Fires in the Middle School Bathroom: Advice to Teachers from Middle Schoolers [Illustrated] (Hardcover)

~ Kathleen Cushman (Author), Laura Rogers (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Cushman, whose well-received Fires in the Bathroom covered high school students, teamed up with psychologist and Tufts professor Rogers to explore how to teach middle school students more effectively. What's a teacher to do when she's trying to be so nice and they're setting fires in the bathroom, a high school student had asked in the first volume. Much of the material that Cushman gathered (from 40 students in five cities) is about basic classroom skills. Teachers should listen carefully to what's on their students' minds and put the currents in your classroom to good use, rather than work against them, the authors advise. Be strict and be nice, they say, which is hard, but walking that line is one way you show that you are on your students' side when it comes to helping them learn. Cushman and Rogers quote frequently from their student panel, helping readers grow accustomed to their ways of expressing themselves, and include several self-evaluation worksheets for teachers. While there's little new, for teachers fresh out of college and headed for inner-city classrooms, this book may be a useful resource. (May)
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Product Description

The highly anticipated sequel to the bestselling Fires in the Bathroom—filled with practical, honest advice from middle school students to their teachers.

Following on the heels of the bestselling Fires in the Bathroom, which brought the insights of high school students to teachers and parents, Kathleen Cushman now turns her attention to the crucial and challenging middle grades, joining forces with adolescent psychologist Laura Rogers.

As teachers, counselors, and parents cope with the roller coaster of early adolescence, too few stop to ask students what they think about these critical years. Here, middle school students in grades 5 through 8 across the country and from diverse ethnic backgrounds offer insights on what it takes to make classrooms more effective and how to forge stronger relationships between young adolescents and adults. Students tackle such critical topics as social, emotional, and academic pressures; classroom behavior; organization; and preparing for high school. Cushman and Rogers help readers hear and understand the vital messages about adolescent learning that come through in what these students say.

This invaluable resource provides a unique window into how middle school students think, feel, and learn, bringing their needs to the forefront of the conversation about education.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: New Press (April 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1595581111
• ISBN-13: 978-1595581112
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #297,987 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars First Year Middle school teacher, April 15, 2009

By	Terri M. Faus "picky reader" (gilroy, ca United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As a first year Middle School teacher, I needed some insight into the unpredictable behavior of an adolescent. I appreciated this book for that. I was looking for some tips about how to respond to their behavior, and this book really didn't offer much in that regard. Still, understanding their perspective gives me food for thought.