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

~ (Author), Fran Claggett (Foreword)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

"Sometimes, English asks us to juggle so much so fast that teachers wonder how they can possibly do it all, let alone do it well." Jim Burke shows us how with this revolutionary new guide to teaching the entire English curriculum--covering everything from basic reading and writing to digital literacy, media literacy, and integrated instruction.

Written for the way most teachers read--on the run, in search of a particular solution--The English Teacher's Companion is highly structured for ease of use. Chapters are clearly subdivided; lessons are presented step-by-step; and assessment is integrated throughout. Outstanding features include:

* thorough grounding in the current national English Language Arts standards

* virtual companion website to provide additional resources and ongoing support for classroom teachers

* examples of how to integrate technology into the curriculum

* up-to-the-minute coverage of current and anticipated reforms, including media literacy, digital literacy, service learning, AP classes, and more

* an extensive appendix, featuring sample letters, rubrics, guides, checklists, planners, and much more.

As creator of CATENet and a teacher in a socially diverse high school, Burke knows how to build communities where essential conversations flourish. He writes, "Just like poets charge our senses by taking different words and rubbing them to see what fires they can make, so do I like to watch what happens in my classes where one student writes about his friends in prison and the girl next to him writes about her daddy the judge who puts them there." The English Teacher's Companion welcomes you to the conversation.

About the Author

JIM BURKE teaches English at Burlingame High School. He is the author of numerous books, including The English Teacher's Companion , Writing Reminders , Tools for Thought , Illuminating Texts: How to Teach Students to Read the World , Reading Reminders , and I Hear America Reading: Why We Read - What We Read , all of which are published by Heinemann. He is also the author of The Reader's Handbook (Great Source) and Academic Workouts (First Choice Publishing). His newest books are Letters to a New Teacher: A Month-by-Month Guide to the Year Ahead s (Heinemann, 2006),s ACCESSing School: Teaching Struggling Readers to Achieve Academic and Personal Success (Heinemann, 2005), School Smarts: The Four Cs of Academic Success (Heinemann, 2004), and 50 Essential Lessons: Tools and Techniques for Teaching English LanguagesArts ( first hand, 2006). He has received numerous awards, including the NCTE Intellectual Freedom Award, the NCTE Conference on English Leadership Awa --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 354 pages
• Publisher: Heinemann Educational Books (February 2, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0867094753
• ISBN-13: 978-0867094756
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #790,178 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must For Every English Teacher, September 9, 2000

By	"formerusher" (Hagerstown, IN USA) - See all my reviews

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.

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't Hesitate to Buy This Book, May 10, 2001

By A Customer

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.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for English Teachers, August 17, 2000

By	Katya Fedorov (Fairfax, Virginia USA) - See all my reviews

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!