Teach Like Your Hair’s On Fire

I finally got around to reading Rafe Esquith’s book Teach Like Your Hair’s On Fire (my to-read pile has gotten a little deep). You’ve probably heard of Rafe. He’s a fifth grade teacher in downtown LA. His class is famous for their annual production of a Shakespeare play. He recently published his third book, so I guess my list doesn’t get any shorter.

His take on how to teach children is simultaneously realistic and inspiring. I’m sure that he rubs a lot of people he works with the wrong way. He refers to the bureaucracy of the education system as an Orwellian Ministry of Truth. But he cares deeply about the students and really wants to help make the education system better.

If you don’t know about Rafe and what he’s doing, read one of his books. Or if you prefer listening to reading, there are good interviews with him online, funny talks he’s given, and POV did a special about his class a few years ago.