Educational Books

After being shown this book, I ordered two copies; one for my niece and one for my nephew, both of whom will be graduating from eighth grade next spring. Having gone through the experience of looking at, applying to, and choosing colleges with two sons, I can say that the information this book contains is right on the mark. It is thorough, succinctly presented, and easily understood. The list format and quotes from students present the information in a logical way that is fun to read. Organizing the lists as tasks to be considered during each year of high school makes the college search process much less overwhelming. I wish that "Countdown to College" had been available as my family felt its way through the process for the first time seven years ago.

As the president of College Parents of America, the only nationwide member association dedicated to serving and advocating on behalf of current and future college parents, I consider Valerie Pierce's "Countdown to College" to be one of the most valuable and user-friendly college planning guides in print. When I first began compiling and culling information for parents to access on our Web site (www.collegeparents.org), I consulted "Countdown" frequently for resources and easy-to-understand explanations of complex preparation and application processes. I found the book to be concise, well-organized and comprehensive in its "To Do" lists for high school students. Today, my staff and I still keep several dog-eared copies around for quick and easy reference. And, we have enlisted Ms. Pierce as one of our "Ask the Experts" panelists for our members to consult. I highly recommend this book for all parents of high school students -- and I guarantee that their copies will become dog-eared as well!

I bought the book for my niece. Then I bought one for her mother. They are planning together for her college years. I haven't seen such a useful book in ages.

Countdown To College, gives each reader practical tools and insights on how to effectively plan and prepare for college. I guarantee it will answer every question you might have about the college process. This is a must read for all high school students and their parents.

This book is a wonderful resource on preparing high-schoolers to move through the college preparation and application process. I wish it had been available when my children went to college.

This book is what every child should have to spark their imagination, esp. with all the TV and video games that require no thinking on their part. My 6 1/2 year old got this for Christmas from us, and she loves it! It's helpful to have reading skills, but a parent could help too. She has been doing this book every night since she got it. Highly recommend! Lots of creative questions and scenarios in the book. Lots of spaces for answering questions and drawing (about half writing, half drawing).

This was bought for a very artistic 11 year old girl and she absolutely loved it! It came quickly, was a great price, and was in perfect shape.
Definitely would recommend!

I'm thrilled to have found this book--some books that offer prompts for journalling do not inspire kids to write more than a sentence or two. Not so here! Revior offers many different types of activities to expand upon. Possibly geared more toward girls than boys (although not exclusionary of boys in any way--this is based more upon my opinion more than anything), and the pencils aren't really worth much (Revoir suggests using items from your own art supply), this spiral-bound book is wonderfully fun. Offers interactive activities as well as more private, introspective prompts.

My daughter loves this book and we take it to long trips where she has taken incredible notes and drawings. It is the best present to give to a child that enjoys creativity..!

What an amazingly fun book. As an educational psychologist student I have found this book very helpful to develop a lifeskills training programme for children from the ages of 5 through to 18. I have even gone so far as to enjoy the opportunity of tuning out of the rat race myself to play with some of my own wacky ideas by completing some of the exercises. What a stress reliever! My 10 year old daughter can not put it down and I am dreading the moment she tells me that she has completed it as we have another 4 weeks of holiday left. Sweet celebrations for Katherine Q. Revoir for a successful masterpiece of fun.

This dictionary is invaluable in understanding the doctor's written diagnosis of any condition. The doctor's understand the meaning of the medical terminology but it is helpful if we non-medical patients can understand just what the doctor is stating about our health condition.

I am in school now for Medical Administration and this book is very thorough with both definition and terms that aids with my studies.Highly recommended.

My wife uses this book on a daily basis and it help clear up medical terminology for us.

This book was sent in a timely manner. the book was in very good condition. This book is very helpful for students in any medical studies.

The best thing about this dictionary, apart from its clear definitions, is the wealth of drawings - not only of anatomical parts but also of many physiological and biochemical processes. I love browsing through the dictionary and looking at the drawings - more terms stay in mind when you see their pictorial representations.

As a home school parent, I am always looking for resources to improve my childs education. I found this book to have many great ideas for a wide age range of children. They were well organized and listed the ages for which the activities were geared to. I am looking forward to using this book for years to come!

Polly's activities are easy to use. They teach the 'higher lessons' so desperately needed in our society and world today; cooperation, being considerate, using self-discipline and they are fun! Janice Moore, Third Grade Teacher

"Drama in the Classroom" has been an invaluable source of ideas for sparking the curriculum. My students and I have used lessons from this book to plan special programs. Throughout the year, in Social Studies and English, I have turned to it to guide students as they shape skits and oral presentations. The structure the lessons provide helps keep students focused as they plan and work but does not stifle their creativity. Celima Smith, 6th grade teacher, Mill Valley Middle School, Cal.

Though not an educator by profession, I have had extensive experience working with youth groups and have seen Polly Erion's teachings put to practical use. Results have been everything she claims and more. Obviously, her lessons were derived from many years of teaching experience.

Polly Erion presents a drama program that is rich, varied, and in synch with the children. Drama in the Classroom is invaluable for suitable, stimulating ideas. Helen Morris, Kindergarten Teacher Tam Valley School, California

I purchased this book about a month ago to work with my 3yr old. She has already learned 19 addition facts. I go over the flash cards everyday two times in the evening. It takes about 5mins and my 3yr old loves doing them. I go over the worksheet for reinforcement since her printing capability is limited. Great way to teach the facts.

thanks,
Mother in MD

I've worked with my 6 yr old using flash cards. Hey, it's the way I learned as a kid. But still, I found that instead of memorizing them, she would continue to use her fingers. For her, they were just a bunch of numbers, but without any meaning. With the tricks in this book, she isn't memorizing math facts but developing an understanding how the math fact works in order to get the correct result. With every cumulative practice worksheet, she names the trick and then tells me how the trick is done to arrive at the answer. For the first time, there is meaning to what she is learning instead of simply counting on her fingers. We are still in the beginning part of the book, however, I do believe that when we get to the big subtraction/addition numbers in the book that her face will not glaze over with that "I can't do that" look. She'll be equipped to handle and will continue to be excited to see her own progress. Thank you so very much for this book. It's been just what we need!

"Two Plus Two Is Not Five, by Susan Greenwald, has been instrumental in helping my children visualize math concepts. It turns a bunch of numbers on paper into something real and tangible for my children to work with. As I was teaching them some of the math tricks in this book, I realized Susan (the author) had found a simple way to explain exactly how I actually see math problems in my mind. I never could have explained it this well. This curriculum is easy enough for my 5-year-old - he loves it and asks for more - and yet is still interesting enough to help my 9-year-old fill in some gaps in her math knowledge without being bored. I highly recommend this curriculum. (Reviewed by Kimberly Duell for OklahomaHomeschool.com)

Susan Greenwald has created a no-nonsense book that will not only encourage your kids to stretch their math skills, but they will do it with ease and fun. This book belongs in every school.


Judith Briles, author
The Confidence Factor
Money Smarts
Smart Money Moves for Kids

This book was so helpful to me at at time when my child was failing timed math tests at age 7- big F's on his papers- he started calling himself stupid and saying he was "bad in math." I was told to do more games and flash cards- but the systematic program and tricks in this book were really helpful. I thought this author amazing- she personally corresponded to me during a difficult time. I really recommend this book for any family struggling with what comes easy to some children- there is more than one way to learn math facts- and this was very helpful. I highly recommend.

the book was in excellent condition, and was shipped to my house right on time.

I have used at least 3 editions of English Simplified while going to high school and college. I have foolishly 'lent' each one to a friend who was in need for a paper they were working on and have never seen the book(s) again. I just recently completed my MBA and I used English Simplified constantly!! Again, I lent it to a friend and they moved out of town to work on their PhD. I'm buying the latest for my Middle schooler who is starting to write papers and buying yet another copy for myself to reference at work. This is a quick, concise, easy to use and understand reference.

This is the best concise reference for English grammar I have seen. It will get you through high school, college, graduate school, and life. Everyone needs to have a copy of this book.

Since I had been out of school for 20 years, I needed something to refresh my grammar skills. This is the perfect size handbook for all grammar and MLA needs.

I'm in tenth grade and am using this book in my English class. Take it from me, a girl who has lived through many a boring and completely useless grammar book, that this book is gold. Not only does it explain grammar and mechanics in a simple (hence the title) way, but it actually is interesting (well, as far as grammar goes...). It appeals to the average reader because it uses modern examples, not the junk from the fifties ("Julie helped her mother in the kitchen while Dan helped his father with the car"). For example, on the first "grammar" day, all of my fellow classmates were astounded that it mentioned "Shakespeare In Love" (the movie).

The book is also very well organized and it is easy to find what you are looking for. There is a good index in the back and a "Quick Locator Chart" on the back cover. Each section is easy to understand with useful charts and examples. And the book is very thin, so for all of us who are suffering from horrible backs due to our heavy backpacks, this book is a gift from heaven.

I urge all teachers to use this book in class, and students who need extra help with grammar of mechanics. Some of my friends from other schools actually use this book so that they can understand the grammar they are leaning from their grammar books.

Janet Levine's book, "The Enneagram Intelligences" is a very welcome addition to the world of education. I found the material comprehensive, very readable, and applicable to all levels of education from grade school to corporate training. I highly recommend the book to all my corporate clients.

Janet Levine has performed a significant service to teachers and learners of all types with this remarkable book. The author remains true to the oral tradition of Enneagram teaching, as she allows teachers and students of each type to speak in their own words about their thoughts, feelings and sense of themselves in the world. For people encountering the Enneagram for the first time, the energies and strategies of each type come alive in these pages, as the workshop experience of hearing panels of each type speak, is captured and encapsulated on these pages.

Teachers of all ages can delve right in, finding ways to apply insights from the Enneagram, an elegant, accurate model of nine personality types, in their professional lives. As we interact with colleagues and with students, the Enneagram forms a framework for exploring our core assumptions, motivations and reactions to situations. As Janet Levine presents these strategies, the Enneagram emerges as a vivid "tapestry" of human behavior that encompasses many facets of our whole personality. Our Enneagram Intelligence includes cognition, the ways we acquire and process information, and extends beyond this into the way we live our lives.

As a teacher, researcher and author who is applying the Enneagram in her practice, Janet Levine brings experience, understanding, passion and compassion to the work she describes in this volume. As a pioneer in this field, she informs and inspires readers to take insights from this book forward to form their own educational experiments and transform classroom dynamics. As Levine writes, "The Enneagram model is playing a part in the revolution in education." (p. 282) Let this book sharpen your self-awareness and expand your vision, as you gaze into the Enneagram, a "lens for the 21st century."

Janet Levine's book, "The Enneagram Intelligences" is a very welcome addition to the world of education. I found the material comprehensible, very readable, and applicable to all levels of education from grade school to corporate training. I highly recommend the book to all my corporate clients.

As an educator, understanding my learning and teaching style can help me assist students more effectively. I have read many other books about teaching, and learning styles but none with such a fresh and unique approach to the topic. The expanded self-knowledge I have gained as a result of using the information contained in the book has helped me improve my teaching!

While the audience aimed at for this book appears to be educators, Ms. Levine's book on the enneagram is valuable for a wider audience. As she points out, we are all teachers and students in many aspects of our lives, and The Enneagram Intelligences give a clearer picture on how to effectively communicate and convey ideas, and how to understand the biases of ourselves and our students that can help or hinder this process.

Ms. Levine uses the "oral tradition" of enneagram presentation by using real people to describe their type and how it affects their perspectives on learning and living. I personally found her many descriptive examples of the characteristics of each type to be quite illuminating on identifying and understanding the worldview of each of the types. Her examples are much clearer than those in Helen Palmer's works, probably because Ms. Levine focused specifically on the area of education and learning styles. I especially gained insight on how my own enneastyle filters my perceptions and actions.

This book is especially valuable as a general work and as a reference guide to be referred to many times. I highly recommend it!

This is a really cool book. Great for artist. filled with tons of great info, techniques and referrence materials.
i would highly recommend this book to any one who likes to draw. you won't be disappointed.

This is a light-hearted, profusely illustrated book on the making of fantasy art, with a nice gallery of other artist's works in the back.
It is, though, not necessarily a book for present illustrators looking to get into the fantasy market; it is really more for a young person just starting out. Artists who are further along with fundamental skills in drawing and painting would benefit more from John Howe Fantasy Art Workshop, a more in-depth and less elementary approach. But for lovers of fantasy art, either book is a pleasure to see.

This is one of the better art books I have found up to date. It does give some instruction on painting and drawing but I feel is meant more for an advance student of fantasy art than a beginner. Some one with some art experience will find it very helpful in many areas. It is definitely one of my favorite additions to my own reference library.

This book was helpful for determining things like color choices for skin tones, and was inspirational for trees, and different creatures. Their choices of finished artist's works were neat. However, this book did not give much information for techniques in acrylics, which is what I work in. For people who need help drawing fantasy characters, and fleshing them out, this book is great, but I do this naturally, so it wasn't a really big help for me.

I found this book, and a few others like it to be absolutely indespensable when it comes to building a library for the functional artist within this genre. Well written, informative, and lavishly illustrated with how to's as well as finished peices meant to inspire the aspiring and the pros alike. Recommended.
John F Willis

This was full of helpful ideas. It is not what I would call a book, but a pamplet maybe. Need to buy more than one, so can give to teachers and others. I purchased one for our local Library.

This short and very practical pamphlet is the best quick read on dealing with kids who have been affected by fetal alcohol. Malbin writes clearly, with poetry but no syrup, and she reframes the very difficult behavior that often manifests in kids with FAS/E so that those who love them and/or care for them can develop attitudes that really help the kids, can cope with the disability, and can see beyond it. The author went through the fires of hell to be able to write this book, and every word is a treasure.

This is an excellent book for social workers, rehabilitation counselor's, drug and alcohol counselor's, mental health therapists, teacher's, doctor's, and parent's of FAS/FAE children. The research-based studies showing behavior and life=skills improvement after trying the new strategies of treatment is an eye-opener. Basically, it encourages a new way of thinking in treatment for this population.

This is a small booklet which contains some pretty good information. It is not a complete book, which is what I expected based on the listing and reviews.

Ms. Malbin provides insight and strategies that are effective for both professionals and families living with and loving children exposed prenatally. A FASD classic.

Like the author, I've experienced the same kind of frustration trying to learn about wines. This book lays out the terminology and information in a simple, easy to remember format. From what I've learned from this book, I've been able to help correct some of my own friends' misconceptions about different wines. Thank you Chad Satcher for such a useful resource. I look forward to one day graduating from Wine University!

Not only did I enjoy the reading of a book, which re-defines the educational process, but I feel as though this book is a perfect gift for everyone. The author took a complex field and broke it down in order to make it an easy read for everyone. I never felt as though he was speaking down to me, or that my lack of knowledge was in question. He just did an absolutley wonderful job writing something for everyone.

The author is obviously very skilled and experienced in wine. The author demonstrates excellent skills in teaching people about wine. He must be a brilliant man from a great family!

I was somewhat amazed at the authors approach to wine, but was pleasantly suprised at the outcome. I believe he truly wanted to help me and not just sell me a book. A fantastic buy for everyone, but what a gift idea for beginners.

Chad has created a true beginners book for novices. Too many of these "intro" books are nothing more than a few pages for beginners and then three hundred pages for experts. It blew me away attempting to read these books when I was first starting and they were talking about regions and varities. STICK TO THE BASICS!!! That is exactly what Mr. Satcher did. Wonderful book for newcomers and a good reminder for old timers.