Summaries and Customer Reviews are supplied by Amazon.com
Summary:
For a decade and over two editions, the specific, practical, and experience-honed advice of The English Teacher's Companion has supported great teaching and cemented Jim Burke's reputation as a teacher's teacher. Now the third edition brings the book fully up to date, making it not only a useful resource, but an essential part of any English teacher's library.
The third edition of The English Teacher's Companion again delivers vital information on the teaching of English, including foundational advice for teaching literature; nurturing reading, writing, and thinking skills; and organizing for success. But it also responds to needs that Jim has heard in speaking engagements and professional development workshops across the country. Teachers and teacher educators asked for:
the latest research on literacy
more information about national standards
ways to consider gender in instruction
advice for teaching Advanced Placement classes
ideas for teaching media literacy and incorporating technology effectively into instruction
even more resources for mentoring new teachers
analysis of how trends in society, culture, and politics impact teachers and their classrooms.
And Jim delivers.
He has revamped his introductory chapters on literacy learning to include up-to-the-minute thinking from the field, and he has incorporated lists of key standards and helpful suggestions for reaching them. His practical strategies turn recent findings on literacy and gender into well-designed, research-based instruction, and his ideas help you meet the very different needs of AP students by understanding their goals and providing them with appropriate challenges. Best of all, new teachers will find a wealth of the latest information for getting a teaching job, using the Internet to locate helpful resources, negotiating the impact of politics and culture in the workplace, and helpful thoughts on the reciprocal nature of mentoring and being mentored. There's even a companion website (books.heinemann.com/englishteacherscompanion) with still more to support your success and your students'.
The world of English teaching changes every day, and The English Teacher's Companion has changed with it. Read the third edition, and find out why it continues to make a powerful and lasting impact on English teachers everywhere.
Customer Reviews:
Average Customer Rating:
Exceptionally Useful in Teaching
Customer Rating:
I absolutely LOVE this book. Being new to field, I find it extremely helpful with lesson planning and how to approach situations such as reading and writing. Definitly worth the purchase.
My New Classroom Bible
Customer Rating:
While the price is a little steep, the book is worth every penny. There is so much useful information for language arts teachers in middle and high school. Although it's designed much like a college textbook (and apparently is being used as one, rightfully, in some places), it is easy to read and apply. Burke devotes chapters to reading, writing, vocabulary, grammar, and even listening, speaking, and thinking, incorporating each into a typical English classroom. As a California public school teacher, Burke addresses standards in that state, but these examples can be easily modified for anyone. Each chapter is filled with explanations, strategies, and examples of student work. The end of each chapter provides a chance at reflections and activities for the reader (of this book), as well as other resources. There are chapters on planning, assessment, technology, as well as addressing the needs of learners of different abilities, races, cultures, and languages. There is even a section on organization, along with ideas for prospective teachers. This book is not for the lazy; there's no cookie cutter program here and you will definitely have to delve into the book to get anything out of it. But if you do, I'm sure your students will profit.
Student Teachers - Get this book!
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I started student teaching and I'm glad I bought this book. It's lengthy and covers nearly all topics. It puts everything together and is practical. I have read some education books that are just idealistic thoughts but impractical for the classroom. This is not like that at all.
The book has some good ideas. I've used some. In different chapters it discusses teaching reading, vocabulary, writing, AP classes, gender, race and culture in literature, teaching controversial novels, teaching special needs children and many topics. It is all-in-one book.
Most valuable resource
Customer Rating:
Originally the second edition was the required text for my Methods course; however, this is the most valuable required book I have had to purchase for courses. When the third edition was released, I purchased it immediately. Burke provides practical suggestions while providing a clear image to the teacher to know how to implement the suggestion. One of the few books that I recommend to all teachers in high schools.
Excellent text!
Customer Rating:
This book is truly an excellent resource for secondary English teachers. It's replete with great teaching strategies you can easily implement in your classroom. Great lesson ideas as well! I have been teaching for 9 years, and found the book refreshing. It's not that expensive, so what do you have to lose? Try it out!