How to Be Successful in Your First Year of Teaching College: Everything You Need to Know That They Don’t Teach You in School

Imagine yourself in front of a classroom on the first day of your career as a college instructor. You pass your new set of students a fresh copy of the syllabus that you spent hours perfecting over the summer. You introduce yourself and begin getting to know your students. You make them laugh by telling stories of yourself and by asking about their summers. By the end of the class, the students are intrigued and the classroom is alive with an active discussion.

In comparison to what could happen on your first day as a college teacher, an hour filled with the silence of a half-sleeping classroom, where students are listing to their iPods and texting on their cell phones, the situation laid out above is a new teacher’s dream. With the help of How to Be Successful in Your First Year of Teaching College, you can achieve not only your perfect first day, but a successful and productive first year as well. You will learn to take control of your classroom and provide students with a fun and effective setting in which they can actively succeed in your class and beyond.

This new, extensively researched book will begin by offering information on how to find the perfect college teaching position. You will be provided with valuable information on the different types of academic positions available, from teaching assistant to tenure and on how to search for these positions. You will learn about how the position you chose will affect your family and personal life, what to look for in a benefits package, and what benefits different types of colleges can provide.

Important information that you need to know before accepting a position will be provided to you. A complete overview of understanding faculty contracts and faculty unions is included as well as an introduction to the academic environment that will surround you as you begin your new career as a college instructor.

Once you have accepted your new position, How to Be Successful in Your First Year of Teaching College will prepare you for that first day of class. You will learn how to structure your course, select textbooks, design and implement your syllabus, establish classroom policies, and interpret university policies on grading, student evaluation, plagiarism, and other grievances. Most new college instructors spend months worrying about how to break the ice during the first week of class. Helpful ideas for winning over your new students are provided as well as tips for making lasting first impressions. First-year teachers will benefit from the discussion on the three stages of teaching a lesson as well as tips for keeping students interested during lectures, the pros and cons of using discussion groups in the classroom, and how to use small groups as an alternative approach to traditional instruction.

Most importantly, a complete chapter has been included on relating and getting to know your new set of students. College students in the 21st century are a diverse group. It is important to understand what life is like for today’s college student and how these students think and learn in order to effectively do your job. Even more complicated can be trying to keep up with the fast paced technology that students today are accustomed to. An important chapter on teaching in the digital age will provide valuable information on online courses, using technology in the classroom, and e-mail protocol.

In the appendices, new college instructors will find a complete overview of academic terminology and a sample syllabi, lecture outline, and course design. Helpful “case studies” by second-year and veteran college instructors provide insider strategies and proven techniques for surviving your first year as a college instructor. How to Be Successful in Your First Year of Teaching College will be a book that you refer to over and over again throughout your freshman year as a college teacher. With the help of this book, you will not only survive the first year, you, and most importantly your students, will thrive as you begin on what will become a long and successful college teaching career.

Choosing the Right Legal Form of Business: The Complete Guide to Becoming a Sole Proprietor, Partnership, LLC, or Corporation

According the United States Small Business Administration’s most recently released date, there are more than 9 million small businesses in the United States and almost 250,000 new ones started every year. Of those new businesses, half will fail in the first 12 months and part of that failure is due to the lack of information about how to start and develop that business. Without the right legal form of business, you may end up paying too much in taxes, failing to comply with certain laws, or miss out on certain breaks that you deserve. This book provides you with a complete guide, discussing all four major forms of business, which one is right for you, and how your decision may affect you in the future.

The first thing you will read about is the list of non-legal issues you need to deal with before you start the business creation process. In addition, you will learn which form of business is ideal for your particular situation with a short overview of each type, a comparison of what each offers, and how the legal implications of each might apply to you. You will learn specifically how to choose between an LLC and a corporation in instances where it might not be immediately clear which is best for you. You will also learn which special business structures are best suited to your needs if you do not fit into any of the four primary categories.

The process of structuring a partnership is outlined, along with how to create a written agreement and how to change a partnership after the business has been created. You will also learn how to create a corporation, including the structure you will use, how to establish financing, the compensation you will provide yourself, whether you need a lawyer, the 13 step process of starting and filing your corporation, and what you need to do immediately afterwards. The number of members needed to create an LLC is provided as well, along with how to structure management and determine financing and compensation.

Hours of careful interviews were conducted with successful small business owners and legal experts to help create a comprehensive collection of materials that will guide you through the processes above, as well as how to handle transition of ownership and the extended process of naming your business – including the legal implications of this process, what you need to know about trademarks and service marks, how to protect your own trademarks, and where to do name searches. The licensing and permit processes, as well as the tax structures for each business type, are included for federal, state, and local laws, while additional information is provided on how to build your home-based business as opposed to one in a physical location. If you are looking to create a new business and do not know which format is best for your needs, this book will walk you through each step of the selection process, making sure your new business meets all applicable laws and regulations.

Russian Foreign Minister to freeze international adoptions, but one family thinks they’re worth the risk

By: Shannon McCarthy

One mother’s decision could affect countless American citizens seeking to bring Russian children into their lives.

Last week, an American woman put her 7-year-old adopted son on a plane back to Russia with a note saying she didn’t want him anymore because he had psychological issues. Officials and adoption experts in both countries were shocked by the incident — so much so that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov demanded a freeze on all Russia-to-U.S. adoptions until the two countries can forge a new agreement on adoptions conditions. Numerous American families will feel this effect: There were 1,586 Russian children adopted in the United States in 2009.

But one horrific incident shouldn’t ruin international adoption for all Americans who yearn to provide a loving home for those children around the world who are in need of families.

“It’s like if there’s a plane crash: They don’t ground all planes,” said Ginger Carlisle, who has a son and a daughter who were adopted from the Ukraine. “The rest of the children that have been adopted and can still be adopted should not be punished for one incident in thousands of successful adoptions.”

And most international adoptions ultimately result in happy endings. Take the experience of Ginger and her husband, Kevin. The couple began the process of adopting their children from the Ukraine after the loss of their daughter in a car accident. Their book, In Search of a Family, chronicles their journey on the bumpy road to bringing their new children home.

In an intimate journal setting, the Carlisles guide the reader through their experience navigating the unknowns of an international adoption and overcoming the numerous obstacles that threatened to derail their quest to form a new family. The couple is familiar with the devastation political issues can cause; their first attempt at international adopting was abruptly terminated with a radical change in the Honduran government. Their second endeavor was no easier, and the details of the challenges they faced are a valuable resource for anyone considering the process. Braving Ukrainian election tensions and protests, heartbreaking hindrances, financial fears, and changing adoption policies, they endured the emotional and psychological maze of the bureaucracy and physical logistics of an international adoption while focusing on one goal: bringing the children home.

But as this recent event shows, the troubles don’t end once the adoption is complete. In many cases, the language barriers and psychological effects of being institutionalized make it hard for foreign children to connect with their new parents and adapt to their new homes. But those struggles pale in comparison to their ultimate reward — forging a loving, lasting relationship with a child you can call your own.

“It’s a feeling that you get when you look at them,” Ginger said. “And you say, ‘These are my children. They just are.’ It becomes a fact. Not every kid does what you want or turns out the way that you want them to, but this is your child; there is no question to it.”

For more information on the Carlisles and their family’s story, visit their Web site or visit their Facebook Fan page.

Atlantic Publishing Group Inc. is your No. 1 source for nonfiction books. We publish nonfiction books, focusing on small business, management, online media, and real estate, as well as parenting, cooking, and traveling. Atlantic Publishing Group is the leader in providing training materials including books, videos, posters, tools, and software to the food service industry. Follow us on Twitter @AtlanticPub.

The Complete Guide to Beekeeping for Fun & Profit: Everything You Need to Know Explained Simply

Beekeeping is both a hobby and a practical business plan that many individuals have taken up in recent years as a viable way to culture a valuable natural resource and have fun in the process. In any given year, an effectively built beekeeping business can bring profits up to 500 percent of your investment according to numerous private beekeepers. The benefit of growing your own honey and selling it to local customers for between $3 and $6 a pound depending on how you cultivate and whether your honey is completely organic can be a huge boon for anyone with the money and time to invest.

This book walks all motivated potential beekeepers through the process of building and operating their beekeeping business from the ground up, ensuring it is both a fun hobby and a great way to make a little extra money on the side. You will learn everything you need to effectively start beekeeping for profit and fun, including what materials you need, what kinds of bees are best for honey or wax production. You will learn all of the fundamental safety equipment you need to effectively handle the bees and where to place your hives on your property to take advantage of natural circumstances. You will learn the basics you need to understand what bees do and how they interact, including details about the queen bee, the worker bees, drones, and foragers. You will learn how seasonal changes affect your colonies, and how to use your smoke to access and gather honey from your bees.

The best in home beekeeping professionals have been interviewed and their expertise and insights have been gathered here for you to review, providing additional details about the kinds and methods of honey gathering that you can profit from you. You will learn how to install everything and keep your colonies updated. You will learn how to keep the necessary records and how to sell your honey and what the best prices for that honey is. You will learn what is involved in opening a colony and how to manage pests effectively without endangering the bees or the honey. You will learn how to manage your hives in the winter and fall and what you can do with everything your bees produce. For anyone who has ever considered beekeeping as a hobby or source of side income, this is the book for you.

The Complete Guide to Making Your Own Wine at Home: Everything You Need to Know Explained Simply

Wine has been a staple of tables around the world for more than 4,000 years and in that time has developed into one of the most widely recognized and highly cultivated beverages in nearly every civilization on earth. From the rice wines of Asia to the grape wines of Europe or honey wines of Africa, wine is enjoyed by billions. For that reason, many people seek out ways to make and enjoy their own wine from the comfort of their homes, growing their own grapes and experimenting with a wide array of ingredients to facilitate one of the world’s oldest domestic processes. Yet, without the right instruction and resources, wine making can result in just another pile of sour grapes.

This book walks every potential winemaker through every process necessary in creating and enjoying wine from the comfort of your own home. From the basics of distillation to the ingredients used, homemade wine can be on your table and wowing your guests in no time. You will learn all of the basics of home wine making, starting with the wide array of ingredients available to you, including grapes and berries. You will learn what all is required to start and operate a home winery and what you may be missing right now. The basic aspects of all red wines and white wines will be detailed for you, giving you every bit of information you need to fully understand how the body and bouquet of each wine is supposed to taste and feel. You will learn how the grapes are pressed and how long you must wait between the pressing, the addition of other ingredients, and the bottling of the wine.

For this book, more than a hundred wine makers, winery owners, and home wine experts were interviewed to gain a general overview of how wine making is done, with details about the difference between each wine, the right mixture of ingredients, the better wine taste, and the testing and trying of new things in each bottle. You will learn how to measure and affect the sulfur dioxide levels in your wine and ultimately how to take control of every aspect of your wines, from taste to dryness to odor and color. Everything you could possibly want to know about wine making and much more is presented in this complete guide for anyone with an eye for the hobby.

The Complete Guide to Renovating Older Homes: How to Make it Easy and Save Thousands

Many homeowners express a preference for older homes rather than new ones because of the quality of the craftsmanship, the architectural elements, the character of the home, and the solidness of the structure. Houses can be changed – they can be made bigger or smaller according to your desires. Remodeling your home can make it come alive, fix its flaws, and enhance its interior. However, renovating can be time consuming, expensive, nerve-racking, and messy. The Complete Guide to Renovating Older Homes will help you overcome these challenges.

In this new book, you will learn how to estimate costs and how to create a budget. You will learn how to select and install cabinets, countertops, flooring, sinks, faucets, appliances, bath tubs, showers, and toilets. You will learn about the unique challenges of small and large bathrooms, home offices, and home theaters. You will also learn how to overcome the challenges associated with water, foundation, cracks, lead, electricity, asbestos, windows, tanks, wells, and cesspools.

Additionally, you will be presented with ideas for renovating your family room, bedrooms, attic, basement, kitchen, and bathroom, as well as a variety of floor plans. You will learn about unique architectural elements, closets, and the tools you will need. Furthermore, you will be provided with step-by-step instructions for some of the most common projects, including installing drywall, upgrading windows and doors, and installing flooring. Also included is a section on exterior renovations, which contains information on windows, skylights, finish materials, garage doors, sunrooms, porches, decks, and pools.

The Complete Guide to Renovating Older Homes will inspire you to create the home of your dreams and will help save you thousands of dollars while doing so. Whether you are attempting your first renovation project or are a seasoned pro, you will be sure to find numerous tips and suggestions in this book, making it an indispensable companion for any homeowner with a project or two in mind.

How to Open & Operate a Financially Successful Import Export Business: With Companion CD-ROM

The import and export business is not just for goliath corporations. An individual armed with the right information can get in on this enormous industry. It is big business these days – to the tune of an annual $1.2 trillion in goods, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. In 2007 alone, American companies will export $772 billion in merchandise to more than 150 foreign countries.

Billions of dollars in merchandise and goods are being exchanged each day in the global marketplace. These products are bought, sold, represented, and distributed somewhere in the world on a daily basis. While basically any country can offer opportunities for import export trade, Canada, Mexico, Japan, and China have topped the trading chart for the past two decades. In the last few years, countries in the former Soviet Union and South America have become major players. Compared to other businesses, however, import export companies have a very low startup cost. You do not need any special license or degree; what you need to succeed is the expert advice presented in this new, comprehensive manual. This is a business you run from home, and travel is mostly optional.
This guide provides readers with an understanding of the basic concepts of international trade and will help you navigate the maze of international trade policies and regulations. This new book is a comprehensive and detailed study of the business side of the import export business. You will learn everything from the initial startup decisions to working with U.S. and foreign companies. If you are investigating opportunities in this type of business, you should begin by reading this book.

While providing detailed instruction and examples, the author leads you through every detail that will bring success. You will learn how to draw up a winning business plan (the companion CD-ROM has the actual business plan you can use in Microsoft Word™) and about basic cost control systems, commercial terms, documentation, trade agreements, trade shows, cultural issues, customs and market research, the latest information on government regulations, tax laws, customs requirements, shipping procedures, how to represent U.S.-based companies, copyright and trademark issues, product pricing, distribution systems, custom brokers, international documentation, branding,  foreign-trade leads, management, legal concerns, sales and marketing techniques, and pricing formulas.

You will learn how to set up computer systems to save time and money, how to meet IRS requirements, how to manage and train employees, how to generate high profile public relations and publicity, and how to implement low cost internal marketing ideas. You will learn how to build your business by using low and no cost ways to satisfy customers, as well as ways to increase sales and have customers refer others to you. Successful import export experts will appreciate this valuable resource and reference it in their daily activities as a source of ready-to-use forms, Web sites, operating and cost cutting ideas, and mathematical formulas that can easily be applied to their operations. The companion CD-ROM contains all the forms found in the book, as well as a sample business plan you can adapt for your own use.

The Homeowner’s Guide to For Sale By Owner: Everything You Need to Know to Sell Your Home Yourself and Save Thousands

American homeowners saw the real estate landscape change in recent years. Most cities in America have “buyer’s markets,” meaning you may have to go that extra mile if you want to sell your home. This book details each benefit that going FSBO can bring you, and explains how you can accomplish this task while saving money. With the help of this new book and companion CD-ROM, selling your home without a realtor or broker will be fast and easy. In this comprehensive and easy-to-understand book, you will learn the entire “by owner process” from A-Z. You will learn how to set the sales price and how to save the 6 to 8 percent real estate commission, which can add up to thousands or tens of thousands of dollars in savings.

You will learn how to prepare or “stage” your home, have a professional appraisal and home inspection, market, advertise, and show your home, list your home for sale on the Internet, list your home on the Realtor’s Multiple Listing Service (MLS), host an open house, and develop and market a fact sheet.

In addition, you will learn about mortgage lenders, home inspectors, title companies, escrow agents, the pros and cons of using a For Sale By Owner (FSBO) service, the legal issues, the biggest mistakes FSBO sellers make and how to avoid them, contracts, legal forms, and check lists (all of which can be found on the companion CD-ROM), and when and how to use a real estate attorney.

This book also includes dozens of resources and information from real estate experts: mortgage planners, attorneys, escrow agents, and realtors were interviewed for this book. In addition, people who have accomplished selling their own homes were interviewed to give inside tips on how to reach this goal. Let this book be your guide through saving money and selling your house the FSBO way.