Book Review: Teach Like Your Hair's On Fire

I just started reading Teach Like Your Hair's On Fire: The Methods and Madness Inside Room 56 for the third time in about 6 months! It is an amazing story about a public school teacher who is doing amazing things within his classroom "of immigrants and children of immigrants." This book challenges us to set high standards for our kids and gives lots of ideas of how to creatively teach our children.

NPR has a brief interview with the author, Rafe Esquith. And, the kids have their own website called The Hobart Shakespeareans. Yes, these 5th graders put on a Shakespearean play every year! And people from all over the world come to see them perform. They also travel around the United States as part of their education. Part of this comes later than 5th grade - kids who maintain an "A" average and go to Saturday school get to travel with Mr. Esquith to visit colleges while they're in high school.

I'm just amazed at this man and what he is doing for these kids. It makes me feel like I'm not doing enough! But, the book also encourages me as to what kids can do and gives specific ideas for how to do it.

Update: Alexandra and I watched the DVD "The Hobart Shakespereans" this week, and really enjoyed it. It was great to see Rafe "live" and just added to my amazement of this man and his kids.

Update: I reread most of the book today. I'd forgotten that he sometimes uses offensive language and calls a list of writing instructions he made up "the Bible." I still think the book has tons of good info in it, but wanted to make you aware!