Safe Within These Walls: De-escalating School Situations Before They Become Crises by Andra Medea, MA

This book first came out almost 10 years ago. And while there's a lot that could be updated, especially with the violence in the past few years, a lot of this information is still useful.

In the wake of school tragedies and the growing concern about creating safe environments for children, teachers, parents, and school personnel, this resource provides practical techniques and guidelines for de-escalating aggression with insight and finesse rather than with force. Andrea Madea explains how to manage aggression from tantrums to mental health issues and school shootings, using anecdotes, research-informed techniques, and, at times, humor.

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**My thoughts**

Sometimes it is hard as an adult to reach an angry child. They become like human walls of rage. Anything we throw at them just crashes or bounces right back at us. They can be difficult to diffuse, which is necessary to get them to listen to reason and to find their voices. In theory, we know this, already, but in the heat of the moment may forget. This book does a great job in helping to identify children who are overly angry, even if it isn't as apparent on the surface. Sometimes kids are silently angry, those still waters that are about to erupt like Ol' Faithful. It gives plenty of tips to help the angry child to calm down. (I love the example right in the beginning where the administrator used to trick a child into holding a stack of books for several minutes, forcing them to stabilize from their core and thus calm down. It's a great sensory trick.) 

One important thing Andra points out is for teachers to also be aware of their own moods. If you are in a bad mood, chances are the kids are going to pick up on it and feed off of it. One of our fundamental lessons in Montessori training is to "Know thyself." Learn what makes you tick and find strategies to help yourself calm. Learn how nonverbal cues send authoritative and submissive messages. This book provides some fun ways to find balance.

It is broken down into easy-to-read sections, complete with examples of escalating situations and tried-and-true tricks to help diffuse those situations. At the end of each chapter is a helpful recap. The end has a comprehensive list of resources. The final chapter talks about handling completely escalated situations, such as Columbine or Newtown. This chapter would make for an excellent start for a seminar or lengthy full staff meeting in schools, to prepare for such an event to take place. It's not a pleasant conversation, but one that should be had, just in case.

I would actually recommend this book to anyone who has to deal with children on a regular basis. Yes, it is geared toward teachers who are trying to handle difficult children and sometimes difficult situations with parents. A lot of the advice within can be implemented at all times in the classroom. Even seasoned veterans may find something new to try, or else have an old idea sparked again, that they haven't tried in a while. Parents and other caregivers can also learn a lot about navigating those difficult waters with children.

I received a requested review copy from Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Review of A Survival Guide to Parenting Teens by Joani Geltman

Turn back the clocks! Your sweet child has morphed into a teen. And it's no longer just a messy bedroom or an attitude with a capital "A" causing concern. There's a whole new range of issues on the horizon.

What if your daughter texts a naked picture to a "boyfriend"...which he then forwards to the entire class? What if your son becomes increasingly withdrawn...Or your child is being bullied online? Would you know what to do? You could read a whole book on teen psychology--but who has the time! As a parent, what you need most is quick and candid advice for dealing with the issue at hand. After all, if you say the right thing you will open up the lines of communication, but say the wrong thing...and WATCH OUT.

A Survival Guide to Parenting Teens is the solution. Covering a broad range of issues from the terrifying (sex, drinking, drugs, depression) to the frustrating (defiance, laziness, conformity, entitlement), parenting expert Joani Geltman approaches each of the 80 topics with honesty and a dash of humor. Want to understand why teens do what they do? Joani reveals what they are thinking and feeling--and what developmental factors are involved. She then explains how to approach each problem in a way that lets your kid know you "get it" and leads to truly productive conversations.

From lying to sexting to falling grades, the teenage years can be an uphill battle. Here is the no-nonsense guide you need to get your teen talking, listening, and back on track.

Goodreads * Amazon * BN

(affiliate link included)

**My thoughts**

Raising teens is a difficult business. This book is a quick resource, designed to help parents with the usual situations that most find themselves in as they battle the hormones and precarious years leading to adulthood. Instead of reading the book from cover to cover, which you can easily do, the book is set up as a quick reference for different situations. Your teen is making your crazy today? Flip through the table of contents to find the situation that best describes yours and then read. Advice is concise, yet clear, and likely to be very helpful. Remember that you aren't going to change the behaviors overnight, but by following these steps you should see some gradual change. It's not going to be a quick fix, but is useful advice.

One of my favorite lines in the book is "If you see this as a teaching moment, like teaching your toddler to say please and thank you, you'll be on easy street." Joani tackles the tough topics with such humor and wisdom throughout the book. This helps to make it a more pleasurable read.

I received a requested review copy from the publisher via Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Project Kid by Amanda Kingloff

Perfect for crafty parents who are eager to get their kids excited about DIY, ProjectKid is everything you could want in a craft book: 100(!) stylish, inventive projects; step-by-step photographs; tips for the novice crafter; easy-to-follow instructions; and a fresh, modern look. What really sets these projects apart are the unexpected, ingenious ways Kingloff uses everyday objects and materials. (Did you ever think a body-wash bottle would make a perfect rocket ship?) And these are projects for things kids want to make—and keep—from a juice-box owl to a pirate ship to a curio cabinet for displaying all of their treasures, plus games, jewelry, and more. Also included in the book are basic crafting lessons (such as pom-pom making and weaving) to help children of all ages build a DIY arsenal, a handy guide to must-have tools and materials, and a source directory.

Goodreads * Amazon * BN

(affiliate link included)

**My thoughts**

As Kingloff was the lifestyle director at Parents magazine for so long, overseeing the DIY content, I am not surprised to find such a comprehensive collection of activities for families to do together. The creativity found within these pages is astonishing. I would have gone absolutely crazy over this book as a kid.

Most of the materials that you need are already found at your house. For other items, Kingloff provides website and store recommendations to help you find what you need. Step-by-step directions are very clearly written out, with excellent photographs of each step. This is great for people who do better with written directions and for those who are more adept at following a photo tutorial. 

Activities definitely range in ability level. Projects such as the Joiner-Biscuit Butterflies would be easy to do with my preschool and kindergarten students. Juice-Box Owls would be more appropriate for older children. Some of them would even make great gifts, such as the Pom-Pom Poodle Pull Toy and the Embroidered Flyswatters. Others are more practical, such as the Family Message Center and Crafty Containers. Inspire learning while crafting with the Teaching Timepiece, ABC Flashcards, and Homemade Memory Game. 

I love the little art lessons at the end of each section, because they allow for open-ended creativity, beyond just the crafts shown in this book. The Montessorian in me appreciates open-ended possibilities, instead of only trying to mimic a craft! I also love the section on natural crafts, because it inspires you to spend time outside.

Both boys and girls can find something to enjoy in here, because crafts are not just for girls. The Robot Bank, Bottle Rocket, and Totally Tubular Train are sure to appeal to both!

Yes, a lot of the photographs are Pinterest worthy. I have a feeling that in the true tradition of Pinterest, a lot of attempts at some of these crafts are going to be significantly less than stellar. That isn't to say that with time and practice, your crafty skills, and those of your children, will not improve.

This is one that you'll want in a hard copy to make it easier to flip through the projects!

Thank you to NetGalley for fulfilling my review request. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Review of Why Will No One Play With Me? by Caroline Maguire

MOM'S CHOICE AWARD WINNER

From renowned parent expert Caroline Maguire, Why Will No One Play with Me? is a groundbreaking program that has helped thousands of children struggling with social skills to make friends, find acceptance, and have a happy childhood.

Every parent wants their child to be okay--to have friends, to be successful, to feel comfortable in his or her own skin. But many children lack important social and executive functioning skills that allow them to navigate through the world with ease.

In-demand parenting expert and former Hallowell Center coach Caroline Maguire has worked with thousands of families dealing with chronic social dilemmas, ranging from shyness to aggression to ADHD, and more. In this groundbreaking book, she shares her decade-in-the-making protocol--The Play Better Plan-- to help parents coach children to connect with others and make friends. Children of all ages--truly, from Kindergarten to college age-- will gain the confidence to make friends and get along with others, using tools such as:

*Social Sleuthing: learn to pay attention to social cues

*Post-Play Date Huddles: help kids figure out what to look for in a friendship

*Reflective Listening: improve your child's relationship with their peers

With compassion and ease, this program gives parents a tangible, easy-to-follow guide for helping kids develop the executive function and social skills they need to thrive.

Book Links

Goodreads * Amazon * B&N

(affiliate link included)

**My thoughts**
One of the most heartwrenching questions to be asked when you are a parent or a caregiver is "Why will no one play with me?" Or, "Why don't I have any friends?" For some kids, it's just not that easy to go out and make friends. They are simply lacking the skills to be able to do so. And they need help learning those skills so that they can go out and have more success in the social world. Author Caroline Maguire relies on her experiences both as an academic and social skills coach for children, plus her own memories of social difficulties as a child, to guide parents, teachers, and caregivers through helping children in their lives to develop those social skills.

Right off the bat, I was impressed with five words that Caroline tells us to remember. "If they could, they would." I guess innately, I already knew that and have always strived to teach my children using this idea. But to see those five words in print looking me in the face really had an impact. You're not going to get anywhere with kids unless you can truly understand those five words.

To help the reader better understand this child who is struggling, Caroline takes us into the wonderful worlds of science and psychology, explaining how the brain develops and how social skills develop. She illustrates the concepts with a great graphic of an iceberg showing how much there actually is when it comes to social development and emotions. She also uses several stories of children she has known, including their struggles, and ways that they were able to navigate some tricky situations.

I think one of the most important things that Caroline tells us is to be aware of your own perceptions and social skills. Also take a look at how you interact with the child and what your preconceived notions are about that child and her behavior. You get questions to ask yourself to help you better understand yourself. You also get discussion question ideas and activities that you can do with your child to help him identify how he is feeling in given situations. These answers will help you better pinpoint what is really going on and help determine a potential solution. It's imperative that you really listen and not just constantly talk at your child.

And remember that these techniques are going to take time. Nothing is going to happen overnight. It takes time to learn a new skill. It's also going to take some repetition of practicing these skills.

Caroline provides some extensive questionnaires for you to use, plus detailed instructions on how to best use them. These will help you pinpoint where you're going to start working with your child. And then you will use the appropriate "Play Better" lessons that correspond with your answers to start working on your child's social skills. You're given infographics, illustrations, scenarios, and real-life excursions that you can take to practice what you discuss and to help your child work on social skills.

I think it will be easy for parents to feel overwhelmed as they try to digest all of the information and the activities within this book. It's going to be most important to read through the book first and to identify your own social skills strengths and weaknesses, plus your own preconceptions about your child's behaviors first. Go ahead and fill out the questionnaires, but then really digest the activities that you're going to be doing with your child. You don't want to be sitting at the mall performing a social skills activities while simultaneously reading for the first time what you're supposed to be saying and doing while you are there. Again, this is all going to take time.

But I also think that as you get more comfortable in the techniques outlined in this book, you are going to find it easier to implement all of these and will get through them easier. 

Can teachers benefit from reading this? I don't think it would hurt at all. I'm enjoying learning the terminology that Caroline uses to explain some of the behaviors and skills. If a parent is working on these skills at home, it would be helpful for the teacher to use the same terminology in the classroom. And if the child is working with a professional, such as a therapist, again, it would be helpful for all adults to be using the same words. And I think parents may require some help working through this at some points. So having other adults at least aware of what is going on would be beneficial.

Teachers may also be able to adapt some of the activities in the book to their classroom. I think it's helpful to read a lot of books to arm yourself with a lot of knowledge as you approach any of your students. And those five words are always a great reminder, even for professionals to hear again.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my review copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Review of Special Ed Survival Guide by Bonnie Landau

Welcome to the book tour for Special Ed Mom Survival Guide by Bonnie Landau. This is a cause that is very near and dear to my heart, so when presented with the opportunity to review the book, I jumped on it. Please read on for more information about Bonnie and the book, as well as my thoughts and opinions. While I did receive a complimentary copy of the book, I was not influenced by this as I was crafting my review.

Also note that affiliate links are present within this post. Should you make a purchase through one, I may earn a small commission to help support my websites at no additional cost to you.

Special Ed Mom Survival Guide

“Your son’s brain function is severely abnormal. I would recommend you begin saving for his group home care as an adult.”

Any mom would be crushed by this dire pessimistic prediction, but Bonnie did not let this UCLA neuropsychologist’s edict determine her son’s fate. Combining relentless determination with research, learning and in-depth discussions with professionals, Bonnie found ways to help him progress from ‘severely abnormal’ to honor roll student.

In the Special Ed Mom Survival Guide, Bonnie leads you through the vital steps necessary to survive as a Special Ed Mom. From learning how to manage the emotional overwhelm, to figuring out how to get the school to say yes, Bonnie presents a roadmap that leads you through this confusing obstacle course. Sharing tried and true methods, Bonnie teaches you to find your own inner compass so you can gain the ability and confidence to make decisions that bring results for your child. Based on personal and professional experience, Bonnie will help you to:

• Create the Right Mindset
• Take Care of Yourself
• Take Care of Your Child
• Understand the Special Ed Process
• Take Charge of the Special Ed Process

“If only I had had a guide to help me navigate all the challenges,” Bonnie says. “Then I could have focused more on my child and less on learning how to get help.” Every Special Ed Mom needs this guide to help make the journey easier!

**My thoughts**

I have to preface this review by saying that I spent 20 years working as an educator in Montessori schools. When starting my career, I only had maybe one child a year who required an IEP or other special considerations. The year that I left, over 3/4 of my class was on an IEP, even though I had a "typical" classroom and not a special ed classroom. My background is early childhood education, though I did pursue coursework as a special ed minor, plus have done a lot of independent study over the years. Though I am no longer in the classroom, I continue to work with the special needs community via private respite care. I also have numerous friends who are Special Ed Moms and Dads. So as I was reading through this book, I was looking at all of it with sort of both hats on.

When I started reading, my gut instinct was to bristle at the revelation that Bonnie's son was failed so much by professionals in the field. These ranged from professionals working on diagnoses (or actually failing to consider diagnoses) to numerous failures on the part of the schools as well. I get angry when I hear how professionals are not your friend in the special ed world. But I also have to remember to not take it personally. I think I am one of those few people who actually took on each case individually and fought for each child's individual needs. Part of that was from my background as a Montessori child and educator. Part of that is from my personality. And then I remember the people that I worked with and against over the years. Unfortunately, there is a large part of the population who doesn't understand special needs. There is also a lot of bureaucracy going on in that world that prevents people from giving all of the assistance that they would like to give if they could, but their hands are tied. Because I taught at a private school, I often had to visit numerous districts in one school year as I reported to the IEP meetings for my various students. I saw a lot of differences between all of them. I even got to the point with one chair who made a comment that she appreciated how I fought for the kids and how she hated how her hands were so tied.

I say all of this because Bonnie does throw an awful lot of information in your direction. She shares the good, the bad, and the ugly of navigating the special ed process in the schools. While the beginning of the book does feel like it is coming after the professionals a bit, I really appreciated how in the later chapters, she explains how and why a lot of the schools approach it differently, based on district or individual behavior. She delineates some of the challenges that teachers face that make it difficult to always do the right thing, but also clearly explains when a teacher is simply not being compliant. She does the same for individual schools as well as districts. 

There is a lot of technical jargon that goes on in these meetings. I remember often apologizing to parents before writing up an evaluation or going into a meeting, saying that the words they were going to hear may seem harsh. But if you don't use the right words, you can't trigger certain services. I also apologized to them for how it would seem like we were only going to focus on the negatives with the child. But we, as the invested teacher and the parents, knew all of those positives and would continue to embrace them. Bonnie really gets into this, as well as clear explanations of all of that jargon, the programs, and the various pieces of legislation that enter into the special ed world. It's hard to learn all of these. Even as an educator, one has to go back and review them frequently. 

The beginning of the book does focus a lot on self care of the special ed parent. While the book is mainly focused on the mom, as she is the one who inevitably bears most of the burden, there is a section for dads, written by a Special Ed Dad. Moms and dads do approach the family differently, but both can benefit from reading through the self care tips and advice on how to navigate other family members and friends and finding support within the community. 

I have numerous friends from my work in this field who definitely struggle in the self care realm. So many techniques are provided in here, as well as numerous links for more support and information. I think this is paramount to being a Special Ed Mom. As Eddie Vedder once said in an interview, "You can't save someone from drowning if you're barely treading water yourself." It's so important to figure out which techniques work best for you. 

Another great aspect of this book is the pensive questions that are at the end of each chapter. She also includes a few quizzes to help you figure out where you stand in some situations or in some aspects of your own personality, and then gives you tips to work with that. For these sections, I would love to see an accompanying workbook or journal. I also recommend that parents who purchase this book get the paperback copy, so that they can quickly flip back and forth as needed and can make appropriate notes in the margins. Get it on Kindle so that you can take it with you to read while waiting in line or something, but then also take advantage of writing out thoughts.

This is not an easy book to get through quickly. You're not going to sit down and digest this information in a quick afternoon. You may have to take it one chapter a day or even one chapter a week, and slowly make your way through it. Pick and choose the sections that you need right now. If you're getting ready to go into IEP meetings, focus on that area first. If you're in that more down time, focus on the self care. But be sure to go through the whole thing.

I also want educators and other professionals to read this book. I took note of some rules that I know districts and even my own school had tried to dance around. I knew an awful lot while I was working in the schools and had wonderful resources at my disposal. But even then, it's possible to forget bits and pieces. I also think it is important for professionals to read about the parent's point-of-view when it comes to the overwhelming task of accepting the diagnosis of your child and figuring out how you are going to work with the child. I think it will help you to be even more sympathetic as you are working with these families.

Buy on Amazon

About Bonnie Landau

Bonnie has spent the better part of 25 years as a graphic designer and artist. Always a lover of psychology and the forces that influence behavior, it was a natural transition for her to begin working to resolve her oldest son’s special education challenges. When he was six, a neuropsychologist said he was beyond help, and to plan for his group home care as an adult. Bonnie could not accept that nothing could be done, and she set on a path to find solutions to help her son. He is now an honor student and destined to live a typical life.

Having been through the special ed system as a mom, and now as a advocate and counselor, she saw the need for support for the parents who carry this challenging burden. She has helped parents who struggle with districts who refused services, and she has coached parents in finding ways help their child succeed against the odds. Bonnie knows the fear a mother feels when her child’s future is uncertain, and that is why she chose to shift her life focus into educational consulting. She has a thriving practice as an educational consultant and advocate for parents who find themselves struggling with the special education journey.

She is the author of Special Ed Mom Survival Guide: How to prevail in the special ed process while discovering life-long strategies for both you and your child. She is also the creator of Grounded for Life: 52 Exercises for Daily Grounding, and co-author of Same Journey, Different Paths: Stories of Auditory Processing Disorder. She has a masters in educational counseling and another in spiritual psychology. Her bachelors degree is in architecture. She lives in Ventura County, California with her husband, two boys and their two furry felines.

Find out more:

www.SpecialMomAdvocate.com / / Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest / Instagram / linkedin / Google Plus

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3 Easy Steps to Successful Parenting: What Am I Going to Do With This Child? by Karen McKenzieSmith

3 Easy Steps to Successful Parenting

Are you struggling with children that don’t listen? Want to regain control in a calm and assured way? Then this booklet is for you! This booklet outlines a tried and true procedure that uses real-life experiences in order to guide parents to use an easy 3 step discipline process. Packed with tips and tricks that work!

Author Karen McKenzieSmith is a certified teacher and counsellor that has taught post-secondary courses on parenting, won numerous teaching awards, and she is also the parent of three now adult children. Her 3 step discipline process is simple, and it works!

Available on Amazon

FREE for Kindle through 7/16

Rave reviews!

“This book is so easy and quick to read. For busy and frustrated parents it's a must. On looking at the title, one wonders, "No, it can't be that easy; just 3 steps to successful parenting?" Unlike other parenting books that may overwhelm you with complexity, Karen McKenzieSmith gets to the nitty gritty quickly, and she's so logical: Describe the behaviour you expect, set and communicate reasonable consequences with the kids input preferably, be consistent, be assertive while communicating, stay calm and neutral, model a positive attitude, take the age and developmental level of the child into consideration, etc., etc.. The author knows it works because she's done it. I know it works because I've done it. The author gives hands-on examples to which a parent can relate. I would compare this book to a short manual on "how to". As a grandmother of 11, a retired teacher and counsellor working extensively with parents and children, I have no hesitation in recommending this book to my clients”. ~~ Amazon customer 

“Karen gives a straight forward, structured, common sense approach for parental behaviour based on real experience. As a counsellor frequently encountering struggling parents, who have somehow let their child become the “boss”, this is a practical, self-help book that will put parents back in the driver’s seat, and culminate in young people of whom our society can be proud.” ~~ Val Kendall,Ph.D.

'Music Beginners Guide: Everything Music Students and Parents Need to Know' by Jane Moyer

Music Beginners Guide:

Everything Music Students and Parents Need to Know

Do you want music in your life or your child’s life? This book will help you get off to a good musical start. It provides guidance on:

• When to start music lessons
• Establishing motivating musical goals
• How to decide which instrument to learn first
• Popular first instrument choices — how and where they’re played, special considerations, buying and maintenance tips
• Shopping for your instrument
• How to find the best teacher or music learning program for you
• How to get the most out of lessons and practice
• Performing with confidence
• How to keep progressing musically
• How to be an effective music parent

Music Beginners Guide is available in both paperback and Kindle versions through Amazon. 

http://amzn.to/1dFSFcf

What Musicians, Teachers & Parents Are Saying About

Music Beginners Guide: Everything Music Students and Parents Need to Know

“Comprehensive...easy to read...a valuable resource...”

Music Beginners Guide is well-written and a good resource for anyone to begin his or her journey to learn about music in a foundational manner. The book is a valuable resource for music educators to recommend for reading by parents of young musicians, beginning musicians of all ages, or anyone with an interest in learning more about music.- Music Educators Journal, December 2014

Comprehensive and engaging. A compact instruction manual for achieving musical success.

Music lessons are an elementary school rite of passage that should be fun and inspiring, but sometimes can deteriorate into an endurance contest and struggle of wills. Anyone who takes music lessons, but especially the parents of young music students, will find in this Music Beginners Guide a tremendous resource and blueprint for a thoughtful and informed approach to the study of music. Music Beginners Guide is an engaging and complete look at every aspect of music study, and the author's enthusiasm for this subject is apparent on every page. 

Ms. Moyer, who has studied no less than 10 instruments herself, is an articulate advocate for the study of music. From deciding on an instrument, choosing a music teacher and strategies for effective practice, to dealing with performance anxiety and considering music as a career, every detail of studying music is included in this comprehensive text. Music students of all ages and in every stage of study will find something of interest and relevance here. 

The most exceptional feature of this book lies in the gently probing questions it asks, which enlighten and guide readers to deeper understanding of and insight to their musical goals. Ms. Moyer brings her experience and skill as a talent developer and coach to this book, making it more than just a how-to manual - it is a little instruction book on achieving musical success. As someone who has maintained a private music studio for over 30 years, I can recommend Music Beginners Guide as a helpful and thorough text for music students of all ages and levels of study, and I look forward to sharing it with my own students.

- Christa, Musician, Music Teacher & Parent

Excellent Resource

...It is a wonderful compilation of information, insight, and your experience as a musician and and a musical Mom, and I want to thank you for your idea to do it, the concise and professional way you put it together and organized it, and the work you did to put it out there for parents as an excellent resource for them to use!

- Debbie, Musician, Suzuki Music Teacher & Parent

Fabulous for parents --especially homeschoolers!

I have been homeschooling my children since 1997, and I have never seen such a comprehensive or engaging book about music education. The book was such a pleasant read, it was like chatting over a cup of coffee with a musician friend about your children.

While I learned a bit of piano as a child and sang in choir in high school, I knew nothing about other band or orchestra instruments until now...With this book, I now have more options as I have a better understanding of other instruments, and I will certainly recommend it to other parents in my homeschooling groups, as well. Since each of your children is likely to have a different learning style and a desire to choose a different instrument, you are likely to be reaching for this book more than once!

- Homeschool Parent

Loved learning more myself about the many instruments that are available

Comprehensive is the one word that sums up this book. As a clarinet player that started way back in grade school, I think that this book would have really helped my parents deal with the whole music scene. It can be used as a reference for quick information or read cover to cover to give a more thorough understanding of instruments, voice, and performance. 

As a student this book would have encouraged me to not give up when frustrated. It give wonderful pointers to new or seasoned musicians. 

I highly recommend it to everyone who has a child interested in playing an instrument or developing their voice. The student can learn much as well by picking up a copy. 

Thank you Ms. Moyer for your book! 

- Terri, Musician

An Excellent Guide

An excellent guide for parents who are seeking to enrich their children's lives through music. Jane Moyer's book captures many aspects of the musical journey that will leave parents satisfied to know that music is important to the development of any child. I am a classically trained musician and truly enjoyed this book. I would recommend this book to any parent who is considering adding music to their child's education and life. 

- Ellen, Musician and Music Teacher

Available on Amazon

About the Author: Jane Moyer

Music has always been an important part of author Jane Moyer’s life. She started playing the recorder in 2nd grade, begged her mother for piano lessons in 3rd, joined the band in 4th and has never been without a song in her heart, head and fingers since.

After laying a strong foundation in classical music by earning a Bachelor of Music degree at Michigan State University, Jane expanded her musical life by exploring jazz and playing folk music out in the real world. She’s learned to play ten different musical instruments.

Jane has played many musical roles — from formally-taught to self-taught music student, performer, teacher, arranger, accompanist, ensemble member, music spouse and parent. She’s picked up musical ideas by hanging around conservatory students, church musicians, folkies, jazz cats, opera buffs, Suzuki music teachers, composers and songwriters. She takes in used instruments and gives them a good home as others might take in stray cats.

Review of '101 More Improv Games for Children and Adults' by Bob Bedore

Description

101 More Improv Games for Children and Adults: A Smart Fun Book for Ages 5 and Up is the follow-up to Bob Bedore’s popular 101 Improv Games for Children and Adults. This sequel takes us even deeper into the craft of improv — the magical art of creating something out of nothing — with all new games!

Author Bob Bedore emphasizes how you can use improvisation, creativity, and teamwork any time, any place, to get your imagination flowing, win over a crowd, or be a wittier conversationalist. Actors and improv students will appreciate the author's fun, down-to-earth approach to developing theater craft. And improv isn't only for serious thespians. Used as a classroom activity, it teaches kids how to have fun, relax, and work together without seeming like an educational tool at all.

Great on its own or as a companion to Bedore’s first book, 101 More Improv Games for Children and Adults is centered around entertaining an audience and creating memorable scenes. This sequel includes information on how to produce your own improv show.

101 More Improv Games for Children and Adults is full of wacky and brilliant activities for kids, teachers, actors, comedians, improv groups, or anyone else.

**My review, which first appeared on Examiner**

This book is filled with all kinds of fun activities for most ages. I would recommend it for elementary and beyond, though some could be scaled back for kindergartners, as well.

The first quarter of the book provides some examples as to how an improv situation works, via descriptions known as "Magic Moments." It provides rules on how to "stay in the game" and provides a general outline that fits all of the different types of activities. It doesn't get very in depth with the methodology involved with doing improv. In fact, author Bob Bedore recommends you read his first book to get more of that information. I don't know much about doing improv, but still felt that there was adequate explanation in this book. Bob does provide his contact information, should you have questions. 

These activities would be great for building community within a group, forging relationships and bonding experiences. It gives children a chance to practice speech and language skills, as well as helping them to build confidence. They also have to pay attention to what is going on, so that they can effectively participate. My favorites are the ones where the audience calls out different characters or emotions, music is played to dictate movement, or the one-word debate.
While kids would benefit from having an adult supervise or guide the activities, once the concept is introduced to them, they could page through this book for ideas on their own.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. 

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Guest Review of 'Light Bulb Baking: A History of the Easy-Bake Oven' by Todd Coopee

This first definitive retrospective of the Easy Bake® Oven celebrates its journey from children's toy to pop culture icon and inductee to The National Toy Hall of Fame. The book explores the innovation, history, economics, commerce, advertising, and marketing behind the toy’s 50 year history. This book is a must read for vintage toy collectors, nostalgia buffs, foodies, and anyone who has ever peered through the oven's watch it bake window, eagerly anticipating the moment they will be able to serve and enjoy their very own culinary concoction.

Read a guest review:

I have a confession to make: I never had an Easy Bake Oven.

I'm not sure why. I remember seeing it in the Wish Books every year at Christmas, but perhaps I was too dazzled by the dolls and Barbies to pay attention. Or maybe my parents, enlightened parents of the early '70's, steered me away from something that they so as so gender-specific. 

It might have been a good idea to give me some early lessons, as when I did get married and had to cook for my husband, some training on a smaller scale might have been helpful.

I did, however, buy one of the ovens for my daughters. I was excited to see what would happen when we made our first goodies together, and a little non-plussed to realize that it was a light-bulb. . .and it took a long, long time for something that didn't feed many. Okay, full disclosure, it didn't even satisfy one.

But my partial ignorance about the EBO did not take away from pleasure in this beautiful book. Because more than the toy, it is history, and that I love. Watching the evolution of this innocuous children's plaything was truly mesmerizing, and I learned so much that I hadn't realized, not only about toys but also about the changes in promotion and marketing over these last 50 years. The research and presentation were spot-on.

Whether or not you were a light-bulb baker, you'll enjoy this walk down memory lane. Don't miss it. This would be a perfect gift for any grown-up child of the 1960's or '70's!

Purchase it on Amazon

About the Author:

Todd Coopee is a writer, award-winning business owner, toy historian, and pop-culture enthusiast. His affinity for nostalgia, vintage toys, and baking fed his passion for the Easy-Bake Oven, which led to his 2013 retrospective, Light Bulb Baking: A History of the Easy-Bake® Oven.

Todd lives in Ottawa, Ontario and has been known to bake tiny treats for his friends and family.

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Learn more about Todd: http://about.me/todd.coopee

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