While the world was reading one story, God was writing another. In 1977, amidst the bitterly cold days of the frigid Cold War, a young couple responded to God's dramatic call on their lives to go and live covertly behind The Iron Curtain. Filled with faith and buffeted by fear, they left the familiarity of family and the security of NATO to locate behind enemy lines inside Communist Poland in order to establish a Kingdom beachhead of evangelism and discipleship. From award-winning author Debby Thompson, Pulling Back the Iron Curtain is a collection of personal and intimate stories revealing a firsthand account of that unique assignment. Now, with authenticity and vulnerability, this pioneer missionary makes known to the world the tender and dramatic workings of God even behind the Iron Curtain.

Failure is just one step on the path to success. Failure is not only a possibility for learners during these challenging times, but a productive, concrete way of gaining ground. How can parents and educators teach kids to turn failure into progress toward success? This revised edition of the beloved bestseller, Fall Down Seven Times, Get Up Eight, has sensible answers, including both what to say and what not to say to truly help kids self-motivate and become independent, lifelong learners. Rich with fresh insights, this new edition offers a deeper understanding of how motivation works along with new, practical, research-driven strategies for spurring learners to thrive. It features: The latest research on motivation theory, persistence, self-regulation, grit, and a growth mindset in learners. An expanded focus on equity and culturally responsive approaches to ensure that all learners maximize their full potential. A new chapter on giftedness, an updated discussion guide, videos available via QR codes, and a robust companion website. Kids are bound to stumble and fall, but by capitalizing on knowledge and the latest research on motivation, we can equip them to stand up and move forward, pointing them on the route to success.

Teaching Kids to Thrive explores the key elements of learning that go far beyond subject matter knowledge and academic skill measurement. The book covers what it takes to help students --all students-- move beyond merely coping and surviving. The authors aim to teach students how to thrive and how to navigate successfully whatever the future holds for them. The authors explore teaching social-emotional learning (SEL) skills as dispositions toward lifelong success. After reading this book, teachers will be more able to: Use mindfulness strategies to help students focus and access their inner strengths. Help students build upon their existing ability to self-regulate and motivate themselves. Guide students in developing their growth mindsets so they can visualize their goals and make plans to achieve them. Cultivate an attitude and culture of perseverance in the classroom. Incorporate resilience practices into everyday lesson planning and interactions. Clarify what it means to be a responsible community member and help students internalize how they can be responsible students and citizens. Demonstrate how honesty and integrity can help build stronger relationships and foster a community of people who support one another. Rethink their capacity for empathy and employ new tools and techniques for expressing empathy to students and colleagues. Formulate an ethos of everyday gratitude so that students, regardless of their socioeconomic status, learn to honor the gifts they have and appreciate the pluses in their lives. Use the strategies, tips, guidelines, stories, reflections, and inspiration from this book to ensure that students excel not only in their academic skills, but also in their Thrive skills, which lay the foundation for a healthy, whole, centered, and grounded young adulthood.