Education Books

A nice book, but something about it made me not really wanting to read it and I love reading.
Not sure what it was, it is okay, depends on the person. Parent probably would not enjoy it, a person in the practice would.

When I was taking a class with Bobby Newman he suggested I get this book - and I'm so please he did. It's comprehensive, explanatory, and a must have for those of us in the field using the principles of applied behavior analysis to bring about change in the behavior of children with autism. I have many other books - but this is the one I turn to first!

This book is an excellent resource for anyone wanting to set up formal ABA programming for their child or for anyone who wants to understand the steps of development in specific areas such as making conversation, understanding the difference between yes/no and learning how to read. I found the checklists at the back of the book to be the most helpful. I have had extensive training (as a parent) in ABA principles and Discrete Trial Training procedures and I found that this book was accurate and gave the right amount of detail when I wanted to set up my own programs to be implemented in my home.

This book is a fantastic resource for anyone interested in behaviorism or anyone who knows a child on the Austic Spectrum.
If this topic isn't your cup of tea, then there's no reason for you to be interested in this book, but if you are into this sort of thing, it's amazing.

Right after I got the autism diagnosis for my son I realized that behavioral therapy would be our main focus of treatment and due to financial constraints, I would be the primary therapist.

After reading some really heady and intellectual literature on behavioral therapy I just wanted to scream, "Yes, I know, but tell me what to do!!"

A Work in Progress does just that. It is simply written and easy to use. Look up the behavior you wish to address in the table of contents, turn to the indicated page, and there, clearly written is a step-by-step plan. Brilliant. Just what we needed.

I've been searching for books to encourage my daughter to read. She's a big animal lover, so I thought that she would certainly be interested in a book with a hamster on the cover! BINGO!! Now she wants all of the Humphrey books . . . that's why I'm here - to order the rest of them! Humphrey is too precious to pass up. I highly recommend him!

My favorite book is The World According to Humphrey by Betty G. Birney. The World According to Humphrey is a humor book about an animal who interacts with people.

My Favorite character is Humphrey the hamster. I like this character because he's funny, interesting and I never knew what would happen next. He meets new people and learns things other animals can't.

I like the writing style because it has tips at the bottom of each page of how to raise a hamster. The author made me laugh when she included stories of the children fighting.

I love this book because I love books with humor. I love the small but big adventures that Humphrey had. Even though he was small he had a big goal: To help people with happiness.

I recommend this book to people who like humor.

The World according to Humphrey is a great book. I like this book because it was an entertaining adventure book. The author's point of view was told by the hamster Humphrey. Humphrey lived in a classroom and each weekend he slept over with a different student. My favorite part is when he escapes from his cage and puts the picture on the overhead. My least favorite part was when Mrs. Mac leaves the school. I recommend this book because you can learn a lot about yourself by watching another species. I GIVE THIS BOOK TWO THUMBS UP!

This book was a joy to read. We read it for our mother-daughter book club, and Mom liked it as much as Daughter! Good choice of themes for discussion (mother with serious illness, shyness over non-English speaking family members, detrimental effects of too much TV-watching and too little family time), all wrapped up nicely by the adorable protagonist.

This has become one of my favorite books. I've shared it with my fourth grade students, my mom, friends looking for books to encourage their children to read, and anyone who will listen. The humorous, heartwarming tale of Humphrey and the positive effects he has on the lives of his classmates, teacher, principal, custodian... is enjoyable time after time. My students can't wait to reread this book and read the other Humphrey stories. I credit the book for helping my own "Sayeh" to raise her hand and speak up for the first time in class on the day Sayeh in the story first raised her hand. We all love Humphrey!

As a parent of a child with autism, I have faced many struggles.
Working with the public school system to provide my son an appropriate education has been the hardest struggle by far. I have read Wrightslaw: Special Ed Law and From Emotions to Advocacy by Peter Wright and have found them to be an invaluable resource for parents of special needs children. As with any disability, parents must educate themselves in order to help their child. These books are loaded with information that is essential for parents who wants to be strong advocates. I recommend these books to every parent who has a child in the public school system.

I found this book to be an excellent resource for getting the special education my 10 year old son needed. Not only does it point out the "common" methods school systems circumvent the Law (and your childs education), it tells the reader how to deal with it. Also of note was the text of several court cases on special education law and how it relates to the parents. Yes, we have a lot more rights and control of our childrens education than the school systems are willing to acknowledge! Especially educational was how it pointed out that school systems often do not have all the members present for a meeting, but the law requires ALL members to be present. This is a must have for parents of Special Educational need students.

This book is a must have if you have a child with special needs. It is the most comprehensive book around for helping your child get an education! I call it my special education bible. If you can only afford one book to help you through the special education maze, this is the ONE to buy!

Sissy

This book is extremely well written, concise and incredibly practical. As a parent of a special needs child, my copy is dogeared with tons of stickies coming out the sides and highlighted paragraphs throughout. The unraveling of caselaw portions and the clear writing style help you understand the nuances of special ed law, expectations you can have, how to be smarter in and out of an IEP meeting, and how not to be bushwacked. It has the good stuff, but doesn't skip on the real language either. Well balanced with nothing fluffy. I'd rather lose my dayrunner than my copy of Wrightslaw.

This book, is THE guide to protecting your child and making sure he receives the special education services that he needs. The author's give some VERY good, sound advice throughout the book. Just having the laws handy makes it worth the price, the legal commentaries are just the icing on the cake. It it the best book I have bought and highly recommended to anyone who has a special needs child. Whether you are familiar with the laws or not, you should own this book. There is also a companion strategy guide available from the same publisher that is very good. And there is also a Advocate's Guide coming out soon from the same author's and I will buy that as soon as it is released. Knowledge is power. The best way to help your kids is to learn as much as you can. This book is your best resource to do that.

I have both editions of this book and want to add a special plug for the most recent edition. The "Guest Speaker" interviews with established and talented TV writer/producers are fantastic, and this new addition is worth its weight in TV gold. So for example, if you are writing a Dexter spec, as so many of us are right now, there's an insightful interview with "Guest Speaker" and exec producer Melissa Rosenberg that you will find extremely helpful in structuring your script. There's also great advice from David Milch ("Deadwood," "NYPD Blue") Ron Moore ("Battlestar Galactica") and Steven Bochco (all hail!).

The other thing I absolutely love about this book is that it has an actual sample of an outline. It's shocking how few of the TV drama books contain these. For a beginning writer, an actual sample of a beat sheet and outline to copy is really, really helpful.

I also love this book because it has a ton of advice that will help you spec and write for the pay cable series. A lot of the older books are geared towards network series, so if you want to write for HBO or Showtime, it's great to have a lot more updated info on the very different structure of those shows.

Buy this book - you will find it extremely helpful!

1.) The interviews in this book are invaluable. Interviews from both film students and professional in the industry.

2.) First 32 pages of the book, in my opinion, was hard to follow, learn and understand due to choice of words. If I hadn't of read "Crafty TV writing" by Alex Epstein, prior to reading this book, I would have been lost. THis book is for beginners, but Alexs book is for the beginner of beginners.

3.) Nice grids on pages so that you can do some training at home.

4.) This book is extremely analytical. I liked it, but some people may not.

Overall a good book.

This is a very helpful and useful guide.

I will expand my review later.

I've read many, many books on writing for film and television, and this is one of the best ones. Worth twice the cover price!

I have read several books on the craft of TV drama development, and this one is by far the most comprehensive and helpful. As someone who doesn't have access to the great writing instructors of the left coast, this book is essentially my drama writing class. "Writing the TV Drama Series" is a wonderful A to Z look at what to expect in the rough and tumble world of professional television writing. Thanks, Pamela, for sharing your expertise with us!

Great job! This book is a wonderful insight of how to best support teachers and students about inclusion in a manner that allows all students to LIVE life whether on the Autism Spectrum or not. Paula shares a lot of personal lessons she has learned through her years of researching what is best for one may not be best for all. Learning how to best address the unique talents and challenges of students with Austism is a continued journey and I look forward to future books from this author. The humor throughout the book just adds to the enjoyment. Strongly recommended! A must read for the entire school staff.

As an elementary teacher and a mother of a child with an autism spectrum disorder, I found this book to be one of the most practical yet thought-provoking texts I've read yet. Ms. Kluth gets right to the heart and mindset of what true inclusion is. Her ability to inspire us all to value the child with special needs as well as to respect and value the input of caregivers is crucial to successful inclusive schooling. In addition, this book has really helped me to keep an open mind about how every child, regardless of the severity of his disability, can and must play a key role in the success of any classroom community. Most importantly, Ms. Kluth addresses the importance of positive attitudes, perseverence and personal reflection in one's own growth experiences as an educator. It was great to read this book. Thanks for the wonderful anecdotes that so vividly helped me visualize how I can create a more effective inclusive environment in my classroom. Can't wait!

I LOVE the chapters on teaching strategies and behavior. Lots of great tips for helping challenging kids. The teaching strategies chapter has ideas for getting ready for transitions, preparing the classroom, and teaching lessons effectively. The planning-in-reverse strategy is really effective!

I have recommended this book to many -- the philosophy is sound but the practical suggestions are the highlight for me.

Brilliant, eloquent, and helpful, this book is not only eye opening, but gives a clear grasp and understanding to the broad spectrum Autism occupies. Dr. Kluth's book clearly explains the way parents and teachers can impact children not only at home, but in an inclusive classroom.

"You re" Going to Love this Kid" is written in a clear, no non-sense style capturing the unique challenges that can occur between school systems, teachers, parents and the special child with autism. Dr. Kluth brilliantly gives examples and steps to help overcome the obstacles so many parents face with educational professionals who may be ignorant or unaware of the promising and doable outlook of inclusive teaching.

Dr. Kluth's book is not only creative, but easy to follow and useful. It is information on routines and other helpful ideas and all done in an easy to follow creative way. This book is inspiring and touching with the many stories she includes from actual students.

I borrow Dr. Kluth's book out regularly and strongly encourage teachers, administrators and parents to attend Dr. Kluth's seminars regarding inclusive teaching and understanding autism.

Very informative but will be somewhat dated as the green market develops. A good starter on where to go to start your green journey.

Big Green Purse is a clarion call to consumers to exert the "power of the purse" and send the only message the marketplace appears to understand: consumers are getting smarter and better informed, and want to spend their money on products that can help sustain, rather than destroy, the planet.

So what if corporate mentality can't conceive of "green" being anything other than the color of money? If enough consumers - most of whom, let's face it, are women - send the marketplace the message that we will no longer purchase unsafe and polluting products in wasteful packaging, the marketplace will respond.

Diane's book is a wealth of information on products we all use every day, and lots of that information is quite alarming. Did you know, for example, that 89% of the 10,500 chemical ingredients that go into lipstick, nail polish, hair coloring, soap, and other personal-care products have never been safety-tested by the FDA? Nor is it known what the cumulative exposure of chemicals linked to serious health concerns can be, yet we bathe with, slather on our bodies, and make-up our faces every day with countless personal-care products. Who exactly does the FDA exist to protect anyway: people or industries?

The beauty of the book is that is not just a litany of frightening statistics - far from it. It is also brimming with advice and resources on where to purchase greener and safer cosmetics, cars, food, household cleansers, clothing, garden products, electronics, furniture, kids' stuff, and more. Enough information, in short, to empower us to change the way we live.

The marketplace will always sell what brings it the most "green," but if we demand less polluting and safer products, well, we the people will have taken responsibility for doing something ourselves to create a "cleaner, greener world." Hey, it's not like we can wait for Congress to take action ...

This book is inspiring me to become a more educated consumer and has given my husband and I some great web links related to eco friendly home improvements.

I enjoyed this book overall. There only seemed to be a few aspects missing....such as in the baby chapter about cloth diapers. She makes it sound as though there's only one style, when in fact there are loads and loads to choose from--and you can always dry them in the sun (at least during the summer) thus saving even more energy. So if you're having a baby, keep looking into diapers beyond the scope of this book.

The other small (big) thing she didn't mention in the gardening chapter was how destructive peat moss is, and how it's being banned in most of Europe with end-dates in sight, whereas nothing of the sort has happened here yet. Peat bogs contain 10% of the earth's fresh water and cannot recover as quickly as we harvest them for garden use. So don't use PEAT! Even though it's usually one of the cheapest "organic" garden mulches in North America. Also, don't buy peat seed pots (the kind that you can just plant in the ground when you move the seedlings outside)...use coir (coconut husk) instead.

Other than that, I liked her opinions and some of her strategies....some will work better for some people than others, depending of course on family size and where you live.

As the book Big Green Purse by Diane MacEachern is primarily aimed at women, I asked my wife to read it first. She gave me a sigh, rolled her eyes and said she would skim it, but it ended up being so interesting she read it cover to cover. Here's a direct quote (honest!):

"This is one of the most informative and life changing books I've ever read. It beats those 'self-help' books hands down as this actually contains practical information that you can use and apply for the rest of your life."

Women spend eight-five cents of every dollar in the US marketplace. Big Green Purse is about harnessing that spending power to improve the environment, influence manufacturers and to help you and your family to live a simpler, cleaner and healthier life.

Although my wife recommends reading the whole book, for those that are short on time it's broken into digestable chunks, such as cars, produce, cosmetics, kids and babies, and so on. Even if you don't read the whole chapter there is a wrap up section at the end which summarizes the main points.

She found it extremely interesting as it gave lots of excellent facts and statistics but doesn't lay on a guilt-trip. However you might feel unwell after reading about all the crap we're putting into our bodies... It makes you want to change your lifestyle for the better and shows easy ways to do this without spending any more money.

There are lots of practical tips and suggestions for which products to buy and avoid. These tips are actually useful rather than generic "buy natural" advice you often get. The book has seven Big Green Purse shopping principles:

Buy less
Read the label
Support sustainable standards
Look for third party verification
Choose fewer ingredients
Pick less packaging
Buy local

Instead of just telling us the three R's (Reduce, Reuse, Recyle) Diane actually tells us how we can do it. She expands on information that most of us know at least a little bit about, and my wife picked up a few new facts as well:

Clean, don't sterilize. Avoid anti-bacterial products such as soaps and personal care products as they do more harm than good
Avoid fragrances, phthalates, parabens and triclosan in cosmetics and personal care products
Buy sustainable seafood with the MSC label and select small fish like trout over the larger predators like tuna and seabass
Only certain types of plastics can be recycled - if you have to buy items in plastic, buy ones that can easily be recycled
Plant an eco-lawn as a great alternative to a traditional lawn.
If you plant three trees on the west side of your home you can trim your air-conditioning bill by up to 30% due to the shade they create.

In summary it's a great reference book to have on hand when you go shopping for certain products and although it's geared to women, it has many ideas that men and women would equally find interesting. Finally, my wife says "buy this book and lend to all your friends!"

My primary source for the ABA exam. I passed the 8/05/08 exam!!! A great source. Read it three times before the exam and if you understand the information you will pass the exam. The regional section was particularly helpful.

I will be starting school this fall, and found this book to be a great introduction. It is easy to read, and the highlights and charts made memorization easy. It was easier to read then Baby Barash, as a beginner.

I have to agree with the other 5 star writers. Pound for pound (makes a difference in your backpack) this book is hard to beat. I find it more complete than Secrets of Anesthesia, and more user friendly than Miller. If you want to learn 100 ways to not do something, and read conflicting studies then go for Miller, otherwise "M & M" is king. Besides, I challenge anyone to bring Barash or Miller into the OR with them for a quick reference...

It is a good basic book that covers the essentilas very clearly in not too long chapters. It is a good entry level book for doctors during their first year of residence in anesthesia.
Also for the doctor that needs to update his knowledge.

My personal experience and the reason for buying the book was that I after 5 years i neuroanesthesia needed an update prior to a period as an anesthesiologist in a not specialised department. In this way the book served its purpose well.

I used the third edition of this book for my writtens and orals. I am fellowed in cardiothoracic anesthesia, and boarded in pain medicine. It is more than comprehensive enough for everday practice, and it is more than enough to get you through the written boards, and will certainly help with the orals. Miller, Barash (is there an etc to these two choices?) are much more comprehensive, but they are highly dependent upon the writers of each chapter: while some are great reading, others ramble on incessantly about studies which show effects on giant squid axons, or how 3-74% of rats will react when their tails are clamped. And who can forget the effects of isoflurane on the livers of salamanders? Morgan-Mikhail is put together logically, it is highly readable, and it is extremely affordable, and while it won't give you every answer, it's a good start.

The Devil in Dover was one of at least half a dozen books to have been written after Judge Jones handed judgment to the plaintiffs in Kitzmiller v Dover Area School District. The plaintiffs there had sued the school to restrain it from pushing through Intelligent Design as an alternative theory of science. More specifically, to stop the school from compelling its biology teachers to recite a one minute statement to that effect. Of the books mentioned, many were written by journalists and science writers who covered the trial. Lebo was one of them. Gordy Slack who wrote "The Battle over the Meaning of Everything", Edward Humes who wrote "Monkey Girl", and Matthew Chapman, a great-great grandson of Charles Darwin, wrote 40 Days and 40 Nights. In addition, two experts who testified for the plaintiffs, Barbara Forrest and Kenneth Miller also wrote. Forrest up-dated her book "Creationism's Trojan Horse", co-written with Paul Gross; and Miller wrote a scientic exposition in "Only a Theory" on Darwinian theory of evolution.

Of the books written about the trial, I personally prefer Gordy Slack's for his wit and style. Humes is a close second. Chapman appears voluminous (I was reading from the hardcover edition) and is organised differently from the other two. Lebo's book is the most concise. She also covered it from the human angle, setting out more interviews with the persons involved from both sides. She also related her own uneasy realtionship with her Christian father. Gordy Slack too had a Christian father who could not understand his son's atheism. I would recommend all these books and also the 139-page judgment of Judge Jones. The Kitzmiller case had exposed the attempt by the proponents of Intelligent Design to pass it off as a scientific theory in court while using it as a weapon of creationism outside the court. They duly fell between the two stools.

Written from an insider's perspective, this book exposes the emotional part of the Dover incident much better than Monkey Girl was able to. Both books need to be read to understand the dishonesty of the right-wing, anti-science crazies in our society. Why, when enjoying the benefits of science (antibiotics, microwave oven, cell phones, agriculture, just to name a few), they want to retreat to the Dark Ages is beyond understanding. Read this book and re-read it.

Yet another book on the Dover Intelligent Design case, and this may be the best of breed. Edward Humes' Monkey Girl has more on the science and strategy, but this book is tops on the effect of the case on the town. It's also by far the most explicit in exploring the perjury of the fundamentalist faction and the weak-kneed school superintendent. They come off as immoral and wilfully ignorant, not a pretty sight. Recommended for everyone interested in either science education or the malign intent of the Religious Right.

Lebo's narrative both public and personal of Kitzmiller v. Dover has a polish that is rarely found in a book written by a journalist. While journalists by definition are writers and can make a short topical piece sing, it seems that many tend to have a rather leaden voice in a more complex and multilayered story.

Lebo is a rare exception. Her story of the clumsy machinations of the board members that ignore basic American legal and moral principles for religious reasons is well drawn and insightful. Not only does she act as the reporter, but shows the very human quality of all of the participants -- including herself.

Lebo's book is not only a gripping story, but can also serve as an example of superior writing. She is an ornament to the profession.

As would be expected with a story such as Kitzmiller v. Dover, there are a number of accounts that have been published. I've read several, including extensive magazine articles. With all due respect to the other authors, they were written by those who swept in to cover the story and then moved on to the next project. Lauri Lebo, on the other hand, lived in the area, covered the Dover school board and the trial for a local newspaper and knew many of the key individuals as well as their religious communities. The result is that you get the "human side" of the story.

The book doesn't go into much detail on the scientific issues. However, the reality is that you're not really dealing with scientific issues when discussing Intelligent Design. The real questions in the case involved the obvious First Amendment issue as well as press-related topics. Other reviews of this book have questioned Lebo's "objectivity", but the case caused tensions within her own family and complicated matters with other individuals and her employer. She is candid about all of this and it adds to the quality of the book.

In summary, if you have only enough time to read one book about the Dover incident, this is the one to read. Then go read Judge Jones' decision online.

let me just say i loved this book!...i came across it at my God daughters house this weekend.....it's such a great lesson ...and in such a simple easy to read way...Grace has it on her reading table as her favorite book....which is saying something.....this is a girl that has a room full of the latest toys and books....and i loved reading it to her...there's a great story line...as well as such detailed interesting illustrations...it's a must have for every child!...catherine marvis

I had an opportunity to read Different Just Like Me and was so touched by the author's spirit towards diversity of all people, shapes, colors, conditions, and ailments. This is a wonderful starter book for preschool to young elementary aged children to put language to difference, and to begin awareness to how being different and unique... is really what we're all about. Each page has a new element, be it Braille, sign language, explanation of fruits and vegetables - and makes connections between the differences in each. Wonderful work!

When I first read Different Just Like Me I thought to myself, "What a wonderful book and what a great way to begin discussions in my classroom about respecting each others' differences". Never did I dream that this book would have the impact it had on my third grade class.The converstaions that were stimulated by this book were phenomenal! I was so impressed by how the book was able to open the door to the difficult topic of differences and acceptance. Children began to share their own experiences of times they felt left out or different. Children spoke about times when they felt uncomfortable around someone who was different then they were and they were unsure of how to handle that. I learned that my students had so many questions. They had finally found a safe opportunity to begin asking these questions. The children continued to refer to the book and make textual connectionns with this book throughout the year. It was obvious that the story had made a big impact on the children. Besides teaching a third grade class I also teach the Mainstreaming class for teachers at San Diego State University. I have reccommended this book to many teachers in the class as an avenue to begin the discussion about diversity in the classroom. I have heard such positive results from many of the teachers about how helpful it was to start the discussion with this book.

I learned of this book because my daughter Lindsey has vitiligo, a skin condition, that makes her look different. I went to my local library to check on the book and they had to borrow it from a bigger library. My daughter and I enjoyed the book because it brings out the points that we are all different in some ways but we are all also the same because everyone has feelings and want to be loved and treated well. When I returned the book to the library the librarian told me that she had enjoyed the book also and wanted to order a copy for our local library. The beautiful illustrations and insightful text are a treasure for anyones library.

I've read this book a number of time with my daughter. The odd premise is that we are all alike despite our differences. The main character, April, encounters people who are different races or ethnicities, people with disabilities, even boys and men, and . . .nothing much happens.

She has these encounters before and during a weekend train trip to visit her Grandmother. (Oddly, nothing is made of how older people are different but the same.) Her Grandmother cuts a bunch of different flowers and gives April the bouquet.

This aggregation of flowers symbolizes, one must suppose, that different people can be in the same place. Gosh!

The story is weak, the premise flimsy, but the illustrations are OK.

This is a common sense and logical read. The main ideas seems to make sense on so many levels. Basically our children are not being forced to think and prevoke some thought before reacting. This reading keys in on the need for consistent inner guidance versus short term exterior material motivations or threats that does nothing to teach children well. It helps the adults in their lives become better, more mature, thoughtful stewards of our children's growth and in handling behavior issues in ways that will benefit their overall wellbeing as well as our own. In retrospect, our children will grow not only by our own example, but also by the tools and skills we pass along to them for the most successful and enriching life journey experience possible. In the process, they are learning how to be and how to act, they are learning how to make mindful, self-respecting, civil, responsible choices for themselves in response to the environment around them. Today's high paced, competitive, global world requires our children to reason well and make good choices as they find their place in it so they are not getting lost or taken advantage of in the shuffle of it all. It is better that our children learn diffirently and more thoughtfully than past generations in an effort to reduce the amount of dysfunction and social-emotional challenges we as a society have been facing far too long. Education is a beautiful thing so that history does not continue to repeat itself and spread to the next generation so that we can continue to achieve betterment. We need to grow civility and personal accountability in our culture which is so diverse in a civilized and responsible way and it begins at home and in our educational institutions.

Thanks Dr. Marshall for clearly articulating and outlining these very principles in your book. The book also introduces the foundation of the "how to's" so we can begin utilizing this approach and changing some not so good ineffective practices we have acquired along the way which continue to confuse, belittle and dumb down our kids. Raise the bar and your kids will adjust. If you raise it high enough they will never fall to the bottom and they will love you for it later on in life.

I have been looking for something like this book for the ten years of my teaching career. Finally, there is a ready-to-implement system that combines recent brain research, psychology, and logical consequences into a classroom management system that not only produces a measurable improvement in behavior, but increases motivation for learning and responsibility. Marvin Marshall knows how to relate to children of all ages (and adults, too). I'm giving up my token economies and classroom prizes in favor of this system, which sends out students into the world to become productive, successful workers, family leaders, and citizens. This book will walk you step-by-step through the simple system which requires little to no record-keeping. Hooray!

This book is an excellent resource for new teachers and seasoned teachers
as well, who are struggling with the issues of discipline in their
classrooms. It shows how the old system of punishment and rewards does
not achieve good results and how it can be replaced with a system of
instilling personal responsibility and love of learning in students. I
like the way the book gives specific ways that teachers can do this.
This book should be a "must read" in schools of education, and could
revolutionize American education and society.

I purchased this book after an extremely challenging year of behavior problems in first grade. As a teacher who had previous success using rewards (giving plastic money that could be redeemed in a class store) and punishment (taking away recess time), this new class had so many problems that nothing seemed to work! During the summer, I read everything on behavior management I could find in preparation for my new third grade class and found this book while searching the web. Needless to say, this past year was the best year of teaching I've had in my short career of five years. Using the daily class meetings--the students' favorite part of the day--to solve problems and asking disruptive students to tell me "their level," I found that most problems went away quickly and students didn't get resentful of me because they had to reflect on how they were acting. Using the agenda for students to write down issues that bothered them was a great way to deal with tattling. I also linked the system with students who would forget homework. Rather than punish them, I would give them the Level 1 Essay to reflect on why they forgot their homework and what they could try so they could remember it. It worked! I also recommend buying "Positive Discipline in the Classroom" (Nelson) as a companion to this book if you want more step-by-step instructions for the classroom meeting. It picks up where Dr. Marshall's book leaves off regarding class meetings, especially on how to introduce it at the beginning of the year. One more thing: parents LOVE this system and will love you for using it!

I love the philospohy behind this book, but Dr. Marshall goes one step further and adds the golden element of classroom testing. When he tells me I will need to use a particular strategy with about 2 % of my students, I feel confidence that this material has truly been tested in real situations. Part of the problem with many discipline programs that aim to address classroom management without rewards, tokens, and such is they often talk down to teachers for using token systems, but offer only theories and clinical data as proof without workable ideas for in the classroom. I am trying out Dr. Marshall's program and will see how far it takes me, but after the first two introductory lessons on the ABCD heirarchy, this weird quiet settled into my room, like the idea of democracy had just sunk into my students heads. Very heady stuff.