Thanks to friend Kelly or sister Emily (I can’t remember which of you two education stars it was) for recommending this book, as the subtitle goes, An Award-Winning Educator’s Rules for Discovering the Successful Student in Every Child. After a long wait in the public library system I got it last week. I liked a lot of his ideas about giving students structure and discipline, letting them know exactly what’s expected of them (something I definitely struggle with), and following through with threats/promises. His stories were sometimes inspiring. Yet I don’t feel the gimmick of the Essential 55 really works – it’s a bit of a contradiction really. I mean I can master the Sierra Club’s 10 essentials for backcountry traveling, but govern a classroom with 55 often complex and overlapping rules? And so this guy’s energy was ultimately more exhausting than inspiring for me – he definitely didn’t convince me to run out and throw myself at a teacher certification program! At the end I had the sneaking suspicion that he’d quit teaching to be a highly-paid speaker and full-time schmoozer (just read between the lines on his jacket biography: "Since winning the 2001 Disney Teacher of the Year Award, [he quit his low-paying classroom teacher gig and] he has spoken to teachers, PTAs, and school boards across the country.") All of which is sadly confirmed by his web site. Now I’m definitely sick of his perky face and can’t wait to give the book back to the library!
Although I don’t take credit for recommending the book, I am familiar with the guy- he came to Earlham and spoke last year. I agree with you conclusion, KT, he’s got some great ideas but I was also put off by the fact that he isn’t teaching anymore he’s just "schmoozing." I was the one who during the Q&A time at his talk asked him what he was doing now, hoping to hear about exciting teaching stuff and was disappointed to hear him respond with speaking engagements and schmoozing. Thanks for the website link, that’s by far the most entertaining self-promotion site I’ve seen in awhile.
Hmmm…it wasn’t Kelly either. Who told me to read this book? What it Jim D.?
Just wondering if other people thought of this. He is very gimicky. I remember him talking to North Carolina Teaching Fellows one year around 1997. He was a Teaching Fellow and didn’t even want to teach. He travelled Europe, etc. and only subbed when his mom convinced him to. He really is more about getting attention. I remember him trying to Smooz Harry Wong…another one who had success for awhile teaching then is selling “his methods” to everyone.