Koncocoo

Best Educational Certification & Development

Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance
In this instant New York Times bestseller, pioneering psychologist Angela Duckworth shows anyone striving to succeed—be it parents, students, educators, athletes, or business people—that the secret to outstanding achievement is not talent but a special blend of passion and persistence she calls “grit.”. Drawing on her own powerful story as the daughter of a scientist who frequently noted her lack of “genius,” Duckworth, now a celebrated researcher and professor, describes her early eye-opening stints in teaching, business consulting, and neuroscience, which led to the hypothesis that what really drives success is not “genius” but a unique combination of passion and long-term perseverance. "Angela Duckworth [is] the psychologist who has made 'grit' the reigning buzzword in education-policy circles...Duckworth's ideas about the cultivation of tenacity have clearly changed some lives for the better...In this book, Duckworth, whose TED talk has been viewed more than eight million times, brings her lessons to the reading public." "It really isn't talent but practice—along with passion—that makes perfect, explains psychologist Duckworth in this illuminating book. Angela Duckworth pulls together decades of psychological research, inspiring success stories from business and sports, and her own unique personal experience and distills it all into a set of practical strategies to make yourself and your children more motivated, more passionate, and more persistent at work and at school.”. — Paul Tough, author of How Children Succeed.
Reviews
"The stories of people with the ability to persist are lively and interesting, but the overall feeling is of reading small vignette style biographies of people who are smarter, better, and more talented than you are, with anecdotal insights sprinkled throughout. Her main point is that it's unlikely that you know your own limits, and that the act of striving against them each day can take you to an unexpectedly good place."
"If you're an educator, this book is a must read."
"I learned much more about Grit playing high school sports and my Marine Corps experience but not everybody has those opportunities."
"All parents, managers, coaches, and anyone else who wants to do something meaningful with their life should read this book."
"Just a really great book that put this into a really great perspective."
"Dr. Duckworth makes excellent points about why we should look at perseverance and stick-to-it-tiveness instead of talent."
"I thoroughly enjoyed this book."
"Save yourself a pile of time and just read her paper "Grit: perseverance and passion for long-term goals", Journal of personality and social psychology, 2007."
Find Best Price at Amazon
The Reading Strategies Book: Your Everything Guide to Developing Skilled Readers
develop goals for every reader give students step-by-step strategies for skilled reading guide readers with prompts aligned to the strategies adjust instruction to meet individual needs with Jen's Teaching Tips craft demonstrations and explanations with her Lesson Language learn more with Hat Tips to the work of influential teacher-authors. Whether you use readers workshop, Daily 5/CAFE, guided reading, balanced reading, a core reading program, whole-class novels, or any other approach, The Reading Strategies Book will complement and extend your teaching. Jennifer Serravallo is the author of New York Times bestseller The Reading Strategies Book as well as other popular Heinemann titles, including Teaching Reading in Small Groups; Conferring with Readers; and The Literacy Teacher's Playbook, Grades K - 2 and Grades 3 - 6.
Reviews
"Most books about teaching reading require plowing through lots of pages about the author's philosophy and practices before getting to the good stuff...the stuff you can use in the classroom tomorrow. Every teacher, from classroom teachers to reading specialists to literacy coaches to tutors to home-school teachers, from pre serviice teachers to veteran teachers, will quickly and easily be able to find the strategies they need to teach the students in front of them."
"- Jennifer Serravallo, The Reading Strategies Book: Your EVERYTHING Guide to Developing Skilled Readers. Jennifer Serravallo created the ultimate book of reading strategies. - Classroom Teacher: This is truly a comprehensive book to help you develop individual reading goals or goals for reading strategy groups. The book is organized around the following goals (chapters) for developing skilled readers: - Supporting Pre-Emergent and Emergent Readers. - Teaching Reading Engagement: Focus, Stamina, and Building a Reading Life. - Supporting Print Work: Increasing Accuracy and Integrating Sources of Information. - Teaching Fluency: Reading with Paraphrasing, Intonation, and Automaticity. - Supporting Comprehension in Fiction: Understanding Plot and Setting. - Supporting Comprehension in Fiction: Thinking About Characters. - Supporting Comprehension in Fiction: Understanding Themes and Ideas. - Supporting Comprehension in Nonfiction: Determining Maint Topic(s) and Idea(s). - Supporting Comprehension in Nonfiction: Determining Key Details. - Supporting Comprehension in Nonfiction: Getting the Most from Text Features. - Improving Comprehension in Fiction and Nonfiction: Understanding Vocabulary and Figurative Language. - Supporting Students' Conversations: Speaking, Listening, and Deepening Comprehension. - Improving Writing About Reading. Each chapter starts with a research-based explanation of WHY the goal is important to developing skilled readers."
"I am a literacy coach and am so excited to use this book next year with teachers at my school. Here's why: I love how Jennifer compares The Reading Strategies Book to a cookbook, It's a great analogy for the lessons in the book. Jennifer walks you through navigating the book, choosing goals for students, how the book might fit into your current literacy instruction, and supporting strategies with visuals. I think this book should be a required text for college literacy courses and should be a welcome gift to new teachers when hired."
"In the short introduction, Jennifer Serravallo explains how to identify reading goals for students based on a hierarchy of reading needs."
Find Best Price at Amazon
How to Grill: The Complete Illustrated Book of Barbecue Techniques, A Barbecue Bible! Cookbook
With more than 1,000 full-color photographs, How to Grill shows 100 techniques, from how to set up a three-tiered fire to how to grill a prime rib, a porterhouse, a pork tenderloin, or a chicken breast. The giddy joy that comes with picking up this tribute to outdoor cooking is comparable to the adolescent thrill of sneaking a naughty magazine into the garage. Not only does every conceivable meat, fish and fowl get its turn over the coals, there is a whole Barbecued Cabbage stuffed with bacon and onion and even a grilled Creme Brulee. Raichlen focuses on creative techniques, employing everything from butcher's string and bricks wrapped in foil to inserting a half-full can of beer into the cavity of a chicken: when placed on the grill it simultaneously steams the bird and holds it upright, allowing the skin to grow crisp. However, to limit the book to a manageable size, Raichlen presents just one or two recipes for each cut of meat or type of seafood. Throughout, every recipe is made foolproof with step-by-step instructions and, happily, a photo accompanies every one of the steps. "Detailed directions are clear, the tips on technique are many and useful, and the outcomes are honest and tasty." "150 straightforward recipes will appeal to run-of-the-mill grillers as well as those weekend barbecue warriors . "Mr. Raichlen's recipes are interesting enough to make even an accomplished cook sit up and take notice."
Reviews
"Very well written with lots of pictures, and thorough explanations."
"And a very thorough and detailed teaching of what 'anyone' needs to know about how to grill."
"this book has really made my grilling skills go up a few notches."
"5 STARS. Though this year, someone stole my grill, I really have enjoyed learning the intricacies of grilling thanks to this wonderful book."
"This book is great."
"Already got one, bought this one as a gift."
"Great Cookbook on Grilling."
"Great read and awesome barbecue methods!"
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Lesson Planning for Educators

The Writing Strategies Book: Your Everything Guide to Developing Skilled Writers
Now, in The Writing Strategies Book, Jen Serravallo does the same, collecting 300 of the most effective strategies to share with writers, and grouping them beneath 10 crucial goals. develop individual goals for every writer give students step-by-step strategies for writing with skill and craft coach writers using prompts aligned to a strategy present mentor texts that support a genre and strategy adjust instruction to meet individual needs with Jen's Teaching Tips demonstrate and explain a writing move with her Lesson Language learn more with Hat Tips to the work of influential teacher-authors. Jennifer Serravallo is the author of New York Times bestseller The Reading Strategies Book as well as other popular Heinemann titles, including Teaching Reading in Small Groups; Conferring with Readers; and The Literacy Teacher's Playbook, Grades K - 2 and Grades 3 - 6.
Reviews
"I can never find Jen's Reading Strategies Book because one of our special educators is always borrowing it and utilizing strategies from it in their mini-lessons and/or conferencing with students."
"I purchased this book as well as the reading strategies book by Serravallo."
"Awesome!"
"Excellent book."
"Amazing teaching resource!"
"Terrific resource all in one place and right at your fingertips!"
"Loved it so much - I bought one for my daughter."
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Educational Professional Development

Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance
In this instant New York Times bestseller, pioneering psychologist Angela Duckworth shows anyone striving to succeed—be it parents, students, educators, athletes, or business people—that the secret to outstanding achievement is not talent but a special blend of passion and persistence she calls “grit.”. Drawing on her own powerful story as the daughter of a scientist who frequently noted her lack of “genius,” Duckworth, now a celebrated researcher and professor, describes her early eye-opening stints in teaching, business consulting, and neuroscience, which led to the hypothesis that what really drives success is not “genius” but a unique combination of passion and long-term perseverance. One of "The Hottest Spring Nonfiction Books" —The Wall Street Journal A "Leadership Book to Watch for in 2016" —The Washington Post A "Must-Read Business Book for 2016" —Forbes One of "The Year's Best Life Hacks" —Glamour "Angela Duckworth [is] the psychologist who has made 'grit' the reigning buzzword in education-policy circles...Duckworth's ideas about the cultivation of tenacity have clearly changed some lives for the better...In this book, Duckworth, whose TED talk has been viewed more than eight million times, brings her lessons to the reading public." Angela Duckworth pulls together decades of psychological research, inspiring success stories from business and sports, and her own unique personal experience and distills it all into a set of practical strategies to make yourself and your children more motivated, more passionate, and more persistent at work and at school.”. — Paul Tough, author of How Children Succeed "If you have recently bumped into that word, grit , Duckworth is the reason...In education and parenting circles, her research has provided a much needed antipode to hovering , by which children are systematically deprived of the opportunity to experience setbacks, much less overcome them...What sticks with you [in Grit ] are the testimonials, collected from sources as disparate as Will Smith, William James, and Jeff Bezos's mom, that relentlessly deflate the myth of the natural." Fascinating, rigorous, and practical, Grit is destined to be a classic in the literature of success.” —Dan Heath, co-author of Made to Stick , Switch , and Decisive “Utterly captivating, inspiring and original…Once you pick up Grit , you won't be able to tear yourself away.” —Amy Cuddy, Harvard Business School professor and author of Presence “Enlightening… Grit teaches that life’s high peaks aren’t necessarily conquered by the naturally nimble but, rather, by those willing to endure, wait out the storm, and try again.” —Ed Viesturs, Seven-Time Climber of Mount Everest and author of No Shortcuts to the Top “I kept wanting to read this book aloud—to my child, my husband, to everyone I care about. Angela Duckworth’s Grit is a national treasure.” —Lawrence H. Summers, Former Secretary of the Treasury and President Emeritus at Harvard University “Masterful… Grit offers a truly sane perspective: that true success comes when we devote ourselves to endeavors that give us joy and purpose.” —Arianna Huffington, author of Thrive “I’m convinced there are no more important qualities in striving for excellence than those that create true grit...I hope you enjoy the book as much as I did.” —Brad Stevens, Coach of the Boston Celtics “Empowering…Angela Duckworth compels attention with her idea that regular individuals who exercise self-control and perseverance can reach as high as those who are naturally talented—that your mindset is as important as your mind.”. — Soledad O’Brien, Chairman of Starfish MediaGroup and former co-anchor of CNN’s “American Morning” "Engaging...With strong appeal for readers of Daniel H. Pink, Malcolm Gladwell, and Susan Cain, this is a must-have." Grit will inspire everyone who reads it to stick to something hard that they have a passion for.”. — Sal Khan, founder of Khan Academy “A combination of rich science, compelling stories, crisp graceful prose, and appealingly personal examples…Without a doubt, this is the most transformative, eye-opening book I’ve read this year.” —Sonja Lyubomirsky, Professor, University of California, Riverside and author of The How of Happiness “Incredibly important…There is deeply embodied grit, which is born of love, purpose, truth to one's core under ferocious heat, and a relentless passion for what can only be revealed on the razor’s edge; and there is the cool, patient, disciplined cultivation and study of resilience that can teach us all how to get there. ” —Robert D. Putnam, Professor of Public Policy at Harvard and author of Bowling Alone and Our Kids “This book gets into your head, which is where it belongs…For educators who want our kids to succeed, this is an indispensable read.” —Joel Klein, former Chancellor, New York City public schools "[Blends] anecdote and science, statistic and yarn...Not your grandpa's self-help book, but Duckworth's text is oddly encouraging, exhorting us to do better by trying harder, and a pleasure to read." Angela Duckworth shares the stories, the science, and the positivity behind sustained success…A must-read.” —Barbara Fredrickson, author of Positivity and Love 2.0 and President of the International Positive Psychology Association "A fascinating tour of the psychological research on success...A great service of Ms. Duckworth's book is her down-to-earth definition of passion.
Reviews
"The stories of people with the ability to persist are lively and interesting, but the overall feeling is of reading small vignette style biographies of people who are smarter, better, and more talented than you are, with anecdotal insights sprinkled throughout. Her main point is that it's unlikely that you know your own limits, and that the act of striving against them each day can take you to an unexpectedly good place."
"While the premise is based on the influence of culture, environment and life experiences which are responded to in different ways, it is not an exact science as any parent knows."
"Just a really great book that put this into a really great perspective."
"Dr. Duckworth makes excellent points about why we should look at perseverance and stick-to-it-tiveness instead of talent."
"I thoroughly enjoyed this book."
"Reading it and enjoying it so far."
"I am reading this book as part of an office Leadership Book Club."
"Save yourself a pile of time and just read her paper "Grit: perseverance and passion for long-term goals", Journal of personality and social psychology, 2007."
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Educational Law & Legislation Law

School Law and the Public Schools: A Practical Guide for Educational Leaders (6th Edition) (The Pearson Educational Leadership Series)
An essential, practical, hands-on resource for school leaders, policymakers, and other educational personnel, this practical, clear, and easy-to-understand guide looks at both the historical background and the contemporary legal issues that affect virtually every aspect of schools today. He served as a policy consultant with the Alabama State Department of Education for twelve years and received numerous awards in recognition of his contributions in the field of education. He is the recipient of the Truman M. Pierce Award for Educational Leadership and outstanding contributions which advanced the direction of education in the state of Alabama, the Academic Excellence Award in recognition of professional achievement and academic excellence in the research, service, and teaching of education, Capstone College of Education Society, The University of Alabama; Teaching Excellence Award; Distinguished Service Award—Who’s Who in the State of Tennessee, The University of Memphis Distinguished Administrator of the Year 1995-96, “Educator on the Move,” The University of Memphis; Phi Delta Kappa, the President’s award for leadership and service to the community, Youth Services, Inc.; Who’s Who in Corporate Memphis, Grace Magazine; and, President Bush’s Community Service Award, just to name a few.
Reviews
"I use this book as the main text for my school law class."
"This book is serving its purpose."
"The book was easy to read and is a great resource to have."
"This is a practical and easy-to-read book for any person needing to know more about school law."
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Education Administration

What Great Teachers Do Differently: 17 Things That Matter Most
In the second edition of this renowned book, you will find pearls of wisdom, heartfelt advice, and inspiration from one of the nation’s leading authorities on staff motivation, teacher leadership, and principal effectiveness. With wit and understanding, Todd Whitaker describes the beliefs, behaviors, attitudes, and interactions of great teachers and explains what they do differently. Todd is a professor of educational leadership at Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana, and he has spent his life pursuing his love of education by researching and studying effective teachers and principals.
Reviews
"It was a short and easy read, had some good anecdotal material, I learned some things I really liked from it, and it's something I'll be happy to keep on my shelf for years to come."
"If you need some teaching inspiration in a jiffy this is the book for you."
"Every teacher should read this book."
"Gave this to a friend who is a great teacher (awarded teacher of the year) and she is going to present it at a meeting for other teachers."
"Every teacher should read this."
"Had heard about this writer and his ideas a lot of what he talks about is common sense but after fifteen years of teaching it is good to review what I am doing and how my results impact the kids very good read for any experienced or brand new teacher."
"As well as makes me realize that I am a great teacher."
"I love this book."
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Education Administration

The Innovator's Mindset: Empower Learning, Unleash Talent, and Lead a Culture of Creativity
If we want innovative students, we need innovative educators. Connect with other innovative educators Support teachers and leaders as learners Tap into the strength of your learning community Create ongoing opportunities for innovation Seek more effective methods for measuring progress And, most importantly, embrace change and use it to do something amazing. With numerous examples of practical strategies that school leaders can implement tomorrow, George has created a guide to help infuse innovative practices in schools and classrooms.
Reviews
"The Innovator's Mindset: Empower Learning, Unleash Talent, and Lead a Culture of Creativity. The Innovator's Mindset by George Couros is a must read for anyone looking to shift their mindset within the education setting."
"It is really for anyone interested in others' learning. If you are a teacher, parent, or student - anyone that cares about learning - you can find something valuable."
"Most importantly, the book discusses very practical ways to become an innovative and growing professional, open to change, and willing to lead systemic movements for progress in education."
"I wore out my highlighter and nodded my head while screaming 'YES" as tears of joy streamed down my face."
"The personal stories and background he provides,the style in which the book is written, plus the humorous references and other anecdotes throughout, really engage the reader and make it meaningful and enjoyable to read."
"As someone who is wanting to move into administration, these ideas are the types of ideas I hope to carry into my future role. Follow George Couros on Twitter and become connected with thousands of other educators looking to be innovative and change the face of education."
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Education Standards

Teach Like Finland: 33 Simple Strategies for Joyful Classrooms
How does Finnish education―with short school days, light homework loads, and little standardized testing―produce students who match the PISA scores of high-powered, stressed-out kids in Asia? Remarkably, Finland is prioritizing the joy of learning in its newest core curricula and Walker carefully highlights specific strategies that support joyful K-12 classrooms and integrate seamlessly with educational standards in the United States. “[Walker] provides an engaging and eye-opening vision that does not pit America against Finland, but lets us see what we can learn from each other... For teachers and education advocates who would like to understand one instructor's reflective quest toward educational improvement.”. - Library Journal. “Walker was nevertheless able to identify 33 strategies that could be easily introduced into American educational systems… [Walker’s ideas] are geared toward the relaxed, flexible, welcoming atmosphere that works so well for both teachers and students in Finland. “More joy in classrooms and less work for teachers as the way to improving student learning? Sounds incredible, but the Finns have figured it out, and Tim Walker explains how American educators can do the same in this engaging and important book. “Tim Walker is one of the most thoughtful educators I've ever encountered. His observations as an American teacher working in Finnish classrooms will surprise many readers: Some traditional ideas we've pushed aside actually work well in Finland, some of Finland's most effective strategies originated in American schools.
Reviews
"I teach 2nd grade in Ohio and have been feeling the stress of our state's teacher evaluation system and the constant testing. I can't wait for next week when I allow my kids more freedom in their research projects and having their help in planning our Force and Motion unit."
"Had some great, simple ideas."
"Simple and easy strategies that can be reflected on and adapted for the classroom no matter what area you teach."
"Changed my approach to workflow so I have less stress, but could use another edit due to typos and repetitiibs."
"His strategies talk not only about teaching but the things we should be doing outside of teaching to help us become better teachers."
"The 33 simple strategies (basic reminders; many are adapted from Lemov’s Teach Like a Champion) are pedagogically solid, activities we should be doing in order to keep learning joyful: frequent breaks with fresh air and movement, gallery walks, showing relevance of lesson, choice time in which “students can select from a range of options, ten minutes of free reading, free writing, or playing a fun math game,” getting to know each child to incorporate their interests into the instruction, and many more. They “typically employ traditional, teacher-driven classroom instruction….like lecturing” and “students...typically spend a significant amount of classroom time completing exercises from workbooks” and “copying text off the blackboard (or whiteboard) into their notebooks.” Most surprisingly, they don’t “take intentional, voluntary steps to improve significantly as practitioners, whether it be thorough reading professional literature of their choice, attending summer institutes, or implementing new pedagogies in their classrooms.” Ouch."
"I started following him, had to read every artical, he wrote, and wanted to learn more about Finlands education system."
"Using his life experiences in both American and Finnish schools, he provides insight into what worked for him as he learned to slow down, focus on the children and allow joy to a regular part of his day."
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Academic Development Counseling

Ethical, Legal, and Professional Issues in Counseling (5th Edition)
Ideal for instructors who do not specialize in the topics presented, and for students who are learning about the counseling profession, Ethical, Legal, and Professional Issues in Counseling includes numerous case studies throughout not only to highlight difficult situations faced by counselors, but also to give readers the benefit of the authors’ best thinking on how to resolve the dilemmas. The complex legal, ethical, and professional counseling issues are analyzed and discussed in a manner that allows counselors to resolve challenging situations as they arise in their practice. Included is practical advice on how to manage ethical and legal issues such as using technology and social media, counseling minors and vulnerable adults, counseling clients who may be suicidal or violent, responding to subpoenas; setting boundaries with clients, students, and supervisees serving as gatekeepers for the counseling profession; developing a private practice, responding to complaints, and practicing in a diversity-sensitive manner. Enjoy instant online access from your computer or download the Pearson eText App to read on or offline on your iPad® and Android® tablet. Remley and Herlihy provide students with a comprehensive guide for navigating ethical and legal dilemmas in counseling. I appreciate that Remley and Herlihy create new editions that are accurately updated to current issues in counseling and counselor education. Students are able to understand historic and legal aspects of their profession and ethical obligations so that they are empowered to be competent decision makers on behalf of themselves and their clients . [T]his is an excellent book that covers professional identity and ethical and legal issues to sufficient depth for training counsellors to be competent, pass their necessary exams for licensure and certifications, and fulfill their professional obligations.”. “It’s written in a way that is relatable for both students who have no context or experience in the field and also for those who have been practicing for a while . “[The text] is engaging and clear while remaining appropriately professional in covering the essential topics of ethical and legal information and behavior . I feel the case examples, and subsequent questions help students bring a practical application to [the] material.”.
Reviews
"Provides scenarios and discussions of the scenario afterward (rather than just posing a scenario and not discussing it like most textbooks do)."
"A great text that prompts one to consider all aspects of ethics in counseling, from starting a private practice, to billing, to counseling families."
"This book reads smoothly and each line and chapter effortlessly flows."
"Im in my Master of Counseling Program with Walden University and was happy to find this book for an affordable price and in good condition with no wear."
"Does excellent job explaining ethical guidelines."
"great just what I needed."
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Adult & Continuing Education

English the American Way: A Fun ESL Guide to Language & Culture in the U.S. w/Audio CD & MP3 (English as a Second Language Series)
REA's English the American Way: A Fun ESL Guide to Language & Culture in the U.S. with Audio CD + MP3 A fun guide to everything American for the English language learner! Improve your listening and speaking skills with the dialogues included on our audio CD and MP3 download. Sheila. has held several leadership positions scoring teacher candidate responses. for an international testing company, and Jane has written. ESL test questions and rated English as a Foreign Language exams. for another internationally recognized testing company. They have won many awards for excellence in teaching, including. two Teacher of the Year awards, and corporate citations for excellence. Add to this some fun. teaching projects in Spanish, public speaking, drama, writing… and, we’re not kidding, even soccer skills and you’ve got two writers who.
Reviews
"Well written and is helping my wife improve her English abilities."
"I love this book, I bought it for my sister because she needs to improve her english and its good to learn the American english."
"Helpful with my ESL student."
"There is just to much slang, dropping of letters, and other shortcuts that are unsuitable for the beginning ESL student."
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Secondary Education

Teach Like a Champion 2.0: 62 Techniques that Put Students on the Path to College
Over 700,000 teachers around the world already know how the techniques in this book turn educators into classroom champions. Over 70 new video clips of real teachers modeling the techniques in the classroom (note: for online access of this content, please visit my.teachlikeachampion.com) A selection of never before seen techniques inspired by top teachers around the world Brand new structure emphasizing the most important techniques and step by step teaching guidelines Updated content reflecting the latest best practices from outstanding educators.
Reviews
"Bummer for me trying to be cheap last summer and save my hard earned teacher dollars."
"Great resource for new teachers and veterans who are looking to refine their practice and expand their instructional strategies."
"Not a perfect book but so many great techniques to try when facing challenges in the classroom."
"If you can only afford one book on classroom management, buy this one."
"This book is amazing...is it weird or petty that I wish it had pictures or charts or something to break up the chapters and chapters of information."
"Every teacher should read this."
"Love the ideas presented in the book."
"Some of the videos make me cry in their absolute control over every movement and every expression of every child. Working in a Title One school, I get it that there needs to be a much stronger grip on classroom management, but is this really the answer?"
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Teacher & Student Mentoring

Unshakeable: 20 Ways to Enjoy Teaching Every Day...No Matter What
Unshakeable will help you incorporate a love of life into your teaching, and a love of teaching into your life. Create curriculum "bright spots" that you can't wait to teach Gain energy from kids instead of letting them drain you Uncover real meaning and purpose for every single lesson Incorporate playfulness and make strong connections with kids Stop letting test scores and evaluations define your success Construct a self-running classroom that frees you to teach Say "no" without guilt and make your "yes" really count Establish healthy, balanced habits for bringing work home Determine what matters most and let go of the rest Innovate and adapt to make teaching an adventure. Unshakeable will help you incorporate a love of life into your teaching, and a love of teaching into your life.
Reviews
"This book provides simple strategies and examples of how to enjoy teaching every day, even when it may seem impossible."
"Angela Watson makes realistic suggestions that teachers can use to bring more positivity to their classrooms and lives."
"I always thought I didn't need a very explicit schedule since I don't have a family but without a schedule I think any free moment I could/ should be doing work."
"I had a rough year last year and this book energized me and made me excited to start anew."
"This is a wonderful book which offers great strategies to help dedicated teachers, who are "in the trenches," regain their focus of what matters most in this esteemed profession!"
"She reminds me to use what I know, and challenge myself to learn more all the tome."
"After several years in tough classrooms, I needed to find joy in teaching again."
"I would recommend this book to all educators, but especially those who need to be re-energized or need a new mindset."
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Teaching for Tests

Praxis Core For Dummies, with Online Practice Tests (For Dummies Series)
The new exam still tests competency in reading, writing, and mathematics, but the bar has been raised and the focus is more on critical thinking to provide states and agencies better candidate qualification indicators. Learn which topics you know well by answering hundreds of test questions Understand how to prepare for the required essays Hone your test-taking skills with strategies that will help you ace the exam. Preview the Praxis — get familiar with the Praxis, develop a strategy for preparing in advance, and try out some practice questions You can count on it — master math concepts with reviews of numbers and quantities, algebra, geometry, and probability and statistics Read between the lines — refine your reading comprehension skills and get helpful test-taking strategies Get the write stuff — discover indispensable tips on grasping grammar, crafting an essay, and identifying errors in multiple choice items Practice makes perfect — take five full-length practice tests: find two Praxis exams in the book and three additional exams online (complete with answers and explanations for each question).
Reviews
"Today I took my test (reading 5712), and I got a 180 out of 200!!! I did this for people like me, who want to pass the test, have the determination but are not super smart. the writing was simple and it didnt provide much strategies, but the test were challenging enough that they opened up my thinking.Therefore, I would still recommend it, but only for the test."
"For math, I not only used this book, but I also used the Kaplan book as well the study guide on the ETS website and Khan Academy. I would 100% buy this book in addition to other resources in order to maximize your chances of passing!"
"I purchased this book for my niece."
"It teaches time management and subject matter on all three parts of the test."
"You need this book!"
"It helped me pass the Writing and Reading portion of the Praxis I Core."
"The additional online practice test were hard to access."
"didn't seem to help with what actually was in the exam."
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Language Experience Approach to Teaching

Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons
Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons is a complete, step-by-step program that shows parents simply and clearly how to teach their children to read. One hundred lessons, fully illustrated and color-coded for clarity, give your child the basic and more advanced skills needed to become a good reader.Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons will bring you and your child closer together, while giving your child the reading skills needed now, for a better chance at tomorrow. (Point to m )I'm going to touch under this sound and say the sound. Your turn to say the sound when I touch under it. (To correct child saying a wrong sound or not responding:) The sound is mmmmmm. (Point to s. )I'm going to touch under this sound and say the sound. Your turn to say the sound when I touch under it. (To correct child saying a wrong sound or not responding:) The sound is ssssss. TASK 2 SAY IT FAST. My turn: motor (pause) boat. (To correct child saying word slowly -- for example, "motor [pause] boat":) You didn't say it fast. Here's saying it fast: motorboat. Listen: ice (pause) cream. Listen: sis (pause) ter. Listen: ham (pause) burger. Listen: mmmeee. Listen: iiifff. (Repeat any words child had trouble with.). I'm going to say some words slowly, without stopping. Listen: aaammm. Listen: mmmeee. Listen: iiinnn. Listen: shshsheee. Now it's your turn to say the words slowly with me. (To correct if child stops between sounds -- for example, "aaa [pause] mmm":) Don't stop. (Don't pause between sounds a and m as you say aaammm. ). (Repeat until child responds with you.). Your turn to say words slowly by yourself. Good saying the words slowly. (Touch first ball for m,) Get ready. (Touch first ball for s.) Get ready. TASK 5 SAY IT FAST. Listen: motor (pause) cycle. TASK 6 SOUNDS WRITING. You're going to write a sound on each line. I'll show you how to make each sound. Then you'll write each sound. Here's the first sound you're going to write. (Point to m.) What sound? (Help child trace sound two or three times. Child is then to make three to five m 's on top line. For each acceptable letter child makes, say:) Good writing mmm. Here's how to make sss. Point to s.) What sound? (Help child trace sound two or three times. Child is then to make three to five s's on second line. For each acceptable letter child makes, say:) Good writing sss. (Point to m.) I'm going to touch under this sound and say the sound. Your turn to say the sound when I touch under it. (To correct child saying a wrong sound or not responding:) The sound is mmmmmm.
Reviews
"I become painfully aware of how naive I was to the processes of reading when my daughter was at the age that she should be knowing her letters and stuff. Despite the fact that my husband and I are voracious readers, and that we read to our daughter daily, she had developed a loathing towards all things letters. When she was still mixing up her letters and sounds, and resistant towards all reading games at 5 years old, I began to worry. So I scoured the internet for various books and programs to help me, as I, by then, understood fully I knew jack squat about how to teach a kid to read."
"To me, this is actually a bonus because I want my boys to learn that boring isn't bad and that sitting still is a skill just as much as reading. When reading the slow way, they step from one sound to the next, if they're not sounding it out, they can't move- that helped with pausing."
"Good teaching manual for non teachers."
"My daughter, the home schooler, has more energy for the task than I would have and will probably benefit from the book."
"I love the fact that I get to teach my kids kid at a pace I know they will grasp everything that is taught to them."
"I have a moderately bright 4 year old who has NO interest in learning new things, and she dove into this."
"Excellent source for teaching your child to read."
"This technique makes a lot of sense to me."
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Popular Psychology Personality Study

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking
Passionately argued, superbly researched, and filled with indelible stories of real people, Quiet has the power to permanently change how we see introverts and, equally important, how they see themselves. NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER. NPR BESTSELLER. WASHINGTON POST. BESTSELLER. LOS ANGELES TIMES. BESTSELLER. USA TODAY. TOP 50 BESTSELLER. INDIEBOUND BESTSELLER. PUBLISHERS WEEKLY. BESTSELLER. Fast Company. ’s #1 Best Business book of 2012. INC Magazine’s. Best 2012 Books for Entrepreneurs. People. Magazine’s 10 Best Books of 2012. O, The Oprah Magazine. 10 Favorite Books of 2012. Christian Science Monitor. ’s Best Books of 2012. GoodReads Nonfiction Choice Award Winner. Audible’s #1 Non-Fiction book of 2012. Amazon’s Best Books of 2012. Barnes & Noble Best Books of 2012. Library Journal. ’s Best Books of 2012. Kirkus REVIEWS’. Best Books of 2012. Her diligence, research, and passion for this important topic has richly paid off.” —Publishers Weekly “This book is a pleasure to read and will make introverts and extroverts alike think twice about the best ways to be themselves and interact with differing personality types.” —Library Journal “An intelligent and often surprising look at what makes us who we are.” —Booklist “Charm and charisma may be one beau ideal, but backed by first-rate research and her usual savvy, Cain makes a convincing case for the benefits of reserve.” —Harper's Bazaar. “Those who value a quiet, reflective life will feel a burden lifting from their shoulders as they read Susan Cain's eloquent and well documented paean to introversion--and will no longer feel guilty or inferior for having made the better choice!” —MIHALY CSIKSZENTMIHALYI, author of Flow and Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Management, Claremont Graduate University “Superbly researched, deeply insightful, and a fascinating read, Quiet is an indispensable resource for anyone who wants to understand the gifts of the introverted half of the population.” —GRETCHEN RUBIN, author of The Happiness Project. Drawing on neuroscientific research and many case reports, Susan Cain explains the advantages and potentials of introversion and of being quiet in a noisy world.” —ANDREW WEIL, author of Healthy Aging and Spontaneous Happiness “Susan Cain has done a superb job of sifting through decades of complex research on introversion, extroversion, and sensitivity--this book will be a boon for the many highly sensitive people who are also introverts.” —ELAINE ARON, author of The Highly Sensitive Person.
Reviews
"My entire life has been on hold since this started, I get home from work too exhausted to do anything except veg out for a couple hours and go to bed, and even weekends aren't much better. I learned that the job situation I'm currently in - the non-stop deadline demands, interruptions, never being able to work quietly or alone no matter how difficult a project was, phones ringing incessantly, people in my face all day long, etc. And as enlightening as it was to learn how many of the traits I've beat myself up for over the years are just a product of my introverted temperament (being highly sensitive, shutting down when subjected to stimulation overload, preferring to think a thing through before I speak - something I never get to do at work, as if it takes me more than 5 seconds to say something, I get interrupted and cut off), the most important thing I got from this book is that it's okay to be myself, it's okay to feel the way I do. I am not weak or a failure because I don't feel or behave like my extremely extroverted boss (who thrives in high-energy crisis mode, and is bored unless he's doing 10 things at once - and expects the rest of us to keep up). I also found the information on the history of the "rise of the Culture of Personality" completely fascinating, it really gave me a new insight as to just exactly how we 'grew' this tendency to value extroversion over introversion. I know I will meet resistance from my boss (I'd love for him to read this book, but unfortunately I know he won't), and I know I won't instantly fix everything in one day, and that I'll probably always need to be able to stretch myself a bit to do things that are not ideal for me ... but this book taught me that there are ways to make that work, too, if you understand and honor the need for recharging around such tasks, instead of trying to force yourself to do them 8 hours a day with no break. The wealth of information and insights in this book cannot be overstated - especially if you are an introverted type of person who has always felt there was something not quite right about you, or that you somehow needed to change to fit in or succeed. Thank you, Susan Cain, from the bottom of my heart (which is finally beating at a more normal speed because I'm not panicked about going to work for the first time in months)."
"As somebody who has been called at some point or another the gamut of terms associated with introversion, from "shy" (which I don't object) to "anti-social" (which I most certainly consider unfair), I found in Susan Cain's "Quiet," the validation and appreciation many introverts have been searching for. In "Quiet," Ms. Cain explains the rise of the Extrovert Ideal in the 1920s and how it is that today we associate talkative, risk-taking, and action-oriented people with intelligence, beauty, power and success. She interviews scientists who have conducted hundreds of studies to test different theories in an effort to determine how much of our temperament is a result of genetics and/or of our free will. For those still deciding on a career, the author reminds readers that research shows that introverts are not reward-seeking like extroverts, but rather motivated by the enjoyment they find in pursuing an activity; in other words, by being in what psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi calls the "flow"."
"Helped me understand a lot of tendencies in my life and in the lives of many others."
"As an introvert I found it very helpful, it explained who I am that the way I see the world and how I socialise is quite normal, not to judge myself against extroverts, that to limit my social contract is quite normal and that I can get overwhelmed by too much happening around me and that quiet time is important to my well-being."
"An engaging non-fiction book that doesn't just devolve into confirmation bias or a single note thesis."
"This book was not at all what I expected."
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Applied Psychology

Mindset: The New Psychology of Success
People with a fixed mindset —those who believe that abilities are fixed—are less likely to flourish than those with a growth mindset —those who believe that abilities can be developed. She introduces a phenomenon she calls false growth mindset and guides people toward adopting a deeper, truer growth mindset. “One of the most influential books ever about motivation.” —Po Bronson, author of NurtureShock “If you manage people or are a parent (which is a form of managing people), drop everything and read Mindset .” —Guy Kawasaki, author of The Art of the Start 2.0. In other words, you are who you are, your intelligence and talents are fixed, and your fate is to go through life avoiding challenge and failure. Dweck provides a checklist to assess yourself and shows how a particular mindset can affect all areas of your life, from business to sports and love. as well as for those who would like to increase their own feelings of success and fulfillment.” —Library Journal (starred review) “Everyone should read this book.” —Chip Heath and Dan Heath, authors of Made to Stick “One of the most influential books ever about motivation.” —Po Bronson, author of NurtureShock “If you manage people or are a parent (which is a form of managing people), drop everything and read Mindset .” —Guy Kawasaki, author of The Art of the Start 2.0.
Reviews
"The book is valuable for its conceit: that there are two types of mind-sets; the growth and the fixed. It's an informational book, but not a great book."
"However, most of the book seems to focus on discussing the difference between "fixed mindset" and "growth mindset" applied to different fields. It is like the author uses the entire book to emphasize how important "growth mindset" is but doesn't really offer much help."
"A common sense and proven approach, which I recommend to parents, coaches, teachers and business leaders."
"It is a compilation of a century of studying patterns of attitudes that have created champions and happiness in lives from every sector of life."
"its ok, nothing earth shattering in the book, but for those who need the message, read it!"
"Interesting but to Many repetitions and the examples Where not specific enogh. Could be interesting if we were given more precise info on how to keep The mindset if there are obstacles. A positive mindset can be Hard to maintain in a competitive environment or When experiencing personal problems or negative obstructing persons. A positive mindset may not be The cure for every problem in real life."
"The other side views all challenges as a learning experience while exhibiting cooperative strategies and tactics."
"Dweck preaches the power of hard work and it's effectiveness."
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Pharmacy

Mycelium Running: How Mushrooms Can Help Save the World
What Stamets has discovered is that we can capitalize on mycelium’s digestive power and target it to decompose toxic wastes and pollutants (mycoremediation), catch and reduce silt from streambeds and pathogens from agricultural watersheds (mycofiltration), control insect populations (mycopesticides), and generally enhance the health of our forests and gardens (mycoforestry and myco-gardening). --From the foreword by Andrew Weil, MD, author of Eating Well for Optimum Health “Stamets is a visionary emissary from the fungus kingdom to our world, and the message he’s brought back in this book, about the possibilities fungi hold for healing the environment, will fill you with wonder and hope.“. --Michael Pollan, author of The Botany of Desire “This is the kind of book I love: highly factual and practical and mixed with the spiritual content that sets the great writers apart from all the rest.“. --John Norris, former deputy commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration and founder of the Bioterrorism Institute. “This is the first book to give the Kingdom of the Fungi its proper place in the scheme of things. Stamets’s visionary insights are leading to a whole new understanding of how mushrooms, scarcely seen and rarely appreciated, regulate the earth’s ecosystems.“. --John Todd, founder and president of Ocean Arks International. “This visionary and practical book should be an instant classic in... A manual for healing the earth and creating sustainable forests through mushroom cultivation, featuring mycelial solutions to water pollution, toxic spills, and other ecological challenges.
Reviews
"Fabulous book on using mushrooms to help your plants, as well as medicinal information."
"If you had no idea how important mycelium / fungi are to natural ecosystems and humanity, this is a good place to start."
"Very interesting read."
"This book is truly fascinating!"
"Paul Stamets is the "go to Guru" about mushrooms."
"Paul Staments knowledge and understanding documentation of Mushrooms and it's benefits is a worthy resource for all us."
Find Best Price at Amazon
Home > Best Books > Best Education & Teaching > Best Schools & Teaching > Best Educational Certification & Development