Educational Books

This anthology was an incredible read. If you are looking to be inspired, to have your hope reborn, read these stories!! You are guaranteed to look within yourself and say, "Yes, I can!"

The stories in this book are an inspiration to people of all ages. The can-do spirit embodied by these students who chose the path of educational excellence, is a lesson in what can be achieved with the right support, encouragement and good training. When these kids succeed, we all, society writ large, benefit. And after 25 years of success, PREP FOR PREP must be doing something right. Share this book with anyone who doubts the power of possibility.

"Be the Dream" is a great inspirational read on hope and success through hard work in academics as told by adults who have survived the inner city hells of America. It is a good book for teachers, who firmly believe in the potential of all their students; for students, who lose sight of their dreams because of mainstream media; for parents who are struggling to not only put food on the table, but are also battling the negative/misguided messages thrown at their kids; and for other inner city survivors who feel that they are alone in their struggle to find justice in this world.

I bought a copy for my nephew who is in 10th grade. I plan to buy one for my niece who is in 11th grade, and more copies for my boss and friends who are teachers in the inner cities.

I have met and spent time with some of the writers in the book and they are truly inspirational.

A superb read about the stories of gifted minority youngsters whose lives, and the lives they have connected with, have evolved from the most challenging levels of our society with the assistance of the Prep program, community, and Mr. Simons into the talented leaders of present and future.

Wondefully inspirational to all who see the need for changes in education and society and especially for those who are unaware of the many ways in which these positive goals can be accomplished today!

I just want to say how helpful I found this book. I do not have an education degree, and have never had a course in teaching reading or anything like it, but reading and studying this book helped me pass the MTEL Foundations of Reading the first time! Everything you need to know really is in this book. I am usually very skeptical about the claims of books like this, but I am definitely a fan. Many thanks to Chris Boosalis.

The MTEL subtest-Foundations of Reading, felt like it was impossible to pass. I had missed passing by two points more than once! I contacted Chris Boosalis who gave me tips and strategies on how to pass the test and what exactly the people who scored these tests were looking for. I am now a certified teacher and I could not have done it without his help or his book!
[...]

I took the MTEL Reading Foundations test and everything that was in this book was on the test! It was amazing. I am so happy I bought this book!

I highly recommend Dr. Boosalsis Book to anyone who wants to pass the RICA. I had completed all my classes, and studied a lot, but I felt totally unprepared for the RICA test. I just had no idea how to prepare.

I learned important strategies, including time management, that helped me with the test. Most importantly, it instilled confidence in me by assuring me I would pass.

And I did! It made me feel a lot more confident going into the test, and I think all future teachers should read this book.

Sub-Title: Approaches and Technologies to Enhance Organizational Knowledge, Learning, and Performance

This book is the second edition or followup to the authors original book on E-Learning. It is perhaps the most complete analysis on the subject.

Education is in an interesting time. The basic structure of the ecucational system of a teacher and a group of students gathered around him dates from the time of the Greeks. Computer aided instruction where essentially a computer uses some of these same techniques to pass the knowledge of an expert on to students using a computer.

There are, a lot of little steps between the idea and the actuality. Of course there are the mechanics of how to do it. And there is the problem of finding the right teachers. [One military training course, set up by people who have 'been there, done that' teaches things like selecting a candy bar that won't melt in the desert (M&M's?) and how to armor a truck.] There's also playing on the skill that today's game playing kids have learned playing video games. What a way to teach someone how to drive a tank!

This is a book I'd recommend to anyone interested in or in charge of setting up a computer based training program. Dr. Rosenberg has 'been there, done that' in so far as e-learning is concerned.

Marc has taken the time to explain through examples what we need to know to make wise decisions about E-Learning. I walked away with ideas and guidelines I can use immediately.

I have been using this book for grad course at Roosevelt U. Most books used for the classroom are dry and outdated, but I found "Beyond E-learning" informative and innovative. I would highly recommend this book to all Learning and Development professionals. If this wasn't a very good book, I would take the time to write this blurb.

Once again, Marc Rosenberg shows us the way to really transform our organizations into efficient, effective knowledge-centered enterprises. He warns that e-Learning, like training in general, is often done the wrong way, for the wrong reasons. He busts myths right and left (the section on "the myths of e-Learning" alone is worth the purchase price!), and steadfastly refuses to be swept along by fads, technologies -- or even traditions of training.

What Rosenberg does is to lay out a vision of the Smart Enterprise, in which the focus is on performers rather than learners. He argues persuasively that technologies such as e-Learning, classroom learning, knowledge management, communications and collaboration technologies are best viewed not as individual technologies (or fads), but rather as complementary parts of a balanced strategy for performance improvement in enterprises which effectively translate data to knowledge to information to performance. Detailed chapters then discuss each of the key components of this strategy for performance improvement, including practical advice on how to implement them and where the pitfalls are. Examples and issue sidebars featuring luminaries in the field and corporate success stories add weight to the argument.

This is not just another "business book of the month" full of quick-fix half-truths. It is a mature, broad and comprehensive view of what it really takes to make any knowledge-intensive organization get what it needs to reach its goals. Senior line organization managers will find it essential; training managers will find it liberating and exhilerating -- or threatening. It's required reading for everyone responsible for making their enterprises smart.

I will not be surprised when Beyond the Bake Sale becomes referenced as the quintessential book on parent participation. The book not only takes a widely researched topic and presents it in an organized, easy to read format, it also reads like a how-to book rather than a textbook, making the topic much more approachable.

Beyond the Bake Sale became a resource to me and participants in a recent study I did with parents of children who have disabilities, educators, and school leaders. During the study participants worked to discover parent participation techniques that would open doors to both parents of children with disabilities and educators within their schools. At the end of the study, I was able to provide each participant with a copy of this book along with a list of suggested pages that fit the needs of each individual school site. The participants were overjoyed to receive the book and many (both parents and educators) have already e-mailed me saying they appreciate the way the book presents the information. Based on the feedback of others and my own reading, Beyond the Bake Sale is not only informative, it is inspirational.

No more excuses for not engaging parents in their children's education! This book provides essential information for every educational leader, teacher, or parent who wants to break down the barriers to parent involvement. Every page is a gem, filled with valuable insights and clear strategies.

This is the book I have been waiting for! If I could give it 6 stars, I would. Six years ago I attended a workshop on parent involvement with Don Davies and Karen Mapp as presenters and it changed my life. Since then I have been working in my children's schools and in the community to establish home/school /community partnerships. Over the years I have collected three files drawers full of materials, one full shelf of books and another full shelf of binders filled with things I downloaded from the internet. I've read it all and I will tell you that this book represents the very best of it in one concise, easy-to-read, and easy-to-follow volume.

It's all here: the research(presented in an approachable manner), background on the implications of No Child Left Behind on how schools must interact with parents, case studies, tools for evaluating where you are, instructions for creating action research teams( which I have used with great success), a section on the value of parents in the arena of advocating for school improvement, and a comprehensive list of resources which are accessible to anyone with a computer and a desire to improve their schools.

I never read Anne Henderson's first Bake Sale book, but I did have the opportunity to see her speak. Her depth of knowledge in this area is incredible and her ability to make the information accessible to her audience is exceptional. All of that comes through in this book. If you want better parent involvement in your schools, start by reading this book.

This is the book I've been looking for since my daughter entered the public school system a year and a half ago! As an active and involved parent, I was eager to get involved at her school. I volunteered regularly in her classroom, I attended all her events (those in the classroom and those that were school-wide.) I joined PTO and attended meetings regularly. I served on planning committees and contributed to fund-raisers. Still, I lacked a way in to what seemed like a very tight system of parents and teachers working together. I felt as though I didn't have enough experience to know what was approriate to talk about where and when. I didn't have the confidence (even after being a teacher myself for five years) to ask the questions I wanted to ask about the way our school worked.

The transition to first grade was not a smooth one for our family. My daughter's teacher was a first-year teacher and lacked the experience she needed to keep the lines of parent-teacher communication wide open. Our concerns snowballed quickly and we were ready to pull our daughter out of the school system and look for alternatives when I found this book.

This book presents advice, tips, and plans for teachers, parents, and administrators to begin working towards collaboration and cooperation in the school setting. Our children can only benefit from having more people on their teams! I want to be recognized as an important member of my daughter's team. This book has given me tips on ways to get my daughter's school to see me that way (beyond the basics I was already doing.) I found the list of questions to ask at conferences or in meetings to be particularly helpful as ways in to a conversation with my daughter's teacher even when nothing is going wrong.

My experience has been that teachers and administrators all say the same thing. They know that family involvement is integral to student success and they urge parents to get involved. However, when it comes down to the actual work of providing those opportunities many teachers fall short.

I am meeting with our principal next week and I plan to bring this book as a donation to the school. I hope the administrators will pass the title along to the other teachers and staff at our school. I will bring another copy to the next PTO meeting, and hopefully we will start to work towards change from there. I want to give this book to every parent I know! One parent, teacher, principal--one school at a time--that is how we will transform.

Billy Whiskers, An Autobiography of a Goat is a wonderful book that
still makes children giggle. I heard about this book as a child from my dad and was so glad to still be able to find a copy. I learned that it
was Robert Kennedy's childhood favorite book as it was my dad's.
I am sharing it as a storyteller. If you would like to take your children back to America 1900's and teach them about life then, this
fun story is a good one to share.

The old fasioned wording and phrases only helped to improve the vocabulary of my 10-year old child. It didn't take long before he got the feel for the longer sentences and how to read them. He thought it was great and wants to read the other books in the series. Very humorous and exciting!

I'll add to the commentary above -- an excellent book from the rural and innocent beginnings of the 20th Century....

Billy Whiskers, a goat, is always getting into trouble -- and in this way is endearing to children who feel that they too are always in trouble. But Billy perseveres and stubbornly holds his ground.

This is a very amusing book, lots of fun for children and the adults who might read it to them. However, your "age level" is incorrect. You state that the age level is 4-8. A 4-year old could not possibly read this book, and neither could any but a very bright eight-year old. This would be a good book to read to an early elementary child, but not for a child to solo read until third or fourth grade. There are a lot of old-fashioned words and phrases.

As a fellow bio student to others I have but only one thing to say, Give me a break!! Do you know how long the book is ?!?!? And do you know how thick this book is?? If you are in AP bio, you have to know every single page by heart ! Ok, honestly, this book is good and probably the best AP bio book there is, just be sure to read this book over the summer to get the information. One test is 60 pages of text in this book. The book is also very comprehensive.

This book is very well structured, has wonderful illustrations, pictures, and diagrams. I agree that it is an excellent introductory biology text as it touches base with all facets of the subject.

I love this book! It is just the opposite of what most biology books are. It is enjoyable! Throughout the book, I was learning, looking at the beautiful pictures, and laughing. I have yet to see a better, more entertaining non-fiction book. Thank you, Robert A. Wallace, my life has been greatly enriched by the reading of this book.

"Biology: The Science of Life" is an extremely valuable guide to a thorough and complete understanding of basic biological concepts. In AP Bio, it not only helped me through the class, but caused me to permanently fall in love with biology. I'd love to meet the authors to thank them in person for this wonderful book. I'll buy it, because it will always offer me a connection to my first, playful, yet professional encounter with biology.

I am happy to say that this book reached readers in the Baltic region, in Lithuania. i bought this book as soon as it was possible! I was amazed. However, before reading this book, I had some knowledge concerning the occult. I bought an introductory book to the world of magic and the supernatural, therefore i was already acquainted with the mysteries of this world. I read that "he, who posseses the Book of Angels might gain extraordinary power and supernatural abilities." So i thought - I must have this book and find more on this curious fact. Luckily, my greed was satisfied.Although, i have one question - where did Francis Melville get such material, especially the parts concerning the invoking rituals of angels, etc.
I wish there were more books of this author translated in Lithuanian! I would be thrilled to read "The secrets of High magic"!
So, mister Melville, thanks for a job well done!

...

In my oppinon this is one of the best books about angels. The author, Francis Melville, talks about the birth of angels, the heircarchy, archangels and the planetary angels. There is even some information on guardian angels and how to find out the name of your guardian angel. There is a chapter on assisting angels, angels you can invoke for different needs such as, harmany, Commitment, fertility, spiritual knowledge, wisdom, and so on.
There is also a chapter on rituals of invocations, the angelic script, and an evocation. You can imagine how much information there is in this book.

This book's cover doesn't begin to prepare you for the stunning graphic design and artwork inside. A history of angels and their relevance within the major religions is explained, followed by a nice "Who's Who" of the major angels. The descriptions of how to invoke and petition the angels were interesting, though I felt that I wanted more information before getting involved at that level. Worth purchasing for the artwork alone, even if you aren't an Angelophile. I'm giving it 4 stars only because I wish it was more comprehensive.

this book has the ''wow'' factor; i bought it not knowing what to expect,but was pleasantly surprised with the competence,authority and beauty by which
the author dealt with his subject. a truly genuine work of great value.
how can you be interested in angels, or be an angelologist witout this book?.
i would however have liked to see more 'modus operandi' methods of contact
offered because some may find the pentagram rituals a bit of a bother if they need very quick, and urgent but effective contact. i would also have liked to see a mention, and contact formular for the archangel metatron,and other major angels too.

I have long enjoyed the works for children by E. Nesbit. this "Book of Dragons" is no exception. The deft combining of fantasy and realism is sure to appeal to young minds. I have been collecting her work for my grandchildren for some time and am delighted to add this gem to the pile. The children will simply have to wait until I have finished reading them again.

E. Nesbit's books have a well-deserved place on my shelf next to C. S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia and Lloyd Alexander's Prydain Chronicles, and more recently, Harry Potter. I discovered her books through those of Edward Eager; if you have read and enjoyed any of E. Nesbit's books before, I recommend you take the opposite journey and check out Eager's books now (start with Half Magic.) A real treat.

I think this book is cool. it was about adventure, magic, action and even humor!!!
I did a book report on this book to!!

This review refers to the 1987 Watermill Classic edition of "The Book Of Dragons" by E. Nesbit...

A young King, lets loose a Dragon from a storybook, and he must figure a way to get it back, before the dragon eats the entire town!A kind young man explores a cave and comes across a Cockatrice, a big yellow dragon and it's baby, a Drakling. A princess waits years in a tower to be rescued by her true love. Edith Nesbit has written a collection of fabulous and adventurous tales of brave and daring young heroes facing up to the big bad dragon and saving the day.She gives fun names, teriffic descriptions and adventures kids will love.They are short stories that have stood the test of time over 100 years later.

There are tales of upside lands where elephants are the size of guinea pigs, and rabbits are as big as dinosaurs,where fantastic animals come alive right from the pages of books, of magical lands, young Kings and princesses, and of inquisitive, and sometimes mischievous children who travel far and wide to face their fears.

There are 8 short stories in all, and they include, "The Book of Beasts","Uncle James, or the Purple Stranger", "The Deliverers of Their Country","The Ice Dragon, or Do as You are Told", "The Island Of the Nine Whirlpools", "The Dragon Tamers","The Fiery Dragon, or the Heart of Stone and the Heart of Gold", "Kind Little Edmund, or the Caves and the Cockatrice".

I feel these stories and the reading level, are geared towards a little bit older child, maybe 8-12, as some of the stories are quite fantastic and may be even be a little scary for the young child. I think these stories would be great to read aloud together, and passed down from generation to generation. My only reason for going 4 stars for this 1987 Watermill Classic edition, is that although it is Complete and Unabridged, it does not include the illustrations that the editor's review talks about. They are probably referring the the re-issues of 1992 and 1997 by Troll Communications, which are both sold here.. So you may want to check with the outside sellers to see if the illustrations are included in the edition they are selling.

These are magical stories that would be enjoyed by a boy or girl, and with 8 separate stories, may be more motivational and enjoyable for those that aren't too keen on reading.

Enter the fantastic world of Edith Nesbit with your kids and enjoy.....Laurie

Very insightful and informative, and a must for any artist in any facet of the industry. To know what the law actually says regarding copyrights and fair usage is key to being a successful commercial artist.

Reading law is dry. Reading graphic novels is fun. Aoki, Boyle, and Jenkins have created the ultimate legal graphic novel. In about 53 pages they have illustrated to me everything I wanted to know about Fair Use of materials in the Public Domain and of copyright laws. As a videographer, I am now more educated, yet more wary of what I can and cannot use when shooting. At first, I read the whole book on line, then I realized that the information in it was too valuable not to have as a hard copy. And my bonus is that I can color the pages as I see fit while learning the law!

In August 2004, the BSA launched an "educational" campaign, "Play it safe in cyberspace". It comprised a comics whose hero, Copyright Crusader, was an ugly grabbing sanctimonious ferret. This animal version of Mackie Knife can still be seen in Ferreting out copyright scofflaws by David Becker (News.com, 08/10/2004).


"Bound By Law" is far more fun, and far more informative. For instance, the authors do not only make their characters talk about fair use and parody, but they use parodies themselves, as Cory Doctorow points out in his review, Comic book brilliantly explains copyright for documentary filmmakers in Boing Boing (02/03/06).

More information - and a link to the online version - in the comics page of Duke Law.

It seems appropriate that the first image you see when you open this work is reminiscent of the Crypt Keeper. After all, the topic is something most people fear -- law. In fact, the specific area, copyright law, even causes the knees of some lawyers to quake.

Bound by Law? is a comic book (or graphic novel if you prefer) issued by the Center for the Study of the Public Domain at Duke Law School. It seeks to explain to the layperson two of the thornier issues in modern copyright law for writers, musicians, artists and filmmakers.

Basically, the work (written by James Boyle and Jennifer Jenkins and illustrated by Keith Aoki) uses a documentary filmmaker to examine the impact of the doctrines of "public domain" and "fair use." The public domain is comprised of material on which copyright never existed or has expired and, hence, can be freely used by the public at large. Fair use is a statutory exception to the copyright laws that allows use of portions of copyrighted material for a variety of purposes as long as the use doesn't exceed the boundaries of a four-factor test the law establishes.

Why a comic book and a focus on documentary filmmaking? Because they are excellent vehicles for exploring the issues.

The work's filmmaker wants to make a documentary of the day in the life of New York City. She encounters what anyone would, albeit perhaps to a greater degree. Almost everywhere she goes there is copyrighted or trademarked material: music on the street or in a nightclub; a program or movie on the television in a particular room; or the logos that are ubiquitous at almost any sporting event. To figure out if she can use any or all of these materials without being sued for copyright infringement, she needs to sort out whether the material is protected or in the public domain. If it is protected, does her use constitute fair use?

Similarly, a comic book graphically demonstrates the seemingly endless circles and mazes in which an artist or writer can be led trying to sort out these questions. Bound by Law? also frequently relies on a montage or mix approach that displays how material which may or may not be in the public domain or may or may not be copyrighted plays a role in the expression of ideas. The latter is used to particular effect. As might be expected from strong advocates of the fair use doctrine, the book is replete with undoubtedly copyrighted and trademarked images, logos and symbols. Thus, the comic book not only illustrates but makes a point far better than a traditional written work.

The problem today is at least two-fold. First, Congress has repeatedly changed and extended the length of time before copyrighted work falls into the public domain. These actions have effectively resulted in most of 20th Century culture being protected for almost 100 years. Likewise, much of the material published today likely will be protected into the 22nd Century.

The problem with fair use stems not only from a lack of clear rules but also the fact some copyright holders have taken a very tough -- some might say extortionate -- stance. Bound by Law points out a variety situations in which works had to be cut or modified because of the money the copyright holder demanded in exchange for using a few seconds or snippet of their material.

Bound by Law? brings these complex issues across is a simple, enjoyable style. Not only does it show the firsthand impact of the problems, it also educates about a variety of relevant court decisions. It is also a commentary on trying to make intellectual property law a benefit rather than a hindrance to modern creative work. Some of its references in this regard are subtle, others more straightforward.

The former is seen from the outset. In the very first panel, the book quietly acknowledges the contributions of Lawrence Lessig, a Stanford University law professor in the forefront of arguing that intellectual property laws are hindering creative freedom and technology. Lessig isn't mentioned in the panel. Rather, the titles of several of his books appear on a bookshelf, together with the titles of other works exploring how copyright fits with new media and new technology. Lessig makes a later cameo appearance as the Statute of Liberty, holding a video camera as his torch and a copy of his most recent work in lieu of a tablet in the left hand.

More explicit is a closing discussion of "cultural environmentalism" as an approach for a future copyright system. Initially proposed by Boyle a decade ago, the theory is that just as the environmental movement demonstrated the impact social and policy decisions had on the environment, cultural environmentalists should show the public how intellectual property laws affect culture. The idea has taken root among a wide number of individuals (including Lessig) who continue to examine how to strike a balance between protecting intellectual property and encouraging creativity in an increasingly remixed culture.

Bound by Law? won't qualify anyone for membership in any professional organizations dedicated to intellectual property law. In fact, carrying it might alone be sufficient to keep a person out of some of those groups. But the aim isn't to make readers intellectual property experts. Rather, the goal is to educate artists and the public about current issues and provide commentary by those who believe copyright law must be fixed to remain a useful tool in a digital world. And a comic book is a far more enjoyable way to learn this than a case book or law review article.

This book was loaned to me by a Thai monk in Los Angeles. He recommended it for someone who is attempting to understand the teachings of Buddha. It is not an easy read but it is clearly written. I found it a book that needed study and time for reflection and because of that I bought the book and returned the loaned copy to the monk. I would recommend it for anyone exploring the way of the Buddha. I might also state that the teachings detailed here seem not to conflict with Christianity but rather complement it.

As a novice Buddhist student, I found this book very helpful. First Published in 1964, the writing style is somewhat more formal than we are used to today, but I find the style of writing lends the book a feeling of respectfulness and sincerity. Although the precepts are scholarly, they are presented in a clear and easy-to-understand way. The book is interesting, not dry or boring. Whether you are interested in finding out what Buddhism is, or are a beginning or advanced student, this book will be helpful. I could even recommend this book as leisure (if not a little serious) reading because of the interest level.

I am a student who spends every Summer living in Theravada Buddhist temple to learn the traditional Buddhism in depth. My father is also a Buddhist Venerable. I have read many Buddhist books written in English, and it is very hard to find a good one that interprets the words of Buddha in a correct way. Buddhism has been modified a lot by different Buddhist branches and has lost so much of its old messages that Buddha wanted to teach. Especially in Western society, it takes time and effort to find a good Buddhist book that sounds logical, scientific, not supernatural, and still kept the traditional, universal ideas of Buddha. Among many books that I have read in several different languages, this one seems to be the best in English for those beginers and intermediate level of Buddhism to discover the life of Buddha and his teaching to reduce sufferings for everyone's life regardless religions or races. To me, Piyadassi Thera's word choices are very selective, careful, logical, trustful, and more universal than personal. I have bought 3 books to offer to my American friends and they liked it alot, this time I am going to buy 4 more. Believe me, it is a valuable book for your right view of life! But, please read slowly, analyse what you read, ask questions to yourself, find out the answers before believing or judging any piece of writing!

As a student who spends every Summer in Theravada Buddhist temple to learn Buddhism in depth and a daughter of a Buddhist Venerable, I think this book is a valuable one for those beginners and intermediate level students who want to discover the life of Buddha and the ancient path that he taught to help everyone regardless religions or races on how to reduce sufferings in one's own life. Piyadassi Thera's word choices are very careful, logical, trustful, universal, and traditional that fit more to Buddha's words than other books that focus more on the authors' own opinions and interpretation from modified Buddhist branches. A very good book to help you have a right view of life, and how to live right in order to avoid mistakes and sorrow.