book. If you are embarking on a mentoring relationship this book is a must read. Thank you Lois.

This book provides mentors the tools they need in order to develop and maintain a mentoring relationship. In order to develop a successful mentoring relationship, it is important that the mentor have a good foundation in the purpose of the mentor/mentee relationship and then how know how to develop the relationship. The Mentor's Guide, by Lois J. Zachary, gives mentors this foundation and provides them with support in developing the mentor/mentee relationship.

Lois goes on to provide mentors with the information they need in order to be successful. Learning, according to Lois, is the primary goal of the mentoring relationship. In order for learning to occur, the relationship must be learner centered. The book provides guidelines on creating a learner-centered environment.

The book provides information as well as worksheets that help mentors develop their mentoring skills. Worksheets on developing goals and priorities, confidentiality, boundaries, planning, cross-cultural mentoring, assessing the quality of interactions, skill assessment, as well as strategies to develop successful reflections are a few of the worksheets provided by the book.

This is an excellent book that provides mentors will the tools they need in order to be successful.

This book provides mentors the tools they need in order to develop and maintain a mentoring relationship. In order to develop a successful mentoring relationship, it is important that the mentor have a good foundation in the purpose of the mentor/mentee relationship and then how know how to develop the relationship. The Mentor's Guide, by Lois J. Zachary, gives mentors this foundation and provides them with support in developing the mentor/mentee relationship.

Learning, according to Lois, is the primary goal of the mentoring relationship. In order for learning to occur, the relationship must be learner centered. The book provides guidelines on creating a learner-centered environment.

The book provides information as well as worksheets that help mentors develop their mentoring skills. Worksheets on developing goals and priorities, confidentiality, boundaries, planning, cross-cultural mentoring, assessing the quality of interactions, skill assessment, as well as strategies to develop successful reflections are a few of the worksheets provided by the book.

This is an excellent book that provides mentors will the tools they need in order to be successful.

As a Training Manager for a large wireless company I was charged with rolling out our online learning system. As you would expect, I and my company, did a good deal of research before we purchased our system. Michael Allen's book was very helpful in identifying the questions we needed to identify, as a company, before we took the step.

I highly recommend this book. Even though you will likely experience some frustration in your search for the most effective online learning system, his book will make the process less painful.

The book really focuses on the "how to" of developing and designing your online courses. It honestly lays out the pros and cons of online learning. You will find it helpful.

This book is a must have for the aspiring e-Learning developer. It reviews enough theory to make the point and directs the reader quickly through the logic and science of good e-Learning design.

This book takes e-learning to its core mandate, that of engaging and involving the learners, so that they learn the key skills and knowledge required.

An excellent and easy read, with lots of good examples and non-examples, nicely compared side by side.

Dr. Allen is a champion of learner-centric design - and has written a refreshingly reader-centric book about the topic. He understands that learning is an "internal, personal, and ultimately individual act." His words reveal his passions and opinions in such an authentic manner that you can quickly understand his perspective, and extract points of meaning that can directly apply to your work. As a producer and designer of interactive media, I continually find his insights an inspiration.

I purchased this book as I was beginning to design an eLearning curriculum for my company. The book was a great jumpstart to helping me structure the program, consider ways to involve the learners in eLearning, and remember to find ways to make the course material memorable. I found the accompanying online and CD-based demos to be good stimulators, too. Although I won't be using an authoring tool like the one Michael Allen invented, it was easy to take and apply several of Allen's ideas to my project.

This is a fantastic book. I have always felt a little inadequate as a writing teacher. I can write, but I don't know where to begin on the road to teaching children to write. This is a step-by-step plan and it is fantastic!

I have reviewed many books about how to teach children to write stories, and this one is by far the best! To begin with Mariconda is the only author I've read who distinguishes between character-problem-solution stories and what she calls "personal narratives." Personal narratives are more about an experience than a character, are usually heavily descriptive, and there is no "problem." The character-problem-solution mantra had always bothered me, because we all know that there are wonderful stories that are more "mood pieces" than solutions problems.
More importantly, the book consists of specific lessons on teaching the elements of story writing, in isolation. It can be done! Look at the Table of Contents to see exactly what is covered. These lessons are explained so well explained that you feel fully equipped to teach them, now!
Additionally, the author herself writes with "voice," unlike the usual dry, anonymous style of textbooks. When I leafed through the book and saw an entry that said something like, "getting students to elaborate with detail is the bane of most English teachers' existence," I bought it then and there. What we all need is to hear about teachers' experiences, not just "programs" that seem to spring from nowhere.
Lastly, her approach works! When this program was implemented at the school she taught at, the percentage of students passing the state writing assessment rose from 47% to 92% in four years. That is amazing! I am planning on using this book for my high school students as well as elementary and middle school!

I used this book to teach 3rd and 4th graders in Watts how to write. This book has lesson plans that teach step by step. All kids have wonderful ideas but sometimes do not know how to express these ideas on paper. This book shows you how to teach them. It was incredible to read the stories my students wrote after learning the techniques in this book! All my students became amazing authors! They were so proud of their stories and I was so proud of them! Thank you for writing this amazing book!

I have used this book with 3 schools in two states to help teachers teach writing and to help students prepare for state writing tests. This book shows you many simple ways to help kids understand narrative writing. The diamond graphic organizes the students's thinking and writing. The mini-lessons are great, and the test prep advice, the paced prompt, works. why should anyone take a test they aren't prepared for? the paced prompt shows the students how to organize their time and thougths, and the scores showed it. If you or your teachers are using Write Traits this will fit beautifully, but the book also stands alone. I've bought copies for all my teachers!

A book that, incredibly, lives up to its title! This is my 13th year of teaching elementary school and this book does what no other book has been able to do: it works! I found myself reading the entire thing in the teacher's store where I first found it. I suggested to my entire 3rd grade team that we implement it and they whole-heartedly agreed. If you want to teach kids to write narrative that A. makes sense, and B. is interesting, you cannot go wrong. Haven't you tried the formula of character, setting, problem, solution, one too many times and not been satisfied with the results? I know I have. This approach is much better, and shows you how to teach beginnings, elaboration, suspense (the best part), main event, resolution, and satisfying ending. The beauty is you teach it by parts using real literature examples, modeling, and then students practice. You will find yourself nodding your head as the author relates the same kinds of frustrations you have when reading elementary school writing and shows you how to change them. This book is the best I've ever seen to help you teach writing. There is no fluff and many great insights. Your students will write amazing stories and you'll never teach writing the same way again!

This product full of ideas on setting up and teaching Kindergarten. With the continious changes in education I was a little unsure about where to start. The author offers great ideas and input using the NCTM Standards. This is a great resource for new teachers, and teachers who are new to teaching Kindergarten.

I have had the honor of seeing Ms. Leuenberger adapt the very principals that she writes about in her book in her own classroom on "The Vineyard". Believe me, these strategies and lessons work. I suggest that each school have this book available for their Kindergarten teachers. The suggestions and ideas in this book make "Meeting the Standards" easy and fun.

I love how this teacher writes about how she sets up her classroom and keeps it organized. She also has some helpful strategies for setting up learning centers, journal writing and how to make your morning message fun, and much more!
I think the ideas in this book will be really helpful in the years to come.

This is a 'must have' book for any teacher at any number of years teaching experience. What I really like about this book is 'at a glance' one can pick up ideas/tips that are ready to try 'NOW'.

Constance Leuenberger's book is an excellent combination of educational philosophy coupled with ideas, ideas, and more ideas!
An easy read that would be a GREAT resource for ALL new Kindergarten teachers and a wonderful resource to help experienced teachers remember how important developementally appropriate strategies are.
This book is full of great ideas, strategies, and tips that are simple and ready to implement. Another strength is how the author shares thoughts for teachers of half day and/or full day programs.
Constance understands how young children learn. She knows that we must teach the "whole" child....from their academic to their social well being.
This book is an excellent addition to your professional library.

I think this book is the best up to date reference on Operations Research. The book is very well written, very didactic and addresses mainly the practical use of OR. That is, the book isnt so good for algorithm details but it is superb on modeling, interpretation and examples.

This is one of the excellent industrial engineering books. From deterministic and simple linear programming to stochastic systems such as queueing models or dynamic programming, you may read and "learn" lots of things about OR. However, for stochastic cases you will need extra help for its matematics. But if you want to learn something about industrial engineering or something related with it, that is the book you must buy.

A wonderful compendium of Ops algorythms. It has everything from linear programming to queing theory.

I am in my first semester of an MBA program. The required text for my OR/MS class (An Introduction to Management Science, 10th ed., by Anderson, Sweeney, Williams) left something to be desired. I work with the SAS programming language, and happened to be discussing the SAS/OR product with a SAS technical support rep. He recommended this Winston text. I think it explains concepts much better than my Anderson text and has helped me a lot in my OR/MS class.

I have used this book for five years in my Operation Research classes. Its emphasis is in the mathematical modeling. The explanations are complete and clean. But, the exercises are the best part: a lot of examples and modeling exercises. A very good book for engineering students.

The words positive reinforcement inspire different thoughts in different people. Sadly, some think "weak" or "manipulative." But, properly understood, it is neither.

"The world can be a cruel place" is often used as an excuse for introducing cruelty to children, or using it on animals and employees. When I hear that argument, that's when the words "weak" and "manipulative" spring to my mind.

Daniels' writing is easy to read, and he makes a great case for the practicality, effectiveness and deep reward of using reinforcement for others, as well as embracing it when it is directed at us. He clearly lays out all of the aspects of using it well and carefully, not just randomly "being nice."

This is an exceptionally well-organized and clear book. Superficially, it might seem like "only" a suggestion to compliment others more often. However, what distinguishes it from self-help books that emphasize willpower and attitude is the reliance on the teachings of B.F.Skinner's radical behaviorism.

This is one of the best and few books on applying behaviorism to everyday living that I've aware of. You can read Skinner (e.g. "Science and Human Behavior" or his 3-part autobiography) to understand the scientific foundation of his approach and to get a few ideas how you can manage yourself better, but I have found it difficult to work out just how to apply the lessons of behaviorism in daily life. Advancements have been made in applications to such areas as autism and to education, but these require highly trained behavior analysts.

What Daniels has done is work out and carefully explain a straight-forward way in which anyone can apply behaviorism. His advice seems entirely consistent with Skinner, including the avoidance of punishment. Key basics of behaviorism are made simple by Daniels, who has the clearest explanation of the key behaviorist term "contingency" that I've found.

If he didn't so carefully explain how he arrives at this advice, it might seem simplistic. Just compliment? But significantly more than that, for he identifies a number of rules that must hold to effectively positive reinforce others. And because it doesn't require too many rules, it seems quite manageable. I haven't tried it much yet, but I mean to start doing so soon. I hope to succeed because I'll have the scientific power of behaviorism, the laws of nature and the apparent wisdom of Daniels supporting me and keeping it simple.

It seems safe to say that the goal of any responsible person in a position of authority, whether that person is a parent, teacher, therapist, or business manager, is to see others be successful, productive, and satisfied with whatever they do. For most people, however, there is a big question mark as to just how we can accomplish these goals.

Other People's Habits provides some of the clearest examples describing how the principles of behavior analysis can be used to achieve these goals for the benefit of everyone. Daniels does a wonderful job differentiating between recognition, reward, and reinforcement, and how each process is likely to affect the actions of another. His Do's and Don'ts for implementing positive reinforcement successfully are extremely clear and helpful (along with having a great deal of empirical support in the research literature, unlike the majority of procedures described in many pop psychology books). Daniels also describes in detail how most individuals who claim to be using behavior analytic principles are, in fact, often misusing these principles with disastrous results. Rather than turning people into disgruntled non-productive individuals, as author Alfie Kohn likes to suggest in his book Punished By Rewards, positive reinforcement is a very effective process to help each person achieve a productive and meaningful life, when used properly.

Readers who are parents may also wish to look at another book, The Power of Positive Parenting by Latham, for the successful application of behavior analytic principles with children. Scholars who are interested in the intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivation debate and how it has played out in the research literature may also wish to pick up a copy of Rewards and Intrinsic Motivation: Resolving the Controversy by Cameron and Pierce.

Well-written and well-researched, this book has the power to revolutionize human interaction. On my suggested reading list.

I don't see why anyone should settle for second best. I read anything and everything on how to be my best and bring out the best in others. I really like the author's perspective of confronting habits. So much of our activity is automatic, based on old coping mechanisms.

This author recognizes that we do have the power to help others be their best and that self-limiting habits need to be conquered. The reader is given a series of steps to take to overcome these habits. Try them!

Doing a performance evaluation on an employee can be a real pain. I know from years of supervising employees and then from teaching the process in human resources management classes at universities for many additional years. That is why I really enjoyed finding "Painless Performance Evaluations" by Marnie E. Green. This book makes the performance evaluation process understandable and as painless as possible. In fact, after reading and studying this book, you will probably never dread doing performance evaluations again.

What I found important about this book was that performance evaluations are detailed as a central part of the whole human resources management process and not as an isolated event. By learning all of the aspects of working with employees, you can more easily deliver an accurate and helpful performance evaluation.

The book is written in a textbook format although geared to every supervisor, manager, and executive who has faced doing performance evaluations. The explanations are very clear about what to do while working with employees so an effective evaluation can be given. Exercises and case studies provide ample practice situations so the real thing won't have to cause a lot of stress. I found this book made a usually mundane topic actually quite interesting. It would be a great addition on the shelf of any professional involved in a human resource capacity in a business or corporation and would also be a great supplemental text for the college level class on human resource management.

This book is an easy read, and it is filled with practical information that can be applied immediately. You may be preparing for your first performance review, or you may have completed hundreds of performance reviews--read this book and you will walk away with a hands-on approach to performance management that will make a real difference in the performance of your team and the overall performance of your organization.
Susan Shoemaker, Head, Education Development Center, Ministry of Health, College of Health Sciences, Kingdom of Bahrain

Painless Performance Evaluations - A Practical Approach to Managing Day-to-Day Employee Performance is an excellent reference for easy-to-apply tools and ideas related to the dreadful subject of performance evaluations. Marnie Green's book successfully provides tips and guidlines that management can implement and follow, making the challenge of evaulating employees a positive experience!

As an HR professional, I am constantly looking for ways to coach the management teams on performance management. Marnie Green does an excellent job of outlining an efficient and truly 'painless' evaluation process. This book not only gives good advice on writing evaluation comments, but also advice on how to effectively deliver evaluations. I look forward to coaching our management team using some of Marnie Green's techniques.

Marnie Green has written a well laid out and easy to use guide for anyone who performs employee performance evaluations. Employees dread their reviews, wondering what they could have done better and how they will stack up against other employees. They come to their evaluation with sweaty palms, a nervous stomach and high hopes. Marnie gives managers and HR professionals an easy, practical outline to streamline and create a positive evaluation experience for the manager and the employee. She helps you conduct an evaluation with confidence, build employee respect, understand that the evaluation is not just on past work, but to plan for the future and help employees succeed. This is a valuable guidebook that should be in every managers office and be required reading.

This book was given to me by my vet after my dog (Nikki) was diagnosed with lymphoma. I read this book in one sitting!! This book was a great resource for me in a time of great sadness. I was able to take the many questions that didn't come to me at the vet's office and get them answered. I highly recommend this book to others who may be going through this experience.

I read this little book the first night I got it, and learned a great deal. I only wish I had this info before I lost my beautiful cat friend Taura to cancer almost 5 yrs ago. Even though I thought I was well informed at the time Taura was sick, I've since learned that I really was not, and a book like this could have made a real difference. Veternarians do not always have the skills or knowledge to give thorough information and this book has an abundance of real life info and leaves one with a great deal to think about.

HOWEVER, I was very disappointed in the section on nutrition, which seemed to lack a full view of nutritional options. Even though there was info given on the importance of protein, carbohydrates,etc. the main recommendation for a cancer fighting food was Hills Diet, which felt bias. Some info was given on supplements, but none on other options for foods, such as the possiblity of homemade diets, either cooked or raw, which under the guidance of a good vet could be the answer to good health, depending on the individual needs of each animal. Also, no other quality foods were listed, of which there are many, which with proper guidance may also be appropriate. BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OTHER NUTRITIONAL OPTIONS WITH A VET WHO KNOWS NUTRITION, AS MANY DO NOT.

THIS IS A REALLY GOOD BOOK TO HAVE - I will keep it near and hope I will not need it.

A brilliantly written book which offers hope, comfort and compassionate advice for all pet owners whose animal companions face this horrible disease. Covers all aspects of cancer care from diagnosis to end stages of the disease. A must for the pet owner whose beloved animal companion has been stricken with cancer. Thank you, Dr. Downing for this gem of a book.

After my dog was diagnosed with cancer, I searched the internet for answers, and found this book on Amazon. It is a little book, worth it's weight in gold. It is written by a knowledgeable vet who translates clinical information into a factual, yet compassionate conversation with the reader. By using the website links in the back of the book, I was able to find a world class animal hospital in my area that correctly diagnosed the rare form of cancer my dog has. Seven months later, we are on the road to remission. I still refer to Dr. Downing's book, and am more than thanful to have found it.

This is an excellent book, and if you have ever had, or currently have, a pet with cancer, you deserve a copy of this book.

It takes you by the hand, and explains in easy to understand layman terms, just what the diagnosis of cancer means to you and your pet, in terms of options, cures and hope. It phrases the questions you should ask your vet about any anticipated therapies and operations for the cancer-stricken pet.

The book is positive in outlook, giving pet owners hope, when there seems to be none. Cure types, therapies, and chemotherapy types and kinds are explained. It even discusses nutrition as it relates to saving the pet and `starving' cancer. And research shows diet can play an important role in starving cancer!

The book gives lots of detail; it answers all the questions that the pet owner, in a state of shock after the diagnosis, forgot to ask the vet. It gives helpful hints on how to organize yourself for future vet visits with the cancer-striken pet, and suggests questions you should then ask the vet.

In sum, for anyone with a pet that has cancer - this little book will become your `guide book.'

I'd buy the book `before the event' however, so you have it when you need it.

A unique book... A collection of the best teambuilding-tools from the Pfeiffer-annuals. If you only should buy one book in your life about team activities... Choose this one!

I found the book to be chockful of helpful information--particularly the checklists, personal evaluations, and learning games and tools. I also liked the step-by-step instructions on everything. Very well organized. Easy to find things--just want you're looking for to solve a key issue or use in a special training class.

A terrific book of tools for trainers, consultants and facilitators. Edited by Elaine Biech, the contributors provide comprehensive and integrated teamwork activities to help you develop high-performing teams. A must buy!

This new offering from Pfeiffer/Elaine Biech allows trainers to learn from their peers - working professionals in the field of human resource development. The Ten Block Model clearly presents both a roadmap for new teams and a diagnostic tool for established teams that want to move to the next level. Each of the chapters offers training activities that focus on one of the ten blocks. The final chapter presents a series of team building tools that are practical, easy to use, and thought provoking. This book is the team building equivalent of a recroding star's top hits CD - it presents only the best, culled from a large selection of really good ideas from past Annual editions. A wise addition to your library - a book you'll turn to again and again!

In my work as a training consultant, I get called on to do a lot of work in the area of team building. There are a lot of books on the market that offer games and exercises, but fall short on theory and in depth debriefing. Elaine's book does a tremendous job of doing al of the above. Not only is there a wealth of the practical, but Elaine has gone over and above the expectations of delivering in depth training for the trainer so that one's tool kit if filled with reserve information when conducting teambuilding. YEAH!! Elaine has a way of taking the best of herself and others to make it work for the least to the most experienced trainer in the field. I will use this new tool a lot in my upcoming seminars. I look forward to new books from Elaine...they are ALL on my bookshelf and I use them all regularily for research as well sa recommend them to others!

I purchased this book to supplement my course materials for my mba class. It was the perfect compliment to my research and explained the material nicely, foregoing the often complicated and alienating academic language for common wording and explanations. Truly easy to read and informative!

The invisible fog is trying to solve a problem that can't be solved. It is a fog because the solutions don't work, and it is invisible because focusing on solutions prevents seeing that there isn't a problem to be solved. There is no magic bullet here, and Johnson acknowledges that. What is here are tools for coping with (managing) dualities or polarities inherent in many troublesome situations. Johnson provides the clarity to get above the fog and find a way to address (manage) the situation.

The concepts and underlying explanation are a solid 5-star.
Four stars because I found just a bit too much padding/repetition for a 5 star book.

Polarity Management is one of my favorite "business" books of all time. Johnson's theory, which explains the dynamics of polarized issues, is so simple yet so comprehensive. This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand why major issues can be so divisive and how we can move forward when we seem to be at a standstill.

I have not read his book yet. Our company has utilized his seminars and what a difference! We are using the Polarity map in meetings, conferences, and now in my personal life. This is a great tool for any organization or individual that is either in a struggle or is successful - you walk away with more than a tool but a way of looking at your professional and personal life.

This book really shows how we become stuck in dilemmas and static thinking, and how we can instead move at one with change. I am finding it tremendously helpful in analyzing entrenched organizational dysfunction that persists in spite of the efforts of well-meaning managers.