Product Description

The story of one teacher's odyssey into the ethical and intellectual heart of teaching, and at the same time an invitation to teachers to more thoughtfully and carefully map their own pathways. In conceptual and practical ways, To Teach narrates an essential journey all teachers must take if, at the end of their own Yellow Brick Roads, they are to achieve the basics: a heart, a brain, the nerve, and a home.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #30478 in Books
• Published on: 2001-03
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 151 pages

Customer Reviews

A very challenging book
I really appreciated this book. Ayers is very passionate about a teacher's responsibility to help their students become complete human beings. Reading this book, and Grant Wiggins Understanding by Design, in a graduate class renewed my passion for teaching, which is really a passion for learning. Education should be about the big questions of life, not just the details and basic skills that are tested and required by the state and federal government.

Ayers is committed to developing whole and complete human beings, not automatons.

My only issue is with his emphasis on social justice as the focus of education. While I agree that a concern for social justice will emerge in people who think for themselves, it seems as if his recommendations force this concern on kids a little too heavyhandedly. If we are to be independent, complete people, then naturally what concerns us will not always be the same. Nevertheless, his emphasis is better than many who want us to just teach kids to read words and add and subtract, but don't really care if they can think for themselves.

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This
This book is one that each and every teacher should read. It is valuable not only because of the content (which is exceptional), it is also very easy to read. I would recommend this book to any teacher.

To Teach: The Journey of a Teacher
The author does an excellent job of explaining "how to" methods of teaching. Explaining how to build relationships and raise standards through methods beyond testing. Any perspective or current teacher looking for ways to reach their students by bridging the gap between the role of teacher and student should read this book.