book review: marva collins way

Marva Collins and her school experienced a lot of attention for their methods about 20 years ago. Her philosophy is rooted in high expectations and challenging material for students. She talks about the fact that a good teacher never sits down, never assigns homework that isn't differentiated and meaningful, never makes material less difficult. As a kindergarten teacher, I appreciated her emphasis on phonics. She taught her children skills -- not to rote memorize. She is forever asking children to explain their thinking.

"I am not going to leave you along to become workbook idiots. You are not going to spend your time in here pasting and coloring and circling pictures. We're going to do some thinking in here."

Overall, I think that this book is an excellent read. It definitely got me excited for this school year and all of the growth that I can make with my children.

code of the street

I just finished reading a book that I borrowed from a colleague who when to undergrad for African American Studies, and I feel frustrated that I did not hear about it until now. There is a whole section on education that I wish I read in August.

Through personal accounts and extensive research, Anderson presents information that I didn't realize I knew in a structured way. Although it is a little bit on the long side, I think that it is absolutely worth the read. I would recommend it.

little kids--powerful problem solvers

Recently, another teacher offhandedly offered me a book on our way to class. I liked that it was specifically geared towards Kindergarten, and it was written long enough ago that it probably had some best-practices for hands-on math.

Let's just say that it was so interesting it took me all the way out of the city on one morning commute.

Having come to education in a non-traditional way, I haven't had much opportunity to observe other classrooms. Admittedly, I have been forced to trust my instincts and go with what works for me and my students -- which is probably a good thing. However, this book offers a quick glimpse into exemplary math lessons that are energizing, creative, and responsive to children's needs. Since reading this book, I have begun to re-think the way that I teach math, and I highly recommend it to other K teachers looking for a hands-on mindset.