Teach Like Your Hair's on Fire The Methods and Madness Inside Room 56

Let's Review!

"In a world that considers athletes and pop stars more important than research scientists and fire fighters, it has become particularly impossible to develop kind and brilliant individuals. And yet we've different world in Room 56," (Esquith, 2007, p. x).

Classroom Management

• Replace fear with trust.
• Be dependable.
• Discipline must be logical.
• Be a role model.

"I'm here only to share some of the ideas I have found useful. Some of them are just plain common sense, and others touch on insanity. But there is a method to the madness," (Esquith, 2007, p. x).

Methods: Reading & Writing

• Adults as guides: Recommend appropriate books to individuals with their reading skill level and interests in mind
• Start book clubs
• Visit the library
• Have a monthly book report
• Have diverse weekly essays & evaluate 3 essays as a class

Methods: Math

• Make numbers exciting through the use of games.
• Use an easy and fun activity as a transition into math, (i.e. Marcy Cook's number tiles).
• Teach test taking strategies, such as having students make their own multiple choice tests.

Methods: Social Studies

• Bring excitement to lessons through the use of additional material: films, documentaries, speeches, etc.
• The internet can be a helpful tool for finding blank maps for geography.
• Teach using play! Rafe recommends games such as Table Points and Roam Around the World.

Methods: Science

• Close the text books and put down your pencils! It's time to break out the breakers and test tubes!
• A hands-on approach is key.
• Let students fail. Promote learning through trial and error.

What's new?!

"I soon learned a basic truth about the arts: Students involved in arts education are learning about things far beyond the art they study," (Esquith, 2007, p. 107).

Methods: The Arts

• Maximize opportunity by always and exclusively having the children as the performers. No teachers on stage.
• Never discourage students from taking extra art and music classes, even if it takes them from your class for a couple of hours.
• Work art into all subjects through diverse art projects.

"Teachers must must expose our kids to the beauty of sport-and to the life lessons we learn from playing sports correctly and honorably," (Esquith, 2007, p. 124).

Methods: Physical Education

• Provide daily exercise.
• Teach proper fundamentals- Do not move on from skills until mastered.
• Teach good sportsmanship. Use sporting events to teach children to cheer good play for both teams.
• Help children make connections between sports and other subjects, such as learning angles in math and on the baseball field.

"I want to teach children real skills that will help them for the rest of their lives. Being organized is one such skill...Learning to save money, balance a checkbook, and plan for future expenses takes organization," (Esquith, 2007, p. 135).

Methods: Classroom Economic System

• Give students jobs on first day of school. Students will be able to make decision based on job description and monthly paycheck.
• Children must deposit money with bank and pay monthly desk rent.
• At the end of each month their is an auction.
• Have each child keep banking records.

The Madness: Going the Extra Mile

"...teaching kids to think and solve problems is one of the best gifts we can give them. Whatever life they choose, they will be equipped to negotiate the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune," (Esquith, 2007, p. 158).

The Madness: Problem Solving

• Understand the problem. Collect all information.
• Choose and Appropriate Strategy, such as making a list, acting or drawing out a scenario, or guess and check.
• Solve the Problem.
• Ask yourself: Does your solution make sense?

"My class trips are designed to accomplish two clear and important objectives: First, [his students] are expected to pursue knowledge with a passion and depth of understanding that separates them from mediocre students. Second, I use trips to prepare them for the college environment," (Esquith, 2007, p. 174).

The Madness: Traveling with Students

• Use a travel guide to find out everything about your destination. Have the kids look at these as well.
• Everything must be planned in advance (meals, exhibitions, etc.,) and the students know these plans.
• Pack with a less is more mentality.
• Rafe even provides his itinerary for his Washington D.C. trip as Appendix B

"When all is said and done, I am most proud of their service to others," (Esquith, 2007, p. 207).

The Madness: Serving with Students

• Have your students research what needs exist in the surrounding community.
• Students will work together to dream up a service project.
• Allow students to reflect on experience of serving others.

Application!

"We should never become frustrated when a student doesn't understand something. Our positive and patient response to questions builds an immediate and lasting trust that transcends fear," (Esquith, 2007, p. 7).

Throughout much of Rafe Esquith's book, he describes a classroom environment that is free of fear. As a future teacher, this quote is meaningful because it tells me one easy way to achieve a trust-based classroom. Simply, answering all questions no matter how many times I may have already been asked, will show my students that I am dependable and trustworthy.

"I always remind my students that life's most important questions are never asked on standardized tests. No one asks them questions regarding character, honesty, morality, or generosity of spirit. In Room 56 these are the issues of true importance. Why have we lost sight of this? It's probably because raising a test score a little higher is easy. Teaching honor and ethics is not nearly as simple a task. But if we want to create extraordinary students, we must be the ones to keep this in perspective," (Esquith, 2007, p. 83).

As a future teacher, I hope to apply many teachings from this book. This quote reminds us that it is the teacher's role to explain to students the truths of standardized tests. Students are not their test scores. I am committed to teaching my students character and compassion. I will do this through the way I manage my classroom. Rafe Esquith also explains the importance of being a role model. I will work to be the person I hope my students to become.