Yes, this is a thin book, and yes, it's filled with valuable information, especially if you've never put a portfolio together before OR you want your portfolio to stand out from the many.

I am a Master's student in education, and all of us are required to put portfolios together. After seeing what my peers had put together, I KNEW a professional portfolio shouldn't look that way...sloppy, cutesy, B-A-D. I wanted mine to stand apart.

And that's why you should not leave Amazon today without this book. Your portfolio will stand meters above the competition's, and it will be put together in such a way that showcases your talent as an educator.

Good luck!

Yes, I see the price. I know its thinner than the average pad of paper, but you want this. Trust me. Well if you are studying to be a teacher you want this. Assuming that the person looking at this page is probably looking for a good deal on this twenty three dollar eighty page book (does it qualify as a book?) because their prof has assigned it--please, think past the price. This is a book I picked up when I started my program and didn't look at again until I was nearing the end, and at that point began seriously regretting not giving the book some attention all the way through. Portfolios don't have to be that hard, and this book gives you some clear cut SOLID example for what you can do for each standard. The great thing is, if you do read through this book and keep an eye on your growing portfolio while you are in college, you'll find there are all sorts of things--mostly the papers you write in all those classes that you can use here. What's even better is this will help keep you focused on developing your own skills as a teacher in both qualitative and quantitative ways instead of just going into it with no idea of where the road leads.

Lastly, I find that a lot of books for educators are not the greatest thing in the world. This tiny handbook IS. This is like one of those little pocket bibles or tao te ching's or something. Take it with you wherever you go and consult it as new situations arise!

HOW TO DEVELOP A PROFESSIONAL PORTFOLIO A MANUAL FOR TEACHERS is an excellent resource for teacher educators, as well as for aspiring teachers and teachers in the field. The book provides complete, easy-to-understand information for assembling both "working" and "presentation" portfolios. The "working" portfolio is a collection of teaching materials and educational documents that represents professional growth and goal setting both for the veteran teacher and the pre-service teacher. The "presentation" portfolio is a condensed version of the "working" portfolio that documents professional competencies. It is compiled for a specific purpose, such as applying for a job.

The chapter "Organization of Portfolios around Teaching Standards" presents a good model for portfolio organization, furnishing information that can be adapted to a particular state or university set of standards. Examples are pertinent; they are based upon standards from professional associations and the National Board for Professional Teaching. The structure, the well-written descriptions, and the examples in the chapter offer a clear and concise introduction to the topic of portfolio organization.

"Artifacts Possibilities" is another chapter that offers valuable information. The list and description of artifacts is extensive, providing a helpful guide. The "Artifacts Checklist" in Appendix B furnishes an easy-to-reference format that the student or teacher can utilize.

The book is a valuable reference. Not only does it include definitions and descriptions of portfolio components, but also displays relevant examples. The listing of professional organizations and the "Artifacts Checklist" in the appendices are good additions. The book is a "quick read" with 84 pages -- 84 pages filled with good ideas and applications that are based upon current educational practices.

I first became a Yankee fan during the "Bronx Zoo" era; during the late-70s Yankee dynasty. Graig Nettles was - and pretty much still is - my favorite player. His remarkable defense at third base during regular season games, and especially during the 1978 World Series, rivaled that of Baltimore's Brooks Robinson. And while he was a right-handed fielder, Graig was a left-handed "power hitter" at the plate... capable of hitting home runs in clutch situations. When you look at his stats during the 1970s, it's hard to understand why he's not in the Hall of Fame. I have a Graig Nettles autographed baseball and I wear Yankees jersey number 9. I'm a big Nettles fan, and I'm glad he wrote a book for me to keep for posterity.

The premise of the book is this: Nettles made an agreement with the publisher wherein he'd write about the dirt behind the crazy "Bronx Zoo"... Steinbrenner, Martin, and Reggie. The prediction was that he'd be playing for a team other than the Yankees by the time the book was published, and thus wouldn't be biting the hand that fed him. But Steinbrenner signed him for an additional year, leaving Nettles with a choice... tone down his comments in the book or write the tell-all tome he promised, despite still being a Yankee. Nettles chose to honor his agreement with the publisher and say what he felt about Steinbrenner and Company... a decision that took "balls" (hence the play-on-words title).

But does Graig actually deliver the goods and give us the dirt? Sorta. He takes a few pot-shots at Steinbrenner and makes a few fat jokes at his expense, and he also has an occassional bad thing to say about Jackson, but that's about it. Billy Martin is made out to be some sort of managerial genius, with Graig giving him nothing but praise. If making a few fat jokes at your boss's expense takes cojones, then Nettles has a big and brassy pair. But beyond that, there's really not anything scandalous here... nothing that would take "balls" to say.

Despite him being my baseball hero to this day, I'm sorry to say that Nettles' book is filled with chest-thumping self-promotion. On only a few occassions does he say he ever performed inadequately on the diamond, and when he does admit to a less-than-stellar performance, he also makes an excuse of some kind. You'd think he won the Gold Glove award in every year he played, batted over .400 every year, and had a one-thousand slugging percentage. Graig also gives nothing but gold stars to relief pitcher Rich "Goose" Gossage, and (surprise surprise) Goose is Graig's friend off the diamond. Personally, I always thought Gossage was an inconsistent pitcher; I always got nervous when he was brought to the mound. But Nettles would have you believe that Goose was the best pitcher in the AL during the late 70s.

I'd also have preferred to hear more about the Pine Tar incident, the rivalry with Boston and with Kansas City, the brawl wherein Graig broke the pitching arm of Red Sox southpaw Bill Lee, the strange-but-true story of wife-swapping Yankee pitchers Kekich and Fitz, etc. In the book, Nettles either neglects to tell these interesting tales or gives them just a quick glancing-over.

One last thing, and I hate to say this about my baseball hero... I get the impression that without co-author Golenbeck, Nettles would come across as nothing but a braindead jock. There already seems to be a degree of that in the book; take ghost writer Golenbeck out of the picture, and I fear it would be even moreso. Oh well... nobody said that ballplayers had to be bookishly intelligent.

THIS IS A VERY INTERESTING STORY OF THE BRONX ZOO THROUGH THE EYES OF GRAIG NETTLES. I REMEMBER WHEN HE WAS CLEVELAND INDIAN, A REAL SMOOTH SWING AND A GOOD LEATHER MAN. I WAS VERY MAD WHEN THEY TRADED HIM FOR SOME (GOOD?) PROSPECTS. A TYPICAL GABE PAUL MOVE TO TRADE A GOOD PLAYER FOR GARBAGE. HE WENT ON TO BECOME AN EXCELLENT FIELDER AND HOME RUN THREAT. HIS FIELDING WAS THE SHOWCASE OF THE 1978 WORLD SERIES. THIS BOOK TELLS IT LIKE IT IS. HIS FEELINGS TOWARDS HIS FELLOW PLAYERS, MANAGERS AND GEORGE ARE EXTREMELY INTERESTING. A MUST READ FOR NEW AND OLD YANKEE FANS.
VERY RECOMMENDED.

I enjoyed this book by Yankee great Graig Nettles. It takes you back to the great Yankee teams of the late 70s. "Balls" seems quite tame today, but it was hard hitting when it was released in the mid 80s. Not quite on the same level as "Ball Four" or "The Bronx Zoo" but still a must for any Yankee fan. GO YANKS!!

This recording cannot compare with Musical Heritage Society's Treasury of 19th Century English Poets (MHC 312505Z). The readings (with some exceptions - "Jabberwocky" is delightful and "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" is well done - are dull and unengaging. The music is intrusive and unevenly recorded. Not at all the quality I would have expected from BBC, which has released really wonderful renditions of Shakespeare.

Some of the best actors in England reading some of the best poetry in the English language -- any poetry lover cannot go wrong with this version. I especially rejoiced to finally hear the delightful "To His Coy Mistress" read in the spirit in which is was intended (every other reader seems intent on declaiming as if it were "Hamlet" -- yuck). But the other poems are equally wonderful. ("Jabberwocky" is also not to be missed.)

This collection is by far the best available! Emma Fielding is exquisite! "Lady of Shallot", and "Marina" are especially well done! I enjoyed listening to it so much, and would highly recommend it to the poetry lovers.

Parents are living in a time when we cannot afford to forget the value of balancing our lives and the lives of our children with appreciation for prayer. Prayer let's us know that there is a power source we can tap into to make our lives better. Ms. Nettles' book offers parents an opportunity to give children an appreciation for the things around us. The prayers are non-denominational. And, even if a parent is an agnostic the book can still work for the family. It's not far fetched to invision some of the tragic stories we hear today about young children and adults going on killing sprees being prevented by parents taking time to pray with their children. Nettles' book takes life situations and turns them into prayer subjects. This allows a parent and child to converse about everyday subjects and place a higher value on them . What I'm sharing is that this book makes it easier to pray and converse with your children in one important setting.The prayers can then lead into stories you share from your life experience.That's how I make the prayers an event my grandson and 12-year old look forward to. If we are well off or not so well off, this book is a tool to help us guide our children. Every time I see or hear a news bulletin of a tragedy of mindless brutality the value of "Prayers and Meditations For Our Little Angels" is reinforced. The title is a message to our precious young ones. It's their book.

It is so refreshing to know that our children can read, or we can read to them, words of prayer and spiritual guidance, that can help them to know, love, and appreciate the word of God, the Father of Abraham, Issac and Jacob. In a world filled with so little good reading materials for our children, I find that this book a true delight and a blessing. I highly recommend it to all parents, and others, who love children.

This book contains papers presented at a Nostratic Symposium in Cambridge England during July of 1998 at The MacDonald Institute for Archeological Research. The focus of the symposium was, "The Nostratic Macrofamily and Linguistic Paleontology", Aharon Dolgopolsky, 1998. Dolgopolsky's book attempts to deduce the location of the Nostratic speakers' homeland, their cultural characteristics and their epoch (e.g. Neolithic vs. Mesolithic vs. Paleolithic) from the reconstructed Nostratic vocabulary.

This review is based on an early edition of the book that was obtained second hand. I believe this edition was produced for use at this conference.

These papers provide criticism of and commentary on Dolgoposky's book, as well as discussing some criticisms and defenses of the Nostratic Hypothesis. The first section of the book consists of two chapters, one by Renfrew and one by Dolgopolsky, introducing Nostratic in around 50 pages. This is followed by seven chapters on "The Composition and Reconstruction of Nostratic" (130 pages), five chapters on "Methodological Considerations" (110 pages) and six chapters on "Perspectives from the Daughter Families" (115 pages), with a concluding chapter written by Daniel Nettle, titled "Towards A Future History of Macrofamily Research" (15 pages). There is no index.

Colin Renfrew's introduction (about 16 pages) provides a fine short exposition of the Nostratic hypothesis. Dolgopolsky then introduces the phonology, grammar and grammatical typology. Following this he discusses the derivation of Nostratic words and the place of the Hamito-Semitic family and concludes with replies to some criticisms of his methodology.

The various papers in "The Composition and Reconstruction of Nostratic" discuss in some detail the linguistics aspects of Dolgoplsky's book, and offer numerous criticisms and alternatives. I found R. L Trask's comments on the correspondences in Basque (A sideways glance at Basque) interesting and his somewhat skeptical conclusion well written.

In addition to linguistics, the papers in "Methodological Considerations" address the methodology of linguistic paleontology, both generally and as applied by Dolgopolsky. The early part of Lyle Campbell's "Nostratic and Linguistic Paleontology in Methodological Perspective" is particularly interesting to non-specialists.

The papers in "Perspectives from the Daughter Families" provide commentary and criticism from authors "who have expertise in a particular language family" and hence are primarily concerned with the individual language families. Of particular interest to non-specialists is Alan Kaye's paper "The Current State of Nostratic Linguistics"

The concluding paper titled "Towards A Future History of Macrofamily Research" is a call for a new methodology for the problems that he considers to be common to the methodology of Nostratic as well as that of several other macro-families, such as Altaic, Nilo-Saharan, etc. He considers these various hypothesized macrofamilies to be at the same impasse, "stuck at the same log jam" " He then analyses the cause and suggests alternative methodology.

There were interesting sections interspersed among the word lists and etymologies in many of the individual papers. However, the papers that I, as a non specialist found most interesting, were the introductory and concluding papers as well the ones in the body of the book I identified above.

In short, the casual reader may find much of the technical detail heavy going, although there are interesting areas throughout for those who want to obtain an idea of the current state of Nostratic research. Specialists will want both this book and the "The Nostratic Macrofamily and Linguistic Paleontology" book. Anyone who is interested enough in the Nostratic Hypothesis to buy this book should seriously consider buying the Dolgopolsky book as well.

Other recommendations "Nostratic, Sifting the Evidence" Salmons, Joe C.; Joseph, Brian D

I respect the author's intentions to provide a form of consolation for troubled individuals like myself. However, the attempt falls short in the too-real context of inevitable aging and death. Assuming that personal efficacy in ordinary matters is self-evidently a cure simply loses sight of the fact that concentrating on mundane matters must be conducted without any form of external justification.

I recommend readers interested in this subject turn to different techniques of being resigned to the purposelessness and meaninglessness that scientific investigations continually reveal. In particular, I recommend the scientifically grounded "cosmic spirituality" as described by Milton Munitz in books such as The Question of Reality; Cosmic Understanding and Does Life Have A Meaning?. Owen Flanagan also provides comfort in his discussions, including The Problem of the Soul.

Having to face reality is always a difficult task. And Daniel Nettle courageously takes up this task with all good intention to alert troubled individuals to NOT indulge in nihilistic self-destruction for the sake of "art" or other means to attention and notoriety. This is sound advice. As is Nettle's advice to pursue robust health. These are all necessary but ultimately insufficient steps on the way to a comfortable avoidance of insanity. For a self-sufficient presence, one still must face one's personal orientation to the totality of reality.

The over-arching issue remains the absence of external justification of one's actions and one's presence. And for this there is no simple fix. Making oneself at home in the universe remains an extremely elusive destination...

If you've ever been frustrated when told that Baptists have historically resisted creeds and confessions you will be encouraged by reading this book. Though the focus of the book strictly speaking is on the use of catechisms and not creeds and confessions, it's hard to separate one from the other.

After reading the introduction alone, you will see that Baptists have benefitted greatly from the use of catechisms. The collection of catechisms included in the book will prove helpful for an individual to nail down his own theology or pass it along to his children.

Perhaps a future book by Nettles will go into more depth concerning the differences between Baptist catechisms and those of other denominations.

May the Lord use this book to awaken 21st century Baptists to their catechetical roots!

I think this book is very repetitive and is a very poor attempt at showing why losing all of these languages is important. They are comparing losing these languages to animals and plants going extinct. They try and draw all of these worthless comparissions that do not make any sense. This book is not even worth being picked up.

Vanishing Voices does a good job of showing how larger languages are destroying smaller ones, and the methods of language death. This is all pretty much common knowledge. However, the authors fail in their attempt to give a reason as to WHY language death is something with which we should be concerned. The only argument they put forth is in a ecological/enviromental analogy, which says that biological diversity is good and stable, therefore, linguistic diversity must. However, they only go part way in their analogy and reject natural selection for languages. They also show that linguistic diversity corresponds to environmental diversity, but state this has nothing to do with the inexcessiblity of the areas. The violin-playing and loaded words are hard to stomach if you are looking for good social science. I would not suggest the book unless you are an ecological activist wanting to try to link your cause with "saving cultures" or with yet another critique of the West.

There is little for me to add to the other fine reader reviews of this work except to say that I found it very repetitive. I am not sure that it could not have been a long article in the Atlantic or Harper's.
I am not at all sure that there is much that can be done to preserve some of these minor languages in the long run but I do find it admirable that the authors have taken up the cudgel.

Dr. John Gill was an ultra-strict Calvinist pastor in England. This book is his systematic dismantling of Arminian theology, topic by topic, and text by text. No stone is left unturned. This really is the book to own if you would like to read an exhaustive rebuttal by a Calvinist theologian against Arminianism. I would warn you against the very-small print. This edition has not been re-formatted, but rather I guess it must be a fresh reprint of an old version. Your mind may enjoy thinking about the theology, but your eyes will go buggy! Second, Gill habitually resorts to a chief weakness among Reformed theologians -- he re-interprets the texts in terms of the System, rather than re-interpreting the System in light of the text. There were numerous times when Gill's argumentation about an "Arminian" verse amounted to, "Well, we _already know_ that God can't/doesn't/won't, so therefore..." and then Gill devises the most ingenious and implausible interpretations I've ever read. This illustrates a chronic feature of Reformed theology -- it usually features philosophically air-tight logic, but stumbles over (or ignores) specific verses that just won't quite bend to fit into Calvin's Procrustean bed.