Education Books

As other reviewers have recounted, it is difficult to read this book without shedding tears. It's a marvelous story of a Russian village's return to church. The story is sweet without being cloying, the historical context is spot on (yes, Communists destroy churches, kill priests, and imprison believers), and the iconographic illustrations are nearly divine.

But--the author betrays on one page an unfortunate ignorance about Orthodox Christian worship, especially in traditional Orthodox cultures such as Russia. She has the people waiting patiently in the church for something to happen, and they are SITTING, and then the priest appears, walking down the AISLE.

There are no pews in an Orthodox church hewing to the traditional mode of worship, as would no doubt be the case in Russia.

Still, the book is wonderful and worth getting and giving for Christmas.

After reading the customer reviews, I ordered this book, which came, unfortunately, too late for either Western or Orthodox Christmas. But that doesn't mean it is NOT going to have primacy of place NEXT year!

The truth of the Bolshevik/Communist revolution, their COMPLETE dedication to the utter eradication of the Orthodox, Christian, Caucasian culture of Imperial Russia, is given in this book. (It is historical fact that the vast majority of the early Bolsheviks were 'ethnic foreigners' in Mother Russia; see Wilton's 'Last Days of the Romanovs' for a contemporary account.) This truth is clearly, beautifully laid out in the pictures of this book, which astoundingly can do what a GOOD work of children's literature always does- teach TRUTH.

Moreover, the miracle of a town utterly bowed down before the antichrist agenda of seventy years of Communist rule, springing to new life, is THE most joyous moment in the story. The miracle of the Incarnation in Bethlehem, is made manifest in the miracle of the 're-incarnation' of Christ within the hearts and souls of these simple Russian folk in the village, who can once again, 'worship God aright.' This book is SO much more than just a 'nice story'- it is a parable, a beacon for future generations, that the Church must 'never forget' that those who tried to kill Christ (either then, or nowadays in recent memory), can never succeed at their task, for indeed, "He is risen!" And lives within his faithful people always.

Marvellous book and illustration. It explains poignantly the truth of where "Santa Clause" originated. It is no tale. Saint Nicholas was a real ordinary man who became a great priest of God and Saint by doing ordinary things extraordinarily well for the glory of God.

Being a Russian Orthodox Christian and also first-generation born American, it was very touching to me. I loved it. It made me cry. A story of sadness that turns into great joy. Beautiful artwork!!!

Our family has read this book countless times, often at our children's request. The frustrating part is that both parents have yet to make it through the book without shedding tears! A touching book based on real-life experiences of people throughout the former Soviet Union, in a format eminently suitable for young children. Highly recommended.

The wonderful title of Gray Temple's book has a metaphoric and layered meaning for me, much like the earth's sediments, and indeed the magma just below the earth's crust is molten. So is Gray's conception of "soul" as earthy is it is rarefied and transcendent. As a nontraditional believer, atatvistic contrarian, and long-lapsed Episcopalian, I have a little trouble with some of the theory that underpins Gray's arguments, but his writing is so rich without being dense, his good humor so evident, his knowledge so extensive yet lightly carried, that I fall easily and completely under his spell and more than willingly suspend disbelief as he spins his always compelling narrative. He joins ranks with the Thomases Aquinas, Moore, and Merton as one of my favorite writers on religion, a writer who challenges and comfortably abrades my reasoning stones. His faith and simple decency shine through his intellect, and his picture of Jesus's duality is the most complete and coherent I have ever come across. I now only await his correlative monograph on the George W. Bush administration and Dante's Inferno.

Like one of Temple's best sermons, this is a message that one must sit with and ponder. Most of us have either observed or personally experienced what Temple describes-- an individual who undergoes a profound conversion, then becomes an artifically different person with an answer for every question and a judgmental or condescending attitude toward anyone who does not agree with them. This book will provide hope to those who have been turned off to institutional religion due to this attitude. For more traditional believers, there are many comments that could alienate them. However, if they will press on through the material that challenges their beliefs, the reader will find truth that can transform their relationship to God and to people who are different from them. Temple is also consistently fair in pointing out the risk of rigidity in all traditions-- from social activists to fundamentalists. This fairness and insight reveals that this work was not written by an elite ecclesiastic with an ax to grind, but rather by a person with deep faith and a pastor's heart. I highly recommend this book to all who will read it with an open mind-- and even more to those who need to have their certainties challenged.

I found Gray Temple's book The Molten Soul the smartest concise work on the history of Christianity I'd ever seen. It's the best explanation of religious conservatism in print, and it has wonderfully interesting things to say to readers who are not preoccupied with what Gray has set out as his main problem: what to do with their own or someone else's sudden religious conversion. Gray makes his points with brilliance and humor--he's a guy who keeps his Phi Beta Kappa key next to his Slim Jims.

Like one of Temple's best sermons, this is a message that one must sit with and ponder. Most of us have either observed or personally experienced what Temple describes-- an individual who undergoes a profound conversion, then becomes an artifically different person with an answer for every question and a judgmental or condescending attitude toward anyone who does not agree with them. This book will provide hope to those who have been turned off to institutional religion due to this attitude. For more traditional believers, there are many comments that could alienate them. However, if they will press on through the material that challenges their beliefs, the reader will find truth that can transform their relationship to God and to people who are different from them. Temple is also consistently fair in pointing out the risk of rigidity in all traditions-- from social activists to fundamentalists. This fairness and insight reveals that this work was not written by an elite ecclesiastic with an ax to grind, but rather by a person with deep faith and a pastor's heart. I highly recommend this book to all who will read it with an open mind-- and even more to those who need to have their certainties challenged.

The Molten Soul is Gray Temple's vivid metaphor for what happens to us Christians in our conversion moments, those times when we actually come face to face with God. With conversational warmth, Temple confronts the opportunities and problems presented by religious conversion through lenses of the Christian life, faith, doctrine, and community. He tackles questions that we all ask - such as, why are we so powerfully motivated by the fear of death and the dread of God? Once we allow God to get through enough of our defenses that we can visualize that a mutually loving, trusting, and lasting friendship is possible, what then? How do we keep our faith from ossifying into rigidity? As we encounter God's grace over and over again, how can we be spiritually ready to accept and use it to build a visionary Christian community? Where, indeed, can Job go to church?

In his foreword, theologian Walter Brueggemann writes, ". . . Temple urges `moltenness,' the process of being melted down, liquefied, rendered supple and open for new congealing that must not be too firm or full, but that readies the soul, in good gospel fashion, for the next melting that is the good work of God." Temple is a theologian, a preacher, and a priest - he meets his readers on all of these levels as he prods us to stay molten as individuals and as community. The Molten Soul makes righteousness meaningful for today. I'll be reading this book more than once.

I have been photographing a Monarch metamorphosis and looking at many books - this one is by far THE BEST!

Anyone who opens its covers...children, teachers, parents... agrees that award winning MONARCH MAGIC is one of the best resources for Monarch Butterfly enthusiasts. The full color photographs are outstanding. The text was originally reviewed by the honored Dr. Lincoln Brower, the country's most well-known authority on monarch butterflies and habitat preservation. I highly recommend MONARCH MAGIC for classrooms everywhere! My students LOVE it!

My second grade students loved this book! They were thrilled to have an autographed copy. The activities were age appropriate and fun follow up activities to support our study of the Monarch's lifecycle. We took photos of our butterflies and the kids thought that we should submit them so Lynn Rosenblatt could have them for her next book. Thanks for the great resource.

Monarch Magic has served my early childhood classroom well! We have found the pictures to be very captivating for the young learners, the crafts are great and easily adaptable for young children. I highly recommend this book to educators, the students instantly became interested in nature and excited to find and learn more about monarchs.

I am an educator. Speaking professionally, this is a book both the child and parent cannot put down. The pictures are amazing and the projects are extremely well conceived and easily accomplished at home or in the classroom. The history and explanations provided are extremely comprehensive, yet very easy to understand. I highly recommend this book to students, parents, and teachers.

"More Than A Dream" captures the incredible story of a small group of people who take a seemingly impossible idea about how to change urban education in Chicago and, by sheer will, determination and faith, make it a reality. Kearney does a great job of bringing to light the unlikely path to the school's opening, while also interweaving the stories of 4 students and the impact the school has had on their lives. It's a fast-paced read that I had a hard time putting down.

Building a school, building a future - it's what Chicago Jesuits sought to do when they built a new college prep school for the children of Hispanic working poor. "More Than a Dream: The Cristo Rey Story" is an inspiring tale of an improbable success story of keeping ones faith to keep going despite the innumerable barriers one faces in such an a situation. Author G. R. Kearney should know, as he works as a teacher and a coach at the Cristo Rey Jesuit High School as part of their Jesuit Alumni Volunteer program which Kearney himself helped found. "It's a story that needed to be told," says Kearney. "More Than a Dream: The Cristo Rey Story" would be a grand addition to both Christian and Educational community library collections and for any reader who would seek to learn how exactly this school rose up almost nothing, and how it seeks to help others do the same.

I was given a copy of this book by a colleague whose company employs Cristo Rey students. Frankly didn't think I'd ever open the book until I was stuck waiting for a delayed plane. However, once I did open it, I found I couldn't put it down. The book is about a group of priests who want to start a school for poor kids in Chicago, but it's much more than that. It's the story of an entrepreneurial triumph that will inspire anyone in business or struggling with adversity. It's also a great story of young people working for a better future. I highly recommend this book.

What an inspiring book! The detail with which Kearney tackles this story conveys the dedication, hard work, hope, and faith of everyone involved in developing Cristo Rey High School and the Corporate Internship Program. The extensive research that the author presents makes it an easy read; one that outlines the power of people from different backgrounds working together for a common goal. A must read for anyone undertaking a feat that at one time or another seems insurmountable.

This book captured my attention, provoked many thoughts, and sparked my enthusiasm for what the Cristo Rey schools are doing to make a significant difference in inner-city schools. G.R.Kearney took me, the reader, on an incredible journey...from when the Chicago school was only a dream to where it is today...a unique and promising school providing an amazing education to low-income families. The tireless efforts of the founders, supporters, teachers, volunteers, and students have been rewarded with successes both big and small...making this book impossible to ignore! Thank you to G.R. Kearney for telling a story that deserves to be heard by the world!

My big issue with The Motivation Breakthrough is that its subtitle, "6 Secrets to Turning On the Tuned-Out Child," makes it appear as if this book is for: (1) parents of kids with learning issues, or (2) education professionals. This book is a must read for ALL parents!

The majority of the book discusses six ways (they're all "P" words) that kids can be motivated. Want a list of ways to organize a good Project? What are characteristics of a good teacher/student (People) relationship? What are the pitfalls of Praise and how can it be given effectively? Why are most Prize systems destined to fail but how can they become a help rather than a hindrance to learning? How can you cultivate leadership skills in a child motivated by Prestige or Power?

...and those are just the high-level points. What might teachers learn from sports coaches? How can you better say "I'm proud of you?" Why is Pokemon so fascinating to children? Why should an allowance be unrelated to doing chores? What are unique ways to show affection? I could go on and on. This book provides an astonishing amount of insight and real-life tips for any parent or teacher.

Lavoie writes clearly and his points are well-organized. This is not just a book to read, but to buy; you'll want to flag, highlight, take notes in it, and refer to it often.

My book came in the stated amount of time and was in very good shape. I appreciate that it came promptly. This service with Amazon is a great one!
Kathleen Chaney

Commandment #1 of any civilized society is this: Let people be different. Motivation is the key to learning. Children need positive motivation from a caring teacher and loving parents. It is a discouraging fact that many young and old black kids are shuffled out the door each morning to spend their days, their time and energies on the playground or asphalt jungle playing basketball aggressively with neighborhood bullies. As a result, a lot of these unfortunate little people are physically abused and emotionally stunted. There is no praise or any prestige (what's that) to motivate those who life this way; no book-learning, music, at or supervision. They are on their own, growing up in the streets. There is no a dult around to encourage these children to strive to reach their potential.

Six C's of a motivating classroom: Creativity, Community, Clarity, Conferencing, and Control. Eight motivators: Gregariousness: the need to belong; Autonomy: need for independence; Status: need to be important; Inquisitiveness: need to know; Aggression: need to assert; Power: need for control; Recognition: need for acknowledge; and Affiliation: need to associate and belong. Those with learning disabilities need special training and extra time and patience to overcome their self-imposed segregation, like the autistic students who need love and understanding as much as book knowledge.

Written by an experienced educator who knows of what he says. His expertise is needed in every crack and cranny of this continent, not just Boston.

My son (now 15) has what we believe to be is a variation of nonverbal learning disability and I've read countless books over the years. After reading Rick's first book, I attended a workshop that he provided in our area and found him to be an exceptional speaker as well as writer. I also just read this latest book and it's one of the best I've read to date from any clinician, educator, etc. In my opinion, everyone should read this. It applies not only to children with "issues" but to everyone out there. Whether you're a parent, teacher, or manager/employer, it provides tremendous insight into how to truly reach people and also debunks the myth of laziness/lack of motivation. Rick Lavoie is a gift, especially to parents and teachers.

There is always a child whose behaviour/reactions are the cause for extra concern;not only from the educator's viewpoint but also from parent's and even that child's own. This book helps us to understand why things might be going wrong in a child's life and proposes solutions that really work.It has enabled a child I work with to gain a grip on his behaviour through facilitating a greater understanding of the way his mind ticks amongst the adults involved in his life.It could help you crack that case that is making you feel like you just don't know enough...seeing the tremendous change in this particular child's life has done it for me!

My Great Aunt Arizona is a beautifully-written, beautifully-illustrated book based on a real person, the author's great aunt Arizona. We loved the book so much we took a family vacation some years ago to see the area. The artist obviously went there and saw Henson Creek and the real places, just as we did. We saw Great Aunt Arizona's grave site, too, and met the author's mother.

We love this book so much we have donated it to a couple of libraries and given it as gifts many times. Top notch!

My Great-Aunt Arizona is an excellent book for children and for anyone who is encouraged by a positive message on education.

Gloria Houston's work is wonderful!

Read this book to your kids because it's a great story. Read it because it'll help them appreciate what their teachers do for them. And then, maybe give a copy to their teacher as a gift. This wonderful book is a tribute to those who pour their lives into children who can then go forward with dreams and the ability to do anything.

I use this book in both my reading and writing workshops for fifth graders. It's an excellent book that could be useful to 3rd-6th grade students. It's a great example of characterization.

By far, one of my favorite books for children. I love reading it to my babies. The text with the beautiful pictures will go with you in your mind forever...

Alex
Have you ever had a class clown in your class? In the book, My Life As A Fifth-Grade Comedian, Bobby, the main character, is a huge class clown. Additionally, he never does his homework and slacks off in school. His teacher Mr. Maooouus, can also be funny, but he doesn't over do it being too funn, unlike Bobb. So one day MR. Matous asks the class to write a way on how the school could be improved. Bobby writes about a Laugh-Off. A Laugh-Off is a contest in which the winner is the one who gets the most laughs. Mr. Matous says if you make this Laugh-Off real, then we won't have to kick you out of school. Bobby was going to get kicked out because he was doing so bad in school. Will He get kicked out of school, or wll he stay, and make the Laugh-Off happen.
I thought this book was very good. I liked that every chapter has a joke, Why are vampires so bad, becuase they are suckers. I thought some of them were funny. I also liked how the author kept focus on the main characters. She could've just said some details that don't mean anything, but she didn't. I think the author did a very good job writing the book; it was smooth and easy to follow. The only part I din't like is the characters who had bad personality traits. For example, some kids thought they were funny bbut they weren't. I thought they were annoying. I give this book four stars out of five. This is a great book to read, I would reccomend it. Have you ever had a class clown in your class? In the book, My Life As A Fifth-Grade Comedian, Bobby, the main character, is a huge class clown. Additionally, he never does his homework and slacks off in school. His teacher Mr. Maooouus, can also be funny, but he doesn't over do it being too funn, unlike Bobb. So one day MR. Matous asks the class to write a way on how the school could be improved. Bobby writes about a Laugh-Off. A Laugh-Off is a contest in which the winner is the one who gets the most laughs. Mr. Matous says if you make this Laugh-Off real, then we won't have to kick you out of school. Bobby was going to get kicked out because he was doing so bad in school. Will He get kicked out of school, or wll he stay, and make the Laugh-Off happen.
I thought this book was very good. I liked that every chapter has a joke, Why are vampires so bad, becuase they are suckers. I thought some of them were funny. I also liked how the author kept focus on the main characters. She could've just said some details that don't mean anything, but she didn't. I think the author did a very good job writing the book; it was smooth and easy to follow. The only part I din't like is the characters who had bad personality traits. For example, some kids thought they were funny bbut they weren't. I thought they were annoying. I give this book four stars out of five. This is a great book to read, I would reccomend it.

You have to read "My Life as a Fifth Grade Comedian". It is written by Elizabeth Levy. Its a funny book packed with hilarious jokes! The story is about a boy who holds a "laugh-off" at his school. In the laugh-off people tell jokes. The cover had the boy's face on it. He is wearing a smiley face tie. There are lots of characters so i am most positive you can relate to at least one of them. The setting of the story reminded me of my community and school. So if you feel like laughing your pants off, you must read this book!

I Thought It Was A Great Book It Was Very Hard To Put Down!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The book My life as a Fifth Grade Comedian is a very funny book. This book is for people eho like funny books. This book has many twists in it. If you don't pay attention you be confused. The main charecter(charlie) is a bad egg. He is always doing pranks on the teacher. He visits the principal's office at least twice a day. He has detention until the last day of school next year. His teacher said if he changes he will makea laugh off and challange him. They both make it to the finals and the winner was .... Read the book and find out.

This book really got me thinking. It's about a boy named Bobby. Bobby loves to tell jokes and it seems that he thinks life can be a joke too. His parents make the situation even worse! His dad is so mean! Deep down he's probaly not. But ever since Bobby stopped doing his homework his dad just keeps bugging Bobby in a way that is not really nice for a dad to do. Instead of exoplaining to Bobby that he needs to do his homework he trys to joke around about it. he seems to think that Bobby will always get in trouble. bobby says jokes in class and yells them out. The princibil dr. deal wants to send him to some kind of school for wierd kids. but his teacher mr. matous knows that Bobby is better then that. he gives him a chance to organize a school wide laugh off! And that leads to a whole lot of adventure, a lot of joking around and a bunch of laughs! maybe, if you read the book carefuly you might notise how Bobby changes throughout the story. And when Bobby changes everybody seems to change. So, if you want some great laughs and a book that you'll be stuck on while your doing everything you do read "My Life As A Fith Grade Comedien!"

This all happened in a town. The problem was that this guy named Davy was addicted to alcohol. He started to hang around with other people that also drink. That only made it worse. Davy would have fantasies about a girl name Linda. Those people who he hangs around, Linda hang around with them too. One day he went to a place, the cops showed up, his friends started to ask if he was still a virgin and responded to that and he said, "yes." So his friends take him to Maxis house to do it. But he doesn't remember what had happened. Pretty soon they start dating. Davy had fell in love and so did Maxi. One day she told Davy that they should stop drinking, he agreed. They started to go to alcoholics anonymous. Both of them went, but at first they had problems, but as time passed Maxi didn't had any problem but Davy did. When they were one month with out drinking then they had dinner and went to the beach. That's when Maxi drowns and at the end Davy realizes he needs help, so he gets it.

I read this book for my 10th grade IGL Class!! I though it was a good book I know some people that were just like Davy and Maxi! In the beging of the book Davy has no friends and he starts haning out with the popular kids. Davy really like this hanging out with the popular ones because Linda this girl he really like was one of them!! All they did was sit around and drink all the time Davy started hanging out with Maxi one of the popular kids and they did stuff toghther and got drunk all the time!! They finally decided that they had a alcohol problem so they went to a counselor to get help. At the end of the book they are both clean!! That is my review and when you read this book I hope you take it serously and not be stupid and become one your self.

This is a chilling story, especially if you're an alcoholic! You want to hear a story that's not just a number on a page (statistic), then read this. You'll see how low you can get if you're not there already!

This book is awesome. it is deffenitly the best book i have ever read. i would probably read it again if i liked books but it seems that i hate them. i like the story of how davy gets drunk and gets horizontal with maxi. he finally starts to make friends but that all ends when maxi gets naked and drunk. She goes swimming and dies. he was sad. Davy went on a drinking bingeand wound up in the gutter.

This was a very good and scary book. It shows the truth of what happens to an alcoholic when they don't get help. When I first took this book off the shelf of the public library here, I was a bit skeptical of it because of the title. But since I've read it, it is one of my favorite books in the world!!

This book is good, but my little pug ate it. So it must have been really good.

funny,I like the page that she picks up the grandma's underpants.

Kids have you heard of the book DEAR DUMB DIARY? Well if you haven't, this book is funny. Also it is interesting because the girls in a middle school fall in love with Hudson, the cute guy in the school. Even though I think he looks ugly in the picture of him on page 7 of the book.
Three girls decide to give another girl a much needed makeover. This is a part of the book I mostly enjoyed. Make overs are when someone changes their way of dressing. The girl who gets the make over, Margaret, wears the same thing almost everyday. Two girls, Jamie the main character and the author of the diaries & her best friend Isabella take Margaret shopping and buy her new popular clothing. After Margaret becomes popular she decides to go back to being herself and to wear her usual clothes and Hudson notices her.That's when the problem begins.
Well,I think you guys should read this book because,when you are feeling down you can change your mood to a happy one.
I recommend this book to girls 7 or older because it is written as a diary.

Do you like funny books? I have a book that will crack you up! My book is called My Pants are Haunted. It is about a girl named Jamie Kelly who writes in her diary. She writes in her diary about school, her parents, her dog Stinker, her friend Isabella, a mean girl Angelina, and a boy she has a crush on named Hudson. She gets new pants for school. She gets holes in her pants. She gets really upset because they were her best pair of jeans. This book is a series. I think this is a funny book. So get down to your nearest book store and get this book.

My 10 year old daughter is very picky about the books she reads. It's very sad: I buy a book, she reads one chapter, then puts it down forever...BUT when we got "Dear Dumb Diary..." she read it from cover to cover without stopping. Now she has the others in the series and is waiting for more. She has almost worn the covers off.

As industry analysts articulate the "vision" of the intranet becoming a unified platform for delivery of information services. Eric Greenberg has made it possible to develop a strategic architecture or roadmap to making it a reality.

Peter G. Daniels R&D, Network Strategic Planning

Excellent book!

I think that NAF is a very valuable book to read. I certainly learned a lot about the integration of networks and applications.

Everyone who works in the enterprise software business, be it as an administrator or developer, can gain a lot of insight and specific information by reading this book and thinking about it.

END

I highly recommend this book to Microsoft Certified Systems Engineers (MCSE's), Cisco CCIE's, and Network/IT professionals in general, new and old. Network Application Frameworks is a welcome change. With every page, Greenberg caters to the reader's every need, providing a comprehensive collection of information in a concise easy-to-read format and with an entertaining style. If you need to understand Microsoft technologies, networking, and distributed systems in general, this book is as good as it gets.

Greenberg has put together an extremely readable account of the technologies that matter in the developing of applications for the emerging Networked Age. (You think "emerging" is wrong, and that we're already "there"? Just wait -- you ain't seen nothing yet. China, India, all of Africa have yet to join!)

It's not necessarily the kind of book you'll wish to read from cover to cover, but as an "e-business technical architect" at a Big-5 I have found NAF:DA to be an excellent resource into which to dip from time to time. Very highly recommended.

This book is an invaluable comprehensive guide to network design, distributed computing, and overall client/server architecture including security. Highly readable, it clearly explains important network design and distributed computing technologies-- how they work, what their key design constraints are, and how they compare. It is suitable for both beginners and advanced professionals looking for answers to difficult questions. If there's one book Microsoft or Cisco certified professionals, network designers, Information System (IS/IT) professionals, or application architects should buy this year, in my opinion this one is it.