Ch 9 & 10 of Rafe Esquith’s “Teach Like Your Hair’s on Fire”

I am like Esquith; I have very little artistic abilities. I do like art and think it is fun! I  think art is important and very enjoyable for children. Children enjoy art projects, whether they turn out as intended or not. Esquith has me wanting to get some plaster bandage rolls and create some Halloween masks with my own children.  In this chapter, Esquith also leaves me hoping for an opportunity to create string art with a middle school class.

In chapter 10, Esquith bores me to death with all the baseball talk. I am not a fan of baseball, but I do have a few fond memories of the occasional played softball games, with my family. I do like the way Esquith prepares his students for the game. I also like how Esquith incorporates the students’ progress in sports with statistics and sportsmanship. Good sportsmanship builds great character, and impressive character makes an immense positive impact in anyone’s life, especially children’s’ life’s.

Chapter 6 of Ron Clark’s “The Excellent 11”

I really enjoyed this chapter. I totally agree with Clark when he says, “When we show kindness to a child, we are doing more than passing on a good deed. We are building a vision in the eyes of that child of how others should be treated.”  I could feel the pain Clark encountered during his high school Spanish II class. Clark uses this to makes a good point about what teachers should not do (look the other way) and what teachers or parents should notice as a sign (failing grades).  I like the comment Clark makes about the class splitting into sides when a disagreement arises between students.  I like the examples Clark gives to help mentors help resolve kids’ conflicts.  I adore the way Clark went out of his way to help Sara transform from the class’ victim to the class’ hero.  This was clever way to play reverse psychology with his students. I agree with Clark, we as teachers/humans must understand that not all children or adults will like each other, but we all must find a common ground on how to co-exist.  We must help children understand how to do this instead of tormenting and bullying each other.  I think we now live in societies that lack compassion, in every way.

Chapter 5 of Ron Clark’s “The Excellent 11”

I can see how writing did not help Clark’s student improve. Writing never helped me to develop better writing skills, but analyzing and correcting writing helped me to develop better skills. Realistic punishments and sticking to your words are the most effective ways to discipline children. Like Clark says, never give children an example of a consequence unless you are willing and able to follow through with it.  I can relate with Clark’s view on balancing life with teaching. I have to do that with my own schoolwork and my personal life, all the time. Sometimes I must put down my books because I am burnt out.

Ch 8 of Rafe Esquith’s “Teach Like Your Hair’s on Fire”

When learning about science, a hands-on approach gives students the most benefits. I am a little taken by Esquith’s section, “I Don’t Have Time to Teach Science.” I agree with him about teaching science takes a lot of time and money. However, it is not right to assume that beginning teachers will not need to or have the time to teach science. With acknowledging that science and social studies is the first thing teachers will cut, when time runs short, I personally do not want to start teaching by avoiding these subjects. I agree with Esquith, some of the best learning takes place when students wrongly address to solve a problem and must readdress it. Like Spencer, the so-called “science geeks” usually do turn out on the top. So encourage students to take interest in science and ignore the rude and negative comments from others.

Chapter 4 of Ron Clark’s “The Excellent 11”

Reflection can be a great thing for children and teachers. I like how Clark gave his students a blank map on the first day of school and another on the last day, to show them a reflection of their knowledge obtained throughout the school year. Providing students with certificates and such to acknowledge successes or accomplishments makes life changing moments for children. Awards go further than word, and they make powerful impacts on students’ self-esteem.  It also gives them something to reflect back on latter in life. Weather it is reflecting and finding ways to improve or, like Mrs. Jones’s class, writing advice for the future students, reflection can be a powerful thing. I really like all the ways Clark addresses reflecting.  Reflection leads to improvement, and improvement leads to perfection.

Ch 6-7 of Rafe Esquith’s “Teach Like Your Hair’s on Fire”

I agree with Esquith, standardized testing has become a nightmare, and its’ damages out numbers its’ successes. In grade school, I hated standardized testing, and now my children complain about it. I do like how Esquith outs the teachers that give their students the testing information prior to the test. I do not agree with this, but I can relate to the desperate measures that teachers feel like they must take in order to keep their jobs.  I agree with the strategies that Esquith points out about how to study for standardized test and how to focus on test taking skills.  Esquith is very right, test scores do not make a person who they are. I am living proof of that.

 I really like the set up and structure of the game Esquith discusses in “Roam Around the World.” The web site, http://www.worldatlas.com/ that Esquith refers to, is a great wed site. I wish I had learned geography, in grade school, the way Esquith describes teaching it to his students. I had an excellent history teacher in high school and college. However, I love the tips that Esquith shares with his readers about teaching history effectively and exciting. I hope I can bring the past to life in an impacting way, for my future students.