Educators Books

A highly practical and well written book focusing on the tools and application of the Internet to the classroom, Internet for Educators is a valuable resource for educators wishing to gain a better understanding of the potential of the Internet in the classroom. With its accompanying Web site, this book is written in a style and authority that will be well received by its readers

This book tells about all you need to know to begin home schooling. It's a great place to start if you are just considering it. If you have already begun to home school, it's a great resource. It is essential if you are not joining an ISP who will file your paperwork for you. This book tells you exactly how to create your own private school so you are "legal" with your state. Make sure you get the most recent edition!

As an American of Iraqi origin, I recommend this book to anyone seeking summarized better knowledge of Iraq, Iraqi politics, and society. The Author, Mr. Almond demonstrated wonderful knowledge of Iraq, it's society, and sheds a better light on the capability of the people of Iraq to return to the International society from it's widest doors. The book is about the life of Dr. Jamali who recently passed away in his exile in Tunisia. He was a former Prime Minister of Iraq. He played a major role in Iraqi as well as International politics. A freind of the west, but lived and died with Arab nationalism as his real belief. Eventhough he was sentenced to death by a military court of Iraq's dictatorial government established after the coup de tat of 1958, his love to his country never died. Mr. Almond presented a good portrait of a man that was born to a well respected traditional family in Iraq, with limited means. He was educated in the American University of Beirut, and then in the United States for his post graduate work. The Author takes the reader into the Arab and Islamic worlds as he presents the life of Dr. Jamali, presenting the views of the Arab world during a period of continuous turmoil. I am sure most readers will arrive to better understanding of that important part of the world, after reading this book. Ali Al-Dahwi alialdahwi@worldnet.att.net El Paso, Texas

This text is an excellent source for jazz educators. Richard Lawn's straightforward approach and comprehensive presentation will benefit all jazz educators but especially novice instructors.

If you are an educator looking for help in starting, rehearsing, and sustaining a jazz ensemble, you need to have this text. Everything from set-up to sound systems to rehearsal techniques is covered. It would make an excellent textbook for a jazz pedagogy course.

Of particular interest to me is the section on teaching beginning improvisation. Lawn addresses isssues that are pertinent to jazz educators today (i.e. do you start beginning improvisers on the blues scale or playing over the changes immediately). However an instructor will need to augment this relatively brief treatise with other courses of study simply because of the complexity of learning to play jazz.

Another very handy chapter addresses running a jazz festival. The author provides sample adjudication sheets and pre-concert checklists of tasks the ensemble director is responsible for as well as a suggested concert sequence.

The final chapter is devoted to using computers and music software.

This is a great resource for any jazz educator.

Jerome B. Wiesner is far from being a household name, but he was arguably one of the most significant figures in science and technology in the middle part of the twentieth century. He was the President's Science Advisor during the term of John F. Kennedy, and president of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), between 1966 and 1975. He was an outspoken advocate of nuclear arms control, believing it the only way to prevent nuclear war between the United States and the Soviet Union, and was a founding member of the International Foundation for the Survival and Development of Humanity. During his tenure as presidential science advisor he was involved in the build-up of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to accomplish Project Apollo, the commitment to land Americans on the Moon before the end of the 1960s.

A longstanding faculty member at MIT, Wiesner first made a name for himself in the immediate post-World War II era by assisting national leaders in setting science and technology policy. Two areas, especially, sparked his involvement. The first was nuclear weapons and the deterrence theory then current during the Cold War with the Soviet Union. Wiesner favored a strong military capability for the United States, but always argued for efforts limiting the number of nuclear warheads available to both sides. Accordingly, Wiesner participated in the Geneva summit of 1958 and the Pugwash conference of 1960, in both cases making arguments in favor of strategic arms limitations.

The second area where Wiesner played an especially important role was in the Cold War rivalry concerning space flight. At the time of Sputnik in October 1957, President Dwight D. Eisenhower asked him to serve on a special science advisory committee charged with revamping the federal government's oversight of critical science and technology development efforts. He advocated the creation of NASA in 1958 and the consolidation of non-military space flight activities under its leadership. When John F. Kennedy was preparing to take office in late 1960, he appointed an ad hoc committee headed by Wiesner to offer suggestions for American efforts in space. Wiesner concluded that the issue of "national prestige" was too great to allow the Soviet Union leadership in space efforts, and therefore the U.S. had to enter the field in a substantive way. Wiesner also emphasized the importance of practical non-military applications of space technology--communications, mapping, and weather satellites among others--and the necessity of keeping up the effort to exploit space for national security through such technologies as ICBMs and reconnaissance satellites. He tended to de-emphasize the human space flight initiative.

After the assassination of President Kennedy in 1963, Wiesner resigned from government service and returned to MIT. He spent the rest of his career there in senior positions, much of it as its president.

This work is a collection of documents and reminiscences by and about Jerry Wiesner and well worth the time to read. Some of the pieces were written by such luminaries as Theodore C. Sorensen, Edward M. Kennedy, and John Kenneth Galbraith. Others are by Wiesner and relate his passion for myriad aspects of science and technology in modern American life.

What an insightful and intiguing book! Once you begin reading, be prepared to continue to the final page. Joe Batory's inspirational leadership and dedication to children is like a beacon shining through the foggy mist that obscures public education today. Every politician should be required to read chapter 19, "The Moral Vacuun," or at least have it read to them before they speak about education. In addition, he paints a beautiful portrait of his own personal love story with his wife in the "Arranged Marriage" chapter.
A great follow-up to Batory's first book, "Yo! Joey!" I highly recommend this wonderful portrait of a school leader to everyone, parents, educators, school board members, and politicians.
John H. Nawn, Former President
Upper Darby (PA) Board of School Directors

The plot's a little thin, but the illustrations are gorgeous! There are tiny details that tell you Pablo Torrecilla deeply loved every person and object he painted for this book.

A memoir that takes us through an extraordinary trip through the life and love of a man who wonders why he is still here to tell the tale. Was it luck or was it something greater? The author makes us wonder about things that we will never quite understand.

This is a real-life tale of one cop who really made a difference in the lives of thousands of school kids in Chicago in the '70's. I knew this cop personally, and he was one of the best. He embodied what an "Officer Friendly" could be to kids. George Zaranti was funny, silly, serious, and basically a big lug of an Italian bulldog! Those kids loved him and learned from him. The department wasn't the same when they phased out the 'Officer Friendly' program. Luckily, Joan Wellander-Kleppe kept these letters and kept her promise to Officer Zaranti to publish them someday. Well, someday is here and they are timeless gems. My personal fave, "Dear Officer George, I like you. I hate you. I love you." These are genuine like kids are. I think if you know a cop, loved a cop, or had a good experience in your life with a police officer, you'll get a kick out of this book"

As a teacher of adults with learning handicaps and also a mixed group of ESL and adults who want their GED, the Kim Marshall Series is outstanding! Flexible, concise, clear and very easy to use. They are also adaptable for any class. I would recommend this entire series to teachers in traditional classroom settings, adult education programs, ESL and those who are Home School Educators. Be aware, the prices here are really quite high!