Chasing Ideas: The Fun of Freeing Your Child's Imagination

Book Description

Demonstrating how and why children need to be better, brighter thinkers, this guide for parents shows them how to foster curiosity and awareness and improve their children's concentration, listening, problem solving, and decision making skills. The techniques discussed are based on five thinking keys and tools, including sorting, organizing, and grouping ideas; differentiating facts from assumptions; and looking at issues from several points of view. Both parents and teachers are encouraged to see how discussing ideas with children can be an enjoyable and creative activity for everyone.

Customer Reviews:

Inspirational!.......2004-01-29

Chris Durham's book, "Chasing Ideas: The fun of freeing your child's
imagination," is a joy-filled romp through the most beautiful landscape in
the world--the mind of a child. Durham is a passionate believer in the
intellectual lives of children, and she describes "chasing ideas with
children" as a highlight of her life--a pleasure that is apparent on every
page.

"Chasing Ideas" is for parents, teachers, anyone who looks after a child. It
encourages readers to push themselves in pursuit of big ideas and important
discussions that will impact children for the rest of their lives. The goal
is not just to entertain or educate but to empower everyone in a family and
bind them together.

Durham draws upon findings from child psychology, ideas from literature and
ancient lore to construct some simple but powerful guidelines for
encouraging children to think.

She begins by presenting ten basic principles, like "Expect great ideas."
Durham explains that how we are dealt with by others will affect how we see
ourselves. So if you expect creativity from children, you are more likely to
get it. She describes experiments in the classroom and in nursing homes that
show people--from kids through to the aged-- respond with confidence and
well-being when treated with respect and faith in ability.

"Make children aware of the magic and nuance of words," is another golden
rule. If your children's vocabulary is expansive, they'll be more able to

pinpoint and describe their feelings.

"Ask open questions," Durham advises. The point is not just to elicit
answers but to prompt children to think critically, to wonder and probe.
What more valuable skill could there be than getting children to appreciate
that there's more than one way to solve a problem?

Views are not prescribed or dictated in "Chasing Ideas." Instead, subjects
like the media and animal rights are laid out with all their real life
complexity. The books "thinking tools" then help you deal with them. The
tools guide children in separating out facts from feelings and in finding
things that are good, bad and curious in every situation. A long list of
questions gets you to take on different roles and approach all topics from
more than one direction. As Durham says: "Be explorers, detectives,
magicians, and judges."

My favorite from the book's long list of quirky questions is (wait till your
child is eating a slice bread to ask this one): "Did you know there has been
a hundred percent mortality rate of people who ate bread and were born in
1881?" I can't wait to start chasing ideas with my infant son.

Durham spent years teaching children in school and leading thousands of
workshops in which she developed and refined the exercises in the book. And
if you don't know this already, you will be convinced after reading that
thinking skills are one of the most valuable gifts you can give your
children. "Chasing Ideas" is such an exciting book. Durham perfectly
balances the fun with the challenge and the thinking with the nurturing. As
she says, love is fundamental to the entire endeavor.

Chasing Ideas by Christine Durham.......2003-11-02

The book demonstrates the faith that children are our best resource for the future. It is to our cost if we ignore the power and potential of their innate curiosity and imagination. Durham's view is that children are not afraid of ideas, that they can `fly' and as adults we need to follow their example. The illustrations that emphasise this point are witty and provocative and pop up everywhere throughout the text. It is clear that Durham has been an active chaser of ideas throughout her life. Her strongest message is `be open to the world around you and be open to your mind'. In doing so herself she has produced a joyful book and shared her experiences and wisdom most generously.

(Extract from review by May Leckey, Coordinator, Studies of Society and Environment Programs,
Department of Education, Policy and Management Faculty of Education, University of Melbourne)

Chasing Ideas by Christine Durham.......2003-10-13

A wonderful parent or teacher resource to help children to be more imaginative thinkers. This book provides a treasure trove of ideas, strategies and activities to guide children to explore, judge, make decisions and communicate more effectively. Use the practical information presented in this book to explore and unleash students' imagination, to enrich relationships and to enhance self-confidence and self-esteem.

Book Description

When the Luftwaffe entered World War 2, its nightfighter force was virtually nonexistent thanks to its leader, Reichmarschall Hermann Göring, who boasted that bombs would never fall on Germany. By mid-1940 his folly was evident; the first night fighter wing was hastily formed with Bf 110s. Initially capable of detecting targets by visual acquisition only, the force greatly improved its effectiveness with the creation of the 'Giant Würzburg' radar chain. By the end of 1942, the night fighter force controlled some 389 fighters and had destroyed 1,291 RAF bombers in that year alone. Complete with first-hand accounts and detailed colour illustrations, this book profiles the many variations of night fighters, and the men who made ace flying them.

Customer Reviews:

Another excellent book........2000-05-23

The aircraft of the aces series has been an excellent begining source of information. I beleive that there are better books covering each thing in more deapth. But as an introduction to each topic I have found none better. This book is on the nightfighters of the German Luftwaffe. Covering the aircraft briefly, but the focus of this series is the men who flew them. From it's humble beginings to the nightfighter force becoming a much needed group. If you have an interest in this area then this book is a good place to start. Great photos and colour plates of aircraft and pilots. A very good read.

From Wounded Knee to My Lai: Readings in Modern American History
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From Wounded Knee to My Lai: Readings in Modern American History
Robert Clayton Pierce
Manufacturer: Forbes Custom Pub
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | United States | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
General | World | History | Subjects | Books
General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
Discrimination & Racism | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Out of Many: A History of the American People, Volume II (Chapters 16-31) (5th Edition)

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Approaching Democracy, California Edition (5th Edition)

Out of Many: A History of the American People, Combined Edition (Chapters 1-31) (5th Edition)

ASIN: 0828110964

Book Description

Black Sheep One is the first biography of legendary warrior and World War II hero Gregory Boyington. In 1936, Boyington became an aviation cadet and earned the “wings of gold” of a naval aviator. After only a short period on active duty, however, he was “encouraged” to resign from the Marine Corps due to his unconventional behavior. Remarkably, this inauspicious beginning was just the prologue to a heroic career as an American fighter pilot and innovative combat leader. With the onset of World War II, when skilled pilots were in demand, he became the commander of an ad hoc squadron of flying leathernecks. Led by Medal of Honor winner Boyington, the legendary Black Sheep set a blistering pace of aerial victories against the enemy.

Though many have observed that when the shooting stops, combat heroes typically just fade away, nothing could be further from the truth for Boyington. Blessed with inveterate luck, the stubbornly independent Boyington lived a life that went beyond what even the most imaginative might expect. Exhaustively researched and richly detailed, here is the complete story of this American original.

Customer Reviews:

A true look at a childhood hero.......2005-08-16

First off let me say that I really enjoyed reading this book. Pappy has always been a child hood hero of mine. Having grown up watching "Baa Baa Black Sheep" and reading the autobiography of the same title. It was a very well researched and well-written biography. That opened this reader's eyes to the real story behind LtCol Gregory "Pappy" Boyington. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

A truly epic study of a tragic hero.......2003-01-06

Bruce Gamble deserves great credit for dealing with a mythic and controversial hero who laid claim to be the leading USMC ace in World War II and won the highest award in the country. His introduction to combat and first claims came from his stint as a member of the famed American Volunteer Group (AVG) known to most as the "Flying Tigers". He was summarily dismissed from the AVG for his abuse of alcohol and disrepect for authority (both of had which led him to abandon his USMC flying career to join the AVG along with chronic financial woes). World War II offered him an opportunity for another chance to fly and serve his country that he might not have gotten in peacetime. Arriving in the Solomon Islands, he continued to abuse alcohol and raise a ruckus, but he eventually got his own squadron, the "Black Sheep" which he led to great success against the Japanese. There is no doubt that he was a gifted aviator despite flying under the influence or at least hung over. Some of the aerial victory claims may be disputed (certainly his AVG claims are), but these type claims have been controversial by antagonists in all conflicts since aerial combat began. Gamble deals with all of this in great detail particularly the virtual clinical examination of Boyington's alcoholism so many years after the event. Gamble's research could have yielded a good book, among the best written, on the Black Sheep and Boyington, but he superbly wrote the Black Sheep story as its own subject and then dealt with Boyington as a biography andproduced a truly unique study of a tragic hero, flawed on several levels, but just as laudable on others. The author deserves great credit for deep research, sensitive and accurate writing and weaving a very readable treatment of Boyington, truly the best on any shelf.

Boyington...a tactician way ahead of his time.........2002-05-16

Being a military history buff and a Boyington fan, this book was a "must read" for me. This book shows the human side of Boyington. While Boyington may have seemed a larger-than-life war hero (which in many ways he was) he was an ordinary man with his own demons. His worst enemy was himself.. and his addiction to alcohol...an addiction he never totally defeated. One wonders what Boyington may have accomplished had he not have been an alcoholic. His alcohalism cost him a lot.. several divorces, alienation from his family, and quite possibly a polital career.

Boyington was way ahead of his time in the area of air combat tactics. Sometimes his propensity to deviate from regulation got him into trouble with superiors, but no one can deny the combat victories the Blacksheep attained under his leadership. No Marine Squadron has ever attained the success VMF 214 had in those two combat tours then or since. His military combat record speaks for itself. Boyington's tactics were unconventional, in the sense he never employed the same tactics for long. He was constantly evolving, a theory that never allowed the Japanese to catch on to his tactics.

This is an excellent book to learn about Boyington the man, how he thought, and what made him tick. In spite of his faults, he will forever be remembered as the greatest Marine Ace of all time. This book does him justice. I highly recommend it.

This may be the only biography I have ever finished........2002-04-20

I hate biographies with their authoritarian tones, time lines, dates and obscure facts, and get bored before finishing them. I do, however, prefer to be historically accurate rather than politically correct, so when my children started watching Black Sheep Squadron on the History Channel, I figured I had better learn more about Greg Boyington.

Having seen Mr. Gamble's commentaries during breaks from the show, I expected the typical pompous biography with a military cadence to match the author and subject. When I began to read it, I was floored: I couldn't put it down and I finished it. Mr. Gamble's prose was lyrical, and his treatment of Boyington was fair and meticulously researched.

Heroes aren't necessarily bums, and biographies aren't necessarily dull, boring and omnipresent.

Before, during and after the fall........2001-09-11

Gamble's biography of Boyington begins with his dysfunctional upbringing in the Pacific Northwest. Raised by a troubled mother and a ...stepfather, the deck was stacked early against this man of great potential. This good time Charlie, devil-may-care college boy became one of the leading Aces of WWII, with twenty-nine kills, if he is to be believed. And Gamble apparently does not believe all that Boyington has to say on this subject. Never drinking until his twenties, Boyington became the cliched drunk. Often he flew loaded or badly hung over.

In this frank look at the life of the Black Sheep Squadronýs leader, Gamble strips away much of the lies, myths and Hollywood trappings to present the man as he was; the tragic hero.

From his brief time spent with Claire Chennaultýs Flying Tigers to his rejoining the Maine Aviators to his being awarded the Medal of Honor, the bottle was never far from armýs reach. After spending almost two years as a POW and upon his triumphant return to the states at warýs end, he is told by his intelligence officer, Frank Walton, he could be anything he chose but he had to leave booze alone or it would kill him. Needless to say, his life spiraled out of control until it was much too late. From a series of failed relationships and marriages, to repeated job changes and financial ruin he became a mere curiosity hustling his former valor for a few dollars. In Waltonýs own book, "Once They Were Eagles", he compares him unkindly to a dancing circus bear pushing his autographs at air shows and conventions.

Throughout the book there are more than a few glimmers of the man beneath the booze and the greatness that awaited Boyington were it not for his illness. A college wrestling champion, a fine college student, a natural leader and above all, a bold and fearless fighter pilot. If Gamble destroys some myths, he also lets Boyingtonýs greatness stand without the tinsel. And in 1943 he was a giant.

Black Sheep One : The Life of Gregory "Pappy" Boyington: Black Sheep Leader
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Black Sheep One : The Life of Gregory "Pappy" Boyington: Black Sheep Leader

Manufacturer: Ballantine Publishing Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000HNAU0U

Black Sheep One: The Life of Gregory "Pappy" Boyington
Average customer rating:
Black Sheep One: The Life of Gregory "Pappy" Boyington
Bruce Gamble
Manufacturer: Presidio
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000Q26RXG

Naval Leadership: Voices of Experience
Average customer rating:

Case studies of what leaders expect and demand from juniors

Great leadership manual and educational resource

Excellent book on leadership

Naval Leadership: Voices of Experience
Karel Montor
Manufacturer: US Naval Institute Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books
Naval | Military | History | Subjects | Books
Military Science | History | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0870213253

Customer Reviews:

Case studies of what leaders expect and demand from juniors.......1999-10-03

I bought this book to try to find ways to motivate the people that worked for me. As I read the book, I found "real life" situations that were occuring. This book is written by the hands of the most successful leaders of not just the Navy but the United States Marine Corps, the Royal Navy, and Germany. They discuss in great detail of what they expect of one of their officers. It tells the reader not to be afraid of making a mistake. Mistakes are a learning process. Those who contributed to this book state overwhelmingly that they want their subordinates to challenge them when presenting an idea. It talks about the "big picture" of an organization. All people interviewed for this book talk about not just being in the position of leadership but setting the example for others. It talks about your actions on and off the job. In summary, it says there are three types of people. The few that make things happen, the majority who don't know how to make things happen, and those who have no idea of what is happening. This book is ideal for any military officer and those in management positions.

Great leadership manual and educational resource.......1998-11-27

This book is compiled with the premise that leaders are trained and made, not born, and offers a wealth of advice from successful naval officers about the principles and practices of good naval leadership. The compartmentalization between specific leadership skills/qualities/practices is somewhat artificial, for leadership is a holistic enterprise, but such an organized format allows the reader to read at his own pace and begin reading from any section that interests him. This book is not about sequential mastery, but serves as a reference and resource. It is great for junior officers who want to imbibe the ideals of leadership, and would benefit hardened naval veterans who desire a return to leadership first principles and rejuvenate thier professional outlook.

Excellent book on leadership.......1998-03-25

Although titled 'NAVAL LEADERSHIP', this book is excellent for leadership in general. Topics are crisp, clear and sprinkled with more than a few 'real life' events to show the human side of the topic. Covers the topic in more detail than most of the light weight management books and gets right to the point. This book should be on the desk of all managers who want to strive to lead a team.

Book Description

Returning to his native Burma-a country fraught with political upheaval and laden with superstition-Burmese American Kenneth Wong faced the cultural specters of his own past and the spirit of a land trapped in time. Sealed off from the outside world, first by an oppressive military regime's isolationism and then by economic sanctions, Burma lives on like a lingering ghost of its colonial past. This beautiful and intriguing country is revealed through the eyes of an expatriate battling his conflicting national, cultural, ideological, ancestral, and ethnic identities. In the tradition of George Orwell, W. Somerset Maugham, and Paul Theroux, Wong portrays Burma as an exotic place that invites, frightens, teases, and haunts citizens and visitors alike with its unique mixture of ill-kept Edwardian structures, pockmarked English mansions, and glittering Buddhist temples. The courage, humor, and perseverance of the Burmese people and their endearing yet mysterious way of life are revealed in this moving account of a man rediscovering his culture.

Customer Reviews:

Some good insight, but poorly delivered........2006-05-11

I read this book shortly before going Burma. While he has some obvious insights (He's Burmese and he's actually been there), his writing is quite weak and his sense of adventure is pathetic. He spends most of the time complaining about the heat and discomfort and no time at all challenging himself or doing any real journalism. He comes across like a spoiled American who doesn't want to leave his hotel room unless he's on a guided tour. Burma does not exactly jump off the pages of this book.

The book is not a total wash, however. When he is describing his friends and speaking about Burmese literature and culture there are some wonderful things the reader can learn about Burma. The book would've been much more successful if the writer had made it less of a personal journey (I had a more interesting time in Burma, but I wouldn't write a book about it), and focused more on educating the reader about his culture. Having identity issues is a good topic and a sign of the times, but it didn't work for me in this book.

Finding George Orwell in Burma by Emma Larkin is a much better read.

Buy this Used.......2006-01-04

If you are like me and buy/read everything you can get your hands on about Burma, buy this as a used book. It is a bit flat, the writing lacks style, and the perspective is an unusual one. The author seems to have a lack of knowledge about some things Burmese, which he does not seem to add to in his explorations.

But so few go to Burma and then write about it, that having any perspective is helpful.

If you are just beginning to read about Burma, start with any of Aung San Suu Kyi's books or essays. Also, her biography of her father: Aung San of Burma: A Biographical Portrait by His Daughter.

If you are looking for a more vivid read, try Land of the Green Ghosts.

Three stars only if you get it new. Four stars if you buy it used or check it out from the library.

Enlightening first person account.......2005-01-18

A Prayer for Burma is the account of a Burmese-American who travels back to Burma (now Myanmar). In the opening, he says, " . . . returning to my motherland, just as an estranged son would to the mother he left behind, I hoped to get a better understanding of this colorful cultural mandala that was" part "of my identity." He then takes us along on his fascinating travels, sharing what he sees, what he thinks and what he feels. While this description might sound fairly direct and simple, the process and product are anything but. The author struggles to understand what any foreigner might, but he also struggles to settle feelings that only a foreigner who looks like the locals might need to do. And he willingly opens himself through his honest writing so that we benefit from his struggles, his defeats and his triumphs. Having just returned from Myanmar I can say that many of his insights still seemed valid in late 2004 and proved helpful during my trip. The scare about the planes, however, is somewhat dated, though I'd still stick with the private airlines (the government airline does tend to slam into the ground a bit too often). One thing to keep in mind while reading the book is that there is no such thing as The Burmese. The experience of different tribes can be vastly different. Hence, don't generalize beyond what is written about any particular person. Yes, everyone wants more freedom, but the most oppressed groups have it harder, see fewer opportunities and are likely to give very different responses when asked about things.

Memory of Golden Land.......2003-10-08

Kenneath Wong's beautiful writing style and metaphor of being 'ghost' inspire me in many ways. His book shows vivid scence of unique culture of Burma in which its people are struggled to live under politically deprived condition. With much admiration to his writing, I also want to pray that this unique golden land and its people be escaped from the shadow of military uniforms and oppression.

Offering an informative assessment of Burmese life.......2003-06-19

A Prayer For Burma is the personal reflections of Burmese expatriate Kenneth Wong upon returning to his homeland after living in the U.S. for more than a decade. Offering an informative assessment of Burmese life and culture from inside-out perspective, enhanced with bittersweet memories and reflections of this politically and socially troubled nation, A Prayer For Burma is very highly recommended reading.

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The world's biggest book
Ludu Daw Ahmar
Manufacturer: Ludu U Hla
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Buddhism | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B0007CCOBO

The Judson offering: Intended as a token of Christian sympathy with the living, and a memento of Christian affection for the dead

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The Judson offering: Intended as a token of Christian sympathy with the living, and a memento of Christian affection for the dead
John Dowling
Manufacturer: Lewis Colby & Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

List of synagogues & prayer halls in South Asia (Bulletin)

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List of synagogues & prayer halls in South Asia (Bulletin)
Ezra Kolet
Manufacturer: Estelle & Zeke Barber
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0007CC374

List of synagogues and prayer halls in South Asia (India, Burma, and Pakistan) (Bulletin)

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List of synagogues and prayer halls in South Asia (India, Burma, and Pakistan) (Bulletin)
Ezra Kolet
Manufacturer: Jewish Welfare Association
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Book Description

People long for a sense of community in todayÂ's fast-paced world, for connections to one another and to natural places of peace and beauty. Quietly, and for more than twenty years, a growing network of community trails, riverfront parks, forests, farms, gardens, and other green spaces has begun to satisfy this hunger, offering welcome refuges in neighborhoods, rural towns, and cities across the country.
Benefits of these special projects begin to accrue even in the early planning stages when likelyÂ—and unlikelyÂ—partners come together around a common purpose. Along the way citizens discover untapped leadership abilities in themselves and cultivate enduring friendships with others.
Written from a practitionerÂ's perspective, Groundswell features a community forest in the Northwest; a river restoration in New York CityÂ's Bronx; collaboration with ranchers along the Rocky Mountain Front; community supported agriculture in the Midwest; rural economic development in the South and the authorÂ's own experience in growing Portland Trails, a vibrant urban land trust in the Northeast. As the stories show, this is complex, collaborative, and entrepreneurial workÂ—difficult at times, yet intensely satisfying. This book will inspire you, especially if you have the passion and energy to make a difference in your community.
You will find that this book:

Makes tangible the notion of Â“community buildingÂ”

Shows how community building really works in the hands of citizens and volunteer leaders

Reveals the Â“kindred spiritÂ” qualities common in those who make the projects happen

Celebrates the role of land conservation in preserving community character, building individual character, and connecting people

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