Education Books

As a kindergarten teacher, this book has made a big difference on how to prepare children to read. This book offers many wonderful tips on how to help your child as parents to better equip your child even before a teacher introduces your child with reading concepts.

I am a teacher of children with mild to moderate specific learning disabilities who went through the teacher education program at Ashland University in Ohio. Like countless other teacher education programs, ours stressed only a "whole-language" model of instruction, to the exclusion of all others, especially those that stress explicit phonics instruction.

I bought this book at a symposium given by the International Dyslexia Association, and I am so thankful that I did. As a parent of elementary school-age children I needed to know the things in this book. Specifically...

*Why a book like this is necessary in the first place.

*What is this "great debate" that reading teachers, and educators keep talking about?

*How do children learn to read? Amazingly, this is not taught in many teacher education programs. Why? Because almost all of the research ever done on the issue, any research worth its weight in cotton candy points to the explicit teaching of phonics to be the way that most children learn to read. As the authors so beautifully, and succinctly point out "The English written code is a sound symbol code, not a word symbol code. That is the game."

Parents of school-age children especially need to carefully read this book. Although I myself am a teacher, I believe in a "parent as consumer" focus in education, and, given this, caveat emptor! Parents need to know what they are getting in return for their hard earned tax dollars.

Please email me if you would like to continue this discussion.

I purchased this book because my younger child is exhibiting signs of having reading difficulty in the future. In contrast, my older child learned to read on her own prior to entering school. From my own experience I realize that there is a wide variation in what children need in school. My easy reader would have found a "face the teacher and practice the sound" program exceptionally boring. I selected this particular book because I wanted "straight talk" on how a school could teach these two, very different, kids. Instead of the "straight talk" I wanted got a very biased presentation. For example, the child that gets phonics is "beaming with success." Secondly, the "researcher" reports the test scores that occur during "whole language" teaching but does not compare it to the scores that occurred during phonics periods. In addition, they do not identify the lag between when a child is taught to read and when they are tested. Thirdly, they should be more clear about why these shifts have taken place. My friends 2nd grader knows phonics well but cannot read because he cannot put it together in context. What happened to those kids in a highly phonics based program. Did they all "beam with success?" Lastly, a credible researcher provides a balanced report that identifies the strengths and weaknesses of both approaches. This book reports phonics as strong and whole language as weak. So, if you want "straight talk" on why phonics is the only way then this is a book for you. I you want to find a balance that will work for many different kids, then keep looking.

This book explains the difference in teaching methods for reading and how effective the methods are. It is written for parents. I appreciate the facts presented on actual studies that have been done on methods in learning to read. As a parent of two preschoolers (and I am not an educator), I am now educated on how I can make a difference in my child's performance in school after reading this book. I like the recommended reading lists by age that can be found in the appendix or at the author's website which is www.proactiveparent.com . The author stresses that the earlier you are proactive - the better chance that your child becomes a good reader. It has been proven that it is much more difficult to become a good reader after the 1st grade. The author points out that usually reading problems are not detected even in "good" schools early enough. She details what parents can look for and what to do when your child is having a problem at a very early stage in leaning to read. The author also has a newer book titled "Parenting a Struggling Reader" that is more for parents with children with reading difficulties. "Straight Talk" is more written for parents of all children before their children read. "Straight Talk" tells parents how to be proactive to ensure their children love reading.

This book was truly spectacular if you are interested in really understanding how kids learn to read and what you can do to help! I learned so much from this book, if I had the money, I would buy a ton of them and give them out to anyone who has kids, will have kids, or works with kids.

This book does an amazing job of developmentally (Pre-K through grade 3) describing the skills kids need to acquire in order to read. It fairly reviews the current debate on how kids need to be taught reading, what parents can do (tons of specific age appropriate activities & lists of good books based on reading level), and it describes the research based warning signs for a child who is at risk for reading difficulties.

This book has lots of sound advise. It does, however, repeat itself a lot, and it also doesn't seem to realize that we don't have all the time in the world. The trick is to chose the techniques that work best for you on a particular subject and be flexible. On the whole, it is a good book.

Now in an updated second edition marking the tenth anniversary of its publication, Study Smarter, Not Harder is a straightforward self-teaching guide to expanding one's memory, firing up one's brain, and learning the tips, tricks, and techniques to study with maximum effectiveness and minimum time expenditure. From learning the art of study reading (which is very different from "speed reading"!), to the importance being aware of one's own alertness cycle and the point of mental diminishing returns, harnessing the #1 study skill of the ability to focus, and more, Study Smarter, Not Harder absolutely lives up to its title. Highly recommended not only for high school and college students, but also anyone preparing for a new career.

Every year I try to learn a few new methods of "remembering" more of what I study. Usually I've gone to the memory books. However, you soon realize that mnemonics alone aren't enough. The real task is to figure out better ways of integrating new material with the knowledge you already have. Until reading Study Smarter, Not Harder the best I had come across was Kenneth Higbee's Your Memory. Higbee is excellent on mnemonics and has a very nice chapter on study skills. Kevin Paul takes the opposite tack, having very little on memorization but much on the study environment, the psychology of the learner, and specific approaches to various methods of study. Paul's entire books is filled with practical advice, very little is presented and left as abstraction.

If you want to learn to maximum potential the first time, study this book first!

I bought this book to help my students be more successful, and it has not disappointed me.

I was all the way into graduate school before I finally figured some of these nuggets of wisdom out for myself. Many listed in this book are some I had not thought of. Our first grandchild is a freshman in college this fall (2007), so I purchased the book for him. After commenting in margins and highlighting with Post-it tabs, I mailed it to him. I plan to purchase two more for his younger brothers, freshman and sophomore in high school. Each child needs it at his study desk for reference.

This is written by my 11 year old daughter:
I thought this book was amazing and it deserves a 5 out of 5.

Have you ever read a book that you just couldn't stop reading and you had to find out what was going to happen next? That's how I felt while reading Tadpole. It was such a good book that I had to just keep reading it. That's because the book had a good plot and great character's.
I liked the plot because at times the book was sad but at others, it was happy. Tadpole was trying to find a different home. Uncle Matthew, the owner of the house Tadpole was staying at, didn't treat him right. If he did something wrong, Uncle Matthew would slap Tadpole on the back with a horsewhip. Tadpole ran away to the Collin's house, his cousin's, so he could get away from Uncle Matthew.
The main character's were Tadpole, or Tad, Carolina, Kentucky, Virginia, Georgia, and the girl's mom, Aunt Serilda. I liked them because they all had their own personality's. Kentucky was popular, Virginia was pretty, Georgia was smart, and, well Carolina, she didn't quite know what talent she had, at least until Tadpole came, and that's what I love about him. He is nice, honest, he include's other people, and he helps people too. That's how Carolina found her talent, by Tad. She found that her talent was singing, finding the harmony in music, and also, playing the guitar, she was a natural at it. She could also identify car engines.
As you can see, I really liked this book and I didn't have to say anything bad about it. This book was made up of a great plot, great characters, and so many other reasons!

One mother, four girls, and one fun music loving cousin named makes this a great book. I enjoyed this book because the author had a great style of writing, and the plot of Tadpole was good too.
In Tadpole Ruth White, the author did a great job of writing this book in a way that an eleven year old girl in the south would have talked. Ruth White used words like `cause instead of because, and git instead of get. Details like these makes Tadpole more realistic book.
Tadpole was about a mother, four girls whose father left them because he was tired, and a cousin nick named Tad whose parents had both died. Tad had been living with his abusive uncle Matthew Birch, who had adopted him but, he uses him as free labor until Tad turns 18. One day when Tad's uncle was really mad at him he decided to run away and go to his mother's sister Serilda who lives in a small house with her four daughters. In the middle of the night he goes to his aunts room and tells her all about what his uncle has done to him. Carol who is the youngest and sleeps in the same room as her mother woke up in the middle of their conversation and decided to listen in, so she heard a lot and it became her secret. Mama tried to get a herring with a judge so she can be his legal guardian, but the judge won't hear the case.
This is a great book I it think should have a sequel, to tell more about Tads life and if Uncle Matthew tries to do something to Tad, or if he leaves him alone.

Tad
Have you ever read a book that you didn't want to put down? That's what it was like when I was reading Tadpole. Tadpole was the best book ever! I loved the plot but I thought it was really sad at some parts. I also liked the characters in the book.
I loved the plot of the book because it was sad at certain times but it was happy at other times too. Tad, as he likes to be called, is focused on finding a home where people will take care of him and treat him right. His Uncle Matthew, who has been beating him up, is where Tad has been staying, so he ran away. Tad ran away to his Aunt Serilda's house with her daughters Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky, and Virginia. They kept Tad there but he was scared of getting caught by his uncle. Carolina felt like she didn't belong in the family and Tad helped her feel better about herself by helping her discover some of her special talents she didn't even know she had. Like singing, and finding the harmony of songs and she could hear and identify all the different kinds of cars and she would help keep Tad safe if she heard an unfamiliar engine because it might be Uncle Matthew.
I liked the characters in Tadpole too. The characters in the book lived in Kentucky and had a southern accent. The main characters in this book are Tadpole or Tad, Carolina, Kentucky, Virginia, Georgia, and the girls mama and Tad's Aunt Serilda. I liked the characters because each one had a different personality.
I loved this book and as you can see I didn't have anything bad to say about it and if you read it, I'm sure you won't either!

Have you ever read a book that you just can't put down? That's how I felt when I read an amazing book called Tadpole. There were so many exciting sections that made me jump out of my seat. But the best part that I liked was the characters.
The first exciting event was when Tadpole came to Aunt Serilda's house and lived with the four girls for a while. It got me excited because I thought was not going to be that good. It turned out to be very suspenseful. Another section of the book were there was excitement was when when Tadpoles uncle came to their house to find him. When his uncle came it got me very excited because they hid under the bead and it put a picture in my head right away.
The characters were very funny, but one, Uncle Matthew. He was very cruel and mean. He would abuse Tadpole when he lived there, but he eventually escaped. Tad was very entertaining and funny because he played the guitar and sang. The best character was Carolina because, she reminds me of ME! She reminds me of myself because, because she's nice and quiet.

I really liked the book because it was exciting, suspenseful, and the characters were very funny. There are so many more reasons that I liked the book Tadpole and I'd read it again. Maybe, if you read it too, you would like it also.

I was looking hard for something to help keep me organized as a first year Art teacher shared by two separate schools. Mr. Burke explains how he organizes his own planner, and this offered a working model which I quickly adopted. The 2" binder he keeps his book in, is also the Master Binder--this holds all student info pertinent to the lesson plans and daily activities such as attendance and seating, and is easily carried with you during a fire drill. This resource was a blessing...and but for an unexpected 'expletive' in a sidebar writing, I would have given it 5 stars. My feeling is if I'm to be professional in appearance and demeanor, I'm not wanting to have less than in my planner--especially if I share it with colleagues to offer it as an option for the paperwork shuffle and task organizing. Otherwise, it's full of useful information and has been extremely helpful to me.

As a teacher, I have learned how to review my day and figure out what I need to change. THis book has been instrumental in giving me an outlet for my daily reflections.

I love this planner. I use it to keep me organized in all aspects of my life. Jim Burke has done a great job of creating a resource that fits teachers' needs.

As an English teacher for 18 years, I was always trying to find an easy-to-use book for lesson plans. The generic lesson plan books provided by other companies just "didn't cut it." It took an English teacher (Jim Burke) to create a fabulous tool for teachers to use for lesson planning.

I highly recommend the purchase of this Daybook, in fact, I think it should be the schools themselves that purchase the Daybooks for their respective staffs. But, if your school insists that you use one of the generic books, then your self purchase of this Daybook is well worth the price and then some!

I have used the daybook for the past few years and the revised version is even better. There is plenty of space for daily lessons and the separate pages for reflection allow for more space on the weekly pages. If you want to help balance your personal and professional life, this daybook is a great tool.

This book provides a resource for teachers of phonics or struggling readers. The presentation is user friendly so busy teachers will want to use it. This has excellent information on phonemic instruction. It has great resources like lists of prefixes, words, roots etc. This book is a tremendous time saver.

This book is an excellent resource for teachers who teach reading to all readers, but especially those who are struggling to understand "the code."
Word lists are very helpful, as are the activities and teaching strategies presented. Only wish there was an index!

As a first year fourth grade teacher I have found this to be an EXCELLENT teaching resource. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to learn how to use phonics to improve reading and spelling - it has helped me both on a personal and a professional level. The information is in-depth and yet presented in a very user friendly format which has been logical and easy for me to build upon and REALLY USE!

Teaching Phonics And Word Study In The Intermediate Grades by WILLY BLEVINS

Author Willy Blevins has created a very sophisticated introduction to Phonics, but this books is also a WORD STUDY TEXT, emphasizing:

p. 51 Most Frequently Used Words in English Language.
p. The Dolch Word list (250 words)
as well as words classified according to suffix, prefix and word types, and Greek and Latin word Roots.

The Phonics instruction is in the first 50 pages and it is very complete. The entire book is designed with large pages and there are a number of exercises in the book that can be cut out or photocopied.

The book is directed at the elementary school student between the Third Grade and Eighth Grade. I got my copy to use in tutoring a single adult male from Mongolia.

I looked at nearly 20 books on this subject in the store, and bought several. This is the best of all the books I found. It is a complete course within itself.

This book is GREAT for anyone who has a difficult time teaching phonics. It is very easy to understand and gives the teacher in depth knowledge of phonemic elements.
I highly recommend this book!!!

I am studying education at the moment and this book has been an excellent source of reference. I would recommend this to other education students.

Wow, I could've used this one year ago for my first nurse clinical class! This book starts off very promising. It is going to help you grab that elusive thing all teachers want, a class that doesn't put your students in a COMA. The part on learning theory is well explained with examples that pertain to us nurses. There are some basics on the nuts and bolts of instructing a class, again geared towards nursing. Part 2 is where I realize I'm not going to be teacher of the year with this book alone. After switching to patient teaching goals for awhile then we dive into multicultural concepts. I foud the chapter on multiculturalism to be ineffectual and sparse with no real expertise. I wonder why it was included in the book, perhaps it was there to meet an imposed standard. Part 3 is redeeming with some practical and useful ways to turn the learning on in the classroom. This book is useful for a new nurse educator in that she has lots of strategies to choose from with a good base understanding. The experienced instructor caught in the habit of stuffy lecturing can learn new tricks. Overall, this is a good book for beginners and a resource to expand upon.

As a future nursing educator I found this book to be indispensable. Over the past fifteen years of my nursing career, I have been in virtually every nursing educational setting. For this reason I have collected numerous books and nursing resources on the subjects of cognitive processes, learning and teaching techniques. This book by far pulls all the information together, and it will become the most utilized of my collection. The information is laid out in a logical format that starts with the basic concepts, theories, objectives and goals of learning. She then moves on to explain how to prepare and conduct classes. She concludes with the testing and evaluation process. DeYoung takes you gradually through everything you need to know to formulate and conduct a classroom setting that is both stimulating and achieves the goal of educating nurses to become critical thinking, problem-solvers. Her work employs the latest research on learning/education and at the end of every chapter she reinforces learning through case studies, critical thinking exercises and ideas for future research. Any nursing educator within the academic setting or within the clinical area would benefit from this text. She has made the material easy to understand for the beginning educator and advanced enough for the expert. I wish I had had this resource at the start of my career. I absolutely recommend this book.

As a future nursing educator I found this book to be indispensable. Over the past fifteen years of my nursing career, I have been in virtually every nursing educational setting. For this reason I have collected numerous books and nursing resources on the subjects of cognitive processes, learning and teaching techniques. This book by far pulls all the information together, and it will become the most utilized of my collection. The information is laid out in a logical format that starts with the basic concepts, theories, objectives and goals of learning. She then moves on to explain how to prepare and conduct classes. She concludes with the testing and evaluation process. DeYoung takes you gradually through everything you need to know to formulate and conduct a classroom setting that is both stimulating and achieves the goal of educating nurses to become critical thinking, problem-solvers. Her work employs the latest research on learning/education and at the end of every chapter she reinforces learning through case studies, critical thinking exercises and ideas for future research. Any nursing educator within the academic setting or within the clinical area would benefit from this text. She has made the material easy to understand for the beginning educator and advanced enough for the expert. I wish I had had this resource at the start of my career. I absolutely recommend this book.

Nurses are continuously involved in the education of patients, their families, students of nursing, and of one another. Teaching Strategies for Nurse Educators was written as a guide to help nurses learn how to teach effectively. To assist the reader in learning the concepts important in the teaching and learning processes, the author turns to multiple theories of learning which form the basis of understanding why and how people learn. The author notes that to be an effective teacher, a knowledge of educational theory and research, coupled with the desire to learn about teaching methods and the ability to look objectively at ones' teaching style and overall performance is a process which needs to be developed in the individual. The book provides descriptions of several learning theories associated with effectiveness in teaching and learning, and includes discussion of teaching methods and strategies. Each chapter incorporates Case Study, Critical Thinking Exercises and Ideas for Further Research. Developing critical thinking skills in the nursing profession is of paramount importance. The author addresses this issue by defining critical thinking, describes how learning this important skill can be inhibited by improper teaching methods to students in nursing school and offers strategies to enhance these essential skills. The book follows a logical sequence and states points clearly and effectively and stimulates thought on the part of the reader. References are sited throughout the text and listed at the end of each chapter. True to the Nursing Process, the book would not be complete without an evaluation of both the student learner and patient as the recipients of the information taught. Reading this book sparked my interest in education. I found this book to be both informative and stimulating; however, the breadth of topics covered was more than this reader had anticipated. Nevertheless, I would recommend this book to all nurses interested in enhancing their teaching skills.

I read this book in one sitting, which included the time during my daughter's orchestra concert. I'm ashamed to admit that I was more interested in the book than the concert. After I read it, I immediately xeroxed off several pages to give to my teaching friends who I thought would enjoy the poems as much as I did and I was right, they did! Something about the selections really spoke to my heart. It felt like the poems were meant to nourich me during those days when I was running low on fuel. I highly recommend this book to any teachers out there.

I bought two copies of this book, one for myself and one for my supervisor. The poems are well chosen and the book is well organized into different categories having to do with vocational discernment. What makes this book unique, however, is the personal testimonies from teachers describing the meaning of each poem in their lives. Since I received this book I have used it extensively, not only for my own enrichment but also for the enrichment of the patients I work with,

I bought this book a while back for my oldest daughter who teaches high school English and Art. It was so awesome that I kept it for myself. (I have a naughty habit of reading all the books I buy as gifts before I give them away....does that make them used books?) My copy is quite dog-eared and worn.

If you love poetry, you NEED this book. The poems are varied and inspiring and enlightening. I discovered many new poets whose books I just had to own after reading their poems here. It's an amazing anthology and would make a great gift to give any friend or loved one who enjoys poetry.

At first glance you might think it's just another "teacher book" but it is so fullfilling. As a teacher who loves poetry, literacy, and teaching children to love the written word this book touched me deeply. The poems can be read in the classroom, the narratives are rich and moving and they made me realize I was not alone in feeling I was called to the teaching profession. This book was a Christmas gift to me, one I have deeply cherished. The book gets to the core; it brought tears to my eyes.....tears of joy.

I absolutely treasure this book! For several years now, everywhere I give talks or do workshops on service-learning and civic education in higher education, I find an excuse to read a poem or two from this compelling collection of poetry. I think educators are yearning for renewal, and the combination of each poem along with a teacher's note on the meaning of the poem, strikes a chord. I know this, not only from audience reactions to my reading from the book, but also because I always get asked for the citation! I am always happy to recommend the book--(no one in higher ed has said to me they were not interested in the book, when I tell them the poems were selected by K-12 teachers). Suggestion for gift-giving: whenever it fits the occasion, it is a great present. It is also perfect for end-of-year giving for groups (appreciation gift for graduating seniors, recognition of teachers, thank you to participants in service-learning and community involvement programs, etc.).

A fact filled book on the basics from one of the greats. A good read even if you aren't planning on going racing.

The basics are here, even though the book is some 45 years old. A good place to start from.

The Technique of Motor Racing
by Piero Taruffi

Aloha,
Thirty years ago I was a driver for the "Jim Russell International Racing Driving School" out at Willow Springs, CA USA. One of the greatest times in my life. Jim Russell (JRS) at that time had schools simultaneously on five continents. We taught in so many languages that we did not have a textbook of our own. JRS was busy training movie stars and World Champions for Formula One Race Car Driving. JRS put students in signal seaters from day one! We use to order Taruffi's by the case. It had been "The Book!" for over ten years and was very hard to find. I think Harry Morrow would get them for us from England. They would sell out every time. We could not keep them on the shelf.

I use the principles I learned every time I take to the road. I believe it has helped make me a safer and definitely faster better Motor Vehicle Driver. Probably contributed to my long life, considering I am in the habit of winning on or off the track.

For decades I did not see Taruffi at all. Sometimes I would pick them up in old bookstores. I am glad for the sake of all future drivers that someone has had the wisdom to keep Taruffi in publication. Just the fact that it is around after all these years should tell you something.

Even today, you will seldom see them sold used. You will never see them sold cheap. Many driving books are about the author. Some are about street driving. Taruffi is pure Racing!! How you can drive a car faster. The essence of driving. I do not see how things could have changed enough to invalidate anything Taruffi has had to say. Decide for yourself, you can always return it.

If you have read every book on Motor Racing ever published. You will find The Technique of Motor Racing not only has a lot to offer you. It may just be the most compact bit of Racing Knowledge you have ever found in one place.

Pass Um`
-ooO-(GoldTrader)-Ooo-

The classic corner lines and driving technique discussed. I bought this book based on Niki Lauda's (F1 World Champion 1975, 1997) recommendation of it in one of his books.

This book, first published in 1959, is mostly devoted to cornering, and this is the best publication about turns on flat surfaces with high adhesion, used in sport racing, and this information is still valid.

It has a pretty little chapter on physical training of a driver, with the schemes gymnastic exercises recommended for a motorist.

The details of driving position and handling of a steering wheel are mentioned, but not covered well enough.

Nevertheless, the cornering is explained fairly well, in 69 pages full of formulas, schemes and illustrations.

If you need a deeper text-book about fast and safe cornering, which is not only applicable to sport but also to driving on public road, and which covers slippery surfaces like ice, snow and dirt, I would have recommended a published work by Professor Tsygankov.

The thing about Georgie is that he is one of the most endearing characters you'll ever meet. He's got the normal problems of a boy growing up: jealousy when his best friend befriends another boy and wants to include the new best friend in the dog-walking business that Georgie masterminded; the worry that his parents will like the new baby they're expecting better than they like him; and being assigned to a project in school with the meanest and most non-participatory student in class--Meanie Jeannie. While Georgie explores the trials and tribulations of growing up, the narrator tugs at the reader's conscience regarding the other thing about Georgie. Georgie doesn't dwell on it because there's nothing he can do about it, and the narrator wants to heighten the reader's awareness, not their sympathy. You'll come away from this book empowered for having read it and fallen in love with Georgie, and his family and his friends, who lovingly raise their own consciousness against the enemy of discrimination.

First time novelist Lisa Graff covers Andrew Clements territory with this story about a fourth grade dwarf. While George Washington Bishop's dwarfism has always been a reality, it has never been an issue. Until now. He is concerned that his soon to be baby sister or brother--dubbed Baby Godzilla in his mind--will one day outgrow him--literally. He is falling out with his best friend, Andy, and can't seem to find a way to end the fight. And the only person interested in being his friend is Jeanie the Meanie, and she has a strange way of showing affection (like signing him up against his will to play Abraham Lincoln--he tallest president ever--in the school play.)

Once I started this book I really couldn't put it down. Graff does a fantastic job of making Georgie a character the reader can sympathize with without pitying. The Thing about Georgie is a great recommendation for middle grade readers, boys and girls, for we are all little in a big world.

I read this book aloud to my daughters, ages 8 and 6. We ALL loved it so much. We couldn't read the book fast enough so we started reading twice a day...each morning before school and every evening before bed. We discussed Georgie and Jeanie the Meanie at the dinner table as if they were real people. My daughters loved the intro to each new chapter...how clever! Now my daughters want a bedroom like Andy's new room. Lisa Graff is quite smart and engaging. We cannot wait to read more of her work!

Georgie's been overlooked plenty in his life, mostly by strangers. He's nine and only 42 inches (3 and a half feet) tall. He has a medical condition called dwarfism that means he's a lot smaller than most kids his age and that he will never be as tall as his average-sized parents. Some people look over Georgie's head or turn the other way, or just think he's a lot younger than he really is. Sometimes, this is mean, but mostly, they're just uncomfortable and unsure of what to do or say.

Since kindergarten, Georgie's been buddies with Alex, and he knows that his musician parents are always there for him. But now he's feeling overlooked by his loved ones too. His mom's pregnant, his best friend's mad at him, and his partner in class is known as Jeanie the Meanie. What's a kid to do?

THE THING ABOUT GEORGIE is fun and sweet. Readers will definitely want to befriend Georgie, especially if they know what it's like to have a new baby brother or sister. This is a notable debut, and I look forward to Lisa Graff's next book!

The Thing about Georgie is a great book, and Jeanie the Meanie really lights up. Georgie finds out that "Baby Godzilla" isn't going to be so bad after all. Written by an 8 1/2 year old.

To Honor A Teacher is a wonderful gift book! How many coffee mugs can one person use? I'm always looking for creative ways to thank the teachers (including piano and coaches)that work so wonderfully with my children. I've already given several as gifts and the receipiants have all been delighted. The entries are moving without being sappy. The stories illustate that it's sometimes the little caring gestures that really matter to people. How nice it would be if anyone considering a teaching career could hear these first hand accounts of what is important from a student's perspective.

Students pay tribute to teachers from all walks of life and show that all of life's lessons do not take place in the classroom. It gives teachers and ,mentors hope that even if no one ever thanked them personally, they can relate to some of these tributes and know that they still touched the lives their students in ways they will never know.

I am so happy I bought this book - it has now become my favorite gift for all those who have been teachers and mentors in my life. There are so many excerpts which connect straight to the heart of the mentor/student/life learner relationship. I hope that Jeff Spoden comes out with a second volume for next year's holiday gifts!

How many of us can look back on our education and formative years and remember a particularly enlightening moment, when a teacher, or coach, or mentor, opened our eyes and changed the direction of our lives? For me it was ninth grade honors biology class, taught by Mr. Wong. He was so enthusiastic and motivating, I decided right then and there to study biology. I majored in biology in college and have never regretted it. This wonderful book is filled with memories of these great moments. Some of these entries are filled with heart-warming emotion, others with clarity and logic. Yet all pay tribute to a special teacher or mentor who made a lasting difference in someone's life. Oftentimes we don't realize the impact until it is too late. Several of the entries are written from that perspective, as tributes to teachers who are no longer alive, but never forgotten. Inspiring, thought provoking, refreshing, and motivating, every one who teaches should read this.

Anyone with any skill as a teacher quickly becomes accustomed to the platitudes thankful students and parents use. This gift book gets pass all of that.

Here is a bouquet of thoughtfully written stories about the important work teachers do challenging, inspiring and guiding their charges. It is about teaching that goes beyond the routine of instruction to affect lives.

A teacher somewhere in your life deserves this book. Make a gift of it to him or her.