Customer Reviews

The English Teacher's Companion: A Complete Guide to Classroom, Curriculum, and the Profession

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4 star:		(7)
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I just started my 25th year of teaching and I am always on the lookout for new, fresh ideas. That's exactly what I got in Jim Burke's book. You can tell a teacher wrote it because it is designed to be read a few pages at a time in the teachers' lounge over a cup of coffee. I carry it in my briefcase and pull it out when I'm waiting for the kids at the dentist, during commercials of Indianapolis Colts football games, and waiting in the school parking lot for my daughter after volleyball practice. I've also contacted Jim on several occasions about teaching issues and he is extremely helpful and incredibly responsive. I'm not quite sure how he does all he does. If you are a first year teacher, buy this book. If you're approaching the end of your career, buy this book. If you're somewhere in between, buy this book.

In a world of disappointing texts on the nuts and bolts of teaching - Jim Burke's book delivers. I'm a new teacher, and I was given this book by a veteran teacher who considered it the English teacher's bible. She was not far off. I can't recommend this book highly enough as a complete resource for all teachers new and seasoned. With everything from structuring curriculum to bibliographies for further reading, I can't have asked for a better prep as I enter the world of teaching. I am infinitely grateful to Mr. Burke for his hard work in producing this magnum opus.

As a second year teacher, I have been stressing about my teaching style and what I want my classroom to be. This book is an immense help. The reading is straight forward and informative. Chapter 9 is great! If you need justification for teaching grammar or vocabulary this book really helps and it gives concrete ideas and examples for the teacher who needs plans for her classroom. It's a good buy!

I first discovered Jim Burke in my English Methods class in college. Once I began student teaching, I referred to his companion web site (www.englishcompanion.com) at least weekly. Both have wonderful tips and practical suggestions for running an English classroom, and the web site includes invaluable teaching tools and "thought organizers" that could go with infinite number of projects. Especially appreciated are Burke's classroom projects -- he challenges his students and appears to get good results.

This book was recommended to me by one of my directing teachers after attending a seminar taught by the author. This book is an absolutely RICH guide and "companion" (very informal and user friendly) for the new (or experienced) English Teacher. I cannot recommend it more strongly. The author includes copious examples from his own teaching experience at Burlingame High School as well as abundant references to sources. This book is as good as it gets for new English teachers. The book has exhaustive chapters on teaching reading, writing, speaking, listening and thinking, composing a curriculum, measuring student progress, digital literacy, media literacy, issues in teaching English, getting a teaching job in English, organizing, the politics of education, etc. These are very broad areas which are covered in detail.

As a soon-to-be new English teacher, I was terrified that I would be unprepared for class, so to speak. This book has really allayed my fears. The author gives detailed examples of ways to teach literature, grammar, etc, from plot diagrams to discussion questions, all based on standard school curriculum. The specificity and references to texts makes the information about instruction ideas that much better. In addition, the companion website and parts of the text give a more holistic view of the profession, its issues, and challenges. I *highly* recommend this book, particularly to new English teachers. Thank you, Jim!

This is a resource book of information. It includes checklists for the beginning teacher, ideas for using technology in your classroom, and lesson plans for specific novels or units of instruction. This book covers all of the topics which a new or even seasoned teacher might need in order to sucessfully teach an English class. I could not possibly recommend this book more. I wish I could give it six stars.

Typically after finishing one class, you never look into your textbook for that class again, right? I got this book a year ago and have used it consistently every semester since in lesson planning, problem solving, encouragement, etc. My mom (a 20 year teaching vet) glanced through this book the weekend after I got it, and now has her own copy of this and Burke's "Reading Reminders". Get them both - they will be worth every penny. Burke's writing style is also great - not jargon-heavy, but direct and downright conversational. The index is user-friendly for when you need to figure out just how to do that vocab activity you forgot the specifics on - just as the class is coming in the door. Definitely worthwhile investment.

Simply put-this is the English teacher's bible. Put it on your desk and read some part of it every day. Your students (and administrators) will thank you for it.

If you teach English, then you must own everything that Jim Burke writes.

This book is an excellent resource for English teachers at any stage in their career.There are excellent suggestions for those seeking employment as an English teacher (chapter 23). Fabulous information is included on teaching and organizing so that you have time for a personal life (a skill I am still trying to master!). There is also great advice for new/newer teachers on creating classrooms that work well and function cohesively. By far though, the single most important quality of this book is Jim Burke's level of professionalism. He makes me proud to be an English teacher, and instills a genuine desire to convey that pride in my profession to my students. No English teacher should be without this book.