Think of who inspired you most as a child, and who scared you most as a child. Chances are teachers fit both categories. We have all been taught by the good, the bad and the ugly, and we won’t soon forget our extreme reactions to each.
What kids are readingThis weekly column looks at lists of books kids are reading in various categories. Information on the books below came from Amazon.com’s list of children’s bestsellers.Books on good and bad teachers1. Billy & the Bad Teacher by Andrew Clements and Elivia Savadier (ages 4 to 8) 2. Good Luck, Mrs. K.! by Louise Borden and Adam Gustavson (ages 4 to 8)3. Teacher’s Pet by Johanna Hurw itz and Sheila Hamanaka (ages 9 to 12)4. Bad Apple by Laura Ruby (young adult)5. Yes Ramona, Teachers Can Have A Bad Day Too! by Janice A. Vailes (ages 4 to 8) 6. What Teachers Do When No One Is Looking by Jim Grant, Irv Richardson (young adult)7. Little Critter: The Best Teacher Ever by Mercer Mayer (ages 4 to 8)8. Marvin and the Mean Words by Suzy Kline (ages 4 to 8)
No wonder our attitudes toward educational reform are so ambivalent. I’ve taught for 35 years, and my feelings about education are as ambivalent as yours. I want children to feel comfortable and inspired in the classroom, but don’t know how to measure that. Should it be by student test scores? Popularity on teacher rating Web sites? Administrative endorsement? Anecdote? Or first impressions derived from Back-to-School Night? Each year we hope for consistency in all of the above.
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