This book comprises a synthesis of current directions in reading research, theory, and practice unified by what has been referred to as the engagement perspective of reading. This perspective guides the research agenda of the National Reading Research Center (NRRC), a consortium of the University of Georgia, University of Maryland, and affiliated scholars. A major goal of the book is to introduce reading researchers to the engagement perspective as defined by the NRRC and to illustrate its potential to integrate the cognitive, social, and motivational dimensions of reading and reading instruction. Engaged readers are viewed as motivated, strategic, knowledgeable, and socially interactive. They read widely for a variety of purposes and capitalize on situations having potential to extend literacy.
The book is organized into four sections representing key components of the NRRC research agenda and the engagement perspective. This perspective emphasizes contexts that influence engaged reading. Accordingly, the first section of the volume focuses on the social and cultural contexts of literacy development, with chapters devoted to examining home influences, home-school connections, and the special challenges facing ethnic minorities. The engagement perspective also implies greater attention to the role of motivational and affective dimensions in reading development than traditional views of reading. Therefore, the second section examines motivational theory and its implications for reading engagement, with special attention to characteristics of classroom contexts that promote motivation in reading. The engagement perspective embraces innovative instructional contexts that address the cognitive, social, and motivational aspects of reading. Thus, the third section includes chapters on current directions in promoting children's learning from text, on the value of an integrated curriculum in promoting reading engagement, and on the challenges of assessing students' development as engaged readers. Finally, the broader conception of reading implied by the engagement perspective requires an expanded array of research approaches, sensitive to the complex and interacting contexts in which children develop literacy. The concluding section focuses on these important contemporary issues in literacy research and educational research, with chapters examining the variety of alternative modes of inquiry gaining prominence in literacy research, teacher inquiry, and ethical issues of collaboration between university and teacher researchers.
Intended for university-based researchers, graduate students, and classroom teachers, this volume brings together researchers who think about students and their literacy development in school and home communities in distinctly different ways. The cooperative and collaborative inquiry presented contributes to a richer understanding of the many factors influencing engaged reading.

This book comprises a synthesis of current directions in reading research, theory, and practice unified by what has been referred to as the engagement perspective of reading. This perspective guides the research agenda of the National Reading Research Center (NRRC), a consortium of the University of Georgia, University of Maryland, and affiliated scholars. A major goal of the book is to introduce reading researchers to the engagement perspective as defined by the NRRC and to illustrate its potential to integrate the cognitive, social, and motivational dimensions of reading and reading instruction. Engaged readers are viewed as motivated, strategic, knowledgeable, and socially interactive. They read widely for a variety of purposes and capitalize on situations having potential to extend literacy.
The book is organized into four sections representing key components of the NRRC research agenda and the engagement perspective. This perspective emphasizes contexts that influence engaged reading. Accordingly, the first section of the volume focuses on the social and cultural contexts of literacy development, with chapters devoted to examining home influences, home-school connections, and the special challenges facing ethnic minorities. The engagement perspective also implies greater attention to the role of motivational and affective dimensions in reading development than traditional views of reading. Therefore, the second section examines motivational theory and its implications for reading engagement, with special attention to characteristics of classroom contexts that promote motivation in reading. The engagement perspective embraces innovative instructional contexts that address the cognitive, social, and motivational aspects of reading. Thus, the third section includes chapters on current directions in promoting children's learning from text, on the value of an integrated curriculum in promoting reading engagement, and on the challenges of assessing students' development as engaged readers. Finally, the broader conception of reading implied by the engagement perspective requires an expanded array of research approaches, sensitive to the complex and interacting contexts in which children develop literacy. The concluding section focuses on these important contemporary issues in literacy research and educational research, with chapters examining the variety of alternative modes of inquiry gaining prominence in literacy research, teacher inquiry, and ethical issues of collaboration between university and teacher researchers.
Intended for university-based researchers, graduate students, and classroom teachers, this volume brings together researchers who think about students and their literacy development in school and home communities in distinctly different ways. The cooperative and collaborative inquiry presented contributes to a richer understanding of the many factors influencing engaged reading.

What are soul contracts and what roles do they play in our lives?
How do you recognize your own soul contracts?
Why is this knowledge so important for personal and spiritual growth?
Can we communicate with deceased loved ones to help them, and learn from them?
Includes:
Self-help material for further exploring and healing contracts in your own life. Spiritual Post-Conception Birth Control and Past Life Techniques
"The Alchemy Institute is one of America's foremost training programs in Past Life Regression. When my students study Past Life Regression, there are many texts we recommend. "Soul Contracts" is at the top of the list. Linda's compassion and her skill as a hypnotherapist show through in one inspiring story after another that proves the practical power of past life regression to transform lives. This book is filled with easy to read, fascinating true stories that open a window into a rich and extraordinary world of healing which lives inside of each of us."
David Quigley, founder and Director of the Alchemy Institute
"Dear Linda, I love what you have written as it is so personal and easy to read and most important for everyone to understand that much of what is happening in their lives has its root in their distant past of a previous incarnation. Reincarnation is a fact as we are eternal and we can free ourselves of a problem in the present when we resolve the past in the manner that Linda Baker is sharing with us. A must read for the spiritually sincere."
Terry Cole-Whittaker - author of "What You Think of Me is None of My Business," "Dare to Be Great" and "Live Your Bliss" and many others
"Brings a broad new dimension to our understanding of healing and personal change...Excellent reading "
-Hal Zina Bennett, Ph.D. author of "Spirit Circle" and more than 25 books on personal growth
"I just finished your book "Soul Contracts." I was deeply affected by this book. I had to buy it because I could not let it go. "Soul Contracts" rang more bells in my heart, head and body than any book I've read this year " -J.B., Seattle, WA

This is a story of one woman's fight to recover from mental illness. Diagnosed as Schizophrenic in 1986, the author writes about the struggles of poverty, abandonment and hopelessness that can come with the disease. Now living on her own, she credits faith as the thing that has helped her survive.

A user's guide to integrating essential oils and hypnosis. Recommended for anyone who wants to improve effects of trance work or meditation, hypnotherapy, self-hypnosis, or aromatherapy. Includes quick reference charts and scripts.

Past Lives and Soul Contracts. Read how our past life experiences affect our present day life. Many times the challenges we are facing today have roots in our past. If you have read self-help books, tried therapy, used affirmations and other alternative methods but find you are unable to release an issue and move on you may find the answer in Soul Contracts. If you experience quilt, shame, control, obsession or deep love in a relationship, or feel bound to another, Soul Contracts is a book you must read This is a book that may lead you to the path of freedom, joy and letting go. You will find how in these times of change and energy shift souls are coming together to fulfill their soul contracts. Finding the Soul Contracts that bind us so that we can shift the energy and allow unconditional love and forgiveness of ourselves and of others is more important now than ever. If you have experienced a miscarriage or abortion or are now in a pregnancy that is not the right timing for you, you will find help in the section on conception empowerment. Written in easy to understand language, Soul Contracts is about everyday people just as yourself who have had life changing experiences through changing their Soul Contracts.

Raised without any religious beliefs, Carolyn Helman struggles to deal with the tragic death of her beloved husband Frank. She moves to California to work with her best friend Julia Cranston and rebuild her life. Carolyn begins to see a ray of hope as she begins attending R.C.I.A. (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) sessions that will lead to her initiation into the Roman Catholic Church. As she participates in the sessions and the Rites, Carolyn learns about who God is and the role He plays in her life. Helping Carolyn on her journey are two strangers who show up on Carolyn's doorstep: a cat given to her by Julia's friend, Bill Jenner and a young man who will change her life and heart forever. As Carolyn learns to let go of the past and walk towards the future, she must deal with her meddlesome mother, devoted father, and a long kept secret. How will her newfound faith help her in dealing with what life is handing to her? Enjoy the journey!

A Bridge Between Worlds is a story about many bridges, between many worlds. It is a bridge between Chinese and American culture, a bridge between two generations, a bridge between the physical and non-physical worlds, a bridge between this life and past lives and a bridge between the mind and the heart. Writing this book has been a labour of love. By following the voice of Spirit, author Linda A. Baker, traveled to China to find her Chinese son. This story shows the power of past life soul connections. It is a story of hope and creating your hearts desires. In this book you will learn that when you are willing to trust and follow you heart miracles happen. But most of all this is a story about the greatest love there is - the love between the soul and The Divine.

A Bridge Between Worlds is a story about many bridges, between many worlds. It is a bridge between Chinese and American culture, a bridge between two generations, a bridge between the physical and non-physical worlds, a bridge between this life and past lives and a bridge between the mind and the heart. Writing this book has been a labour of love. By following the voice of Spirit, author Linda A. Baker, traveled to China to find her Chinese son. This story shows the power of past life soul connections. It is a story of hope and creating your hearts desires. In this book you will learn that when you are willing to trust and follow you heart miracles happen. But most of all this is a story about the greatest love there is - the love between the soul and The Divine.

Literacy is one of the most highly valued cultural resources of contemporary American society, yet far too many children in the nation's cities leave school without becoming sufficiently literate. This book reports the results of a five-year longitudinal study in the city of Baltimore, Maryland, tracing literacy development from pre-kindergarten through third-grade for a sample of children from low and middle income families of European and African heritage. The authors examined the intimate culture of each child's home, defined by a confluence of parental beliefs, recurrent activities, and interactive processes, in relation to children's literacy competencies. Also examined were teacher beliefs and practices, and connections between home and school. With its broad-based consideration of the contexts of early literacy development, the book makes an important contribution to understanding how best to facilitate attainment of literacy for children from diverse backgrounds.