Cheap Books For College in Just a Few Steps

9th
September 2010
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Looking for cheap books for college? Get in line. Every semester students line up to get books for their classes only to find out they have to shell out hundreds of dollars that they don’t have to get their books. So what’s the best route to get cheap books for college? You might be surprised at how easy it is to get cheap textbooks, read on to learn the exact steps you need to take to get the best savings.

1.) Used book stores are a good place to start. Are there any near your home or college? Some schools have nearby used book stores that will help you find used college textbooks. The way these stores work is students sell their old books back to the store and then the store sells them to students who need them (and the cycle continues).

2.) Can you trade books with a friend who’s taking the same class? Organizing and carefully “orchestrating” your classes with a few friends is a good way to save tons of money. In fact you can even get away with spending nothing if you plan it all out right. But let’s face it, who really wants to do this? It can take time to do and be overwhelming if you need the book while someone else does for a last minute report–so it’s better to avoid this at all costs.

3.) Online book comparison engines. One of the best ways to get cheap books for college is to use an online book comparison engine that will compare prices across top online book vendors for the lowest possible price.


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Book Review – Results Now by Mike Schmoker

9th
September 2010
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Author Mike Schmoker followed up his two other “Results” books with the best and most motivating yet.

This book pleads with educators and administrators to assist in the immediate transformation of American schools. He describes in detail the “buffers” that American schools have created which have led to the illusion that a high percentage of American schools are actually effective (which he points out in detail, actually are not). This “buffer” that Schmoker describes has led to teacher isolation, lack of quality instruction, and to the reality that administrators are virtually devoid of influence when trying to effect the quality of instruction. This is a sample of some of the startling statistics Schmoker presents, (page 18):

o “Classrooms in which there was evidence of a clear learning objective: 4 percent”

o “Classrooms in which there was evidence of higher-order thinking: 3 percent”

o “Classrooms in which non-instructional activities were occurring” 35 percent”

(Note: to get specifics on this research-based study, visit his book)
One of the most motivating features of this book is that the author reminds educators of how much they already know about effective teaching practices, especially as a collaborative group. Often educators are fixated on new programs, more materials, more workshops and the need for more money. This quote is an example of this idea, “We have relied far too much, with miserable results, on a failed model for improving instructional practice: training, in the form of workshops or staff development.”

Chapter 8 of this book entitled, “Professional Learning Communities” is a pro-active approach to reforming schools and demonstrates Schmoker’s true value of educators.
As for administrators, don’t feel left out because Schmoker is fully aware of your limitations, boundaries and lack of support. Again keeping pro-activity in mind, Schmoker suggests several solutions which will change educational leadership and its effect on instructional quality.

This is one of the very few books that doesn’t try to state the issues with a politically correct point of view. His writing style is blunt yet lacks negativity. In fact, this book has the effect of challenging educators to make some simple and high effective changes TOMORROW, that can produce immediate results.

This ending quote from Results Now demonstrates why I give this book 5 stars (on a 5 point scale) for educators and educational leaders and as guessed, is suggested as a MUST READ.


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Book Party – For the Bookworm in Your Family

7th
September 2010
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Whether it’s you, your spouse or one of your kids, there is a bookworm in every family. Someone who loves to draw into a corner, curl up on a cushion, bed or couch and read for hours on end. There are so many delights one associates with books – cups of hot steaming cocoa or coffee, pretty book ends, book marks, coffee tables to display good books, and a myriad of other objects. A book themed party should focus on these joys of reading and create the cozy feeling related with books.

Atmosphere is one of the most important elements of a good party. Of course, make sure there are lots and lots of books around; on coffee tables, on desks, on shelves. Create a large cardboard cut out of a book by putting together two big pieces of cardboard and spray painting them a dark color. In between these two pieces add a curved piece to join them on one side and on the inside paste pieces of cardboard painted white to look like the pages. Use gold paint to make the book look like a leather or hard bound edition. Put this at the entrance to the living room or garden, wherever your party is.

Make the atmosphere cozy and comfortable, with coffee, cocoa and marshmallows on the menu. For entertainment’s sake, encourage guests to turn up dressed as their favorite book character and adjust games to match the book theme.

A book party is just as much an opportunity to relax as to celebrate an occasion. It really doesn’t take much to organize, with simple ideas like those above being the key to a good party.


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Make a Comic Book With Your Book Report

7th
September 2010
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Book Report Comic Book Style

Okay it is time to turn your book report into a presentation.
What you say! Why do I have to do this?
Well let’s make it fun. Make a presentation of your book into a comic book
Use the list below:

  1. Make a cover for your comic book which shows the book main idea in a picture. Make sure to make the picture colorful and interesting.
  2. Now on the inside page list your author, and you as the illustrator (unless you had some help, then list that person.)
  3. List the main characters on page 2.
  4. Now the Story line on page 3. This is like the introduction in some books.
  5. Start your comic book drawings to give the main story line. This is kind of like a time line only using a comic book strip and each time line shows a different comic with a caption. The caption can be short or longer. Probably needs to be several sentences if you want a decent grade on this project. Your teacher may even enjoy this as you will show your own personality and imagination in creating this presentation. When presenting to the class use enthusiasm and be dramatic.
  6. As you go along list your conflicts or problems in the story. They should also have a comic drawing as well.
  7. Finally conclude with a summary and maybe a final picture of the ending.


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Make a Comic Book With Your Book Report

3rd
September 2010
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Book Report Comic Book Style

Okay it is time to turn your book report into a presentation.
What you say! Why do I have to do this?
Well let’s make it fun. Make a presentation of your book into a comic book
Use the list below:

  1. Make a cover for your comic book which shows the book main idea in a picture. Make sure to make the picture colorful and interesting.
  2. Now on the inside page list your author, and you as the illustrator (unless you had some help, then list that person.)
  3. List the main characters on page 2.
  4. Now the Story line on page 3. This is like the introduction in some books.
  5. Start your comic book drawings to give the main story line. This is kind of like a time line only using a comic book strip and each time line shows a different comic with a caption. The caption can be short or longer. Probably needs to be several sentences if you want a decent grade on this project. Your teacher may even enjoy this as you will show your own personality and imagination in creating this presentation. When presenting to the class use enthusiasm and be dramatic.
  6. As you go along list your conflicts or problems in the story. They should also have a comic drawing as well.
  7. Finally conclude with a summary and maybe a final picture of the ending.

This is actually a great way to present your book report and kids will enjoy following along as you tell the story. Again make sure you make the comic colorful with fun pictures.
Now you probably do not want to make a comic strip from a book that is very sad because a comic strip is meant to be funny and light hearted.


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Book Review – Current Events, Conservative Future, by G A Freiman

3rd
September 2010
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Fighting Fear with Knowledge and Vision

Today Americans are faced with unknowns, the uncertainty of the economy, the threat of terrorist attacks, and a concern for our nation’s leadership and respect around the world. In his book “Current Events, Conservative Outcomes” G. A. Freiman talks about, and analyzes these fears in light of current events with predictions for America’s future. He uses information he has received in the form of a visionary process, meditation and reflection, as well as through life experiences and his own educational opportunities.

Freiman has an innate passion and love for America. This is reflected in his writing. His writing is deeply spiritual, expressive, and logical. Freiman’s sets out to help the reader form honest opinions on politics, religion, and social issues. He hypothesizes on political correctness, the threat of terrorism, the impact of global warming, poverty, abortion, and euthanasia with clarity, perception and forthrightness.

I found the questions that accompanied each issue thought provoking, meaningful, and practical. The reader was also shown action steps could take to have an impact on the future, in personal areas, the political arena, or on social issues. Freiman’s predictions on American culture provide important insight and are worthy of consideration even for the skeptic of physic phenomena.

Although the book’s title may limit its audience, this is a book for liberal and conservative a like. It is a call for positive participation and a dedication to create a better future for our children and for those generations still to come.

Frieman’s approach draws the reader into a personal assessment of their faith. He helps them take a fresh look at the meaning of life, at root causes, into global thinking. He invites the reader to consider their relationship with God, His creation, and with all of humanity. “Current Events, Conservative Outcomes” is highly perceptive, entertaining, and thought provoking.


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Book Review – Hack the SAT, by Eliot Schrefer

1st
September 2010
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As an SAT Tutor and College Coach, I make it my business to read every relevant piece of literature on the subject of SAT Test Prep. I must admit that I have been in the test prep business for some time and as a result I am jaded and skeptical when reading anything that promotes “new ideas”. Surprisingly, “Hack The SAT” (Penquin Books) by Eliot Schrefer brings some fresh ideas to the stodgy world of standardized test preparation. The book was recommended to me with much hype. The author is a multi faceted fiction writer, non-fiction writer, and tutor to Manhattan’s elite children.

Written in a semi sarcastic tone a la “Up Your Score” (a favorite study guide of mine) the book has many smart and sometimes funny approaches to the reading, writing and math sections of the SAT. The author gives the student what he calls, several “tricks of the trade”–time saving, problem solving methods as well as techniques to avoid the silly traps the testmakers often set. Schrefer’s writing style attempts to communicate in the language of a High School Junior or Senior. Whether he succeeds is anybody’s guess. I haven’t been in High School for over 30 years.

The book gives some solid advice on how to properly attack a critical reading passage. A running vocabulary list appears at the bottom of each page. There are some basic but necessary rules of grammar designed to help with the writing multiple choice part of the SAT. The essay section is excellent and a must read. The Math tutorial is fresh and it introduces many time saving tricks with the use of a calculator. There are some errors in the Math section which the author promises will be corrected with the next printing. A sharp student who can spot these errors will know he or she is paying attention!

In the final chapter, there is a comprehensive mini quiz which the author calls an SAT Drill. The answer key refers the student to the particular page where the question’s concept is reinforced. A special bonus section on college applications is very informative.

I recommend “Hack The SAT” to students who have taken the exam at least once and have already read “Up Your Score”. Schrefer’s book boldly contends that his secret strategies can raise your score hundreds of points. The operative word here is can. He and I both agree that all the slick shortcuts in the world will not improve a student’s score unless that student is committed to sitting down and taking as many practice exams as possible. The same way major league baseball players take batting practice every day before the game, the student must practice, practice, practice.


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Book Party – For the Bookworm in Your Family

1st
September 2010
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Whether it’s you, your spouse or one of your kids, there is a bookworm in every family. Someone who loves to draw into a corner, curl up on a cushion, bed or couch and read for hours on end. There are so many delights one associates with books – cups of hot steaming cocoa or coffee, pretty book ends, book marks, coffee tables to display good books, and a myriad of other objects. A book themed party should focus on these joys of reading and create the cozy feeling related with books.

Atmosphere is one of the most important elements of a good party. Of course, make sure there are lots and lots of books around; on coffee tables, on desks, on shelves. Create a large cardboard cut out of a book by putting together two big pieces of cardboard and spray painting them a dark color. In between these two pieces add a curved piece to join them on one side and on the inside paste pieces of cardboard painted white to look like the pages. Use gold paint to make the book look like a leather or hard bound edition. Put this at the entrance to the living room or garden, wherever your party is.

Make the atmosphere cozy and comfortable, with coffee, cocoa and marshmallows on the menu. For entertainment’s sake, encourage guests to turn up dressed as their favorite book character and adjust games to match the book theme.

A book party is just as much an opportunity to relax as to celebrate an occasion. It really doesn’t take much to organize, with simple ideas like those above being the key to a good party.


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Why A Harry Lorayne Memory Book Made Me Angry

31st
August 2010
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At 17 years of age I had absolutely no idea as to what I wanted to do with my life, I had no special interests and was barely holding onto a part-time job I had secured during the summer holidays.

I needed some help, some guidance as to my next step, and although I wasn’t sure what I wanted I knew I didn’t want a career in stacking shelves in a supermarket.

This led me to start checking out some of the local bookstores in my area one Saturday afternoon; just prior to that I had been reading a very interesting book about hypnosis and became fascinated about how the human mind worked and how it could be trained by using the power of suggestion.

Like many books about the mind, hypnosis titles occupied the “popular psychology” section, which today is mostly known as self help and personal growth.

As I browsed through the books on positive thinking and mind power a little title stood out: “How to Develop a Superpower Memory” by Harry Lorayne. Instinctively I picked it up and became absolutely absorbed in it.

After I had read a good 10 to 15 pages (much to the annoyance of the bookshop owner) I purchased it and devoured all of it in a few days; and that’s when I started to become a little annoyed and eventually quite angry.

For much of my school life I found learning immensely difficult, this impacted my self-esteem in a big way and added to my feelings of low self worth and inadequacy and after reading about Harry’s methods I realised not only were they quite easy to learn but they were based on memory principles that went back as far as ancient Greece!

Had I been exposed to this information in school I could have chosen a whole new direction for my life and not the one I just fell into. To this day I often wonder why even now, accelerated learning and mnemonic techniques are not an integral part of the education system.

Since that time I’ve made the decision not to dwell on what could have been and instead focus on what I can do now in this moment to create the life I desire.

After reading that book I decided I was going to learn everything I could about other mental training techniques and use them to better my life; this kick-started an intense reading program where I literally went through a new book each week.

It’s a habit that has totally transformed my life as it taught me that the solution to any problem or issue I was facing was contained in a book somewhere and all I had to do to solve it was simply find that information and then apply it.

If you are currently facing challenges or problems and feel that you have exhausted all possibilities, remember this; you haven’t!


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Teaching Through Text Books

31st
August 2010
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For decades the demise of the text book has been easily predicted by advocates of each of the new panaceas of educational problems. First television then teaching machines like record players projectors and now computers all were expected to revolutionize education and free students and teachers from reliance on text books, but each of the new media has settled into its niche in the educational arsenal without dislodging the textbook. In fact, the greatest revolution in the field of education is not an out come of technology rather an achievement of text books and other printed materials made available for masses.

The introduction to open stack libraries, paper back books, inexpensive reprints and the photocopier has given the college teacher the opportunity to choose from sources varying in style, level and point of views. Many teachers are substituting graded knowledge by articles from journals and other materials which can disturb the structure of learners at school and college levels. The purpose of this proved fruitful at higher levels but in most undergraduate programs there is little hope that bits and pieces will be integrated by students into a meaningful whole. With input from the field of experience discussions, books, reprints articles and other source of reading students need some frame of reference within which to assimilate the confusion of additional points of higher reading level.

Ideally, the course book can provide such a structure. That structure need not be dogmatic, and it need not be gutless it need not be presented as an irrevocable truth rather it should present solid fact and figures to establish the foundations of the primary, secondary and undergraduate learner. Inevitably certain parts of curriculum information becomes outdated. If the teacher fails to recognize information which is obsolete and insists on its memorization, the students education is harmed rather than aided. However, out dated information if properly identified can be referred to as an old phenomenon.

The importance of text books can further be highlighted by their capability to build concepts from lower to higher level or we can say easy to difficult concepts build in an organized way. For any age level a well structured text book with correct concepts and vocabulary helps in memorizing and retaining concepts. Schools have to be equipped with experienced and qualified teachers to help management in the selection of good text books fulfilling the examination requirements. Printing of text books is also an important issue in enhancing learning as a book with clear diagrams and easy to read font keeps the learner motivated to learn and remember. Thus visual perception of a good learner lasts him a life time.


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