Education Books

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.

Sadly, we live in an age where everyone does what is right in his own eyes; An age where there is no distinguishable difference between the Church and the unbelieving world. Too many "Christians" today want to be saved "in their sins" not "from their sins". But Jesus said, "... except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." There must be a change of heart. There must be a turning away from all sin. This book addresses an issue that is not heard from the pulpits of today's churches nearly as often as it should be. This book speaks not only of what true repentance is but also the importance of genuine sorrow over sin. Every believer in Christ should read this book.

Every professing Christian should read. I thouroughly enjoyed it. Other than the replacement theology present I found the work sound in its definition and application of repentance in conversion and sanctification. A must in every Christians library.

The Lord has really been laying on my heart how we have lost the message of repentance - and without is, one cannot truly understand grace. This book gets back to this basic doctrine that should not be ignored!

Few books have had the impact on me that this one has. In fact, I would say this is the most influential book (non-divinely inspired book that is) I have ever read. I have read and re-read passages until they soaked deep into my soul. Much more than a how-to, it's a book of great depth and conviction. Would that we all would constantly have a godly sorrow that leads to repentance and great joy.

Excellant! If you are serious about your walk with Christ you must read this book. Watson nails the heart of repentance. He takes you down the road that calls you to place your hope and trust in Christ. Watson calls us to remember that Christ will never be sweet ubtil our sin is bitter.

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.

The book came very fast. Faster than I actually expected. It was in brand new condition. Thanks

I have many resources on the subject of teaching autism, but this book is one of the best I have found. I highly recommend it. This book gives research-based information for identifying learning difficulties in children with autism and strategies for teaching these students.

This book is the real deal. It is informative and gets to the point fast. Definetly worth buying!!!!

It arrived in the condition it promised. No surprises. Thanks for your business! Happy Holidays!

I bought this book after reading most of it on-live via the library. It's one of those books that brings a lot of information together, and it has the authoritative seal of the Council for Exceptional Children. I bought it because my son's school administrators and staff are living in the Dark Ages. The administrative law judge needs to be enlightened regarding the current professional standards == widely recognized and accepted theories, educational methodologies, elements for multi-disciplinary programming, for children on the Autistic Spectrum. A must for serious advocates' bookshelves/offices.

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 very informative, clearly written, easy to understand, and gave me new insight into alternative approaches to therapy. Dr. Hurd is direct and to the point, which is a writing style that I enjoy and benefit from significantly when I need to get a new perspective and some new ideas. I learned alot from the book and would recommend it highly.

Dr. Hurd's work is of incredible usefulness when seeking out a therapist. He looks at a few schools of thought on psychotherapy and rightly knocks them down-- and to my enjoyment, he does so by virtually mocking them. I have placed this book in the hands of a number of friends who were considering therapy and I am pleased that it resulted in positive results-- including saving the marriage of a couple who was going to a "bad therapist" and changed therapists as a result of reading this book. I can't recommend this book enough!

"Effective Therapy" by Michael J Hurd covers the field of modern psychotherapy, but does so in an unusual way. It examines the field of modern psychotherapy and the differences that the different schools of therapy have, but explains these differences by reference to the underlying philosophic ideas that shape each of them, and shows how these ideas shape the judgments and therapeutic techniques used by professionals who embrace them. The book's goal is to make the reader a smart psychotherapy consumer by being conscious of the malicious philosophical ideas that influence much of the profession today. Each of the prevailing schools of psychotherapy is discussed at length, with the discussion focusing on the philosophical views presupposed by each and how these positions guide their views of the human mind and of what constitutes mental health, and the means to arrive at it. Anyone who doubts the power and influence of philosophy would be well advised to read this work.

The author embraces what he terms "cognitive" psychotherapy, which is the view that it is the ideas and assumptions a person holds - whether they are held consciously or not - that guide all of his thoughts, emotions and actions. Emotions, according to the author, are nothing more than the automatic result of value judgments that have been made, with these value judgments being guided by the fundamental philosophical views that a person has accepted. They key to mental health is the harmonizing of one's ideas and ones emotions. But in order to do this a person must consciously identify the ideas that he has accepted, a task that it is the job of the psychotherapist to help him with.

"Effective Therapy" presents a strong case against the opposing schools of psychotherapy and offers a good defense for the position it recommends. It is edifying with respect to not only the profession of psychotherapy but also with respect to the influence of philosophy on the sciences. Hence the title of this work, it provides the reader with the tools necessary to pursue effective therapy

I just finished Dr. Hurd's book Effective Therapy and I love it. He eloquently put into words what I have been thinking for a long time...that therapists' individual issues that they "bring to the table" can affect their objectivity with their clients.
I really appreciate Dr. Hurd's insight, and this book has given me a "scorecard" I can use if and when I ever seek therapy or personal coaching.
After I finish this, I am buying his book "Grow Up America!" If it's anything like Effective Therapy, it'll be great.

Dr. Hurd's book offers the prospect of fulfilling the important and little-addressed need for a consumer-guide to psychotherapy. The author introduces the reader to the seven features of psychotherapy that he considers are essential to effective therapy. He then introduces the reader to a handful of the most popular psychotherapy approaches (a now slightly dated list). The remainder of the book consists largely of critiques of these approaches. The lay reader and the psychotherapy consumer need and deserve a plain-speaking and critical discussion of these various approaches. Sadly, that discussion is not to be found here. In fact, what is to be found here is a playful batting around of a handful of straw-man effigies that stand (and easily fall) in the stead of their namesakes. The straw-men are lined up and knocked down several times over (with the same glee, one imagines, that a toddler takes in stacking blocks and knocking them down - over and over). By the end of the book one is left with a small battlefield strewn with mangled straw bodies. In the middle stands the author's victorious approach - strong and undaunted. The `consumer guide' has `guided' the reader to the only logical choice available - the author's approach. This reader has no interest in defending any particular approach, or in critiquing the author's approach. But it must be said that the author - who purports to place a high value on rational thinking and objectivity - forgoes any claim to providing the reader with an `objective' guide by engaging in the easy and empty exercise of pretending to critique various schools of psychotherapy when in fact what he critiques are reconstituted, popularly received definitions of these approaches. They are unflattering, clichéd and grossly oversimplified. It's too bad, since a `real' version of this book would be of real use to many people.

Loved it. Janette Rallison really knows how to keep a reader entertained and her brand of humor is so subtle. At times, I had tears in my eyes from laughing. Her protrayal of a high school play gone awry is priceless.

I wasn't expecting this book to be that great, but it was. The characters are very realistic. It's about a young girl who wants to be a star. She broke up with her boyfriend, but then wants him back. Meanwhile, a new boy shows up. Turns up that he is the son of a big movie star. Find out more! It's really good!

I used this book for a book report, now im not into reading much but this book was the best one i have ever read. I love to act so it was a great book for me. it took me about two weeks to read it but wonderful book. If your doing a book report there are lots of charaters. Ilove that book

There is simply no other way to put it-- this book is hilarious. I was lying on my bed reading it and laughing out loud! If you love humor with a touch of everything else this book is perfect. It ends off perfectly. At first I thought the book looked a little babyish, but it was just sooo awesome. Enjoy!

I almost didn't read this book because of the cover. Sounds horrible, I know, never judge a book by it's cover. But the girl on the cover looked about eleven years old and it didn't seem very interesting. But I read the back, and I thought, maybe I'll read this sometime. So I put it aside, and then one day I picked it up, and started reading, and I didn't stop until I was done.

This is a cute book about a girl named Jessica (who is still in highschool, but NOT eleven years old!) who wants to act. Then a guy named Jordan moves to her town, and... actually, you should read the book.

What I thought when I first picked up the book was that it would be poorly written. On the contrary, I found the writing to be funny, the heroine to be funny and smart. I appreciated everything that happened, and the honest way the author wrote the book.

It was a good read. The only thing that was wrong with it was it's length - I wanted more. :)

So I guess the morale was never to judge a book by it's cover - you may be pleasantly surprised.