Reviews (3)

Too much personal musings
I would not recommend this for the layman. The author is telling too many of her own stories.

Essential to any teacher
I bought this because because every teacher needs some help working alongside parents.I have yet to have a class (undergraduate/graduate) where we have been taught how to collaborate with parents. This is not a list of what to and what to not do with parents. Instead, this book shares many personal accounts of both teachers and parents. A truly engaging book.
This is certainly a "must-read" for both parents and teachers alike, in order to align their performance desires and expectations.This book paves the way for dialogue that isneeded between parents and teachers. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Education    2. Education / Teaching    3. Parent Participation    4. Parenting - General    5. Philosophy & Social Aspects    6. Teaching Methods & Materials - General    7. Family & Relationships / Parenting   

Reviews (29)

Good source for thinking about your further education
I am very happy with this book.It has given me food for thought about where I would like to take my desire for lifelong learning.

The Classics Wait Patiently
One need not be a college graduate with a skimpy acquaintance with the Great Books to appreciate how to read them.In THE WELL-EDUCATED MIND, Susan Wise Bauer outlines the reasons why "classic" has unfortunately become synonymous with "hard" or at worst "boring." The key, Bauer asserts relentlessly, is a mindset that has evolved from a state of non-caring to caring such that dedication to reading becomes paramount.Reading, she notes, has several levels of discipline.To read a novel that is plot driven, say anything by Steven King, need not be anything more involved that skipping from word to word, looking for plot connected details.Unfortunately, for the reader who aspires to tackle the Great Ideas, such cursory reading skills will simply not do. Bauer demands much of the serious reader. Such a reader must learn How to Read, a process that involves actively coming to terms with the author. She urges one to underline, take notes, ask questions of oneself or with the absent author.How can one pass judgment on a work unless one first understands that work?Bauer sets up strategies for reading and ultimately evaluating all the genres that typically constitute what classicists term Great Ideas. She confronts the obstacles inherent in making sense of histories, novels, autobiographies, drama, and poetry. Bauer begins each genre with a series of exercises that differ more in degree than in form.With each genre, she wishes the serious reader to grasp the essentials of that particular genre.For novels, Bauer suggests that one connect the general ideas of prose with the specifics of that prose work: plot, character, theme, setting, and symbolism come to mind.For autobiography, one must first grasp how the concept of "self" has evolved from Augustine's CONFESSIONS to Malcolm X's autobiography. What did that self-chronicler know about himself or the times in which he wrote?Such a daring and daunting task becomes less daring and daunting when the serious reader asks questions of himself that the autobiographer asks of himself. And for drama and poetry, Bauer insists that the best reading comes only with a pen in one's hand as one reads and searches for a meaning that is denied to all those unwilling to treat the ideas in the work as unworthy of seriouseffort.
An O.K. starting place
One day in a bookstore I came across both this book and Baur's "The Well-Trained Mind," and looked through both of them. Later I went to the library and pulled this book off the shelf to get a better idea.
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Subjects:  1. Best books    2. Books & Reading    3. Books And Reading    4. Education    5. General    6. History and criticism    7. Home Schooling    8. Literature    9. Literature - Classics / Criticism    10. Reading    11. Literary reference works    12. Literary studies: general   

Reviews (11)

This should be the first book you read!
I am an educator who works one-on-one kids with ADD and I recommend Chris' books to all my clients - I really am a really a big fan!She has even inspired me to start writing my own book on how achieve Academic Success with an ADD child.
valuable resource
As a guidance counselor, I am always interested in obtaining good resources to use and share with others.I have recommended this book to parents and teachers.It has a wealth of information about ADHD teens.

BUY THIS BOOK FOR YOUR CHILD'S TEACHER!
This book talks to teachers.As a special educator with ADHD children of my own, Chris Dendy zeros in on understanding this neuro-biological difference.She writes in a clear and concise manner. This book is loaded with hands-on materials, excellent up-to-date information, and strategies to teach the compensatory skills to these students.Buy this book for your child's teacher and send one to the director of special services,too. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Attention-deficit hyperactivit    2. Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder    3. Attention-deficit-disordered y    4. Attention-deficit-disordered youth    5. Education    6. Education (Secondary)    7. Education / Teaching    8. General    9. Handbooks, manuals, etc    10. Parent Participation    11. Special Education - General    12. Special Education - Learning Disabled    13. Teaching of children with emotional & behavioural difficulties   

Reviews (5)

Amazing Bible Software
This is by far teh best bible software available! With lots of multimedia features and study topics... Buy it! You wont regret it!

Best Bible software for the Christian Family
iLumina is by far the best Bible software for families. It has animations, virtual tours and videos that help you learn the Bible in unique ways. No other software does that.
Hands-down, one of the worst...
iLumina is about as close to a rip-off as can legally be had.Shortly before its debut, it was promised to the public that a significant portion of the Bible would be animated.Not so, and there has been no addition to the barely handfull of existing animations in well over 2 years.
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Subjects:  1. Bible - Study - General    2. Christianity - Education - Program Resources    3. Home Schooling    4. Religion    5. Software - Bibles / Religion   

Reviews (2)

full of information
this is the type of book you need to read with others and discuss as a group.It is full of a lot of information and is very informative.

Preventing Reading Difficulties in Young Children
(Please add this from the description from the publisher.)Read more

Subjects:  1. Education    2. Education / Teaching    3. Parent Participation    4. Reading    5. Reading (Primary)    6. Reading Education (General)    7. Reading disability    8. Remedial teaching    9. Teaching Methods & Materials - Reading    10. United States    11. Literacy    12. Pre-school & kindergarten    13. Teaching of a specific subject   

Reviews (5)

A very good reference book for parents
Wouldn't it be wonderful if a child is motivated and is willing and wanting to learn by himself, just because he WANTS to?
Great tips for all ages
This is an all ages book on how children learn and how parents can help them -- what to do and not do. Let me quote: "Although this book focuses on children from babyhood through elementary school, its general principles and recommendations apply to children of all ages, and even to adults. Everyone can follow the self-motivation model you will read about in upcoming chapters: the cycle of working hard, persisting to overcome obstacles, and being energized to do more by the feelings of pleasure brought by newly gained confidence." It's based on the latest research. This book opened my eyes to the inadequacy of my own education: I worked for grades, not to learn. I made great grades, but what did I learn? Not much. Even now, I have bad "learning" skills. My curiosity has been quashed by the desire to perform and get the job done. This book also covers choosing schools, toys, "getting smart" instead of "being smart," the harmfulness of grades and competition. Also included is what to say and not say to your child. This book will stay on my shelf for years!

Stellar
This book is, without question, the best book available for anyone who is a parent (or intends to eventually become a parent) and wants to preserve or increase their children's intrinsic motivation to learn.If you want children to WANT to learn, to learn WELL, to ENJOY learning, and to CONTINUE learning even after their schooling has ended, there is no finer book than this one.It also will be a fantastic contribution for any person who teaches or intends to eventually teach.I recommend this without question!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Child Care/Parenting    2. Child Development    3. Child rearing    4. Education    5. Educational Psychology    6. Family / Parenting / Childbirth    7. Motivation (Psychology)    8. Motivation in education    9. Parent Participation    10. Parenting - General    11. Parents And Education   

Reviews (8)

A Favorite Book of Mine
This book was worth my time this Sunday morning to sit here and write a review on it.I have my dog-eared copy on my bedside bookshelf, where only the most loved or currently read books may reside. This book falls into both categories.
NOT JUST FOR HOMESCHOOLERS
This book totally shaped the way I raised my children.I read it when my children were small - they are now 22, 20, and 14.I have to say that it was the most influential book I ever read on raising a family.I see the beautiful fruits of the wisdom in this book, now that they are grown.I'm ordering another copy now for my niece.She is thoroughly Christian, but in a freeing not restricting kind of way.I put that sketch book in their hands, read to them "real books," exposed them to nature and GOOD MUSIC, taught them about God but "not too much" to turn them off (such a danger with very parents who are committed to raising a Christian family). Susan, I wish I could thank you in person or that you read my review sometimes. THANK YOU.PSRead her parents and brother's books, too!!(Francis Schaeffer (for apologetics), Edith Schaeffer (her books, too, were pivotal for me) for creating the right kind of home), and her brother Frank Schaeffer (and his religious journey).He changed my life in other ways, more profoundly than I can say in this public forum.Its an incredible family - read all you can get your hands on.

Thoughtful and life-changing
Macaulay thoughtfully and concisely introduces us to a living education, to the world of Charlotte Mason, where children are valued and encouraged through play, literature, and warm relationships with the world. Perfect as an aid in awakening thoughts towards education as a 'joyous adventure and celebration of life, as well as a solid preparation for living', "For the Children's Sake" is an excellent stepping stone on the way to how life and education should be. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Christianity - Education - Children & Youth    2. Christianity - Education - Teaching Methods    3. Domestic education    4. Education    5. Parent Participation    6. Philosophy    7. Religion    8. Religion - Christian Education - Teaching Helps / Programs   

Editorial Review

If you believe Carmen and Geoffrey McGuinness, our children are in grave danger of becoming illiterates--and the McGuinnesses are the only ones who can save them. Read more

Reviews (37)

Phonics by any other name...
...is still phonics...while calling it "phono-graphix" may be little more than a sales ploy, the authors indeed seem not to understand the phonics method as it's currently practiced...they seem to confuse phonics with the language that appears in many so-called "basal" readers -- e.g. "See Spot run. See Bob run. See Spot and Bob run."...such "basal" readers have very little relation to true phonics instruction...regardless, what the book presents is in fact basically just old-fashioned phonics...phonics probably is best for getting down the basics necessary for starting reading...but there are other phonics options -- my own favorite is "Explode the Code"..."Reading Reflex" is adequate but there's nothing special about "phono-graphix"...shop around -- there's better stuff available.

Answered Prayer
I used this resource during my daughter's 2nd grade year.She was diagnosed with a Receptive-Expressive Learning Impairment, and was having a lot of difficulty learning to read.She had many dyslexic-like tendencies.Since she was just shy of the point spread to receive "official" help from her public elementary school, this was suggested "unofficially" by a Special Education Teacher.Her school teaches "whole language/balanced literacy", and where that failed her, this resource was exactly what she needed!We completed the resource before the end of 2nd grade and she received the Outstanding Achievement Award (95% and above) in Reading during her 3rd grade year!!!The mapping technique is still invaluable to her when she comes across unfamiliar words.

I wish I could give it more than 5 stars.
This book basicly changed my life and the life of my young child. In second grade he couldn't read, the school classified him as learning disabled. I finally asked them to stop the demoralizing interventions that were getting us nowhere. I bought this book in desperation. After sylvan, tutors and teachers failed, I was able to teach my child myself in just a few months.
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Subjects:  1. Code emphasis approaches    2. Education / Teaching    3. Family & Relationships    4. Family/Marriage    5. Home Schooling    6. Parent Participation    7. Parenting - General    8. Reading    9. Remedial teaching    10. Teaching Methods & Materials - Reading    11. Education / General    12. Parenting    13. Education   

Reviews (6)

Lots of great information
It's almost overwhelming. There is no way you can spend this much time teaching everything, but it's nice to be able to pick and choose fun things to do with your baby. It's easy to use in a well thought out layout from birth on, divided by sensory perception.

What do you do with a baby?
As a first time mom,of a child with special needs to boot, I had no idea. This book and the others in the series are great resources for finding things to do with your child other than watching Teletubbies for the thousandth time. If your child needs extra help in a certain area, like fine motor or listening skills, you can easily find a variety of exercises to help here. The later books in the series (Threes, Fours, and Fives) would also be a great resource for a homeschooling parent.

Active Learning for Infants
Not just for daycare!I am a first-time, stay-at-home mom and needed away to tell if I was "doing all the right stuff" in regards toplay, development, speech, music, etc.This book gives you exercises thatare so easy for each stage of the first year of life.There is not a lotto read like a typical baby care book, but each section outlines what thechild should be accomplishing and gives you exercises to ensure that yourchild reaches those development milestones.If you can look past the ideathat it is written for daycare providers, you will find this book extremelyhelpful.I knew I was giving my child all he needed because I had theseexercises to use as a handy guide.Good luck to you! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Activities    2. Activity programs    3. Children: Babies & Toddlers    4. Day care centers    5. Development    6. Early Childhood Education    7. Education / Teaching    8. Games & Activities - General    9. General    10. Infants    11. Juvenile Nonfiction    12. Parent Participation    13. Psychotherapy - Child & Adolescent    14. Child & developmental psychology   

Reviews (1)

A great collection of stories!
I found this book extremely enjoyable.The selections are very entertaining.Now, I just have to find the time to read the entire book of each selection. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8 - Literature / Classics    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children's literature    4. Classics    5. Collections    6. Education    7. Fairy Tales & Folklore - Anthologies    8. Literature    9. Short stories    10. Education / Parent Participation   

Reviews (25)

Complete, yet dry
We started with this book to lay the foundation for language arts, and gave up after two weeks. Our girls hated it, because it was so boring and tedious. After each question is the oral response the child is to give, and our kids just don't learn like this. It reminded me of the old fashioned one room school room approach, were the children in each grade had to memorize their lessons and recite them back to their teacher. They may be able to spout out the correct response, but may not have a clue what they just "learned".
Great book for young learners
Easy to follow instructions. Lessons are very short and do-able. Easy to accomplish in typical school year without burnout.

great supplement
My first grader is in a french immersion school so I use this book to teach her about English grammar. We do one or two lessons per week during breakfast. She loves memorizing the poems. She and her three year old brother enjoy identifying nouns and verbs. Since most public schools don't bother teaching grammar this is a great supplemental text for learning at home. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Composition and exercises    2. Education    3. Education / Teaching    4. Elementary    5. English language    6. Grammar    7. Home Schooling    8. Language Experience Approach    9. Language arts (Primary)    10. Parent Participation    11. Study and teaching (Primary)    12. Teaching Methods & Materials - Language Arts    13. POLITICS & GOVERNMENT   

Reviews (1)

Great book!
This book is great! There's never a dull moment when you have Kuffner's Busy Books around! My tot loves the ideas! I loved the whole Busy Box concept and he has a lot of fun exploring it too! Great idea, great buy, thanks Trish! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Activities    2. Children: Grades 3-4    3. Creative activities    4. Creative activities and seat w    5. Creative activities and seat work    6. Family / Parenting / Childbirth    7. General    8. Handbooks, manuals, etc    9. Handicraft    10. Juvenile Nonfiction    11. Parent Participation    12. Parenting - General    13. Family & Relationships / Parenting   

Reviews (16)

A wonderful book
This book is great if you homeschool or want to help your child during the summer. If you want to use it for homeschool, Hirsch has made a teacher handbook. The Teacher Handbooks provide background about language arts, history and geography, visual arts, music, mathematics, and science. Each handbook has been written to look like the Core Knowledge Sequence. For each section in the Sequence, there is a matching section in the handbooks.
Great book!
I am a homeschooling parent of a 10 year old and this book has helped me narrow my teaching down to include some important things ( even some I was missing!)Every 3rd grade teacher should at least look at this book. All kids should be learning the same things regardless of school or home state. Half of the things in this book were never even mentioned in my child's previous school's curriculum plan. A great guidebook to make sure you are including important subjects in your child's learning plan.

Core Knowledge Books a great bulding block for all students.
I loved the core knowledge curriculum.The reason I switched my children to a charter school is that they started out teaching CK.I also switched them back to the public school when the principal got away from CK and made it just like a public school.
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Subjects:  1. Education    2. Education / Teaching    3. Elementary    4. Home Schooling    5. Education / Home Schooling   

Reviews (5)

Good way to let your children take charge of their schoolwork, as they should
I like this book for the way it gives you several options to try if your child is having homework completion issues. Talk them over with your child before using them. There are several blank forms that you can reproduce at the end of the book, including a "Do Not Disturb" sign, or you can find forms on the internet, or even make up your own. There are several good tips on good study habits and how to plan out long-range projects such as reports.
No Fluff, the Right Stuff
I was recommended this book so to help us with our daughter and our constant fighting over homework.I'm normally skeptical about books that are to help you raise your kids, but I was at the end of my rope and thought what the heck!The book is an overnight read that really helped!It tells you how to structure study time, what to say and what not to say to your child by giving examples of conversations that you swear are right from your house.And the best part is that it tells you exactly what to do to help you create a better study time based on your childs attitude toward homework/school.

Excellent advise!
This book is worth its weight in gold!I was struggling to get my 8 year-old son to do his homework, and then I found help in this book.It's quick and easy to read, and full of useful suggestions and positive plans to teach your child healthy homework habits.The authors teach that praise and assertive communication are effective tools to motivate your child.They also stress the importance of communication with your child's teacher. Because of the authors' advise, my son now has a dedicated homework area (a desk in his room), and a mandatory homework routine (homework is finished before any TV or video games).The results are that he gets his homework done on time, and with good quality, or he loses privileges for things he enjoys.And guess what?It works.I highly recommend this book for any parent who's tired of the nightly homework battle. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Child Care/Parenting    2. Child Development    3. Family / Parenting / Childbirth    4. Parent Participation    5. Study Skills    6. Education / Educational Psychology   

Subjects:  1. Achievement tests    2. Education    3. Education, Elementary    4. Elementary    5. Evaluation    6. Parent Participation    7. Study Guides    8. Testing & Measurement    9. United States    10. Education / Testing & Measurement    11. Learning & study skills    12. Study guides, home study & revision notes   

Subjects:  1. Aims & Objectives    2. Christianity - Education - General    3. Education / Teaching    4. Education And Religion    5. Home Schooling    6. Religion    7. Teaching Methods & Materials - General   

Reviews (14)

The Ultimate Book of Homeschooling Ideas
I have not started homeschooling yet, but I been reading books about homeschooling to get an idea and be "ready" (If you could say that). This book offers such wonderful ideas that are practical and fun.The invaluable information that is offered is worth every penny.

Awesome!
This book is great! My son is only 4 but I am getting a head start on homeschooling him, this book has given me many of good idea's. I am seriously thinking of using this as my main curriculum for kindergarten, I'll throw in a couple of workbooks too, but this will help me plan most of my lessons. I HIGHLY recommend this book!

The Ultimate Book of Homeschooling ideas
I found this book extremely helpful for activities to enrich our homeschool curriculum. It is also a good resource for publishers websites and other books. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Education    2. Elementary    3. Handbooks, manuals, etc    4. Home Schooling    5. Religion - Christian Education - Home Schooling    6. Education / Home Schooling   

Subjects:  1. Education    2. Education / Teaching    3. Parent Participation    4. Special Education - Learning Disabled    5. Teaching Methods & Materials - General    6. Education / Special Education / General   

Subjects:  1. Education / Teaching    2. Parent Participation    3. Preschool & Kindergarten    4. Teaching Methods & Materials - General   

Reviews (4)

Great as an introduction to the homeschool world!
Rather than tell you what the book says (see other reviews) let me just say that having read this just as we are beginning homeschooling with our children, I have a much deeper understanding of the people we are going to be relating to in the future. Many of his insights have already been borne out in my observations. I appreciated the fact that this book is fairly up-to-date (written in the late 90's). I think I will be able to relate to other homeschooling families in an understanding way after reading this book.

Deserves 10 Stars
We have been homeschooling since the early 70's. earlier if you consider my homeschooling in the 50's. This is why I was eager to read this book and why I recommend it. Because the author gives the reader one of the most complete and balanced view from the outside, of who homeschools and why. First high quality analysis of the home schooling movement
Mitchell Stevens provides the first in depth study of the American home schooling movement. Instead of assuming that home schoolers are right wing fanatics or left wing bohemians, he takes the time to attend their meetings, visit their homes and read their literature. From his in depth study, he concludes that home schooling is an activity that grows out of long traditions in American politics and is an honest, and possibly successful, attempt at reconstructing education so that it meets the needs of children.Read more

Subjects:  1. Education    2. Education / Teaching    3. Educational sociology    4. Experimental Methods    5. General    6. Home Schooling    7. Philosophy & Social Aspects    8. United States    9. Education / General    10. Sociology    11. Sociology, Social Studies    12. USA