Training Books

We recently got our first dog, a cute little black mix, named Blackie, for our young boys Welsey and Paul. They will probably have many pets in their lives but since they are only 3 and 5 now they will not remembers many of the special moments of their first pet Blackie. My husband and I are using The Book of My Pet to capture the life of Blackie so our boys can look back on the joys and responsibilities of caring for their first dog and share it with their kids when they grow up. Great book idea for pet lovers.

I wish I had copies of this book for every companion animal I ever had! Right now, I have three copies I'm keeping memories in -- one for each of my three dogs. I will be sure to purchase a new copy for each new furry friend that I adopt in the future. The "memory joggers" are very helpful while making entries from a pet's birth to crossing the Rainbow Bridge.

I know lots of pet owners who would get into this. The design is handsome, not overly cutesy like some. The memory-jogging prompts are v. good...some funny, some reflective, some factual. I like the way they are organized into chapters with subsections: 1. How to Write Your Pet's Story 2. Starting Out (Getting Ready, How We Met, Family Tree) 3. The First Year (Settling In, Getting to Know My Pet, Making & Breaking the Rules) 4. The Prime of Life (Personality, Pleasures, Habits & Health, Talents) 5. The Advanced Years (Winding Down, Maturing Ways) 6. Saying Good-bye (The Passing, Looking Back)

When I was a child and then a young mother, keeping a "baby book" of those born into the family was common. It was a way of documenting the events of the life of this important person and celebrating his/her uniqueness. The Book of My Pet offers that kind of possibility for the beloved animals who become significant parts of our families. This book evokes those memories you might forget by asking thoughtful questions in many categories. The whole family can participate in creating this remembrance at anytime in the life of your pet. It is also possible to mount pictures in the book to make it a visual as well as verbal story of your shared life with this mysterious, special being. I am using it to tell the story of Gray, our cat who has graciously taken us into her life.

I am so pleased with this book -it helps me to plan lessons with my speech-language kids by using the children's books that they already know! I get so much help from this source, I don't what I would do without it! I use it with my own child, too. The activities are so fun and creative, there is never a dull moment. Hats off to J. Gebers for giving both teachers and parents such a great reference tool!

This resource catalogs hundreds of low-text children's picture books that are ideal for promoting interaction and conversation with children while reading aloud. A brief synopsis, suggested interest levels and methods for use coordinate for each book listed. Suggestions are given on how to use a particular children's book to enhance language development and other oral communication skills.

Originally written for speech-language pathologists, this revised edition is suitable for regular and special education teachers (from preschool on up) as well for parents who want to maximize their read-aloud times with their children in order to stimulate good language development. Many listed books are classic, familiar favorites, and most are currently available in school and public libraries, at bookstores, and on-line.

Do you want to encourage a particular language skill? Just look up what you want to enhance (whether it's vocabulary building, grammatical structures, critical thinking and more) in the easy-to-use Skills Index (p. 317) and find the book in 1, 2 or all 3 catalog sections. (One catalog for preschool through kindergarten, one catalog for children grades 1-5, and another catalog for children grades 6-12.)

Parents will find suggestions for selecting picture books that build good oral language skills as well as suggestions for how to read aloud to stimulate interaction and good communication skills in their children.

Teachers will find this a timesaving resource that includes reproducible handouts for parents (ideal for suggestions at parent conferences), books organized by thematic units (see Topic Exploration Index on p. 303) as well as loads of classroom activities for each book listed in the catalogs.

This is an all-around, time saving resource that gives a reader the extensive background needed for tapping the bounty of children's literature. It has been a popular best seller in its publisher's line of educational materials for many years.

The price of this book is high. As an educator, I found it well worth the cost. I can link all language goals with literacy. Ideas for articulation, pragrmatics, social skills, etc. are included. Gebers provides an excellent resource for language rich books. I have used her lessons with Eleanor and Ameilia go For a Ride, The Wolf's Side of the Story, The Cremation of Sam Magee and many more. I have worked on the topics of seeing other's perspectives, making inferences, articulation, pragmatics etc.. Content rich book. Highly Recommended!!!

This book is so very helpful in planning speech and language therapy. The books suggested have been well researched, the plans explicit and easy to implement. I loved this book so much I used it as the "bible" of a group study another speech therapist and I did last year. She had never used literature as extensively as I have. As we delved into the wonderful children's books and how to use them, she found it to be an approach that is fun for both therapist and child, motivating and effective in bringing about significant change in children's speech and language.

My enthusiasm was so effervescent about this book that my daughter, now a grad student in speech and language is using this book to help her plan for activities with her clinical literacy group.

With the diversity of students increasing in our classrooms today, Dr. Willis's book fills knowledge void that connects brain research to classroom instruction. It is critical for teachers to meet the educational needs of students of all ability levels, including students with a variety of leaning disabilities and gifts. This is the first book I've found that explains what works and why from a comprehensive, brain-friendly perspective. The technical terms were so effectively explained that you will gain a deep understanding about the complex neural function of the brain and how this new knowledge can lead to classroom success.
Brain-Friendly Strategies for the Inclusion Classroom gives educators the neuroscience research background and specific classroom strategies to build on all students' strengths and facilitate their growth and engagement. I particularly appreciated Dr. Willis's style of writing and reader-friendly approach that clearly reflects her background in neuroscience and education. The strategies and specific unit lessons, offered as detailed examples, are easy to follow and ready to bring right into the classroom.
Today with the pressure of standardized testing and the resulting overly regimented curriculum, educators need help to adapt curriculum so all students can succeed and truly not be left behind. If you are ready to use neuro-logical strategies to effectively and joyfully engage students with a range of abilities, challenges, and gifts in your general education classroom, but don't have time to read all the books that are out there, this is the one to read!
Lawrence May, MD

Dr.Willis has created a masterful document that successfully merges the best of the brain sciences with educational practice. She not only speaks from an extensive background in neurology, but also as a practicing educator. In this work, she has generated solid suggestions with an abundant array of strategies and ideas that are well grounded in both research and practice. This well articulated book is an easy read and enormously useful to the classroom practitioner of today. Complete with examples and lesson plan layouts, this book is a must-read for those in education ~ whether they be involved in inclusion classrooms or not!! Her approach to integrating learning is refreshing, insightful and easily put into use!

Board-certified neurologist and middle school teacher Judy Willis presents Brain-Friendly Strategies for the Inclusion Classroom: Insights From a Neurologist and Classroom Teacher, a guide to teaching strategies designed to engage and stimulate all students, and be of especial help to students with learning disabilities. Chapters cover tips, tricks, and techniques for teaching students attention disorders; review and test preparation strategies ideal for a diversity of learners; the theory of multiple intelligence brains; and much more. An invaluable reference and resource for teachers of all grades.

I just finished reading Dr. Willis's book and it is as if she heard my prayers when she wrote it. The demands on teachers are increasing because classes are becoming more inclusive, with greater diversity of student abilities. Reading her book was faster, easier and less expensive than taking courses for inclusion skills, and a lot more convenient. With this book (loaned to me by an ASCD member who received an early edition) I feel so much more comfortable about my abilities to make my classroom a place of learning and joy for all my students. The explanations of how the brain processes information are so clearly presented I feel as if I've been to a complete seminar. The strategies are well described and can be applied throughout the K-8 years. I've been looking for a book that describes inclusion class intervention strategies that are both classroom-based and validated by research, and with Dr. Willis' training and experience as both a neurologist and a classroom teacher, I finally have that book. Each strategy is extended with step-by-step descriptions about how to incorporate the strategy into classroom teaching to fit the diversity of students I teach. I highly recommend this excellent and very readable resource for both general ed and special ed teachers who advise them. It is filled with helpful information written in a positive and motivational format, and gives us back ways to implement quality instruction in the face of the increasing restrictions of NCLB. I won't be passing on my copy because I want to continue to refer to it as I implement more of the strategies, but I will be telling my colleagues that this is the book they have been waiting for. Thank you, Dr. Willis, for putting so much thought and passion into what will surely become a classic.

A very good book which i found by chance at book liquidation table at the local mall!! It's very simple to follow and will give you a good workout without leaving you wiped out. Johnny begins with a novice program and then follows it with a high school, college, and advanced program. He provides summmer, fall and in-season programs. The olympic-style lifts are done primarily in the "hang" position.

I found that following his Novice program will pack on some muscle and get you strong in a hurry. In fact it can be used for as long as you want!
All of the programs are full body programs with plenty of illustrations.

This book is alot better than most of the weight-training books out there.

After I started this program, I got huge. Helped my overall performance in the martial arts. Good descriptions of sports-strength related lifts. Lists programs for beginner, high school, college, and pro. Also, some good motivational reading.

This is the best workout guide I've ever used. I expereienced major strength gains -- too bad I discovered it after my high school football years. The power-lift moves are ideal for building the type of power necessary for football specific techniques. Don't just blindly follow the programs -- Read what Johnny has to say. He provides the best education on weightlifting. I would especially recommend this book to high school football programs and players.

I purchased this book when it first came out (right after the 1986 Giants SuperBowl win). Although the graphics are a bit simplistic (including cover) Coach Parker put his expertise in this book. Coach was one of the first to study power lifting in the former USSR and applied what he learned here. He takes a complex program and breaks it down to a level a reader understands. I am a former SemiPro player who benefitted greatly from these workouts. The first benifit I noticed was how explosive I was off the ball (Def. Lineman). These exercises are olympic style lifts and he modified them for the football player. He trains you up to 80% of your max but leaves you strong and powerful for the game. He accounts for the entire season and has levels for HS, college and Pro. Although this is a football workout, a non football athlete will benifit as well. Although pictures and that Giant team is outdated, the principles to get you in best football shape are not. Highly recommended for High School level and up.

I loved this book so much, I went out and got the rest to the series to read. The story line and the characterizations of the characters are incredible. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a great read!

I am a very picky reader. I love to read, but it has to be the perfect story line. If you know what I mean. Lots of people think of Christain books as being boring. that is what I thought when I saw this book. After a friend told me to read it I was wrapped up in the story line! I even went out of my way to find, and buy the rest in the series! This book, By Honor Bound, is a story of real life problems, plus heros and heroines that will stay in your heart. If you are looking for a book (or books) to read, find one of the Guardians of the North books and dig in!!!

I have read the first 2 of the Guardians of the North so far. I have enjoyed them immensley and can't wait to read the others! I would definately recommend these books to anyone who enjoys history, a romance, or a wonderful Christian novel! I have enjoyed many other novels by his father Gilbert Morris. I have read the entire House of Winslow series and can't wait for the latest book to come out! I would certainly recommend this book to anyone willing to read it!

I've read the whole "Guardian of the North" series.It is well written and easy to read. The history of early Canada wasnew to me and very interesting. I recommend that the books be read in the order intended although that is not absolutely necessary. If you like Christian fiction, this series is worth a try!

For the starting cadaver dog handler this book is a must. I recommend it to all my students. It does an excellent job of detailing the scent imprinting training, establishing a readable alert and the advancement of training. Not only does it cover the handling and training of the dog but discusses in depth the handlers responsibilities and information useful to any agency wishing to deploy the cadaver dog. Excellent information in a basic readable form. Not much experience in scent work needed prior to implementing these techniques. A wealth of information.

The book was sent on time, and it cost less then other places that I looked at. Nice shape, and a great place to buy from. Kudo's!

This is an excellent book! Great for the civilian SAR Dog Handler or a person jutst doing research on the subject.

Tremendous resource book (especially for the Novice and/or Advanced SAR Dog Handler) for trouble shooting Handler/SAR Dog problems and maintaining a training program/profile.

Could also be utilized in conjunction with a qualified/competent instructor.

I found this handbook well written, organized and thorough. A must have for anyone interested or involved in this specialized field of cadaver dog handlers.

I AM 53 AND HAVE SUFFERED FOR YEARS WITH A BAD BACK. I'VE TRIED EVERYTHING INCLUDING THERAPY. NOTHING WORKS AS WELL AS CALLANS BACK EXERCISES! I BOUGHT THIS BOOK USED RECENTLY. I WISH I WOULD HAVE FOUND IT YEARS AGO! IT WOULD HAVE SAVED ME YEARS OF PAIN! WHAT A SHAME ITS OUT OF PRINT.

The first few pages of this book are devoted to emergency relief of lower back spasm. If you've ever had to get out of bed by rolling out onto the floor, getting onto your knees, then slowly & painfully rising to your feet by supporting yourself by leaning on the nightstand...you know what I'm talking about. Her emergency exercises work.

The long-term stretching & toning program is a lot like some yoga exercises...but with some very important--and seemingly subtle--differences that will protect your back from some of the dangerous stresses that certain yoga positions put you into.

It's a shame this book is out of print. Haunt your local used book stores until you find it!

This book should not be out of print! I have been a low-back-pain sufferer most of my adult life and have tried everything from weightlifting to yoga with little or no positive result (in some cases, very negative results). But this book, with its common-sense approach to both back therapy and overall exercise (making it clear that, yes, back problems are no barrier to staying in shape) got me from 80% of the time in back pain to 95% of the time pain-free, strong, and able to hike, bike, and do all the other things that would in the past have gotten me into painful trouble. Also, but just incidentally, it toned and slimmed my entire body, a selling point for Callanetics for women, but believe me, this man doesn't mind losing his "love handles" on the way to a better back, either! Callan Pinckney is some kind of miracle worker, maybe because she used herself and her own back as the laboratory for the program she created. Simply amazing!

I found the book and 2 sets of audio tapes of Callanetics for Your Back years ago. I purchased 5 sets and only have one set left. Is that version still available? Callan Pinckney's easy lying down back exercises are the most valuable and helpful found anywhere. Help me find more copies, please! I'm searching for friends.

I agree with the earlier reviews; this book is great. We've used it in our church setting, and the men who are going through it (many being trained for the first time) have said often how much they like it. They do say that it is a "workout," but none of them would subtract any part or chapter.

There are a few typos and such that will no doubt be fixed in the future editions. Regardless, I highly recommend this manual.

Several of us had the opportunity to use this book for our officer training in preparation for becoming elders and deacons last summer. For many of us who were not raised in the reformed tradition of our Christian faith, much of the material was new and greatly needed. The material is comprised of 16 chapters written by different individuals and covers material such as our Biblical calling, history of our Reformed Doctrine and several chapters of practical guidance on how to fulfill our calling. I find myself referring to it often over this last year. It would also be useful for the Congregation at large to better understand the goals behind the Elders and Deacons responsibilities as they shepherd God's Church while we are serving in these capacities.

As an elder in the United Reformed Churches in North America, I have found Called to Serve: Essays for Elders and Deacons as an indispensible resource and training tool. The book divided into 16 well written chapters by various reformed authors, each knowledgeable about the history, duties and responsibilities of elders and deacons. The book also contains vital essays on church government and church discipline. Not only has it increased my knowledge of my church office, it has also reminded me of the scriptural mandate for these offices. As such, the book has underscored the important role that Christ has established for these offices in his church. My Council is using the book for officer training at our monthly meetings and it has been a blessing to all the men. We use the questions written in the back of the book for a 10-week officer training course. These are excellent for review and discussion during our meetings. I highly recommend it to other church councils for use as a training tool or to church members interested in better understanding one of the marks of a true church.

Called to Serve is an excellent resource not only for training officers in Reformed and Presbyterian churches, but also for expanding one's own understanding of the New Testament's teaching on the subject of ministers, elders, and deacons.

Though the book is written by and for officers in churches within the Dutch Reformed tradition, I would highly recommend it for use in PCA (the denomination in which I pastor), OPC, and other Presbyterian denominations as well.

One of the best and most challenging chapters, written by editor Michael Brown, addresses the question of whether people with baptistic theology should be allowed to join Reformed churches. Though the Dutch Reformed answer this question differently than do Presbyterians (the former say "no," the latter "yes"), this question is nonetheless a crucial one with which all potential officers should wrestle, regardless of their denominations' take on this issue.

As a church planter in the Presbyterian Church in America I am in the process of training elders and deacons, and after having searched far and wide for quality curricula, I was thrilled to come across this well-written and accessible volume. I commend it highly.

Rev. Jason J. Stellman
Exile Presbyterian Church
Woodinville, WA

This book is very well researched and informative, but it is not one of those history books that reads like an exciting novel. It has its dramatic moments--an author would have to be a far worse writer than Bigelow to rob this story of its drama--but it is not an easy read.

One problem with Bigelow's writing style is that he does not organize the narrative in a way that helps the reader digest all the information. For example, there were seven infantry corps in the Union army, and each corps had three or four divisions, each with its own commander. In addition, there were also the brigade commanders, the cavalry and artillery commanders, and the various aides-de-camp. That's quite a list of players on just one side of the drama, and it is difficult to keep them straight under the best of circumstances. Once Bigelow introduces them, though, he expects the reader to remember who they are through the rest of the book, and will often refer to them only by last name.

He has a confusing nomenclature that he employs at times to indicate, parenthetically, the brigade, division and corps of an officer. It is a cipher that has to be decoded, however, as opposed to simply reading "commander of the second brigade, first division of XI Corps." His code shortens the text, but lengthens the reading time, and forces a break in the reader's focus. It is better than nothing, though, and nothing is often what one gets. At one point, I had reached the conclusion that there was a particular officer who had switched sides in the middle of the war. Consulting the index, I discovered that there was a Capt. Best commanding the artillery of the Federal XII Corps, and a Col. Best commanding the Confederate 23rd Ga. Aha!

This confusion of players is exacerbated by the fact that Bigelow does not always use his turn signal when he switches from talking about one side in the conflict to the other. There is no "meanwhile, in the Confederate ranks" to let you know he has dropped one thread of the tale and is picking up another. This can cause whiplash when it is noticed and bafflement when it is not.

In spite of these problems with Bigelow's style, though, I still recommend reading the book for those with more than a casual interest in the Civil War. Bigelow did meticulous research on the conflict, and much of the raw data that he gathered is included in the text, footnotes, and appendices. As another reviewer noted, he goes into great detail on the movements of the different armies. (Unfortunately, my copy did not come with the detailed maps, and that made it harder to follow.) His analysis of the failures in command is also very intelligent. For that, I give the book four stars, but be warned that it is tough sledding unless you are highly motivated and patient.

The trouble with this book is that the most recent publisher does not acknowledge that the author, John Bigelow, lived and wrote his book in the 19th Century.

My copy of this book was accompanied by a dustcase filled with dozens of desk-sized maps covering every phase of the campaign, some focusing on small parts of the action, others broadening out to all of northern Virginia. The author even recommends that you use the maps to follow the text, moving colored pushpins around on the maps as you progress. While I didn't go that far, I must say that this book surpasses any military history that I have read in its integration of map study, broad analysis, and small-unit action.

This is an old book, but is a certain classic. The language and writing style are timeless, so don't let that scare you away. I continue to view THE CAMPAIGN OF CHANCELLORSVILLE as the epitomy of what a campaign or battle study should accomplish. If you can find a copy, get it, and enjoy.

This volume written by John Bigelow is the definitive study of any one battle of the Civil War. It goes in detail of every movement and the time of each. Includes an amazing volume of excellent maps. While reading his text you actually feel that your observing the battle. If there is one book I can recommend to read about an actual battle this is it. You come away with a new enlighten reality of what it really was like.

This was a quick read...not too wordy like most of the other books about pet care out there. I like the fact that a veterinarian wrote it too. Answers all questions from training to behavior and medical problems. A great book for anyone who owns a dog or cat... if you thought you knew everything about owning a pet, this book is sure to prove you wrong!

My boyfriend purchased this book along with the mastiff puppy he got me for christmas....I thought I knew all i needed to know about dogs until I read through this incredible book! It covers everything from basic training to health issues and behavioral problems. Even the most experienced pet owner should have a copy of "Canine and Feline 101". I found it to be a quick ,informative read, -I highly recommend to anyone looking for some insight on choosing and adequately caring for a four legged friend!

Being a first time puppy owner (a beautiful 6 month old pit bull mix), I found this book to contain all the information I need to raise her properly. With regards to raising my puppy, I have discovered in this book proper housbreaking techniques, effective yet gentle obedience training, and preventative health care. As I read ahead, I see that the rest of the book seemingly has a wealth of information guiding me through every step of mine and my dog's life together, honestly explaining which situations call for which vaccines, and how to recognize that my dog might be in pain or sick. I highly recommend this book to dog and cat lovers alike.

As a cat breeder and cat enthusiast, I find this book to be a must have for all cat lovers. Written in easily understood lay terminology, the author takes you through every stage of a cat's life, offering great insights eash step of the way. I will recommend this book to all who adopt my kittens.