Publication date:
08 December 2015Length of book:
240 pagesPublisher
Rowman & Littlefield PublishersISBN-13: 9781475823028
Frank Thoms writes with passion to invite principals and teachers to make changes that will allow all students to succeed. In this book he urges them to reconsider traditional practices in light of today’s media-driven culture and digitally wired students. Exciting Classrooms is sensitive to the challenges schools face and is relentless in offering strategies to meet these challenges.
Schools must do better. Rather than focus on improving test scores, this book advocates that teachers teach to a child’s whole symphony, not only to one note. If students only learn to succeed on bubble tests, they will not have opportunities to discover their true potential.
Thoms sees the teaching process as a joint venture between teacher and student where the teacher brings learning to the student and, at the same time, brings the student to the learning. This process demands at least as much listening as talking, a new habit that teachers and principals need to learn.
Schools must do better. Rather than focus on improving test scores, this book advocates that teachers teach to a child’s whole symphony, not only to one note. If students only learn to succeed on bubble tests, they will not have opportunities to discover their true potential.
Thoms sees the teaching process as a joint venture between teacher and student where the teacher brings learning to the student and, at the same time, brings the student to the learning. This process demands at least as much listening as talking, a new habit that teachers and principals need to learn.
Frank Thoms is a passionate teacher, and his powerful book is all about ‘stance’––how a teacher places himself or herself physically, emotionally, intellectually, and organizationally—with respect to students, knowledge, and learning. Every teacher, from a first-timer to an old hand, will learn much that is practical, and even more that is inspirational, from reading this book and so will everyone else who cares about the classroom.