A contemplative photographic journey by Jeffrey Ringer. During his 30 years as a commercial photographer and creative director, Jeffrey has photographed and compiled beautiful photos. With each image, Jeffrey and Jennifer have included contemplative prose with mindful and healing meditations in this beautiful hard cover book.

Complex dynamic system studies have been studied explicitly in the natural sciences, and most only implicitly throughout other fields. Yet much great social theory and philosophy is in fact based in complexity, and important concepts like postmodernism, risk, and collapse all stem from complexity. Six key terms are explored: nonlinearity, feedbacks, thresholds, hierarchies, emergence and self-organization, and dozens of related principles are discussed, with a focus on uncertainty, risk, vulnerability, learning, strategy, resilience, collapse and sustainability. The book surveys the role of these complexity principles in the natural sciences, social theory, transdisciplinary discourse, philosophy, and ethics, and shows how this complexity framework is a valuable lens for approaching the spectre of climate change and life in the Anthropocene.

Table of Contents

Foreward 1. Introduction 2. Elucidating Complexity Theories 3. Complexity in the Natural Sciences 4. Complexity in Social Theory 5. Towards Transdisciplinarity 6. Complexity in Philosophy: Complexification and the Limits to Knowledge 7. Complexity in Ethics 8. Earth in the Anthropocene 9. Complexity and Climate Change 10. American Dreams, Ecological Nightmares and New Visions 11. Complexity and Sustainability: Wicked Problems, Gordian Knots and Synergistic Solutions 12. Conclusion

Complex dynamic system studies have been studied explicitly in the natural sciences, and most only implicitly throughout other fields. Yet much great social theory and philosophy is in fact based in complexity, and important concepts like postmodernism, risk, and collapse all stem from complexity. Six key terms are explored: nonlinearity, feedbacks, thresholds, hierarchies, emergence and self-organization, and dozens of related principles are discussed, with a focus on uncertainty, risk, vulnerability, learning, strategy, resilience, collapse and sustainability. The book surveys the role of these complexity principles in the natural sciences, social theory, transdisciplinary discourse, philosophy, and ethics, and shows how this complexity framework is a valuable lens for approaching the spectre of climate change and life in the Anthropocene.

Teach middle school students the academic vocabulary words they need to know to master the content in their textbooks. This book gives educators five extensive, research-based lists of vocabulary words frequently used in textbooks, plus guidance and activities to help them teach the words. Vocabulary knowledge plays a huge role in the academic success of middle school students. But which words do students need to know to master the content in their textbooks, and how can they be learned? This book has the practical answers educators need. Middle school teachers will get five extensive, research-based lists of academic vocabulary words most frequently used in student textbooks—the words kids need to know to increase their comprehension and succeed in school. Teachers will also get critical background information on the importance of academic vocabulary, guidance on testing word knowledge, and proven teaching strategies for weaving vocabulary instruction into their everyday lessons. A great resource for in-service professional development and preservice teacher preparation courses! HELP MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS: Strengthen academic vocabulary knowledge in five key school subjects Master the content they need to know under the Common Core State Standards Understand why the words they encounter in textbooks are important Improve comprehension and eliminate roadblocks to understanding what they read Increase school success (for all students, including English language learners and those with disabilities) PRACTICAL MATERIALS: Five research-based lists of hundreds of academic vocabulary words, each one devoted to a key content area. Plus helpful discussion questions and 15 detailed vocabulary instruction activities, including “fix-ups” for struggling readers and English language learners and extensions that build on the activities. Five essential middle school vocabulary lists on: English, grammar, and writing Health Mathematics Science Social studies and history