Education Books

Crwon Me is a funny and insightful novel about a kooky kid and even kookier classmates. It had me in stitches. Kids will love this!

I know that I am just a lowly Amazon.com reviewer and that the things I write make little to no impact on the wider world around me. Even so, I feel hesitant to read and review a children's book when I learn that it is some perfectly nice author's very first novel. They must be so proud. To have put all that effort into a title. To watch it grow beneath your fingers and become something new and different. To have it molded and shaped by a variety of editors, friends, and advisors. To have it published by a big ole publisher like Holiday House. Then, finally, to watch it ripped into tiny shreds at the hands of some two-bit Amazon.com reviewer who probably wouldn't know the next great kid's book if it came up and bit them on the ... well, you get the idea. After reading the first half of "Crown Me!", these were my thoughts. I found myself worrying. How was I going to write a review of this book when it so obviously still needed work? To my utter relief, however, the second half of the story more than made up for the first. So while this is not the best children's book of 2004, and while the author probably has a ways to go before she can be said to be the next great voice in kiddie lit, there's promise here. Real promise.

Some kids want run for President when they grow up. Then there's Justin Davies. He doesn't want to just run for President. He wants to BE President. And now, thanks to his history teacher Mr. Bailey, he has a chance to be the next best thing. King. When Justin and his rival Andrea Carey are pronounced King and Queen for two weeks, they're both delighted. Sure Mr. Bailey keeps saying that this'll teach some kind of a lesson to them all, but all Justin can think is that this is the perfect way to get the attention he needs for an eventual run as fifth-grade student council president. Problem is, being a king isn't all it's cracked up to be. His friends keep getting mad at him when he won't favor them, he keeps making impossible promises that he can't keep, and now the school bully, Badger, is challenging him to a joust. It ain't easy being king, but somebody's gotta do it. Justin just needs to learn how.

When I first began reading, I felt I recognized the author's voice in this book. It sounded oddly familiar. After a couple more pages, I realized that lay is a dead ringer for Bruce Hale (author of the oh-so popular "Chet Gecko" series for younger folks). Take out a couple of Gecko's bad puns (and give them all to "Crown Me!"'s bully villain) and you've got a mighty similar writer on your hands. Lay is a bit too prone towards putting bad or corny jokes in the mouths of her characters. The bully spouts overused phrases like, "I'm going to punch you into next week" and "I'd be just as happy to squash two wimps for the price of one". When you begin the book, things like this are particularly prominent. Justin, our hero, is not especially likable and his friends are even less so. It's mighty difficult to believe that he would still want to be friends with them when they repeatedly betray him, get mad at truly tiny slights, and cowardly abandon him at the worst times. The first few chapters of the book were so depressing, in fact, that I had to make myself keep reading.

Then it got better. Once Lay's really into the story, the writing becomes crisper and the satire sharper. By the time Justin's campaign for fifth-grade presidency is in full swing, Lay somehow manages to give the book the thrill of an actual election. Kids reading this book will honestly be on the edges of their seats as they wait to hear the final verdict. I also loved the character of Willie, Justin's unwanted knight errant and remarkably adept campaign manager. Any scene in which a kid shows his love of presidential advisors by keeping a picture of Orville Freeman (Kennedy's secretary of agriculture) on his desk has my instant love. There are still loose ends left dangling by the story's close (we never learn what happens to the ficus that Justin and his dad continually forget to water) but these are small enough that they shouldn't distract from what ends up being a truly satisfying close.

The obvious pairing of this book would be with, "The Kid Who Ran For President" by Dan Gutman. Also consider giving it out with fellow first-time novel, "Donuthead", by Sue Stauffacher for another look at a kid dealing with dangers and insecurities. "Crown Me!" isn't going to garner too much attention, but it's bound to be adored by those kids who sympathize with Justin and his quest. Lay has an accessible voice and a fun plot here. She's bound to win some fans with this book.

Children's books beg for the gifts of vivid imagination and delightful reading. Kathryn Lay's book, CROWN ME!, has both of these gifts and more. When immersed in the life of Justin, a 5th grade political hopeful, young readers will be entertained while inadvertently learning about attitudes, dealing with others, & politics. Ms. Lay's story, written in 1st person, is presented in a suspenseful and entertaining manner. I congratulate her on a great idea and wish I'd thought of it first.

I LOVED the book! I picked up the book because it looked good and it WAS good. It was funny and serious at the same time. It was funny because of what happened with the characters. The fifth grade class really got into the idea that Justin and Andrea were King and Queen. It was serious because Justin really finds out what it is like to be a leader.
Buy it! It's the best book I ever read!

Justin is a confident, smart, and ambitious 5th grader with great political aspirations. When he and his academic rival are selected to be the king and queen for a class history project, the royal couple's delusions of grandeur threaten both of their campaigns for class president.

Kathryn Lay's delightful middle-grade novel is quite funny, with a charming mix of characters who aren't always what they seem. Cleverly titled chapters add to the fun.

since we already know what the plot is about thanks to reviews, I just want to say that my favourite parts in the book are when Dawn & Whitney go shopping and when Dawn's dad and his date, along with others in the neighborhood, attend a classical music picnic. There is also a special surprise at the end of the book relating to dawn's life, read it to find out!

I enjoyed reading about the shopping trips, the music picnic, the carnivals, the baby sitting and everything else.

I really loved this book since I bought it. I think what made it more enjoyable was the way it was descriptively written, anne did a great job writing this book. The way she described the baby sitting jobs, the family dates right down to the detail and the shopping trips almost made me feel as though I were watching a movie of it.

I really love this book! It was extremely well written and Dawn and Whitney had a beautiful friendship. This book illustrates that just because you have a disability doesn't mean you're different from everyone else. Also Dawn's dad is in the dating game and dawn and jeff come along for family dates, that was also an interesting read. I think this is one of dawn's better books. A great read!

The book is very cool! When dawn meets Whitney, Dawn finds out that Whitney has a disease so Dawn asks her if she wants to be her baby-sitter. Dawn and Whitney really had a beautiful friendship in this book. Plus, Dawn's father is having dates with another girl and Dawn and Jeff are asked to come to their father's date.

In this new supplement, the authors have identified four essential educational components that educators must process when addressing the issues of using technology within the educational setting. These emerging issues of cyber standards include (a) developing a compressive, site-based technology plan that focuses on the improvement of student learning (b) developing policies for cyber security that protects the school from potential liability and student endangerment (c) developing appropriate and factual communication strategies that support positive marketing of the school mission to the public and (d) how teachers can engage the use of technology for improving the teaching and learning process.

Today more than ever, American schools are facing a national dilemma on how to improve education. A new era of transformation is evolving from the traditional Industrial Age school to the school of the Information Age. To accomplish the reform of public education, a new way of thinking about old practices needs to be regenerated to create world class schools. In the book Developing School Programs and Policies, I discovered new ideas, methods, and programs that will help individual schools to regenerate the traditional into the practical. Many time in the history of school reform we have become bogged down by the theoretical and not the practical. This manual is purely practical and provides a step-by-step model for application, something that has not been commonly available in most education resources. The authors have addressed many of the complex issues of public schools by defining policies and programs that are ready to use and applicable to most school settings. The topics range from curriculum improvement, at-risk programs, the expansion of the school day, discipline, safety at school, teacher responsibilities, to the establishment of a vision and goals for school improvement. The book is truly an anthology of pactical ideas that can be used by school board members, superintendents, principals, teachers, and community task forces responsible for regenerating public schools. As a graduate student, I found the book very useful in helping me to understand how schools and school programs are designed.

The first supplement, Observing and Assessing Teacher Performance, is an invaluable tool for principals looking for an evaluation system based on improving instructional performance. The performance data that is collected is both productive and supportive because the process itself involves the teachers in their own instructional improvement. Helping teachers teach better is the ultimate goal of this evauation system.

What a novel idea!

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in reforming the educational practices within their local schools or to anyone who is a student of educational reform. This book truly weaves together the best practices and standards for school improvement and takes a hard look at policies, practices, and attitudes that are in need of fundamental changes as we stand on the threshold of the 21st Century.

If you are striving for a world-class school, you need this manual.

Sandy

Public schools are now discovering that they cannot prepare students to succeed in tomorrow's world unless they reinvent themselves today. The schools that will thrive in the future are those schools that embrace reform and take control over their own destinies. In many cases throughout the nation, today's schools are not in control of their own destinies because of the loss of local control and the inability to initiate an open agenda for public engagement in the school renewal process. Despite this, policy makers (state agencies and legislators) continue to establish mandates for holding educators accountable for student improvement. Designed in non-collaborative environments, these mandates are based on high-end accountability policies that regulate school reform. However, rarely are these reform mandates based upon the wisdom of school effectiveness research. Additionally, the local school communities are not consulted about how the new regulations will influence the education of their particular school populations. Five years ago, during the course of our crystal ball gazing, we missed several important concepts when developing this manual. We did not recognize that policy development would have such an influence on school reform measures, nor did we fully understand the extent to which effective schools research could have on the impact of policy development. To support communities in building stronger schools and regaining ownership, this manual provides a guide for supporting effective school practices through polices and programs based upon effective school research.

The authors are very detailed and descriptive with the information needed to administer the daily task of leading an effective and successful school. It is a definite hands on resource that you will want to keep handy and review and use daily. The authors are very knowledgeable and have studied all angles of organizational procedures and implemented suggestions for different sites that may be modified to adjust to your situation. It is a book that a new principal would find quite useful in setting up a building that would run successfully from day one and effectively limit major crisis from ill thought out planning. The chapter on safety is, in this time of major concern, a vital guide to helping protect a school from later regrets of irresponsible behavior to the safety and concern of all within its confinds. I as an administrator of an elementary school found it very useful and highly recommend it to others as a very useful guide and resource to keep on hand when reviewing or changing procedures within your building.

The days for public school security have arrived, and we, as educators, must take every precaution to protect the health, security, and wellbeing of every member who enters the school's environment. In the new supplement to be released in December of 1999, authors Michael King and Linda Harrison give you a comprehensive look at school security and crisis management. The new supplement entitled Programs and Policies for Developing A Safe, Secure, and Healthy Environment will provide expert advice on how to plan and develop a school crisis prevention plan.

The new supplement is divided into three major Chapters. Chapter 8-1, "School Building Security," provides administrators with an overall program for securing their school facilities. Chapter 8-1 concludes with a valuable assessment tool that administrators and security officials can use to evaluate the present level of building security and provides a reference point for future security planning.

Chapter 8-2, "Developing a Crisis Management Plan" provides policies and procedures necessary to prevent and react to school threats, emergencies, and evacuations. The Chapter is divided into two parts: those crisis situations that require evacuation and those crisis situations that require taking shelter.

Chapter 8-3, "School Health Services," provides policies and procedures for dealing with a variety of health issues. Its major purpose is to help school staff members recognize and react appropriately to those medical situations that occur within the school setting. It includes policies and procedures for reacting to student injuries, handling contagious and chronic illnesses, recognizing social and psychological issues, and administering medications.

All three Chapters of this new supplement are important parts of a comprehensive crisis management plan in any school.

As a math teacher, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is a great book to show students how they can think about math beyond the classroom. I recommended this book to my eighth grade girls and I recommend it now to any other student who expresses an interest in math!

This is a very readable book for middle school and above students. A young math-loving "detective" uses her skills to negotiate life in school and her world. Each chapter connects the story to some math content; the content is appropriate for grades 6 or 7 and up.

One of my favorites has her considering the question of whether life ends at death (like a line segment ends at a point) or goes on forever (like a line).

This book was great fun to read whether you like math or not. It takes mathematical concepts and shows how they apply in real life situations without the use of numbers. For example, should you provide police with information about a crime that may have been committed? Tess is trying to decide whether to tell someone about what she believes is important evidence in the death of her mother's friend, but her mother insists that the family should remain silent because they have no proof. Using the concept of axioms,the information should be reported. "In math, if something is an axiom, it means you don't need proof for it to be true." The proof may be left to the courts, like a theorem, which does need proof. Finally, a fun work of math fiction!

Even though I am way past my teenage years, I still loved reading the story of Tess and her friends, their mystery, and discoveries of real math. Lichtman's characters are distinct and vivid; her plot line is creative and original. I even learned about some math principles. My twenty-something daughter and 12 year old nephew both really enjoyed reading it as well. My daughter said it would make a fun movie.

What a great concept to make math cool. I loved the imagery and the way Tess thinks through her world AND that she's a girl (sorry for the run-on). Page turner even for a 36 year old kid.

As a professional speaker and writer to parents I applaud and highly recommend this book! Written as a dialogue between parent and child, we hear the innocence of a child and the wisdom of the parent. For each naive question the parent gently shares an applicable scripture in today's language. When I speak on nurturing a child's spiritual development I ALWAYS recommend "Does God Know How to Tie Shoes?" to my audience. Not only can it help parents relate to their child but it can help us adults relate to our loving Heavenly Father. Books that are easy to read were often difficult to write and it's a gift to communicate truth in simple ways. My book, Parenting Power in the Early Years, is an easy read and I know from experience the research and labor that went into its writing. This knowledge gives me an even greater appreciation for the profound simplicity of "Does God Know How to Tie Shoes?"

As a professional speaker and writer to parents I applaud and highly recommend this book! Written as a dialogue between parent and child, we hear the innocence of a child and the wisdom of the parent. For each naive question the parent gently shares an applicable scripture in today's language. When I speak on nurturing a child's spiritual development I ALWAYS recommend "Does God Know How to Tie Shoes?" to my audience. Not only can it help parents relate to their child but it can help us adults relate to our loving Heavenly Father. Books that are easy to read were often difficult to write and it's a gift to communicate truth in simple ways. My book, Parenting Power in the Early Years, is an easy read and I know from experience the research and labor that went into its writing. This knowledge gives me an even greater appreciation for the profound simplicity of "Does God Know How to Tie Shoes?"

As a professional speaker and writer to parents I applaud and highly recommend this book! Written as a dialogue between parent and child, we hear the innocence of a child and the wisdom of the parent. For each naive question the parent gently shares an applicable scripture in today's language. When I speak on nurturing a child's spiritual development I ALWAYS recommend "Does God Know How to Tie Shoes?" to my audience. Not only can it help parents relate to their child but it can help us adults relate to our loving Heavenly Father. Books that are easy to read were often difficult to write and it's a gift to communicate truth in simple ways. ... I know from experience the research and labor that went into its writing. This knowledge gives me an even greater appreciation for the profound simplicity of "Does God Know How to Tie Shoes?"

As a professional speaker and writer to parents I applaud and highly recommend this book! Written as a dialogue between parent and child, we hear the innocence of a child and the wisdom of the parent. For each naive question the parent gently shares an applicable scripture in today's language. When I speak on nurturing a child's spiritual development I ALWAYS recommend "Does God Know How to Tie Shoes?" to my audience. Not only can it help parents relate to their child but it can help us adults relate to our loving Heavenly Father. Books that are easy to read were often difficult to write and it's a gift to communicate truth in simple ways. My book, Parenting Power in the Early Years, is an easy read and I know from experience the research and labor that went into its writing. This knowledge gives me an even greater appreciation for the profound simplicity of "Does God Know How to Tie Shoes?"

As a professional speaker and writer to parents I applaud and highly recommend this book! It's a dialogue between parent and child with naive questions answered and applied by scripture in today's language. When I speak on nurturing a child's spiritual development I ALWAYS recommend "Does God Know How to Tie Shoes?" to my audience. Books that are easy reads are often difficult to write as there's a gift in communicating truth in simplistic ways...Parenting Power in the Early Years, is one of those easy reads and because of my writing experience I can appreciate the skillful writing of "Does God Know How to Tie Shoes?"

Do you feel that marriage should be one of the most wonderful things in life? Do you feel sad about the divorce rating? This wonderful book explains how to live a meaningful and warm relationship. It explains what modesty is and why we need it. It discovers intimacy. A must read!

I recommend this book to all my friends and am actually buying it now for a friend who recently became engaged.

There are some books that defy definition, Doesn't Anyone Blush Anymore by Manis Friedman is one of them. This sweet book addresses many issues involved in relationships, love, and intimacy. It examines how interpersonal barriers that were once seen as sacred, that ensured the integrity of emotional health of individuals and families have been ripped away. The consequence of modern society shedding a traditional lifestyle that appeared superficial, to those living a rote existence according to these age-old practices, is a state of confusion and pain rather than emancipation. While this book appears to be about modesty, it truly deals with innocence, the end result of modesty. Manis Friedman argues that we as a society need to reclaim our innocence by setting personal and familial boundaries through implementing modesty in dress, speech, thought, and action if individuals and families are to become healthy and whole once again.

While comparisons to Return to Modesty and Kosher Sex are expected, this book differs in several ways. First, Manis Friedman never had a doubt that a modest lifestyle is better for someone's mental and spiritual health and second, he's not just talking about sex. The third difference is that he's not so much talking about a broad sweeping movement as much as a method of helping individuals get their lives on track.

Manis Friedman is one of the celebrities of the Lubavitcher movement and his writing and lectures exemplify why the Lubavitch movement is one of the most successful in reaching out to Jews unimpressed with observance. The operating procedure seems to imply "you think it's all going to be too hard for you? It doesn't fit your personality? Well, let's start small and see what you do feel comfortable with".

In this book Manis Friedman doesn't talk about the sexual mores at first. He knows that people see them as hopelessly outdated and Victorian. Instead he talks about modesty as an all encompassing part of the relationship. In his sermons, he helps to sensitize the reader to avoid little things that couples do all the time like arguing in public, making snide remarks when their partner argues with the clerk at the grocery store, etc. Through these stories and examples he gives a very intriguing and real picture of what a marriage could be and how it can be still romantic and fresh forever instead of for the first decade.

By the time he starts talking about the sexual rules of modesty, you are with him. You want the kind of relationship that he describes and if that means you wait until you get married to even touch a woman, so be it. And since this is Judaism, not Catholicism, there is no condemnation of sexuality. It's all about refinining sexuality and making it better than it could ever be in the so-called "swinging single" scene. When Manis Friedman describes a young man who isn't interested in dating or getting married just yet, he even hints at the popular "repressed guy just waiting to release all that pent up energy" fantasy with apparent approval. And just in case, you think that Friedman's ideas based on Halackic Jewish law are terribly repressive and limiting in sexuality, the guy's got 14 kids. He must be doing something right.

Read it. You might not agree with it. You might disagree with 90% of what's in this book, but that 10% that you agree with will make you think and make you feel and help you make healthier decisions in your life.

Years ago I heard Paul Harvey say that every American should go out and buy this book. I ignored him. Recently, while staying with a friend, I began reading her copy and couldn't put it down. I am now buying myself a copy.

What seems to be a passe perspective on life turns out to be brilliant and understanding. Manis Friedman has a remarkable grasp on the "places" inside us that we try to ignore. His advice for living and loving is unusually sound and his gentle delivery is among the finest.

I can't wait to see Manis' next book.

My 5 year old went from scribbling and frustration to drawing a discernible hen in 5 minutes! It has already done wonders for her self-esteem. She now says, "I can draw! This is easy!" She wants to draw everything in the book. I wish I had known about these months ago! I just ordered the whole set.

This book has given my 5 yr old son confidence by helping him to draw simple animals that he thought were too difficult to draw. He has not been as interested in the writing part. It would have been nice if it was like a workbook with blank pages across from each page so he could practice right in there.

I homeschool my kids and I bought this book for our art lessons. This is such an easy to follow drawing book. My kids are ages 5,7 & 10. All 3 are finding it easy to follow and their drawings are so good. I like to do the pictures myself. I like how the next step of the drawing is in a different color, it makes it so much easier. My 7 yr old even sat down with the book by herself and drew a picture without any help, and it turned out really nice. Hope this helps.

My girls, 8 and 4, love this book. I am amazed at how well their drawings come out. Not only are their drawings fantastic but the older girl utilizes the writing exercises and thinks they are fun - unlike other writing exercises.

I am a homeschooling mother and would recommend this book to anyone with children, homeschool or not. They will love it.

Bought this for my 5 YO daughter - it gave her incentive to practice her printing - she wasn't allowed to attemp the drawing part until the writing part was finished.
Basically, each page has three-four sentences for them to copy with a full picture already done above it on the same page. On the next page, the main object of the picture (a pig for example) is drawn with basic shapes in a step-by-step manner - even my older girls love to try to draw them.
I can't wait to get the next book in the series - great idea!!!!

Being a student of Barry Gilmore's english course, i can honestly tell you that "G" is an astoundigly talented teacher and writer. In the class room Gilmore instills his lessons in an attractive and interesting manner, and his book is no different. This mass of pages will undoubtedly assist writers of any age to become more talented. Gilmore is where it's at, and if you can't dig it, then doom on you!

This book opened my eyes to the world of writing. I loved it and I want to marry Barry Gilmore, the hottest author in the universe. Marry me, Barry. Love, your secret admirer

Never before have I been able to learn so much by simply reading a book. Barry Gilmore's book with its stunning insights into the world of creative writing has taken my own writing to new heights. I would strongly advise all aspiring young writers to read this book. Even veteran writers would do well to read this book and learn a few new tricks.

Barry's oxymoronic view of the aesthetic atmosphere drives liberally in a radical world of writing. His poignant and precise touch on the nebulous line that divides and encompasses the writing and visual arts and poetry, is a phenomenal explication on the spirit and presence that can strike us all dumbfounded when gawking and drooling at colorful oprah. He takes a painting and expounds on it thoroughly enough to encapsulate even the ignorant, and even his tone and rhythm musically provide a contextual creation. His work, in itself, is a piece of art.

Barry Gilmore is so Flush!!!! This is a super book, written by someone who had I Love Barry written on a trash can for him. If that doesn't show devotion, I don't know what does.

A MUST!!! Creswell organizes the book into three parts: 1. Introduction to research, 2. Steps in Research and 3. Research Designs. Within each category are simplistic reviews and explanations for designing and writing a research project.

Many research books are on the market, this is my favorite and has become my "bible" in designing a research project and writing papers due to the reader easy style Creswell laid the book out and the language he used to write and explain.

Alexandra B. Kealey

I am in the process of completing my exit project for my Master's degree. This text has been an excellent guide for me as I am completing my degree through distance education. I purchased the text at the end of my degree, after my coursework was completed, however, I think it would have been a great help for me if I had it from the beginning. I'm sure it's on the "recommended reading" list for most graduate courses, but I feel it should be "required reading" for anyone who is engaged in formal, academic research.

As a grad student returning to the classroom after more than 25 years I was a bit reticent about taking up the subject of academic research. The excellence of this text informed me, gave me a comprehensive view of the subject matter and left me wanting to learn more. I highly recommend it. This is one of the text books I will keep for future reference.

A very complete view on Research metholodigies. An essential book for Dissertation preparation. Examples given are clear and concise.

I bought this book as a required text for one of my on-line classes. I am in my second graduate class which is about quantitative and qualitative research and I am very impressed with the quality of this text. If you are a researcher, this book is a must have. If you are a reader of research, this book is also a must have. It is very well written and provides numerous examples of how to properly organize and write effective quantitative and qualitative research papers.

This book was an asset. I used it instead of my assigned text when working to pass the TExES Principal exam. This book was much better and more reader friendly than anything else I had used. The special ed section is a Must Read as is the part on employee rights! I highly recomment this book!

The title doesn't sound overly interesting but it actually is an interesting book. Teaching is an important job but there are a lot of things that a teacher could do to get in trouble (such as breaking privacy laws). The book also covers the law regarding starting a job contract, which I found to be particularly enlightening. It also covers some of the changes to Texas law since No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and laws regarding English language learners and illegal immigrants (they have the right to public education like anyone else). These are all important issues for the Texas teacher.

This book arrived quickly and has proved to be everything I needed it to be. Thank you very much

This book was used for a school law class. This is a great cheat sheet for educators in Texas, including teachers.

We have been using this text in our Texas Public School Law class in a chort of SFA in Mabank, and it has proven to be a wonderful resource book, sparking interesting discussion and debate.