Teachers College Press has just published a book from the QUASAR Project, intended to help people implement staff development. I've been reading it this week, and it's just about the most useful resource I can imagine in planning on-going staff development to help teachers implement mathematics programs designed around the NCTM standards. (At the high school level, this includes curricula like Core Plus and the Interactive Mathematics Project (IMP). At the Middle school level, this includes programs like Connected Mathematics. At the elementary school level, this includes programs like Investigations in Number, Data, and Space. Many of these curricula have been selected as "exemplary" by the Department of Education.)

The book is called "Implementing Standards-Based Mathematics Instruction: A Casebook for Professional Development". As the title indicates, it contains a number of "cases" for teachers to study and discuss, as they learn to implement high-level mathematics tasks successfully. The strength of the book is that it is organized around QUASAR's "Mathematical Tasks Framework". This framework trains teachers to analyze mathematics tasks as being at any of a number of levels: Doing Mathematics; Procedures With Connections; Procedures Without Connections; Unsystematic Exploration; Nonmathematical Activity.

QUASAR has found that tasks tend to degrade, i.e., they can be designed at a high level ("doing mathematics" or "procedures with connections") but migrate to a "lower" level either when the teacher initially sets up the lesson, or as the lesson procedes (the "implementation" phase). Their data (which I've seen in other studies, not this case-book) demonstrates that student achievement is enhanced when the task is designed, set up, and IMPLEMENTED at a high level. The case-book describes factors that cause a high-level task either to be implemented at a high level, or to degrade. Then, it provides cases (i.e., classroom teaching episodes described in great detail)in which one or the other happens, and helps teachers analyze why. Not only are the cases themselves very useful for learning: the process of analyzing the cases gives teachers the skills they need to analyze their OWN lessons.

Some of us are gifted with mothers who taught us how to wear make-up. Then, there's the rest of us. What I liked best about this book is the multitude of pictures, detailed directions, and specific products named for each type of look. Whatever look you are trying to achieve, you can get great ideas in this book.

I have known Kenny since 1980, although I've only started reading this story I am extremely comfortable with the pace and grace Mr. Bestul uses. Kenny is everything the book says he is a very hard working, deliberate, honest, kind and caring person, without a mean bone in him. I've shared stories and bread with Kenny, and he really is the type of person you would like to know personally. Mary Kay's illustrations are graceful and a pleasure to view alongside this wonderful story.
In my opinion this book is a must for any outdoorsman, or for a quiet read next to a fire. I sincerely hope you enjoy Kenny's story as much as I am.

Ellen Webster is too nice for her own good. One day, she decides that enough is enough, and purchases one of those "mini" self help books that you find in the checkout aisle at your supermarkets. Following the advice of the book, she sets out to seduce Jonah Blake, the mystery man in town. Feeling unappreciated, she uses the advice to request a raise and a promotion at work, stops letting her ederly neighbors take advantage of her free time, and quits feeding her neighbor leftovers. All these changes in her life and attitude have friends and co-workers wondering "what's wrong with Ellen". Eventually, Ellen wonders what's wrong with her too. The subplots in this story are as good as the plot it's self. Ellen has to deal with her younger, alcoholic brother after he gets into trouble with gambling debts, and Jonah is fighting demons of his own in regards to his comotose father.

Annie Hunnicut's car breaks down in the mountains of Kentucky. Along comes "a good ol' boy" to rescue her. Annie doesn't realize that her savior is Buck LaSalle, the same man whose leading a group of workers to try and stop a factory closing--the job that Anne has been sent to do. Regardless of the fact that their at the opposite ends in a tug of war, Annie and Buck let friendship prevail. The best scene in this book happens at the bar. It starts with the two of them having fun, then turns to some jealousy, which leads to a misunderstanding that leave Annie's feelings hurt, which in return causes a big fight, and that fight leads them to their first night of lovemaking. Once Annie has finished her job, she's ready to return to New York--their last night together is heartbreaking. In the end, they both sacrifice for their love, which is a wonderful, funny end to this story. As a point of interest, Mary Kay wrote a sequal to this book with Buck's brother, Bryce, as the hero---"Sweet Dreamin' Baby".

If you are looking for a book to inspire you and help you to set your priorities for life, this is the book for you. Not only is Mary Kay's writing addictive, her message is wonderful. I keep this and a few other of her books in a convenient spot so I can go back and read portions regularly. I find that her writing keeps me on track in life. Her idea of God First, Family Second, and Career Third; really made an impact on me. I would recommend this book to any woman or man of any age, religion and social status.

I truly enjoyed this book. I have been a Beauty Consultant for 2 years now. I always heard from others how wonderful Mary Kay Ash is, but never had a personal experience myself to make that same statement. After reading this book I felt that she was talking directly to me. She is a women I truly admire and respect. Reading the book gave me a touch of insight on her life and I feel honored to have the chance to be a part of her dream. This booked changed my outlook and I recommend it to anyone wishing to know Mary Kay better as well as understanding the opportunity she has created for women all over the world.

Generation gaps are erased when Grandmother shares her special box of memory keepsakes with her granddaughter. In turn, the little girl helps her own mother to realize that it is okay to take time to look back, even as we attempt to cope with the changes of today. Memories of times and things gone by surface as the mother packs her mother's belongings and moves her into her own home. Grandmother's hat box, the hand-made wooden box long forgotten by mother, and the daughter's own shoebox provide 3 generations of the joy of saving!

The hero in this books is Scotty Hammond and the heroine is Augusta Miller, known as Gus. She is the music teacher at the local school and Scotty is the new principle. Sparks fly between them when Gus is postive she wants nothing to do with the handsome, talk of the town Scotty Hammond. Scotty on the other hand, is just as determined to conquer her. True to Mary Kay form, she opens the book with a comedic scene of Gus picking up the garbage from Scotty's dog, Bertrum T. Goodfellow, known as Bert, and throwing it back into Scotty's yard while talking aloud to herself about what she'd like to do to him, and his dog, not realizing Scotty is there the whole time listening, and had in fact, thrown the garbarge over the fence into her yard, himself. The sparks fly from there. I have read all of Mary Kay's books, and I found this one to be more passionate, and less comedic than her other books. She does have several scenes, where we view the going ons between Scotty and Gus thru the eyes of Bert, which were good for a laugh.

Obsession starts out with a peek into a young girl's diary. Enter---Esther Brite, an illigitimate child who grew up in a small Virginia town, and returns there after the death of her husband and child. Suffering from pnemonia, her path crosses with the local doctor, Dr. Dan Jacobey, who, unbeknown to Esther, has fallen in love with her after discovering her childhood diary. Both are fighting personal demons, as they slowly become friends, then lovers. Mary Kay keeps us aching for the two to "finally get together". She teases us with foreplay, then slowly increases the passion between them until the moment of consummation. The story unfolds with unusual sadness, as Mary Kay's books are usually filled with humurous moments. She does lighten the mood with the characters of Addy Markham, the doctor's housekeeper, who was once the Madam of the town, and Uncle Fesstus. With poetic justice, Mary Kay ends the books with a peek into "another" 16 year old's diary. This books is for those readers who know what it's like to be different in a crowd, and who overcame the hurts, caused by this difference, and became a better person because of it.