Instruction and Resources Books

Five stars isn't enough for this book on Christian education! Richards' primary contention is that there is a huge need for informal, relationship-driven, experiental education in the church today. Instead of putting all of our energy into the formal curriculum, we need to spend more effort in charging the lay people to experience God and relationship. This book sparked a revolution in Chritian thought about education. This foundational treatise is a must-read of ALL Christian educators. It offers graphs, probes, and other useful tools for content attainment.

In this book Dr. Richards defines the goals of Christian education. The primary goal, reasons Mr. Richards, is to produce faith as life. He bases this belief on John 10:10 when Jesus says, "I have come that they may have life, and have it more abundantly." Furthermore, another goal, believes Richards, is transformation. Thus, Christian education is not a medium that simply offers religious information, but to the contrary, it is to produce transformation. Transformation, then, becomes the fundamental nature of Christian education. After Mr. Richards establishes these two goals, he then offers other goals that CE is to achieve. Definitely a must read for pastors and laymen alike. A true CE classic!

In college, I majored in Christian education. Shortly after I graduated, I discovered Larry Richards and began relearning about 90% of what I'd learned in college.

My college Christian education classes consisted of how to run traditional Christian education programs--Sunday school and youth groups. Richards doesn't talk much about how to run programs; he focuses on how to make disciples.

The goal of discipleship is not to fill the learner's head with cognitive knowledge, but rather life transformation. "The disciple when he is fully trained," says Jesus, "will be like his teacher" (Luke 6:40, NIV). It does not say the disciple will know what his/her teacher knows. It says the disciple will be like his/her teacher. This is the starting point for discipling, both in goal and in method. The goal is Christlikeness. The method is teaching by example in the context of an intimate, trusting relationship, in real life settings.

There is a world of difference between training Bible scholars and making disciples, and by the time you have digested this book, Richards will have helped you to think in terms of making disciples rather than pouring knowledge into the minds of Sunday school students.

Yes, this book is a classic. I first read it in the mid-70s (the first edition was published in 1975), and it began the process of redefining how I understood Christian education and the whole question of how the church makes disciples. Today, as a full-time church consultant, Richards' mentoring continues to shape the way I work with every church I consult with.

Richards' books on CHURCH LEADERSHIP and CHILDREN'S MINISTRY, which I read after this one, continued to remold my thinking about Christian education. If you have a passion for making disciples, and if you're not married to the way we've always done Christian education, you need to discover Larry Richards.

The author first challenges today's Christian education methods, conventional Sunday school and catechetical instruction, which in his eyes have almost failed its purposes for three reasons: 1) content is irrelevant to people's real lives. 2) Students are not engaged in true dialogue and learning. 3) Individualistic pedagogy fails to embrace community learning. Church life in its entirety should be formational instead of informational. The author argues that Christians should learn to perform Christly gestures rather than simply gain historical facts and other people's theological ideas. When Christians value Christly gestures, practice them in the church community, and learn to live them out in the real life with the help of Holy Spirit, transformation happens. Christly Gestures reshapes the very meaning of Christian education, exploring what the form and content of Christian learning would look like if local churches truly saw themselves as the body of Christ.

Another point I like about his book is that it equally emphasizes on the formation of spirit, mind, and body, and contends for a deep unity of body and mind, of thought and action. In fact, as Brett discovers, the formation of human body receives the least attention in the fields of religious education and theology. The cons: this book claims to write for lay leaders and local Christian educators, but its writing style, complex theological discussion, and short of practical examples make it more suitable for students and teachers of religious institutions than for Sunday school teachers.

Woderful book for this times of chaos. Well written and defiantly provocative to get out of the ordinary Sunday s[i]ndrome. A well versed oasis for the church and its components.
I recommend it very much to anyone that feels dthe wieght ofsocial pressures and sunday morning routine.

In Christly Gestures, Brett Webb-Mitchell moves from being an advocate for disabled persons within the church to being an advocate for a disabled church. With insight and grace, he diagnoses the disconnect between head, heart, and hands that plagues much of modern Christian education. Then, blending excellent scholarship with stories drawn from his own rich experience, Webb-Mitchell proposes an alternative (but age-old) practice of education that returns the church to its roots in relational, experiential, scriptural, and spiritually-grounded formation of mind, body, and soul. Christly Gestures gives an exciting way forward for those seeking to discover what it truly means to learn, live, and teach together as members of the body of Christ.

Almost all of the pieces in this book go far beyond the realm of craft and some even cross the line into pure sculpture. The beauty, complexity and originality are staggering. The photography is top-notch and the artist bios are great. My only complaints are that the glue binding is not very good (my paperback copy is severely cracked after a few nonviolent leafings-through) and that it severely leaves you wanting more. If they had doubled the number of pieces shown for each artist it would not be enough (for me, anyway). However, a full five stars because the work and presentation are superb.

Coffland presents not only brief history of traditional bamboo arts, but in a marvelously succinct introduction to the artists featured, he also presents some of the dilemmas faced by both Japanese and American basketmakers. His explanation of what it takes to become a bamboo artist/basketmaker offers the American basketry artist a cultural cross-reference on the meaning of artistry and accomplishment. As Executive Director of the National Basketry Organization, Inc., and an aspiring basketry artist, I would like to see every serious basketmaker read this book...it would refresh our minds, spark our creativity, and remind us that artistic accomplishment is not instant gratification. The quality of the writing, photographs, and portraits make this a must read.

I am so excited about this book! As a professional weaver and teacher of basketry I have a passionate interest in Japanese bamboo basketry. The book, Contemporary Japanese Bamboo Arts, makes the breathtaking aesthetics of Japanese Bamboo Basketry accessable to everyone.

Thanks to people like Robert T. Coffland and his tireless efforts, basketry in general is taking it's rightful place as a serious fiber art form, worldwide. His knowledge of the history, artists, and the complexities of this discipline is apparent in the book's first section. The stunning photography of Pat Pollard and Art Streiber make even the smallest detail visible in the basketry and reveal the intense commitment in the faces and surroundings of the artists.

I keep this book nearby while I am working and randomly open it to any page. As I look at the artists in their element and read their stories I can almost imagine myself there. I am inspired! I study the beautifully photographed works and I am nourished!

This book is not only an essential for basketry artists and collectors but I think designers and decorators would benefit by having this book as a guide.

This is a great book packed full of practical suggestions for teachers in all disciplines. Very easy to read and follow.

The books were received in a timely manner and were in perfect condition. The transaction went smoothly which is always good!

I was blown away by some of the ideas in this book. If you are intrigued by the concept of differentiation, but feel like you need more practical guidance than some of Tomlinson's other books offer, snatch this one up. As an English teacher, I found the Macbeth unit plan invaluable. The downside is that only a few of the units are likely to be applicable to any one teacher's course schedule. But even if there is only one unit for your subject area, it's probably worth the splurge. Or, if you don't mind sharing, you could split it with teacher friends who are just as passionate about reevaluating our current practices and doing what's truly best for each student.

One of the key benefits to this catechism is that it follows the format and order of St. Thomas Aquinas's Summa: (1) an objection, (2) an authoritative response, and (3) a reasoned explanation.

And the objections aren't easily refuted straw men. Fr. McBride take challenges to the faith seriously and phrases them in the best possible light. A perfect example is found in the chapter on Christ's resurrection. There the challenge takes the form of highly subjective interpretations that suggest the resurrection is the product of the faith of the apostles rather than the other way around. This "Resurrection of Faith" can be found in many mainstream Catholic publications, making Fr. McBride's treatment of the subject all the more relevant.

Moreover, despite the title, this book is a great teaching tool for students of all ages, including graduates. While it's a shame the book has now gone out of print, it thankfully is available via Amazon marketplace.

Allow me to second the praise other reviewers have for this book. Fr. McBride has established himself as a master catechist, and his "College Catechism" in one of his best.

Though designed for college students, this thirty-something reviewer found it informative and age-appropriate. Fr. McBride weaves interesting stories, narration, Q&A catechesis and prayerful reflection into a comprehensive and orthodox presentation of the Faith. The black-and-white illustrations and typeface make the volume aesthetically pleasing and easy on the eyes.

The book is fine for individual study, but could also easily be used as a class or group text. Citations to and selections from the Catechism of the Catholic Church are found throughout, allowing readers to pursue additional catechesis.

Fr. Alfred McBride had written this wonderful work as a guide to the Catechism. Split into thirty three chapters each of these deals with a section of the Catechism. Each chapter begins with a short story on the topic, a presentation of objections that people have to that particular Church teaching and then a response to those objections followed by discussion questions.

I'm a recent college grad (BU class of '03), and I just read this book on my own. However this book although an excellent read by oneself, would probably bear much more fruit when read in the context of a discussion group or a class on the Catechism.

The teachings are clear and well illustrated with examples. The only chapter I thought was a little weak was the one on MAry, because the objections presented were a little fluffy and nothing like what you would encounter from Evangelical Christians or others.

This book is DEFINITELY worth buying!! Great for discussion, catechism classes, evangelizing, or personal study.

Margaret Duda's new book magically transported me into a place and time I'd previously known little about: China's epic Qing Dynasty, with its fascinating legends, myths, customs, religious beliefs, and cultural norms. The author astutely displays hundreds of beautiful artifacts - pendants, symbolic locks, grooming sets, eating kits, embroidery-needle cases - to bring this vanished world to life.

This is an uncomparable tome for anyone interested in adornment or Chinese social history. The level of scholarship, depth of information, and narrative ease will impress academics and laymen. The photography has obviously been done by an accomplished visual artist. Such an incredible collection and wealth of research has obviously been done as a labour of love. I hope Mrs. Duda's love for her subject continues in many other volumes. Well Done!

For anyone who has a love affair with China and or silver adornment this book is a find. For those of you who don't, read it anyway and you will be delightfully surprised. Margaret Duda is obviously a scholar and an immensely readable one. Her son, Paul Duda, who did the photography is equally talented. I'm buying this book for Christmas presents for family and friends.

A good small size rhyming dictionary if you are a writer on the go. Just put in your bag and you're never without a resource to help your creative flow.

This is the only reference tool I really need as a songwriter. It's helpful when you're looking for that last line to wrap up a tune. I like how it's organized phonetically, & by word endings--you don't have to waste a lot of time finding what you need. For its size and price, it's been incredibly useful.

Once I got the hang of the way this book organizes its rhyming words (which wasn't that difficult), I found this dictionary to be very useful. I especially appreciated not having to deal with the cross referencing necessary with dictionaries organized by spelling. And because it's pocket sized, it's easy to carry around for whenever I'm inspired to write poetry.

A common theme across all of Bert Ligon's books is that they are comprehensive and rooted in the reality of jazz. What do I mean by that? They are comprehensive in that their coverage of the subject area is full: you have an excellent single source of information. Rooted in reality? Whilst they cover the theory of jazz they do it in a practical way: a lot of analysis of actual improvisations has been done, and is used to illustrate the ideas. There are many exercises and the examples can be used as exercises. Any of the books could easily double as a source of jazz vocabulary.

You can see the contents pages elsewhere in Amazon. Each chapter explains things clearly.

It is not a mistake to buy any of his books. I have four. Years ago a departing friend said to me `I'm glad I met you.' That's how I feel about these books: they are a Jazz-send.

JAZZ THEORY RESOURCES
I recommend buying both Volume I and II. Essentially the tome was split into two rather than publish it in a single volume. The page numbering in Volume II continues from Volume I.


Volume I starts with a review of Basic Theory Material, Chapter 2 covers Rhythm, Chapter 3 Basic Tonal Materials and so on. The point is that `Basic' doesn't mean a superficial treatment: it means a comprehensive helpful analysis of things you must know.

Volume II carries on where Volume I left off: it is not `Part 2 Advanced': it is a continuation.

There is an immense amount theory and practical application in these two books. I came across them by accident when doing some research and bought them immediately. They are on my instant access bookshelf!

even being an educated musician with a firm grasp of your craft - there is always new inspiration in Bert Ligons book - I recommend them all!! Full of examples, great ideas and good and sound explanations.

There is a lot of harmony books out, but this one is the most concise I've ever seen. The difference is, here you find what is really played in jazz unlike the useless standard stuff which normally fills hundreds of pages in most harmony books such as all the pattern-stuff derived from theory facts or e.g. II-V-I mathematics. And one more thing, you can dig it! Buy it!

Jessica Morton's "Kids on the 'Net is inspiring. Between the lines it speaks to what 'good' teaching is really about and the lines themselves sing with a clear how to do it for using the net well. A great source for those who want to be creative and for the many who fear, for one reason or another, the use of the internet. It is so well written and presented that I felt like I was reading a terrific story. At t he end I knew I'd done that and more!

Jessica Morton has an easy way of writing that will make the reader feel she can use the 'net' with young children after reading about Mrs. Morton's successes in her own classroom. She does not use computer language that the average person cannot understand. She not only uses examples from her own classroom but also relates to the reader how to go about beginning using e-mail with simple dos and don'ts. I have used e-mail with my second grade students for many years but while reading this book I discovered some great ways to improve the use of e-mail with my class of 7-8 year olds. A definite book to read!

Jessica Morton's book, Kids on the 'Net, is absolutely outstanding for any educator who is leery about bringing the Internet into the classroom. This book takes you step-by-step into how the 'net can be beneficial for your students' or childrens' learning. The book is chock full of ideas and personal reflections by the author to show you that the Internet can be our friend. The book is written in a style that is non-threatening and easy to flip through. Morton's book teaches you how even young children can e-mail pen pals (e-pal) from around the world and be interactive in newsgroups. This is a must needed resource for teachers of the new millennium. She offers web sites that are useful for creating projects and reproducibles that go along with certain lessons. If technology is the way to go in your classroom, then you need this book.

"Lessons from the Cyberspace Classroom: The realities of Online teaching" is a great book for someone who is interested in the possibilities of online education and teaching. Palloff and Pratt offer a lot of great tips and ideas that are very concise and easy to understand. They provide commonsense guidelines in conducting online teaching in a way that is simple to digest, entertaining, and useful to teachers, administrators, or whoever else is interested in the realm of online teaching and education.

I personally liked the way the authors really tried the simplify their views on how to make a successful online teaching experience. Their "Keys to Success" seemed to be very helpful and realistic for many institutions to implement with careful planning.

Another especially helpful idea throughout the book was their tips at the end of some sections. By providing these simple tips it helps readers summarize the section and allows readers to easily review the material after they have read though the book once or twice.

I feel that this book is a "must-have" for people who have some interest in this relatively new and every changing field of online teaching.

Growing numbers of K-12 schools, colleges, universities, and businesses have begun offering online instruction, taking advantage of computer and Internet technologies to deliver instruction once confined to the realm of physical classrooms. Indeed, the Internet, so-to-speak, has become a virtual classroom and community where all kinds of instruction can take place - anytime day or night, anywhere around the world.

Lessons from the Cyberspace Classroom offers readers a broad treatment of the issues involved in planning, creating, and carrying out distance education via the Internet. In a concise manner the book introduces the issues, raises many serious questions, and provides many solutions to help meet the educational goals of instructors, their learning institutions, and their students.

The real beauty of the book lies in its effort to motivate instructors and learning institutions to think through the issues for themselves - to evaluate the unique circumstances they face and to encourage them to seek more effective ways of accomplishing their goals. Because each virtual learning experience will be unique, a number of important considerations should be weighed to determine course structure, content, and delivery, such as:

What technologies should be used?
Who will create the course?
Who will own the course material(s)?
How will the course be delivered?
How will assignments, projects, and exams be administered?
How will instructors and students be prepared?
How will student participation be controlled?
How will student behavior be controlled?

Lessons from the Cyberspace Classroom does a superb job of fostering community among educators and their students. The authors express the importance of creating learning communities were serious dialogue takes place - dialogue that enhances the learning process and leads to achieving specific educational goals. This book is must reading for online educational course development.

If "the devil is in the details" of online learning, Paloff and Pratt have done an excellent job exploring the promise and pitfalls of distance learning programs. Anyone in the process of designing online courses or programs in higher education should read both this book and their earlier book before they launch a new course or program. Personally, this book helped me avoid several mistakes I otherwise would have made in my first distance learning adventure.

The book looks at both teacher and administrator perpsectives, and understands that both insitutional support and instructor skill are key elements for success. While the authors are genuine advocates for the medium, they understand that interactivity does not equal mouse clicks, and that building learning communities takes skill, practice, and structures. The book is full of very helpful examples, learning constructs, and realistic assessments of distance learning successes and failures.