Reviews (14)

Valuable Vocabulary Strategies
Bringing Words to Life is an essential book for any classroom.It offers valuable insights and strategies for teaching vocabulary in all classrooms, elementary through high school.It's written so that it's easy to understand and each chapter ends with activities for the reader to better understand the content of the chapter. There is also an easy reference appendix for books to use with vocabulary instruction.If you're looking to enhance the vocabulary of your students, this book has everything you need!

easy read with quick interventions for vocabulary instruction
I read this for a graduate class and found it to be a quick, easy read. The authors give you simple ways to enhance your vocabulary instruction. I would recommend this book to teachers at all levels but especially those working 3rd grade and above.

Fabulous, Fantastic, Superb...should I say more?
A great easy to ready and easier to use tool to enhance everyday classroom teaching to support vocabulary in students! A must for all teachers! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Education / Teaching    2. Language    3. Language Arts & Disciplines    4. Linguistics    5. Literacy    6. Study and teaching    7. Teaching Methods & Materials - Language Arts    8. Vocabulary    9. English    10. English grammar    11. Grammar & vocabulary    12. Language Arts & Disciplines / Literacy    13. Teaching of a specific subject    14. LAN010000   

Reviews (9)

Very useful
I needed to order this book for a class. It is well written and easy to read. As a reading teacher I can say that I will keep this book as a reference long after the class has ended. This edition comes with a CD (or DVD) which I have not previewed yet, but the instructor of my class raves about it.

The best reading methods textbook I've found
I teach a course in elementary reading methods for undergraduate education students.This is the third textbook I've tried, and it is excellent! It has what students need to know about the theory and practice of teaching reading, written in a very readable, non-overwhelming way.Plus it has lots of practical teaching ideas.Our lab school saw it and ordered several copies for its teachers also.I highly recommend it.

A must have!!
I was first introduced to this book in one of my graduate literacy courses and I have been hooked every since.The teachers at my school pass it around constantly looking for ideas. My favorite aspect of this book is the fact that there are real teachers giving real examples of what works in their classrooms.There are no strategies that seem too hard implement in your classroom, because the layout is right there!!You know it can be done and it words because the examples in the book are proof!You don't feel like you are reading about some ideal or Utopia of a classroom. You are reading about REAL classrooms. I absolutely love it! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Education / Teaching    2. Elementary    3. Language    4. Language Arts & Disciplines    5. Language arts (Elementary)    6. Literacy    7. Literature    8. Reading (Elementary)    9. Study and teaching (Elementary    10. Study and teaching (Elementary)    11. Teaching Methods & Materials - Reading    12. Education / Teaching Methods & Materials / Reading    13. English    14. English (ie as school subject)    15. Teaching of a specific subject   

Reviews (1)

Wonderful Reference Book
This book is an excellent reference, with up to date research results pertaining to the area of early literacy, by authors who are specialists in their field.While many research books are difficult to read unless you have the technical background to understand typical research jargon, this book is easy reading, with fascinating topics for those in the field of early childhood education.The topics are current, with a focus on what the burning issues are today. I have to admit, this is one of the best research books I have purchased in a long time.I would highly recommend this book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Handbooks, manuals, etc    2. Language    3. Language Arts & Disciplines    4. Language Arts / Linguistics / Literacy    5. Language arts (Early childhood)    6. Literacy    7. Reading (Early childhood)    8. Research    9. Language Arts & Disciplines / Literacy    10. Sociology, Social Studies   

Subjects:  1. Curricula    2. Education    3. Education / Teaching    4. Elementary    5. English Orthography    6. English language    7. Foreign speakers    8. Illiteracy And Literacy Education    9. Language    10. Language Arts & Disciplines    11. Literacy    12. Orthography and spelling    13. Spelling    14. Study and teaching    15. Study and teaching (Elementary)    16. Vocabulary    17. Education / Curricula    18. English    19. English language: reading skills    20. Teaching of a specific subject   

Subjects:  1. Action research in education    2. Cognitive learning    3. Education    4. Language Arts / Linguistics / Literacy    5. Literacy    6. Reading Skills    7. Reading comprehension    8. Research    9. Cognition & cognitive psychology    10. English    11. English language: reading skills    12. Language Arts & Disciplines / Literacy    13. Language learning: specific skills    14. Teaching of a specific subject   

Editorial Review

John Wood discovered his passion, his greatest success, and his life's work--not at business school or leading Microsoft's charge into Asia in the 1990s--but on a soul-searching trip to the Himalayas. Wood felt trapped between an all-consuming career and a desire to do something lasting and significant. Stressed from the demands of his job, he took a vacation trekking in Nepal because a friend had told him, "If you get high enough in the mountains, you can't hear Steve Ballmer yelling at you anymore."

Read more

Reviews (7)

JohnWood - Hero
Whoever came up with the title of this book deserves an award for most descriptive title.John Wood is a truly remarkable person.The book is about his giving up a lucrative carreer with Microsoft to establish Room to Read, an organization for building and stocking libraries and schools in Asia. If you are drifting into cynicism, spend some time reading this book to recharge your "maybe it all isn't going to Hell "batteries.
Just Dive In...Think Big
Anyone who has ever questioned whether individuals can make a difference and change the world of poverty and illiteracy in our poorest nations should read this book--and be prepared to be convinced and inspired!This book describes the journey of John Wood, a Microsoft marketer burned out by the rat race and trekking through Nepal, who rediscovers meaning and purpose in this impoverished nation whose people yearn for education but are hampered by lack of resources, illiteracy rates of 70%, and no books in village schools.Moved by the villagers' passion and commitment for learning, Wood sends a simple email request to friends for used children's books.The response he receives is overwhelming, providing the seeds for Room to Read, a nonprofit organization he founded with his colleagues to develop schools and libraries to educate children in poor countries.
The Real Deal
John's pursuit of education for ultimately 10 million children is a noble one.Even more impressive is his drive-for-results management of Room to Read as described in this book. Thoughtful and well-written, this book in the end achieves what so many others fail at . . . making one person believe that they too can change the world.Bravo! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Case studies    4. Education    5. Education, Rural    6. Entrepreneurship    7. General    8. Illiteracy And Literacy Education    9. Literacy    10. Non-Profit Organizations Management    11. Nonprofit Organizations & Charities    12. Room to Read (Organization)    13. South Asia    14. Southeast Asia    15. Business & Economics / Nonprofit Organizations & Charities   

Reviews (1)

It helps to get the book you actually ordered!!
I ordered the eigth edition Content Area Reading, but much to my surprise I received a very old edition of this book.Because I received the book so close to the beginning of the semester, I then had to go to the bookstore and purchase the correct edition!So the money I spent with this seller was completely wasted.NOT Someone I would order from again. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Content area reading    2. Curricula    3. Education    4. Education / Teaching    5. Literacy    6. Reading Education (General)    7. Study And Teaching Of Specific Subjects    8. Teaching Methods & Materials - Reading    9. Education / Teaching Methods & Materials / Reading    10. English    11. English language: reading skills    12. Teaching of a specific subject   

Reviews (3)

A good book for getting to college level
We use this text for the supplemental/academic skills courses we offer at my community college, for those people whose reading skills are rusty for a number of reasons, including having been out of school for a number of years (sometimes as long as four or five decades), not having paid attention in class in high school, or other low-level literacy related reasons.
Pretty good
This book offers a good basis for learning skills necessary for successful reading, especially academic reading. The end of chapter readings offer a good cross selection of topics.

Bridging the Gap/ Brenda Smith
This book needs to be worded differently. I think it is a waste of money having to take this class for an entire semester. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Composition & Creative Writing - General    2. Education / Teaching    3. English Composition    4. Higher    5. Language    6. Language Arts & Disciplines    7. Language Arts / Linguistics / Literacy    8. Literacy    9. Reading (Higher education)    10. Reading Skills    11. Study skills    12. Language Arts & Disciplines / Composition & Creative Writing   

Subjects:  1. Bilingual Education    2. Education    3. English as a Second Language    4. Language Arts / Linguistics / Literacy    5. Literacy    6. Teaching Methods & Materials - Reading    7. English    8. Language Arts & Disciplines / Literacy    9. Language acquisition   

Subjects:  1. Administration    2. Education / Teaching    3. Group work in education    4. Language    5. Language Arts & Disciplines    6. Language Arts / Linguistics / Literacy    7. Language Experience Approach    8. Literacy    9. Literacy programs    10. Reading (Elementary)    11. Teaching Methods & Materials - Reading    12. United States    13. Language Arts & Disciplines / Literacy    14. Psychology   

Reviews (2)

Awesome
I will keep this book as a teaching Bible.It has amazing examples and useful material and resources.

Great
This is one of my favorites.It has every assessment possible for reading-ready to copy and use!short chapters too! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ability testing    2. Education / Teaching    3. Language    4. Language Arts & Disciplines    5. Literacy    6. Reading    7. Reading Skills    8. Teaching Methods & Materials - Reading    9. Testing & Measurement    10. Language Arts & Disciplines / Literacy    11. Psychology   

Subjects:  1. Composition and exercises    2. Education / Teaching    3. Elementary    4. English language    5. Language    6. Language Arts & Disciplines    7. Language arts (Elementary)    8. Literacy    9. Reading (Elementary)    10. Study and teaching (Elementary    11. Study and teaching (Elementary)    12. Teaching Methods & Materials - Reading    13. Education / Teaching Methods & Materials / Reading    14. Primary / junior schools    15. Reading skills   

Editorial Review

"Literacy has promoted the subjugation of women by men throughout all but the very recent history of the West," writes Leonard Shlain. "Misogyny and patriarchy rise and fall with the fortunes of the alphabetic written word."Read more

Reviews (144)

An interesting and frustrating book
I am all over the map in rating this book.In the end, I am unconvinced, and I think it has a lot of errors and inconsistencies, but it asks interesting questions that are worth examining whether or not the author's thesis is correct.There are parts that deserve five stars and parts that deserve one.
Mind-blowing, a new tint for your filter
Science always begins with a hypothesis.What Leonard Shlain has done here is present a mind-blowing hypothesis, melding the best of recent anthropological discoveries with the best in cognitive research.While in places he stretches to argue his point, for the most part his hypothesis is brilliant and incredibly well-supported.I feel he is unfairly criticized by people who are expecting "fact" to be derived from this, when in fact much of the time period explored is unrecorded history--a time during which we will never know "exactly" what happened. (Never mind the manipulations of recorded history that have followed!)Their very criticisms point to their overdependence on their left brain to evaluate this information in a manner that is literal and unimaginative.
Eye Opener
I read Shlain's book in 1998, a few years before 9/11.If you've read Steven Covey's Seven Habits - you will appreciate this book.If you recall the habit- seek to understand then to be understood.This books gives you a framework to help you understand people and their politics.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - General    2. Archaeology / Anthropology    3. Feminism & Feminist Theory    4. Literacy    5. Social Science    6. Sociology    7. Women's Studies - General    8. Social Science / Women's Studies    9. Reading Group Guide   

Subjects:  1. General    2. Language    3. Language Arts & Disciplines    4. Language Arts / Linguistics / Literacy    5. Language arts teachers    6. Literacy    7. Study and teaching    8. Training of    9. United States   

Reviews (3)

Pretty good text with online adjunct videos for free
Used for my college English II class, this text presents many literary ideas which could be useful for fully learning the many apsects of english.
Great teaching book
This book has a companion video series called Literary Visions. That series alsoo includes a study guide. I would highly recommend it.

Is there a teacher's manual with this book?
This is not a review. I am searching for a teacher's manual for this book. Is there one? ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Collections    2. Composition & Creative Writing - Academic    3. English Composition    4. Exposition (Rhetoric)    5. Language    6. Language Arts & Disciplines    7. Language Arts / Linguistics / Literacy    8. Literacy    9. Literature    10. Literature (General)    11. Readers    12. Literary Criticism & Collections / General    13. Literature: History & Criticism   

Reviews (2)

this is an amzing and very practical book!
this is such a great book if you are looking for a book that gives basic developmental guidelines for reading AND some wonderful activities to do with children! the focus is on children birth to 3rd grade! I absolutely LOVE it!

Excellent Kindergarten Resource
As a Kindergarten teacher, I have found the Starting Out Right book to be one of the best resources that I have ever used in my classroom.The text is very easy to read and very user friendly.The activities are great forany teacher making the changes in education.I only wish that I had foundthis book years ago.I would recommend this book for any teacher who isteaching reading strategies.In fact, my district is purchasing this bookfor ALL kindergarten teachers for our personal resource library. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Child Development    2. Education    3. Education / Teaching    4. Literacy    5. Reading (Early childhood)    6. Reading Education (General)    7. Reading disability    8. Teaching Methods & Materials - Reading    9. United States    10. English    11. English language: specific skills    12. Teaching of a specific subject   

Subjects:  1. Adult Literacy    2. Aims & Objectives    3. Computer Books: General    4. Computers & Technology    5. Education    6. Education / Teaching    7. Educational Policy & Reform    8. Educational Technology    9. Literacy    10. Teaching Methods & Materials - Classroom Planning    11. Computer-aided learning (CAL)    12. ELT: teaching theory & methods    13. Education / Computers & Technology    14. Industrial or vocational training    15. Primary / junior schools    16. Teaching skills & techniques   

Subjects:  1. Books and reading    2. Children    3. Education / Teaching    4. Elementary    5. Language    6. Language Arts & Disciplines    7. Language arts (Preschool)    8. Literacy    9. Reading (Preschool)    10. Reading Education (General)    11. Reading In Elementary Education    12. Teaching Methods & Materials - Language Arts    13. Teaching Methods & Materials - Reading    14. United States    15. English    16. English (ie as school subject)    17. Teaching of a specific subject   

Reviews (4)

Not for a Primary Teacher
This book has great info., but as a primary teacher I found the material hard to relate.

"One Source for Survival in the Classroom"
One teacher that reviewed this book said that this book was the "one source for survival in the classroom." After reading this book, you will see why. The Vaccas have put together a text that is a goldmine of methods and strategies that are immediately applicable in the classroom. Still the best reading methods book around
This book by Vacca is still the best of the content-area reading books on the market.Unlike many of the others out there, this one shows splendid visual representations and step-by-step approaches to a variety of readingstrategies for secondary teachers.Save yourself time.Give this one atry. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Content area reading    2. Curricula    3. Education / Teaching    4. Language    5. Language Arts & Disciplines    6. Literacy    7. Teaching Methods & Materials - Classroom Planning    8. Teaching Methods & Materials - Reading    9. Education / Teaching Methods & Materials / General    10. Teaching skills & techniques   

Subjects:  1. Language    2. Language Arts & Disciplines    3. Language Arts / Linguistics / Literacy    4. Linguistics    5. Literacy