Customer Reviews (2)

Not as titled
I returned this book as it is not as described. It seemed to recommend excluding rather than including students with disabilities.

No Invisible Children
This is the most incredible book. Every teacher, Pastor or individual that works with children with special needs must have a copy. It will help provide you with insight into the world of children with disabilities, and give you a better understanding of the problems that you might encounter while working with them. I read the first page and continued to read through the night. Could not put the book down. This is a book of solutions. The author is to be commended. ... Read more

Product Description

This step-by-step introduction to teaching thinking skills will be useful to teachers, librarians, and staff development personnel. Each thinking skill is presented in a one-page reproducible format (easily adapted to a transparency or PowerPoint slide), followed by several self-contained activities teaching that skill using fairy tales and fantasy books as the basis. Over 30 skills are included, ranging from deductive reasoning to inferential and perceptual thinking. An ideal resource for gifted education teachers, this is the first book in this format to provide such a breadth of coverage.

Customer Reviews (1)

Great for reproducibles
Nancy Polette's book is a great addition to any elementary or middle school classroom or library.This is a fantastic tool for any teacher wanting to reinforce critical thinking skills in their students.The techniques that are addressed in this book focus on many aspects of thinking and address each skill with an activity that is orientated around a familiar fairy tale.

Polette stresses the fact that "In teaching the anatomy of a bird's wings, we must not allow children to lose the awe of flight."It is important to her that children be able to expand their minds by using "meaningful stories that have withstood the test of time".Each skill in this book is introduced by a definition and then several examples.The introduction of each skill is designed on the page so that it may be reproduced as a transparency.The skills are followed by several activities that may also be reproduced for classroom use as well.

Some of the skills that this book focuses on are: Analyzing Problems, Associative Thinking, Inferring, and Perceptual Thinking to name just a few.A few of the fairy tales and fantasies that the book uses are: The Ugly Duckling, Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes, The Wizard of Oz, and the Three Little Pigs.

This book is mainly geared for elementary students in grades 1-6; however, I believe that even high school students could always benefit from extra reinforcement of critical thinking skills. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for activities to use that are a little bit out of the ordinary and fun for the students.
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Product Description
Navigate politics, paperwork, and legal issues

Find your instructional style and make learning fun for your students!

Gain the upper hand on your first day of school! This friendly guide reveals what they didn’t teach you in your education classes, offering practical advice and tons of real-life examples to help you set up and maintain an orderly classroom, engage your students, establish a grading system, and develop positive relationships with parents and school administrators.

The Dummies Way

• Explanations in plain English
• "Get in, get out" information
• Icons and other navigational aids
• Tear-out cheat sheet
• Top ten lists
• A dash of humor and fun

Customer Reviews (19)

Great!!
I really liked this book. I was an easy read, very helpful, and humorous! I was hesitant at first because it's written by a high school teacher, and I am elementary. However, his advice, tips, and warnings apply to ALL grade levels. This book skips the educational theories, and dives right into the important things that rookies really want to know: setting up your classroom for the 1st day; getting to know parents; how to deal with your administrators; and keeping your kids under control, among many other topics. The author includes many anecdotes from his teaching career. This book is excellent; I definitely recommend!

Amazing book
This book is by far my favorite book on the subject. I would recommend it to anyone starting out in their teaching career. Don't be put off by the "dummies" title.

Really Great Intro Book to Teaching
I am in the stages of deciding whether teaching would be a good career change for myself.Michael Kelley's book has really helped me get a clear picture of what to expect in the world of teaching.It is very easy to read and fun too -- he has a wonderful sense of humor and has some great antidotes.I highly recommend this book.This one will be going in my "to keep" pile as I have highlighted quite a few passages worth remembering.

Best how-to book ever
This book is one of the best I have read on being a teacher. I am a new teacher, but have been in the classroom for 10 years. The author has a very good insight on what it is all about, from dealing with the kids, the never ending responsibilities of being in charge of a classroom and dealing with the adults involved. W. Michael Kelley has a fantastic sense of humor and gives so many inspiring examples of how to make teaching fun, not only for the teacher but for the students as well. I highly recommend this book to rookie teachers as well as veteran teachers who feel they need to revamp their teaching styles and methods.

Casual but Informative Reading
This book is very easy to read and written in an informal style, but manages to provide great tips and information to make teaching a lot easier. I haven't started teaching yet, but this book has served to warn me about some problems and experiences I may encounter. It doesn't go over what they teach you in education courses, like lesson planning and educational psychology, but it does tell you things like what to do if you have to go to the bathroom in the middle of your class and gives management, organizational, and networking tips to help you avoid having to reinvent the wheel in some areas. Overall, a good read that I found hard to put down, because it was entertaining, helpful, and oh-so-true. ... Read more

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Your First Year of Teaching: Guidelines for Success is a collection of strategies on how to succeed and thrive during your first year of teaching.  This brief, practical text presents guidelines on how to manage your first day, differentiate instruction, cope with high-stakes testing, deal with parents and colleagues, set a homework policy, manage disruptive behavior, and other challenges.  This is a book you should keep close at hand for a year that promises to be both challenging and exhilarating.

Customer Reviews (1)

Pretty good read
This is a good book to review especially if you are new to the field.The price is also very good! ... Read more

Product Description
A first of its kind, the six-book Teaching Medicine Series summarizes the important literature of medical education and shares the collective experience and wisdom of expert medical educators who are actively engaged in teaching medicine.Written for medical teachers in the office, classroom, and hospital and for program leaders across the range of academic medicine, this series covers the full spectrum of responsibilities encompassed in medical education.Providing the keys to creating successful medical education programs, this series: Elucidates key theories of learning and methods of teaching Describes how teachers can empower learners, coach them, and serve as their mentors Offers useful advice for developing curricula and organizing and evaluating programs Examines the key elements of professionalism, mentorship, and education leadership Shares insights and memorable teaching moments from dozens of colleagues in the field of internal medicine Profiles the career paths of eminent leaders in internal medicine educationInformative, practical, and engaging, the Teaching Medicine Series is an excellent resource for all medical faculty interested in improving their teaching, learning more about educational tools and resources, and advancing their careers in medical education.Available as a complete set or for individual purchase. ... Read more

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Easy Lessons and Fresh Ideas for Creating Interactive Word Walls That Build Literacy Skills
Easily integrate word walls into your daily literacy activities! Sample lessons including photos of real classrooms, show you how to add to the walls each week, drawing words from poems, nursery rhymes, morning message and more to keep them fresh, invaluable reference tools for kids all year long. Develop kids' phonemic awareness with basic letter-sound correspondences with the ABC wall; spelling patterns with the Chunking Wall and many more. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Teaching Reading and Writing with Word Walls
I was very pleased with the condition of the book and the quick delivery rate!

Lots of Great Ideas
I wish I'd had this book when I started teaching - it has a ton of examples and ways to use word walls to teach reading.

Great, Practical Resource
If you are a novice at using a word wall or have had one in your classroom for some time, you will find this book to be a great, practical resource.It includes descriptions of many different kinds of word walls, not just the traditional wall with an alphabetical list of sight words. Also included are activities and lessons that you can use in conjunction with your word wall.

This Book Will Work!
I ordered this book unseen because her other book, Phonics That Work!, put a terrific glow on my teaching.

This one is just a good.Whether you are new to word walls, or if you've been using them for years you'llappreciate the fresh lessons and the sound theories Ms. Wagstaff provides. This is a book that will work in your classroom! ... Read more

Product Description
Google isn't up to the task when it comes to serious research, and though your patrons and students have heard of the invisible, or deep Web, they have no idea how to tap into it. You need practical tools and strategies for teaching them about the Web sources and specialized databases they will never find using everyday search engines. This book will show you in simple, nontechnical terms how to integrate the invisible Web into teaching opportunities wherever they occur: in a one-on-one teaching moment at the reference desk, or in a formal course. Estimated at 500 times the size of the visible Web, the invisible Web and the search skills needed to plumb its depths should be a part of every information literacy and research skills course. With this book you get expert teaching tips and scripts for informal instruction, plus model activities and assignments for the classroom. Statistics and summaries of relevant research will help you combat myths like Searching is Easy, or Everything Important is Free. Read this book too, to find out how the best deep Web search tools, including Complete Planet, Closer Look, and the Librarian's Internet Index, are evolving and what it all means for your library's future electronic collection development plans. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Rich Resource About a Rich Resource
[[ASIN:1555706339 Going Beyond Google: The Invisble Web in Learning and Teaching]

This book is cram-packed with ideas, activities, examples, illustrations, pedagogical tools, bibliographical references, Web links and more, all designed to energize serious Internet research.Teaching faculty, instruction librarians, researchers of any stripe, will find in Part I a thoughtful analysis of the nature of the Invisible Web and of why inexperienced researchers so often fail to discover its riches.But the practical strength of this book lies in the energy with which it collocates, in Parts II and III, techniques for using the Invisible Web and for teaching others to do so.For "Stage One" students, it does not shrink from starting with Web search basics, including search of the visible Web; for "Stage Two," it presents the concepts basic to understanding of the Invisible Web."Stage Three" is for advanced researchers.There follow suggestions for teaching about the Invisible Web in a variety of venues, specialized tools, and lists of useful graphics, audio and video materials, tutorials, and blogs.Rounding out the volume are a case study of a college student researching an economics paper, a chapter sampling Invisible Web research tools such as subject directories, databases, and specialized search engines, and an overview of trends in Internet research, particularly the "shifting boundaries" between the visible and Invisible Web. The riches of the Invisible Web to which authors Devine and Egger-Sider wish to draw attention are matched by the riches of their work on resources and techniques for learning and teaching about the world "beyond Google." ... Read more

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Creative, Skill-Building Activities for Exploring the Themes in These Popular Books
Lily, Chrysanthemum, Chester, and the other lovable characters in Kevin Henkes' books tickle and touch the hearts of kids everywhere. This creative and engaging author study will help you explore with your students the real-life conflicts and emotions experienced by his characters in true childlike fashion. Includes a profile of the author, skill-building activities to learn about character, plot, and setting, discussion ideas, interactive mini-books, and extensions in writing, math, art, music, movement, and more! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Winner
Do your K - 2 students love Lilly and her plastic purse?Are they wild about Wimberly? Celebrate the books of award-winning author-illustrator Kevin Henkes with this great resource book, perfect for both classroom teachers and home-schoolers.Youngsters and adults alike will enjoy these fresh and creative ideas that explore and extend Henkes' books.

My personal favorite activity?"Sorted and Packed To Go": Each student lists and categorizes items he/she might pack for a sleepover and then illustrates a nifty "Sleepover Bag" booket that's shaped like a suitcase. Clever!

Skill-building has never been so much fun.This book is a winner. ... Read more

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Product Description
Becoming an effective teacher can be quite painful and exhausting, taking years of trial and error. In The Art of Teaching, writer and critic Jay Parini looks back over his own decades of trials, errors, and triumphs, in an intimate memoir that brims with humor, encouragement, and hard-won wisdom about the teacher's craft. Here is a godsend for instructors of all levels, offering valuable insight into the many challenges that educators face, from establishing a persona in the classroom, to fostering relationships with students, to balancing teaching load with academic writing and research. Insight abounds. Parini shows, for instance, that there is nothing natural about teaching. The classroom is a form of theater, and the teacher must play various roles. A good teacher may look natural, but that's the product of endless practice. The book also considers such topics as the manner of dress that teachers adopt (and what this says about them as teachers), the delicate question of politics in the classroom, the untapped value of emeritus professors, and the vital importance of a settled, disciplined life for a teacher and a writer. Parini grounds all of this in personal stories of his own career in the academy, tracing his path from unfocused student--a self-confessed "tough nut to crack"--to passionate writer, scholar, and teacher, one who frankly admits making many mistakes over the years. Every year, thousands of newly minted college teachers embark on their careers, most with scant training in their chosen profession. The Art of Teaching is a perfect book for these young educators as well as anyone who wants to learn more about this difficult but rewarding profession. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

That law of life...
that one must grow or else pay more to remain the same, paraphrased from Norman Mailer's _Deerpark_ comes into mind as I wandered/wondered through Mr. Parini's work.
I particulary enjoyed the chapter on Robert Frost and the reflections on Socratic instruction, however, when he "waxes the nostalgic" the pages turn less rapidly and a sense of literay fatigue sets in the reader.
Mr. Parini seems to have a distain or at least a reluctance to acknowledge the imminent power of the electronic media as it relates to enhancing classroom instruction. Note page 132 where an instructor is damned with faint praise for his utilization of the current technology. Another telling instance of this perception is on page 150 where he writes that he will communicate with his son who will be a college freshman primarily by telephone, to use a contemporary colloquialism, "Duh" how about
email.
The reference that there is little value in the over the air media is simply not true, he mentions the Simpsons and South Park which contradics his argument immediately.
Most of the book is worthy as it promotes inspection into the evolution of an English teacher, I only wish he would have recognised that the "medium is the message" and that the instructor, as he points out is more the conductor and less the composer.

The Art of Teaching
Becoming a teacher takes years of exhausting, painful trial and error.Deserving a four star rating, Jay Parini's book The Art of Teaching looks back over his years in the academic field.This beautifully written book is full of essays on everything from the first day of class, to the day of commencement.Parini looks at every issue a teacher might face in the classroom from the teacher's persona, to the teacher's relationships with the students and colleagues.He writes about trying to balance a teaching life and a life of research and writing.
Parini uses the word "teacher," although he really should say "professor" because the book is about his life at the college level.His life in the early years of teaching and all the struggles he ensued learning the ropes and climbing the ladder to tenure.
Although this book is written for the teacher at the college level, anyone in the teaching field will come away with some useful insight.This book has great quotes like "There is always a fresh start, with new students, new colleagues, new courses even old colleagues somehow look new in September."In my experience in the teaching field this is so very true.
Reading this book made me think of teachers from my past.We as teachers draw from our past experiences.This helps us to become better teachers.That is what Parini did.He put some of those experiences down on paper so we could all learn.Although, this book is about teaching at the college level I did come away with some very good insight on teaching from the heart.I would recommend this book to anyone in the teaching field. ... Read more

Product Description
Everything future teachers of young adolescents need to know is here–covered thoroughly, and presented in a down-to-earth manner that emphasizes the practical as well as the theoretical.. These authors encourage future teachers to take an eclectic approach to teaching, one that actively engages the adolescent in his or her own learning and gives every student an equal chance to participate, learn, grow, and succeed. A wealth of examples and exercises model the book's tenets; while the authors' keen understanding of their subject keeps content to-the-point. Coverage includes the characteristics of young adolescents, planning for their instruction, implementing instruction, and assessing their learning. For professionals in the field of teaching. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Great!
I ordered the book and it got to me in no time! I really appreciated the timeliness of the shipper! Book was exactly what I needed.

Very Pleased indeed
The book I ordered is required for an educational psychology class I am taking.I was able to locate the correct textbook and receive it in excellent condition as advertised on Amazon.com. I like Amazon.com.All of the sellers I've done business with have come through with flying colors. ... Read more

Product Description
In this revision, Meese has expanded the strong blend of theory and practice that so effectively helped students prepare for the classroom in the first edition. The book's set of hypothetical schools, students, and teachers enable students to see the connection between research and application. Praised by reviewers for its clear and accessible writing, comprehensive coverage, and accurate, up-to-the minute research, the text helps students connect what they are learning to the many actions taken by classroom teachers throughout the school day. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Teaching Learners with Mild Disabilities: Integrating Research and Practice
This was a good textbook for a special education college course I took to complete a credential.A valuable resource with good information but somewhat "dry." ... Read more

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This text describes the theory and practice behind the teaching of thinking skills to students. ... Read more

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For nearly a decade, Teaching for Diversity and Social Justice has been the definitive sourcebook of theoretical foundations and curricular frameworks for social justice teaching practice. This thoroughly revised second edition continues to provide teachers and facilitators with an accessible pedagogical approach to issues of oppression in classrooms. Building on the groundswell of interest in social justice education, the second edition offers coverage of current issues and controversies while preserving the hands-on format and inclusive content of the original. Teaching for Diversity and Social Justice presents a well-constructed foundation for engaging the complex and often daunting problems of discrimination and inequality in American society. This book includes a CD-ROM with extensive appendices for participant handouts and facilitator preparation.

Customer Reviews (4)

Never buy from this seller!!
First I received this order after my class started ... even though I ordered it in plenty of time. I did have to email several times to see where my book was. Then upon receipt I realized that the book was not the edition that was advertised. The picture depicted the 2nd edition (which is what I needed) but was actually the 1st edition. Thus, I was forced to purchase the correct edition and spend additional funds.

I also found the receipt in this book when it was purchase (several years earlier) and the amount I paid was what they purchased the book for. I did bring this to the attention of the seller thru several emails and was even promised a refund to avoid a negative review ... but no refund was ever received!!!

I am very DISSATISFIED!!!

Excellent book!
This is a great book for teaching and understanding social justice and diversity issues. It has curriculum designs and sample activities.I will use this for training with my staff on these issues.It also has a great CD that has several useful items as well.

Excellent Resource!
If you provide diversity training on any level, this is the one resource that is a "must have".The theory is clear, the exercises are innumerable and varied and the writing is excellent.I recently presented on new topics to me related to diversity and this book gave me ALL the resources and the confidence I needed.This book is worth every penny!

Excellent resource for facilitators
This book is full of great activities and historical information that can help anyone wanting to do a training on social justice issues.As a consultant I refer to it often. ... Read more

Product Description
Teaching Large Multilevel Classes provides practical advice for teachers who work with large mixed-ability classes. Easy to follow and rich in techniques, it will energise a classroom. It develops student motivation, interest, participation and student responsibility through a range of activities . This book is for English language teachers in a variety of teaching environments. These include primary, secondary or tertiary classes where English is not the first language. Teachers in adult learning centres and language institutes will also benefit from the useful strategies offered by Teaching Large Multilevel Classes. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Tried and True!!
This book is tried and true!! The author, Natalie Hess, was my Master's degree advisor, so I had quite a few classes with her.She used EVERY ONE of the ideas in this book with our classes, and in turn, I've used them with mine in the States.Now I'm teaching English in Iraq, and the same techniques STILL work!!Whether you teach ESL, ESOL, EFL, or ANY class, these ideas will work for you!!!Thanks Natalie!!

Great Book for Mulitlevel Class Ideas and Tips
I really enjoyed browsing this book and will take many ideas from it.I've already use a couple of the ideas, and they were a great success.
It's not all just games and such either. there are suggestions for making learning stations that aren't teacher dependent, and suggestions on how to get the students involved in their own learning responsibilities.

I'm glad I got this book! ... Read more

Product Description
@COURSE = For general courses in Secondary and/or Middle School Methods.This constructivist-based book examines teaching at the secondary level through discussion of five key factors involved in its practice: Students, Content, Pedagogy, Philosophy, and Context—instilling in future teachers the constructivist idea that designing instruction must begin with consideration of the learner. The objective of the material is to help prospective teachers develop a set of skills, without oversimplifying the complexity of teaching.First chapters are on learning, student characteristics, cultural differences, and authentic learning—while material on learning outcomes, assessments, and lesson plans are in later chapters. Much of the content is devoted to the design of curriculum, teaching approaches, classroom management, and adaptation/differentiation of instruction for students with special needs of all types. Numerous examples drawn from high school lessons and units are presented through a common template that addresses strength/weaknesses, where/when/with whom it would be most effective, how to modify it to meet the needs of special learners, and what values and/or social relationships it promotes. In addition, a case study involving a multidisciplinary unit on Zimbabwe ties text-sanctioned practices to unit/lesson planning that meets state and local standards.For prospective secondary teachers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Teaching as Decision Making
No other book in my undergraduate studies better prepared me for the real world of teaching.Time and again I refer to this book to pull out an idea, reassure myself as to whatI am doing in my classroom or guidemyself through the tangled web of a secondary classroom. Its insight intothe everyday world of teaching and how best to prepare our young people forthe challenges of the real world has helped me to be a better educator. Irecommend this book to anyone teaching in a secondary classroom.It isempowering to the real teachers of the real curriculum in America showingthe reader that powerful decisions rest with the teacher in the trenchesand not the curriculum guru at the publishing house. ... Read more

Product Description
Aligned with changes prescribed by IDEIA and federal regulations, this edition provides additional information on brain research, universal design for learning, graphic organizers, and much more. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Another great book packed with useful information by Dr. Bender.
If you are trying to implement RTI, this book and his other one "Response to Intervention" are clear guides for professionals.

Plenty of tested, tried applications
Both general and special education teachers and college-level collections catering to them will find essential the second edition of Differentiating Instruction for Students with Learning Disabilities. This offers standards-based teaching techniques that incorporate the latest brain research studies, and offer new information on universal design strategies for the classroom. From teaching tips to reflective teaching and exercises, DIFFERENTIATING INSTRUCTION holds plenty of tested, tried applications suitable for both specialty teaching and the general classroom alike.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch ... Read more

Product Description
For better or for worse, the goal of securing tenure-track assistant professorships frames the graduate school experience for most students. Yet what the graduate experience boasts in scholarly training it lacks in institutional training—that is, in guiding future faculty members to see and experience positively the wide variety of prospective professional identities rooted in assorted academic cultures.

Academic Cultures: Professional Preparation and the Teaching Life gives voice to diversity in postsecondary
education, a strength of the system rather than a problem to redress. Contributors, whether they work at a private high school or a public comprehensive university, an open-access institution or a religiously affiliated college, disclose to readers the details and outcomes of their cross-sector transitions. Their accounts show how faculty members from a range of institutions have built rewarding professional lives based on the traditional components of the professoriat—teaching, service, and scholarship. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A must read for anyone who wants to understand the mind of an educator
Teaching is not a one-size fits all thing. Many educators do their job in many different ways. "Academic Cultures: Professional Preparation and the Teaching Life" takes a widespread look at education and the very different applications of it at vastly different levels. With stories ranging from the opinions of a PhD teaching a public high school class, teaching in rural areas, finding one's voice when one is not quite senior enough to be immediately respected, and much more, it's a wide sampling of many voices of Academia. Enhanced with a bibliography and index, "Academic Cultures" is a must read for anyone who wants to understand the mind of an educator.
... Read more