New Releases by Sharon McKay

Coming of age against all odds in the midst of the Arab Spring. Growing up in East Aleppo, Yara''s childhood has long been shadowed by the coming revolution. But when the Arab Spring finally arrives at Yara''s doorstep, it is worse than even her Nana imagined: sudden, violent, and deadly. When rescuers dig Yara out from under the rubble that was once her family''s home, she emerges to a changed world. Her parents and Nana are gone, and her brother, Saad, can''t speak--struck silent by everything he''s seen. Now, with her friend Shireen and Shireen''s charismatic brother, Ali, Yara must try to find a way to safety. With danger around every corner, Yara is pushed to her limits as she discovers how far she''ll go for her loved ones--and for a chance for freedom. Crafted through the focused lens of Jamal Saeed''s own experiences in Syria and brought to life with acclaimed author Sharon E. McKay, Yara''s Spring is a story of coming of age against all odds and the many kinds of love that bloom even in the face of war.

A heart-wrenching tale of selfless love and the powerful desire to survive. When little Kai is brought to the orphanage, an older child, Pax, immediately takes him under his wing. Left on their own after the orphanage shuts down, Pax is determined to keep Kai safe, but life on the streets is tough—and dangerous. In a desperate attempt to make enough money to keep Kai in school, Pax unwittingly transports a bomb, which explodes, killing and maiming hundreds of people. Pax and Kai escape the deadly explosion, only to be arrested and charged with terrorism. What follows is a descent into the hellish prison where brutal guards stop at nothing to make Pax talk. This haunting novel brings home the tragic situation in which children in over 40 countries are tortured with impunity. But it also speaks to the strength of love in the most dire situations.

"Reinvesting in Families" is the fourth in this series of child welfare books featuring voices from the prairies. This book is a collection of critical knowledge, issues and research in Canada related to the delivery of child welfare services from a family-focused and First Nations perspective. Addressing tough issues such as FASD, high-risk substance misuse, and family reunification, "Reinvesting in Families "presents thoughtful, best-practice research and is well-suited to instructors, research and is well-suited to instructors, students, and researchers who have an interest in child welfare practice and service delivery.

Sam, an Israeli teen whose leg may have to be amputated, and Yusuf, a Palestinian teen who has lost his left eye, find themselves uneasy roommates in a Jerusalem hospital. One night, the boys decide to slip away while the nurses aren’t looking and go on an adventure to the Old City. The escapade turns dangerous when they realize they’re hopelessly lost. As they navigate the dark city—one of them limping and the other half-blind—their suspicions of each other are diverted. They band together to find their way home, defending themselves against unfriendly locals, arrest by the military police, and an encounter with a deadly desert snake. The boys’ attempts to understand each other and the politics that divide them mirror the longstanding conflict in the Middle East. This powerful story, touched with humor, demonstrates how individual friendships and experiences can triumph over enormous cultural and political differences and lead to understanding and compassion.

Despite high staff turnover and a predominance of part-time positions in the field of adult education some adult education teachers create careers for themselves that span many years--even decades. According to the U.S. Department of Education (2007), teachers are the most important factor in improving student achievement. Knapp (2003) points out that professional development is a critical link to improved teaching. Experienced teachers differ from novice teachers in important ways. They are likely to need professional development that affirms the knowledge, experience, and intuitive judgment they have cultivated during their careers. At the same time, teaching experience does not necessarily result in expertise. Some experienced teachers are not as receptive to professional development as are new teachers. Administrators and professional developers must recognize and address this potential resistance while remaining mindful of experienced teachers'' characteristics and needs. This brief begins with an overview of the definitions and characteristics of experienced and expert teachers and of the ways that these teachers differ from novice, or beginning, teachers. It continues with a discussion of considerations involved in providing high-quality professional development for experienced teachers. Models of professional development that have been suggested for meeting the unique needs of experienced teachers are presented, and areas for future research are identified. This brief is written for experienced teachers working with adult English language learners and for program administrators and trainers seeking to implement high-quality professional development for these teachers.

The stories in this book come from behind the walls and barbed wire of Europe''s ghettos during the Nazi regime. We hear the voices of young boys and girls as they live with the fear that they might be deported to the death camps at any moment. Theirs are stories of courage and determination, of struggle and resistance. They speak for those who, like them, managed to survive the war. And they speak for those who did not.

Introduction: Voices of Passion, Voices of Hope / Sharon McKay -- 1. Passion within the First nations School Work Profession / Dexter Kinequon -- 2. Passion, Action, Strength and Innovative Change: The Experience of the Saskatchewan Children''s Advocate''s Office in Establishing Rights-based "Children and Youth First" Principles / Marvin M. Bernstein and Roxane A. Schury -- 3. From Longing to Belonging: Attachment Theory, Connectedness, and Indigenous Children in canada / Jeannine Carriere and Cathy Richardson -- 4. Jumping through the Hoops: A Manitoba Study Examining Experiences and Reflections of Aboriginal Mothers Involved in Child Welfare in Manitoba / Marlyn Bennett -- 5. Rehearsing with Reality: Exploring Health Issues with Aboriginal Youth Through Drama / Linda Goulet, Jo-Ann Episkenew, Warren Linds and Karen Arnason -- 7. The Moving Forward Project: Working with Refugee Children, Youth and Their Families / Judy White et al. -- 8. Passion for Those Who care: What Foster Carers Need / Rob Twigg -- 9. Children with FASD involved with the Manitoba Child Welfare System: The Need for Passionate Action / Don Fuchs, Linda Burnside, Shelagh Marchenski and Andria Mudry -- 10. Physical Punishment in Childhood: A Human Rights and cxhild Protection Issue / Ailsa M. Watkinson -- 11. Complex Poverty and Home-grown Solutions in Two Prairie cities / Jim Silver [Winnipeg and Saskatoon].

This brief examines the research on learner interaction and summarizes the positive effects of classroom interaction on language learning. The brief also describes areas of focus for teachers who want to promote successful language learning interactions, provides examples of activities that can be used to structure and enhance classroom interactions, and discusses special considerations for using learner interaction activities in classes with beginning-level learners. (Contains 1 table.).

Amusing illustrations, accompanied by special carving tools and stencils, introduce young readers to a variety of Halloween activities, from carving pumpkins and creating their own costumes, to game-filled Halloween parties, decorations, and scary stunts. Original.