Education Teaching Books

Highly recommended reading....Fullan uses current research to highlight thoughts leaders can use to sustain improvement within thier organizations.....

Despite the positive reaction some of my friends had to this book, I have to say that I remain unmoved. As a whole, I find this book to be a disappointment.

Not to say that there aren't many worthwhile things to find in this book. Simply reminding readers of the importance of sustaining success (which is an entirely different animal than achieving short-term results) makes this book valuable. I am particularly interested in his assertions about the effective leader's ability to train new leaders to follow in his footsteps as an important part of sustainability.

On the other hand, this book--for all of the good things it has to say--is shockingly poor in its prose. For a book as slim as this one, it is a trial to get through. The number of numbered lists is mind-boggling as is the number of footnotes and references to others' work. Synthesis can be valuable but it should be more readable than this. In addition, Mr. Fullan makes a number of assertions that he does very little to back-up with data or specific evidence.

When it comes right down to it, this book reads like a series of platitudes about leadership that doesn't really bring its point home. Mr. Fullan may have a lot of valuable help to give but a reader will find it hard to gather it from this, even if he makes it to the end.

This book is fabulous!! We just started "The Writer's Workshop" at our school. The 'Writing Whizardry' has helped me start and stay on track. It has an example lesson and extra resourse on the bottom of each page. If you're having difficulty finding fun ways to teach various writing activities, this is the book for you.

In Writing Whizardry: 60 Mini-Lessons To Teach Elaboration & Writer's Craft, Maity Schrecengost provides classroom teachers with sixty self-contained "mini-lessons" targeting a specific writer's techniques or elaboration skills, as well as teaching the tips, tricks and techniques for successful writing. Illuminated with examples of polished writing and writing that needs revision, Writing Whizardry enables students to practice the skills they need to write clear and well-elaborated narrative and expository writing. Writing Whizardry is an ideal classroom curriculum supplement and is highly recommended for home schooling studies as well.

I am a teacher in LAUSD and use this instead of some of the literacy programs we use. A very easy to use system.

This is a good basic introduction to the complicated area of special education law. The principals are discussed and illustrated in real life situations. Relevance to IDEA, ADA, and NCLB are integrated. This is a great resource for teachers and parents of special needs children.

This is a really great way to organize teaching strategies to include all cultures and all types of learners. The methodologies build communities and teach appreciation of diversity, not division.

Awesome Book! Awesome Concept! I am on my way to observe a Tribes classsroom in my own community

When I completed the Tribes course, I received this book. I have found it to be a fantastic resource for the activities associated with Tribes and I would highly recommend it to anyone who was interested in promoting a safe learning environment.

This is a wonderful book, not just for the professional educator, but also for parents, group leaders, or those who may just want to experience community building and sharing. This is truly a great book!!

I am a Teacher Assistant and work with Special Need students. The Teacher and myself use tools in this book everyday. It offers fantastic ideas and strategies for the classroom, no matter what age group. I work with 7yr old to 12 yr olds. They all benefit from the activities in this book. It is a good idea to have it with you in the classroom and to use it spontaneously when an incident may arise. It is a very user fiendly book. I highly recommend it.

I would recommend this book to anyone teaches or works with children. This such an inspirational book with great ideas. I think every superintendent all the way down to the para-professionals need to read this book. It will totally change your way of thinking... for the better.

I am learning so much about learning styles and how to really help the kids to understand what you are teaching. It's great.

I have just finished one of the best books about teaching that I have ever read. It is written by a teacher of first and second graders, but the work she does with these culturally, linguistically,and economically diverse children goes far beyond the work covered in most high school AP courses. Whether you are a teacher or not, whether you teach first grade or graduate school, I highly, highly, highly recommend this book.

I own this book and used it during my master's classes in education. It is a wonderful text to get you thinking about the different ways social studies and the world can be presented to your students while still meeting standards. I highly recommend it just for the sheer joy of the love of teaching Mary Cowhey teaches us!

At its core, Autism isn't a deficit of intellect or capacity - its a deficit or misalignment of motivation and engagement.

If you can motivate; if you can keep the child engaged - then the possibilities are enormous.

Motivation and engagement aren't simple to achieve, though. And "giving the child the whale" won't work as a party trick. Children with autism have a keen sense of sincerity and authenticity.

This book is great and a wonderful resource for parents, teachers, supports and friends and family of a child with ASD.

My only word of caution is that, as with all things, balance is really important. Sometimes "giving the child the whale" will contribute to engagement. But sometimes, the attachment of the child's attention to the "whale" is so great, that the child will then find it difficult to engage with anything or anyone other than the "whale" itself.

But that's ok. Because the suggestions in this book aren't party tricks. They aren't cute little tips that will automatically transform a child struggling with a loud and confusing classroom or other environment into a model student. The suggestions are gateways. They're about motivating the adult to think about things differently, to work a little harder (with less judgment) to find the keys to motivation and engagement.

Paula Kluth has done it again! Co-writing with Patrick Schwartz, she has created another valuable, useful guide for teachers. "Just Give Him the Whale" provides information on what teachers can do to help students who have "deep, consuming fascinations" to increase communication, reduce anxiety, facilitate inclusion, and learn academic content.

It did leave me wanting more in-depth information about how the ideas presented could be expanded for general use in the classroom; the book had many short and specific examples. However, I found that the ideas presented were very relevant and practical for both general education and special education teachers. I believe that if the ideas were used, it would help increase student motivation, reduce many challenging behaviors, and help create a positive, caring classroom community. According to "Just Give Him the Whale," all of this can be done in a way that is positive and respectful to students with autism.

Nicole Caldwell, M.Ed.
Editor of Positively Autism

It's hard to decide what I love most about this book. Throughout the book Kluth and Schwartz combine three essential elements for working with All children: Respecting difference, challenging assumptions, and empowering learners. From the cover to the last page they get the reader thinking about the biases that influence how we view children(they're fascinations, not obssessions!) and they offer hands-on, realistic strategies for bringing out the best in all students. They tell stories from teachers and students who have found success in creative ways. It's inspiring and positive throughout. I bought a copy for myself, then ordered several more to share.

Great book-- filled with dozens of examples and has ideas on using fascinations to calm, comfort, inspire, teach literacy and math, and support social skills & communication efforts. Lots of good stories too and applications for elementary and secondary classrooms. My friend recommended it to me & now I am recommending it to both parents and teachers.

Kluth and Schwarz have done it again! They have authored another easy to read and immensely helpful book on the heels of "You're Welcome." The primary tenants of "You're Welcome" - specifically collaboration, differentiation, adaptation and positive behavior supports - all carry forward into the world of students with fascinations, passions and interest areas. Even though this text is focused on students with autism as an attribute, readers will find that it is tremendously helpful with a wide range of individuals who have fascinations, passions and strong interests with or without disabilities. Similarly, even though this text is directed towards educators, others, such as parents, family members, advocates and even employers can and will find wonderful ways to connect with and support people who have fascinations, passions and strong interests. Thanks you for another great book. I'm looking forward to reading the companion children's book about Pedro and his whale and to sharing it with the children in my life.

I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed this book, "Teacher Under Construction". I am seeking my first teaching position right now and this book was a huge help in my preparation. This book will be a great reference resource for me.

This is an AWESOME overview of teaching in a junior high! Spend 2 days reading this, and you'll save yourself 5 years worth of trial-and-(lots of) error!

NOTE: Review written by Jim T., (K-12 instructor), Orange County CA. I used Donna's status.

I taught 7th grade for the first time last year as a veteran high school teacher and learned by trial and error some of the things discussed in this book. While experience is the best teacher, it was great to read it from someone who really knows what they are doing. A Must.

NOTE: I am submitting this as a copy of the review from AvanteGuard Teacher's website, since it is what I might say.

TOP PICK: If I'd had Teacher Under Construction, a book written specifically for middle-school teachers, I suspect I would have gotten more sleep, fewer headaches, and organized my time more effectively. This book is a must-have gem for the new or initially-licensed middle-school teacher. Your pedagogy classes don't cover this stuff, and it seems that too few resources are dedicated to the squirrelly (but infinitely fun) middle schooler. (TOP FIVE AvantGarde Teacher Review)

Dr. Parks' book "Teacher Under Construction" is great! I am currently in college now to major in mid-level social studies and English. This little book really opened my eyes to the things I should prepare for. I am quite nervous about teaching but now I am more confident. Thank you for writing this, Dr. Parks! Tessa Suzanne White

This text includes a great number of book lists for literature for each genre.
It provides a great description and numerous examples for each type of
literature. It highlights all the award winning books. Finally, this text provides
lots of ideas for promoting literature in the classroom.

Book in excellent shape and quickly shipped would definitly buy from seller again.

This is one of the best overviews of children's literature I have EVER seen. I plan on using this book in my new job as a Library Media Specialist. Each children's genre is covered as well as outstanding books in each genre. A must have if you are working with children's or YA literature! BRAVO!

I needed this book for a university class I'm taking. It was by far the best price compared to the university bookstore and a few other sources I checked.

Excellent information and easy to follow. This book is written in such a pattern that anyone will be able to understand.

I am in my last yr at my college in a degree of education and this book is AWESOME! The only thing I do not like is that it has no glossary. But they words are italized and the chapter is basically spelled out for you.

It was a wonderful first time for me purchasing from Amazon. The books came in perfect conditions and in a timely manner. I am very satisfied with the results of my purchase.