Learning | Real Talk for Real Teachers

There's an educator at a Los Angeles elementary school who won the Walt Disney American Teacher Award for National Teacher of the Year in 1992. Esquith has a unique, motivational approach to teaching. You can see how he teaches students about Shakespeare in the documentary DVD, The Hobart Shakespeare Company. 

You may have read one of his books, such as There Are No Shortcuts (which is the motto on a banner in his classroom,)  or Teach Like Your Hair's On Fire: the Methods and Madness Inside Room 56.  

Rafe Esquith's newest book is Real Talk for Real Teachers: Advice for Teachers from Rookies to Veterans: "No Retreat, No Surrender!" Esquith speaks from the voice of experience, and he writes just as easily about his mistakes as he does his successes.  The chapter titles are entertaining and intriguing. "Chapter Three: Everything Put Together Sooner or Later Falls Apart" discusses why it's important for new teachers to focus a little less on Day One than Day Two.  He gives some examples of disastrous Day Twos he has had.

This book would be an interesting read for anybody interested in teaching, whether experienced or not.  

Learning | What Ate Your Homework?

Homework, my youngest son once whined, is worse than "something I think is REALLY boring." He said this shortly after he began attending kindergarten. He had a particularly difficult time sitting still long enough to do one worksheet.  

I remember one assignment that required him to count the number of doors and windows in his home. He didn't mind walking around and counting, but he was absolutely furious that he was expected to write those numbers down. (The nerve of some teachers!)

When I stumbled across this picture on Flickr.com, I thought of him.  I imagined him having a pair of scissors handy, to shred the offending piece of paper.  Unfortunately, I don't think most teachers will accept a "scissors ate my homework" excuse.

"Homework" courtesy of KimmerKC's photostream on Flickr.com.
Some rights reserved.

SSJCPL has a surprisingly long list of titles about things that ate homework. 

I would like to draw your attention to one of the newest chapter books for Grades 3-6, Patrick Jennings' My Homework Ate My Homework. 

The main character, Zaritza, was, shall we say, in need of a little extra credit for her math grade. That's the reason she agreed to take care of Bandito, the class pet--even though she did not really like ferrets much, and she had other things on her mind, like getting a good part in the school play.  

As you might have guessed from looking at the cover picture, this is a funny book, and things did not go exactly as planned.  

In fact, the story began at the ending, when Zaritza told her teacher that Bandito escaped. I have to admit, the explanation for that dialog was not what I expected.  

Check it out! You'll enjoy it.

4 Kids | If You Can Read This...

...thank a teacher. I'm not trying to be funny here; I'm totally serious.

When I think of the people who have inspired me, believed in me, and encouraged me, most of them are teachers. And since our parents are our first teachers, here's a shout out to my wonderful parental unit -- Norm and Sandra -- for being my first teachers.

Teachers rock. They teach us skills so we can succeed in  life. They encourage our creativity. They help us work through problems, be those math problems or just life problems in general! They teach us the importance of teamwork. They open the doors to the world of learning. Wow!

I know a whole bunch of teachers, and I know how much they do -- beyond the hours in the classroom -- to help students succeed. Heck, I know teachers who buy stuff for the classroom out of their own pockets! Don't believe me? I promise you it's true. I spent Saturday with my BFF (who just happens to be a teacher) who spent money out of her own pocket to buy some much needed stuff for one of her young students. My BFF has a heart of gold, BTW.

And history is full of great teachers!

Annie Sullivan was the pioneering teacher who overcame disability and misfortune before achieving her success as one of the most famous educators of all time. We remember her because she was Helen Keller's teacher. Read about Annie Sullivan in Marfe Ferguson Delano's book Helen's Eyes: A Photobiography of Annie Sullivan, Helen Keller's Teacher.

There's also Mary McLeod Bethune, the black educator who was instrumental in creating opportunities for blacks in education and government. Read all about this extraordinary woman in Amy Robin Jones' book Mary McLeod Bethune. 

I just saw in the newspaper that my 6th grade teacher -- Mr. Albert Perez -- passed away. It's been a few years (ok, a lot of years) since I sat in his classroom at John Adams School, so I'm a tad bit fuzzy on the details. But I remember him as someone who was always encouraging to me and who made learning fun. To have an adult believe in you at a young age is quite a gift!

So thank you, Mr. Perez. You made a difference in my life.

The message for today? Thank a teacher. The lessons they teach you today will stay with you for a lifetime.

P.S. Check the Library's website later this week for the announcement of the Children's Book Week Writing Contest winners!

 

Learning | What Would You Like to Say to Your Teacher?

I was surprised to see that Tony Danza wrote a book about teaching.  I remember him best for his character on the 70s television show, "Taxi"; I remember he played a sort of nanny on "Who's the Boss" after that.  I picked up I'd Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had recently, because I thought the title was funny. I was surprised to learn that he had another show in 2010 called "Teach." It was a reality show, following Danza's experience as a brand new teacher at an urban high school in Pennsylvania.  This book is Danza's recollection of that year of teaching.  

Yesterday, a customer recalled her middle school Home Economics teacher, as she was checking out a book on knitting and crocheting. That teacher taught her how to crochet, when she was not necessarily interested in learning about it. "I was a tomboy!" she laughed. But she continued crocheting, and went on to make countless afghans and other beautiful items, many for charity.  "I wonder what she would think!"

Speaking of knitting and crocheting, the Troke Library has a Sew Knotty program,    on the third Wednesday of every month.  Bring your needlework to the library, to work in the company of others -- maybe you'll teach another person some tips, or learn a new skill.