THE SKILLFUL TEACHER

The Skillful Teacher by Stephen D. Brookfield
Narrated by Jack de Golia
Genre: non-fiction / teaching / education
Format: paperback, ebook, & audiobook

About The Skillful Teacher:

Energize your classrooms with these key techniques for college teaching Students say the best teachers get them excited about learning, stretch their thinking, and keep them actively involved in class. But with increasingly diverse classrooms and constantly changing technology, each semester throws up new challenges for engaging students.

Discover how to keep your teaching, and your students, energized with The Skillful Teacher, a practical guide to effective techniques, approaches, and methods for today's college classrooms. Providing insights, reflections, and advice from his four decades of college teaching, Stephen Brookfield now adapts his successful methods to teaching online, working with diverse student populations, and making classrooms truly inclusive. As well as being completely revised, updated, and rewritten, this edition adds six brand new chapters on:

Teaching critical thinking Using play and creativity in the classroom Teaching in teams Helping students take responsibility for learning Teaching about racism Exercising teacher power responsibly Readers will delve into what learning feels like from a student's perspective, as well as absorb the wisdom of veteran college faculty with whom the author has worked. Themes from the bestselling previous editions remain, but are revisited and expanded with the perspective of an additional decade in the classroom. This authoritative guide is now even more comprehensive to better serve teachers looking to improve. Whether you are new to the classroom or are looking to rise to new challenges, The Skillful Teacher will provide answers, expand your repertoire of techniques, and invigorate your teaching and your classrooms.

Source: Info in the "About The Skillful Teacher" was taken from GoodReads at https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23059188-the-skillful-teacher on 11/11/2021.

Buy Link(s):

 

My Thoughts:

The author has said that the target audience for this book are teachers. College teachers. From the newly minted teacher to the oldest veteran with the hopes of helping them out. Very noble objective. I know for a fact that this book is written for adult teachers because of the language he uses. "Digital immigrant". Polemical. Truculent. I had to look them up to understand some of the words he used, and I am an adult teacher. ...When I encountered "truculent",... cactus and vegetables like spinach came to mind.

The author did succeed in trying to be helpful to teachers like me with this book! Kudos to Stephen D. Brookfield! I also like the honesty and the humour in the story telling quality. Especially when he is trying to explain a concept.

I don't actually know what & how Stephen D. Brookfield sound like, but, now to me he sound Jack de Golia.

Empirical Evaluation:

Writing Style = 4.5
Pace = (9 hrs and 33 mins)
Narration = 5

Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 cherries

Meet The Author

About Stephen D. Brookfield:

Since beginning his educational career in 1970, Stephen has worked in England, Canada, and the United States, teaching and consulting in a variety of adult, community, organizational and higher education settings. His overall project is to help people learn to think critically about the dominant ideologies they have internalized and how these can be challenged. He is particularly interested in methodologies of critical thinking, discussion and dialog, critical reflection, leadership, and the exploration of power dynamics, particularly around racial identity and white supremacy. To that end he has written, co-written or edited twenty books on adult learning, teaching, critical thinking, discussion methods, critical theory, leadership and teaching race, six of which have won the Cyril O. Houle World Award for Literature in Adult Education (in 1986, 1989, 1996, 2005, 2011 and 2012). His academic appointments have included positions at the University of British Columbia, Teachers College Columbia University (New York), Harvard University and the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis-St. Paul. He has consulted with numerous organizations and institutions across the world and delivered multiple workshops and conference keynotes. He is currently part-time Antioch University Distinguished Scholar, Adjunct Professor at Teachers College, Columbia University (New York) and Emeritus Professor at the University of St. Thomas (Minneapolis-St. Paul).

His most recent book - Becoming a White Antiracist: A Practical Guide for Educators, Leaders and Activists (co-authored with Mary Hess) is published by Stylus Publishers.

He also leads a pop punk, rock & roll band - The 99ers - who are currently recording their 7th album. Listen to The 99ers at the99ersband.com and at https://the99ers.bandcamp.com/music. Also on I Tunes, Spotify & other streaming services.

You can find Stephen’s educational Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/BrookfieldWorkshops/

His Wikipedia Entry can be found here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Brookfield

www.stephenbrookfield.com | twitter | amazon | goodreads

The Narrator

About Jack de Golia:

Jack records in a Gretch-Ken Pro double walled sound isolation booth, using a Studio Projects C1 mic, Scarlett Solo interface, and MacBook Air computer running the Twisted Wave recording app.

A veteran audiobook narrator, e-learning voice, video game actor, and storyteller: Jack will give you winning, ahead-of-schedule voice work for audiobooks, e-learning, political ads, cartoons, commercials and videogames, and anything involving character voices. With a PR & stage-acting career spanning four decades, Jack brings a seasoned and always fresh approach to voiceover work. It’s been said he has the voice of “every man’s man.” While Jack is based in Las Vegas, his studio lets him work all over the world as a male voice actor.

website | twitter | facebook | linkedin | soundcloud | goodreads

FTC Disclosure:
This book in it's various formats were bought with private funds.
No money received for this review.

ABANDONED IN DEATH

Abandoned In Death by JD Robb
Book 54 of the In Death series
Narrated by Susan Ericksen
Genre: scifi crime fiction
Format: ebook & audiobook

About Abandoned In Death:

Homicide detective Eve Dallas must untangle a twisted family history while a hostage’s life hangs in the balance — in the new In Death novel by #1 New York Times bestselling J. D. Robb.

The woman’s body was found on a bench in a New York City playground. She was clean, her hair neatly arranged, her makeup carefully applied. But other things were very wrong — like the tattoo and piercings, clearly new. The clothes, decades out of date. The fatal wound hidden beneath a ribbon around her neck. And the note: Bad Mommy, written in crayon as if by a child.

It seems clear the killer’s childhood was traumatic — a situation Eve is all too familiar with herself. Yet the clues point to a perpetrator who’d be around sixty, and there are no records of old crimes with a similar MO. What was the trigger that apparently reopened such an old wound and sent someone over the edge? When Eve learns that other young women have recently vanished, the case grows even more urgent — and to solve it she’ll need to find her way into a hidden place of dim light and concrete, into the distant past, and into the depths of a shattered mind.

Source: Info in the "About Abandoned In Death" was taken from GoodReads at https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57693470-abandoned-in-death on 29/05/2021.

Book Trailer:

Narrative Review:

This is one of those Eve Dallas' books that only Eve Dallas knows who the perpetrator is. So how did Dallas knew that Violet left letters to her children? That wasn't even explained. The book was a lovely reading experience.... but sometimes, you just have to sigh at the plot holes! Plot holes are sooooo not desirable in crime fiction!!

Another reason I was so looking forward to this book was that I wanted to see more of Jamal Dell and his brother and cousins. But I was disappointed in that department. There was Bella though! So that is at least something!

Empirical Evaluation:
Story telling quality = 5
Character development = 5
Story itself = 4
Writing Style = 5
Ending = 5
World building = 5
Cover art = 4
Pace = (13 hrs & 25 mins listening time)
Plot = 3
Narration = 4.5

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 cherries

FTC Disclosure:
The ebook and audiobook copies of the book were purchased with private funds.
No money received for this review.

DEATH LESSONS

Death Lessons by James Maxstadt
Book 1 in the Lilly The Necromancer series
Narrated by Jane Alvey Harris
Genre: urban fantasy YA
Format: paperback & audiobook

About Death Lessons:

When the dead rise...

...don’t tell anyone it’s your fault.

Lilly is a young child when she helps her first ghost. Turns out, she’s a necromancer. And there’s only one place for a kid like her: The Academy.

From the first carriage ride, Lilly’s life changes. Now, she faces a whole new world of challenges and dangers. And far too often, her greatest enemy is herself.

But if she can stay out of her own way, she just might have a magical seven years.

Lilly’s got a lot of growing up to do...

...as long as she doesn’t end up one of the dead herself.

Source: Info in the "About Death Lessons" was taken from GoodReasds at https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51735321-death-lessons on 07/11/2021.

My Thoughts:

I didn't realise at first that this was a YA because the first volley was a scene between a grandmother and her grandson.

In the middle of reading this book I was also listening to Mindset by Dr. Carol Dweck. I realised that Lilly has the kind of mindset that allows for growth and healing. It's the way Lilly views Abigail's responses right at the start. Now, that is something I would like to emulate. Easier said than done. Having said that, it does not mean that it cannot be done! It just means that if one wants a happier life, then one have to work harder for it! Growth mindset...

This is my first James Maxstadt read and I'm glad that I came across this author. I like the way he tells the story! I like Lilly's positivity. And I wonder if we are going to see Kenneth again...

This is my first Jane Alvey Harris listen and I like the way she reads the book. Her voice is also not grating to the ears. Kudos for the narrator!

Empirical Evaluation:
Story telling quality = 4
Character development = 4.5
Story itself = 4
Writing Style = 4
Ending = 3.5
World building = 4
Cover art = 3.5
Pace = (10 hrs and 32 mins)
Plot = 3.5
Narration = 4.5

Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5 cherries

Books In The Lilly The Necromancer Series:

Amazon

Amazon

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Meet The Author

About James Maxstadt:

Author living in NC with his beautiful wife, writing away and trying to learn all this new-fangled social media stuff...

jamesmaxstadt.com | twitter | facebook | instagram | pinterest | amazon | goodreads

The Narrator

About Jane Alvey Harris:

Ms. Harris has a degree in Humanities from Brigham Young University with emphases in Art History, Italian Language, and Studio Art. She enjoys playing classical piano, painting & sketching, singing & acting, and especially writing poetry & prose.

But her real passion is people. Jane loves to watch and study what makes us tick as human beings. She's definitely a dreamer. Her favorite thing to do is weave together sublime settings and stories for characters to live and learn in...herself included.

Jane currently lives in an enchanted fairy-princess castle in Dallas, Texas, with her three often-adorable children and three seldom-adorable cats. Right now she's working on the last book in the award winning YA psychological fantasy thriller, the My Myth Trilogy.

www.janealveyharris.com | twitter | facebook | instagram | youtube | goodreads

FTC Disclosure:
The ebook and audiobook were bought with private funds.
No money received for this review.

THE GHOSTS OF WONKY INN

The Ghosts Of Wonky Inn by Jeannie Wycherley
Book 2 in the Wonky Inn series
Narrated by Kim Bretton
Genre: urban fantasy
Format: ebook & audiobook

About The Ghosts Of Wonky Inn:

Alf has tried to banish her demons.

And her ghosts.

But memories of her recent past linger and keep her awake.

Every night it’s the same. Insomnia.

When she does eventually drift off, she’s woken almost immediately by a sobbing spirit.

He says he's lost.

And worse than that, someone is trying to kill him.

Who is this sad specimen of a spirit? And where does he belong?

And how do you kill someone … who is already dead?

Find out what Alf gets up to next as the Wonky Inn adventures continue.

Read The Ghosts of Wonky Inn today.

Source: Info in the "About The Ghosts Of Wonky Inn" was taken from GoodReads at https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42189205-the-ghosts-of-wonky-inn on 29/04/2022.

Buy Link(s):
 

My Thoughts:

Short and sweet!

Just like the first book, a fun witchy romp in a quaint English village. However, instead of my interest peaking, it seems to be waning... So I am not so sure about the staying power of this series. But should I get into the mood for short witchy fun reads, I probably be picking up this series again...

If I break this book down to it's parts, this book ought to score a 4. However, it just don't feel like a four. So three and a half it is then!

Empirical Evaluation:
Story telling quality = 3.5
Character development = 4
Story itself = 3
Writing Style = 4
Ending = 4
World building = 4.5
Cover art = 4
Pace = (4 hrs and 51 mins listening time)
Plot = 3
Narration = 5

Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5 cherries


Books In The Wonky Inn Series:

 

Meet The Author

About Jeannie Wycherley:

I’m a genre-hopping introvert and word witch living somewhere between the forest and the sea in East Devon, UK.

An ex-lecturer with a PhD in History, I now run a seaside gift shop with my husband and split my time between selling teddy bears (I’m fanatical about teddy bears) and writing stories about magic and witchcraft.

People ask where my ideas come from. The truth is, I find inspiration absolutely everywhere: in myths, stories and songs; a bit of people watching; a word here, a look there. But it is the beautiful landscape of Devon that holds me most in its thrall: the tangled forests, the rolling hills, the troubled skies, the everchanging seascape. Devon has it all – rocky coastline, cliffs, pebble and sandy beaches, winding lanes and picture-perfect villages.

A good day for me means a blustery wind, racing waves and salty rain. I live with my husband and two dogs whom I adore; I make a lot of soup, play too many computer games and love watching movies, but most of all I love losing myself in the worlds I create.

I hope you enjoy reading my stories as much as I enjoy writing them.

jeanniewycherley.co.uk | twitter | facebook | instagram | pinterest | amazon | goodreads

The Narrator

About Kim Bretton:

Prior to moving from London to NYC in 2005 Kim worked predominantly on the London stage both originating roles in West End productions and playing in long running shows both in London and on National and International tours. She has played in numerous Shakespeare and classical works as well as musical theatre and modern plays. Her TV and film credits include Call Red for ITV, Don’t Look Back for New Forest Films, the lead role in the TV series Mentors and an obscene amount of radio, video games, commercials and voice overs.

She moved to Nashville, TN 10 years ago and continues to do theatre roles in between writing, directing and voice over work. Kim is an Audie Award nominee, a Broadway World Award winner and was Voted Best Actress in Nashville by The Nashville Scene.

kimbretton.com | facebook | instagram | goodreads

FTC Disclosure:
The ebook and audiobook were bought with private funds.
No money received for this review.