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Great book....solid, good materials with advice. I loved the sketches addition: cute, appropriate and to the point. Ladies....you have accomplished a wonderful product. Keep in touch with anything else you have to offer. Thanks for the copy, Nancy. Marge

Posted by Margaret Redmond Lister on 09/21/09

The book looks wonderful as does the new site. What an accomplishment! I'm certain your book, site, and workshops will be inestimable tools for new teachers.

Posted by Susan Cronk on 09/26/09

Years ago I was going into the 7th grade and was bused far out of my neighborhood to Horace Mann middle school. I was worried because I didn't know any kids from that neighborhood and I had few friends to begin with. To make matters worse, the kids there didn't want me at their school and were upset. I came from a working class family, so I didn’t have the best of clothes and so became a quick target and was beaten up often. I was really struggling. I had little self esteem and started to get resentful of school. I was a very good reader then and it was has always has been one of my strengths. The principal at the school called me to his office one day and said that he was very impressed with my reading skills and offered me the opportunity to use my study hall hour, which I didn’t need, to teach some kids that needed help with their reading skills. This principal let me use a vacant classroom, gave me access to the mimeograph (the copier we used in the old days) and I made up my own spelling worksheets and used the blackboard to teach these kids. I was shocked some had made it that far and could not read above a 1st grade level. I taught the kids the basics they had somehow missed, helping them learn to read and write. It was the boost I needed. I was so proud to help them and I had no idea it was helping me too. This wise man had found a way to help the other kids and in the meantime, also build my self esteem. One day as I got off the school bus, I saw my principal at my house. I was worried I was in trouble for something, but as I walked up, he winked at me. My father was a strict authoritarian and he sold rabbits to eat. My principal was there buying some. He was talking to my dad about an after-school recreation program I had longed to attend but my dad would never hear of it and I had too many chores to do at home each day. Just casually bringing up the program, the principal mentioned it was great exercise, and was only twice a week. He then nonchalantly mentioned he could be sure I got a ride home with a teacher who went right past my house, if my dad wouldn’t mind if I went. My heart sank because I knew dad would say no. I about fell over when my dad said yes. My principal winked at me again and left. I got to join the after-school rec. program and met a couple great friends. The next year at school was great. I had made many new friends. I think back to those times and wonder if that man ever knew how wise he truly was and what that meant to a lonely shy girl with few friends. My world at that time was a hard one. I went on to obtain a degree in Social work at Missouri Western, and that principal? His name was Sam Carneal. The smartest man I know.

Posted by Teresa Wilson on 11/14/09