Educators Books

The unexpected return of her long lost college diary set Marian Wright Edelman on a quest to recall the mentors who helped her grow from a girl of the segregated south to the first Black woman admitted to the Mississippi Bar. If this book were to be viewed only as a further contribution to the history of the Civil Rights movement it would be a valued addition to a growing corpus. Offering an intimate glimpse of the young participants in that struggle for justice she further provides a poignant testament to the critically important role of the not so young who inspired it. Introducing both the celebrated and the obscure Edelman permits a rare insight into the formation of character and commitment. Long the best friend America's children have ever had, in this book, Edelman serves an older clintele who are likely to find in it a powerful pull to accompany the young on the journey to adulthood. In recalling childhood teachers as well as the dominant figures of the 1960s Edelman brings wisdom, insight and strong spirituality to a much needed reflection on intergenerational sharing.

For centuries sailors have relied on the constellations of heavenly lanterns to guide their way. In crisp, vivid prose, Marian Wright Edelman tells us about the heroes who provided beacons of hope and inspiration, helping her find her way through the many moral dillemas of life and stay on course.

What is interesting is the sheer variety of backgrounds Dr. Edelman's heroes have. Nevertheless, they all share the author's passion for human rights and social justice. As a bonus, Dr. Edelman gives a brief history of the civil rights era, a nice complement to two other fine books on that fascinating topic, Taylor Branch's "Parting the Waters" and David Halberstam's "The Children."

This book is much more a memoir. It is a call of action and an inspiration for all of us to act for the common good, to serve the community. It is up to the current generations to act as a positive role model for the next, much as Dr. Edelman's mentors did for her.

Mentors, lanterns, are important at all times, during the economic boom of the late 1990s, when this book was written, as well as in the troubled initial years of the 21st century. There are already too many ships out there lacking a sailor to read the stars. And some ships don't even have a rudder.

Marian Wright Edelman, in pleasing prose, shares the experiences she had growing up surrounded by a community of mentors, both formal and informal. Edleman talks about the importance of parents, community elders as co-parents and mentors, and the powerful role teachers can play in the development of character. Her college years were greatly influenced by the civil rights leaders of the time, Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, and Robert Kennedy among others. Edelman shares lessons learned from influential faculty and family friends and helps readers understand what it is like to be a part of something larger than themselves.

This book, which focuses on the powerful influence that mentors can have on children and young adults, finishes with Edelman's "Parent's Pledge" and "Twenty-Five More Lessons for Life". She shares the wisdom gained from her parents and elders as well as her many years of experience working with children. Pearls such as "Always remember you are God's child. No man or woman can look down on you and you cannot look down on any man or woman or child" and "Keep your word and your commitments" provide valuable advice for those seeking a strong moral center. This book is a recommended read for anyone interested in life lessons learned from a woman of faith whose experiences have been enriched by her interactions with the mentors in her life.

Learning Disabilities: There Is A Cure by educator Addie Cusimano (a specialist in the field of reading) is an instructional guide specifically written for parents, educators, and physicians concerning practiced and proven techniques to overcoming the extra challenges of dyslexia and other learning disorders that affect students across America. A first-rate consultation book drawn from an extensive field of practical experience and offering time-proven methods that work, Learning Disabilities is very highly recommended reading for anyone charged with the responsibility of educating a child with a learning barrier.

I am a parent of a 9 year old child (3rd grader) who has had trouble in school since kindergarten. We have struggled to understand why such a bright child was having so much difficulty in school. This book helped us understand that the problem was that she was deficient in specific learning skills that could be developed with proper instruction. We didn't even realize these skills were involved in learning. It also offered suggestions as to what we could do, as parents, to help her develop these skills. It has given us the information we need to knowledgably discuss our concerns with her teachers.

The title of my review really says it all. This book gives hope and guidance. It is written by a real expert but she doesn't use a bunch of technical words. The book is a joy to read because of how she presents it and because of the information in it. You will find things you can do right now to help your child. You don't need to go out and buy expensive special programs. Just read her book!

I greatly enjoyed this book. It is the story of one teacher's career- both the positive and the negative.

I've just had the privilege of reading "The Loneliness of the Long Distance Teacher" by Edward A. Joseph and feel that I should express my appreciation for being allowed to enter the private world of Teaching in urban America. How, one might logically ask, can this be regarded as a private, largely unknown endeavor, given all the publicity the field of Teaching receives? It is simply because the intensity of the emotional involvement is just not appreciated or understood by the general public. This memoir does an admirable job of permitting the reader to share in that intimate experience.

The book is not voluminous, employing short chapters which actually heighten the effect of the hard-hitting commentaries.

The Epilogue has a paragraph which I consider to be very important:

"In addition, the education community needs to restructure the schools so the teachers can teach and the students can learn more effectively. Increasing the amount of curriculum that students have to learn and teachers have to teach is not the answer. High expectations are important, but the setting in which education takes place must make achieving these expectations possible."

I think Joseph is suggesting a more widespread implementation and acceptance of the Alternative High School concept like Yonkers Prep. I assume also that, while such an implementation would undoubtedly be desirable as part of a restructuring, his thoughts are not limited to only that. The solutions of fundamental problems inherent in our system are so daunting, complex and elusive that they would appear to require daring and drastic measures as yet not seriously entertained by those in positions of influence and authority.

In any event those closing thoughts seem to set the stage for a follow-up book on this subject. I look forward to it!

The author gives great insight into the the trials and tribulations of a teacher working in a large school system. Especially interesting was the section about the beginning of Yonker's Prep, the alternative school that the author helped start. It is obvious that there were many difficult times but it is also apparent that the author loved the actual teaching. This is a great book to read for any one but especially teachers and those that may want to be teachers.

Although a fictionalized account, this is a truth revealing book. Self-proclaimed experts, hysteria, and a full range of human behaviors emanating from ignorance, fear, compassion, bewilderment and pain are explored. A shocking testimony to what has been allowed to occur, and an awakening to be wary of similar manipulations of hysteria in our own time and place, for although the book cover calls this is a story of a "Dark Age," it is neither so long ago nor far from occurring again in another guise. I highly recommend this book for the historical rendering, the good story telling, and for further reflection.

This book is shocking in that it reveals the prejudices & dearth of understanding still prevalent into the 20th century. I live in the area of the crime and I'm acquainted with the very fine present-day members of the G. family. Just by coincidence, when I was a child, I met the expert witness Dr. Bernstein as I had close relatives who worked in the colony system of the Rome State School.

This was a book I could not put down - it kept me up late because I just had to finish it. Based on the actual 1914 murder trial of 16 year old Jean Gianini, Dr. Siegel has woven a tale which is at once a psychological thriller, a murder mystery, and an indictment of medical misdiagnosis in the early 1900's. I strongly recommend this as a fascinating "can't-put-down" read. My sister, to whom I lent the book, had the same experience as I did, by the way- she also could not put it down!

AS a colleague of Carol Hillman's, I was able to follow her path as she worked to mentor her students and as she worked with their cooperating teachers. At last, when I read her book I was moved to see that her personal warmth and deep caring were revealed in this guidebook. Her writing style discloses her caring and loving connection with mentors, mentees and the children with whom they work. There is a poetry that brings the reader to the "inner gardens" of classrooms in which relationships flourish.

Mentoring requires respect and authenticity. Hillman gets at the core of this work as she considers the mentoring relationship in her latest book. She is honest about the rewards and struggles of mentoring. Her practical suggestions make this an essential read for classroom teachers who supervise students, directors of early childhood programs and college instructors.

An insightful, supportive mentoring model for the novice observer, as well as practical strategies for the experienced evaluator. Written by a teacher's teacher - Hillman is a keen observer of both children and the adults who are responsible for providing them with exemplary learning environments. Sample observations and useful forms enhance this thoughtful contribution to the field of Early Childhood Education. A must for all Early Childhood professionals.
Jeanne Millman, Adjunct Professor, SUNY, New Paltz, NY

This is a very gratifying momoir of Linda Bidabe, an educator for children with severe disabilities and her corageous strive to implement a curriculum. She had me hooked at page one! Linda Bidabe was born a leader. She is a very determined individual and demonstrates this throughout her memoir. She has the strength to overcome obstacles during her life; obstacles I hope I never face.
While reading this book, I developed a high level of respect and admiration for this woman. She not only gives credit for her accomplishments, but she does not hesistate to mention how she was not able to succeed with every student. She demonstrates skills of a servant leader as she willingly sets aside her aspirations to ensure that others fulfill their dreams. Linda finds great joy out of helping others reach their goals, a virtue which deserves applauding.
I recommend this book to anyone looking for a well-written autobiography and who is ready to be inspired.

I read this book months ago and simply could not put it down. It is inspiring from Bidabes account of her encounter with a dyslexic boy whom she automatically feels the instinct to rescue, to her childhood home catching on fire, straight to how she came to form MOVE and greived every time she lost a child. Linda Bidabe is not only a leader but has so much compassion for those less fortunate than she is and this is what lead her to help chidren with severe physical disabilities, the children who were dismissed and forgotten by a system. She wanted to give these children a chance. I believe the most profound thing she said in her memoir is near the end of her story." What Good is MOVE and all our efforts to help children with disabilities learn to sit,stand and walk, if we use it to push aside a childs dream, and in its stead, impose our on so-called discernment? Our business is to discover the dream in each child, and to believe in it until it becomes a reality" What more can be said? No ordinary move is no ordinary memoir. I highly recommend it to those who want to be moved by a book.

This is a very gratifying momoir of Linda Bidabe, an educator for children with severe disabilities and her corageous strive to implement a curriculum. She had me hooked at page one! Linda Bidabe was born a leader. She is a very determined individual and demonstrates this throughout her memoir. She has the strength to overcome obstacles during her life; obstacles I hope I never face.
While reading this book, I developed a high level of respect and admiration for this woman. She not only gives credit for her accomplishments, but she does not hesistate to mention how she was not able to succeed with every student. She demonstrates skills of a servant leader as she willingly sets aside her aspirations to ensure that others fulfill their dreams. Linda finds great joy out of helping others reach their goals, a virtue which deserves applauding.
I recommend this book to anyone looking for a well-written autobiography and who is ready to be inspired.

Professor Padilla has written a book on the characters and operating principles of a collection of exemplary academic leaders. While this volume is well researched, it exceeds the usual academic exercises in that it is eminently readable, insightful and human. The instructive lessons are clear and generally applicable to students of business management.

I'm the head of a small, non-profit organization so I was not sure whether this book would actually be of much interest. But as one of the reviewers on the book-jacket writes, this book should be very useful to people outside universities as well. It is well-written and very engaging. What makes it especially appealing is the author's ability to take "academese" and convert it into understandable English. His chapter on leadership is one of the most original I have seen and the discussion of "resiliency" is fascinating. He also presents six detailed case studies and each is written essentially to stand alone. The first three chapters lay out a conceptual blueprint and this makes each case easier to interpret. His use of compelling anecdotes and well-researched historical passages really bring the cases to life. Highly recommended.

Even though this is essentially a research book it is very well
written and contains a solid presentation of the leadership process. The chapter summarizing leadership research is the best I've seen and provides an original framework around which to read the case studies. There has been a lot of academic research on leadership over the last twenty years and much of it is incomprehensible and so specific as to be relatively useless but the author's original synthesis of this work
is excellent. The cases studies are not only very entertaining but they follow this basic leadership framework developed in the theory chapter. The chapter on the University as a complex organization is also very good and highly readable. I recommend the book both as an essay on leadership and as an analysis of university presidency.

Return to the Drum is more than a memoir. Morris is a thoughtful, respectful and self-critical writer. Her descriptions - often recalling actual conversations - are fresh and lively. She has a great respect and admiration for the people in the community. It is eminently readable

Return to the Drum is beautifully written, interesting,honest, thought-provoking,and in every way, excellent. I do hope that everyone who has an interest in the needs of Aboriginal people - and that should be all of us -- will read it as an important and well-told message

I loved this book as it contains the elements I enjoy in a good read - stories of ordinary people living, laughing and coming to appreciate each other. It is about a people's strength as they survive and adapt with dignity to the many challenges inflicted upon them across the years. It is about the author, a young Welsh teacher, who goes to the Arctic and ends up learning a great deal! The two stories intertwine as we learn about the Dene Indian's daily life in this northern community and their past. You finish the book having laughed, cried, being angry and ultimately caring about these people. It is beautifully written, interesting, honest and thought-provoking. It is a must read for anyone interested in the needs of Aboriginal people -and that should be all of us.

By explaining the trials and tribulations a young urban educator can go through, this book lays a path towards success. This is a must have, if you have just got a job in the teaching profession, or are planning to. Eric is not shy about bringing to the forefront the scary statistics of how young teachers fail, or give up too early. His book will defiantly give you the guidance needed to stick with it and better our national education system.

Eric Allen's book is a vital component to any urban educator's professional library. The book is full of useful, real-world advice that leads to greater student achievement, classroom management, and effectiveness overall. For those who don't know, over half of all beginning urban educators quit within five years! This is certainly not a positive thing for the future of our country. "Surviving and Thriving in the Beginning Years as an Urban Educator" reminds urban educators why we went into teaching in the first place, and helps us to not only "survive" the first few years, but "thrive" for many successful years to come.

Excellent book for ALL teachers! The author does a fantastic job of accomplishing what he set out to do- provide valuable insight and motivation to educators who have just begun careers in an urban setting. Furthermore, "Mr. Allen" was able to surpass this goal tremendously! This book reminds us why we chose our profession. The author draws on his own and many other educators' experiences to give us CONCISE and CONCRETE suggestions for improving our ability to reach our students. In the process, the book also rejuvenates our sense of fulfillment from our demanding career.

This is a tremendous collection of stories that details the depths, perceptions and realities of the Greek immigration experience during The Depression, and how those experiences rippled through one man's life. The writing is crisp and beautifully crafted, with a particularly fine ear for poignant dialogue-- very reminiscent of John Fante.

This great new author has given us universally interesting short stories
under a misleading title that suggests a biography instead of his insightful and truly unique tales.

This book's collection of stories took me to a time and place through a series of small but revealing events that has all but left our world in content. Human nature, however, seems to change little as this well written and humorous composition could describe many current settings. An easy and very enjoyable read. One of my favorite books.