Education Books

I have an older edition of this book. To learn about wines, one needs to research them. In this book, everything is broken down into sections and is easy to learn (also it is very entertaining to read).

Great book with an easy to follow format. Takes you through the various wine regions of the world in a format that follows the well-known Windows on the World wine class. I especially like the 'great' and 'exceptional' vintage information he puts into each section; this is very useful when you are scanning a wine list full of unfamilar names and is worth the price of the book itself! Great book, good price, buy it.

I bought this book in search of basic information about the wines of the world, the various grapes, regional distinctions and recommendations for all the categories. This book does not disappoint in that regard. I have no complaints at all about any of the information in the book--every bit of it was helpful. However, I would like to have seen more information about wines from the various regions of the U.S. (I live in North Carolina where we have quite a few vinyards, but my state wasn't even mentioned) other than the West and NY State. Also, after reading the book I realized I'd do well to make up some index cards listing categories and recommendations according to regions, so I could have something handy to go with me to the wine shop when I wanted to try something new. I think that a wonderful addition to this book would be some tear-out "cheat sheets" to carry in one's pocket or purse. However, for an at-home reference, this book is excellent.

This book is very informativ and fun to read. Zraly gives an easy to comprehend introduction to wine and recommends characteristic wines in each chapter for tasting, making this book a perfect "travel guide" through the world of wine.

Great book that covers all of the basics + provides real-world tasting ideas. Only downside is the focus on French wines; I wish there was more on Italy and "emerging" markets like Argentina. But with that said, Kevin Zraly recommends books that focus on these (and other) regions, so for those that need more information, it is easy to know where to read next.

This book is an excellent resource for anyone wanting to set up formal ABA programming for their child or for anyone who wants to understand the steps of development in specific areas such as making conversation, understanding the difference between yes/no and learning how to read. I found the checklists at the back of the book to be the most helpful. I have had extensive training (as a parent) in ABA principles and Discrete Trial Training procedures and I found that this book was accurate and gave the right amount of detail when I wanted to set up my own programs to be implemented in my home.

This book is a fantastic resource for anyone interested in behaviorism or anyone who knows a child on the Austic Spectrum.
If this topic isn't your cup of tea, then there's no reason for you to be interested in this book, but if you are into this sort of thing, it's amazing.

This book has great strategies and are all in layman terms for easy understanding. The programs in this book are great for beginners, I just wish they offered more programs. I am hoping that they are going to put out another book with more programs and curriculum for children with severe disabilities. I think this book is helpful for the new special education teacher, as it is very informational. It tells you what materials to use for each program(lesson), and gives advice on substitutions. Overall I think it is worth the money.

Right after I got the autism diagnosis for my son I realized that behavioral therapy would be our main focus of treatment and due to financial constraints, I would be the primary therapist.

After reading some really heady and intellectual literature on behavioral therapy I just wanted to scream, "Yes, I know, but tell me what to do!!"

A Work in Progress does just that. It is simply written and easy to use. Look up the behavior you wish to address in the table of contents, turn to the indicated page, and there, clearly written is a step-by-step plan. Brilliant. Just what we needed.

This book is an excellent resource which gives easy to read, step-by-step instructions on how to teach many basic language concepts including grammar, vocabulary, and conversation. As a busy Speech-Pathologist working in a school system, I have found that I consistently pick this book up. It gives me immediate access to planning therapy sessions that are extremely effective! Initially, it was bought for my students with autism. However, I find that I use this resource with all of my language students. This book is a MUST HAVE for any SLP or Special Education teacher!

I purchased this because I was interested in where my daughter was supposed to be. I found that in this age of differentiated instruction, this would help with RTI and making plans for the different levels in my class...

This is a great book for all educators. I highly recommend it. It give great information for all who work with children in what to expect in terms of children's development and implication for learning.

"Yardsticks", by Chip Wood, is a wonderful resourse for anyone working with children aged 4 to 14. It offers insights into the development of various age groups, and the book is conveniently divided by age. So, if you are working with seven-year-olds, you simply go to the section labeled "Sevens" and you can read about their cognitive abilities as well as physical attributes an average child of this age has. I am a pre-service teacher and recieved only a short blurb copy of this book and knew I HAD to have the entire book. It has been a wonderful help in my teaching and I plan on utilizing it for my entire career. Get this book!

It's a great book to learn what children are doing at a certain age and what interests them as a teacher.

This is just one incredible book. It is direct to the point with no flowery words, theories or philosphies. Each chapter is one age. The author creates about a half dozen catagories: physical, communication, etc. and provides bullets under each catagory of what to expect for the age. Each chapter is designed the same. I have found it to be right on the money! This should be a gift for every new parent!

This is a great book!It is written in secret code and is very hard to understand.But it is still an excellent book with a good plot!

This is a great book!It is written in secret code and is very hard to understand.But it is still an excellent book with a good plot!

I read this book 2 years ago, and still I can not forget how good it was and how much it helped me understand there are other people out there going through the same things as I do and worse. I am now 14 years old, and couldn't image going through what Julian went through in this book, AFTER the death of my mother.

Although the book was kinda confusing in the beginning, I caught on. Deciphering each and every messaged coated with numbers and codes until I cracked each and everyone one of them and recorgnized them once I spotted them.

Author James M. Deem is without doubt the most amazing author I've ever read books from. Since this book, I look and look for his books and read them and never I repeat NEVER has he let me down. I think that everyone who reads his material should cherish it, and hold on to his thoughts [ they are amazing ] just as I have done, because he's simply...the best. <3 James!

-Ashley

Julian is an abused child. His mother is dead, his demented stepmother starves him and locks him in his room and makes him do all the chores in the house, and his father lets her. The story is told in diary form of Julian's three notebooks, or "Nbs" as he calls them. The notebooks are written in code so that if his father and stepmother should discover them, they would have difficulty reading. The reader also has difficulty at first, as it takes some detective work to decipher the code.

The thing I liked most about the book is Julian's strength of spirit. With the support of his English teacher and a classmate, he is able to get a job, run away, and make a new life for himself. When I looked at James Deem's website, it says the story is based on the author's own experiences. And you can tell. It's really good, though the code can be a bit annoying.

This book seriously defies the mind. When I picked up this book + read the 1st page I knew that it was going 2 B like no book that I have ever read. I had some knowledge of pager code before hand so it was not as difficult for me as it would B for someone who hadn't. I was intrigued w/ 16 y.o Julian who's life + everything in it couldn't be described as anything but [the underworld]. This book kept me turning page after page determined to find if he gets away 4rm his abusive parents or ever meets this "U" th@ he obsesses himself over.
This book is a puzzle and unraveling it is only half the fun. I recommend this book 2 everyone. I thought it was a great story + if u take the time 2 sit down + read it, I'm sure you will think the same thing 2.

This is a wonderful little book that highlights the Heifer International Program. I purchased twelve copies to give to participants in a children's sermon at my church. The sermon dealt with sharing our many blessings with those in the world who are less fortunate.

My one disappointment with this book was the comments by Hillary Clinton on the cover. I work hard at keeping my politics separate from my church, and I was shocked and appalled that a story about this wonderful program was contaminated in this manner. I never would have purchased the book for this purpose had I known.

highly recommend for all kids! great reality check for kids and a very touching story that kids want you to read over again. It got my boys in the mind set to help kids like Beatrice by saving money and buying an animal for a family who really needs it.

My 5 year old adores this book. On one level, it is a charming story of a girl who loves her goat. But while my daughter is being entertained, she is also learning about life in a different culture and about the power of giving in a way that helps a person help oneself.

Our church has taken on a way to help the people in Africa by doing exactly what this book's story is about. It's a wonderful way to help and a bridge to our understanding of their life.

This book is recommended for ages 4-8, but we checked it out of the library for my three-year-old and it's clear we will have to buy it. She wants to read it every day, and we have promised her that we will buy a goat for a girl in Africa this Christmas. The illustrations are quite beautiful, and the story is so sweet that I often find myself tearing up on the last page, even though I've read it daily for a couple of weeks now.

Dr. Hallowell is an amazing fellow. He strikes the perfect balance between being a knowledgeable psychiatrist and a vulnerable, loving and warm father. Whether you are an educator or a parent, you will learn much, reminiscence and have a chance to be a better person after reading this book. The Childhood Roots gives you good laughs and concrete tips to enjoy children and strengthen the foundation for life. Better yet, it gives you a map and the needed information to know whether you're still on the road or lost in your way. If there is one book to read when becoming a parent and realizing what your job is, this is it.

The warm and compassionate qualities of the author shine through this comprehensive and well-written book. Perhaps somewhat more detailed and extensive than many readers would want, in which case people should skip ahead. But there's plenty of superb content here. You can't help thinking what a wonderful father Hallowell must be as you read his personal stories and anecdotes.

I just had to agree with previous postings that this is the only book you need to read to get the fundamentals of what parenting should be about. It is practical yet roomy enough to fit many different ideals of family and home. I'm now ordering another copy!

Very easy to read, with lots of relevant, usable information. It reminds you what it is like to be a kid and how we should all learn to just simply play again.

I haven't read the book, so I'll use a 5-star review like everyone else just to not slant the outcome. But I wonder what he says about video games. They are a form of play but in my mind don't enforce a human connection. And I've been hearing stories lately (on NPR etc.) about people who can't get their adult kids to be productive members of society because they just want to play video games.

I have to agree with the other 5 star writers. Pound for pound (makes a difference in your backpack) this book is hard to beat. I find it more complete than Secrets of Anesthesia, and more user friendly than Miller. If you want to learn 100 ways to not do something, and read conflicting studies then go for Miller, otherwise "M & M" is king. Besides, I challenge anyone to bring Barash or Miller into the OR with them for a quick reference...

I just updated my older, well read copy recently. This is still my favorite anesthesia resource, the book I grab when I want to refresh my memory about this or that.
No, it's not as in depth as many, but it IS easy to read, and the major points are well covered.
Whether novice or experienced practitioner, this book has much to offer.

I used the third edition of this book for my writtens and orals. I am fellowed in cardiothoracic anesthesia, and boarded in pain medicine. It is more than comprehensive enough for everday practice, and it is more than enough to get you through the written boards, and will certainly help with the orals. Miller, Barash (is there an etc to these two choices?) are much more comprehensive, but they are highly dependent upon the writers of each chapter: while some are great reading, others ramble on incessantly about studies which show effects on giant squid axons, or how 3-74% of rats will react when their tails are clamped. And who can forget the effects of isoflurane on the livers of salamanders? Morgan-Mikhail is put together logically, it is highly readable, and it is extremely affordable, and while it won't give you every answer, it's a good start.

It is a good basic book that covers the essentilas very clearly in not too long chapters. It is a good entry level book for doctors during their first year of residence in anesthesia.
Also for the doctor that needs to update his knowledge.

My personal experience and the reason for buying the book was that I after 5 years i neuroanesthesia needed an update prior to a period as an anesthesiologist in a not specialised department. In this way the book served its purpose well.

This would be an optimal choice for most medical students with a special interest in anasthesia as well as for anaesthesia residents. It's extremely well-written, neither too detailed nor too simple. The authors write with authority, which is a good thing.

If I had to say something negative about this book, it would be the lack of colourful illustrations (this refers to edition elder to the 2005 edition). But then again, one knows what to expect when buying a Lange medical book. Still, this is a minor drawback, and means nothing in my eyes. I highly recommend this book!

I purchased this book off of a recommendation from a friend who said that everything that you need to know for the AP test is in this book. He was right. I first read the information provided about the test itself. I began to read through the five chapters of history in the book while supplementing my reading with my class notes. My teacher, though, ran out of time to teach us history from about 1980s and onward, so all of my knowledge about that era came from this book, which allowed me to answer those questions on the test. The book also has practice multiple choice and essay questions that I informally sampled; they were suprisingly similar to the real test. Overall, this book has enough information in it alone to guarantee a 4 on the test, and possibly even a 5, which is what I received.

I strongly suggests this book because it covers everything one needs to know for the AP European history test. Since the test itself is not that long. The book, though quiet short, covers everything one needs to know from 1450 to the present day. The book almost gives you a story for every era, from the age of Exploration, to the Renaissance and finally to the Industrial Ages and the Post-War modern era. If you love history, then this book will help you a lot. There are only a limited amount of things that you have to memorize, and if you are good at memorizing things, this book is the right source for you. The questions from the test are almost identical to the ones covered on the book in a way, if you read this book well enough, you should get at least a four on the test.

I was taking AP Euro as a Sophmore in the year 2005-2006. A friend from the previous year ('04-'05) got this book and passed the exam with a 4. She didn't do so good in the class as she got a C in both semesters. She gave me her used book as a gift. I got a B in both semesters and I can tell you that the course is tough stuff. I took I believe 2 practice tests before the actual AP Exam. And to tell you the truth, I got a 2 on both of the practice tests and was close to giving up for the actual test. But right on the night before the actual exam, I skimmed the book. I took the test on Friday (if I remeber correctly). I answered about 45/80 questions, and did pretty bad on my free-response questions (considering I wrote about submarine warfare on a question about WWII hahaha...). I left school after that day ashamed because I felt like I failed that test. However, today I just got my AP scores and to my surprise I got a 3!!! This books rocks like A lot!! Don't buy REA, i doubt I would read that book since it's too long. Princeton Review is the way to go because I got a 3!

I had a horrible AP Euro teacher, but I ended up getting a 4 with the help of this review book. It shouldn't be used as a substitute for the textbook, but I remember my textbook being the worst, and I used the older western heritage by Mckay. You can probably buy it on Amazon as well.


Another book that is probably just as amazing as princeton is "Modern European History" by Birdsall S. Viault. For some euro classes it's even required, and it's great for just reviewing before a test. If you read both these books, you will definitely have a good chance of passing the exam.

Princeton Review is a very good resource, especially for AP and (P)SAT preparation. This book has some great tips, especially with the DBQ and free-response essays. The review is excellent (though rather implicit-not too much EXplicit). This is why I STRONGLY encourage you to utilize the Cliffsnotes (excellent prep book as well, great features: timelines after every chapter, but poor review questions) books as well. Some information may be presented in this title a little better to suit your specific learning style. Nevertheless, the review questions after each chapter mimic the College Board's questions. Undoubtedly, the best feature of this book is the two AP exams in the back. I'm not sure if these exams are past College Board releases, but they are very similar. All in all, buy the Princeon Review for the review and practice exams, and buy the Cliffsnotes for its great review as well, timelines, and comprehensive layout.

I loved this book. It was exceptional. I thought it was funny and exciting, and had everything an Animorph book should. Tobias is one of my favorite characters, and Rachel IS my favorite. Both of these characters were in it a lot, and that was another plus. I loved the chapters when they told their families what they are and what they could do. Rachel's mom reacted so stupidly it was funny. My eyes were glued to the pages without exception for the two and half hours it took me to read it. I recommend this book to anyone and everyone. A must-have addition to the Animorphs series!

This book is my FAVORITE Animorophs book and I've read most of them. The Yeerks begin to realize the "Andalite bandits" are really humans. (most of them) So with the Yeerks closing in The Animorphs and their families must evacuate to the Hork-Bajir valley. Jake parents are taken and made into Controllers and Tobias finds his long lost mother, Loren. This book is really great.

I love books about Tobais and this is his best book yet. The Yeearks are starting to realize that the so called analite bandits are humans and are collecting the animorph's blood to see if there is a family match. Guess whose match they find; Tobais's mother. Tobais's mother is blind and has amensia. Tobais morphs his mother's guide dog and gets her to safety.

I think this book is one of the best Tobias books, but it seems so abrupt when he meets his mother. It's almost like Tobias says, "Hi, I'm your son." Then it's as if his mother says, "Oh. Okay then. I knew that." I don't really like that part. Otherwise, it's pretty good. There are good Rachel and Tobias parts, an appropriate amount of action, and a great deal of emotion.

Yep,that right.The Yeerks are finally begining to think that maybe the 'Andalite Bandits' aren't Andalites at all,maybe they're human.So they have figure out how to tesst them, DNA.Because every time when the Animorphs are in battle, they lose some blood.So if the Yeerks test it they will find DNA strands of every animal the have acquired,and their actual human DNA.They will know who they are, infact the Yeerk computer has already found a match.The Animorphs try to break in and destroy the computer,but they're stopped.But before they leave they see the one match on the computer,its somebody by the name of Loren, Tobias' mother......Tobias is shocked,everyone has always told him his mother is dead,He has to see her and he wants to save her,Jake doesn't really like that idea,He thinks she could be a Yeerk.So Tobias,Marco and Ax will watch her house for 3 days,and if she doesn't go to the Yeerk pool during that time they will know if she safe,but by then so will the Yeerks....But the computer is still going,and soon the other Animorphs' family members will turn up as matches too........

This is definatley one of the best,and one of my favorites!!!!!I loved the story, its a classic Animorph book...This one,like most Animorphs,really get you into the story,you feel like your really morphing,really in the battle,and really feeling the emoitions and thinking the thoughts....I strongly recomend this book,it Incredible!!!!!!!!

Pharmaceutical drugs are only one line of defense in treating ADD. Drugs can alter brain chemistry but the patient is fundamentally the same personality. Medication alone will only go so far. A combination of prescriptions and psychotherapy yield better long-term results. Thomas Edison owed his life to his mother who believed in him when the schools kicked him out at 6. There is something to be said about love ... love itself can rewire the brain of a "problem" child.

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DOES YOUR CHILD HAVE THE EDISON TRAIT? by Lucy Jo Palladino

He was a boy who learned only by doing. At age six, he had to see how fire worked and accidentally burned his father's barn to the ground. The next fall he began school, where he alternated between letting his mind travel to distant places and keeping his body in perpetual motion in his seat. Because he was distractible and restless, he did not last long in a formal classroom. His teacher called him "addled." Eventually, his mother had to home-school him. As an adult he would recall: "My father thought I was stupid and I almost decided I must be a dunce."

The core of his learning was his passion for experiments. As his new teacher, his mother gave his talent free rein. At the same time she infused him with the disciplines of study. With time and determination, he mastered his runaway mind. He grew up to become a prolific inventor, bringing the magic of electricity and sound recording into the world. He either invented or improved hundreds of practical conveniences. It is said that Thomas Alva Edison succeeded where others failed or never tried, because it was his nature to dare.

Today, a growing number of children have that nature to dare. Like young Edison, they are easily distracted and disorganized, but also wildly imaginative and inventive.

They have minds that are at home with meanderings and leaps of vast proportions. They make unexpected, sometimes startling, connections.

QUALITIES OF A CREATIVE MIND
There was once a man who drove a truck on a road through a town and got stuck under a bridge that had a low clearance. The men of the town gathered around the wedged truck to think of ways to dismantle the truck or the bridge. Finally, a young boy came up and asked, "Why don't you let some air out of the tires?" That is what they did, and the truck went on its way.

This was a child who had the Edison trait. He saw an element of the scene that no one else saw, because they were busily and systematically focused on what to them was relevant to the solution.

An Edison-trait child:

Expects the Unexpected
A child with the Edison trait makes sudden, astonishing connections. Because his inner critic disallows neither the ridiculous nor the sublime, he can be innovative, ingenious, and fascinating. He can see ordinary things in extraordinary ways, which is the very essence of creativity.

His sense of humor is disarming. It stems from keen perception and the ability to see things from a different perspective. Sometimes he exhibits the kind of straight-from-the-subconscious humor that makes successful stand-up comics so funny. He blurts out ideas that are just under the surface, things that most others would have automatically censored.

Thinks Autonomously
This is a child who stands up for his own ideas, especially when they are uncommon or nonconformist. He is an independent thinker and does not rely on the opinions of others to form his own judgments. In a matter of personal interest to him, he stands firm with conviction, even in the face of strong opposition.

Hyperfocuses and Persists
When the Edison-trait child is intrinsically motivated, he has formidable mental power. If he is working on a project that is his own brainstorm, he is determined, tenacious, and persevering. As if by magic, he can work for hours involved in what he is doing. He finds ways to overcome barriers; his passion sees him through. In matters of his own choosing, he has inner direction and resolve.

Is Diverse and Intense
Edison-trait children are pluralistic, nonconforming, and multifarious. Once they begin to speak on a topic of their choosing, clear your calendar ... you'll be here for a while. Flights of fancy are common. One thing leads to another, though sometimes the connections are not apparent to the rest of us.

Has a Mind That Is Holistic
The Edison-trait child notices and reacts to things from any and all directions, so he is likely to have a global sense of places he has been. Take this child to the shopping mall and he'll probably be able to lead you back to your parked car.

Lives on His Own Schedule
Time passes slowly for this child when he is not engaged in an activity of interest. Otherwise, watch out! When an Edison-trait child works on a project of his choosing, he is dedicated and determined.

Loves to Come Up with Ideas
Some do this slowly and dreamily. Others are like kernels of popcorn popping. Many do both. They have qualities of being both a whimsical Dreamer and a high-charged Discoverer or turbulent Dynamo.

DOES YOUR CHILD HAVE THE EDISON TRAIT?
All children are imaginative and enjoy make-believe, but children who have the Edison trait live even closer to their imaginations. It is their lifeblood.

Children manifest the Edison trait in various ways. Some are quiet and reserved and live in their own worlds. Others are loud, interruptive, and bold.

Your child may be a Dreamer, a Discoverer, or a Dynamo. Or he may combine features of any or all of these patterns.

Dreamers drift from place to place, on a schedule of eternal time.
Discoverers have to find things out for themselves and do things their own way.
Dynamos are always in motion, with a flair forsurprises, power, and speed.
To see how closely your child's patterns match the profile of children with this trait, take a moment and think about him since his earliest days. Then ask yourself these questions:

If your child is a Dreamer
1. Does he get absorbed or intensely involved in his own ideas much of the time?
2. Is he prone to saying things out of the blue?
3. Does he procrastinate to an extreme?
4. Are his interests and activities eclectic?
5. Does he start at least three projects for every one he finishes?

If your child is a Discoverer
1. Is he easily attracted to sights and sounds around him?
2. Is it vital for him to express his opinion?
3. Does he crave novelty, power, and excitement?
4. Is he always ready to speak, especially if you're talking?
5. When he wants his own way - which is almost always - is he relentless?

Or, if your child is a Dynamo
1. Does he get aggressive or intensely emotional about his own ideas much of the time?
2. Is some part of his body always in motion?
3. Are chances to run and climb as vital as the air he breathes?
4. Does he have boundless energy, enough for about three children his age?
5. Do you find yourself wondering if he lacks common sense?

The more "yes" answers you gave to these questions, the more reason there is for you to read on.

DREAMERS
Dreamers are mind wanderers. These Edison-trait youngsters seem to be lost in timeless space. From time to time, they have blank expressions on their faces or may look a little dazed. Actually, they are floating through one or several ideas in another realm, a world of their own.

I dwell in Possibility
A fairer house than Prose,
More numerous of windows,
Superior of doors.

Like Emily Dickinson, the author of these words, Edison-trait Dreamers are self-styled visionaries and poets. They have an ephemeral quality, a digressive style of thinking, and an inclination to see things from an unusual, even quixotic angle. In the classroom, after a lesson is taught, the Dreamer may not give the expected response, so others presume he just didn't "get it." But ask him and you'll find out that if he was tuned in, he probably "got it" all right - in an entirely unintended or uncommon way. He produces the kind of answer that makes you think twice.

Dreamers like sensory experience. They are drawn to color, sound, texture, taste, and fragrance. Often, Edison-trait Dreamers remember odd and seemingly unrelated facts and details, knowledge of an idiosyncratic nature. Seldom can they say exactly why they are drawn to these particular thoughts or recollections, but their fascination can become intense. What appears as spaciness to us is felt as absorption by them.

DISCOVERERS
Discoverers are Edison-trait adventurers who must blaze their own trail. They are high-spirited and have to see "what would happen if . . ." They are spontaneous and they must do things their own way.

Discoverers are multi-sensory, usually with a strong preference for visual input. This is a child who craves, and often creates, the stimulation of power, surprise, or diversity. He wants to explore his own ideas and express his own opinions. He wants life to keep him interested. If he does not find people stimulating, he will stimulate them, usually by provoking laughter or anger.

Discoverers like to live in the moment, without giving too much mind to what will happen in the future. Typically, they are not planners. Discoverers live with the attitude that they'll discover what's going to happen when it happens. That's what makes life interesting.

When a Discoverer is on the trail of an idea or project of his own, he feels a sense of urgency or impatience. During these times the Discoverer may "hyperfocus." He pays attention to what he is doing with an unusual degree of intensity and to the exclusion of all else. Discoverers also "multitask." Multitasking means doing more than one thing at a time. Dreamers and Dynamos hyperfocus and multitask, too. But Discoverers do it more.

DYNAMOS
Dynamos are fuel-injected speedsters. They have erratic spurts of energy. They overexcite easily, and when this happens, trouble is on the way.

In some ways, a Dynamo is also a Discoverer. He is impulsive. He acts first and thinks later. Like the Discoverer, the Dynamo loves power and speed. And like the Discoverer, the Dynamo is strong willed and immovable in his position.

The distinguishing feature of the Dynamo is his boundless physical energy. Dynamos keep their bodies in motion, one way or another, almost all the time. They walk, run, skip, kick, climb, jump, bounce, leap, bound, pounce, bolt, dash, race, sprint, dive, swim, splash, and fly.

Dynamos act with gusto and zest. They are risk takers and daredevils. And they are constantly entertaining. Life in their company is never dull.

THE EDISON TRAIT IS LIFELONG
The Edison trait is a personality characteristic. It endures. As Edison himself did, people with the trait have to make good matches between their aptitudes and their life work.

TURNING THE LIGHTS ON
As the parent of an Edison-trait child, you have probably asked yourself some variation of the following question: "If my child can recall the entire roster of the 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers, why can't he remember that eight times seven is fifty-six?"

To better understand your youngster, picture him wandering through an empty house alone. Most of the rooms are dark. One or two are well lit. When your child enters a bright room, he is filled with enthusiasm to explore. He remembers those bright rooms and develops a strong preference for them. Of course, the way you see it, he should be able to turn the lights on in any room, if only he would use the light switch. When you ask him to and he doesn't, a strain of tension develops between you.

From his point of view - and this is his house - his lights are wired differently. In the past, your Edison-trait child has tried to use the same kind of switch he sees others use, but to no avail. He senses that he doesn't operate the same way. He has a different configuration. Problems start getting solved when you work from his blueprints, not yours. You empower him to figure out his own circuitry, and the rules and methods to turn his lights on.

CONVERGENT, NO - DIVERGENT, YES
Having the Edison trait makes some things easier for your child and some things harder. The things that come easy are

Thinking up wild or unusual ideas
Standing up for, feeling strongly about, and getting involved in those ideas
Making things up, and imagining the future
Trying things out
Starting new projects
The things that come hard are

Focusing on someone else's ideas
Letting go of his own ideas
Remembering things he's been asked to do
Practicing skills repeatedly
Finishing things
The things that come easy are divergent thinking skills. In divergent thinking, one thought stimulates many others; thinking branches out. The things that come hard require convergent thinking. In convergent thinking, many thoughts reduce to a single one; thinking funnels in.

Read the lists again. It is no surprise that Edison-trait children will not shine in a typical classroom, or on the playground, or in most forms of organized sports. In settings like these, their chemistry sets them apart. They are the exceptions to our implicit rules of how children should think and perform, rules that say they should behave like uniform convergent thinkers.

CONVERGENT THINKING AS THE NORM
It is a natural human tendency to assume that all minds work the same way. We tacitly agree that all minds should naturally be able to follow through on one idea at a time, from beginning to end, with attention to detail. We call convergent thinking the norm and we presume it's what comes naturally if a brain is "normal." Divergent thinkers are viewed as having "attentional problems."

We label convergent thinking as right and divergent thinking as wrong. We base the methods we use to train our children on this premise. We expect children to focus in a linear fashion for as long as we say they should. This is true at home and at school. And at school, as class sizes get larger and children get more diverse, a teacher's tolerance for a student's divergent thinking necessarily diminishes. The same curriculum gets taught to all students in the same way and at the same pace.

The brains of Edison-trait children are misunderstood, not inferior. As students they are attentionally disadvantaged because we punish, and fail to appreciate, their unique creative slant. They get blamed for not completing desk work in the allotted time. They are scolded for not staying in their seats until recess. They are forced to work at an unsuitable tempo, and then get graded down for poor handwriting, and errors in grammar, spelling, and math facts. These outcomes are inevitable artifacts of a mismatched approach.

We teach to their weaknesses, not to their strengths. We insist that they see things our way, but we won't see things theirs. These children are stunningly divergent. They are on a quest for discovery, exploration, and stimulation. Surely we can be flexible and accommodate their style. They can and will develop convergent skins, but only if their desire to learn is protected and kindled with success.

WE CAN HELP EDISON-TRAIT CHILDREN DEVELOP SKILLS

We Can Guide Them to Motivate Themselves
These children need extra incentive and stimulating rewards. They need to experience success so that they can believe in it. They need reasons compelling enough to keep up the extra effort to get through the glass maze.

We Can Communicate - Think and Talk - in Their Language
A child with the Edison trait needs to feel he's in control. He will accept help only if it does not threaten his autonomy. He is prone to feeling crowded and seeing adults as overbearing.
The Edison-trait child is easily overwhelmed. For this reason, he needs clear direction, phrased in brief, concise messages. He needs his workload assigned in manageable portions. He needs structure, simple categories, and prominent visual cues.

For this same reason, he needs frequent breaks and relief from tension. He responds best to a calm and steady voice, devoid of emotional charge.

The Edison-trait child thinks in images and stories. He needs instruction that is attractive and captivating. He responds to metaphors and identifies with characters he likes. Creative approaches work best. Humor is a strong ally.

Your goal is to value your child's divergent thinking, while at the same time teaching and encouraging him to think convergently. With guidance and support, he will learn how to concentrate, shift focus, and do things in sequence. He'll make his own ways to organize his thoughts, words, papers, time, and money, to follow through, plan, schedule, and stay on track. He will come to appreciate conventional wisdom and the merit of reflective thought.

BRIDGES, NOT FENCES
Pretend for a moment that when babies are born, they already know how to talk. Right from the cradle: "Hello, Mother. Hello, Father. Please feed me. I'm hungry."

Now let's say 80 percent of the babies in the United States are born speaking English, but you're a parent of one of the 20 percent who speak a foreign language. You know you must help him to learn English somehow, so he can get along with everybody else. But it's clear your little guy likes his language better than yours.

He learns barely enough English to get by, but no more. He prefers the sound and the flow and the feel of his own tongue. He doesn't know how much of your language he can learn, even if he tries. And why should he try, when everyone acts as if he already should speak English fluently, and people make a bigger deal over his failures than his efforts?

At first, you forbid your child to speak his language. That doesn't work.

Next, you reward him when he speaks only English. That works some, but it's a strain on everyone.

Finally, you make a commitment to learn and appreciate the language he speaks. You enter his world - through his sounds, his words, and his expressions. You don't insult his language; you find what is beautiful and useful about it.

At the same time, you acknowledge every attempt he makes to speak English - regardless of whether he succeeds or not. You let him know you recognize his efforts and his desire to communicate with you. You tell him that you see his courage and his hard work.

And then, a funny thing happens.

The more good you see in his world, the more good he sees in yours.

You build bridges, not fences.

You become enriched by your knowledge of his language. And he grows in his motivation to learn yours.

Excerpted from Dreamers, Discoverers and Dynamos by Lucy Jo Palladino

I now understand my child so much better after reading this book.

This is a very compassionate book about smart but difficult to manage children. These "Edison-trait" children are spirited, passionate children who are very intense and hard to live with. The author calls them "divergent thinkers", who are very creative, imaginative, and see things in a different way than others. They have problems focusing on others' ideas and letting go of their own. School can be very frustrating for them. For example, they don't like practicing skills repeatedly. I found Chapter 12 on School to very helpful. It gives some good tips to help these children succeed at school and to feel good about themselves regarding school. There are ways that parents and teachers can help them and provide encouragement without the child feeling labeled or stigmatized. There is also a large section in the book on ADD and ADHD. The author writes "While just about all children who have ADD have the Edison trait, not all children with the Edison trait have ADD." While they share the same traits, such as being easily distracted, disorganized, and disobedient, in the child with ADD, these traits are excessive and disrupts his functioning. The problems are more severe in the ADD child. This book is very compassionate regarding the needs of the children. It provides hope for parents.

This is the first book I have EVER found myself in. I have always been fascinated by psychology, but have never fit into anyone's theory or box. I have usually found myself relating to the negative characteristics of two opposite types in someones personality groups. My spirit was broken by well intentioned parents trying to make me fit in with what is supposed to be "normal" in our society. Lucy Jo Palladino has seen in children what so many professionals refuse to, or cannot see. I saw Dr. Palladino on TV promoting this book and was drawn to it because at that time I was beginning to see the hopelessness in my 2yr old son that I remembered feeling as a child, but never did understand. Dr. Palladino understands how my brain works. I never understood it, I just knew I was different but didn't know why. The book is invaluable now that my son is 5 and I need guidance on how to teach him self control and discipline. It's not easy, but the methods in this book help me nurture and teach to his strengths instead of trying to change the very nature of who he is. The biggest surprise in this book was that I found out my husband is also an Edison thinker, just a very different one than I am. He's a dreamer and I and my son are discoverers. By the way I don't label lightly, this book seems to be written about my family. Is there anymore out there about this? Is there any way to write to the author? I am so thankful for this book and would recommend it to anyone who thinks their child might be in this book. It could literally save their life. I am very fortunate that my attempts to check out of this world that did not accept or understand me were not successful.

The less expensive version of this book has a different title: Dreamers, Discoverers and Dynamos : How to Help the Child Who Is Bright, Bored and Having Problems in School.

We have been searching for The Edison Trait online today since the copy we are using is due back at the library. Fortunately we discovered that it has been retitled and is now sold as Dreamers, Discoverers and Dynamos : How to Help the Child Who Is Bright, Bored and Having Problems in School.

My wife has kept the library copy until it is overdue and has a hold on it. This is the most excited I have seen her about a book since we were married. She has found some very practical tools to help us with our children.