Does assigning fifty math problems accomplish any more thanassigning five? Is memorizing word lists the best way to increasevocabulary—especially when it takes away from reading time? Andwhat is the real purpose behind those devilish dioramas? The time our children spend doing homework has skyrocketed inrecent years. Parents spend countless hours cajoling their kids tocomplete such assignments—often without considering whether or notthey serve any worthwhile purpose. Even many teachers are in thedark: Only one of the hundreds the authors interviewed and surveyedhad ever taken a course specifically on homework duringtraining. The truth, according to Sara Bennett and Nancy Kalish, is thatthere is almost no evidence that homework helps elementary schoolstudents achieve academic success and little evidence that it helpsolder students. Yet the nightly burden is taking a serious toll onAmerica’s families. It robs children of the sleep, play, andexercise time they need for prop

In her popular “Power Tools for Women” workshop, managementconsultant Joni Daniels teaches women how to be more effective andefficient at work and at home. The key is to tap into the metaphorof the tool kit. Too few women grow up wielding power tools andenjoying the sense of accomplishment and self-sufficiency theyimpart. With her new book, Daniels equips you with eleven powertools—invaluable skills you can transport between work and home.With conviction and a dose of humor, she explains how and when touse them to be more successful in every part of your life. Your newtool kit includes: * The Demolition Hammer: to break the rules * The Electrical Sensor: to follow your intuition * The Power Drill: to get the right information * Safety Goggles: to create your vision of success . . . andmore Whether you’re juggling work/life responsibilities, reenteringthe employment market, or striving to achieve your goals, this bookwill give you the right tools for the job.

In the first book to focus on the traumatic effects caused bycliques in our schools, an acclaimed parenting-advice team offers afresh perspective and an innovative eight-step program to turnaround the culture of cruelty that torments all students. There have always been "in crowds," but today's social pressuresforce children into explosive, destructive, and evenlife-threatening situations. No matter what role your child playsin this schoolhouse drama--clique leader, victim, or innocentbystander--this book is a must-read. Giannetti and Sagarese havehoned in on this little-understood phenomenon and come up withinsights that parents can use immediately. Read Cliques tounderstand: * Who the clique leaders are in your child's school * What you can do NOW to help your child avoid abuse * Times during the day when cliques are visible to adults * Where in your school you should start to lobby for change * Why your "innocent bystander" may not be so innocent * How you c

On the heels of her acclaimed book In an Instant, the #1 New York Times bestseller she wrote with her husband, ABCNews anchor Bob Woodruff, and with the same candor and charm, LeeWoodruff now chronicles her life as wife, mother, daughter, sister,and friend. Woodruff’s deeply personal and, at times, uproariouslyfunny stories highlight such universal topics as family, marriage,friends, and how life never seems to go as planned. From raisingteenagers (“Now with a boy and girl on the precipice of seriousadolescence, the bathroom door is sealed tighter than a governmentnuclear testing ground”) to how she copes with tragedy (“Swimmingsurrounds me in the velvet wet of a bluish green world where I candive deep down and sob with no trace”), Perfectly Imperfect: ALife in Progress is the testimonial of a woman who embraces thechaos of her surroundings, discovers the splendor of life’s flaws,and accepts that perfection is as impossible to achieve as aspotless kitchen floor.

Since she first burst onto the international music scene,Melissa Etheridge has released seven albums that have sold morethan 25 million copies worldwide, garnering not only publicadoration for her uncompromising honesty but numerous criticalawards, including two Grammys and the prestigious ASCAP Songwriterof the Year award. The Truth Is . . . is a highly chargedautobiography—a bold and unflinching account of an extraordinarylife that Melissa describes as only she can: from her Kansas roots,through her early love of music, to her brilliant rise tosuperstardom in a male-dominated rock world. Melissa openlydiscusses the massive impact of her publicly coming out, arevelation that only increased her popularity, making her a highlyvisible spokesperson for the gay and lesbian community. TheTruth Is . . . shares Melissa Etheridge’s fascinating storywith unprecedented candor and insight.