In this book you will read many examples of rich literacy conversations between a teacher and his 8th grade students that never would have occurred face to face in the classroom. These conversations take place online when 8th graders write to their teacher about the books they're interested in reading and choosing to read independently. Students write about what happens when they read or don't read, how they feel about reading, how they're connecting with characters and ideas, why they don't have enough time to read, and what their reading goals are. And their teacher writes back to them. Every week. After each conversation you will read some "meta-talk" that shines a light on what the conversation has taught us about this language learner and how this "data"is informing our beliefs and practices. Embedded within the chapters are suggested resources (articles, book recommendations, links, websites, blogs, etc.) you can follow should you want to read more in that chapter. What these students reveal about their own literacy development- their successes, their challenges, their lives- and how their teacher nudges them along socially, emotionally and academically, teach us the value and power of one practical, authentic literacy tool- the Reading Conversation Journal.

In this book you will read many examples of rich literacy conversations between a teacher and his 8th grade students that never would have occurred face to face in the classroom. These conversations take place online when 8th graders write to their teacher about the books they're interested in reading and choosing to read independently. Students write about what happens when they read or don't read, how they feel about reading, how they're connecting with characters and ideas, why they don't have enough time to read, and what their reading goals are. And their teacher writes back to them. Every week. After each conversation you will read some "meta-talk" that shines a light on what the conversation has taught us about this language learner and how this "data"is informing our beliefs and practices. Embedded within the chapters are suggested resources (articles, book recommendations, links, websites, blogs, etc.) you can follow should you want to read more in that chapter. What these students reveal about their own literacy development- their successes, their challenges, their lives- and how their teacher nudges them along socially, emotionally and academically, teach us the value and power of one practical, authentic literacy tool- the Reading Conversation Journal.

There's a little witch in all of us…

Ava López’s best friend from childhood is missing, and her former coven has asked for her help to find her. Despite all the pain the witches have treated Ava to with their rejection, she is determined to find Liv—even though her new allies harbor resentment.

Ava hopes finding Liv will put an end to the feud between the two groups, but she realizes that to help the witches, she must turn her back on the vampires. But this is the least of her problems.

Ava must choose sides and test loyalties with a decision that comes at a cost—one even Ava, with her ever-growing powers and connection to spirit magic, never could have foreseen. To repent for her disloyalty, Ava must bind herself to a dark promise. A promise no magic can break.

In this substantive yet accessible book, pioneering software designer Alexander Stepanov and his colleague Daniel Rose illuminate the principles of generic programming and the mathematical concept of abstraction on which it is based, helping you write code that is both simpler and more powerful. If you're a reasonably proficient programmer who can think logically, you have all the background you'll need. Stepanov and Rose introduce the relevant abstract algebra and number theory with exceptional clarity. They carefully explain the problems mathematicians first needed to solve, and then show how these mathematical solutions translate to generic programming and the creation of more effective and elegant code. To demonstrate the crucial role these mathematical principles play in many modern applications, the authors show how to use these results and generalized algorithms to implement a real-world public-key cryptosystem. As you read this book, you'll master the thought processes necessary for effective programming and learn how to generalize narrowly conceived algorithms to widen their usefulness without losing efficiency. You'll also gain deep insight into the value of mathematics to programming-insight that will prove invaluable no matter what programming languages and paradigms you use. You will learn about How to generalize a four thousand-year-old algorithm, demonstrating indispensable lessons about clarity and efficiency Ancient paradoxes, beautiful theorems, and the productive tension between continuous and discrete A simple algorithm for finding greatest common divisor (GCD) and modern abstractions that build on it Powerful mathematical approaches to abstraction How abstract algebra provides the idea at the heart of generic programming Axioms, proofs, theories, and models: using mathematical techniques to organize knowledge about your algorithms and data structures Surprising subtleties of simple programming tasks and what you can learn from them How practical implementations can exploit theoretical knowledge

In fiscal year 2012, the federal government obligated $307 billion to acquire services ranging from the management and operation of government facilities to information technology services, to research and development. Spending on services has increased significantly since fiscal year 2000. The private sector is also increasingly reliant on services, many of which are similar to those that the federal government buys, such as information technology services. Leading companies have been examining ways of managing their services in order to stay competitive, respond to market and stockholder pressures, and deal with economic downturns. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has reported that leading companies have implemented a strategic approach to improve service acquisition outcomes and identify opportunities for federal agencies, specifically the Department of Defense, to implement improvements across the range of services they purchase. Under the strategic sourcing approach, companies take a hard look at how much they are spending on services and from whom they are buying these services. This book examines and identifies leading company practices for acquiring services and potential opportunities for federal agencies to incorporate these strategic sourcing practices.

There’s something about the scent of blood from the undead.

In the heat of battle, hybrid Ava López discovers she has new and fascinating powers, but she does not know how to control them. Though her former enemies have offered her refuge and helped her acclimate to the vampire lifestyle, even they don’t understand her enhanced magic.

With mounting threats from Ava’s former coven and reckless rogue vampires, Ava and her new friends have no choice but to request the wisdom of Holland Taylor to help her understand her powers. Holland is one of the most powerful witches Ava has ever met, and he is also Jeremiah’s ex, which introduces another wrinkle.

Tension between the vampires and Ava’s former coven is building, and when the witches offer a deal Ava would be remiss to reject, she is forced to choose between the life she once considered safe and the life she never wanted.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE MAGIC RUNS OUT?

Fetch Phillips fought on the wrong side of a war between humans and magical creatures, and his actions helped drain the world of enchantment. Now he works on the streets of Sunder City, taking what odd jobs he can while trying to help those whose lives he ruined.

His first case is to find a missing teacher. Professor Rye is a four-hundred-year-old vampire with a heart of gold in a husk of a body. In a world without magic, most vamps have already crumbled into dust, but Fetch is happy to go looking for some dirt with pointed teeth if it gets him his drinking money. Then, when a young siren disappears, Fetch finds out that this dark world still hides some monsters - and he'd better clean up his act before they come into the light.

The Last Smile in Sunder City is a brilliantly voiced fantasy for fans of Ben Aaronovitch, Rotherweird or Terry Pratchett's Discworld, and the debut novel from actor Luke Arnold - known for his lead role in Black Sails!

"A powerful, sensual thriller that will keep readers deliciously on edge." ~Library Journal Starred Review When your soul shatters, how will you pick up the pieces? Jezebel Tate's writing career has brought her success that few experience, but when her fame shines too bright and a fan's admiration becomes obsession, she is forced into the shadows to find safety. James Blakely is running from his past. A broken man haunted by guilt-laden memories, James accepts a position as Miss Tate's private security detail-and finds himself a pawn in her game of seduction. As the threat to Jezebel's safety intensifies, so does her bond with James. On the run from danger and their pasts, can they put together the pieces and find their escape?

Dogs at Large weaves together the struggles of two women as they confront the slings and arrows of our Matrixed world. Because they live in the information age, they have turned to the Internet for guidance with their current conflicts. Here they discover a double edged sword for, although information may be powerful, too much can be overwhelming. They soon realize that a fine line exists in cyberspace ranging from the usual array of charlatans and false prophets to a remarkable community of like-minded people whose goal is to save the planet. It is to the later that this book is dedicated. On one level this is a story about how we go to bat for what we love the most. On another, it as multi-dimensional as the changes that are in store for the human race. To sum it all up: God is truly alive; magic is truly afoot.

A true, "first hand" account of December 7th, 1941 featuring hand-written letters from Pearl Harbor survivors sharing their own experiences from that day.