education-theory

I was first inroduced to this compilation in a graduate survey course on composition theory. The articles started my love affair with the discipline; a tumultuous relationship that has caused me to completely redefine my graduate interests.

Composition theory has evolved through a number of distinct stages over the past few decades; and Villanueva has effectively zeroed in on the key figures and key articles from each period. If you are new to composition theory, these essays will provide you with a solid roadmap through the landscape of rhetorical theory.

If you've been down that road a few times; Villanueva's resource is an excellent refresher course. The editorial choices do not seem to reflect any particular bias. The essays themselves represent many different sides of each school of thought; and are the authors' own words. It is left to the reader then to sift through the particular biases and assumtions of each school of thought.

This book has my highest recommendation for anyone with any interest in the field. For all but the most sagacious, I would consider it a must-have.

Victor Villanueva's text Cross-Talk provides readers with an important edited text incorporating the essential works of the field's major theorists. In doing so he appears to validate all of the theorists he represents in his text, however, if one examines the text it becomes clear that Villanueva privileges a rhetorical perspective, one which embeds learning to write in the social/cultural world, with the objective of preparing students to participate in democracy, and the desire for a more equitable world, as well as seeking justice and voices for the marginalized.

Regardless of any problems the text might have if it is read from other than an ideological perspective, the collection includes most of the truly important theorists of the past from Mina Shaughnessy's first book Errors and Expectations in 1977 to the present. A large book of 760 pages, it is unable to completely survey the many articles written about composition and does not pretend to do so. Villanueva suggests that this book is a beginning, a take off point from which readers can jump off and follow threads of thinking back to their originators and forward to their disciples.

I highly recommend Villanueva's book Cross-Talk to anyone interested in composition and composition theory. Even those people who are not already experts should find the text and its readings readily accessible, since it is both reasonably jargon-free and what terms are used are, for the most part, well defined.

I borrowed a copy of this book from the Parents Education Resource Center and have so extensively bookmarked it for use in planning my sons education I felt I should purchase my own!

The book starts with a brief but well-written description of dyslexia and a discussion of the basics of various methods for dealing with it. Although not comprehensive, these sections of the book provide a clear overview that will equip the reader well for reading more technical, jargon-filled publications on the subject. The most valuable part of the book is Part III: Reading Programs for Individuals with Dyslexia. Here, there are descriptions of eleven different programs, from the most aggressively Orton-Gillingham (e.g. Slingerland, Alphabetic Phonics) to whole-language (Reading Recovery). The descriptions cover: What the teacher does; How the teacher is trained; What research there is on the effectiveness of the methods. This is an excellent first book for a student just starting to learn about dyslexia, and a good one to return to from time to time to put the fads and enthusiasms of the moment into perspective. (Students new to the subject should also read "Beginning to Read" by Marilyn Jager Adams.) Reviewed by Stowe Daviso

This is a companion to Cohen's other edited book, Caring Classrooms/Intelligent Schools. This book addresses an older group of youngsters in school--those passing into adolescence. The 12 chapters cover the theory of social emotional learning (SEL) in schools. A number of SEL curricula or projects are discussed, such as the Comer/New Haven project, the work from the Northeast Foundation for Children, a psychoanalytically informed educational perspective, the Resolving Conflict Creatively Program (RCCP), and others.

This is not really a "how-to" book, any more than was Cohen's other book. Readers will benefit, however, because he systematically reviews SEL programs, and readers will be eager to pursue specific programs from among those referenced.

I missed not seeing any work from Myrna B. Shure, who is a good cognitive-behavioral SEL practitioner (the "I Can Problem Solve" curriculum). Does her work not involve young adolescents? If not, that is a disappointment.

SEL is important because we all 'swim' in a social environment. When that environment is caring and concerned, when students can make heart-informed choices, they 'swim' better and are said to learn better. We certainly know they are happier and appear more productive.

I know many readers will gain a lot from this work, and the other related books in the SEL field. Good luck!

This timely volume presents the range of ways that teachers can help students develop social-emotional skills and competencies. It is very practical and helpful. On one level, teachers have always done this. On another, new information, stratagies and research findings are presented here. Very helpful to "front line teachers" and I suspect, administrators too. It will also be of interest to parents who want to help thier kids feel better about themselves and more able!

Very quick receipt, well packaged, and fairly priced for the excellent condition of this book. Thank you so much for the great service.

This book was and is the best introduction to school administration available. I was the foundation for my doctorate program.

After slogging through some of the more theoretical works in the field of critical pedagogy, I picked up Hinchey's book. It explains in plain English the premises of critical pedagogy, and uses many examples to illustrate it. This is a great place for people new to educational theory to begin, and it provides a great springboard for the more complex readings. Hinchey offers a brief list of core readings to explore after finishing hers. Excellent starting place for beginners, and a great review for those with some knowledge of critical pedagogy

"Written for the reader with little or no background in educational philosophy", well that was what made me first pick it up. A brilliant, practical, inspiring book that indeed filled me with hope and passion.

This book should be a must read for all of educators but especially those working with our inner-city youth. It is practically my bible of teaching. There are so many things our students need to succeed and Cartwright meets those basic needs. When basic needs are met and children, parents, and staff feel proud of who they are, many great things can happen. I have been talking about how wonderful and inspiring this book is for years.

For The Children is an inspiring story about a principal who saw more than just a run down community and school. Madeline Cartwright saw something special in children that people had written off. She believed in students that no one even gave a chance to. I first read this book when I decided to get my degree in Elementary Education. After reading the book I knew that I wanted to teach in an inner city school. My heart has always been to reach out to those no one believes in, and this book helped me see that ONE person can light a fire in a child. I have now graduated and have had an opportunity to teach in an inner city school. While I was there I always remembered how Madeline Cartwright said that the children were numb to the sounds of the sirens that passed everyday, but that she was not. I too was surprised when I would be the only one to turn around when I heard the sirens and my children in the class would continue to work or play as if nothing was heard. Like Madeline Cartwright, I would push my children to do their best, even when they cried, but the when they all lived up to the expectations we would celebrate. I read the book again just this week, and as read it I realized that the book had really helped me understand the children, the parents, and the environment in which they live. I also have made it a point to keep lotion, wet wipes, and extra clothes in the class so the children will always look good. I make a point to hug my students or show them some kind of affection through out the day, because just as Madeline says in the book, "that hug or pat may be the only sign of affection they get." This book is awesome to read! Anyone going into education or anyone teaching now should read this book, and keep in mind that -WE ARE HERE FOR THE CHILDREN.

This book has many useful applications for the modern classroom. I highly recommend this foreign language resource.

This is a great resource for teachers

This title has become both a text book and a classic. The author lists all the major theories of second language acquisition with clarity, providing a broad range of approaches to bilingualism.

Baker's book, first edition onward, has been the main text for a number of years in a required introductory course for future bilingual teachers at the university in which I teach. The book has many strengths; it reads well, it has a world perspective on bilingualism, it describes a number of linguistic theories relative to bilingualism, and it provides a clear and thorough foundation for understanding how language policies are designed, and what they are based on. It is important to note that even individuals who have not taken linguistic courses can understand the text because it does a great job of explaining terminology and theories so that the reader can then concentrate on the issues surrounding bilingual education and bilingualism. The text is effective as an introduction to bilingualism because it explores not only linguistic theories, but also looks at sociological and psychological theories that can deepen the understanding of the language dynamics of bilingualism. The premise of the book is that a language is a resource to be nurtured and developed, whether it is a "minority" language or not; this is the opposite of seeing a minority language as a societal, political, or educational problem, a viewpoint that has become increasingly voiced by state-level politicians (with no background in linguistics or teaching) who blame bilingualism for low academic achievement among immigrant youth and have reshaped language policies through state referenda. Baker provides a stark contrast between such perspectives and those in numerous countries in Europe and Asia, where multilingualism is the norm. In summary, Foundations of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism is an excellent resource for those interested in this topic.

In her book, Howard discusses her life as the wife of a diplomat living in Iran for several years. She traveled all over Iran and met women from all walks of life; big city sophisticates, traditonal villagers, nomads and others. Howard discusses the ups and downs of women's lives in a totalitarian Islamic state where there is no freedom of speech or press; where saying or printing the wrong thing can result in imprisonment, fines and/or whippings. There are so many restrictions on Iranian women and Howard does a great job of describing how they get the proverbial short end of the stick in almost every aspect of life (one exception is that female homosexuality carries a lesser punishment than male homosexuality). She describes their brave struggles for personal freedoms and the same privileges that men currently enjoy.
"Inside Iran: Women's Lives" is best described by the author in one of the last paragraphs of her book:

"The general frustrations with everyday life here, the petty restrictions of the dress code and the restrictions on freedom of speech are tempered with the warmth and hospitality of Iranians. For me, it was a fascinating experience and a lot of fun. But for some women, not just foreigners, Iran sometimes feels like a life sentence from which they cannot escape."

Lots of charming black and white photos included.

Foreign correspondent Jane Howard made her home in Iran for five years and raised her two children there: these experiences brought a more personal set of insights into the lives of everyday Iranian women, explored here. From tea in a nomad's tent to presidential places, Inside Iran: Women's Lives provides a different image of Iranian women than most books would offer, going beyond the veil to explore how they work outside the home, drive, and even become politicians. A fascinating report.

I, too, studied measurement theory using Crocker & Algina's work as the textbook some years ago. The authors have done an admirable job in presenting the information necessary for a solid foundation of the topic covered, while at the same time writing in such a manner as to make it readily accessible. Personally, the sections on standard setting and bias were particularly lucid and interesting. I cannot recommend it more highly, and if planns go well, this book will likely be used when I teach a measurement course in a year or so.

I have this book which was required for a measurement course I took. It is a very comprehensive guide to measurement theory. Required reading for all people who must use and interpret measurement data or who develop measurement instruments. I would love to see a new edition come out for this much loved classic text.