Blog Archives
Teaching Professionals
![Teaching Professionals: The Art of the Teaching Professional and How to Teach Professionals the Caissep Technique by [Nigel Wilson PhD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41wpM2Fx6qS.jpg)
Dr. Nigel Wilson is a lawyer and teaching professional and shares his vast experience with readers in this illuminating teachers resource. In Teaching Professionals Dr. Nigel Wilson shares the CAISSEP Technique of teaching, a methodology he came up with to enable educators to teach better. Teaching Professionals reads like a manual, with specific examples on how to be a professional in the education sector, business sector and any other field that requires one to share the knowledge they have with others.
Reading this book was a delight as the author writes smoothly, giving great examples and explaining in detail. The author shares the skills teaching professionals should have and shows how to apply them. Teaching Professionals is a great book not just for adult educators but also for teaching professionals that work in kindergartens, high schools, and institutions of higher learning.
By the end of the reading, readers get to learn different concepts of education and virtues like patience, wisdom, understanding and more than a dozen distinct teaching techniques. I also enjoyed reading about key principles of effective adult learning and elements of experiential learning. The author differentiates the various elements of learning, making it easy for the reader to digest the content.
Dr. Wilson’s advice is practical and is coupled with real scenarios that expound on his topics. I especially enjoyed it when the author explained the importance of educators in society. One could tell how passionate he is about this profession and why teachers of all levels should be recognized more by governments.
Teaching Professionals is an easy but informative read. The author does not use complex jargon and his points are easy to comprehend. What I enjoyed most about reading this book is how the author introduces new topics. Dr. Wilson is a brilliant writer and his way of blending topics and related subjects encourages one to read more.
This enlightening book is filled with pragmatic techniques that have been proven to work. Teaching Professionals provides readers with actionable information they can put to use immediately to enhance their teaching abilities.
Pages: 96 | ASIN: B094VCQ84C
Solitary Toes and Brown-Headed Cowbirds
Solitary Toes and Brown-Headed Cowbirds: A Hickory Doc’s Tale by author Linda Harkey tells the story of how a pack of bird hunting dogs meet a race horse. Zeek, Deacon, and Doc are German Shorthaired Pointers and very proud of their pedigree and hunting abilities. They live in their hacienda with the Great One and the Other One and hunt birds. They were not pleased at all when BJ the race horse is brought to their farm. After a few scuffles between horse and dogs, they decided to set things straight once and for all, with an old fashion race.
Author Linda Harkey has written an entertaining children’s book. The personalities of all the animals will delight children. From the first page you will find the hunting dogs humorous and engaging. The artwork by illustrator Mike Minick brings Harkey’s words to life. The collaboration between the two is extraordinary. Readers will enjoy the banter between BJ and the pack, especially Zeek who likes to stir up trouble and than blame someone else.
Solitary Toes and Brown-Headed Cowbirds: A Hickory Doc’s Tale by author Linda Harkey is perfect for a classroom library or for children that love animal stories. This enchanting picture book has humorous dialogue, colorful and vibrant artwork, and a thrilling storyline that will make this a book you will definitely want to add to your collection.
Pages: 48 | ASIN : B07NJLPL94
Dance-It-Out!
Freya, Fynn, and the Fantastic Flute tells a creative story that gets kids dancing and exercising. How did the idea for this book come about?
As a dance teacher, I know the value of movement and expression. My daughter and I teamed up to try to keep cooped-up kids moving and active at home. The Dance-It-Out! collection—Freya, Fynn, and the Fantastic Flute is one of 10 books—are mostly expanded versions of stories I told in my dance classes. These were always the kids’ favorite part of the class, and I wanted to share the experience with a broader audience. This story is a collaboration with one of the instructors at Pacific Northwest Ballet, Marjorie Thompson, who was separately creating a story ballet, and we thought we’d team up.
What were some driving ideals behind the books development?
The story was created to be danced on stage, so it was an easy transition to create a children’s book with movement from the ideas. We infused even more movement into the Dance-It-Out version by adding the zombie ballet class and having the cats in dance-like poses. It’s full of movement themes and offers many opportunities for creating steps and shapes.
What is the collaboration process like between the authors to bring this book to live?
Marjorie, the original author, had a story draft. We whittled and edited that version together to create a book for her slightly older audience, then I infused that story with simpler movements and actions to make it accessible for younger kids.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
We hope to have 2 more Dance-It-Outs out this year including one about a spirited squirrel superhero. Some of the previous series favorites include Joey Finds His Jump! and Princess Naomi Helps a Unicorn. We’re also working on audio books for the series and have 3 up on Amazon.
The Freya/Fynn sequel is in motion, and we have the same illustrator booked to start working on it in the new year.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | CreativeMovementStories.com | OnceUponADance.com | Instagram | Twitter
In the Dance-It-Out series, created by an award-winning dance teacher, children act and move alongside the characters, and Ballerina Konora joins each page with movement suggestions. In this story, Fynn, Freya, cats, bats, ghosts, and zombies assemble for a captivating story of music, magic, and meyhem.
Movement, dance, and concepts include:
• Kicks
• Marches
• Jumps
• Rolls
• Bends
• First/Fifth position
• Shoulder lifts
• Lunges
• Tiptoes/Relevé
• Breath/Sighs
• Balancing on one foot
• Rocking/swaying
• Hand shapes such as fists/flat/pointer/curved fingers
• Sharp and smooth
• Emotions such as joy, shock, curiosity, and love
• Improv dance
Each Dance-It-Out story is an interactive kids’ storytelling adventure to ignite children’s movement, joy, and imagination. Ballerina Konora joins each page with optional movement and dance ideas and photographs.
The books can be used as a supplement for dance or theater studio classes or camps. Fynn, Freya, and the Fantastic Flute would be pair well with themes such as Halloween, cats, island-living, zombies, ghosts, music, camping, or magic.
The Dance-It-Out movement journeys are ideal for dance, pre-ballet, creative movement, preschool, daycare, early learning, physical education, homeschool, kindergarten, or first-grade activities. The full collection features male/female/nongendered and diverse characters. Books make a great gift for girls or boys interested in dance, ballet, gymnastics, or yoga, or reluctant readers who enjoy getting up and being active.
With kind characters, subtle life lessons, and a positive role model in Ballerina Konora, teachers love the kid-approved, ready-made, easy additions to curriculum and lesson planning. Children at home adore the stories that “young readers will return to again and again” (—Reedsy) offering “an innovative use of dance and storytelling” (—Kirkus Reviews).
Freya, Fynn, and the Fantastic Flute
![Freya, Fynn, and the Fantastic Flute : A Dance-It-Out Creative Movement Story for Young Movers (Dance-It-Out! Creative Movement Stories for Young Movers) by [Once Upon a Dance, Marjorie Thompson, Emilia Rumińska]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41fjTWqcPBL._SY346_.jpg)
Freya, Fynn, And The Fantastic Flute by Once Upon a Dance is a cute children’s story with a unique interactive twist. In the story, we follow Freya and Flynn as they visit their eccentric Aunt Gail. Their aunt’s home is rumored to be haunted because you can often hear music and movement coming from the attic throughout the night. But is it true? Find out and get moving in Freya, Flynn, And The Fantastic Flute!
If I could use one word to describe this book, it would be ADORABLE! The mixture of dance/movement along with beautiful storytelling through writing and illustration adds something new to the children’s literature market. The author introduces a clever way to get kids moving and exercising and is a great way to have parents interact with their children. I enjoyed the story so much that I was sad when it ended and felt as though it ended abruptly. I wanted to know more about the creatures in the attic. The structure of the book leads me to believe there will be a sequel to this story, which I hope there is because this was a blast.
Freya, Fynn, And The Fantastic Flute is a fun children’s adventure book that will get kids moving through an ingenious combination of dance and storytelling. Parents and educators with young children needing to burn excess energy will find this book very handy.
Pages: 40 | ASIN: B09K5XC9DD
The Tale of the Christmas Hero
Santa’s reindeer are very busy on Christmas Eve delivering presents to all the children. But when the reindeer decide to take a break and chase a field mouse for fun they bring about a near Christmas disaster. Luckily the field mouse they were chasing knows someone that can help them out of their jam and get Christmas back on track.
This is a charming children’s book that is an absolute joy to read. This book fits right into the cheery holiday theme of the season. The reindeer, and mouse, are so lively and animated throughout the story that their antics are sure to keep any child’s attention.
Right when I figured out this was going to be a story about reindeer getting into mischief, I knew I was going to enjoy this story, and the amusing antics delivered a lot of entertainment. Each scene has a fantastic illustration from illustrator Brenda Timms. Each image has a soft color palette and looks like they were colored with crayon, which makes them easily relatable to children.
This delightful picture book is told in fun rhymes that add color and character to the story being acted out on each page. The rhymes are cute and easy to follow, with a few big words here and there young readers should have an easy time reading this story with an adult.
The Tale of the Christmas Hero is a whimsical Christmas book that will delight kids this holiday season. With lovable and emotive characters taking readers on an amusing chase that ends in a cheesy reward, family’s will surely enjoy this entertaining book.
Pages: 36 | ISBN: 1643613502
From Hair to There
![From Hair to There by [Cindy Lurie]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51i4xO6D8xS.jpg)
From Hair to There tells the imaginative tale of a girl’s incredibly long hair and how it is used by a diverse cast of characters to travel across the world. But when a gum chewing camel spits a wad of gum in her hair the magical adventure comes to a stop. Will Cynthia get her incredibly long hair back?
This is a fun and creative children’s book that takes readers on a fairytale adventure around the world where young readers will learn about a variety of locations. This provides a great opportunity for parents and teachers to talk about different geographical locations as well as cultures.
The art in the book is excellent. Every other page has a colorful and sharp graphic art piece that is fit to be framed all on its own. Cynthia and her hair get into a lot of whacky situations that will surely keep children giggling.
Author Cindy Lurie has created a charming picture book with simple rhymes that educates as well as it entertains. I loved Cynthia’s character she, and this book, has so much character that the story can easily be read again and again.
For parents and teachers looking for a lively and educational children’s book that will inspire their kid’s imagination look no further than From Hair to There by Cindy Lurie.
Pages: 56 | ASIN: B096Q3LLCJ
JoJo’s Tiny Ear
Jojo is like any other kid. He laughs, he plays, and he helps his mom, but he has one small difference. Jojo has a tiny ear. Through this colorful children’s book young readers will learn about Jojo and about microtia. Admittedly, I had never heard of microtia before, so this book was certainly a learning experience for me as well. I felt well informed by end of this book. I think this book is great for children and adults as it will educate all readers.
Readers learn about microtia and Jojo through rhyming verses throughout this heartfelt story and we get to see how Jojo is just like every other child. Helping children relate to Jojo is important in getting them to understand that there is not much difference between us. The vibrant watercolor art does a fantastic job of showing Jojo in various states of play and shows how he is just like anyone else. The one thing that makes him unique is his hearing aid, which is on a headband. The story goes on to explain what the device is and how it works. We also learn a bit of sign language as well, as Jojo uses it to communicate.
JoJo’s Tiny Ear is a wonderfully educational story that promotes acceptance, diversity, inclusion and being comfortable with who you are. I really loved how Jojo stood up to the bullies by educating them on his condition. This vibrant picture book will entertain as well as it educates.
Pages: 28 | ASIN: 1956159053
The Adventures of Charlie, Blue and Larry Lamp Post
![The Adventures of Charlie, Blue and Larry Lamp Post by [Sarah Duchess of York]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61s3aeO35AL.jpg)
Young Charlie has a secret. Every night Larry the Lamp Post and Billy Barrow come alive and whisk Charlie and his dog Blue away on a magical star filled adventure that empowers Charlie and teaches readers about different star constellations.
The Adventures of Charlie, Blue and Larry Lamp Post is a uniquely imaginative children’s book with gorgeous water color art that fills every page. I enjoyed the colorful palette and the beautifully whimsical imagery. All of the illustrations are perfect for capturing a child’s attention and imagination while creating an interest in astronomy.
The art style works perfectly to bring the universe to life once Charlie starts zipping around the stars. Young readers will learn about a variety of different constellations and even be treated to constellation and space facts at the end of the book. All of this serves to make this a spirited adventure that is also wonderfully educational as well.
This is a perfect addition to any teacher’s science section in elementary school. This book is also perfect for parents to share with their children as it arouses curiosity in the world and sends a positive message of hope. The Adventures of Charlie, Blue and Larry Lamp Post is a marvelous picture book that sends readers on a wondrous journey through the stars.
Pages: 38 | ASIN: B09DM68N56
LITERARY TITAN 