Reading and Reviewing 4 : Another from Steve Puleo, and 2 of my own

I am happy to offer a review of another Stephen Puleo title. Stephen is a Professor of History, and researches diligently as he writes of local events. This one is a topic that I covered in my eighth grade enrichment course called "Not So Current Events." Though the class met only once a week for 45 minutes, the students were thoroughly engaged in the readings and discussion of his book, Dark Tide.

Today I'm also reviewing two of my own titles. Each of these has recently been added to the Kindle book shelf, and are available at Amazon for Kindle, priced at a reasonable $2.99. I hope you will consider recommending these to teachers, parents, and school committee members, as reviews I've received from others (available for viewing at the Amazon site) indicate that they are valuable readings for those interested in educational practices and reform.

They are both still available in paperback form at Amazon, or at my shop, for those who enjoy holding and reading a tangible book. I'm happy to offer my books in both forms, and look forward to reading your reviews of my work at Goodreads and Amazon. Those not local can access my books through my website store at: http://beyondoldwindows.webs.com/apps/webstore/


Dark Tide by Stephen Puleo

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This is a wonderful book, the true story of the people of the City of Boston in 1918 who experienced the "Great Molasses Flood" in the North End of the city. Stephen Puleo has carefully crafted a human story out of a long ago tragedy that is remembered by those who lived through it and only vaguely spoken of by people who had no connection. He treats the statistics seriously with empathy and compassion, and gives a clear view of the eventual ramifications this event had on engineering standards for American cities. I share this book with an enrichment class of eighth graders each year, and they are attentive and interested in the story and in the details.



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Teaching: Education and Academics at the turn of the century. by Terry Crawford Palardy

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This book is a compilation of edited columns written over a period of six years. They were Education and Academics Columns in the Phi Kappa Phi Forum (Formerly titled the National Forum of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society). The focus of the columns changed, from social issues in the classroom to budget considerations for the town at large. Change in pedagogy in response to state mandated standardized testing and the ever enduring but hardly endearing homework conundrum are also discussed. The columns are written in a conversational, narrative style, reflecting the view point of a veteran teacher.


Teaching Volume 2 by Terry Crawford Palardy

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This is my fourth book published with Amazon's CreateSpace.com. It contains stories of teachers in the classroom, or in conference with each other. It also speaks to the working conditions of teachers, the status of "tenure" in today's schools, and the damage that the economic recession has done to public schools. I recommend it both for enjoyment and for information. In combination with my first volume, Teaching at the Turn of the Century, it would make a good gift for a new teacher, and would be equally appropriate for a retirement.



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