Customer Reviews

Training Teachers: A Harvest of Theory and Practice

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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.

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.