New Releases by Michelle Harris

A skilled fighter must choose between love and duty in a kingdom on the brink of war. Orphaned and illegally enslaved, Kai possesses a unique ability to heal from any injury. When a chance encounter with Princess Cara throws his life into turmoil, he becomes entangled in a web of political intrigue and forbidden romance. As Kai navigates treacherous alliances and battles a ruthless queen, he must decide where his loyalties lie. Will Kai embrace his destiny as a protector, or will the shadows of his past consume him? Perfect for fans of fast-paced fantasy, forbidden romance, and rebellious characters, North is a gripping tale of self-discovery, sacrifice, and the enduring power of hope. Discover a world where magic and political intrigue collide, and where the greatest battles are fought not on the battlefield, but within the human heart.

Refine the art and craft of instructional coaching. For more than 25 years, Jim Knight and his team at the Instructional Coaching Group have been studying what excellence in instructional coaching looks and sounds like. Their findings—organized around 7 Success Factors for instructional coaches and shared via books, articles, and workshops—have helped many instructional coaches around the world to increase teacher effectiveness and improve outcomes for students. Bringing together for the first time a wealth of resources and practical tools, The IC Toolkit is designed to guide instructional coaches—either individually or, preferably, collectively—through a 36-week journey of practice, reflection, and learning. For instructional coaches who want to improve and leaders who want to set up meaningful learning experiences, the book provides concrete tools—including activities, checklists, case studies, and videos—that you can use every week. Additional features include One-page descriptions of each success factor A needs assessment to gauge your instructional coaching proficiency in the 7 Success Factors Learning paths to guide your use of the resources and enable meaningful exploration of each success factor End-of-chapter reflection questions The IC Toolkit makes it possible for every instructional coach to become highly proficient in the Success Factors. When instructional coaches become highly proficient in their craft, we can see students, teachers, and systems flourish.

A clear and comprehensive guide to evaluating and supporting instructional coaches and coaching programs, including how to recruit, hire, and retain effective coaches. With sound practices in place to evaluate coaching programs, instructional coaches will become better partners, teachers will become better mentors, and students will become better learners. Few evaluation systems are specifically geared toward coaching roles. Ensuring that school districts have accurate information about both coaches and coaching programs is crucial to guide improvement in supporting classrooms, as well as in ensuring accountability. With sound evaluation processes in place, districts can effectively evaluate instructional coaches and coaching programs and use data to set goals. Advance Praise for Evaluating Instructional Coaching: It has arrived! The ICG team has pulled through again with a much-needed guide, providing a thorough process from how to hire, evaluate, support, and retain instructional coaches. This book will empower school leaders to be partners with instructional coaches by providing meaningful evaluation tools and effective coaching programs. Readers will walk away with ideas on how to help coaches grow to best serve students and teachers in their schools. Thank you, ICG. We needed your research, knowledge, and most of all your humble approach on how best to support coaches and coaching programs! —Kelly Jacobs, District Instructional Coaching Coordinator, Lansing (Mich.) School District Instructional coaches devote their time to growing teachers. One way to support instructional coaches in their professional growth is to ensure an effective evaluation system is in place for them. This book gives leaders several things to consider as they define the coach''s role, hire candidates, and put an evaluation process in place. —Michelle Lis, Coordinator, Instructional Coaching, Fairfax County (Va.) Public Schools A joint publication of ASCD and One Fine Bird Press.

Earth''s smaller animals offer some sweet surprises, too. Hop on a honeybee to discover just how hardworking these fast-flying insects are. They beat their wings 200 times a second as they fly about. And no wonder they''re so busy--they need to pollinate two million flowers to make just one pound (.45 kg) of honey. Brain Candy books take a novel approach to learning by serving up an appetizing assortment of facts and numbers, then diving deeper into each topic. Like learning cool facts and how they''re connected to the bigger picture? Treat yourself to a little Brain Candy! Sure to be an addictive addition to the bookshelves of Weird But True! and Just Joking fans and curious kids everywhere.

In schools, every day is "game day." Every day, teachers need the best resources and forms of support because students deserve the best we as educators can offer. An instructional playbook aims to serve as that kind of support: a tool that coaches can use to help teachers match specific learning goals with the right research-based instructional strategies. Coaches have enormous potential to help teachers learn and implement new teaching practices, but coaches will be effective only if they deeply understand the strategies they describe and their explanations are clear. The Instructional Playbook: The Missing Link for Translating Research into Practice addresses both issues head on and offers a simple and clear explanation of how to create a playbook uniquely designed to meet teachers'' instructional needs. The idea of an instructional playbook has caught fire since Jim Knight described it in The Impact Cycle (2017). This book helps instructional coaches create playbooks that produce a common language about high-impact teaching strategies, deepen everyone''s understanding of what instructional coaches do, and, most important, support teachers and students in classrooms. “emu003eA joint publication of ASCD and One Fine Bird Press.

This book goes to extremes to introduce kids to the best of the best in the world of over-achieving, amazing, record-setting pets! Pets are more than just our animal besties. They''re totally extreme! From the largest to the smallest, the biggest braniacs to the most awesome athletes, discover the amazing talents of all kinds of animals, including dogs, cats, bunnies, horses, reptiles, fish, even insects, and more. Some were just born this way. Others have worked hard to develop their skills. Plus, you''ll dive into the details behind the records, see how different pets match up, and encounter some of the world''s wackiest pet places. With eye-popping design, unforgettable photographs, and amazing stats, this book is sure to become the leader of the pack on every kid''s bookshelf!

Vaccination has been cited as the most effective method of preventing the spread of infectious disease, and it has been credited with the eradication of such horrendous and potentially lethal illnesses as smallpox and polio. However, in recent years, growing numbers of parents have come to question the wisdom of vaccination, expressing fears over potential side effects on children. This informative text, augmented by in-depth sidebars, annotated quotes from medical experts, detailed graphs, and full-color photographs, explores the history of vaccines and provides a clearer understanding of the debate over the safety and efficacy of immunization programs.

A normal life can be extraordinary. Avril Bale has a beautiful life with her precious young daughter, a second baby on the way and a caring husband. She has it all, which makes her completely ill-prepared for the tragic loss that completely rocks the foundation of her security, her sense of fairness, and her faith. Each new day, Avril navigates the muddy waters of karma, balance, and belief as she progresses in her suburban pilgrimage towards a path of self-discovery and a new recognition of reality. Slowly, Avril learns to triumph over fear even as she is constantly looking over her shoulder for the next shoe to drop. And through it all, she tirelessly struggles to find a way for hope to fit into life''s new equation. In addition to her internal conflicts and personal guilt, Avril must deal with family and friends who don’t know how to handle her tragedy. Avril’s interactions with those around her are alternately heart wrenching, upsetting, and sometimes perversely comedic. And with each fresh day, she comes closer to recovery and claiming her new normal. Follow Avril as she tackles each new challenge with perseverance and humor in a world full of tough questions waiting for understanding. Avril’s Phoenix probes why bad things happen to good people. And beyond exploration, Avril begins to find answers. It is an uplifting, emotional voyage of a woman’s navigation through life following a heartbreak thought impossible to overcome.

Schizophrenia affects a person''s ability to think clearly and distinguish between reality and imagination. Historically, those suffering with the condition were treated poorly. However, scientific discoveries regarding the chemistry and structure of the brain, as well as recent advancements in medication and therapeutic treatments for the disease, have allowed many who suffer from schizophrenia to lead rewarding and meaningful lives. The informative text, augmented by in-depth sidebars, quotes from medical experts, detailed graphs, and full-color photographs, offers readers a clearer understanding of this often misunderstood condition and provides helpful resources to aid people with schizophrenia and their loved ones.

Although human papillomavirus, or HPV, is the most common sexually transmitted disease, many people are unaware of the effects it can have. Its symptoms are generally mild compared to other diseases, and many times, no symptoms are present, leading to the mistaken belief that HPV is not serious. However, it can cause several types of cancer in both men and women, so knowledge of how to prevent and treat it is crucial. Through informative sidebars, annotated quotes from medical experts, and detailed graphs, readers learn the true risks of this disease and what precautions they can take to protect themselves.

Want to know the who/what/where of the coolest stuff on the planet? Count down with us in this fun picture list book, featuring the 8 most awesome things in over 50 fun categories. Stunning photographs illustrate the countdowns that include such engaging topics as Most Ancient Mysteries, Amazing Mazes to Get Lost In, Seriously Cool Space Sensations, Most Mighty Miniatures, Funkiest Food Mash-ups, Most Fabulous Fairy Tale Fashion Pieces, Most Clever Creatures, Highest Altitude Adventures, and so much more. Text light, but content rich, this book is so graphically eye-catching, and, you know, totally awesome, it will spark kids'' curiosity and inspire them to explore the world.

A reference guide includes records and achievements made by humans, animals, and nature.--

Research demonstrates that faculty of color in historically white institutions experience higher levels of discrimination, cultural taxation, and emotional labor than their white colleagues. Despite efforts to recruit minority faculty, all of these factors undermine their scholarship, pedagogy, social experiences, promotion and retention. This edited volume builds upon the existing research on faculty of color, however, it also departs from the existing literature and unravels the socio-emotional experiences of being in front of the classroom, in labs, and in the Ivory Tower for faculty who are in multiple racialized social locations. In an effort to circulate the experiences of faculty of color more widely to academic and non-academic audiences, this edited volume replaces conventional scholarly technical papers with unconventionally accessible letters. Stories from the Front of the Room focuses on the boundaries which faculty of color encounter in everyday experiences on campus and presents a more complete picture of life in the academy - one that documents how faculty of color are tested, but also how they can not only overcome, but thrive in their respective educational institutions.

Are you fully healed from your invisible wounds? As Christians we have all faced moments of feeling pressed or oppressed by life situations. However, there is a way that one can live healed and as a body of Christ we are charged to help others as well to heal from invisible wounds. This begins with love and transforming our minds to the mind of Christ (see Romans 12:2). Most importantly, to not continue the Life Cycle of Complacency in dealing with any mental health, substance abuse, sexual addictions, or any other invisible wounds that try to overwhelm us. In these pages are insightful educational tools and resources to help not only yourself but others, and especially church leaders to assist others to not only get strong in their healing but also to remain strong in their healing from invisible wounds.

Invites readers to choose between two scenarios in order to reveal aspects of their personalities as well as fun facts about music, space, food, festivals, and other topics.

My recipe for happiness was simple: Keep your man by your side, keep your game face on, and if at all possible, keep a Coach bag in your hand. Besides, if you keep up the front, they never really know how bad you feel ... Chantell Meyers figures she''s got her life together. After all, she''s envied for her successful, high-paying executive job; spending all the money and wearing all the clothes she could ever want; and a just-too-perfect fiance, Eric. Sure, she''d be the first to admit she''s never really at peace with herself. And she knows it''s been way too long since she set foot in church-or thought much about her relationship with God. But Chantell learned long ago, when her beloved mother died, that if you can''t forget your pain, the very next best thing to do is to hide it. Little by little, she has started to believe that looking and living good counts more -- and hurts a lot less -- than being real. Then suddenly her father has a near-fatal heart attack-and Chantell gets a major reality check. She promises God she will try to be a better person if her father pulls through. Yet it isn''t long before her good intentions begin unraveling her "good life" in the worst way. Before she knows it, she''s facing big-time betrayal in her personal life and a major meltdown at work. And when Keith Talbit, a childhood acquaintance, unexpectedly comes back into her life, she finds herself looking longingly at a successful, good-looking Christian man secure in himself and his walk-just the kind of man she''s sure she''s not worthy to love. Reeling from mega-drama and more bad news, this dedicated shopper must now look to God-and back into her past-to find out how she wants to spend the rest of her life. It will take everything she didn''t think she had to put her life in God''s hands...and truly "have it all."

[Buy this book now only at iUniverse.com bookstore. Order from bookstores everywhere in 4-6 weeks!] A tale of unending passion, a saga of epic proportions comes blazing alive with a rapturous love story as we follow Elyssa, a powerful and beautiful princess from the unsurpassed splendor of Jupiter’s kingdom, to the glittering heights of Earth’s Royal Palace to the exotic and mysterious tribes of the Cienna. A tumultuous tale of unending passion…the story of Elyssa''s love for the Prince of Earth, Jaric, a love so powerful that will she risk anything for him…her planet and even her life.

For anyone who has ever wanted to embrace or enhance an environmentally conscious lifestyle in the city but doesn’t know where to start, Michelle Harris’s Explore the Green Side of Edmonton is here to help. For long-time Edmonton residents and first-time visitors alike, Michelle channels her in-depth knowledge and expertise into this comprehensive handbook geared towards Edmontonians seeking to foster a connection with nature. Discover well-known highlights and hidden gems, both in the heart of Edmonton and the surrounding areas. Providing opportunities to learn about environmentally conscious activities and to engage with them, Michelle covers all aspects of a nature supportive lifestyle, breaking down environmental silos and compiling a wide variety of subjects into one all-encompassing resource. Some of these topics include: • Green spaces and gardens, both cultivated and wild • Seasonal and year-round outdoor activities • Engaging with Indigenous stewardship and ways of knowing • Outdoor and nature focused gear and other resources • Taking climate action and increasing sustainability Michelle takes into account folks of all ages, abilities, and budgets. Whether you’re just beginning to explore environmental action or already an avid eco-adventurer, you’ll find tools and ideas to help grow your impact and increase your engagement with the natural world. From adrenaline-inducing adventures to calming nature therapy and everything in between, this practical, hands-on guide covers it all. Explore the Green Side of Edmonton offers a path towards conserving and connecting with nature in a way that is meaningful and caters to individual needs. Discover how to get outdoors more, join in community, and make the most of Edmonton’s environmentally focused offerings with this engaging and educational guide.