Schools and Instruction Books

I used this book to study before taking the Foundations of Reading MTEL. It was an excellent resource. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who needs some help in preparing for any Literacy Instruction exam.

This book is an excellent resource to use when preparing for MTEL's foundations of reading exam. I have bought many other books but none of them cover exactly what you need to study than this book. I would definitely recommend that you use this book and its a great price too.

This book was my one & only source of study for the MTEL F.O.R test. I had heard nothing but horror stories from people who had taken this exam. I have been out of college for 18 years and therfore out of practice taking exams. I used this for the F.O.R and not only passed but did very well. I also bought MTEL (the yellow & black book) for the Communications & Literacy and passed with flying colors. Good Luck!!

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.

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!

Carol Avery offers her view to writers workshop for teachers who teach writing. The strategies used in the book can be adapted to fit other grade levels. Teachers will find this book to be a useful resource in the classroom.

The book gently guides you through literature experiences with children- specifics that are logical- pleasant reading that ignites the desire to go into the classroom day after day-

This text was an extremely easy text to read and one can relate so well with the real life classroom situations. I have taught for five years in the primary grades and by re-reading this book, it brought back the sense of fun that I have long since forgotten about with my classroom children.

When I entered my first year of teaching, I did not know where to begin. This book helped me implement and find success with my students' literacy development. This book has been a very valuable tool. We are lucky to have such a fine teacher's footsteps to follow.

Bravo to Carol Avery for writing such a wonderful book! "And With a Light Touch" contains chapter after chapter of helpful ideas that can be implemented in the classroom, but the author also has such an honest and insightful voice, I actually put aside the novel I was reading and looked forward to reading about Avery's adventures in the classroom! Avery books gives a gold standard of value to the often overlooked teacher's anecdote, I wish more folks would share the way she does. As a mother of a first grader, I was very curious as to what the experience of teaching and learning in the classroom was like, and this book gave me a real inside view. I balked at the textbook price for a paperback, but this book was worth every penny and I would recommend it to anyone interested in teaching, children, or a good story.

I am currently a student enrolled in the ECOT High School and I when I discovered this book I was excited to read it. I quickly bought myself a copy and couldn't put it down!! I think that more ECOT students need to read this book--it will really open your eyes and show you just how much work went into starting this school. ECOT has been wonderful for me because of my medical situation and I think this book made me appreciate it even more. I would definitely recommend it to anyone!!! Please read this book--it is definitely worth it!!

This is a great 'behind the scenes' look at one man's struggle to establish the nation's first public e-school. Sadly enough, many of the struggles the author faced stem from resistance posed by the educational establishment and its drive for self-preservation. While one might glibly assume a profit motive, the book reveals to us how the author's personal experiences drove him to beat the odds and make ECOT a reality. Rather than a money-making scheme, ECOT emerges as a labor of love.

One wonderful feature that maintained my interest was the student case history featured at the beginning of each chapter. These testimonials from successful ECOT graduates paint a wide and varied portrait of today's American students and the challenges they face. From school violence to teen pregnancy, lack of motivation, family illness and the demands of work, we get a firsthand account of the issues these students face and how the availability of publicly funded home e-schooling allowed them to cross the educational finish line.

Being one of the students featured in the book, I was thrilled when I first found out about the book. Upon reading it, I finally realizd how moch sweat and back breaking work went into ECOT. It truely has revolutionized the way that anyone will go to school. I enjoyed the time that I spent there, and can't wait until the day that it appears around the world.

I thought from the get-go, the book was mainly about Mr. Lager's approach to starting a school of this caliber, and I was right. From an idea to reality, this book really details what really went into making ECOT anything but an idea on a drawing board. I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the future of schooling as we know it for one reason. It's here, alive and well and ready to go.

Bill Lager has truly changed the way I think about education. No more finger pointing, he has taken responsibility that the traditional education system can't - or won't. I highly recommend this book for anyone who is interested in alternative forms of education for K-12 and for those who don't believe that online education can work. Lager has proven it can, and will - for a long time to come.

This was a great book; I really enjoyed reading it. More than anything, I loved reading the stories about the students whom were apart of the first e-classroom. This book proves a very important lesson; if you work hard and believe fully in what you are working at, anything is possible.

Don't be misled by the simple pictures and storybook style into thinking this a just a book for children. I have given this book to several adult friends, including some who are professional artists. We all learned something from Molly Bang's clear and compelling explanations of the principles of visual composition.

I love this book and using it for teaching basic design ideas...a fellow teacher uses it in Psychology! The simple story of Little Red Riding Hood serves as the basis for discussion how line, color, shape, etc. work in art. Such a great idea...wish there were others of this type. I will be using it to teach the elements of art in Art History this fall.

I can't say I'm overly well versed in composition, namely because most books on the subject are so dense. But in Picture This, the author has found easily understandable way to show the basic fundamentals of art.

Rather than teach composition with diagrams drawn over old master paintings like some books, Molly Bang uses simple bits of paper to demonstrate how shape, color and placement can affect the mood of a picture. And once you understand these principles, it's easy to see how they can be applied to more complex artwork.

Bang's pace is very deliberate. Every change to her construction paper compositions is well documented and explained. It's that simplicity and directness that allow her to communicate such a large amount of knowledge in only 96 pages.

And don't let the short page count and the fact that this book is recommended for grade schoolers fool you. This is a book every artist should have her shelf.

Using the story of Little Red Riding Hood this book is focusing on the basic principles of composing images.

Reduced to the maximum and using simple colors and arrangements of basic elements like circles or triangles, the drawings as well as the short, precise text within this book are pointing out, how simple and complex arrangements within pictures work, transfer obvious (and hidden) messages, how philosophy and psychology witin pictures works. Therefor its a book telling the story why pictures may lie, may influence, may manipulate an observer even though obviously just showing "reality".

Whether you are taking photographs, drawing or designing - this book is a absolute must! A photo/image tells more than thousand words - here you will find the answer how and why. Great to read and watch, easy and fast to understand - even though dealing with a most complex matter.

Finally a personal statement and hint for an esthetes: if you like to possess a book with an outer shape and appearance that promises, what the contents keeps, than you have to buy the nice hard cover version instead of the cheaper soft cover version - it will pay off for sure.

This book is amazing...the illustrations are simple, clear and compelling and the narrative approach to understanding the art elements and principles makes this rather dry topic into a fascinating tale. I have purchased several copies of this book for friends and plan to use it in my middle school art classroom.

When I decided to become a teacher, I knew that I wanted to do things differently. Richard Kent's book gives me the information I need to transform learning in my classroom into dynamic, student-driven exploration. Teachers will tell you it's too hard to run a classroom this way. It's too much work to teach students the skills they need to produce a portfolio. If you have children, you know that it's just too sad to hear them say, "Leonardo daVinci is boring." Something is missing in schools' curriculum and instruction today. We need to make some changes in education, and portfolios appear to be a good solution.

Before I entered Mr. Kents class I was utterly confused and then I read his book and it really opened up my mind to portfolio work and now I feel like I can do anything in his and any other english class. Mr. Kent is the worlds best teacher and a wonderful author!

As a student of Room 109, I have experienced the use of portfolio's as a teaching aid. What a wonderful way to teach your classrooms so that a student can explore and learn on an individual basis. If you walk into Room 109, you experience the magic ad artistry that this idea has brought about. As we come into the 21st century, the views on how we teach must change with the times. Portfolio's are a new, and much needed change to traditional teaching. The book provides a "how to" for starting this type of class.

This book is a must for any educator that is interested in portfolio assessment and individualized student curriculum. Although the focus is on english, all educators can benefit from the examples and ideas that are presented in this enjoyable and easy to read book. Inspiring and informational!

Rich Kent embodies the metaphor "teacher as guide." In this text, he uses example of the richness of student input in something that is so much more than just a "how-to" approach to portfolios and portfolio assessment. I strongly encourage a deep reading of this text to make meaning of the real purpose, process, product of student learning.

This book really impacted me and the direction to go in my administration and teaching roles! I am a better leader and teacher b/c of the principles taught in this book! Gives a great approach on how to inspire others to accomplish more and succeed. Easy book to read! It is set up in a fictional story. The story was slow to grasp at first because I kept saying, "get to the point". Once the story was set up it began to pour out applicable information that the fictional story really brought out insights into. I really liked it after that. that is why i recommend this book to all educators. It doesn't make you feel like a failure. We are just normal and trying to do the best we can and wonder why everyone seems so exhausted and bored in schools. This book gave me a great approach to create energy within others! And it is a very simple approach.

Note: This book doesn't really talk about discipline or methodologies or theories, but provides a practical approach of how to improve the quality of instruction, and increase student and teacher satisfaction. Through the fiction side of the book it allows you to observe a successful school and one that is failing and how the failing school becomes a success! I now am going to take my classes to a new level of energy b/c of this book!

Easy read! At first it doesn't seem like it is going to apply b/c it is building the story. Then it catches steam and flows with good stuff.

Clearly, one of the best books I've ever read regarding education. This book was a required reading for a graduate course, but it should be required for any educator who truly wants to help make children more successful. It made me examine how I have been ZAPPING (encouraging, motivating) students and colleagues and SAPPING (demotivating, discouraging) students and colleagues. Although I can't go to the 12th dimension with Ralph, I'm hoping I will look at my students, my school in a way that will allow me to be more of a ZAPPER and less of a SAPPER.

This easy-to-read book sends a powerful message concerning the importance of empowerment and ownership in education. The lessons that can be learned from this publication will remain beneficial as long as education is an existing institution. Everyone should place himself/herself in the shoes of Joe Mode and see how the empowerment process can and should be implemented. To see firsthand how empowerment can improve teacher and student performance is totally astounding.

This book should be required reading for every school administrator starting with the State Commissioner of Education.

This book is light-hearted and easy to read. It provides the reader with a real sense of how to empower employees to create the best school possible. After reading this book, you will feel empowered to make a difference in your school. A must for all practicing school administrators.

Zapp! should be required reading for every educator in the USA. Its an easy read and an inspirational account of a principal who wants more for his students, staff and himself. The power to empower is underestimated in our schools today. Zapp!could change any educaator with the desire to grow.

This book discusses the shift in American education from "values-neutral" and "strictly content" education toward a different and necessary ideal: educating youngsters to live a "good life." (This is the goal that movie watchers saw in the final scene of "Saving Pvt. Ryan," where the older Ryan asks his wife and children, "Did I lead a good life?") Both authors are from the Center for the Advancement of Ethics and Character at Boston University. They write primarily for educators and have teachers in mind. They promote the idea that education is in "its fullest sense is inescapably a moral enterprise" (p. 190).

I found the book to be well writeen and filled with many good examples. I particularly liked the Appendices (76 pages), filled with good advice. Ryan and Bohlin also discuss how character education is different from "values clarification" and "teaching a viewpoint." In character education, students discover the importance of (or lack of) virtues; that there are multiple answers to moral questions; that characters in literature and history "grow into" their moral positions, and that character education wishes to inculcate the importance of "knowing good, seeing good, and doing good."

This is the coming age in U.S. education. This book along with some others (William Damon, The Moral Child; Bringing in a New Era in Character Education; Thomas Lickona, Educating for Character) will provide a good theoretical background. Ryan and Bohlin warn us away from pre-packaged character education activities, and, as a result, I am not quite sure where to go from here (which is why I took off one star).

I hope you enjoy the book.

Few are the resources that leave parents and teachers both inspired and eager to continue in their task as educators. Engaging, practical and easy to read, 'Building Character in Schools' provides an uplifting view on how our children and young can become the great persons that they can be. A must read for anyone who cares about the young and our future society.

This is a wonderful, easy-to-read book about character education. It provides coherent, *non-religious* arguments in favor of character education, and then provides some practical guidelines and resources for implementation. In the wake of Columbine, how can anybody question the need for character education, particularly in the public schools?

This excellent book shows teachers and school officials how to create a character-building educational program and make it work.

Timely and on target, Building Character in Schools reads quickly and provides practical insights for today's educators and parents as they struggle to help children develop integral personalities. It is a must read for teachers who see their students as the future of our society, who need to develop habits and a vision that empower them to become honest, upright and noble citizens.

Extremely practical and useful book! This book was easy to read and to use.

The book was exactly what I needed for my Educational Administration classes. It was a required book for my graduate studies.

This book is a companion to Barnhardt's work on the school portfolio. It is a beautiful introduction to basic data analysis for teachers and administrators in today's schools. The introduction to data bases, the importance of clear identification of dissagregation points and simple but critical rules of good action research make it a must for anyone interested in real accountability and reflective practice.

Being in the educational system I have found this resource to be very helpful in our work w/ educational reform.

Our whole school district and infact 12 out of 13 school districts in the state are using this book along w/ Vickie's other book on School Portfolios.

Directing The Choral Music Program by kenneth h. Phillips is exceptional and
well researched. It has a wealth of information that is easily accessible and
understood. Mr. Phillips clearly loves his subject matter and has a passion
for helping others to excel in directing choral music. This is a wonderful
resource book !

To all current and future choral directors: this is a must-read book!
I wish I had this book back in college for my choral methods class. This book is full of wonderful tips and practical knowledge that will help you out tremendously in the classroom (rehearsal strategies, classroom management, etc.). I often run into books that have unrealistic lesson plans and expectations for music students, but this book hits on everything you need to make a choir successful. If you have to buy a different book for a college methods course, buy this one on top of what you have now!

This is an excellent book that is helping me to develop the performance of my choral group in my church, all information and details are written in here.

There are many books out there that discuss conducting gesture and pedagogical approaches to running a rehearsal, and they are of enormous value. However, many choral conductors, even those with advanced degrees, feel underprepared when it comes to "real world" scenarios--"How do I build and recruit a choir?", "How should I do warm ups?", "How do I decide on a program/plan a tour?" This book addresses these issues and more, looking at the complete tasks of a choral conductor. In addition to sections on choral adminsitration, rehearsal and performance planning, choral techniques, and professional development, there is a list of recommended choral repertory, sorted by parts, difficulty, and even multicultural origin. I would strongly recommend this book to any choral conducting student or new choral conductor.

This is an excellent, practical text for everything related to managing a choral music program. While I normally do not read textbooks cover to cover, I did with this and found a wealth of information that I will be able to apply to my choir classes. This would be particularly helpful for college students or inexperienced choral directors, as it gives specific techniques and exercizes that can be applied to students of any age or experience level. As a veteran teacher, it was helpful to read this book and be reminded of the "basics", especially in developing a personal philosophy about the role of choral music in the schools and community. Highly recommended text.

I have used this book since it's publication and it is a wonderful classroom resource for anyone involved with handbuilding in clay. The examples are authentic--you know they really were made by children. The project ideas are very timely and especially geared to younger children. A must for any visual art library.

This book has been very helpful for myyoung children's clay classes. We successfully completed several projects from this book and everyone was happy: teacher, kids, parents. It was fun seeing the older kids come over from their wheels and be jealous of the little kids' projects. The book has also been a source of joy to me since the animal projects we did in class were so much fun, I continued the projects long after class was over.

The writing is clear, sometimes sparse, but the pictures are good. I also appreciated the associated learning that can accompany the projects (or vice versa).

The past three years I have had the privilege of chairing an exhibition of K-12 student work in clay for the NC Pottery Center located in Seagrove, NC. This year my grant was generous enough for me to present each teacher who participated in our exhibiton a copy of Ellen Kong's book, The Great Clay Adventure. Each receipient was thrilled and eager to begin new clay projects with students.

We at the Pottery Center feel confident that distributing this incredible and inspiring book across our clay rich state of 100 counties will definitely stimulate our next generation of potters!!! Thank you, Ellen Kong!!

The concise, clearly worded directions are easy to follow. No wasted words; no partial explanations. In the photographs accompanying each project, I like the mix of student and mature work. Also commendable are the explanations of how basic handbuilding techniques can be combined to produce lively ceramic art. All in all, The Great Clay Adventure stimulates the imagination. I highly recommend this book for clay artists, art teachers and school libraries.

Barbara McKenzie, Ph.D.
Professional Potter
Instructor, Durham Arts Council

I have been looking for just the right book to help me get started doing workshops with children in my small town. Today I came upon "The Great Clay Adventure" and I am delighted. The pictures are clear and colorful, the instructions easy to follow and 'extensions' given at the end of each chapter will enhance the total clay experience. I will add this book to my library and will use it often.