Educators Books

Anderson, et al, create an accessible, realistic view of what it is to be a practitioner-researcher in schools today. This text is easy to use and provides useful examples and scenarios.

Since the late 1980s, education refomers in the United States have emphasized "restructuring" of schools. Has it worked? Have changes in school structure - such as site-based management, interdisciplinary team teacking, flexible scheduling and assessment by portfolio - actually boosted student achievement? What other conditions tend to make such organizational innovations successful?

This report synthesizes five years of research by the Center on Organization and Restructuring of Schools. From 1990 to 1995, the Center analyzed data from more than 1,500 elementary, middle and high schools throughout the United States, and conducted field research in 44 schools in 16 states. Researchers examined schools at many different stages of restructuring, and analyzed schools taking part in a variety of district and state reform strategies, including public school choice, radical decentralization and state-level systemic reform. Their report provide a rich combination of in-depth case studies and survey data portraying general trends.

This report presents evidence that structural reforms can work, but only when human and social resources are organized to provide particular forms of support for schools and students.
--- from book's back cover

This is a great resource for new teachers. Its simple enough to grasp everything and is full of tips and ideas of things to try.

The collaborative effort of educators Dyan M. Hershman and Emma S. McDonald, Survival Kit For New Teachers is an expert, advice-packed, 416-page compendium filled from cover to cover with tips, tricks and techniques for the novice K-12 classroom instructor concerning everything from landing a teaching job; to undercutting classroom discipline problems before they turn ugly; developing a reliable method for grading students and recording those grades; adapting to and incorporating technology in the classroom, and a great deal more. A point-by-point and extremely practical resource, Survival Kit For New Teachers is easy to read, easy to use, and one of the most important additions any Teacher College librarian could make in behalf of graduating students with their newly acquired teaching certificates who are to be soon confronted with the real world experiences of teaching children in today's public and private school systems.

The stories of Cratis Williams are essential for the getting a glimpse of Appalachia. He is/was indeed the leading spokesperson and scholar of life in the Applachian Mountains. These stories deal mostly with his childhood growing up in rural Eastern Kentucky. These stories are unforgettable and profound.

Cratis Williams eventually came to Boone, North Carolina to teach school. He returned again after receiving his Ph.D. from New York University. Appalachian State University's graduate school is named for him.

"The Cratis Williams Chronicles: I Come to Boone" is another book that goes into detail about his coming to the high country of North Carolina. Highly Recommended.

If you're at all interested in peeling back the stereotypical images of Appalachia and peering into a region with soul and character, give Cratis Williams a read.

Not sure what the other reader was talking about. I am an agnostic so I am pretty aware of that kind of thing. I was also a teacher. Not only does Love and Logic work in the classroom but it does amazing things with my kids. I have 2 toddlers and I think the Love and Logic books and videos are an indespensible resource. It seems to me that the previous reviewer was just looking for a forum to rant about something totally unrelated to these books. He also wasn't reviewing this book - I guess some people will actually mislead people to try and get their voice heard. If click on "see my other reviews" under his name you will see that he has reviewed every book in the Love and Logic series with this rhetoric that is based on complete ignorance. Charles Fay and Foster Cline (founders of Love and Logic) are from Evergreen Colorado - not Colorado Springs and have nothing to do with the whole "family first" thing. There is no affiliation whatsoever. Again, not sure what the other reviewer was talking about - but it is a shame that he may turn people away from a resource that is the most effective tool I have come across to raise children who are responsible, able to make choices effectively, have great self-esteem, and to avoid all the arguments and power struggles that come with parenting.

Teach and Be Rich makes it easy for teachers to understand the choices they must make with regard to their pensions and the effect those choices will have on their lives.

If you will only read one book on education, make it this one. In this book Holt makes a convincing case for homeschooling, explains how to go about it and shares some of his wonderful insights about learning. The book is filled with real life stories of homeschoolers, which makes everything much more tangible.

Bravo to William Schubert and William Ayers, for helping to validate the "insight and understanding" (p. vii) teachers bring to the world of education! Teachers need to take the reflective insights gained in the confides of their classrooms and help "give rise to communities of teachers who learn more from each other through writing, reading, listening, talking, and most of all reflecting" (p. 10). Every teacher who has a story to tell should read this book and follow its example!

The positive interaction between student and teacher begins with a caring spirit on the part of the educator. Vito Perrone inspires the reader with reflections by Covello who stresses the importance of community in any educational system. If you have the heart, you are well on your way to inspiring excellence in your students. This book gives some good illustrations that will tug at your own heart and give you much food for thought.