What Do I Do Monday? (Innovators in Education) [Paperback]

John Holt (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0867093684 | ISBN-13: 978-0867093681 | Publication Date: November 6, 1995

When teachers listened to Holt's talks, or wrote him letters as hundreds did, invariably they would say something like: "I understand what you're saying, but what can I do about this in my own classroom? What do I do on Monday?"

This book is a rich harvest of possibilities. It is an encouraging book, a book that says "there are so many things we can do. Some will seem easy, some will seem harder; do what feels possible to you, and then try something else."

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Holt . . . makes literally a thousand suggestions for opening windows to blow air from the outside world into the classroom, making it new and making it human.”–The Washington Post

About the Author

John Holt (1923-1985) writer, teacher, lecturer, and amateur musician, wrote ten books, including What Do I Do Monday?, How Children Learn, and How Children Fail. His work has been translated into fourteen languages and has become standards in the field of education. For years a leading figure in school reform, John Holt became increasingly interested in how children learn outside of school. The magazine he founded, Growing Without Schooling, continues to reflect his philosophy.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Boynton/Cook (November 6, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0867093684
• ISBN-13: 978-0867093681
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #376,000 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Practical advice for parents and teachers., October 29, 2004

By 

Jamie Alexander (Philadelphia PA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: What Do I Do Monday? (Paperback)

A wonderful book about teaching young children the basics; reading, writing and math. Where "How Children Learn" and "How Children Fail" developed a philosophy of education, this volumn details how Mr. Holt put his philosophy to work in the classroom. Full of descriptions of actual exercises you can try with kids, either in school or at home, that encourage learning without sacrificing creativity or future problem solving abilities. If you're looking for more theory on education, pass this one up for now. But if you're ready to apply some of the insights of a brilliant thinker and observer of children, read this book, and be prepared to take notes.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of Holt's best, October 18, 2005

By 

Alan Nicoll (real name) (Lake of the Woods, CA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: What do I do Monday? (Hardcover)

The focus here is on creative approaches to learning (and I absolutely don't mean happy faces and cute cartoons) in the classroom, and I don't know of a better book in this line. Can be useful regardless of your teaching methods. Also offers Holt's theory of learning which is also persuasive and useful. Holt knew and loved children, and was incredibly intelligent in his approach. Get this book if you're a teacher--or a parent, because these ideas can stimulate the whole family.

Alan Nicoll

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Average. This book was OK, but I wouldn't read it twice., January 23, 2010

By 

fairy-whispers (Qld, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: What Do I Do Monday? (Innovators in Education) (Paperback)

I have been hearing a lot about John Holt while trawling forums and websites about homeschooling, so I thought I might as well check him out. What Do I Do Monday? (Innovators in Education) is the first book that became available at my local library, so this is the one I read first. Holt soundly condemns methods used in public schools at the time (methods that have improved very little since then!) and I found myself agreeing with the majority of his opinions.

He doesn't just argue against these methods, though. He also provides some alternatives. This book is packed full of great ideas for helping (not making!) children to follow their natural learning inclinations. I particularly love the way he explained certain Maths concepts. Not being mathematically minded myself, this is perhaps the first time in my life that I have fully understood some of these concepts!

This book is a must-read for anyone embarking on the homeschool journey, but I also recommend it to parents, grandparents, teachers and anyone else who cares for the children in their life.