15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Inspiring and aesthetically pleasing, Nov 18 2010
By JoyDub - elementary teacher - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Third Teacher (Paperback)
This is a great book to soak in. After flipping through it in the bookstore, I immediately bought it and spent the weekend forming ideas for my classroom and wishing government, the powers that be, dictating educational practices would do the same.
This comment is directed at Martin Rayala's review. His comments that educators are only concerned with numbers, yada, yada, miss the point of the world's educational value, sadden, or rather - sicken, me. He goes on to say that teachers complain, and that designers don't - they just solve problems. Pompous anyone? Teachers have less and less creative control in the classroom, due to government's mandates; common curriculum, rote instruction, subject timelines / schedules and various programs. If teachers were allowed to use their professional skills, trainings and experiences, both in and out of the classroom, yes, we would be producing lovers of learning, of life and happy individuals with inquisitive minds, all of which procure academically strong students. Federal and state mandates prevent us from doing so. It seems that all on the OUTSIDE of education are the ones concerned with test scores. Teachers know the true meaning of standardized scores and their rather small and invalid assessment of students as a whole. Kids are dropping out, losing interests and opportunities to find out what might inspire them. Get the education coaches, those that have never taught!, out of the classrooms, lay off with the data this and data that, and let us do what we know how to do - inspire the desire to learn, which is THE key. All else follows, including scoring well on a fill in the bubble test. A student with rich experiences and an inquisitive mind will go on to care and live a meaningful life, but a student who only scores well on multiple choice tests, one who can only achieve with an a,b,c or d answer, will not be a "whole" person. It's sad. Please do your research, Martin Rayala. Visit your local schools and talk to the teachers. Don't believe what you read in the papers or what is coming from higher levels. We are in a rock and a hard place and are doing the best we can to continue inspiring amongst all the bull****, and beliefs and attitudes such as yours are ignorant, disrespectful and perpetuate lies.
Just like you, I love this book, and I'm a teacher who plans to squeeze it in as I'm able.
P.S. - Did you go to design "school"?
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Book OK, July 23 2011
By Richard E Batts Jr - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Third Teacher (Paperback)
The book had some good ideas, but also so some "High in Sky" ideas that just could not be reached with the little resources school districts have.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Innovative and Flawless, Nov 12 2010
By DCoop - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Third Teacher (Paperback)
The book itself has a captivating, web-type presentation that keeps you wanting to read more. Unlike many books, The Third Teacher offers real-life, implementable examples rather than "good ideas." If you want to create a 21st century learning environment that not only engages your students but also the community, you need to buy this book.