Teach like your hair is on fire (Part 2)

Esquith, R. (2007). Teach like your hair's on fire: the methods and madness inside room 56. Penguin Books.

First half Review

Chapter 1: Gimme some truth

• Teachers and parents use fear in order to control their children
• Using fear works but it doesn't actually teach children anything
• Create a classroom where you replace fear with trust and it will work just as well
• You, as the teacher, need to show that you are trustworthy and dependable

Chapter 2: search for level vi

• This chapter is based on Kohlberg's 6 levels of moral development theory.
• Level 1: They behave out of fear
• Level 2: They behave for a reward
• Level 3: They behave to please the teacher

Chapter 2 continued

• Level 4: They behave because they simply follow the class rules
• Level 5: They behave because they are thinking of others
• Level 6: They behave because of their own personal code

Chapters 3: reading for life

• Students are being failed by their teachers when it comes to their lack of help in growing their love for reading
• Literature opens students' minds to new ideas
• Going to the library is a great learning experience
• All teacher can and should have book clubs

Chapter 4: writing

• Make sure to supply your class with their own grammar workbooks
• Weekly essays
• Monthly book reports
• Young Author's Project

Chapter 5: add it up

• The way children are being taught math, allows children to get the right answer, but they aren't learning the meaning behind it
• Number tiles and tile problems
• Like reading, children should have a love of numbers
• Marcy Cook - genius at helping students understand math

Chapter 6: we won't get fooled again

• Standardized testing has become too intense for teachers and students
• We need to teach children other values and life skills other than test taking skills
• We need to let students know that it's ok to do bad on a test
• The current system for testing children is broken

Chapter 7: what a wonderful world

• Teachers are neglecting to teacher their students history due to emphasis on reading and math scores
• Include additional history activities
• Project: Students create license plates that create the preamble to the Constitution
• Table points game

Chapter 8: rocket man

• There are some teachers who barely teach science
• Science teaching kits are a great way for any teacher to teach fun experiments
• Failure in these experiments is an important part of learning
• Quietly ask parents for donations for science supplies

Second Half Summary

Chapter 9: Art Lover

• You don't have to be good at art to do art projects
• Art allows children to remain individuals
• Students involved in the arts learn important life skills
• Art creates harder working, better behaved, and happier students

Chapter 10: Put me in, coach

• Students can learn life lessons from playing sports correctly and honestly
• Keeping stats gives students goals and purpose
• Students learn about sportsmanship

Chapter 11: Taxman

• In Esquith's classroom, students have jobs to earn "money"
• Being in charge of money teaches students organization
• Auctioning off prizes teaches students the value of money
• Student experience delayed gratification

Chapter 12: Think for yourself

• Esquith has created a "Bible" for problem solving
• The "Bible" is used when students are having difficulties problem-solving
• Putting students in groups teaches them important life skills
• Teachers need to get up early or stay late to help students

Chapter 13: Celluloid heros

• Movies can help students build character
• Be mindful of families' views/morals when watching films
• Actually watch the movie with the kids
• Watch movies on early dismissal days

Chapter 14: Goin' mobile

• Field trips are not meant to be vacations
• Trips help to teach children skills useful in college
• Do a lot of planning before the trip
• Don't pay 100% of the cost by yourself

Chapter 15: It's only rock 'n' roll

• Music is a way for students to have fun and learn a new skill
• Teach students how to read music
• The children can sing along with a CD if you can't sing yourself
• Students can help teach each other

Chapter 16: Do they know it's christmas

• Community service teaches children to help people because it's the right thing to do
• Serving the homeless increases compassion and understanding
• These experiences carry over into adulthood
• Prepare for the event all year long

Chapter 17: Will power

• Plays increase language skills and encourage teamwork
• Pick the play 1-2 years in advance
• You don't need a fancy set or costumes
• Add music and dancing into the play

Application 1

• Esquith (2007) states "As I am not the most particularly creative teacher, I decided to give my kids the most valuable thing I have to offer: my time. I spend an enormous amount of time with my students" (p. 146).

Application 1 continued

• As a future teacher, this quote means to me that teaching doesn't just take place during the school day. In order for your students to achieve their full potential, teachers to need get to school early, stay late, and spent their weekends working on things for their class.

Application 2

• Esquith states "[Films] are opportunities for students to expand their cinematic knowledge and to exercise their analytical skills" (164).

Application 2 continued

• As a future teacher, to me this quote means films should be used in enhance learning. They can be educational tools when used correctly and shouldn't be taken advantage of by lazy teachers.