Massachusetts Books

This 2007 edition from XAMonline is a "must have" for anyone taking the Massachusetts State Teachers Certification Exam. Not only does it cover all subject areas (language arts, mathematics, science and technology/engineering, and child development), it is divided into 18 competencies and more skills that break the study down into segments that are clear and simple to follow. Each skill serves as an organized and complete learning unit. For those wishing to get a little extra, XAMonline provides more than 30 links (one or more for each competency) to websites that may further enrich your study experience. The illustrations throughout the guide are an excellent "visual" explanation of concepts covered by the certification exam. The sample test given at the end of the guide--with its answer key, rationales, and constructed responses--is a "must try" after you've gone through this "must have" guide. You might be surprised to find how well the guide has prepared you! Not to forget the study and testing tips at the beginning of the book. Simple as these tips might seem, they are excellent tools that you "must not" forget. Overall, this product is the best teacher out there for anyone studying to be a Massachusetts State certified teacher. A sure winner!

I was pleasantly surprised to find this book so readable. This issue is a concern for all parents, educators, youth group leaders, and others who care about raising responsible citizens. Drs. Prothrow-Stith and Spivak write as if they are talking to you over a cup of coffee and explain the multi-faceted, grass roots, common sense approach to understanding why violence is so much a part of American society. While the statistics are frightening, the over all tone of the book is positive. They describe what can be done and encourage us to do it.

This is my kind of art book, filled with truly awful paintings, all with an explanatory text in the finest critical doubletalk. I laughed out loud several times reading this, and that makes it invaluable in these grim days. Why doesn't Frank Gehry build a museum for these guys?

I would have given this book four stars, but the Ninth Mass.
Battery is one of my favorite units at Gettysburg. This book is
not only a fine collection of letters, it is a MUST for anyone
interested in the Ninth Massachusetts Battery. A bargain at any
price!

Michael Dumanis's My Soviet Union is relentless, in all the best ways. It has the sort of obsessive energy that I admire, feeling more forged than constructed. Smelted, not carved. Anyway, it's a swinging for the fence book, and I'm enjoying that. The book reminds me, more in its power than in its voice, a bit of Mark Strand.

This is a great, insightful short novel. The political events of the time are brought into the story with their relevance made clear. The gruesome murder is such a bizarre anomaly for Martha's Vineyard. I kept thinking the other shoe was going to drop and there would be a happy ending but, as reality goes, there was no resolution. The author does a great job following all the leads that were (seemingly) forgotten and revealing how the turn of events turned into a dusty mystery from long ago. I applaud the author revisiting the mystery and asking the questions that should have been asked years ago.

Author Charles Leslie Glenn believes in the most noble objectives of public schools, but he is careful to think about whether those objectives have been achieved. While he was a state education official in Massachusetts he had unmatched access to archival material about Horace Mann and Mann's efforts to establish compulsory school attendance in the United States. Glenn also uses his knowledge of French and Dutch and his first-hand experience with Europe to provide historical and comparative perspective on what was happening in other countries at the same time the United States made government-operated schools compulsory. The Myth of the Common School is so thoroughly researched that the footnotes alone are worth the price of the book, but the thinking in the book is so original and deep that Glenn helps you learn things none of the earlier authors have put together so clearly and convincingly. A fine book, not to be missed.

This delightful collection of Irish lore will tickle and touch old and young readers alike. I really enjoyed this book.

While on the island of Nantucket I read this book and used it to take my own walking tour of many of the houses and historic buildings on the island. It is extremely well written and had hundreds of full color photos of the buildings, ocean, boats, and all that makes Nantucket so special. A must read for those planning a trip to the island and for those who visited and want to relive the pleasure of their trip.

Though I've never been to Nantucket, this book absolutely makes me want to go, the next time I'm on the East Coast. In the meantime, I can flip through this gorgeous book and dream. The photography is alluring and recipes so inventive and interesting. Some of them seem a little cheffy, but for the most part they look easy enough to make for a summer dinner party. Plus, the profiles of the restaurantuers make me want to try their recipes! It makes a great gift.