High Performance Through Communicating Information

VOYA - Deborah L. Dubois

These five brief titles in the Learning-A-Living Library series cover some of the basic life skills students need to know in order to be successful both at school and on the job. Each book gives a basic introduction to the subject, how a student would apply the knowledge at home, at school and at work, and gives ideas for applying the information in the future. Practical, down-to-earth advice uses examples from everyday life, illustrated with photos of high school students in common situations. "Questions to Ask Yourself" are listed at the end of each chapter to help readers check their understanding of the material. These books are easy to read and would help reluctant readers understand these topics. Each cover features a color photo of a student practicing the skills discussed in the book. Although they offer important information needed by most students, the books overlap a bit. The Communicating Information and Negotiation titles could have been combined into one book, covering both topics of written, spoken, and non-verbal communication, and how to negotiate solutions in which both sides win. Effective Budgeting discusses budgeting materials and human resources as well as money, using a small business as an example. It also includes a list of "Organizations to Contact" for those wanting more help. Effective Scheduling recommends scheduling free time and using a time log to track any problems. Organizing Information includes finding information in the library, taking notes, and writing resumes, reports, letters and memos-a lot to cover in such a short space. Overall, this is a worthwhile series, giving information in a useful format that students will find easy to use. Teachers planning to cover these topics will find these to be good introductory material. Glossary. Index. Photos. Further Reading. Note: This review was written and published to address five titles: High Performance Through Effective Budgeting, High Performance Through Effective Scheduling, High Performance Through Communicating Information, High Performance Through Negotiation, and High Performance Through Organizing Information. VOYA Codes: 3Q 3P J S (Readable without serious defects, Will appeal with pushing, Junior High-defined as grades 7 to 9 and Senior High-defined as grades 10 to 12).

School Library Journal

Gr 7 UpTwo general overviews targeted toward adolescents preparing to enter the work world immediately after high school graduation. McGlothlin defines a system as "any combination of elements that operate together and form a whole." He looks at family, school, and the work world and encourages young people to examine the relationships between people and processes within the social, organizational, and technological systems they encounter every day. The author presents information on how systems are constructed and how effective employees understand and help improve them through creativity and initiative. The text is a bit more technical and cumbersome than in Communicating Information and may be a turnoff for some students. Rosen discusses the basics of verbal and written communication and the importance of being an active listener, and cites various examples of how good skills can help remedy a situation while poor ones can exacerbate a problem. Despite the use of a large, clear typeface to aid readability, the pages are type intensive and lack variety. The average-to-poor quality, black-and-white and full-color photographs are merely decorative. While suitable for large public libraries, these books will be of most use to guidance counselors or school librarians as part of a broader curriculum supplemented with other materials.Joan Soulliere, Wenham Public Library, MA