Reviews (22)

Wonderful but Better With Power Chinese
This is one of the most underrated of all the Behind the Wheel courses I have reviewed.
Excellent!CD 1 and Beyond
The 'good' doesn't stop with CD1.It's just beginning.
Good for listening comprehension and practice
This audio set is very useful for getting an idea of how things are pronounced natively, and some slight variations on those pronunciations. However, it would not be a good idea to start here, as it relies heavily on memory. However, a good accompanying set to any books and courses.
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Subjects:  1. Audio - Language    2. Chinese    3. Foreign Language Study / Chinese    4. Home Schooling    5. Audio-visual aids    6. Audiobooks    7. Chinese language    8. Foreign Language Study    9. Mandarin    10. Self-instruction    11. Sound recordings for English speakers    12. Study and teaching   

Features

• Unabridged
• Audiobook
• Unabridged

Reviews (2)

Very convenient "teaching" tool
My 12 year old son loves listening to the CD.He doesn't even consider it school work and I would guess that he is learning a whole lot more than he would from a text book.It is a wonderful overview of history.

My eight year old really enjoyed this
and details about the medaeval world have filtered through his conversation ever since he listened to it.He also begged me to buy the next series. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Abridged Audio - Misc. Nonfiction    2. Children's Audio - 9-12    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. Education    5. General    6. History - General    7. Home Schooling    8. Juvenile Nonfiction    9. Juvenile Nonfiction / History / General   

Reviews (32)

A must-have!
This ancient times activity guide is absolutely a must-have to go along with the ancient times book!It is just full of SO MUCH MORE than you can imagine!Maps, hands-on activities, book suggestions...it will truly bring to life the history from the reader!I cannot imagine using one without the other...I can see where the ancient times books might not feel so "full" without the activity guide!It is well-worth the price and you will be thrilled at how easy it is to use, how much your children will enjoy it and how much you will all learn as a family!

Useful activities
The activities in this book are very helpful for teaching ancient history. I would not limit yourself to these activities but use them as a springboard to try other things as well. When you don't have the time or inclination to do anything else then no worries you are set with this book. The activities can stand-alone and provide a superb hands on history experience.

A great resource
As someone who sometimes find it is a bit intimidating to teach history in an exciting, interesting way and as someone who is concerned that my young children 'won't get it'; this is a great resource.
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Subjects:  1. Activity programs    2. Education    3. Education / Teaching    4. Education, Elementary    5. History, Ancient    6. Home Schooling    7. Preschool & Kindergarten    8. Study and teaching (Elementary)    9. Teaching Methods & Materials - Social Science    10. Fiction    11. Primary / junior schools    12. Sociology, Social Studies   

Reviews (16)

.So far, so interesting
I love the philospohy behind this book, but Dr. Marshall goes one step further and adds the golden element of classroom testing.When he tells me I will need to use a particular strategy with about 2 % of my students, I feel confidence that this material has truly been tested in real situations.Part of the problem with many discipline programs that aim to address classroom management without rewards, tokens, and such is they often talk down to teachers for using token systems, but offer only theories and clinical data as proof without workable ideas for in the classroom.I am trying out Dr. Marshall's program and will see how far it takes me, but after the first two introductory lessons on the ABCD heirarchy, this weird quiet settled into my room, like the idea of democracy had just sunk into my students heads.Very heady stuff.

No More Class Store or Missed Recess
I purchased this book after an extremely challenging year of behavior problems in first grade. As a teacher who had previous success using rewards (giving plastic money that could be redeemed in a class store) and punishment (taking away recess time), this new class had so many problems that nothing seemed to work! During the summer, I read everything on behavior management I could find in preparation for my new third grade class and found this book while searching the web. Needless to say, this past year was the best year of teaching I've had in my short career of five years. Using the daily class meetings--the students' favorite part of the day--to solve problems and asking disruptive students to tell me "their level," I found that most problems went away quickly and students didn't get resentful of me because they had to reflect on how they were acting. Using the agenda for students to write down issues that bothered them was a great way to deal with tattling. I also linked the system with students who would forget homework. Rather than punish them, I would give them the Level 1 Essay to reflect on why they forgot their homework and what they could try so they could remember it. It worked! I also recommend buying "Positive Discipline in the Classroom" (Nelson) as a companion to this book if you want more step-by-step instructions for the classroom meeting. It picks up where Dr. Marshall's book leaves off regarding class meetings, especially on how to introduce it at the beginning of the year. One more thing: parents LOVE this system and will love you for using it!

A Civilized Alternative
Marshall makes a compelling case for giving children tools to evaluate their own behavioral options and make positive choices.I am looking forward to empowering my kindergarteners to be their best selves.
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Subjects:  1. Administration - General    2. Behavior Management    3. Discipline of children    4. Education    5. Education / Parent Participation    6. Education / Teaching    7. Education / Teaching Methods & Materials / General    8. Family & Relationships / Parenting    9. Handbooks, manuals, etc    10. Parenting - Discipline    11. Rewards and punishments in edu    12. Rewards and punishments in education    13. Behavior modification    14. Family & Relationships    15. Parent Participation    16. Parenting    17. Responsibility in children    18. Teaching Methods & Materials - General   

Reviews (24)

Educational Mom
I love this book!I have my degree in Elementary Education and spent 3 years teaching - 2 of those in Kindergarten.I have seen how many times even the best intentions do not allow the time for covering EVERYTHING you would love to expose the children with when they are in your classroom.
Looking at the table of contents...
Flipping through I noticed an error that raised a red flag--the book calls hieroglyphs "Hieroglyphics".Hieroglyphic is an adjective, not a noun, unless it refers to the entire writing method:"they carved hieroglychics" is, for example, wrong.And hieroglyphs are NOT picture writing--they are 90%+ alphabetic and syllabic.Based on such a sloppy error (plus the one I note below) that was so eaily found, I would approach the history portion of this book with caution.
Whole series is a bit off.
As a former teacher and current homeschooler, I find that much of the material in the early levels of this series are not appropriate for the grade levels indicated.I use the books as references but not usually at the grade indicated by the title of the book. The history sections are especially inappropriate. Children at these early grade levels do not have enough background knowledge (i.e., comprehension of the passage of time and the geography of the earth in relation to their own place in it) to fully understand the material presented. Thus, they are very unlikely to retain the knowledge or to apply it meaningfully to other areas of study. Parents trying to stick to these grade levels are bound to be frustrated. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Curricula    2. Curriculum planning    3. Education    4. Education / Teaching    5. Elementary    6. Elementary education    7. First grade (Education)    8. Parent Participation    9. United States    10. Education / General   

Reviews (15)

Good, with some caveats
I wanted to rate this 3.5 stars
A Homework Program for the Most Challenging Children and Teens
(From Dean R. Garrison, author of "Ending the Homework Wars")
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Before I read this book, I planned and spent my afternoons and evenings around my daughter's elementary school homework, keeping me from having time with the rest of my family.I spend countless hours asking her study questions, definitions, and checking her work.I hovered to make sure she "got it right".I used the Internet to brush up on concepts and topics that SHE was to be learning.Now I realize that by taking control of her homework, I was not allowing her to be responsible for it; I was sending the message that she couldn't handle the responsiblity on her own.Boy was I wrong!Now, although her grades are not perfect, they are HERS alone and she has earned them.Talk about boosting self-esteem!And I am now free to spend time with my family instead of re-learing mode, median and range!Thank you Mr. Rosemond! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Child Care/Parenting    2. Education    3. Family / Parenting / Childbirth    4. Home Schooling    5. Homework    6. Life Stages - Infants & Toddlers/Toddlers    7. Parent and child    8. Parent participation    9. Parents And Education    10. United States    11. Family & Relationships / General   

Reviews (6)

Best Resource for Teaching Reading I've Found...
I absolutely love this book for both teachers or parents looking to improve reading skills.My daughter first came home with these stories from her 4th grade teacher and I loved them so much I bought a copy to use with the students I tutor.Now I'm teaching basic skills to fifth graders and do these stories one-on-one.Each story is intelligently written with a touch of humor and jam-packed with interesting facts.Topics include American History ("Thomas Jefferson and the Big Cheese"), fiction, biography, poetry, science (Star Trek!"), and popular culture. There is one reading skill to work on per story such as using context clues, italics, or main idea/supporting details.I've just ordered Mary Rose's other similar books for math and other reading levels.One word of caution:the vocabulary may be too advanced for a struggling third grader--best for grades 4-6 unless the child is already a fluent reader.

SuperGreat Homework for reading fluency!
I've been assigning these readings weekly to my fifth graders for a few years now.
Excellent resource
I bought this book last summer and used it with my 5th grade language arts students this past year.It contains some helpful usage and assessment ideas. The passages are divided into sections, all of them "kid-interesting" content.Each assignment features a particular reading skill and tips to the parent on how to help his/her child with the assignment. There is a place at the bottom of each assignment for both child and parent to sign. Certainly I recommend it to teachers, but I would also recommend it to parents who would like to help their children's reading skills but might be at a loss as to how to help them. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Education    2. Education / Teaching    3. Elementary    4. Parent Participation    5. Teaching Methods & Materials - General    6. Teaching Methods & Materials - Reading   

Reviews (9)

A Valuable Asset for Parents
I was skeptical at first because I don't want to be a "pushy" parent, but I found this book to be very enlightening.It's kind of like finding the secret key that unlocks the top colleges.I have two sons, and while I try not to drive them too hard, like most parents I realize that a great education is of the utmost importance.Having this book gives me a little bit of an edge over other parents, and hey, why wouldn't you want to have an edge?Let's face it, teachers and guidance counselors do their best, but they have many students to worry about.This book is like having your own personal consultant.Some of the tips are admittedly for the supremely dedicated, but others are little things you can easily do to give your child a little boost.The advice is really good and very easy to act on.I highly recommend.

Helpful, well written and on target
I found this book to be direct, clear, and useful.The author takes a position that some will appreciate and others will not: however, no one can come away without a clear understanding of her point of view.
Good Advice, but I'm ambivalent
This book contained a lot of facts that I didn't know -- like the fact that savvy parents have their kids take the SAT every year beginning in sixth grade to practice for the exam, like the fact that they take the SAT prep course BEFORE the PSAT, in order to help their kids get national merit scholar.Like the fact that it's possible to move your child up on the wait list by sending faxes and e-mails.Like the fact that you should practice for college interviews with your child, rehearse making a phone call to the school, and so on and so forth.
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Subjects:  1. Admission    2. College And University Guidance And Counseling    3. College applications    4. College choice    5. Education    6. Education / Teaching    7. Higher    8. Parent Participation    9. Parents And Education    10. Reference    11. United States    12. Universities and colleges    13. Education / Reference   

Reviews (13)

A Good Read For Parents
This is a good book for parents not just those with toddlers and preschoolers. It gives insight into the montessori method and really shows you the interelationship between how a child deveopls intellectually and physically. I wish that I had gotten it earlier because it has good insights into toddlerhood - tantrums and all. My son is 21/2 and we are hoping to send him to pre-school in September, so we wanted to get a guideline so to speak about what we should be looking for and the best kind of learning at his age. Also we were looking for new ways to engage him, so I'm anxious to try out the activities. He's in the 'I want to be independent stage' and after reading the book I have adopted some of its advice on how to help him acheive this. All in all I would say its a good buy, quite informative.

Excellent Montessori resource for the home
I was looking for a good way to teach my preschool son at home using some elements of the Montessori method.However, I wanted to go at my own pace and in a relaxed way.If you need a more regimented and structured Montessori method at home read Elizabeth Hainstock's books.Leslie Britton's book is well-written, concise and hits all the main points.I really like the games and activities designed for children from two to six.I am able to pick and choose and with home materials to teach my son at home.My son is two so he's only able to participate in a few exercises.Can't recommend it enough.

Excellent tool for parents of pre-school age kids
Montessori school can be unbelieveably expensive (approx. 500 dollars per 8 week sessions, and that's just half days!), and your child has to be "approved" in most institutions. Based on the teaching of Maria Montessori, it is designed to help toddlers and young children learn in five simple steps: observation, participation, practice, "eureka" movement, and performance. This learning process can help youngsters be well ahead of the game by the time they go into Kindergarten. While a Montessori school can help give your kids interaction withkids of all ages, you can still apply this method of learning in the home, as Montessori pointed out: "Parents are still the child's first and most important teachers".Read more

Subjects:  1. Activities    2. Aids and devices    3. Child Care/Parenting    4. Education    5. Family / Parenting / Childbirth    6. Handbooks, manuals, etc    7. Home Schooling    8. Methods Of Instruction In Early Childhood Education    9. Montessori method of education    10. Play    11. Teaching    12. Family & Relationships / Education   

Reviews (13)

excellent book
I've read a lot of homeschooling books in planning for my children's education. This book is a parent's dream! It truly helps you plan from the bottom up, apply thought to aspects of homeschooling that are not considered by other books. It would be the first book I recommend to anyone if they are thinking about homeschooling, just starting homeschooling, or even have been homeschooling for a while and need a good curriculumteaching resource.
THE book I have been looking for as a beginner!
I've read a lot of homeschooling books in planning for my children's education and I learned something from each one, whether I liked the book or not! This book, however, is a planner's dream! It truly has you plan from the bottom up, applying thought to aspects of homeschooling that I had not previously considered.
Cathy Duffy's popular homeschool picks
This is well organized, clearly written. Her criteria is clearly stated & she writes unpretensiously. I thought it was a great referance book. Especially since she gave great reviews for the KONOS curriculum. Actually, everything that I own she reviewed with great reviews. I think you would buy this book to have a guide on hand before you make future purchases. :) ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Curricula    2. Curriculum planning    3. Education    4. Home Schooling    5. Parent participation    6. Religion - Christian Education - Home Schooling    7. United States   

Reviews (154)

Excellent resource...
After reading through zillions of homeschool books and websites-this book finally gave me what I feel is a great base to start from and recommends some other great books that I cannot wait to get.
This book changed my life
As a SAHM with 8 children (college sophomore down to 2 yrs), I'd considered homeschooling now and again. I'd never felt compelled to actually begin homeschooling, however, until now.One of my children had to withdraw from public school (health issues), and thus began my real search for an appropriate curriculum.I read a number of books detailing different philosophies, but this was the first one that when I read it, I felt that I couldn't possibly send my children back to public school.
great reference
this book is a great reference for home schooling
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Subjects:  1. Education    2. Education / Teaching    3. Education, Humanistic    4. Handbooks, manuals, etc    5. Home Schooling    6. Parent Participation    7. United States   

Reviews (4)

Very Interesting
This is an interesting and informative book. It is written in the style of a thesis, so some of the detail feels like reading an M.ED. If you can get through that, the content is facinating and has changed my view of learning and teaching profoundly. I would love to learn how to teach BAL-A-Vis-X as a result and I am learning to juggle!!

Bal-A-Vis-X
This book has good information, but, as parent I need more visual information, Pictures and step by step information.
Bal-A-Vis-X
There are lots of books (and providers of services) out there for exercise programmes to assist "learning challenged" children.Before you spend much money on something more expensive - this is a great first step. We have been there, done that when it comes to spending money in all directions. Another to first open your mind is the Smart Moves book by Carla Hannaford. We have also personally had much success with diet changes (low grain, no sugar, gluten, dairy, processed foods) and improving speech by implementing a yeast eradication programme. None of the milestones our kids have personally achieved have come overnight - so perseverence is the key.
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Subjects:  1. Education    2. Education / Parent Participation    3. Education / Special Education / Learning Disabled    4. Exercise    5. Learning disabled children    6. Mind and body    7. Parent Participation    8. Self-esteem in children    9. Special Education - Learning Disabled   

Reviews (30)

very helpful
This book was extremely helpful in creating a curriculum for my 2 children. They are both in special classes and do not follow grade to grade curriculum. This book allowed me to customize a curriculum for each of their individual needs. It was helpful and gave many ideas, websites, etc. I do have to say some of the websites were gone, but only a few.

About the best book you'll find on the subject
First off, I should say that I believe it is a shame that there even has to be a home schooling movement. It takes the student away from a potentially excellent socializing institution and one that theoretically at least is at the foundations of the ideas behind a democratic country where education is open to all.Nowadays, People live in barricaded, guarded communities so as to avoid crime. This might achieve its purpose, but some how one's humanity may be lost in the process. Home schooling can be a reasonalbe response to an even worse situation--the deterioration of public school education, so I can't fault the movement. But how about improving the schools. Are homeschoolers top afraid of venture out of doors? That to me is the hidden message and children pick up on such things quickly. That said, if you are going to homeschool your children, this book offers a good blueprint on planning and organizing your own curriculum.It is neither reductionist or too technical.It can serve as a teaching aide, but in the end, the individual parent must be savvy and sophisticated enough to take the responsibility and develop the expertise to know a good education from a bad one.I would have liked to see some information on the transition from home schooling to college.Perhaps there are other books that address this important issue.As a former college professor, I became so outraged by college practices, particularly the way they rip off parents and students, that I started a website about it: www.inthetext.com.It offers hints on what goes on behind the scenes of academe and what you can do about it.Good luck.
Great Resource!!!
THis book has been a life saver in the very tedious job of designing a curriculum for home schooling. It is very well organized and provides wonderful references. Bravo!
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Subjects:  1. Curricula    2. Curriculum planning    3. Education    4. Education / Teaching    5. Experimental Methods    6. Handbooks, manuals, etc    7. Home Schooling    8. United States    9. Education / Home Schooling   

Reviews (1)

A recently revised classic on the family.
An interdisciplinary collection of current and classical readings, Family in Transition guides students' exploration of the many transformations taking place in families today. Throughout, Arlene and Jerome Skolnickdemonstrate their extraordinary talent for selecting readings that capturethe latest on both the changes in the family itself and and in the study offamilies. Introductions to each chapter showcase major issues and topicalconundrums, encouraging students to think critically about the material.This ninth edition introduces a new chapter on family diversity with uniquereadings African-American, Hispanic, and lesbian and gay families. Fourteennew selections point out the many changes in family culture, structure,behavior, and economics. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Family    2. Family & Relationships    3. Family / Parenting / Childbirth    4. Family Relationships    5. Family/Marriage    6. Parent Participation    7. Parenting - General    8. Sociology - General    9. Social Science / Sociology / General   

Reviews (2)

Very helpful
As a former special education teacher, I am sometimes too aware of little problems. I know my child's self-esteem is affected by this problem however, and this book is very helpful for being me to work with her at home, especially since teachers don't seem to think there is a problem. This book, along with "The Gift of Dyslexia" brought so much practical, usefel information. I took this book out from the library, and will buy it, to use for a longer duration at home.

Practical strategies for dyslexia
Ms. Stowe has managed to be both concise and thorough.This book is aimed primarily at teachers of students who have dyslexia, butparents will findit extremely helpful in understanding their child's (their own!) struggleswith a confusing and frustrating condition.The interviews with adolescentand adult persons diagnosed with dyslexia bring the more academic aspectsof the work to life, and help the reader to identify with the informationin the other sections.Unlike those in some other books on the subject,the activities presented actually seem to be as they are described on thecover, "Practical."I especially liked the suggestions forteaching writing and making writing accessible to students on differinglevels (word, sentence, paragraph) who might be working within the samegroup.I wish I'd had this book when my son was younger!I wouldrecommend this book to principals and teachers, to parents of kids inschool and parents who homeschool, and to youth and adults who grew up withany of the difficulties described. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Education    2. Education / Teaching    3. Language Arts & Disciplines    4. Parent Participation    5. Reading Skills    6. Special Education - Communicative Disorders    7. Special Education - Learning Disabled    8. Teaching Methods & Materials - Reading    9. Education / Teaching Methods & Materials / Reading    10. Teaching of those with special educational needs   

Editorial Review

A professor of pediatrics at the University of North Carolina Medical School, Mel Levine received acclaim for his previous book, Read more

Reviews (25)

Themyth oflaziness
A very excellent book.I learned alot about the myth of lazness and what it's not. You get an understanding of what the children go through.

Insightful but limited
Depending on what sort of "laziness" you are dealing with, you might find this book to be extremely helpful; or you might find it to be not at all helpful.By laziness, Mel evine is referring to not wanting to read, not wanting to write, not wanting to complete class assignments, and so forth.
"instantaneous and automatic "
Overall, this read has a bit of a clinical textbook feel to it and some of the chapters can be a bit wordy from time to time, but none-the-less this work is valuable if you are an elementary school teacher or a parent with young children in school.
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Subjects:  1. Academic achievement    2. Education    3. Education / Teaching    4. Educational Policy & Reform    5. Educational psychology    6. Parent Participation    7. Performance    8. Teaching Methods & Materials - General    9. Education / Educational Reform   

Reviews (4)

Worthwhile as a practical guide
This is a how-to manual on thinking. The main emphasis is on habits of a good thinker, such as focus and purpose, and specific thinking tools, such as the "Plus, Minus and Interesting" technique. The book enumerates many specific methods of effective thinking and suggests exercises to practice each of them. Interesting
I had a quick browse of the book and I find interesting. I believe it would have been better have a title Improve your thinking rather than teach your child how to think. I found the book to be helpfully to any age. Wish I'd Learned Thinking Tools at Age 15
I am thoroughly impressed with Edward De Bono's matter-of-fact, wholly insightful, and unique yet practical work(s) published in the field of Thinking over the last four decades.Read more

Subjects:  1. Child Care/Parenting    2. Cognition in children    3. Family / Parenting / Childbirth    4. Parenting - General    5. Psychotherapy - Child & Adolescent    6. Theory of knowledge    7. Advice on parenting    8. Education / Parent Participation   

Reviews (10)

Fine Arts of this book only
This book was recommended to study for the CSET test for teacher licensing. I only bought this book to study for the Fine Arts and Music Section of the test. It is very easy to