Current debates in life course studies increasingly reference theories of individualization, standardization, and differentiation in the structure of the life course. This volume brings together leading scholars from a variety of fields to assess the theoretical underpinnings, the empirical evidence, and the implications of existing arguments. The contributions include comparative-historical work, demographic analysis, and detailed survey research. The topics covered include historical, cross-cultural, and racioethnic variation in the transition to adulthood, the school-to-work transition, educational careers, retirement, activity characteristics over the life span and the life course context of psychological well-being. The various contributions expand our understanding of the contemporary life course and its implications. The authors offer innovative theoretical and methodological approaches that demonstrate the utility of holistic approaches to conceptualizing the life course and understanding its implications for modern society.

A comprehensive, nontechnical, engaging, look at how assessment is used to improve student learning and motivation. Drawing on recent research and new directions in the field, this concise, engaging book shows teachers how to use classroom assessment effectively for improving student learning and motivation. Key strategies and techniques are demonstrated through practical, realistic examples, suggestions, and case studies. The new edition emphasizes formative assessment and includes more in-depth coverage of self-assessment, the impact of standards-based accountability testing, 21st century knowledge, dispositions and skills, technology-enhanced items, and assessment of culturally diverse students. Each chapter provides aids to help readers learn and practice the skills of that chapter, including new Teacher Corners features illustrating actual teachers' thinking about classroom assessment, introductory case studies, chapter concept maps, new figures, suggestions for action research, self-instructional review exercises, and links to digital resources. Also available with MyLab Education Designed to bring learners more directly into the world of K-12 classrooms and to help them see the real and powerful impact of the assessment concepts covered in this book, MyLab (TM) Education provides practice using classroom assessment concepts in teaching situations, helps students and instructors see how well students understand the content, and helps students more deeply process assessment concepts and strategies and also better understand how to use those concepts as a teacher. The online resources in this MyLab include: Video Examples. Throughout the eText, embedded videos provide illustrations of sound assessment practices in action. Self-Check Assessments. Throughout the chapters, students will find self-check quizzes that help assess how well students have mastered chapter learning outcomes. The quizzes consist of self-grading multiple choice items that provide rationales, both for questions answered correctly and for questions answered incorrectly. Application Exercises. These scaffolded exercises, tied to learning outcomes, challenge learners to reflect on assessment and to apply what they have learned to real classroom assessment work. MyLab Education includes the Pearson eText version of the book. Note: This is the standalone ISBN and does not include access to MyLab Education. To order MyLab Education plus the book, use ISBN 0134522087.

"Why do so many preachers make the most exciting news in the world sound so boring?" That is the question driving this unusual book. In a series of honest, personal, and humorous letters the author also answers the question. "What will it take to inspire great preaching for the 21st century?" Ronald Boyd-MacMillan rejects the modern fixation with form in current homiletics and advocates a return to the practice of eight fundamentals for great preaching. The insights from 2,000 years of preaching history and twenty years of personal preaching experience across three continents are applied to the needs of the 21st century. This is a humorous yet hard-hitting guide to explosive modern preaching.

The LEGO (R) City police patrol need your help! Young LEGO (R) fans can help solve the crime and save the day as they push, pull and slide the tabs in this cool board book. Race after burglars in a police car, soar through the air in a helicopter and then slide the scene-changing mechanism to see who you caught red-handed - all in a day's work for brave little heroes! Helps budding officers to: - enhance motor skills - develop hand-eye coordination - play as they read - be imaginative and creative LEGO (R) City. Police Patrol is a great gift for toddlers with inquisitive fingers and minds. Add to the collection and bring more of the LEGO City to life with LEGO (R) City. Fire Station, LEGO (R) City. Building Site and LEGO (R) City. Merry Christmas.

Keep your cool and get the results you want when faced with crucial conversations. This New York Times bestseller and business classic has been fully updated for a world where skilled communication is more important than ever.

The book that revolutionized business communications has been updated for today’s workplace. Crucial Conversations provides powerful skills to ensure every conversation―especially difficult ones―leads to the results you want. Written in an engaging and witty style, the book teaches readers how to be persuasive rather than abrasive, how to get back to productive dialogue when others blow up or clam up, and it offers powerful skills for mastering high-stakes conversations, regardless of the topic or person.

This new edition addresses issues that have arisen in recent years. You’ll learn how to:

• Respond when someone initiates a crucial conversation with you
• Identify and address the lag time between identifying a problem and discussing it
• Communicate more effectively across digital mediums

When stakes are high, opinions vary, and emotions run strong, you have three choices: Avoid a crucial conversation and suffer the consequences; handle the conversation poorly and suffer the consequences; or apply the lessons and strategies of Crucial Conversations and improve relationships and results.

Whether they take place at work or at home, with your coworkers or your spouse, crucial conversations have a profound impact on your career, your happiness, and your future. With the skills you learn in this book, you'll never have to worry about the outcome of a crucial conversation again.

The illustrated biography of a Scottish country house, set beside the River Clyde, and of the people who made it their home over the past 850 years Written by four brothers, their sister and the eldest member of the next generation, Finlaystone offers an insidersa view of the house, its beautiful gardens and the surrounding estate. They tell about the lives of its former owners, many of whom played prominent roles in Scottish military, political, religious and cultural affairs. As Scotland moved forward from centuries of feuds between large feudal landowners to the reformation, the age of enlightenment and the industrial revolution, the building evolved from a fortress to a modest but attractive family home in 1746. Its present form as an imposing late Victorian mansion dates from when it was modernised and extended in 1900 by George Jardine Kidston, the great-grandfather of the older authors, who had grown wealthy from running one of the worlda s earliest steamship companies. In its hey-day, Finlaystone was managed for the comfort and leisure of its owners by a bevy of household servants living in a wing of the house, and by an army of workers, including gardeners, foresters, game-keepers, joiners and a laundry-maid. The prosperity that had made such a lavish life possible, however, soon started to decline, with George Kidstona s death in 1909, followed just 5 years later by war, the economic depression in the 1930s, and then World War II. Unlike many other large country houses, Finlaystone remains a family home, kept afloat largely by the hard work and adaptability of the members of the family who reflect in this book on the joys and travails that this implied.

The Fire Chief and her crew need your help! Young LEGO (R) fans can bring the fire station to life as they push, pull and slide the tabs in this cool board book. Open the fire station doors, make the helicopter take off and then slide the scene-changing mechanism to drive off in the fire engine - all in a day's work for brave little heroes! Helps budding firefighters to: - enhance motor skills - develop hand-eye coordination - play as they read - be imaginative and creative LEGO (R) City. Fire Station is a great gift for toddlers with inquisitive fingers and minds. Add to the collection and bring more of the LEGO City to life with LEGO (R) City. Building Site.