Rating: 
Summary: Iteresting.
Review: This book is interesting. As an instructional designer who has done some home school consulting, I find some of the parts different. If you have studied any of the Myers-Briggs Type Theory, it may be confusing as in parts of presenting their theory, I think(T) that the NT and NF of Myers-Briggs is overlapped. I had a hard time even though I enjoy theory (N) and make grand intuitive leaps of logic(NT) to have their model match my teaching and consulting experience over the last 20 years. I took their evaluations which are FANTASTIC! But, then even thinking "outside the box" I could not match it with what I have previously read and experienced and had in other theories stated "Yes! That is it! " or have it overlap other models. Most of their model I said "What? This hasn't been my experience even thinking outside the box." Some of the theory "Rang true" to me but others did not. Even when I "adjusted my style of learning", I could not figure thei model or theory out which most of the time works for me. The structure and layout of the book was nice. But the "Peptalk" was too wordy at many times. Super evaluation instruments! However, I would have to translate to a theory I am more comfortable with to use the information from the evaluation instrument. Sorry.
Rating: 
Summary: Fascinating Insights
Review: This book is very well written. The exercises are easy to follow and provide fascinating insights. My two favorite quotes from the book are: Grades and percentiles are conveniences that maintain a system, and Wallpushing is counterproductive no matter how hard, how creatively, or how often you push. The part of the book that will be most helpful with my 16-year-old is that he really does need the television on in order to study effecitvely, and he would do even better on tests if he had some backgroud noise. He told me when the tension gets too high with absolute silence, he drops his pencil to break the tension. For my 13-year-old I learned that if he reads instructions out loud, he will be better able to understand them. This will save both of us lots of frustration from now on.
Rating:
Summary: Helpful, but I needed more ...
Review: This book was good, but I do wish that the authors would go into more detail with regards to specific products and learning styles.
Rating:
Summary: Helpful, but I needed more ...
Review: This is a compassionate book helping parents and teachers to affirm that "...your child is a wonderfully gifted and capable human being, who has a unique life purpose to share with the world that no one else has." (p. 195). The authors have distilled much practical wisdom from their extensive experience and reading. They successfully share that with the readers through assessment tools to help us discover the child's predominance in 5 dispositions, 12 talents, interests, thinking modality and environment factors. I like most the numerous boxes of quotes and statements. The assessments, reference charts, resource exercises are best used on individual basis. But it would be hard for teachers to implement them if you believe in the quote from Peter Kline: "If you add up the amount of undivided individual attention most students get during their twelve years in school, it probably comes to about three to six school days' worth." (p.6) The rationale underlying the choice of 5 dispositions and 12 talents is not too clear. Are there well-established personality and cognitional theories? How do the talents differ from multiple intelligences? Howard Gardner only came round to recognising 8 and half intelligences. If we put aside such technical issues, this book is an excellent introduction in fostering our positive regard and respect for each child's genius and unique differences.
Rating: 
Summary: From bell-curve to uniqueness
Review: This is a compassionate book helping parents and teachers to affirm that "...your child is a wonderfully gifted and capable human being, who has a unique life purpose to share with the world that no one else has." (p. 195). The authors have distilled much practical wisdom from their extensive experience and reading. They successfully share that with the readers through assessment tools to help us discover the child's predominance in 5 dispositions, 12 talents, interests, thinking modality and environment factors. I like most the numerous boxes of quotes and statements. The assessments, reference charts, resource exercises are best used on individual basis. But it would be hard for teachers to implement them if you believe in the quote from Peter Kline: "If you add up the amount of undivided individual attention most students get during their twelve years in school, it probably comes to about three to six school days' worth." (p.6) The rationale underlying the choice of 5 dispositions and 12 talents is not too clear. Are there well-established personality and cognitional theories? How do the talents differ from multiple intelligences? Howard Gardner only came round to recognising 8 and half intelligences. If we put aside such technical issues, this book is an excellent introduction in fostering our positive regard and respect for each child's genius and unique differences.
Rating:
Summary: A tool chest for the parents of a struggling learner
Review: What I found of great value in this book:A) Encouragement: there is more than one way for people to learn and remember information. My child is not dumb just because she is failing to thrive in a traditional classroom invironment. Most of us are multisensory learners. Some of us are stifled by florescent lights, schedules, the rigorous pace, and sitting up straight at desks all in a row listening to lectures. However, this book is not about forcing our newfound ideas on our teachers, but rather assessing whether our current school or another would serve us better. It's about finding a school and/or a curriculum that fits my child and planting them in soil where they will thrive. That might mean homeschooling, or after-school tutoring. I am blessed to live in a public-school-of-choice school district. We have a diversity of schools and curriculums to choose from. This book was invaluable in helping us make that choice. B) Information: What is my child's learning style? Here is a quiz to figure that out! Are there curriculums out there that were designed just for her specific learning style that also have a proven success record? Here is a whole list in each subject area! In addition to the book the authors also have a web site, monthly newsletter, and training seminars to help us to stay inspired, motivated, encouraged, and helped. This book has been a tremendous help to our family and will be to yours as well.
Rating:
Summary: A tool chest for the parents of a struggling learner
Review: What I found of great value in this book: A) Encouragement: there is more than one way for people to learn and remember information. My child is not dumb just because she is failing to thrive in a traditional classroom invironment. Most of us are multisensory learners. Some of us are stifled by florescent lights, schedules, the rigorous pace, and sitting up straight at desks all in a row listening to lectures. However, this book is not about forcing our newfound ideas on our teachers, but rather assessing whether our current school or another would serve us better. It's about finding a school and/or a curriculum that fits my child and planting them in soil where they will thrive. That might mean homeschooling, or after-school tutoring. I am blessed to live in a public-school-of-choice school district. We have a diversity of schools and curriculums to choose from. This book was invaluable in helping us make that choice. B) Information: What is my child's learning style? Here is a quiz to figure that out! Are there curriculums out there that were designed just for her specific learning style that also have a proven success record? Here is a whole list in each subject area! In addition to the book the authors also have a web site, monthly newsletter, and training seminars to help us to stay inspired, motivated, encouraged, and helped. This book has been a tremendous help to our family and will be to yours as well.
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