Product Description

Phillip Done fixes staplers that won't staple, zippers that won't zip, and pokes pins in the caps of glue bottles that will not pour. He has sung "Happy Birthday" 657 times.

A witness to the joys of discovery, Done inspires readers with the everyday adventures and milestones of his 32 third graders in this irresistible collection of bite-sized essays. From the nervous first day of school to the hectic Halloween parade to the disastrous spring musical, Done connects what happens in his classroom to the universal truths that touch us all. He reminds us of the delight of learning something for the first time and of the value of making a difference.

32 Third Graders and One Class Bunny is for anyone who has ever taught children -- or been to third grade. It is a testament to the kids who uplift us -- and the teachers we will never forget. With just the right mix of humor and wisdom, Done reveals the enduring promise of elementary school as a powerful antidote to the cynicism of our times.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #51435 in Books
• Published on: 2005-07-19
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 304 pages

Review
"Phillip Done reminds us of the excitement and joy of learning." -- Hal Urban, author of Life's Greatest Lessons and Positive Words, Powerful Results

Review
"Phillip Done reminds us of the excitement and joy of learning."

-- Hal Urban, author of Life's Greatest Lessons and Positive Words, Powerful Results

"This magnificently written account represents the essence of one of life's most precious periods."

-- Dr. Mel Levine, author of A Mind at a Time and Ready or Not, Here Life Comes

"Phillip Done is the voice of the veteran teacher who knows who he is working for; his love for children shines on every page."

-- Esme Raji Codell, author of Educating Esme and How to Get Your Child to Love Reading

About the Author
Phillip Done won the Schwab Foundation Distinguished Teacher Award. Nominated for the Disney Teacher of the Year Award, he has taught elementary school for twenty years. He lives in Mountain View, California.

Customer Reviews

This book is magic!
With great wit and heart, Phillip Done shares an insider's view of life in an elementary school classroom. "32 Third Graders and One Class Bunny" give an honest and hilarious account of what really happens at school. This book is magic! I could not put it down. It made me laugh out loud, it made me cry and it made me think. Mr. Done's opening chapter, "I Am a Teacher" is destined to become a classic and may soon find itself on a Hallmark mug that he does not yet have. This book is a celebration of what's right in American schools. I have told everyone I know about this wonderful book. I have already bought several copies to give to my children's teachers in the Fall and have even sent one to my own third grader teacher, whose lessons have been an influence on my life for more than thirty years.

A Fun Journey Inside A Classroom
Most books about education focus on what is wrong in many schools, and most point out that ample resources, parental and community support, and gifted teachers are what will solve the crisis situation that faces so many schools. Teacher Phillip Done in his book THIRTY TWO THIRD GRADERS AND A CLASSROOM BUNNY addresses education not by stating its problems; instead he shows us the difference a gifted teacher can make who truly loves being in the classroom and loves the young people in his charge.

THIRTY TWO THIRD GRADERS AND A CLASSROOM BUNNY is a collection of anecdotes, observations, one line quips, and stories about every day life in a classroom. The reader begins a typical school year in Done's class and shares the ups and downs of classroom life in an upbeat and often witty manner. Most entries are a page or two long and have a humorous tone to them. Readers see that Done loves teaching, adores children, and sees the importance of his profession. The book shows that Done believes the old adage of teaching that "by your students you will be taught" and believes the lessons he learns by teaching are valuable to others as well.

In the book, Done states "The main reason I became a teacher is that I like being the first one to introduce kids to words and music and books and people and numbers and concepts and ideas they had never heard of ort thought of before. I like being the first one to tell them about Long John Silver and negative numbers and alliteration and `Oh What A Beautiful Morning' and similes and right angles and Ebenezer Scrooge." We see in the book that Done does this and more in his classroom.

More than likely, readers who are parents will read this book and think "I wish my child had a teacher like Phillip Done." While Done's abilities are many, his dedication is not uncommon and the magic he creates is not unique. It happens in schoolrooms all across the country every day. The difference between Done and the many anonymous teachers in classrooms is that he was nominated for a Disney Award for Teaching Excellence and he has a gift with words that allowed him to put his story on paper. His story and observations are the same as many teachers, at least teachers who share Done's hope and excitement about education. We are lucky. We get a glimpse inside of Done's classroom, but what Done has accomplished as a teacher happens every day in classrooms across the country. Perhaps the bets way to show appreciation for THIRTY TWO CHILDREN AND A CLASSROOM BUNNY is not to point at all the faults of education but to thank the many people, who like Done are dedicated to children and the future, support teachers and encourage others who show the same dedication and enthusiasm to become teachers.

A Must Read
This is a must read book. I laughed and laughed and couldn't put it down. I found myself shaking my head YES! YES! and relating to the things written. I matters not what grade you teach this is worth the time to sit down and read.