Over the past decade, religious, secular, and spiritual distinctions have broken down, forcing scholars to rethink secularity and its relationship to society. Since classifying a person, activity, or experience as religious or otherwise is an important act of valuation, one that defines the characteristics of a group and its relation to others, scholars are struggling to recast these concepts in our increasingly ambiguous, pluralistic world. This collection considers religious and secular categories and what they mean to those who seek valuable, ethical lives. As they investigate how individuals and groups determine significance, set goals, and attribute meaning, contributors illustrate the ways in which religious, secular, and spiritual designations serve as markers of value. Reflecting on recent ethnographic and historical research, chapters explore contemporary psychical research and liberal American homeschooling; the work of nineteenth and early-twentieth-century American psychologists and French archaeologists; the role of contemporary humanitarian and volunteer organizations based in Europe and India; and the prevalence of highly mediated and spiritualized publics, from international psy-trance festivals to Ghanaian national political contexts. Contributors particularly focus on the role of ambivalence, attachment, and disaffection in the formation of religious, secular, and spiritual identities, resetting research on secular society and contemporary religious life while illuminating what matters in the lives of ordinary individuals.

A much-needed and delightful book. It shows how history can be taught with the meaningful experiences of each child at its centre, making connections between the child, the locality and community, the national and global past and concepts of time. Throughout the authors empower teachers to adopt their philosophy, by showing them how to plan, select resources and strategies and reflect on ideas and case studies. Hilary Cooper, Emeritus professor of history and pedagogy, The University of Cumbria, UK. Bringing History Alive through Local People and Places puts the local environment and community at the heart of history, showing how it can be used as the context for successful history teaching across the primary age range. It considers how to develop children’s concepts and skills through local history, how to link local, national and global aspects of history, and helps you develop your own historical knowledge, understanding and confidence in teaching the subject. Practical topics explored include: Investigating children’s cultural and geographical roots through fieldwork Finding and visiting local museums, archives and heritage sights Choosing and using resources Using significant people, events and buildings to link with national history Environmental education and sustainable development through local history Understanding the links between history and everyday life Planning and assessing history. Based on the latest research and practice in the field, Bringing History Alive through Local People and Places offers an exciting template of creative ideas and activities to show teachers how they can make history relevant to all children.

This is th first volume of the complete six volume set of the finest material ever written on education. Recognized as the pioneer in home education and major school reforms, Charlotte Mason's practical methods are as relevant and important today as when they were first written. Each of the six volumes are individually available from Amazon. The complete collection of Charlotte Mason's Original Homeschooling Series includes: Volume 1 - Home Education (ISBN 9781438297408) Volume 2 - Parents and Children (ISBN 9781438297477) Volume 3 - School Education (ISBN 9781438298061) Volume 4 - Ourselves (ISBN 9781438298085) Volume 5 - Formation Of Character (ISBN 9781438298092) Volume 6 - Towards A Philosophy of Education (ISBN 9781438298139)

Hope and help for shaping Christ-honoring future generations. Families are like little churches. They are meant to be places of discipleship, worship, and rest—places where we can fine tune the gifts God’s given us so we can bless the world. They can be full of surprises and joy. But family life can also be heartbreaking and downright discouraging. Trained counselor and mother Melissa Hannigan knows how hard it is to cast and keep a vision of rich family life. How do we cultivate a family culture that’s vibrant and encouraging—a refuge amidst life’s storms? Melissa is passionate about helping families build healthy, strong, God-honoring homes. In Inconvenient Parenting, she shares twelve qualities that are the key ingredients to that desired end: Wisdom — Wonder — Vitality — Sensitivity — Flexibility —Curiosity — Creativity — Imagination — Inventiveness — Playfulness — Humor — Joy Melissa shows us why, though inconvenient at times, it’s necessary to encourage and infuse these traits in our children and reveals how we can unknowingly discourage these qualities. Each chapter concludes with practical activities, book recommendations, and discussion questions to help parents immediately apply the principles discussed. Become more connected to God and one another through the rich wisdom and help offered in Inconvenient Parenting.

Take a good look at the reasons why homeschooling can help today's kids thrive Homeschool Rising is a guide for anyone interested in homeschooling their children, regardless of background. It busts through the myths surrounding homeschooling, reveals the failures of our current school system, and demonstrates how home education and loving, motivated parents can provide a solution for students and families everywhere. There are many assumptions made about homeschooling—that the child will be "socially awkward" due to lack of social interaction, that parents are not equipped to educate their children, that homeschooling is only for White, Christian, middle-class parents, and more. In Homeschool Rising, educator Christy-Faith offers insights from more than 20 years in the field and her experience working with thousands of students to debunk these myths and misconceptions. The truth is, homeschooling sets today’s students up for success in a way that traditional schooling no longer can. This authoritative yet casual and accessible guide provides parents the tools, courage, and knowledge to opt out of the school system and take charge of their children's education. Clear up the confusion and misconception surrounding homeschooling See why homeschooling is a great option for kids of any race, religion, and background Gain the knowledge you need to start your kids off on the right foot with homeschooling Make sure your homeschooled kids are getting the support they need academically and socially New and experienced homeschoolers looking for support, as well as educators, psychologists, and others who work with homeschooled children, will love the clear, evidence-backed, and conversational information in Homeschool Rising.

"This volume of collected essays deals with a wide range of issues challenging Muslim Americans as they seek a well-rounded religious education from adolescence to adulthood. Also explored are college-level education; the kinds of training being offered by Muslim chaplains in universities, hospitals, and prisons; and the ways in which Muslims are educating the American public in the face of hostility and prejudice, This timely volume is the first dedicated entirely to the neglected topic of Islamic education in the United States."--BOOK JACKET.

Products, technologies, and workplaces change so quickly today that everyone is continually learning. Many of us are also teaching, even when it's not in our job descriptions. Whether it's giving a presentation, writing documentation, or creating a website or blog, we need and want to share our knowledge with other people. But if you've ever fallen asleep over a boring textbook, or fast-forwarded through a tedious e-learning exercise, you know that creating a great learning experience is harder than it seems. In Design For How People Learn, you'll discover how to use the key principles behind learning, memory, and attention to create materials that enable your audience to both gain and retain the knowledge and skills you're sharing. Using accessible visual metaphors and concrete methods and examples, Design For How People Learn will teach you how to leverage the fundamental concepts of instructional design both to improve your own learning and to engage your audience.