Birdy spends her days trying to teach her students to appreciate the beauty of literature and her nights getting high with Jesus, her gay colleague and confidant.Birdy regards Pinetop as merely an escapade. But the desultory quality of her life is interrupted when a middle-aged widow asks Birdy to edit her rambling memoir. Combining superb storytelling with good humor, Antonya Nelson follows Birdy as she helps Mrs. Anthony reconstruct the history surrounding the bizarre and mysterious deaths of Mrs. Anthony's husband and daughter years earlier. As Birdy is drawn deeper into her subject's story, she begins a love affair with Mrs. Anthony's surviving son -- a young man who just happens to be one of Birdy's students. With its sensuous and lovingly rendered Southwestern setting, "Nobody's Girl" is a startling novel that showcases the striking talents of an emminently gifted writer.

    Delving into the unknown can also create an element of self-doubt that fills your mind right off the bat. That coupled with an overwhelming task of choosing and gathering curriculum, creating lesson plans, organizing supplies, and teaching multiple grade levels can be quite disheartening.Don't worry! Homeschooling 101 is a step by step practical guide that will help you to get started, and continue on in your homeschooling journey. It is designed to help guide you through all of the steps to getting started, choosing and gathering curriculum, creating effective lesson plans, scheduling your day, organizing your home, staying the course and more! It even includes helpful homeschooling forms!

    Most Christians believe God doesn’t care, one way or the other, how our children are schooled or what methods are employed. This book will use Scripture to prove otherwise. What you read in this book will radically challenge your assumptions and preconceived ideas. - Discover the true purpose of an education and how this affects and influences students - Explore a truly Biblical philosophy of education and how it compares to traditional schooling - Learn to apply a Biblical worldview strategically and systematically to core subjects of education There is almost no topic that is as relevant to the future of Christianity or as controversial as the education of children. Students in school classrooms spend thousands of hours being instructed by people who are not their parents. There is almost no way to calculate what a powerful force this is for influence. From rules to help students reason to information that will help you be a more effective teacher, this book shows the vital importance of “why” in asking students to learn the “what” and “how” of any subject. The future of your child’s education and, therefore, his or her life is ultimately in your hands as a parent. Open your mind and your heart to God’s Word and His truth. Much is at stake. Ask Him to give you discernment to help you understand how He sees the issue of education.

    Bouffard focus on the developmental tasks and competencies that young people need to master in order to plan for and succeed in higher education. These include identity development, articulating aspirations and expectations, forming and maintaining strong peer and adult relationships, motivation and goal-setting, and self-regulatory skills, such as planning.The authors challenge the predominant approach of giving young people information and leaving it to them to figure out how to apply it. They call for a new approach that integrates the key developmental tasks and processes of adolescence into existing college access practices in meaningful ways. Rather than treating young people as passive recipients of services, the authors argue that adults can engage them as active agents in the construction of their own futures.

    If you think that education should do more than just train kids to take standardized tests, that it should build their critical thinking skills, enable them to weigh ethical considerations, instill a passion for learning, and reflect your core values and beliefs, then you're probably fed up with the current state of our schools. If, like many parents, you're wondering whether homeschooling can be the solution you're looking for, then you'll be happy to know that the answer is yes-and Home Schooling For Dummies shows you how. This friendly, well-informed guide is a valuable resource for parents considering homeschooling, as well as veteran homeschooler interested in fresh homeschooling ideas. It gets you on track with what you need to know to confidently:De termine whether homeschooling is right for you and your family Get started in homeschooling Obtain teaching materials Develop a curriculum that reflects your values and beliefs Comply with all legal requirements Find healthy social outlets for your kids Join a homeschooling cooperative From textbooks to computers to state compliance, expert Jennifer Kaufeld, covers all the bases. She anticipates most of your questions about homeschooling and answers them with clear, easy-to-follow answers enlivened by real-life accounts by parents around the nation who have opted to homeschool their children. Topics covered include:Deciding at what age to begin Determining your kid's learning style and teaching to it Teaching special needs children Developing a curriculum that's right for your children Finding social outlets for you homeschoolers Complying with state and federal regulations Teaching at the primary, middle school and high school levels Preparing for the SATs, ACT and other key standardized tests Networking with other homeschoolers You shouldn't have to compromise on your children's education. Get Homeschooling For Dummies and find out how to turn your home into a school and raise smart, well-adjusted kids.

    She was staring at my scar. The physical proof of my past. I turned to the side and raised my hand to cover my face. I needed to protect myself before I broke down the wall that I’d spent so long building up.“Get out,” I whispered.“Colten—”“I said leave,” I growled.She hesitated for a moment before she turned and raced toward the door.As soon as the door handle engaged, I pushed my hand through my hair, hating myself for acting like that. I hated that I’d treated her that way. But I knew it was the right thing.She needed to leave me alone before I hurt her.Pushing her from my mind, I headed into my bathroom. Once the room was full of steam, I slipped into the shower and let the water beat down on my back, on the scars that littered my body.It was a painful reminder of my past. Of who I was now. And of who I could never be.One thing was for sure, I could never be what Haley wanted.I thought I knew what I was getting into when I took the dare to elevate Colten Shaw.I thought wrong.I'm determined to make my senior year epic. I'd finally risen up in social rank and now, I'm ready to rule the school. Everything seems perfect until I find myself standing in front of Colten.My boyfriend's older brother and my once friend.After he caused the car crash that killed their mother, he retreated. He became the social outcast in our community.But he's back now and drumming up a lot of attention.Attention from the school's evil queen.And thus started the dare.It was my job to "tame the beast." To bring Colten to the homecoming dance as a "functioning member of society." And as much as I want to say no, everyone wants me to say yes. So I do.That's when I discover there is so much more to Colten. It's to the point where I can't ignore it.I thought I had everything figured out but now?Now I’m not sure.And that’s a scary place to be.Some Rules are Meant to be BrokenIf you love gruff heroes with a heart of gold and kisses that will curl your toes, you'll love Rule #6: You Can't Elevate the Outcast.

    Jena Morrow has a Savior. He came to give her abundant life.This is not a polished tale of victory but an honest, true story of fragility. Hollow recounts Jena’s daily struggle with anorexia and the God who is able and willing to reach down into the dirt. A central theme of Hollow is the surrender of control to Jesus Christ. His Word is interwoven throughout the story as rebuttals to the lies that besiege those engaged in any addiction.  In addition to her point of view, Jena includes those of her friends, family, and former therapists providing  an undercurrent of hope.Written in an easy conversational voice, Hollow will resonate with those in the midst of a struggle and those who stand beside them.

    In this indispensable guide, author and homeschooler Sherri Linsenbach provides you with the encouragement, inspiration, and ideas you need to explore this option for your family. It's packed full of ideas to make the experience easy, affordable, and, most of all, fun. Even veteran homeschoolers will find new ideas and techniques that help keep home education interesting and exciting.This edition includes completely new material on:Updated curriculum resources, strategies, and methods.Fresh educational activities for grades K-12.Information on specific learning styles and special needs.Ideas for tackling social issues and social skills in today's world.Typical homeschool days, schedules, and activities.The author, a homeschool veteran of more than eighteen years, presents real-life examples and inspiring success stories from families across the country. This all-new edition of an Everything bestseller is the only reference you'll need to ensure your children's success--at any age!

    Her life is grand until she finds herself in the middle of a drug bust and meets Sloan, a rough-around-the-edges DEA agent. Soon after a student from her class disappears, things quickly head south, and their search becomes a race against time with dead bodies piling up and her own life in peril.

    Living in an abusive home and then in foster care matured her beyond her years. Now she needs to earn extra money this summer before moving away to college and away from her former life. She’s found the perfect job, but the man doing the hiring doesn’t like her. Nate Larsen is the sexy, popular, high school biology teacher the girls lust for and the boys admire. Uninterested in the flirty and flighty students he teaches, he remembers “Gloomy Gloria” because she nearly failed his class. He’s not happy to see her apply for the job he reserved for his favorite student, who is also Gloria’s best friend. But he desperately needs help over the summer term, and when Gloria impresses him with her office skills, he sees her in a new way that’s not entirely academic—nor professional. Gloria may be eighteen and never been kissed...but she’s still too young for him. Isn’t she? As the summer heats up, so does Gloria and Nate’s desire for each other. Can they contain themselves? Will others use their secret to destroy them? Or will their behavior spawn consequences? This virgin erotica novel explores the forbidden combination of a student-teacher relationship. The Summer of Consent: An Erotic Novel is an interracial erotic story that depicts a sexual relationship between a young woman and an older man. All characters represented are age eighteen or over.

    A month ago I died along with my two best friends in a car crash. Obviously, my death didn't last long. Since then, I hear voices and the nightmares – don’t even get me started. I just wanted to be normal. That meant leaving my lux L.A. life for the gothic, and icy, Saxton Academy in the mountains of Vermont. Away from the tabloids, I had a plan to get my life together. But that just isn't possible. Thanks to hotties Eli McKinnon and Carden McDowell I discovered my life is a lie. They want to help me reach my potential. I just want to be a regular girl. But darkness is coming, and if I want to stay alive, I may not have a choice.

    All it has ever brought her was a string of stalkers. Until she falls for “bad-boy” Griffin Piper. Then her looks are a curse in another way … because apparently she looks a freaking lot like Ally—the girl that broke (big-tough-hockey-playing) Griffin’s heart. Can Dara prove to Griffin she’s not like Ally? That she won’t break his heart as well? Or will Griffin break HER heart?—just like he has all the other girls at their school. All the many, many girls that aren’t Ally … the only girl Griffin has ever loved. GRIFFIN: Ally broke my heart. I can’t exactly give it to the new pretty blue-eyed girl that seems to crave it. What am I supposed to do when the only girl I ever loved wants someone else? ALLY: I trusted people in my life that I know had my best interest at heart. I know they did. (Or, well, did they???) … But maybe the person I should have trusted was Griffin. Is it more important to listen to your head or your heart? I’ve always tried listening to my head … but Griffin owns my heart. Can he ever forgive me? Have I made the biggest mistake of my life? NOTE: This is not a retelling of His Kiss or High School Boys. (Griffin’s version of Melanie Marks’ book, His Kiss, is called: HER Kiss (Griffin).) This story unfolds over two books. Each book is 65,000 words (220 printed pages). No other book needs to be read before this. However, if you want the back-story to the characters in this book you may want to read His Kiss; HER Kiss; and High School Boys. (It’s not mandatory, though. However, it would add to the enjoyment of this book. But again, it’s not necessary.) From the author of The Dating Deal

    So when my mom breaks up with her latest boyfriend, I swoop in because now, it’s my turn for a taste of the handsome Mason Caldwell.Mason: It’s filthy to fantasize about a woman so young, and *especially* when she’s your girlfriend’s daughter. But after I catch Charity spying on me during an intimate moment, I decide to confront the curvy girl … and to pop her sweet cherry as punishment for her naughty misdeeds!Holy guacamole, things are heating up in Cherry Falls! In this tale, we follow the sassy Charity, who’s secretly had a crush on her mom’s boyfriend for ages now. Even better, Charity wants a real man to claim her cherry, and what do you know, but Mason Caldwell is more than ready and available! Fall in love with Cherry Falls over and over again with this steamy tale of May December forbidden romance. This book is a standalone and does not need to be read in any order. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and always a HEA for my readers.

    Now, to celebrate a decade of delighting opera fans and foes alike, musical historian and humorist David Barber has prepared a special revised and expanded edition of his hilarious bestselling history of opera. Chapters such as Serious Buffoonery, Teutonic Tunesmiths and, of course, Italian Sausage Machines display Barber's rapier wit and knack for knowing fascinating, if sometimes useless, information about music, musicians and the offbeat world they live in. This expanded edition includes new material ranging from Strauss to ragtime, opera to the Tenor Menace. From Italian castrati to German Ring-bearers, from Handel's fights with rival sopranos to Puccini's nicotine habit, the author of Bach, Beethoven and the Boys and Tenors, Tantrums and Trills delivers a funny yet informative, irreverent yet affectionate history of serious music's most serious art form as only he can - and as only he would dare to do.

    She has grown up in its shadows and knows she doesn’t belong. Noble is the school for the children of the richest and the most influential families in the Western hemisphere. Her family is neither of those. Her father is a handyman, and her mother a cook. They work at Noble. Because they cannot afford to send her anywhere else, Sarah is admitted to this rarefied institution. She doesn’t expect to fit in or to have an especially good time, but then again, she doesn’t expect Damien West either. The West Corporation funds Noble and the only son of this powerful family has enrolled. Damien West has been kicked out of three prep schools, while a fourth burned to the ground. He's smart, cruel, and unbalanced. And for some reason, he decides to sit beside Sarah Smith in every single class. Volume 1 collects the first four episodes of the serial My Demon and is 65K words.This work of fiction does not contain paranormal or fantasy elements. It is general fiction. My Demon is considered young adult, but there are instances of strong language and some mild violence.