Spare Me the Details! begins with Ancient Greece and concludes with the twenty-first century. The book describes the key periods, events, and luminaries of Western history, provides cause-and-effect analysis, and establishes historical connections across time periods. Additionally, Spare Me the Details! develops two major themes central to Western civilization: the evolution of humanism and the growth of democracy. It also pays special attention to the role of women throughout history and to the connection between the arts and history.

When I began teaching in the early seventies, I knew I was in it for the long haul. I knew this was my career, my calling, the fulfillment of a childhood dream. From as far back as my memory will take me, I had a longing to be a teacher. It never entered my mind to spend my life in any other way than in front of a classroom. This was cemented with I entered the first grade and loved my teacher so much I wanted to be just like her. Im sure I lost no time telling this teacher what I wanted to be when I grew up. So she gave me little opportunities to practice teaching. When someone couldnt tie his shoes, she would ask me to teach him how. If a student was struggling, shed place me beside him to help. I was so proud! Any opportunity to teach was just taking me one inch nearer my destination. As I progressed through my school years, being assigned to help one of the slower students was an honor for me. I was fortunate that those were the years teachers were absolutely dedicated to their calling and to their students. Those were the days when teaching was one of the few professions women could enter. And to get there usually meant someone was sacrificing for them to attend school. Completing their education was a culmination of hard work and determination. Teachers were respected and highly regarded by the public. All that combined, produced good teachers who were extremely proud to stand before children and be the planters of knowledge. As a child, to be like any one of them was my burning desire. Never losing sight of my goal, I progressed through the grades. I may not have been the most academic kid on the block, but I was responsible. Teachers entrusted me with duties, jobs, and tutoring. In twelfth grade I was put in charge of a study hall! Upon graduation, I was one step closer to being a teacher. I finished college early, and finally was a teacher. From the beginning of my days in the classroom, I wrote down funny things kids would say and do, because I just didnt want to forget them. As I moved from pre-school to kindergarten, then middle or high school, I had quite a treasure trove. After retiring, I reflected upon my time in the classroom and decided maybe my friends were right in telling me I should write a book. I knew it would be fun to share my stories and experiences. From time to time, I would get out my old brown tattered notebook and write. And as I got older and older, I decided if I am going to ever write a book, I need to get moving. I knew Id rather write it myself, than to die and have someone run across my notebook and try to write my story. Thus, a book was born! I delight in telling my story. Some pages will make you cry. Others will make you laugh. I dont begin to pretend I was the perfect teacher. This book does not allude to that. It paints a portrait of the inner workings of a classroom in todays world. It conveys the fact that when teaching children with special needs, subject matter sometimes takes a back seat. They came to us with such baggage. When I stop and think about the troubles those children carried on their shoulders, I marvel at how they managed to rise in the mornings and get to school. As teachers, we had to look beyond the language and behavior in order to help these people. Our role as teachers extended way beyond our training. These were not the children of yesteryear. Most of them were products of drug-ridden homes and streets, absentee parents, video games, violence on television and movies, and absolute poverty. These influences rode on the bus with them and traveled right into the classroom where we were expected to teach, counsel, and police. That may not have been the teaching of my childhood dreams, but somehow I saw the need to know what my priorities had to be each and every day. Given all the things I saw, heard, and dealt with, I dont believe I could ever have returned to a regular classroom. It woul

Increase your fluency of English through the mastery of common English idioms and expressions. All Native English-speakers use a large number of proverbs and colloquial expressions in their daily conversations. These common sayings, which evolved over the centuries, are like "codes" that reveal the cultural values and attitudes of the speakers. To obtain complete fluency in the English language it is necessary to be familiar with these expressions and know how and when to use them. With a user-friendly format, The Cheater's Guide to Speaking English like a Native is a shortcut to achieving that goal.

The prayers of the Bible come from the hearts of David, Jesus, and others who turned their petitions and praises to God. This collection of simple, meaningful renderings of scriptural prayers offers renewal and wisdom for busy lives. Whether read cover-to-cover or topically, this prayer journey encourages readers to...seek God's direction for daily living; release their hold and let God direct their lives; embrace a heart of compassion and love; turn to thoughts of praise in all circumstances; and ask for healing and wholeness. Readers will enjoy walking along this path of prayer as they discover the way to strong faith, spiritually rich lives, and the joy of talking to God daily.

"I wish I knew more about Western history." Adult, parent, student, and traveler: Who of us hasn't had this thought? Sara Drogin, a veteran high-school history teacher, addresses this wish with Spare Me the Details!, a "refresher text" for adults and students. Written in a lively and conversational style, Spare Me the Details! provides a concise overview of Western civilization. Spare Me the Details! begins with Ancient Greece and concludes with the twenty-first century. The book describes the key periods, events, and luminaries of Western history, provides cause-and-effect analysis, and establishes historical connections across time periods. Additionally, Spare Me the Details! develops two major themes central to Western civilization: the evolution of humanism and the growth of democracy. It also pays special attention to the role of women throughout history and to the connection between the arts and history. Now you, too, will know the essentials of Western civilization.

Michele Lee describes herself as the ‘fence-sitting’ middle child in a large Hmong-Australian family. Banana Girl is the explosive and poignant memoir of her rites of passage. Sexy, irreverent and nuanced, Lee isn’t afraid to lay herself and her relationships bare. Intimacy in an on-line world, sexual adventures and Gen Y yearnings, turning thirty as an Asian-Australian woman in inner city Melbourne, and the travails of becoming an artist, all capture Lee’s riveting gaze. The result is a book that is erotic, witty and revealing, a gutsy true story of self-acceptance that takes hold and won’t let go.

Battle Ready is a book and Bible study combination acknowledging that spiritual warfare and collective evil is a reality that must be encountered and engaging in this fight is a part of the Christian narrative. To be Battle Ready, the tactics against warfare of evil are discussed and broken down along with counter strategies to thwart off attacks. Many are wounded by spiritual attacks, abuse, or mobbing, and Mike offers a way through the pain reflecting on his experience of collective evil attacks and psychological abuse from some toxic parishioners that he has encountered over his 27 years of ministry. This book is an excellent resource for everyone who wants to become more aware of how spiritual warfare is waged at work, personally, and corporately in the life of the church. Mikes desire is that this book will raise awareness of the abuse that is on the rise in our society. Do not deny your destiny to become Battle Ready because the fight is already waging around you. Learn how not only to survive but also thrive as a mighty warrior of God by being Battle Ready. https://youtu.be/kOOqmfHRruQ

"This award winning romantic comedy is brimming with hilarious as well as moving moments captured from a 38 year marriage. As Jimmy and Alice Diamond clear out the attic of their Malibu home because a turn of finances is forcing them to move into a cramped condo, they find themselves reliving the flawed masterpiece that is their marriage. A subtitle, with a smile, might be, "Till Debt do us Part." Two pairs of actors play the Diamonds, (early and now, in their marriage) one young and one mature. Throughout, they observe and comment on each other. In one delightful scene, the four confront each other to negotiate the transition into middle age. The fifth cast member plays six different women who influence the Diamond marriage, offering a tour de force for an actress"-- Publisher's website

As a young adolescent seeking perspective on both his country and himself, Askar goes to live with his cosmopolitan aunt and uncle in the capital, Mogadiscio."--BOOK JACKET.

A new collection of plays from Willy Russell, one of Britain's best-loved dramatists, features the smash hits Blood Brothers, Our Day Out: The Musical and Shirley Valentine as well as the previously unpublished John, Paul, George, Ringo . . . and Bert. Blood Brothers: A Liverpudlian West Side Story, this is the story of twin brothers separated at birth because their mother cannot afford to keep them both. 'One of those rare exceptions, where a show continues to pack a punch after many years on the road and in the West End' - What's On Stage, (5 stars) Our Day Out: The Musical: Mrs Kay's 'Progress Class' are unleashed for a day's coach trip to Conway Castle in Wales - in an exuberant celebration of the joys and agonies of growing up and being footloose, fourteen and free from school. 'One of those truly magical theatrical experiences that should very definitely not be missed' - Stage Shirley Valentine: The story of a put-upon mother and housewife who leaves the drudgery of cooking dinner for her husband, packs her bags and heads for the sun. 'Shirley is the star of her own monodrama, her gabbing made theatrical in a stream of stories and impersonations that are rooted in essential loneliness and reaction against domestic frustration . . . memorable and joyous' - Independent John, Paul, George, Ringo . . . and Bert: Russell's first major hit, a musical about the Beatles, won the Evening Standard and London Critics' awards for Best New Musical of 1974. 'Why has no-one done it before? Perhaps only a scouser like Willy Russell could have the self-confidence to tackle Liverpool's great phenomenon . . . it's funny, incisive, well-acted and makes its points without any arty philosophising' - Time Out. Willy Russell Plays: 2 features an introduction from the playwright.