Training Teachers: A Harvest of Theory and Practice [Paperback]

Margie Carter (Author), Deb Curtis (Author), Elizabeth Jones (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

At last, a book that wonderfully chronicles how to teach adults within a contructivist framework. Each section takes the reader on an exciting journey...the authors consistently weave social-political and cutlural context issues throughout the text, while providing an excellent chapter on cultural sensitivity, self-awareness and anti-bias training strategies. I definitely plan to have this book in my library. -- Louise Derman-Sparks, author Anti-Bias Curriculum

It takes more than loving children to run a quality child care program. Effective staff training is at the heart of the matter. This book is just what is needed to get providers prepared from the beginning. -- Charlotte Jahn, child care licensor, DSHS, Washington State; president, WAEYC

More Than Counting fills a void in the early childhood field. Most of the math "idea" books currently available present many activities which fail to advance children's thinking in mathematics. This book gets at the heart of the matter, showing dozens of ways to encourage children to construct a rich understanding of number, thus providing the solid foundation needed for more advanced number concepts. -- Sharon Griffin, Ph.D., Coordinator of Early Childhood Education, Univ. of South Carolina Beaufort

Training Teachers gave me new ideas and insights within minutes of picking it up...It is an important, wise and practical book, nicely formatted to use as both a coherant text and a resource to drop in and out of. It is essential for trainers and program directors working to improve early childhood programs. -- Jim Greenman, author Prime Times and Caring Spaces, Learning Places

Working with these trainers as mentors, my time with children is now based on watching, listening and asking myself questions...Without this change in my approach, I would have burned out long before now. This kind of teaching nurtures me as well as the kids. -- Ann Pelo, child care teacher, Hilltop Children's Center

From the Publisher

The goal of making a teacher who is better prepared, more talented, and inherently dedicated to education needs to be realized at all levels of teaching. This is especially true at the level where teachers have the first and most powerful opportunity to influence children: early childhood education.

Deb Curtis and Margie Carter, the authors of Training Teachers, insist that teachers need to be trained in a manner consistent with how we would want them to teach the children in their care. In other words, teachers need to be educated in a way that reflects an understanding of adult learning theory, plus the ability to evaluate what has and hasnt been effective in the years of work of their predecessors.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Redleaf Press; 1 edition (July 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0934140820
• ISBN-13: 978-0934140829
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #898,887 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A superb combination of theory and practice., March 14, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Training Teachers: A Harvest of Theory and Practice (Paperback)

Although the primary audience is people involved in teacher training, this is a valuable book for anyone who works with adults. It is centered around a constructivist philosophy of adult learning that builds on Jean Piaget's theories of child development: We learn best when the learning is relevant to our lives, and we are able to have hands-on opportunities to practice and integrate new concepts. Activities are thoughtful and practical, and also very respectful toward the people who work with young children. This would be a valuable addition to any trainer's library.

2 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A sublime example of why our schools are failing, August 25, 2007

By 

Mark Draper "doctormark" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Training Teachers: A Harvest of Theory and Practice (Paperback)

I was horrified by this book. The defects of teacher training programs are obvious, as the true measure of a teacher's worth is the performance of her students, and America's students are failing abysmally.

I read recently an article by Heather McDonald, "Why Johnny's Teacher Can't Teach," and was sure she was overstating the case against today's schools of education. Surely, they can't be that bad, I thought. This book convinced me that she was absolutely right.

Professors of education are teaching absolute drivel instead of providing the practical skills that great teachers need. Just read the table of contents to prove the point. There is nothing there that would help a rooky teacher get control of an unruly class, nothing to help a teacher deal with a hostile student, nothing on classroom management. Instead of this book, buy Esquith's "Teach Like Your Hair's On Fire." He is one of the decade's top teachers and his excellent book offers real insights into what it takes to become a great teacher.

Forget this book and the similar nonsense that the colleges of education are spreading, fancy theories with no basis or application in reality. These are the people who are failing America, bringing down our educational system. This is pure drivel. The authors should be ashamed.