Marilyn Shelton

When twenty-three-year-old preschool teacher and journalism grad Marilyn Shelton experiences severe insomnia, she rushes to obtain prescription relief. Under the mood-altering effects of the prescribed drugs, she is hospitalized, misdiagnosed and told she will need to take addictive medications for the rest of her life just to maintain any semblance of sanity. Fearing the repercussions of going against medical advice, she at first follows these instructions to the tee. But after being mistreated at the hospital, she begins to question the wisdom of authority, especially after witnessing the abuses inflicted upon her by the psychiatric system. After being discharged, defying conventional wisdom, she begins to reconstruct her life and to find her identity, trying out many different roles and occupations in the process and meeting many characters along the way. Shockingly, after discontinuing her psychiatric drugs, she realizes that she remains well and that her state of health may not be a coincidence. It is then that she begins to undergo therapy to resolve the issues that led her to turn to drugs in the first place and to find more natural means of coping with her sleeplessness. In this coming-of-age story in the era of Prozac, Shelton proves just what good can come of not following your doctor's advice.

This chapbook takes you on a journey through the author's life with all its ups and downs. You'll taste the best bar-b-cue in the south, hear glorious anthems of night critters, impersonate psychiatrists, laugh out loud, feel the worms of death, shed a small tear, undergo the frustration of writing, ache over unrequited love, celebrate the joy of shared love, commune and appreciate the wonder of nature, ride a roller coaster of madness, and see what happens when angels complain after the seven days of creating the universe. You will be uncomfortable at the neighbor's supper table when a father slaps her friend, enjoy a family vacation, and mingle with girls with pearls at a debutante tea. In this odd mix of topics, a few serious nuggets of wisdom will show up for you to take away. A book club will enjoy this quick accessible read which brings up a multitude of emotions, interpersonal relations, and thoughts to discuss.

Portfolios have often been used as a way for teachers to monitor and assess their students' progress, but this book picks up on the current trend of using portfolios to assess teachers themselves as part of their degree requirements. As a professional development tool, portfolios are also useful for classroom teachers in evaluating their practice, and in showcasing their skills and accomplishments for use in interviews.Veteran teacher educators Marianne Jones and Marilyn Shelton provide practical and comprehensive guidance specific to the needs of pre- and in-service teachers of young children. This thoroughly revised and updated new edition features:A flexible and friendly approach that guides students at varying levels of experience through the portfolio processNew material on the portfolio planning stage and additional coverage on the importance of developing a personal philosophyA companion website with additional instructor materials such as printable templates, exercises for improving portfolio skills, and moreBoth theoretical and practical, the book addresses issues and mechanics related to process and product, instruction and guidance techniques, the role of reflection, and assessment strategies. With concrete examples, rubrics, tips, and exercises, this book will provide a step-by-step guide to creating a professional teaching portfolio.

Portfolios have often been used as a way for teachers to monitor and assess their students' progress, but this book picks up on the current trend of using portfolios to assess teachers themselves as part of their degree requirements. As a professional development tool, portfolios are also useful for classroom teachers in evaluating their practice, and in showcasing their skills and accomplishments for use in interviews.Veteran teacher educators Marianne Jones and Marilyn Shelton provide practical and comprehensive guidance specific to the needs of pre- and in-service teachers of young children. This thoroughly revised and updated new edition features:A flexible and friendly approach that guides students at varying levels of experience through the portfolio processNew material on the portfolio planning stage and additional coverage on the importance of developing a personal philosophyA companion website with additional instructor materials such as printable templates, exercises for improving portfolio skills, and moreBoth theoretical and practical, the book addresses issues and mechanics related to process and product, instruction and guidance techniques, the role of reflection, and assessment strategies. With concrete examples, rubrics, tips, and exercises, this book will provide a step-by-step guide to creating a professional teaching portfolio.