Reviews (29)

A Must Have for those who teach Reading
I have been doing alot of professional reading on strategies to help my students comprehend what they read.I teach reluctant readers and this is one of the best I've read for middle school comprehension.This puts a new spin on strategies I've already been doing.This book plus Strategic Reading-Guiding Students to Lifelong Literacy 6-12 by Jeffrey Wilhelm are my strategic plans for learning-centered teaching: I do You watch, I do You help, You do I help and You do I watch.Powerful research!!!!

I Read It, but I Don't Get It: Comprehension Strategies for Adolescent Readers
This is one of the most helpful books about teaching struggling readers that I've ever read.The strategies were immediately applicable to my work with learning disabled teenagers, and the book is written in a very clear and conversational style.It's like sitting down for a great discussion with a master reading teacher.Highly recommended.

Teachers of Teens: Read This!
Try this book: easily readable, conversational, and inspirational, it develops ways to reach those who do not really understand what they read. There are anecdotal narratives, each with suggestions for techniques to use in the classroom, and these help focus on the problem as well as possible solutions. I would like to see it used in teacher training classes. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Education    2. Education / Teaching    3. Reading    4. Reading (Secondary)    5. Reading Skills    6. Reading comprehension    7. Remedial teaching    8. Secondary    9. Teaching Methods & Materials - Reading   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (26)

No "blog" but who cares...
Very contempory with updated word list and the extra photos, diagrams, etc. etc. etc. make this a fine choice for kids of all ages from 2 to 92.I am especially happy they included the 'hoopoe' in the bird category.We have many here in Thailand where I live.

very helpful
My daughters are in the third grade and, we have found this dictionary to be very helpful. It is bright and colorful but, it contains quite a bit of information as well. It helps them not only when they are writing something (to look up the spelling of a word) but also to understand the meaning of words. It gives parts of speech, different tenses, and pronunciation of the word as well. I highly recommend it for anyone looking to buy a dictionary for children. I had bought the Scholastic First Dictionary also but, honestly, we did not use that one much at all. The Children's Dictionary is my pick, for sure.

Perfect
My son is in 3rd grade. Every week he has to read a new story & learn a list of words from that story. Yesterday, I received the dictionary. Paging through it, it's very easy follow. Every word that was on his list was in the dictionary & the definations were perfect for him to understand. My son also said that they use the same dictionary in his classroom. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Nonfiction    2. Children: Grades 2-3    3. Dictionaries    4. Dictionaries, Juvenile    5. English language    6. Juvenile Nonfiction    7. Reference - Dictionaries    8. Juvenile Nonfiction / Reference / Dictionaries   

Editorial Review

Think you've got a book inside of you? Anne Lamott isn't afraid to help you let it out. She'll help you find your passion and your voice, beginning from the first really crummy draft to the peculiar letdown of publication. Readers will be reminded of the energizing books of writer Natalie Goldberg and will be seduced by Lamott's witty take on the reality of a writer's life, which has little to do with literary parties and a lot to do with jealousy, writer's block and going for broke with each paragraph.Marvelously wise and best of all, great reading. ... Read more

Reviews (254)

A mixed bag
This book has some good writing advice, which I appreciate, but I was annoyed by the intrusive religious comments. It should have been marketed as a Christian writing book, or else I wish they had left the religion out of it. I do not expect to find this when I purchase a writing book. I want to hear about writing, not about how God can make me a better writer.
Worth reading and Saving !
This is one of the books that I will keep and re-read.Very well written and inspiring.I LOVED IT !! Made me "want" to write and made me feel that I could actually write something worth reading.

Depressing
I found this book very depressing. Anne Lamott's constant self-deprecation throughout the book caused me to really doubt myself as well. I know she is doing it to show that she's human just like the rest of us, but I think she can show that without hating on herself every chance she gets (saying the 9-year-old version of herself looked like a neurotic cat woman, etc.) despite what she says about how you shouldn't do that. It's like hanging around with a bunch of anorexic models, it gets to you.
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Subjects:  1. Authorship    2. Composition & Creative Writing - General    3. Handbooks, manuals, etc    4. Journalism    5. Language    6. Language Arts & Disciplines    7. Reference    8. Writing Skills    9. Reference / Writing Skills   

Reviews (28)

The Elements of Style: A Classic with Timeless Advice
Although the original Elements of Style was written in 1919 (or earlier), it still holds true that anyone who wants to learn how to write in a clear and concise manner will benefit from this book. After reading this book you'll know to avoid breaking elementary rules and principles that are made in writing: excessiveuse of adjectives and adverbs, writing in the passive voice, using different tenses in writing, using the improper case of pronouns (example: using "who" when "whom" should be used and vice versa).
A Classic
This book was required for my high school English classes back in the late '60's. As an English professor, I use this book today. Many generations of students have benefited from this book's informal, conversational approach to teaching formal English (that is, excellent English that is precise and concise in form and content). Although I don't personally like the illustrations, this is my favorite edition of the book because the illustrations add a whimsical informality to substantive content.

Pictures + Punctuation= Fabulous Source of Info
The Elements of Style was great before pictures were added, but the color adds even that much more to a great source for grammar and punctuation.Easy to navigate, great examples through sentences and excerpts.Strunk and White have done it right! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. English Composition    2. English Grammar    3. English language    4. Reference    5. Report writing    6. Rhetoric    7. Style    8. Writing Skills    9. Reference / Writing Skills   

Reviews (7)

Pictures are sometimes confusing
I bought this book for the ASL class I am taking. I missed one week and tried to use the book to teach myself the missed lesson. I did not understand about a third of the diagrams on how to do the different signs. I have seen some sources with explanations to accompany signs which would have made this book much clearer.

Learning American Sign Language
This book is a good one to accompany an ASL class.It is hard to display three dimensional signs on a two dimensional picture.The aid of an instructor makes up for this difficulty.Also some of the vocabluary is not quite right for conversations.The instructor helps straighten out these conflicts.It is a good book with a lot of information as a textbook should be and that is why it is a required text for the class I am taking.

Not the best way to learn Sign language
This book is a little difficult because you can't tell exactly which way to move your hands by the drawings.The illustrations are not the best, but the composition of the book is good. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. American Sign Language    2. Audiology & Speech Pathology    3. Language Arts & Disciplines    4. Language Arts / Linguistics / Literacy    5. Medical    6. Sign Language    7. Sign Language For The Deaf    8. Medical / Audiology & Speech Pathology    9. Sign languages, Braille & other linguistic communication   

Reviews (1)

An absolutely delicious anthology...
I purchased this book for a class, but was delighted to discover that I will definitely want to hang onto it afterwards.The translations chosen for the 'Ancient World' portion are, for the most part, delightfully vivid and capture the spirit of the original language.I also like the layout - the margin size is just perfect for taking notes. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Collections    2. General    3. Literary Collections    4. Literature    5. Literature (General)    6. Literature - Classics / Criticism    7. Literature: Classics    8. Reference    9. Rhetoric    10. Collections & anthologies of various literary forms   

Reviews (2)

Software does not record answers!
When taking the practice tests, you cannot save your speaking test answers. So, you're just talking into the air... Also, you can save the writing section only in the practice mode. In the test mode, your essay simply disappears....The Longman has a much better CD-ROM.

Excelent Book
I tried 3 books for TOEFL IBT; this one was the best of all, it have 7 complete tests, and 10 Audio CDs with a good price. and also a section for teaching the technics. I thing it is almost perfect. and it delivered much faster that exepted. Have fun with TOEFL. Good luck for all.
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Subjects:  1. Educational Tests And Measurements (Higher Education)    2. English As A Second Language    3. English language    4. Examinations    5. General    6. Language Arts / Linguistics / Literacy    7. Study Aids    8. Study Guides    9. TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)    10. Test Prep    11. Test of English as a Foreign Language    12. Textbooks for foreign speakers    13. ELT examination practice tests    14. English    15. Study Aids / TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)    16. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)   

Subjects:  1. Education    2. General    3. Language Arts / Linguistics / Literacy    4. Reading    5. Research    6. Teaching Methods & Materials - Reading    7. English    8. English language: reading skills    9. Teaching of a specific subject   

Reviews (2)

Best current reference on Arabic
In 39 crisp chapters covering more than 700 pages Ryding organizes both the grand lines and essential details of Arabic language structure and grammar. This is a highly readable, easily searched linguistic reference. The index really does the job and her list of references alone is a significant academic contribution. Finally, this gem will make life easier for both students of Arabic and researchers. All my thumbs are up for this once in a lifetime linguistic treasure.

breath-taking
after experimenting with a lot of arabic grammar books I have finally met the most engaging one.I can not imagine the right words to give sufficient definition of the capabilities of this breath-taking book.every sentence is supplied with full transliteration.extensive,exhausive but not exhaushing.it is a must to buy book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Arabic    2. Arabic language    3. Foreign Language - Dictionaries / Phrase Books    4. General    5. Grammar    6. Language    7. Language Arts & Disciplines    8. Arabian peninsula    9. Grammar, syntax, linguistic structure    10. Language Arts & Disciplines / General    11. Saudi Arabia   

Reviews (3)

Speech
I trully enjoyed this book, even though I am not a fan of text books. It has helped me develop stronger speaking skills, and I am not very good at public speaking. It's not a how to book, its simply a guide which offers tips and ideas on how you should present various topics.

FINALLY, Someone who can teach public speaking!
As a college instructor of oral communication for ten years, I complained bitterly about the poor selection of books for beginning students--until now.This is the single best book of its kind on the market, bar none.In all my years, I've never had students brag on a book like this one: easy to read, well-organized, thoughtful, practical, visually attractive, and substantive.My best compliment is that I can teach three times the material in half the time just by using this text--and people understand it!I can't brag enough on the author's work.This is phenomenal.ANYONE who wants to master the basics of public speaking should read this cover to cover.The principles and techniques Mr. Gregory describes are effective, powerful, and described in a simple way.BRAVO!I'll recommend this to everyone.

VERY GOOD!
I'm a student at a local college here in Jersey City. I found this book very easy to read but doesn't defeat the purpose to inform. I really wish I can have him as my teacher.Read more

Subjects:  1. Language    2. Language Arts & Disciplines    3. Language Arts / Linguistics / Literacy    4. Public Speaking    5. Communication studies    6. Language Arts & Disciplines / Public Speaking   

Reviews (1)

Wonderful Book!
A must-have book.Informative and excellently written.Gives all the information you want on Public speaking. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. Language    3. Language Arts & Disciplines    4. Performing Arts    5. Public speaking    6. Speech    7. Theater - General    8. Language Arts & Disciplines / Speech    9. Language teaching & learning material & coursework    10. Phonetics, phonology, prosody (speech)   

Reviews (12)

practical qnd classroom friendly
This book is a wonderful resource book for any Language Arts teacher.The key to successfully using it is to find out what the child needs to learn to do to become a better reader.Then Mrs. Beers has listed what to do, and even shows how it has worked with real students.I know the activities could be used with first graders and on up.I taught Reading Recovery for ten years and have studied struggling readers for forty years, and I know these resources will work.I also like the authors she used to gather her research.She didn't just research through books, but also practiced these herself.Mrs. Beers has included places for busy teachers to go easily to find the materials to use.All Language Arts teachers shoud use this book.

When Kids Can't Read What TEachers Can Do
This is a great book for ESL teachers, new teachers and even seasoned teachers that need to help their kids think higher level and need help with comprehension.I have enjoyed everything in it!!!I am not finished but I am already implementing many of the ideas for comprehension.This purchase has been the best money I have spent in a long time!

I love this book!
I love this book!As a future teacher, it is very helpful.It gives many tips on how to help your reluctant reader.It also is an easy read and not boring what-so-ever. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Education    2. Education / Teaching    3. Elementary    4. Reading    5. Reading (Middle school)    6. Reading (Secondary)    7. Remedial teaching    8. Secondary    9. Teaching Methods & Materials - Reading    10. English    11. English language    12. Literacy    13. Reading skills    14. Teaching of a specific subject   

Subjects:  1. Cognitive Psychology    2. Language    3. Language Arts & Disciplines    4. Language Arts / Linguistics / Literacy    5. Linguistics    6. Reference    7. Language & Linguistics    8. Language Arts & Disciplines / Linguistics   

Reviews (6)

Practical & Informative
The title of this book pretty much spells it out: Dr. Sousa explains how brains learn.Considering the subject, the text is very readable--enough to recommend this book to anyone who wants an understanding of how we are able to retain information.It covers the entire gamut, from the basics of biology to the subtler aspects of the active mind.
Educator-friendly
This book is an excellent resource for educators.It is easily adapted to classroom use no matter what level is being taught.Great insights to hemisphere preference, transfer, critical thinking, teaching strategies.Even the biology and physiology is palatable.This book would lend itself well as a resource for inservicing teachers with its many practioner's corner activities.I recently read Jensen's Teaching With the Brain in Mind and, while I found that book to be a good one, this book if FAR more useful.Every teacher will find easily adapted activities to put to immediate use.Highly recommended.

A Classic!
A book designed to be used. It offers both theory and practice. There are fifty plus pages of practical suggestions: including "Testing Whether Information Is in Long-Term Storage," and "Using the Primacy-Regency Effect in the Classroom." It also contains a glossary, an eleven page bibliography (with five internet site references), and a three page index. A well balanced 305 page classic. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Brain    2. Education    3. Education / Teaching    4. Educational Psychology    5. Learning    6. Learning, Psychology of    7. Physiological aspects    8. Research    9. Teaching Methods & Materials - General    10. Education / Teaching Methods & Materials / General   

Reviews (11)

Rules For Writers
Comprehensive grammar book.Great sections on APA and MLA format writing.

The best writing reference I've found for the SAT Writing Section
I'm an SAT tutor, and I haven't been thrilled with many of the grammar/usage/writing SAT books on the market.They usually do a decent job on a few topics but not all topics.I'm getting this book for every one of my students (and my own son) because it will not only help them with the SAT writing section but it serves as the best ongoing reference for their use in school.I haven't tried the CD-ROM yet (sold separately) but it has over 1000 practice exercises.

Comprehensive, better than the Bedford Handbook
The college where I teach English composition used Rules for Writers as the Handbook for three or four years. It now uses the Bedford Handbook. I found Rules for Writers to be very full and useful for every aspect of teaching, not only grammar and punctuation, but for composition and research writing as well. It tends to have fairly exhaustive explanations of most points of grammar. It has an especially good section on ESOL problems.All in all, it is a practical useful book that I keep on my writing desk for my own use, even though it is no longer used in our classes.
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Subjects:  1. Authorship    2. Composition & Creative Writing - General    3. English language    4. Grammar    5. Handbooks, manuals, etc    6. Language    7. Language Arts & Disciplines    8. Language Arts / Linguistics / Literacy    9. Report writing    10. Rhetoric    11. Language Arts & Disciplines / Composition & Creative Writing   

Reviews (21)

Longmann Course for TOEFL
An excellent book to pass TOEFL. Use the CD and pay attention to all the exercises and you will not have any problem in taking real TOEFL test.

don't buy it
It's a waste of money and time. You can only use the reading section of the book.When you get the book , for example, for listening part you just have questions ,but you don't have the cd for the conversations. To use the other sections you need another audio series which are NOT in the market. Also the audio series you need is NOT mentioned buy the publisher. They give a cd with the book but it doesn't match with the book, it's totally different. I tied to contact with the publisher but they didn't answer my e-mail, they don't seem responsible. As a result, if you don't want to waste your money don't buy this book.

This Book Needs A Warning Label
Although the Longman iBT TOEFL preparation book is generally well done, its main feature is one of the most deceptive sales practices I have ever seen in a textbook.
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Subjects:  1. English language    2. Examinations    3. General    4. Study Aids    5. Study Guides    6. TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)    7. Test Prep    8. Test of English as a foreign language    9. Textbooks for foreign speakers    10. English    11. English Language Teaching (ELT)    12. Study Aids / TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)    13. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)   

Reviews (4)

Out of date!
The book is very useful & accurate for citing books and other print articles, but has no information on citing web pages, emails, or other electronic texts. It is based on the 1995 4th edition of MLA, while MLA is up to the 6th edition (2003)

An Excellent, Although Incomplete, Source On MLA
This Review refers to the paperback edition of The Essentials of MLA Style: A Guide to the System of Documentation Recommended by the MLA for Writers of Research Papers, by Joseph F. Trimmer. CONCISE and easy to use MLA how-to book
Bought for my Kidlet, she's found it a wonderful guidebook to writing MLA style papers. We looked at the full-version (over 200 pages) and it was, quite frankly, overwhelming.Read more

Subjects:  1. Authorship    2. Bibliographical citations    3. Composition & Creative Writing - Academic    4. Editing & Proofreading    5. English Composition    6. Handbooks, manuals, etc    7. Language Arts & Disciplines    8. Language Arts / Linguistics / Literacy    9. Reference    10. Scholarly publishing    11. Style manuals    12. Writing Skills    13. Reference / Writing Skills    14. Writing & editing guides   

Reviews (1)

A wealth of information
Finally, I was required to a buy a book that I will actually use again.Both pre-student and veteren teachers will enjoy this book.It contains a wealth of strategies for teaching kids how to write. Although there is aa lot of great information however, if your like me you don't have tons oftime for reading through all the historical and case study information. Each section is clearly explained so it's great to just pick and choosewhat you are looking for. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Education    2. Education / Teaching    3. Elementary    4. Language    5. Language Arts & Disciplines    6. Language arts (Elementary)    7. Study & Teaching    8. Language & Literature    9. Language Arts & Disciplines / Study & Teaching    10. Teaching of a specific subject   

Reviews (2)

Reading Specialist
This is a very helpful book for ESL Kindergarteners!I have all the Words Their Way books and have used them at every grade level in my elementary school.

A MUST for K-2 teachers.
Like the other Words their Way materials, this volume continues the wonderful tradition of combining excellent teaching ideas with theblack line masters so you can use the strategies immediately.This level is especially appropriate for students learning letter/sound relationships.It gives dozens of poems and stories which have sorts to support teaching them.There are old faithfuls such as "It's raining, it's pouring" to new poems that teach phonemic awareness, rhyming, visual discrimination and sight words. My favorite is the alphabet printed in several different fonts so students can learn all the ways 'A' might look. I wish I had this 21 years ago when I started teaching.I use it daily now. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Education    2. Education / Teaching    3. English Etymology    4. English Phonetics    5. English language    6. Language Experience Approach    7. Orthography and spelling    8. Phonetic method    9. Reading    10. Teaching Methods & Materials - Reading    11. Word recognition    12. Education / Teaching Methods & Materials / Reading    13. English    14. Teaching of a specific subject   

Reviews (21)

Understanding and Using English Grammar (Third Edition)
I have used this outstanding book with international students for several years, but it would be helpful if the Answer Key were available from Amazon.

Grammar is difficult
With this book is it possible to learn the english grammar.
Clear and easily understandable
The geniuses that controlled my education decided that I should skip fourth grade reading because they caught me reading Mark Twain in third grade. I can't imagine what in the WORLD they were thinking, as I came to learn years later that in fourth grade reading they taught - you guessed it - grammar! And boy, did I suffer. My written grammar was absolutely horrendous for years, and even though I continued to be placed in advanced or honors English classes throughout high school, whenever my papers were returned to me the "concept" side came back with an A, and the "grammar" side came back with a D or an F.Read more

Subjects:  1. English as a Second Language    2. English language    3. Foreign Language Study    4. Grammar    5. Language    6. Language Arts / Linguistics / Literacy    7. Linguistics    8. Problems, exercises, etc    9. Textbooks for foreign speakers    10. ELT grammars & grammar practice    11. English    12. Foreign Language Study / English as a Second Language