The power of good teaching
591320
The innovative methods used by this teacher helped the troubled teens deal with unbelievable challenges in their lives, as is clearly documented in their diary entries.

This book should be a 'must read' for educators, and I highly recommend it for anyone interested in youth development.
4010035
This text integrates the three principal themes of students, teaching, and learning.  Throughout the text, relevant material is highlighted which correlates to the Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (INTASC) Standards for Beginning Teacher Licensing and Development.  The text is replete with new research, case studies, practical applications, guides to programs and strategies, resources with detailed citations, and a preparation guide for the Praxis Exam (teacher certification tests).

In every chapter, the text models good teaching practices through the timely and strategic employment of content outlines, learning outcomes, introductory and attention-arresting case studies, real-life and cartoon graphics, charts and graphs, vocabulary highlights, reflective thought sections, summaries, and additional resources.  Using many examples and suggestions, the text demonstrates how to put educational research to work in the classroom.
2325968
Most everyone agrees that education is important to any society, but what cannot be agreed upon is the means to achieve an end; the most effective way to teach so that children emerge better informed and better suited for the ever- changing world in which we live. This book, Teaching as Leadership, claims to have the answers and it formulates its methodology based on the experience of teachers over a twenty-year span. The book strives to make teachers more effective, more successful, and more efficient through its articulated means for teaching and student involvement. It spells everything out, in chronological step- by- step order, covering everything from setting goals to execution to continuous improvement.

Teaching as Leadership does have some good advice to offer and I like the way it lays out its plan of action. It offers anecdotes and a helpful conclusion/summary at the end of each chapter that wraps up the key points. This is all fine and good, and the author's intentions are certainly positive and noteworthy. However, this book isn't quite the eye- opening read I was hoping for and the main reason is that most of the contents of this book cover strategies and material that teachers have heard and been trained on for decades. In addition to that, the book gets very monotonous after a while. You can easily predict what each section of each chapter is going to cover before you get there. If the author wanted to drive these points home through repetition, I would say he succeeded.

On the positive side, this book does more than simply lay out a plan of action through words and anecdotes. There are also some helpful appendices and other reference material throughout each chapter. Many concerned educators might want to turn immediately to Appendix A, which offers a rubric to follow for the different key points covered in the book's six chapters. Like the conclusion of each chapter, this rubric can easily substitute for reading the entire book because it tells you the important information you need to know, in a table format. A concerned educator can turn to this section and utilize the table to guide them through the process.

Teaching as Leadership includes advice that could apply to anyone at any level of teaching. However, readers will quickly realize that this book is primarily aimed at those who teach teens and children. I have many years of teaching experience, but my teaching has been limited to adults. Thus, I found the advice contained within this book a little less useful than I otherwise would. Like I said, the general advice still applies, but the way it is presented in this book makes it clear that the advice is directed at those in high school or earlier. This was a bit of a disappointment, because I was hoping for something directed at college- level teaching, at least to an extent.

Education is an important component of a functioning and thriving society and Teaching as Leadership aims to make teachers more effective and more successful. The book is a little dry, monotonous, and repetitive, but it still has some useful points to make and its bottom- line goal is commendable.
4331520
This book is some of the best teaching advice I have read for teaching any subject.
1015318
This book is a gem. There are good teachers and there are amazing teachers and Mr. Menasche's commitment to teaching was impressive, touching and thought provoking. I was so moved by this book, I purchased it and sent it to my favorite teacher from high school, whom I have stayed in contact with for almost 20 years.
644693
A great read that puts forth the central ideas of teacher evaluation. Today everyone seems eaten up with the idea that using test results captures the truly great teachers. Rick makes it so clear that there is much more behind a quality teacher and cautions us to consider teaching and learning as the central focus. It is not about one day of a test, it is very much about what should be happening daily in our classrooms.
562973
This book, as all the works of Merrill Harmin, introduces the teacher to DESCA and methods that do make a difference in the lives of young people.  I have recommended and used it in my work with teachers around the world.  I cannot recommend it too highly.  It is a marvelous guide for young teachers and a grace-filled reminder for older teachers who are still inspired to help young people grow and change their lives for the better through education.&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Inspiring-Active-Learning-A-Complete-Handbook-for-Today-s-Teachers/dp/1416601554/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Inspiring Active Learning: A Complete Handbook for Today's Teachers</a>
1092235
This excellent book from the pen of a caring professor helps teachers of adolescents to navigate the often difficult bridge between distant content and immediate relevance. The research and examples offered here invite teens and their teachers to hope and dream, so students see themselves as having a role in their own futures.
4498062
Schmidt has a way of hitting the core of teaching, keeping it fun and yet, recognizing the importance and seriousness of teachers' work.  This book is useful and inspiring for new and veteran teachers who want to hold on to the reasons they went into this profession--to encourage the achievement and success of every child, to create exciting learning environments beyond the textbook, and to continually be a learner themselves.  This book will help keep those hopes alive.
1156128
The 5-Minute Teacher, written by Mark Barnes, really opened my eyes as a pre-service teacher to revolutionize my teaching so that I am a "modern learner". This means teachers are transforming the way they teach to keep up with modern learning to appeal to students. Barnes discusses that by running a student-centered classroom with interactive (but brief) teacher instruction, can help teachers adapt to these methods of the modern learners.

I also thought that it was interesting that Barnes said that teachers in this sense are highly skilled and know when to "get out of the students way". This means teachers will learn when the time to let the students work is critical, and that it is up to their 5 minutes of the lesson to be thought provoking enough where the students will hear the instructions and go on assignments and activities. Reducing a lecture from 20 minutes to 5 minutes is quite the jump but Barnes does a great job explaining the standards for teachers in this sense, and what makes a lesson good enough to release students to go and work.

I highly recommend educators reading this book because it is an interesting view on how we can refresh our teaching by putting forth effort to little instruction, deeper meaning for students to find on their own, utilizing peers to help, and let them lead their own classroom. This is a very refreshing book that can enhance lessons and the classroom. The idea of delivering quick and stimulating lessons to motivate students to work is extraordinary and I would love to talk to a teacher that has read this book, and tried Barnes' advice. This was a really easy read and I don't regret buying this book at all! I encourage all teachers to read this just to see what you could change about your own classroom, and why this type of instruction is effective and beneficial for students. Barnes shares practical strategies that I think all educators can put into their own style and run with. Student-centered environments seem to be working in the education world, and Barnes is definitely on it!
3530596
The Power to Transform is an amazingly relevant and radical thesis that brings together separate components of learning effectiveness to advance the transformation of learning and learner.  Marshall's book call us to "reconnect youth to the web of life and learning that joins us all" by reflecting on our own story, recovering our passion for education as having the greatest potential, systemically, for changing the world, and by giving voice to a new, collective story that transforms learning and learners. It is a radical initiative because it goes to the root of the power to transform.  This book is about adaptive change, not technical change from the unique perspective of a visionary and accomplished learning-leader.

Marshall is explicit about the need for a change of consciousness, knowing that consciousness precedes being and doing.  The polarity inherent in reflective and active leadership is addressed by a description of the different habits of mind needed to transform schooling and learning; by mapping out how to design a new learning landscape, and by offering practical insights on how to become the "elder-leader" whose mission is to change the current story of education by creating, with others, a radical new story for schooling and learning.  This new story must be one that creates an environment for deep learning, allowing learners to see the essential connection of all persons as having a shared calling to co-evolve with nature and co-create with Spirit to bring about a universal humanity.

Stephanie Pace Marshall has given us the most prophetic, compelling and cosmic rendering of a vision and map for bringing learning and schooling to life that I have seen in the current educational marketplace. This is not an educators self-help book with more fix-it formulas and techniques.  This is about transformation from the inside out.  Marshall invites her readers to step forward now and "put our names on the new story of learning and schooling."  The urgencies of our time call for Marshall's inspired initiative, essential reading for everyone who loves life, learning and, most especially, youth.
2306474
In a perfect world this would be a mandatory textbook for future and returning teachers in college.  Teri sets the scene of political frustration, tireless passion for teaching, and then gives a strong call for change.  The Tao if you are unaware is a short book of verses that inspire wisdom.  Teri will take you through well chosen translations of the verses and reflect on how schools might be improved verse by verse with ideas such as eliminating standardized tests, giving teachers more power, and teaching children to be kind as apposed to being better than one another.  Like the Tao itself Teri's approach is simple, easy to read, and full of great insight.  It's also a great first read for the Tao itself because its such a good place to apply it.
1318456
New and experienced teachers alike will find much benefit from buying and using the strategies in Doug Lemov's new book, "Teach Like a Champion". Featured prominently in a recent New York Times Magazine, Lemov observed in many different schools, and began compiling strategies that effective teachers were using in their classroom, creating a list and eventually, this book. The end result is an easy book to "dive into", or read cover to cover (Lemov recommends the latter, but says you can do the former), and have it improve your teaching practice quickly.

Lemov organizes his book into two parts. The first details the strategies that impact teaching, learning, and instruction. The second focuses briefly on reading strategies. The first part is organized into: Setting High Academic Expectations, Planning that Ensures Academic Achievement, Structuring and Delivering Your Lessons, Engaging Students, Creating a Strong Classroom Culture, Setting and Maintaining High Behavioral Expectations, Building Character and Trust, Improving Your Pacing, and Challenging Students to Think Critically.

An area of interest of mine was "Building Character and Trust", so I immediately jumped to that section. There, I found strategies such as using positive framing (correctly behavior with a positive spin, instead of negative reinforcement), and the power of precise praise. Nothing in this section is revolutionary, or even would create a dramatic and philosophical change in my practice. But I think that's truly a strength of this. All teachers can use these reminders (as it is some of our most experienced colleagues that forget this). To have many of these collected in one resource can be both a time saver, and a most usable resource in a classroom.

Lemov has captured the essence of teaching in this new, powerful book. I would only hope that every teacher in American takes a look at this book.
4007321
I'm not wild about the notion of "great teachers" or even the idea that we ordinary, everyday teachers can learn much from "master teachers."  What I love about this book is that it has such a rich variety of thoughtful conversations among experienced teachers who are insightful about what they think makes them effective.  Because these conversations range from teaching adults alligator wresting or belly dancing to teaching 1st and 4th graders, they provoke reflection on more than just teaching as an especially important craft.  Rather, they suggest how teaching is a part of almost everything we do in life, and sitting in on these conversations helps me think more clearly and complexly, not only about teaching but about all human interaction and what and how we learn from each other.  Read it slowly, a little bit at a time, and you'll be amazed at what you learn about yourself and others.  This is Socrates without the master.
1297377
Teachers who want to liven up their lessons and make a strong connection with students will be glad they read this beautifully written, inspiring book. It is obvious that the authors have stepped into many classrooms with many different types of people and had success; their expertise on the topic is incredibly rich and there are so many good ideas for teachers of any subject and any grade.

Children Tell Stories is a joy to read. It touches the reader through heart-warming examples and illustrations by children, along with photographs and a DVD that convey the fun that children are having. The book reminds the reader that telling stories is the most basic and human way to communicate any thought in an interesting way.  Storytelling is a living, breathing human activity that incorporates the big curriculum musts ... analyzing, studying, reading, communicating, listening, evaluating ... the list goes on, and the authors offer compelling arguments and include a handy chart on how storytelling meets numerous state standards. As a teacher who is staying home with her kids for a few years, I can't wait to get back into the classroom to value storytelling in the way the authors have described.

Even though it seems that the authors have thought of everything, and even include twenty-five tellable stories in printable form on the companion DVD, they still include so many other books, recordings, and Web sites as resources.  They seem more concerned with helping teachers than they are with looking as if they know everything about teaching and telling stories (even though they might!). The book left me feeling confident that I can tell stories and teach this invaluable life tool to my students, and that I don't necessarily need the help of a professional. I believe it will leave others feeling that way too, even if they have thought that telling stories might be a terrifying experience.

The companion DVD speaks volumes about the power of story. It is a documentary that has something for everyone. It can convince teachers, administrators, and parents of the importance of storytelling as an educational tool. It can also be shown to elementary students, middle-schoolers, or even a high school storytelling troupe. Young viewers will see that the students in the film have the same fears they will most likely feel when asked to tell a story in front of a group. But they will also see that because the students in the documentary take the risk and give it a try, they have lots of fun, gain tons of confidence, and are triumphant in the end. The boy who says his biggest fear is that he may "stutter so much that he will faint" later beams as he gets a big laugh from a crowd that includes his classmates and their families. Another boy, who is almost in tears the first time he is about to tell his story, is later shown confidently telling his tale for the same big crowd of listeners at a family storytelling night.

After reading Children Tell Stories I am convinced that storytelling in the classroom is the best way to achieve a multitude of communication and literacy requirements in a real and life changing way. For teachers who apply the ideas in this book, any subject will become more alive and interesting and will stick with students forever.  I wish that my history teachers had read this book.
4067325
This is a terrific book.  An interesting study of a topic that should be important to all of us -- our happiness -- taught by a funny and engaging teacher.  A compelling and often surprising look at why we do what we do.
2056877
If you agree that we are increasingly called upon to influence learning and decision-making, on the fly, while winging it, you need to read this book.  The first chapter, What Makes Good Teachers Great by Sawyer, is particularly insightful in examining how things work and how things need to work to get better outcomes. Each successive chapter is better than the last.