DIVDIVJournalist Mark Manning delves into the bizarre world of miniatures . . . and finds a king-sized case of murder/divDIV Front-page news in the quiet town of Dumont, Wisconsin, where former Chicago reporter Mark Manning runs the town’s Daily Register, involves the annual exhibition of the Midwest Miniatures Society and new zoning laws for an adult bookstore. But murder becomes the headline when “King of Miniatures” Carrol Cantrell, the nation’s foremost expert, is found strangled in the guesthouse of a local shop owner./divDIV /divDIVIt seems Cantrell was leading a double life. He was having an affair with Doug Pierce, Dumont’s closeted sheriff and a good friend of Manning’s. With a blackmail note pointing to his guilt, Pierce soon becomes the prime suspect. Enlisting the help of colleagues, friends, and his lover, Neil, Manning races to clear Pierce’s name . . . and finds himself enmeshed in the seething rivalries and vicious back-stabbing that characterize the cutthroat worlds of miniatures and pornography. With suspects ranging from a gay-bashing feminist to a renowned French craftsman of miniatures, Manning unearths a hotbed of damning secrets someone has killed—and could kill again—to keep./divDIV /divDIVName Games is the fourth book in Michael Craft’s Mark Manning series, which begins with Flight Dreams and Eye Contact./div/div
Promote a climate of trust, academic growth, and positive behavior by launching each school day with a whole class gathering. This comprehensive, user-friendly book shows you how to hold Responsive ClassroomMorning Meetings, a powerful teaching tool used by hundreds of thousands of teachers in K-8 schools. In the new edition of this essential text, you'll find: Step-by-step, practical guidelines for planning and holding Responsive Classroom Morning Meetings in K-8 classroomsDescriptions of Morning Meeting in action in real classrooms100 ideas for greetings, sharing, activities, and messages: some tried-and-true and some newUpdated information on sharingGuidance on adapting meeting components for different ages and abilities, including upper grades and English Language Learners.Explanations of how Morning Meeting supports mastery of Common Core State Standards, 21st century skills, and core competencies enumerated by the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL).
When you bend yourself into a letter shape or have an alphabet phone conversation, learning to read is FUN. Young children learn and retain more information when they are enjoying themselves. In "Reading Games for Young Children," best-selling author Jackie Silberg offers over 200 activities that will keep children ages three to six engaged, interested and entertained as they acquire the skills they need to become successful readers. Organized by elements of literacy, such as alliteration, alphabet, letter sounds and rhyming, this book provides research-based information on literacy development in young children. The fun and easy-to-do activities require little preparation and few materials. Trusted author Jackie Silberg brings us another book full of wonderful learning activities. A few examples of the fun and simple reading games you'll find: The First Sound Store Betty, Batter, Butter, Bitter Where Is the Letter? Close Your Eyes Art The Sound Shopping Trip Singing the Vowels Food Names Letter Buffet Circle the Letter Alphabet Car Trip Sticker Sound Story Same or Different Long Vowels Chant
If you're passionate about using interactive group games to help people interact, share and connect - and have no equipment whatsoever - this book is for you.Interactive group games and activities are one of the most powerful (and attractive) ways to help people connect. And research clearly shows that the most successful programs in the world are those which intentionally build trusting and healthy relationships.In this entertaining and simple how-to guide, Mark Collard distils 30+ years of experience to help you harness the power of group games to have fun and leave your group feeling engaged, valued and meaningfully connected to one another. All without props.This book will help you:Learn 150+ interactive group games & activities that people love, are universally appealing & require no props to play;Know the difference between an 'ice-breaker' and an 'ice-maker;'Understand why the latest research demands that we help our groups connect first before we deliver our content;Use five powerful tools to engage unwilling participants, create productive teams & exceed your group's expectations; andApply a simple four-step program design model that is guaranteed to invite your group to play, interact, trust & learn.Exclusive BonusesTo help you make all of this super-easy, No Props No Problem comes with four unique, value-added resources:QR code for every activity to access online video tutorials, leadership tips, variations & so much more;30-Days Free access to playmeo's ever-expanding activity database (premium subscribers already have immediate access);Free Group Games App to access everything in the palm of your hand; andForty Ready-to-Play Program Templates for 12 to 100+ people.This book makes no props, no problem, and will help you squeeze more than just fun out of your programs.Grab your copy of No Props No Problem today.Written by Mark Collard, 2018 (272 pages)
He knows what to do to save her business. She knows what he needs to fix his life! Atlas Beach is experiencing a retail renaissance—and Carly Meyer is determined to be part of it. But she and her sandwich shop, The Lunch Box, are struggling to stay afloat. Luckily, help is on the way thanks to the Chamber of Commerce’s innovative mentoring program—partnering successful Atlas Beach business owners with some of the newer start-ups. Too bad the mentor assigned to her is the delectable—and highly annoying—Tino DiLuca. Tino knows exactly what’s been hurting Carly’s business and—exactly how to fix it. But his number one solution, changing the name of her signature sandwich, is the one thing she’s not prepared to do.
If you know nothing about game development, you're basically me before I started working on my first game DARQ. This book assumes no knowledge of game development on the reader's part. As a first-time developer with no prior experience in coding, modeling, texturing, animation, game design, etc., I managed to launch DARQ to both commercial success and critical acclaim. With zero dollars spent on marketing, it was featured in major media outlets, such as IGN, Kotaku, PC Gamer, GameSpot, Forbes, and hundreds of others. Ultimately, DARQ became #42 Most Shared PC Video Game of 2019, according to Metacritic, with the average user rating of 9 out of 10. In my book, I'm sharing with you exactly how I did it. The book guides you through a step-by-step process of making a game: from downloading a game engine to releasing your first commercial title. The book features advice from 15 industry professionals, including Mark Kern (team lead of World of Warcraft), Quentin De Beukelaer (game designer of Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, Assassin's Creed Unity, Ghost Recon Breakpoint), Bjorn Jacobsen (sound designer of Cyberpunk 2077, Divinity: Fallen Heroes, Hitman), Austin Wintory (Grammy-nominated composer of Journey, ABZÛ, Assassin's Creed: Syndicate), and others. The foreword is written by my mentor John Corigliano, Oscar, Pulitzer Prize, and 5-time Grammy Award-winning composer.
Based on Shamanic principles and the philosophy that laughter and play are basic human needs that feed the soul and unleash natural creativity, the tried, tested and proven activities in this book can be used with all ages. They are helpfully split into different sections, covering everything from warm-up games to verbal improvisation games, theatre games and warm-downs. Drawing on decades of experience in this substantially revised and expanded new edition, the author shares the games, improvisations and dance structures that he has found most effective in his work as a group leader and participant, and includes tips throughout on how to be a good facilitator and run a successful group. With lists of resources, including a musicography, the book is an inspiring and practical resource for anyone running a group.