Book Description

Getting into graduate business school has become an increasingly competitive and complicated process. Each year approximately 100,000 applications are sent to top schools. Written by two current MBA students who successfully gained admission into multiple schools, Your MBA Game Plan provides a strategic framework for putting together winning applications.

Your MBA Game Plan helps you navigate the application process by providing detailed analyses of every application component including:
--GMAT
--TOEFL
--Essays
--Recommendations
--Interview
--Data sheets
--Transcript
--Resume

Essays and other application samples are provided to highlight strategies that successful applicants have employed to get into top schools. Your MBA Game Plan also demonstrates how to assemble a document that crystallizes your application strategy. Finally, this book shows you how to apply application strategy to 30 top schools.

With Your MBA Game Plan in hand you will be well positioned to gain admission to the top business schools. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

A ticket to a top MBA program!
To cut a long story short, this book is your ticket to a top MBA program. It contains everything you need to know in order to apply a winning strategy.

There are a lot of books over there that claim to be complete guides. Their most apparent drawback is exactly that they try to be "complete" guides. They pack information that you can actually find in the school's website or irrelevant information that you'll probably never need. The problem however is that time is rarely in abundance when you struggle with MBA application preparation. What you need is concise information in order to craft a winning app. Nothing less and nothing more. This book sets itself apart in providing exactly this sort of advice. A general strategy guide (the "game plan") that can be applied to almost all b-schools and a couple of pages for each top-30 school that are MORE than helpful in crafting tailor-made information for each school (showing "fit"). In case you need extra info, there's always the Internet, where you can search. You don't need the school's brochures repeated in a book. Not only you don't need them, but you also don't want them. Since they are so similar anyway, you only want the DIFFERENTIATION factors between the schools.

There are many points about this book that make it stand out. It covers the whole application process, all types of essays, it provides sample essays WITH EXPLANATIONS for the key points that are shown. Since I haven't read ALL books out there, I cannot argue that these are unique characteristics. What is unique (apart from the cut-the-b*shit-and-show-where-the-actual-game-is philosophy) is that the authors of the book are available for questions! They maintain a very interesting thread at BusinessWeek forums where they offer free consulting services thus extending the book's usefulness. Besides, they maintain a very interesting website (mbagameplan.com) with up-to-date information about b-schools (deadlines, etc.) and a free essay-advice service. What else could you ask?

To sum up, this book is the first and probably the last one you'll ever need (along with an Internet connection) in order to successfully apply to a top business school. Along with the website and BW-forums thread, it puts competition in shame in terms of total usefulness. In terms of usefulness per page, there simply isn't any competition!

Good complement to Montauk's book
This is a comprehensive guide for getting into the top business schools. It contains a number of pointers not usually found in other books that cover business schools and it assists you in devising your business school application strategy. I used this book along with Montauk's tome and I was admitted to Wharton and Tuck, waitlisted at Yale and Stanford. This book is a good complement to the Montauk volume.

The best around for top-school applicants
While Richard Montauk's book may be more comprehensive, it is at times basic and not really suited for remarkable applicants aiming at the top b-schools.

Enter Shrum & Bouknight's superb guide - very focused and intelligent, and highly effective in showing the reader exactly how to build her strategy and position herself successfully for the top schools. The extra tools and complementary features in their website are great added features.

A great read too.

The best of the bunch
I looked at almost every book on getting into a top MBA program, and have bought at least 4 or 5. Out of all of those I found this book to be the most helpful by far. I found the essay writing advice to be more accessible and easier to apply than others, I thought their analysis of the particular problems faced by different types of candidates was useful, and I thought their insights into the admissions process were valuable. Other books have more school-specific information, but for the general stuff there is no book that is better.

It Works!!
I can tell you from experience: This book works! I have been admitted to Haas and Stanford for the Class of 2006, thanks in large part to this book. Before I bought the book I had no idea of how involved the application process is. I definitely underestimated how structured my application needed to be. But this book was the "kick in the pants" that I needed to realize that one needs more than a high GMAT score.

Probably the most valuable part for me was the section on recommendations. Give yourself PLENTY of time to get those taken care of, and expect to go through some re-writes with your recommender. When your recommenders don't appreciate how important this stuff is, you need to give them a ton of guidance. This section alone made the book worth it.

I can't compare this to other books since this is the only one that I bought (in addition to the Official GMAT Guide), but I can say without a doubt that it works! ... Read more

Book Description

There's no escaping the ACT. Many colleges require that you suffer through the ordeal of taking this entrance exam before they will even look at your application. Some colleges emphasize ACT scores to compensate for grade inflation; that is, some high schools may give students A's for doing the same level work that would gain them C's in other high schools. Because the ACT is the same for everyone (students nationwide take the exact same exam), colleges use ACT scores to get inside your head to see what's really in there. Think of this as an opportunity, not a crisis – after all, good ACT scores can overcome low GPAs.

No matter how good your high school teachers are, their main goal is to prepare you for the real world – and not the world of the ACT. That's where The ACT For Dummies, 3rd Edition, takes over. Newly revised for the latest version of the exam, this book takes a substantive, but easy-to-understand, approach to helping you prepare for the exam, while at the same time presenting its information in the typical Dummies style – with humor and fun. If anything can make preparing for the ACT enjoyable, this book can.

Here's a sampling of what you'll find in The ACT For Dummies, 3rd Edition:

• An overview of the test: Understanding the format and how the scoring works
• Stress-busters: How to survive exam day
• Things to double-check and things to avoid while taking the test
• Reviews of grammar and spelling, algebra and geometry, reading, and science reasoning
• Plenty of practice questions for all parts of the test
• Three full-length ACT practice tests (no, not the real thing!)
• Top Ten lists debunking ACT rumors, differences between the ACT and SAT, and true ACT stories

You know you have to take the ACT seriously; after all, it can determine the college you go to, which will, in turn, affect the rest of your life. (Talk about pressure!) So why not be prepared? With The ACT For Dummies, 3rd Edition, you'll be as prepared for the exam as anyone can be, and you may just have a little fun in the process. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

It got me into college
The ACT for Dummies is a great ACT study guide. The Math section totally refreshed me and was very valuable when it came to test time. But what really made the ACT for Dummies book so good was that it was full of really cheesy humor. This humor helped keep me reading a book that would otherwise be extremely dull and positively unbearable. I wouldn't be at the University of Michigan without the ACT for Dummies!

Hey also check out The 5 Minute Iliad, after finishing the ACT book

Errors
It's fun to read and it's a good prep. Unfortunately, the practice tests contain several errors. So far, I have only taken the english and the math sections of the first test, and I have found three errors. (And this is only on the first two of eight practice sections!) I have the 3rd Edition and these problems might be different in other editions. Feel free to dispute me.

(Asterisks represent underlined portion in question.)
English, problem 19, test 1:
Born in 1921 in Ithaca, New York, Alex spent his early years with his grandmother in henning, *Tennessee*. The oldest of three sons in his family.

19. A. NO CHANGE
B. Tennessee - the oldest of
C. Tennessee because he was the oldest of
D. Tennessee. Alex was the oldest of

The explanation gives D as the correct answer. They must have forgotten to underline "The oldest of" in the sentence following Tennessee.

Math, problem 18, test 1:
18. Triangles I and II (not shown) are similar figures. The
angles of triangle I are in the ratio 1:2:3. If the
perimeter of triangle I is 15+5(SQRT)3, and the shortest side
of triangle II is 15, then what is the perimeter of triangle
II?
F. 150+20(SQRT)3
G. 60+15(SQRT)3
H. 60+5(SQRT)3
J. 45+5(SQRT)3
K. 45

After working the problem, I got the answer 45+15(SQRT)3. The explanation gives the same, but it's not an answer choice!

Math, problem 28, test 1:
28. Given that x is an integer, for what value of x is x+(2/3)x
and x+4<15?
F. 8
G. 9
H. 10
J. 11
K. 12

I took this to mean, "For what value of x are both x+(2/3)x AND x+4 less than 15?" I thought that was a strange was of phrasing it and the explanation implies that the question should have asked, "For what value of x is x+(2/3)x>15 and x+4<15?" It gave the answer H. It seems they left off the second half of the first inequality.

Sorry if this sounds like bashing, but these flaws really threw me off during my practice test. It entered my mind that the test could be wrong, but I did not think that assuming that the ACT people made a mistake was the smartest thing to do.

Also, I am under the impression that the practice tests in this book are not real ACT tests, meaning that they were made up for this book - not priorly administered tests.

extremely helpful
I bought this book with the intention of just reading the sections I had trouble with. I found it to be so helpful and easy to read, I ended up reading the entire book. I don't beleive I would have scored as high if I hadn't.

This is a great book for preparing for the ACT exam.
I am a high school student in Iowa, and I had previously taken the ACT and was not content with the score I recieved. I bought this book on Amazon.com, read the entire book, and finished and scored the practice tests prior to taking the test a second time. When I went to take the test again, I felt a lot more confident about the test, and when I got my results, I had raised my composite score 5 points, and one of my subject scores 7 points. I suggest that every college-bound student read this book before taking that very important test.

Good Overall
This book is a good all around source of ACT review. It has a regular review of geometry and basic algebraic concepts. However, it does not come close to everything you kneed to know, which would be nearly impossible. I have studied the whole book and have raised my math score by 4 points! ... Read more

Book Description

Covers computational alternatives, such as mental computation, estimation, written techniques, and calculators.
Emphasizes problem solving, the most important skill in mathematics.
Demonstrates effective classroom practices while providing a look into a variety of mathematical lessons at different grade levels.
Cites and discusses specific books that can be used to complement and supplement mathematics learning. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great resource for K-7 math teachers
This is one textbook I wish the teachers of each of my children had at their disposal. It provides a great foundation for helping teachers focus on developing conceptual understanding of the key mathematical ideas K-7. The only drawback is that many of the great ideas for activities presented in the book are too small to be copied quickly by busy teachers; however, the richness of ideas and strong links between various type of representations make it well worthwhile despite its steep price. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

not worth....
I agreed with the other reader. This book is really not worth the money. This book might be useful for high school students, but definitely not for college students, particularly for the people who are good at math.

Worth the effort to read
This book does a great job reviewing all the basics of business, accounting, finance and statistics at a beginner's level. The book is very easy to follow-especially if you have a little business background, but at the same time teaches you quite a bit in a short amount of time. It took me about 10 hours to read the entire book and work all the problems at a leisurely pace. If you are looking for a book that will fill in a lot of gaps in a short amount of time, I would definitley recommend this book as an introduction to your CFA level 1 studies.

Invaluable for a Starting Candidate in the CFA Program
This book is simply an exceptional warm up for candidates that are entering the CFA program. It is a must read.

The material is straight-forward, high-level, and clear. CFA Basics is obviously not intended to replace the core materials in the CFA program; however, it is an outstanding complement. It is also a quick read.

Mixed feelings...
I just finished reading this book and want to share the impression.

I expected more. It is simple, sometimes too simple. I can hardly imagine the person with non-finance background which can leard much of it. Much more reading and study is necessary.
It can be helpful to people whose mother tongue is not English (like me).

It is something that is better to read than not to read, but for this purpose it is slightly overpriced ...

IT IS A V GOOD PRE
It is a very goor pre for cfa it will teach you every thing about PRE-CFA and it is not for cfa level one.
but you will have a background to start level one review
CFA IS NOT EASY GOOD LUCK ... Read more

Book Description

An engaging, accessible guide to educating yourself in the classical tradition.

Surrounded by more books than ever, readers today are frequently daunted by the classics they have left unread. The Well-Educated Mind, debunking our own inferiority complexes, is a wonderful resource for anyone wishing to explore and develop the mind's capacity to read and comprehend the "greatest hits" in fiction, autobiography, history, poetry, and drama.

Far from tossing readers into the swarming sea of classics and demanding that they swim, this book offers brief, entertaining histories of five literary genres, accompanied by detailed instructions on how to read each type. The annotated lists at the close of each chapter—ranging from Cervantes to A. S. Byatt, Herodotus to Paul Gilroy—preview recommended reading and encourage readers to make vital connections between ancient traditions and contemporary writing.

Based on the same classical method as Bauer's terrifically successful The Well-Trained Mind, The Well-Educated Mind provides not only a thorough grounding in the classics but also a widely applicable foundation for self-education. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Read this book in addition to Adler and Van Doren
The goal of this book is to show how the Great Books can be engaged by applying the methods of classical education to enable more effective reading, analysis, and criticism. I think Bauer did a great job in meeting this task by providing detailed guidelines for tackling five different literary genres (novels, autobiographies, history, drama, and poetry). In addition, she backs up the use of these guidelines by providing short histories that describe the development of each genre and which, as a result, show readers what they should be looking for in each type of work. Finally, reading lists for each genre are provided to enable readers to practice their new skills in grammatical, logical, and rhetorical reading.

Although this book is publicized as being for the "adult reader", I think that Bauer may have attempted to include the homeschooling crowd as well, especially considering that her previous books were aimed toward this latter audience. Consequently, an "adult reader" may find the first four chapters to be a bit patronizing as various issues are discussed, including how to make your own notebook, how to increase your vocabulary, how to set up a time for reading, etc. However, once readers progress into the heart of the book (i.e. the discussion of the five literary genres), I think that they will be willing to forget their previous misgivings and find this to be a very useful guidebook (I did at least).

I believe that the suggestions presented in this book fit very nicely within the solid framework provided by Adler and Van Doren's "How to Read a Book". Adler and Van Doren do an excellent job of explaining why and how one should go about reading the Great Books for understanding. However, their discussion primarily focused on reading nonfictional works, and I felt that the suggestions they provided for reading fiction were a bit insufficient. Consequently, I believe "The Well-Educated Mind" complements Adler and Van Doren very nicely and would heartily recommend that these two books be read in conjunction.

Opening up new horizons
I thought I was educated before, but this wonderful book taught me new reading skills and whetted my appetite for the classics. Though I went to a good high school and college, I spent most of my time hearing about how "great" the Great Books were, without being much encouraged to sit down and crack one open. The Well-Educated Mind has helped to change that, which is why I disagree with the negative review posted earlier on this page. Maybe we "should" have learned how, why, and what to read in our schools, but many of us were not taught, and the Well-Educated mind aims to fill that gap. For this reason, I would highly recommend it for high-school students or for those about to start college.
The opening section alone, on getting the most out of reading, should be handed out in every local library. Don't miss the chapters on drama and poetry, either: too many people ignore these genres because of their seeming inaccessibility, but here Susan Wise Bauer provides superb keys and useful skills.
Knowledgeable without being a show-off, friendly without dumbing-down, Bauer makes an excellent guide for those who want to enter the "great conversation."

Elitist and trivial
Don't buy this book unless you enjoy being talked down to. The author assumes the reader is a product of the flawed public school system and is a bit dim. So perhaps it is intended for people who learned nothing in high school and perhaps went on to learn nothing in a liberal arts college. That would be fine, the book has an audience at least, but the other major shortcoming of the book is that it consists mostly of half page summaries of the classics. If you cut those out there isn't much book left. It certainly couldn't have taken much effort to put this book together. As far as the actual content goes it isn't anything I didn't learn in high school, but I went to a good high school so perhaps other people will be excited by it. The only insightful tip I gleaned from the book was to read the classics in the order they were written. The time spent reading the rest of the book would be better spent reading one of the classics it gives a summary of, or sleeping, which is probably what will end up happening to you if you don't stay annoyed with the superior tone of the book.

Classical Education for Dummies
I bought this book based upon the glowing reviews I read on this site and upon a recommendation from a friend. I have to say I was dissapointed - I think I was expecting more of a scholarly work on how to read the classics I missed in college. I was inspired to do this after reading "Great Books"by David Denby.

I think this book is probably ok for those who haven't had an extensive education or exposure to university-level literature courses because it doesn't assume either of these. But if you have, I think you will be sadly disappointed at the simplistic advice given on how to read and take notes (really!) and an abbreviated Cliff Notes type of synopsis of the works recommended, which makes me wonder about the depth of knowledge the author had regarding these works in the first place.

At any rate, if you are really looking for intellectual depth in pursuing your classical education, I would recommend "How to Read a Book" by Van Doren paired with "The Great Ideas: A Lexicon of Western Thought" by Mortimer Adler (this has actual thought-provoking essays on great works). And read Denby's book for inspiration.

Hard Work, Worthy Cause
Organizes homeschooling into How to.
Her expectations are HIGH!
Hope you are not afraid of hard work!
She covers everything and is very knowledgeable. If you homeschool based on her curriculum guidelines, you will be doing an absolutely tremendous job! If you fall short, your still doing great. Great ideas. Great guidelines. Great coverage. For starters, combine this with "What Every Kindergardener Needs to Know" and "Cultural Literacy" both by ED Hirsch. ... Read more

Book Description

Unmatched by other books on the market, this edition of Guiding Children's Social Development, provides a solid foundation of up-to-date theory and research that will strengthen the reader's understanding of how children, birth to twelve years of age, develop and learn within the social domain.It describes successful ways to translate information in practical settings within learning environments, and offers teaching techniques to increase practitioner effectiveness.With sound principles of theory and practice, the book creates a framework for interpreting children's behavior and for implementing appropriate strategies to enhance children's social competence. This direction will assist professionals and educators to work with children and families from all backgrounds and circumstances, and help them support and accomplish goals together. ... Read more

Book Description

This market-leading book offers all the skills and procedures readers need to become competent consumers and producers of educational research. It uses a direct, step-by-step approach to the topic, while placing a strong emphasis on evaluation of reader performance. The accessible writing style and light, humorous tone demystify this demanding course. This comprehensive instructional resource encompasses the full spectrum of the field, making it appropriate as a core book for an introductory course in educational research.Includes expanded coverage of qualitative methods and learning to read and evaluate research effectively. Helps readers develop a complete quantitative research study, a qualitative research design, and an action research design.For professionals in the field of educational research. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Big help in Graduate School
I needed this book for my Research Methods class at the beginning of my Graduate School Semester.This book really assisted me with writing for APA style during my first and subsequent research papers.GREAT TOOL!

Educational Research: Competencies for Analysis and Applicat
As the introduction to Educational Research states, "one out of every two introductory educational research students uses this book."It is no surprise that college professors use this text because it is well written.The material is both in depth and reader friendly.The text takes you though a step-by-step process of planning, conducting, and evaluating research.Anyone who is struggling with writing a Master's Thesis will find the book to be a most helpful resource tool.The material is presented with a straight forward approach (along with some humor), and the book also provides useful chapter summaries and actual research reports.From a personal standpoint, the book is just that much better because it was written by a woman in a time when a woman with a brilliant mind was considered to be dangerous.

Educational Research: Compentencies for Analysis & Applicati
Educational Research: Compentencies for Analysis & Application 6th Edition is a great text to use while trying to learn how to complete a research project.This book takes you through the necessary steps needed to write an effective paper.The steps are clearly written and it is a very easy text to read and understand.I would reccommend this text to anyone needing to complete a thesis or research project.

Educational Research Textbook Review
Educational Research: Competencies for Analysis and Application by L.R. Gay and Peter Airasian is a wonderful textbook for assisting people who are writing a Research paper or doing their Masters thesis.Each chapter of this book is very understanding, well organized and written.This book goes through a step by step process of educational research, so that a person can fully understand what it is.It provides you with a variety of samples to help answer any questions you may encounter while doing your paper.This book was a great resource in helping me prepare for my Action Research paper.

Nuts and Bolts of Writing a Research Paper
This book, Educational Research, by L. R. Gay and Peter Airasian is an excellent source with an immense amount of information on how to conduct a research project and write the research paper.

Although the main emphasis is on action research in the educational setting, this book provides easy to understand, step by step directions for any research project including choosing a topic, gathering research from both existing materials as well as collecting and analyzing new data, and stucturing the actual final written presentation. Different types of action research, measuring instruments and statistical analyzing methods were also covered thoroughly. The chapters about methods of gathering data were described in great detail.

I found the text easy to read (even the more difficult concepts) and explained well enough for a beginning researcher but with valuable information for the veteran, also.The text structure is reader friendly and reviews many of the major concepts in subsequent chapters. I especially found the examples intertwined with the text and the chapter summaries very helpful.Tables and charts were clear and well designed. The authors' style of writing makes the reader feel as if he/she were merely having a very easy discussion about a very difficult idea.

After reading this text, anyone would feel more confident with the daunting task of conducting and presenting an action research project. ... Read more

Book Description

Once a luxury for the elite, the MBA is increasingly becoming a necessary asset for all those hoping to clinch (and hold on to) top managerial positions. Every year, the number of candidates applying to the top schools rises, and with it the quality of the competition. To ensure your place in the b-school of your dreams, you really do have to stand out from the crowd. With advice specific to the US MBA community, this 600+ page book will improve your chances of admission to the schools of your choice.

The Edge US features an in-depth analysis of applying to each school, a step-by-step method for positioning your dossier, extensive analysis of the classic essay questions (over 100 essays reviewed) and the strategies to employ and traps to avoid in the GMAT, TOEFL, essays, interviews, and letters of recommendation.

STOP PRESS: The US version of The Edge now features a new chapter on Wharton... hot off the press and packed with insider advice.

Throughout The Edge US, you will find strategies to refine your application to match the profile of the schools of your choice. For each of the 10 MBA programs featured, up-to-date information is given on the curriculum, its strengths and weaknesses, teaching methods (15 pages per school), as well as an in-depth analysis of the admissions dossiers of each school, with customized advice to master each application (25 pages per school), interviews with the Admissions Directors of each MBA and insider views written by successfully admitted students to the different schools.

This is the only book on MBAs that has been officially supported and sponsored by McKinsey & Company, BCG, Goldman Sachs, Bain & Company, Booz-Allen & Hamilton, AT Kearney, Novartis, Bertlesmann, Vivendi-Universal, Cap Gemini and Roland Berger & Partners. ... Read more

Reviews (46)

The most useful book you can get.
If you are hesitating about which schools to apply or if you have decided that you want to get into one MBA in particular (for me, it was Stanford and MIT), this book is a MUST buy. It will save you a lot of time since it will help you to make the right choices and will increase your chances of being admitted. This book has helped me throughout the entire process, from choosing the right school to getting admitted to the school of my choice. The essay section is really helpful since the authors make an in-depth analysis of about 100 essays from successful candidates. You should make sure that you are admitted to the best school possible since your salary upon graduation will be different according to the school. There is about $40,000 difference (salary upon graduation) between the upper-crust schools and schools which are just "good". Go for the best you can!

Not that good
I had really high hopes for the book based on the reviews (and the price).

If you are totally lost as to applying to business school, this is probably a good book for the example essays. Most of the school analysis is obvious and the essays aren't that great (I've seen ones of similar quality at various online sources).

This year, with admission to the high-end schools dependent on original high-quality essays, most competitive people don't need this book. You'll find everything useful in the school-specific research that you do and the general interview/recommendation/essay information available online.

I also found it erratic in tone, due to different authors for each school. This would be a really good book if it was broke down by application stage instead of school and maintained the school-specific information (and added "quirky" outliers from tier-2 schools). As it is, I read less than 1/3 of the book thoroughly (since 2/3 of the schools I wasn't applying to). This misses valuable content when it comes to "the interview" or "the recommendation" when the broad spectrum of information is relevant (especially for non-listed schools).

This book fills a niche with its honest, direct voice from people who have recently gone through the process. Amazing potential, marginal current execution.

great advice for top b-schools
There seems to be no shortage of advice for applying to b-school. This book stands out for a number of reasons:
- in-depth review of the top schools (HBS, Stanford, Wharton etc), which is not ony invaluable in helping to make your selection of schools, but really makes a difference when you then apply. Schools all want to know why you are interested in their program, and The MBA Admissions Edge is the only book that gives such insight.
- clear and helpful advice for essays, interviews, letters of rec. The book provides the perspective from successful applicants at the top 10 schools, which gives a rounded picture of the interview process, or the ideas that lie behind the essays.
- good section on school reputation, explaining the various rankings, specializations.

Second most useful after Montauk's book
This book is the second most useful b-school admissions book after "How to Get into Top MBA Programs" (link given above).

Definitely focused on these specific 10 colleges...
A thorough digest, if the schools targeted in your applications are among the schools focused in the appendices and are ranked in the top ten.

Focused on full time MBA programs, for someone seeking schools offering part time MBA programs and in the immediate vicinity for convenience's sake, this book did not fit my bill. The "Ranking by Location" chapter does not possess the same degree of attention as the "Ranking by Salary" chapter. Multiple spelling and grammatical errors were found. However, this publication must be lauded for its concise format...for someone with limited time, the gist was easily communicated.

Definitely useful in material to get you into the business school of your choice, but the b-school of your choice is not necessarily everyone else's top b-school. I must admit that I was disappointed by the lack of other relevant information in regards to application strategy...there can definitely be an abridged version of this book. ... Read more

Book Description

Teachers, parents, students, administrators, and community members all agree that we need better grading and reporting systems. Often, these systems are inadequate because they are part of a tradition that can go unexamined and unquestioned for years. Here is the first serious look at the issue, written to provide all those involved — especially teachers — with a coherent and thoughtful framework.

Guskey and Bailey offer four pillars of successful grading and reporting systems:

• Communication is the primary goal of grading and reporting
• Grading and reporting are integral parts of the instructional process
• Good reporting is based on good evidence
• Creating change in grading and reporting requires creating a multi-faceted reporting system

Written to help readers develop a deeper and more reflective understanding of the various aspects of the subject, Thomas Guskey and Jane Bailey’s work brings organization and clarity to a murky and disagreement-filled topic.

Here is a practical and essential guide for teachers, administrators or anyone concerned with understanding and implementing best practices in grading and reporting systems.

Book Description

A brilliant state-of-the-art report on how the landmark theory of multiple intelligences is radically changing our understanding of education and human development.

Since its original description in Frames of Mind (1983, 1993), the theory of multiple intelligences has taken its place as one of the seminal ideas of the twentieth century. Further explicated in Gardner's 1993 book, Multiple Intelligences, these ideas continue to attract attention and generate controversy all over the world. Now, in Intelligence Reframed, Gardner provides a much-needed state of the art report on the theory. He describes how it has evolved and been revised. He introduces two new intelligences, and argues that the concept of intelligence should be broadened, but not so much that it includes every human faculty and value. In addition, he offers practical guidance on the educational uses of the theory, and responds in lively dialogue to the critiques leveled against it.

Harvard psychologist Howard Gardner has been acclaimed as the most influential educational theorist since John Dewey. His ideas about intelligence and creativity - explicated in such bestselling books as Frames of Mind and Multiple Intelligences (over 200,000 copies in print combined) - have revolutionized our thinking.

In his groundbreaking 1983 book Frames of Mind, Howard Gardner first introduced the theory of multiple intelligences, which posits that intelligence is more than a single property of the human mind. That theory has become widely accepted as one of the seminal ideas of the twentieth century and continues to attract attention all over the world.

Now in Intelligence Reframed, Gardner provides a much-needed report on the theory, its evolution and revisions. He offers practical guidance on the educational uses of the theory and responds to the critiques leveled against him. He also introduces two new intelligences (existential intelligence and naturalist intelligence) and argues that the concept of intelligence should be broadened, but not so absurdly that it includes every human virtue and value. Ultimately, argues Gardner, possessing a basic set of seven or eight intelligences is not only a unique trademark of the human species, but also perhaps even a working definition of the species. Gardner also offers provocative ideas about creativity, leadership, and moral excellence, and speculates about the relationship between multiple intelligences and the world of work in the future. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Intelligences yes, Education no.
Howard Gardner's book Intelligence Reframed is somewhat different in content than I'd expected. It starts out with a discussion of psychometrics, particularly intelligence testing, and introduces the author's own research into intelligence. Then the content changes to education. This abrupt change threw me for a loop until I read more on the author and his interests.

Gardner started with an interest in psychology, taking a PhD from Harvard University under the direction of the developmental psychologists Bruner and Erikson. He also did postdoctoral work with the neuropsychologist Geschwind at the Boston Veterans Hospital where his research focused on the nature of intelligence and the development of abilities, and on educational processes. In the 1980s he became involved in educational reform. Currently he is the Hobbs Professor in Cognition and Education at Harvard Graduate School of Education and is Adjunct Professor of Psychology, also at Harvard, and Adjunct Professor of Neurology at the Boston University School of Medicine.

The first half of the book made perfect sense to me, especially with the newer data from brain and mind research. Recent experiments with animals and with human volunteers have been conducted to elucidate the function of the different parts of the brain. Earlier information derived anecdotally from brain injured individuals had suggested that the brain may consist of modules that evolved to solve specific types of problems but that interaction of these modules with one another has created a wide variety of emergent properties, the main ones being consciousness and self-awareness. The experimental data seems to support this concept. Gardner has defined a number of "intelligences" that seem to be supported by this data, showing that the concept of a single all inclusive intelligence measurement might not be possible and might skew educational efforts in non-productive ways. With all of this I tend to agree.

The character of the information, and Gardner's own personal interests, naturally lead to the topic of education. Although I agree with his points on the failings of some traditional school systems and even the failure of some of those that pay lip service to his MI theories, I'm not sure that I agree with his overall exuberance over the MI approach to education. He notes that traditional educational programs tend to hit for the middle and hope for the best, so to speak, which they do. He also notes that those schools that say they adhere to an MI approach are generally doing business as usual. (Sort of like calling the school custodian an "environmental engineer" because it sounds better.)

Still, I'm not sure that Gardner's enthusiasm for the application of the multiple intelligences approach to learning is necessarily justified or even possible in these days of financial retrenchment. Schools are hard put to it to provide the 3-Rs by traditional means. The music, language and art classes that were available even during my own years as a child have been drastically cut back for this reason, and now some schools are faced with increasing classroom size.

One of the things I did agree with was his notion that children might benefit from having the same teacher every year with the caveat that changes could readily be made for a better fit of personality between teacher and child. I agree that this might develop a closer mutual understanding between teacher and pupil. However here too, there might be problems. Not all teachers would be able to readily establish such bonds or sustain them over long periods of time. Not all children will maintain the same type of bond with an adult authority figure over the course of their development--as any parent could tell you--and not all teachers are equally adept at all subjects or all methods of teaching any given subject. In short, there would be problems.

While I think the author has some valid points with respect to the variety of intelligences and abilities that we all have, and some good intentions with respect to education, I'm not sure that his ideas are very practicable in a real setting.

Important Tool for Teachers
I chose this book by Howard Gardner because I wished to learn about his theory of Multiple Intelligences (MI). This being his most current version of that theory, I thought it would be the most relevant. I was not disappointed. As an elementary teacher-in-training, what I had heard of MI theory made sense to me: that our minds are made up of separate intelligences and each of us is stronger in some than in others. Current MI theory distinguishes 8.5 separate intelligences: logical-mathematical, musical, linguistic, bodily-kinesthetic, spatial, interpersonal, intrapersonal, natural, and the half-intelligence of spiritual. (Gardner feels that the term "spiritual intelligence" is too broad to meet his criteria for human intelligence; hence, he prefers the term "existential intelligence.")
Gardner defines intelligence as "...a biophysiological potential to process information that can be activated in a cultural setting to solve problems or create products that are of value in a culture" (p. 33). He had held these 8.5 "candidate faculties" up against eight criteria derived from biological sciences, logical analysis, developmental psychology, and traditional psychological research (p. 35). He accepted as intelligences those faculties that met the criteria. While I find the criteria to be essential background to MI theory and important evidence upon which Gardner bases his theory, this is not what is important about this book.
What is important is that Intelligence Reframed provides an understandable overview of the various historical views of intelligence, including the first IQ tests; discussion of the seven original intelligences identified by the author; the so-called "new" intelligence candidates: spiritual, existential, and naturalist (people with an in-depth understanding of the live environment); contemplation of the possibility of including moral intelligence; and authentic uses for MI theory.
While discussing the abstract realm of spirituality, Gardner seems to work out on paper his hesitation to identify spiritual intelligence as a full intelligence. He concludes that existential intelligence, held up to his eight criteria, better fits the bill of human intelligence than does spiritual intelligence. He gets tripped up on the seemingly fluid terms he uses to describe spiritual intelligence, such as religion, mysticism, transcendent, feeling, gift, and higher truth. According to Gardner, those who possess existential intelligence are concerned with questions regarding the human condition such as the meaning of life, love, and death. He is more comfortable with this relatively concrete term, "existential," than with the term "spiritual." The author subsequently meanders into the realm of possibly identifying a moral intelligence, finally deciding that it does not fit the definition of intelligence, but it is rather a kind of person one develops into.
As I read Gardner's book, I felt as though I was privy to the inner-workings of his mind, beginning with his overview and explanations of each of the intelligences, and his arguments for and against spiritual, existential, and moral intelligences. A chapter of questions and answers allowed me to see even deeper into the author's contemplation on the subject of MI theory. He brings it all to an authentic conclusion as his final chapters discuss putting MI theory to work in the classroom, with an emphasis on individually configured education and curricula designed for in-depth understanding rather than for memorization of a myriad of facts. Gardner discusses assessment of MI through observation and simulations - in other words, assessing students as they do things - rather than, for example, multiple-choice testing. In addition, Gardner considers the benefits of MI theory in the business world and in museums (especially children's museums and art museums).
As a future teacher, I am reminded by Gardner of the importance of knowing my students and recognizing their various intelligences. However, I cannot stop there. Once I have such knowledge of my students, I must make use of it as I develop my curricula, my methods of teaching, and the ways in which I assess for understanding. MI theory goes hand-in-hand with social and emotional learning. In order to understand students' social and emotional development, one must recognize them as individuals with varied family, religious, and cultural backgrounds. We must also add to that list the various intelligences that children bring to the classroom. It is our job as teachers to have tools available to recognize and understand these differences, and to respect the diversity of backgrounds and intelligences that exist within each and every child. Gardner's Intelligence Reframed is an informative addition to every teacher's toolbox.

Theorizing the Day Away
Before discovering the writings of Howard Gardner I had been exposed to individuals espousing his theories. The concept always struck me as interesting and something I wanted to read more about as I believe the concept of g to be valid but ultimately limiting. These exciting ideas concerning Multiple Intelligences seemed to expand the definition of intelligence outward to include talents and abilities. Now, however, after reading "Intelligence Reframed" I have been cured of my enthusiasm for this theory. Disecting the term "intelligence" until it becomes useless is the order of the day in the MI Theory. Eschewing the psychometric field, Gardner theorizes endlessly while stating that MI is "based wholly on empirical evidence" (pg 85). That evidence seems peripheral at best, completely unrelated at worst. There are definately some interesting thoughts and ideas in this book. Unfortunately they are surrounded by the above mentioned nebulous theorizing and outright egotism (see cover of book). If you want some scientifically sound reappraisals of intelligence check the works of Robert Sternberg. If any cutting edge thinking is to revolutionize the view of intelligence (and thus it's measurement) it might well be Sternberg's Triarchic Theory.

Stimulating and insightful
I haven't read "Frames of Mind," although I'm familiar with the theory of multiple intelligences from other sources, so this was my first introduction to Gardner's writing. I found the book fascinating: each chapter focuses on one aspect of the theory (e.g., its applicability in the work place, or other candidates for "intelligences" besides the original 7). They're well written and easy to understand, and, although the depth of the discussion varies, I learned something from every chapter. I don't agree with the critics who argue that Gardner is coasting on his reputation: like Ornstein's right brain/left brain theory, the concept of multiple intelligences has taken on a life of its own, so I felt that Gardner's comments on what his theory is (and isn't), and how he views it today, were appropriate. I was especially struck by his discussion of "leader" intelligence: he describes a leader as primarily a good storyteller and communicator, and I found this an extremely enlightening comment on American politics. This is a good general introduction to Gardner's theories, as well as to his current thinking, and I found it stimulating and thought-provoking.

Interesting
Even though Gardner brings up many good points about multiple intelligences and how they affect everyone, there were some chapters that it seemed that he just keep repeating the same concept over and over again. I truly felt that Gardner made many good points and that he is quite "intelligent." I agreed and disagreed about some of the intelligences, but in the end, he was able to convince me that maybe there are some things that we don't understand, but still can make sense. Even though I had to read it for a class, it was quite good and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to read up more about psychology or the MI theory that Gardner describes through out the book. ... Read more

Book Description

Children with Special Needs is a thorough introduction to the educational policies, programs, practices, and services specific to infants, toddlers, and preschoolers who demonstrate delays and disabilities. It also speaks to youngsters who exhibit signs of being at-risk for future programs in learning and development. Learning strategies make it easy for the reader to take in this wealth of information. These include educational vignettes, an Online Resource Web site, photographs, tables and figures. These learning aides, as well as additional, related resources, present such research-based theoretical and philosophical foundations as authentic assessments, cultural sensitivity and competence, activity-based interventions, and developmentally and individually appropriate practices. This new edition also makes recommendations for using technology in the learning environment and emphasizes instructional strategies necessary for creating inclusive learning environments. ... Read more

Book Description

The A+ Certification Training Guide covers the latest objectives of both exams required to become A+ certified - 220-301 (hardware) and 220-302 (operating systems). The book is organized accoring to the exam objectives and features several features that help you learn better, including Fast Facts for last minute review, study & exam preparation tips, review exercises and practice exams to gauge your understanding of the material, a glossary for quick reference, and much more, making this the most effective self-study book in the market!

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Reviews (13)

Proved to be effective once again!
I just got CompTIA A+ Certified. I passed the OS Exam this morning, with a score of 772, the exam stopped at the 24th question. This book, once again, had helped me a lot in passing the exam. I found some mistakes on some chapters, both on the lessons and the practice questions, but they are obvious and you will be able to figure out which is correct. The PrepLogic Practice Tests are helpful too, even though they are only the Preview Editions. I also have a little experience troubleshooting PCs and i think that helped me too in passing the exam. This book covers all the objectives in detail. I find myself looking at the objectives foldout on the first part of the book, on how many chapters i have left to study. I went to a local store yesterday and browsed on other books that i could find for A+ and Network+, and saw a lot of Sybex books. They seem ok for me, has more pictures of stuff, but when i looked into the objectives list, various chapters cover various domains, which i did not like, i don't know if those books are good, but i know THIS book was really helpful... most books that I found for A+ are already for the new exam coming out, 220-301 and 220-302 i think, Sept 12 will be the change date to the linear (non-adaptive) exams, which has i think 72 questions, including 2003 objectives questions, but does not count to the score till november 2003. Good luck on your exams!

Excellent book.
The book was a god send compared to the A+ for dummies book. This book was written very well. It has good layout and was very compressive. It even has a chapter for cramming. A couple of the questions were almost word for word the same as questions I was asked on the A+ test. If you read this book and can answer the questions in the back you will pass the exam.

I also saved 30% with the vouchers Marcraft sells (see last page of book.) Plus the CD they sent with the vouchers had the best test engine and test questions I found.

This is a great book for study!!!
I just buy this book about two week ago, it really really good book. Because I just my A+ Core Hardware part. I recommand this book for study for the A+ Test. In this book have a lot of picture, that help you to understand.
That it, now i gonna go to test my OS part.

A great buy!
With the help of this book I passed the A+ Core hardware today with a score of 799. The content is delivered in an easy-to-read, engaging format and the chapters kept my interest. The book covered everything that was on the exam. I like the end of chapter review questions - these helped to solidify the material that I read in the chapters. There were a few typographical errors as well as a chapter where the figures for the review questions were not numbered properly. However, this did not diminish the effectiveness of the book. It was worth the money and I'm glad I bought it. Use this book + measureup questions and you will definitely pass your A+ exams.

Excellent Resource for A+ Exam
I passed A+ Core Hardware today, with a score of 817. The test stopped at the 21st question. I can say that this book helped me a lot in passing the exam. I also used CramSession's materials, and I attended a class as well. I feel that this book contributed the most in passing my exam. The Sample Test on the CD it came with provided questions that appeared on the actual exam, even though the sample test is only the preview edition. I am about to take the A+ OS Technologies exam, and I am sure this book will help me again with that. I plan to get the Network+ book from the same publisher of this book. Good Luck with your exams!!! ... Read more

Book Description

Navigate politics, paperwork, and legal issues

Find your instructional style and make learning fun for your students!

Gain the upper hand on your first day of school! This friendly guide reveals what they didn’t teach you in your education classes, offering practical advice and tons of real-life examples to help you set up and maintain an orderly classroom, engage your students, establish a grading system, and develop positive relationships with parents and school administrators.

The Dummies Way

• Explanations in plain English
• "Get in, get out" information
• Icons and other navigational aids
• Tear-out cheat sheet
• Top ten lists
• A dash of humor and fun

Reviews (6)

This book is terrific!
After 30 years in the business world, I am embarking on a new adventure in the teaching profession. I will be teaching Math to 7th graders in a few months, and I found this book invaluable in preparing me to face the upcoming first day of school. Of course I am scared and a little nervous, but this book is so full of down-to earth practical advice that I feel so much more prepared after reading it than before. The experience of reading this book, has been like having an experienced master teacher right next to me, ready and willing to answer all of my many questons such as: "Do I need to collect and check every homework assignment?" (The answer is, NO), "How am I ever going to memorize over 150 student names?" (Michael Kelley shares a trick that works!), "How will I deal with repeat troublemakers?", (Mr. Kelly tells you when to drop 'The Atomic Bomb')!

I recommend this book to all new teachers! Don't face your first day of teaching, without it!

Where has this book BEEN?!?!
Oh my freakin' God. This is the book I have been looking for for MONTHS! I'm student teaching very soon and I have been seeking a book to help me with all the practical things that are taboo in University education classrooms. This book will be my bible when I student teach. I have had it for a few weeks and its already bookmarked, highlighted, and showing signs of wear. I can't believe how helpful this book has been. I have recommended this to every Teacher Candidate I speak to. If you are now or will shortly be a rookie teacher.... BUY THIS BOOK!

Must-have for any Rookie Teacher
I am a Teacher Candidate at the University of Illinois at Chicago. I begin my student teaching in January. This book has taught me more in the week since I bought it than two years in professional education classes.

This is the book that tells you about the "dirty" off-limits topics like dealing with sexual harrassment, behavior management, unions, and more. Kelley give advice and tips in a no-nonsense fashion that will help any rookie teacher survive his first day.

As a future urban high school teacher, this book will be one of my most important resources to help me survive my first year teaching. I have already highlighted and bookmarked countless pages and I'm sure I will read this cover to cover many times.

Very practical help
I wasn't sure what to expect out of a Dummies book but I was very pleasantly surprised. This book is full of very practical advice on teaching. It has information that is helpful for all grade levels, with specific notations for elementary and secondary students. I have read other teaching books that are very feel-good but wishy-washy and not really helpful. This book is full of real world, practical advice for new and aspiring teachers.

A must-read
I'm a journalist-turned-teacher who found this book to be extremely helpul in a variety of areas.

Not only that, but it's well-written and very entertaining. ... Read more

Book Description

Since it was first published in 1980, Student Services: A Handbook for the Profession has become a classic reference in the field. In the fourth edition of this important resource the contributors'&mdash; a stellar panel of student affairs scholars&mdash; examine the changing context of the student experience in higher education, the evolution of the role of student affairs professionals, and the philosophies, ethics, and theories that guide the practice of student affairs work. Comprehensive in scope, this book covers a broad range of relevant topics including the development of student affairs, legal and ethical foundations of student affairs practice, student development, learning and retention theories, organizational theory, dynamics of campus environments, strategic planning and finance, information technology in student affairs, managing human resources, multiculturalism, teaching, counseling and helping skills, assessment and evaluation, and new lessons from research on student outcomes.

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Reviews (1)

Must read for student affair professionals
This is the textbook of my class in college student development. This is a must read book for all the people who interest in the student services. It does not contain a lot of student develop theories, but it mentions all the aspects of student services from college student development theories, learning theories, to the function of student affairs and human resources in higher education. Even though you may not have time to read through this book, it can be a good handbook for you. You will find this book as a good reference in your professional life. For people who interest in the theory, I suggest you read this book with the other book "Student development in college: Theory, research, and practice" by Nancy J. Evans, Deanna S. Forney, and Florence Guido-DiBrito. ... Read more

Book Description

The Daily Disciplines of Leadership is a comprehensive and down-to-earth manual for school leaders that addresses the daunting challenges that today's principals, superintendents, and teacher-leaders face on a daily basis. Written by Douglas Reeves&mdash; a leading authority on academic standards, performance assessment, and accountability&mdash; the information in this book is based on his extensive experience working with educators, administrators, and school board members from across the country and internationally. Reeves discusses the basic purpose of leadership, presents four key leadership archetypes, and offers practical recommendations for action. Covering a wide range of topics&mdash; from accountability systems to personal communications&mdash; this book will serve as the 'go to' resource for novice and seasoned school leaders alike. ... Read more

Book Description

This practical, accessible text was written for practitioners who work with children and youth with autism. It presents the vital material required by special educators to plan and implement effective programs to meet the needs of students with autism. It begins with an overview of autism, including etiology, characteristics, diagnosis, and definition, followed by in-depth coverage of teaching methodologies. Throughout the book, the authors present state-of-the-art information in a step-by-step user friendly format. The book's optimistic viewpoint is grounded in the premise that well-planned and accurately implemented applied behavior analytical interventions will increase the potential for more independent and mainstream functioning. ... Read more

Book Description

"The creative use of vignettes throughout this book provides readers with rich descriptions and real-life situations that bring the cultural proficiency continuum to life. This book is a must read for every instructor in our nation’s classrooms and workplaces."
Eliseo Davalos, Director of Pupil Services
Corona-Norco Unified School District
Norco, CA

"Culturally Proficient Instruction is an engaging and informative resource for both beginning and experienced teachers grappling with educational issues in this diverse society. It will inspire you to reach and teach all of your students."
Brenda Lakin, Professor of Teacher Education
California State University
Northridge, CA

"The interactive format and real-life examples are perfect for training and developing culturally sensitive, effective teachers. This book will have a profound effect on not only the participants but also on those who provide the leadership."
Mary H. Lewis, Director
Teacher Certification Unit
Los Angeles Unified School District, CA

&nbsp;An invitation to reflect and grow for educators of all kind