Education Books

Wow!! No one should walk into the AP Spanish Language Exam without having studying and prepped with these practices.

I have a large collection of books for learning spanish and this book turned out to be one of the very best of them. I know that it is a book angled toward preparing students for the AP exam but
it just so happens to be one of the most user friendly, well designed and comprehensive books for learning spanish out on the market today. I am an advanced college spanish student and therefor I didn't get the book to prepare for the exam. I got it because it offers a well structured and comprehensive review as well as many helpful drills and practice tests. I think a book structured like this is probably the best way to study a language on your own. So to all you who may have been put off by the fact that it is an exam preparation book please do yourselves a favor and buy this book.

Absolutely the best book around. The subject review is a big exhaustive, but well worth your money. Going through the entire book will guarantee you a 4 or a 5!

First, I should say that I didn't actually use the book as a review, but my teacher did use two of the practice exams (not sure how many come with it in total) in class. We did one full length exam on a Saturday morning (I got a 5) and there was another one that we did in sections over a few days. This morning, I took the real College Board AP Spanish Language exam and it was a little different. Not completely different, mind you-REA got all of the basics right-but something about the tone and feel of the exam was different. The reading passages weren't actual narratives, but factual writings, two of them were reprinted from newspapers. On the listening section all of the accents in this book were from Spain (use of "ceceo") but none of them were on the actual test. This isn't a bad test, but some of the other review books are probably a little better. Again, I did not use this for review of grammar or look at the book at all, just the practice tests.

I really enjoyed using this book as a form of supplementary preparation for taking the AP Spanish Exam. I found it to be an excellent source of information for all of the material covered on the exam, and some of the practices excercises actually more than prepared me for the material on the exam. The audio CDs were essential in preparing me for the oral component of the exam, and made studying more fun. I Am grateful to the authors of the book, since their work helped me to score a 5 on the exam. I would strongly recommend this book to test takers.

The newest version of this workbook, which our AP Spanish teacher provided us, was extremely helpful in preparing for the 2008 AP Spanish exam. All the activities, including the narratives, dialogues, reading passages, speaking conversations, and speaking presentations, were very similar to those on the actual AP test. This workbook also has extensive reference material, such as commonly used verbs, idiomatic phrases, conversational phrases, grammar rules, that also help in preparing for the Spanish exam. I would make sure to buy the answer key and the audio CDS to get the maximum benefit from this book if your teacher does not make you use it in class. If you do the majority of the activities in this book well, you will most likely earn a 4 or 5 on the actual exam!

Great supplement to your textbook. It has material relevant to the examination. It includes a list of vocabulary the teacher can give to students and exercises to prepare them for the AP Spanish 4 examination.

AP Spanish: Preparing for the Language Examination is the book which my class has been using for the past few months in preparing for the AP Spanish test. The book has comprehensive practice for several aspects of the exam, covering many topics. The book appears to be excellent review and great repetitive practice in prearing for the AP exam.

We use this book in my AP Spanish class. There are tons of pictures, reading passages, and other exercises that match the AP Spanish test. I feel like I'm learning a lot from this book. By itself it would not be very helpful. If you're enrolled in an AP Spanish class and/or using other review materials like Barron's or Princeton Review it should be quite helpful.

This book is one of the best preparation materials and definitely worth the price, but there are no answers- anywhere. Also, the audio CDs do not come with it.

If you are looking for the perfect stocking stuffer for your favorite teenager or "tween" this season, then this is it. I am currently a mentor for troubled girls at a local youth center in Baltimore and can't think of a better gift to share. There's no better feeling than helping someone discover their untapped potential, and giving them the wings to fly. Kudos to the author for helping to fulfill a critical unmet need!

If it wasn't for this book, I would be working in Starbucks, or worse, Texaco. "Applying to College: A Planning Guide" by Casey Watts lays it out clearly and ingeniously for someone planning to attend college. My parents didn't even have to intervene. I did it all by myself. Applying to UPenn couldn't have been easier, and I got in! There should be more useful books like this out there. Casey Watts should write another book on "How to get your Boss' job" or "Becoming a US President". More books like that would make a difference in this country. I highly recommend this book for anyone planning to apply to college or any other institution of higher education. She knows what she's talking about, and she knows it well.

Um, my mom bought this book for me because she tells me I have to go to college. She tells me I can't live at home like my uncles, who still live in their house and who are in their 40's.
Anyway, I got this book to get her off my back but, it has lots of cool stuff in it about applying to college and stuff like that. It tells you lots of helpful things you have to think about before applying to college so hopefully, I won't make a big mistake. All kids in HS should read a book like this so they know what they are doing, and it keeps your mom off your case.

When my little sister was applying for college, I gave her this book. I certainly wish I had it when I did my college applications. Not only was the book informative, helpful, and easy to read, it was also fun and interesting. Casey Watts is a masterful writer, and the book reflects her witty and wise style. I would recommend buying it for anyone who is applying to college or knows someone who is!

After leaving the armed services, I did not plan on attending college. In fact, I never intended to go to college. The process seemed daunting. And, after what I had seen in my life through various tours in the Marines, I could not fathom how book-learning and course-work could be relevant to my life.

Truth be told . . . I was scared. Applying to college required organizational skills I simply did not have. So, rather than pursuing this challenge, I preferred to think of it as a non-option, a waste of time. Nonetheless, I found myself coaxing my friends to send away for brochures and applications. I experienced college vicariously through the smiles and comaraderie depicted in the pages of Beaver College, State University of Alabama, and Boomerton College. It was exciting and I got hooked.

Hooked with no where to go. No plan for how to tackle the task of a college application. No plan for how to make my dream a reality.

That's where Ms. Watts' book stepped in. A clerk at the local bookshop pointed me in the direction of books geared towards helping people like myself tackle the application process. He offered no recommendations, but Casey Watts' book caught my eye. A quick skim revealed this book to be a treasure trove of knowledge, a compendium of wisdom. Casey Watts is to the planning and organization industry what Martha Stewart is to home decorations and gourmet cooking . . . though, from what I know, Casey has never been, and hopefully never will be, incarcerated.

If the doors to opportunity ever seemed closed to you in your life, turn to Ms. Watts. She has the key.

Atlas Shrugged (Cliffs Notes)

This is an excellent companion while reading or after reading Atlas Shrugged. It gives an excellent insight to the individuals in the book and there are many as well as story itself.

I gave this book to a very good friend that loves the book and he thought it was pretty clever that there are Cliff Notes for Atlas Shrugged. We are discussing the book chapter by chapter (I am reading for th first time) and we are going to start using the cliff notes for our discussions as well.

Read the entire book though...It is pretty amazing. The Cliff Notes are a great companion for it.

I found the Cliff Notes beneficial in reviewing Atlas Shrugged, which I had recently read. It helped me articulate the author's philosophy and metaphor. My mother, who is legally blind, had also recently read Atlas Shrugged on CD, and the Cliffs Notes contributed to our lively discussions of the book. (We had both read the book for pleasure, not academics).

Like Rand, Bernstein is a philosopher and novelist. His extensive study of Rand's thought is evident in this masterful recapitulation of Rand's great novel. He understands Rand's ideas and characters, leading to a sympathetic treatment. However, he avoids being an overbearing propagandist. For those of us who were riveted by the action the first time we read Atlas, this will serve as a discussion with a `friend' as we recall the events and characters. Enjoy.

I've pushed my way through many years of school without buying a single Cliffsnotes. I found it funny that my first purchase would be for a book I choose to read on my own accord. Rand's novel can't be praised enough, but I also have to give the Cliffnotes for the novel their fair due. This little book was a great help in gaining a better understanding of this massive novel. I really enjoyed the in depth character analysis, the tight summary of the book, and the critical essays offered at the end. If I were to write a paper on the book, I would definitely gain from having these notes. More importantly, by reading the book chapter by chapter, then going to the Cliffnotes and reading along to cover what I had just read, I was able to get through a work that covers a TREMENDOUS amount of ground, with a huge scope, and not get lost. After gaining as much as I did from using the Cliffnotes as a study tool while reading this novel, I made sure to pick up the Cliffnotes for "Fountainhead" so I could do the same for that book. I will definitely give consideration to purchasing Cliffnotes for my longer, more challenging future reads.

This book is loaded with research that supports the claim that you should read to your baby. I knew it made a difference but to see the results of the numerous studies on the topic was shocking. I did not know it made that much of a difference. You owe it to your child to spend some time reading to them. In my opinion, if you want to make an impact on the life of your child, buy this book and read to your child! The book is a quick read and you do not even have to read the whole thing at once. Read the beginning and then read about the different stages as you are going through them. There are a ton of baby books out there (I know because I have bought them) but this one proves that by doing something as simple as reading can make a world of difference in the life of your child. It would also make an amazing baby shower gift, I will not go to another shower again without a copy if this for the parents.

Of course it is a joy to sit with a child - a BABY - and read aloud! But this book sheds light on why and how to make it a daily, joyful experience. The research described explains how important the process is on so many different levels you might not have thought of. You can start before birth, for instance! The organization is very helpful, with specific books recommended for each stage of development and coordinated activities.

Very well organized for parents with young children of all ages -- started our infant at one week and by week seven he was focusing on black and white book series and now at week 12 he is grabbing for pages and is truly engaged! As new parents we are excited to see him grow into each level of read aloud and enjoy spending this quality time together. Recommend this book highly as well as the the wonderful book recommendations that are provided by the authors.

What a great reading source!! I am a Mom of three children as well as a preschool teacher and have always made reading a priority at home and in the classroom. This book brings out the best research and useful information for both parents and teachers!!! Everyone should read it and put its practices to use. This is a wonderful publication!!!

When I purchased Baby Read-Aloud basics, I had already read Reading with Babies, Toddlers and Twos and was hoping to complement my reading on the subject of baby books and read-alouds. I personally thought this book was not as helpful or complete, nor did it have as many book suggestions as the first one mentionned above. Still, this book is pretty good. It gives a few suggestions of books for every baby stage, what to do with that book, reading techniques, literacy games, and contains some interviews with parents who went through the read-aloud from birth experience. It is kind of repetitive but easy to read and well organized.

This book served me well through middle school and high school, and is now being used in college. Lucid, well-indexed, concise, yet detailed enough to be useful to students of all levels, this book cannot be recommended highly enough.

Unfortunately, it has not been updated in many years, and lacks information on how to cite electronic resources, etc. It's still worth buying if you can find a copy, though.

This book is great! I used it as a high school, and college student, and now I refer to it as a college teacher. I like to remind my students when they write papers that there are resources like this available.

I have used this book as a reference for the past 15 years! I was hoping to get another copy for my office, as I was fearful of misplacing my ancient high school copy. What a shame it is now out of print.

Basic English Revisited: A Student Handbook was a required resource by my english teacher when I was a junior in high school. Not only did the book prove useful for her class, but for my life even after graduation. The mark of a truly valuable book is one that keeps revealing information in new ways during the passage of time; you can go back to it, in other words, learning new information in new ways. "Basic English Revisited" is one of those books.

The book is designed to span all aspects of writing, from simple punctuation to the authoring of a theme paper. Every rule for every punctuation mark is explained, complete with examples. How many people do you know that really know how to write using semi-colons? Sentence structure are covered, as well as paragraph formation, bibliographies, etcetera.

This is a book worth searching for. If you can find a copy - even with a shabby cover - latch onto it and don't let go. You won't be sorry. I promise.

This is an excellent book for students. It has been very useful & insightful not only for myself but also my son. I have had this book for over 14 years & have used it many times to help my son understand more about language arts. This book was first given to me when I was a junior in high school and I can't thank my teacher enough for the years of use it has given me. Altough I wish it was a bit more updated in some aspects I still love it. I'm sure my son will continue to use it and my young daughter will also enjoy it's use. It's like having your English taecher standing over your shoulder reminding you of all the rules & helping you when you forget.

This is a wonderful book. I discovered Joyce Meyer recently. I found this book to be helpful and encouraging. Changing your thoughts is very important for anyone who is self critical, discouraged, depressed, etc...It's a choice and encouraging to know there is a choice instead of just listening to negative internal dialogue. God is the best choice. Love, Truth and Light...
JER 29:11

I got the adult edition Battlefield of the Mind and it is awesome. So I was pleased to receive this book quickly and in great shape. I am so excited to see if my teenage daughter gets out of it what I have gotten out of the adult edition!

This book is very good and very enlightening.
It reveals the ills of our minds and how to deal with it appropriately...

This book helped me to get to a better place in my life, and I would reccommend it to any teenager trying to get close to God but feels conflicted about how they should conduct thier life. The language and ideas are geared for teens and there's no way that you can be a new Christian and not read this book. It's a must read! Be blessed.

I received a teaching once that basicly said that when you get right down to it the Devil really only has two methods for tempting us: 1. Pressure 2. Pleasure. The Devil has three maxims which allows him to pull this off : 1. You (your own thoughts, bad habits, exc.) 2. The environment (Government, religious oppression, the systems of the world, exc.), and 3. Other people. Joyce Meyer's "Battlefield Of The Mind" is mostly geared at the one maxim each of us have the most control over (You, yourself, your thoughts, and YOU).

Joyce masterfully explains how that old Advesary The Devil works by waiting for the right moment (he`s not only a parasite but he`s also a predator). He waits to see where your weak, when your most vulnerable moment is, and he waits for that moment to attack. The Bible says "Resist the Devil and he will flee from you." Perfect example is Luke chapter 6, The devil waits for Jesus to be 40 days and nights in the wilderness before he attacks. He didn't come the first day to attack him when our Lord was at his strongest. Oh no, our advesary doesn't play fair; he bides his time and waits for your weakest moment and attacks. Jesus resisted him and the devil fled from him (for awhile). Best thing is we have victory through our risen Lord this very day if we claim it. Joyce does a great job of illustrating this in this book(though I don't know if she used the Luke example I used above or not).

I really got a lot of insight from this book. For example, one of the concepts in the book (in my own words) was "what comes out of your mouth had to originate in your brain." Sounds simple enough , but Joyce had a masterful way of describing every thought we commonly have today and referring it to biblical passages. About half way through the book I began to realize that the grumbling, griping, complaining, and various other human emotions and thoughts I have are not uncommon to our time. The children of Israel went through these same emotions and they are all recorded in Gods Word. I used to ponder how stupid these people must have been, but now I can see myself in them. It really was a humbling experience! Many of us make the same mistake over and over again and ask God, "Why don't you do something?" Truth is God has always been willing to help us. We are the ones who get in God's way by not bringing our thoughts into the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). Read this book and find out how you can change and train your mind to shut the door on The Devil and how to allow God to do what he's always been willing to do. BLESS YOU!!!

Hebrews 13:5b "for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."

P.S. This book comes in many formats. There's the traditional version, teen version, devotional version, exc. It doesn't matter which one you use. Just read one of them. You will be blessed.

I enjoy reading this book as much as my 4 yearold loves to hear me read it!

Beware of untamed hair!!!!
This is the best book to read right before picture day. You have to read this book with intonation and humor. After reading this book, I love using a graphic organizer that relates to having a problem. Oliver has a big problem that is solved until .......... picture time.

Oliver is having a bad hair day, on the worst day anyone could imagine -- class picture day! As the entire family soon discovers this is no ordinary bad hair day, it is "major" and "total!" Water, hairspray, brush, comb, mousse and gel are all useless against Oliver's bedhead.

You may think that a hat will solve Oliver's problem, but he soon discovers that hats are not permitted on class picture day. Kids howl at the great illustrations and crazily repetitive lines. Parents and grandparents had better get used to it, because there will be demands to hear Bedhead over and over and over again.

Very cute. (Give it several extra stars if Mom or Grandma is a hairdresser.)

My daughter really likes this book. It actually is our second from this author/illustrator. The first is "Sweet Tooth". We really enjoy "Bedhead" and my daughter gets a kick out of how funny it's written and the art work is great. Although I have to admit, we absolutely love "Sweet Tooth" the best.

A simply fabulously funny book about waking up with the worse bad-hair day ever.
Who hasn't tried to poke down those stubborn wayward strands of hair with the help of everything from water to mousse and gel? Kids not only love the subject, but can't resist joining in the refrain of b-b-boings. A great gift for anyone who struggles with chronic
or even acute 'bedhead'.

This book is realy easy to read and it has a lot of good information about what to do in high school and college. I'm a first year in college and sometimes I feel confused about my future. Reading about the author's own college days made me feel better. I liked the fact that the author was honest about his own hardships as a first year and how he made it through college and graduated with honors. I'm glad I found this book. It's going to help me a lot.

I only wish this book was published a year ago. I read many similar books my junior year in high school in preparation with college applications and college itself. This is the first book I've encountered that actually gets to the point and offers realistic advice. It's a must-read for anyone dealing with college decisions; it's informative and educational and most importantly, it offers inside incite from a successful Ivy League graduate. This book is an awesome resource for any high school/college student.

This book covers a many of the anxious questions that arise and puts you at ease. It's helpful that he provides a documentary of his own experiences, as most college help books are very general and vague. I liked much of the knowledge that he gave in the book about the little things that count, such as extracurricular activities. He also gives a few other references that are helpful to go to, and it's a very very personal book. Definitely something for the pre-college student.

The author did an outstanding job of identifying the most important things that a high school student must do so that he can get into a competitive school. But in addition, the author outlines the key things that a college student must do in order to get a good job upon graduation and to develop his future career. The book has a lot of really useful ideas and very specific, "practical advice" for all readers.

As a junior in college, I've got some daunting career choices ahead, and this book came out at just the right time to help me to put some things into perspective. Its personal nature distinguishes it from other career books that simply offer hackneyed, generic advice. This book is an honest account of someone who has been through the system, and has clearly reflected upon his past, present, and future. Each page is wishing the reader a smoother path than that of the author - he humbly admits his mistakes and wishes to steer the reader clear of them. Whether you're a junior in high school, a freshman in college, or a rookie analyst at a corporation, this book offers highly relevant, humble, and applicable wisdom.

If you like reading celebrity autobiographies, and you even have a passing interest in this actress, don't miss this book. It really is a very engrossing read. She speaks of her life in a very honest and forthcoming fashion, and she has had quite an interesting life, the most dramatic part being the blacklisting of her actor husband, Larry Parks, in the 1950's, and her "guilt by association."

Also, if you happen to be a fan of either Lloyd, Beau, and/or Jeff Bridges, you should know that Betty and Larry are/were(Larry is deceased) very close to this family -- Betty is Jeff Bridges' godmother.

So, if you know Betty from her movie work (she tells such a funny story about Frank Sinatra, from when they were filming "On the Town"), her stage work, or her TV work on "All in the Family" and "Laverne and Shirley," I think you will more than appreciate this book.

I hope you read this and enjoy it as much as I did!

betty garrett was the best in those mgm movies and she could have been so much more famous

I like Betty Garrett very much! From Laverne & Shirley, All In The Family-very funny! I like that the book is her autobiography! I can't wait to read all about the life & times of the lovely Betty Garrett! I also have David L. Lander's autobiography & the unofficial Penny Marshall book! Any one who's a fan of "Laverne & Shirley" e-mail me @: tiff_lisatony7@yahoo.com. We can chat about Betty, Penny, David, Cindy, Michael, Phil, & evrything else related to "Laverne & Shirley".

I have loved the movies of both Betty Garrett and Larry Parks for years, and now feel that I have read their love story. Betty's descriptions of her multi-faceted career and personal life were written with humor, warmth, and love. She and Larry endured the 'unofficial' blacklist and other obstacles together, and showed what "in good times and in bad" really meant. I admire and adore them both even more now. Her book is a wonderful read and her career isn't even over.

Betty's wit, wisdom and reflections prove that there's a lot more to her than a pretty face and wise-cracks. Talent, sensitivity and grace make her a beautiful author with something important to say. Show business enthusiasts and historians alike will greatly enjoy her story. And, since her career is enjoying a recent resurgence, we can only hope she'll write a sequel, soon!